Saying Goodbye (3 page)

~

Mark slouched on the seat of one of his family’s Learjets with the logo for Richfield International emblazoned on the side. The
combination of
valium
and booze
was making Mark tired. As the attendant offered food once they were at cruising altitude, the men around him were already in the party spirit, drinking the champagne and cocktails and laughing as they gathered in groups.

Mark looked around. Adam was making the best of it, since this whole affair was his doing. He was
with Keith and Carl, and the twins and their partners, sharing something humorous since they were all laughing.

Steve was watching a movie on a screen behind the seat in front of him, plugged into the headphones, and Jack was tapping his
smart-
phone, brooding.

Some
one
from behind touched Mark’s hair. He looked up over his seat and found Josh giving him a loving smile, pulling his long hair back through his fingers. “You miss Alex?”

Mark didn’t know who he missed. “Joshua. Can I count on you to behave?”

“No.” Josh made his way around the seat and sat on Mark’s lap. Steve was jolted on the arm, since he was beside Mark, and after the interruption, he ignored them and went back to watching the movie.

Josh nestled
against
Mark. “Is everyone angry?”

“Yes.” Mark rested his head on Josh as Josh combed his fingers through Mark’s hair.

“Can you tell me why?”

Mark glanced at Steve
and then tilted his head for Josh to get up. They both did, walking near the
rest
room of the plane.

Once Mark felt as if he could talk privately he said, “The estate is our private hell. None of us want to go.”

“Then why are we?”

“For Adam.” Mark
gestured
towards the handsome agent. “He does so much for us.”

“Because he’s tight with Ewan?”

“Yes. And Ewan paid cash for the estate. You know.
Quid pro quo.
”

“But, what’s with Steve?” Josh
asked,
“He’s usually so attentive
towards you
.”

Mark knew why.

He just didn’t think telling anyone was wise. “He’s just tired, love. We all are.” Mark caressed Josh’s brown hair, looking at his light eyes.

Before he could stop him, Josh had lunged at Mark and lip-locked with him.

Mark felt Josh’s tongue pushing at his clenched teeth. He held onto Josh’s shoulders and tried to pry him off.

Mark felt Josh being removed from contact and looked up to see Tanner, picking the young man up from behind. Tanner shook his head. “I will be apologizing all weekend.”

Mark leaned against the plane’s wall and tried to recover. “Yes, well. He is over-zealous about his attraction.”

“Sorry.” Tanner carried Josh away. “He’s also had too much champagne.”

Mark nodded, wiping his mouth and trying to catch his breath. He entered the
toilet
and locked himself in, staring at himself in the mirror. The tiny
head
made nasty sucking sounds and Mark tried to steady himself to splash his face. The temptation to take a few more valiums was there, but at this point all they would do was put him to sleep.

He touched the skin near his eyes and forehead,
saw
the treatments from Dr Love
were
still holding up, and his skin was smooth and youthful. He had another
modeling shoot right after the weekend
,
Spring catalog time. They had asked Mark to bring his horse
,
a
newly acquired white stallion, Piccadilly’s Phantom.
W
ith the upcoming ads, came starvation.

He faced the toilet, lifted the lid
and relieved himself. Once he di
d he washed his hands and tried to see if he had any phone reception. Taboo or not, it seemed everyone used a phone on planes now. He noticed a missed call from Mickey. Mark wondered if he could hear
over
the strange sucking noise from the toilet and the hum of the Learjets’s engines. He tried to listen to the voicemail.

‘…
Mark, Billy’s going to separate us. Help us out. Talk to him. I have to work with Jeff. Mark, help us out. Please
.’

Mark was furious. He dialed Billy’s phone number. It went directly to voicemail. In a measured voice, Mark said, “Don’t you dare split Mickey and Jeff up. Do you hear me
?
Don’t you bloody dare
.
If you do you shall deal with me
.
Am I understood…” Mark sneered as he said, “
…
Captain? I shall never forgive you
.
Never!” Mark hung up and tried to call Mickey. His phone
,
too
,
went to voicemail. He said, “Love, I left a message on Billy’s phone. Please try not to worry. I will have a chat with him. Please. Behave. Don’t give him a reason. I can try. I will try.” Mark felt as if he had too many battles raging at the same time and couldn’t deal with it. He disconnected the call and someone tried the door of the bathroom.

Mark opened it.

Steve was there. “Thought you had passed out.”

“No. I’m fine.”

“You are not fine. No one is fucking fine!”

“Stop taking this out on me
.
” Mark glared at him.

