Unlovable (Hooked Book 7) Read online

  Rylan tasted blood, making him realize how hard he bit the inside of his cheek.

  Tim didn’t smile back at the man. That was the only thing saving Rylan’s sanity. “Thank you, but it’s my job to be close to Kano. Rylan and I can work it out.”

  “If you should change your mind,” Dex said, sweeping Tim’s body with another hot gaze.

  “I won’t,” Tim said, flashing the man a tight smile.

  An inner sigh rang through Rylan’s head. It would be one hell of a long weekend.

  They were so busy Tim only caught quick glimpses of Rylan for the rest of the day. By the time Kano settled inside his trailer, freeing Tim to go to his, he was over this whole scene. They’d worked exhausting jobs before. This was the first time they’d put together an entire issue in one weekend. Tim couldn’t believe they had another day of this shit.

  As he climbed into the trailer, every ounce of tiredness disappeared. Rylan stood, staring inside the open fridge while wearing nothing more than a towel. Tim locked the door behind him. Rylan’s usually styled-to-perfection hair was swept back and dripping onto his bare shoulders. Tim took off his jacket and set his gun on the small kitchen table before toeing off his shoes. Rylan closed the refrigerator and focused on him. Fuck, Tim loved Rylan’s sleek body. He was slim, and every muscle was just slightly defined, giving a hint of abs. There was no way Rylan missed the heat in Tim’s gaze.

  “You look tired.”

  Tim pulled his shirt loose from his pants and unbuttoned it. “This place is crazy,” Tim said, hearing the lust tinting his tone.

  “It’s ridiculous,” Rylan said with a sneer. “The only people who’d watch this shit are bored housewives who want to pick apart the women, and perverted old men.”

  Tim slid his belt loose. “Lucky for Dex, there’s a ton of old perverts in the world.”

  “Dex,” Rylan said with a snort.

  Tim stole the man’s towel before he could continue. He tossed it over one shoulder and headed for the bed. They’d need it to clean up later. Before Tim could take off his pants, he found himself on his back with Rylan straddling his hips. His bottom lip stung. Rylan’s teeth sank into the flesh. The man’s mouth moved to his jaw and then his neck. Tim tried catching his breath. Rylan licked a straight path down his torso and ripped open the front of Tim’s pants. The man took no mercy. His hot mouth closed around Tim’s cock, sucking. Tim’s hips left the mattress, seeking more. They were always like this—barely speaking before exploding into passion. Rylan’s fingernails took off some skin as he clawed Tim’s pants down his hips. Tim dutifully lifted, letting Rylan have them. While holding his stare, Rylan licked his fingers before shoving them inside Tim’s ass.

  “Goddamn, Rylan,” Tim gasped, trying to cling to sanity.

  Rylan’s flushed cheeks and hooded eyes made the man look like he belonged in a porno. The man lowered his chin and sucked Tim’s dick between his lips without looking away or missing a beat of fingering Tim’s ass.

  “You’re always sexy, but on my dick, you’re fucking perfection. When this is over, I’m gonna eat that ass and you’ll chant my name.”

  Rylan swallowed Tim’s cock and curled his fingers inside him by way of answer. Tim couldn’t stop talking. He wanted Rylan as revved as he made him. “You’ll come on my face and then you’ll lick it off. Once I catch my breath, you’ll sit on my dick where you belong.” Tim released a pant when Rylan’s throat squeezed him. “Fuck.” Rylan added a third finger. Tim moved, trying to fuck the man’s fingers and mouth at the same time. Rylan scraped the fingernails of his free hand down Tim’s abs, leaving red marks behind. Tim stared down the line of his body, watching it happen and wanting more. The dude fucked with Tim’s head, for real. Rylan looked like there was nothing in the world he loved more than sucking Tim’s dick and that shit was powerful. Desire, longing, and insanity built inside Tim. The mixture swirled inside him, making him move his hips against Rylan’s willing mouth. A cry tore from his lips as an orgasm ripped through him. He pumped Rylan’s mouth full of cum and Rylan swallowed while looking like he was in heaven. Sometimes, in these moments, Tim had the scariest thoughts about Rylan. Ideas he could never repeat. Instead, he dragged Rylan up his body and captured the man’s lips, tasting his own cum on the man’s tongue. He massaged Rylan’s ass cheeks, moving closer to the man’s hole with every pass. Rylan wasn’t the only talented one in the room.

