Prince of the Playhouse by Tara Lain Read Free Book Online

want to go for that drink?”
    Gray’s leg moved away.

Chapter Five
     
     
    RU STARED in his wineglass on the table in front of him. “Sorry. I’m here under false pretenses. I’m too distracted to be good company.”
    “It’s okay. I like you anyway.” Merle laughed and took a mouthful of beer.
    “Why?” Okay, Maitland, don’t give the pretty actor the third degree just because you don’t like yourself much.
    Merle took the question seriously. He held up one finger. “Because you’re genuinely creative and original.” Another finger. “Smart and snarky. I like that in a guy.” Up went the third finger. “Cute as all hell.” He shrugged. “Plus, if truth be told, I’ve always had a thing for queens.”
    “Is that so?” Ru grinned. “Wait until you meet my best friend and business partner. His husband once said he was so far over the top he had his own cloud cover.”
    Merle snorted. “I’d probably be more like that if it wasn’t for my acting thing. Wish I had the guts.”
    Ru waved a hand. “It’s okay. You can be as queeny as you want with me, babe.”
    Merle stared into the glass like he was reading beer leaves. “Do you top or bottom?” He held up a hand. “Just for research purposes.”
    How should he answer? Did he want to do Merle? No brooding gray eyes or cheekbones that would cut glass. Yep, and no wife. Ru cocked his head. “I’m a top, darling.”
    Merle’s head snapped up. “Really? I guess I just assumed—”
    “That the girl always goes on the bottom?” He laughed.
    “No, I didn’t mean—yeah.” The grin took over his face.
    “Tell you what. All appearances to the contrary, I’m not very promiscuous. So let’s work together a little, and if we’re both still interested—” He spread out his hands, palms up. “—we’ll fuck.”
    “You do have a way with words.” Merle looked down, then glanced up through his darker-than-his-hair lashes. “Does that mean blowjobs are still on the table?”
    “If I give you a blowjob on this table, we can’t come back to the Ocean Bar again.” Ru raised his eyebrow.
    “Umm, I was more thinking of giving than receiving.”
    They might just be bantering, but that got a cock wiggle for sure. The only thing wrong with the Rupert Maitland persona he’d created was that guys assumed he was submissive. Yeah. No. “I’ll give it serious thought.”
    “I’ll remind you.”
    Ru laughed. Who’d have thought he could laugh at all after his whiplash dinner being teased—consciously or unconsciously—by Gray Anson? What were the chances Gray didn’t know he about drove Ru madder than Ophelia? Zero, right?
    “Would you like another glass of wine?”
    “No. This is lovely, but I do have to get home.”
    “I’ll drive you.”
    Asking for trouble, but sometimes trouble can be fun. Hell, he could use a little fun. “Thank you, darling. That would be great.”
    It only took ten minutes to get from the bar to the parking lot and then to pulling up in front of Ru’s house.
    Merle turned off the car. “That sure didn’t take enough time.” He looked past Ru toward the cottage. “Cute place.”
    “You’ll have to see it—sometime.” He grinned.
    “I guess that means the blowjob opportunity didn’t follow us home.”
    “Correct.”
    “Can I lobby for a kiss?”
    “Well, my neighbor is either writing a book on me or collecting data for a blackmail portfolio, but aside from that, feel free.”
    Frowning, Merle glanced toward Mrs. O’Grady’s house. “Aw hell, a little scandal is good for the reputation.”
    “Even with a guy?”
    “Hell yeah. Haven’t you heard? We’re in fashion.” He leaned across the console, tucked a finger under Ru’s chin, and coaxed his lips into kissable range.
    For a second Ru froze. Feels weirdly like cheating. Bullshit. Who had he just agreed to design a wedding gown for? He slid a hand into Merle’s thick, shaggy hair and yanked, which produced a satisfying moan from Merle. Their