  Tearing his mouth away, he urged Rylan higher. “Up here, on my face, gorgeous. That sexy asshole tastes fucking delicious. I want it.”

  With an audible pant, Rylan did as told. The instant Tim’s tongue was buried between the man’s ass cheeks, every raging emotion inside Tim calmed, and that was always the scariest part. In his heart, Tim knew he wanted more, and Rylan never would.

  2

  Between trying to keep up with Kano and Adam, and dodging Dex, Tim couldn’t be more over this whole experience. Dex was a nice guy, and he couldn’t pretend the man wasn’t sexy as hell, but fuck. It felt wrong to flirt with someone else when he’d been inside Rylan less than twenty-four hours ago. Not to mention, it was obvious Dex was used to having his way. That wasn’t necessarily a turn off. He’d always found power sexy. Rylan always behaved the same way, flexing his fame. With Rylan, Tim had never felt like he was a conquest or one more thing the man knew he could have so he took him. Something about Dex made him think the man was all about the chase. All it would take was one night in Dex’s bed, and Dex would never look Tim’s way again. When Dex settled down, it would be with someone who matched him—socially and monetarily. Tim would never be that person. That knowledge made the idea of Dex give Tim a bad taste in his mouth. He was no man’s whore.

  His gaze slid Rylan’s way. Well… he might do some very whore-like shit to keep Rylan’s attention. In fact, he’d already publicly touched Rylan several times today, hoping Dex would take a hint, and maybe Rylan would too. Without thought, Tim crossed the fake street they had built on the set—separating the trailers from the false face of a saloon—to where the man in his thoughts stood. Rylan peered closely at one of the contestants as if trying to assess what else she needed done. Tim cast a glance over his shoulder, ensuring Kano was okay with him walking away. Since Kano didn’t even look his way, Tim kept moving until his palm collided with the small of Rylan’s back. The man startled slightly at Tim’s touch. He wouldn’t have noticed if he hadn’t felt it happen. Rylan glanced over. A slight smile touched his lips before he rearranged his features, going back to looking bored as always.

  Tim focused on the woman. He couldn’t remember her name. It was pointless for him to try. Not only did they all look alike in his book, he’d be leaving in the morning and would never see any of these people again. “Excuse us,” Tim said, flashing her an amiable smile. “I need to steal Mr. Santos for a moment.”

  Her gaze slid down Tim’s body in a blatantly sexual move. “Sure thing.”

  Tim winked and swept Rylan away.

  “Do you intend to flirt with every single person on this set?” Rylan spat the moment they were out of earshot.

  Shock had Tim inspecting Rylan’s features. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were jealous, but that’s impossible.”

  Rylan held his stare. Those whiskey-colored eyes had Tim forgetting where they were. His eyebrows rose. “Were you after something in particular?”

  One corner of Tim’s mouth lifted. He had no idea why Rylan’s irritation always turned him on. “A moment of your time, and I got it.”

  A line appeared between Rylan’s brows like he didn’t know what to make of Tim. It cleared away, becoming open irritation as his gaze moved over Tim’s shoulder. Tim followed the line of his stare. Adam was headed their way, looking thunderous. Nothing good could come of that.

  “Rylan, you can’t go around changing things behind my back. We’re supposed to be working together,” Adam said, stopping just short of stamping his foot. Tim’s gaze moved between them. He had a bad feeling in
his gut. It increased when Rylan smirked.

  “It’s Mr. Santos to you, and your ideas are shit.”

  “If you think my ideas are shit, discuss it with me, Rylan,” Adam said, dragging out every syllable of Rylan’s name, making Tim want to laugh despite his need to groan. He’d known having both Adam and Rylan working the same set would be a nightmare.

  “Look, Adam,” Rylan said, mimicking the way Adam had dragged out his name. “Just because you married the boss doesn’t mean you have taste. Lots of people can suck a rich dick, but it doesn’t make them talented.” He walked away as if done with their conversation. Tim snagged the man’s arm before he made it twenty feet. Heads would roll if Kano caught wind of this argument and Rylan would not come out the winner.

  “That’s enough diva for the day,” Tim said under his breath as he hauled Rylan back to where Adam stood. Rylan didn’t push him away, but he dragged his feet. Adam looked ready to pull his hair out. It was the first time he’d seen Rylan under Adam’s skin and he didn’t like it.

  He pointed at Adam while holding Rylan’s angry stare. “Apologize so the two of you can move on and work together.”

  Rylan’s eyes flashed with hatred. “I don’t need you to train me.”

  Tim jerked back. Rylan may as well have slapped him. He was so tired. His exhaustion showed in his tone. “Is that what you think this is? I’ve never tried to change you. You’re freaking amazing just as you are. All I want is peace between the people I care about the most, but I see I’m wasting my time.” Tim walked away, leaving Adam and Rylan to figure it out for themselves. Maybe it was time he moved on. Rylan was an ass who intentionally made everyone miserable, including him. Why did he fucking care at all? Rylan didn’t chase after him. He’d known the man wouldn’t. Fuck him. Tim was done with whatever it was they had.

  Rylan watched Tim go with a rock in his stomach. He didn’t know why he couldn’t give the man a single fucking inch. It was like he was incapable of showing an ounce of affection.

  “Well, that was stupid,” Adam said, walking away.

  Rylan didn’t bother defending himself. It was like fire licking the back of his throat to have Adam scolding him. Rylan knew he couldn’t deny it.

  Tim didn’t go far. It was his job to watch over Kano. That robbed the man of the option of leaving. Instead, he stood near the trailer they’d slept in last night and crossed his arms over his chest. He stared at Kano, looking beyond pissed. It hurt knowing he was the reason Tim wore that expression. All day, the man had stolen touches, always ensuring Dex was nearby, as if trying to show he was already taken. It was the first time Tim had publicly claimed him. Fuck, Rylan wanted that. Rylan made it through one more job before he broke and moved to stand next to Tim. “How long do you intend to stay mad at me this time?”

  Tim glanced over, his expression devoid of all emotion. “I’m not mad.”

  Rylan swallowed hard. That rock-hard face was chiseled to perfection and always made Rylan’s stomach muscles clench with desire. “Are you sure?”

  A small smile touched Tim’s lips. “Go back to work, Ry.”

  Without thought, Rylan skimmed the tips of his fingers down the back of the man’s arm. “I don’t want you to be upset with me. It’s just that Adam—”

  “I said I’m not angry,” Tim reminded him. He turned and dipped his head as if he meant to kiss Rylan. Rylan didn’t have time to adjust, and he automatically moved back before Tim’s lips could make contact. Something dark crossed Tim’s features, and Rylan knew—Tim was done. He couldn’t explain how he knew. It was as if he’d heard the camel’s back snap beneath the final straw when he’d refused the man’s kiss. Rylan got it. Tim had taken a risk on Rylan and lost.

  Tim straightened away. He wouldn’t meet Rylan’s gaze. “Get back to work.” Without looking back, he walked away.

  Rylan watched him cross the street. Regret clogged his throat, making it hard for him to breathe. He already knew, as long as he lived, Rylan would look back on this moment and remember exactly how Tim’s shirt stretched across his broad shoulders and his jeans cupped his ass as he walked away for the last time. Rylan knew it was the last—felt it in his bones. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to kiss Tim or show the man affection. Rylan had never set out to be a cold person. Life didn’t give a fuck what he wanted.

  Dex sidled up next to him, making Rylan’s chest hurt twice as bad. “You know, all the man wants is five minutes of your time.”

  “I don’t have five minutes to spare,” Rylan said, incapable of tearing his gaze away from Tim.

  An ugly-sounding snort escaped Dex. “Yet you’ve spent ten staring daggers at him since you shut him down.” Great. Everyone had seen him dodge Tim’s kiss. Dex didn’t stop there. “Seems to me, you don’t have five minutes you want to spare.”

  Rylan finally managed to tear his eyes away from Tim to meet Dex’s stare. “What do you care? Being as how you’d love to fuck him, you should be rejoicing right now instead of lecturing me.”

  Dex’s perfect lips twisted into an evil smile. “I don’t care. I just wanted you to understand why I’m about to do this,” Dex said, walking away. He stopped by a table covered in roses. They were meant for tonight’s show. Dex snagged one. No one called him on it, but Rylan guessed since Dex was financing the entire project, he could do as he pleased. As Rylan looked on, Dex ran his hand up Tim’s back, snagging the man’s attention. When Tim turned, Dex handed him the rose. Rylan couldn’t look away despite the sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. Tim smiled. It was a sweet smile—unlike anything he’d ever given Rylan. All Rylan had ever gotten was the man’s smirks. This was heart wrenching. It couldn’t have been more apparent to anyone watching that Dex had done something for the man that no one else ever had. Not only did Tim accept the flower, he touched it to his nose while Dex spoke. He could see their mouths moving, but Rylan couldn’t hear what was said. Tim’s smile brightened, and he held his elbow out to Dex—like a gentleman. Dex accepted. The pair walked off together without looking back, leaving Rylan alone—where he belonged. Obviously, they couldn’t go far, since Tim was working. They stopped at a table covered in drinks and snacks.

  Rylan looked away. He couldn’t take another second. He focused on Kano and Adam. Adam’s gaze moved from where Tim and Dex stood to Rylan. Rylan turned away. The last fucking thing he needed was Adam witnessing his pain. Before he could find a place to hide, Adam cut him off.

  “Let’s work together,” he said fast, as if he expected Rylan wouldn’t let him talk.

  Rylan took a breath. He couldn’t fight everyone at once. “We are.”

  “No,” Adam said, smiling. “You’re working against me, and that makes me sad. I called you for this job because I think you’re really amazing. We didn’t work out with me as your intern, but I think we could rock the hell out of this spread.”

  Rylan wanted to growl. Adam was nice and too young to be so level-headed. As much as Rylan wanted to hate him, he couldn’t, but he’d also never been good at swallowing his pride.

  Adam grabbed Rylan’s hands and walked backward, towing Rylan along. His gaze moved over Rylan’s face. “You’re really beautiful. I’ve always thought so.”

  “Goddamn right I am,” Rylan said, hearing the conviction in his own voice. He’d never pretended to be anything but vain, but he suspected Adam meant to remind him of just that fact.

  To Rylan’s surprise, a smile tugged at his lips. “You’re beautiful too,” he admitted without thought. Maybe even more so on the inside, and that was really saying something since Adam rivaled him in the looks department.

  Adam stopped walking but didn’t release Rylan’s hands. “I know,” he said, sounding every bit as vain as Rylan had. “Work with me,” Adam cajoled. “The two of us together could take over the world. I don’t give a flying fig about you firing me. This isn’t about putting you in your place. I want you here. Work with me.”

  A snort escaped Rylan. “Flying fig,” he repeated. “I
don’t know how you’ve kept from getting eaten alive.”

  With a chuckle, Adam linked arms with him and towed him along. “I guess, if you want to get technical, I did get eaten.”

  A roar of laughter escaped Rylan before he could call it back. He swiped at his eyes before he messed up his makeup. “Let’s get this done. I need to catch a flight out of here before the end of the night.” Because there was no way in hell he would wait around to find out if Tim would choose Dex’s bed tonight. Rylan’s heart had endured a lot more than anyone would ever know. He wasn’t sure it would withstand anything else. That was why he never tested it.

  3

  “Where’s Adam?” Tim asked when Kano exited his apartment building without his husband at his side.

  “I have a job for you. You won’t like it,” Kano said instead of answering as Tim opened the back door of the SUV for him.

  Great. That meant it had something to do with Rylan. “Anything you need, you know that.”

  Kano snorted.

  Tim closed the door behind him and circled the vehicle. He waited until he was behind the wheel before making any inquires. “So, what’s this horrible errand?”

  Kano kept his gaze locked on his phone. Tim refused to budge until the man answered him. A loud sigh filled the car when Kano realized they weren’t moving. “Adam has the flu.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.” Tim still had no idea what that had to do with him.

  “With him out for the day, I need Rylan to come in.”

  There it was. Tim couldn’t decide how he felt. Rylan had skipped out in Texas, leaving before Tim had time to decide where they stood. He hadn’t seen or heard from the man in the three weeks since. Since they were never officially a couple, he felt stupid saying they were over. How could a person lose what they never had? Nonetheless, that was all he could come up with to describe the way they’d fallen apart in the blink of an eye. They were done.