Steve’s anger deflated. “I’m sorry. I don’t get it. No one wants to go, yet here we all are, on a fucking plane to Sacramento.”

“For Adam.” Mark rubbed his head as it began to ache. “Now please
, d
on’t have a go at me.”

Mark left the bathroom and Steve entered it, locking it from within.

As
Mark returned to his seat someone touched his bottom. He glanced over and spotted Keith
smiling
. “Hey. We’ve hardly had two words with you.”

“Sorry, love. I’m a bit under the weather.”

Carl sat forward in his seat so he could talk around where Keith was seated by the aisle. “You don’t feel well?”

Mark tapped his head. “
In a muddle, t
oo much going on. You know.”

Keith held Mark’s hand. “We’re here. You got that?
Just tell us what we can do for you.
”

“Yes
, o
f course. Thank you.”
Mark smiled politely and tried to make it back to his seat.

An announcement came over the speaker. “Gentlemen, we have begun our de
s
cent into Sacramento, please take your seats and prepare the cabin for arrival.”

Mark dropped heavily into the seat, buckling the seatbelt. Steve returned and stood looking down at him.

“Climb over me, ya bloody cop!” Mark shifted his knees to the side.

“You’re a pain in the ass, Richfield
.
” Steve crawled to the window seat and managed to sit down, putting the seat back upright and buckling the belt.

Their private attendant came through the cabin for last minute trash and to make sure everyone was ready for landing.

Mark brooded. He knew why Steve had a chip on his shoulder. Randy Dawson. That’s why.

Fuck you
.

Mark was the one who had to clean up that mess Billy and Steve made for Alex.
And Steve thinks he has the right to be angry? Ha!

Mark’s ears began to pop as they lowered in altitude. The drive from the airport to the estate wasn’t far, but the dread as they drew closer was killing him.

~

Alexander Mark Richfield was so high on adrenalin he was hard. Working with
real
film actors,
real
film crews,
and
a
huge
Hollywood director
.
He was going crazy
.
He loved, loved, loved it!

Working a night shoot, Alex knew they were
nine
hours ahead of California’s time zone, so he figured once he
return
ed to his
own
room at this fancy five star hotel, he’d try to Skype with Billy. So far so good. Billy and he were able to see each other
on the computer
every day, and Alex jerked off to Billy’s naked image.

A
stylist
brushed Alex’s hair
while a makeup artist
powdered his skin
.
S
he added light mascara to his eyelashes and the moment
both women were
done, the wardrobe staff rushed to make sure Alex’s outfit was perfect.

Yes, the nighttime cable series had a decent budget, but not millions! The craft
table
, which was where all the food was for the cast and crew,
was to die for. Fresh seafood, fruit f
rom the local markets, espresso, handmade pastries and sliced meat
s
and cheese
s
…

The
film
extras were all locals
;
hot
,
dark Italian stallions. Alex was getting plenty of flirtatious looks and kisses thrown his way.

Randy laughed and brushed against him. “Be good. I promised your dad.”

In his newly acquired Italian accent, Alex said,
“I’d never cheat on my captain. Never.” Alex
smiled, his happiness
complete.

The assistant to Mr Ford got everyone’s attention. “Okay, places, everyone! It’s getting very late, and everyone is tired. Let’s go.”

Alex shook back his long hair and stood on the spot
,
which had been marked on the floor. A love scene between he and Randy was about to take place. All the sexy scenes were being done first. Why? Alex didn’t ask. Didn’t care.

Randy never even got an erection around him. So? Alex figured, yes, the actor was straight, as he assumed.

“Beau?
”
the assistant to the director got Alex’s attention.

They never broke character with the leads, calling them by their
character
names.

Alex nodded, his thoughts on his lines. Randy stood near the window of the balcony of th
e
incredible St Regis Hotel
in Rome
.

“Scene fifty-four. Alpha-one. Take one.” The assistant to the cameraman stood with the clapper board.

“Sound speed!”

“Camera ready!”

George made sure Alex was focused on him before he said, “Action.”

Though this was a ‘closed set’ it was still loaded with crew members. He’d been warned. It wasn’t like the cable drama. This monster employed hundreds of people.

Alex spoke his line, “How would you like
me to do to you
?”

Randy said, “It doesn’t matter.”

“I…” Alex began to speak when Randy grabbed him behind his neck and drew Alex against his body.

“You beautiful boy.” Randy dug his fingers into Alex’s hair. “I am going to enjoy you.”

“Yes. As I will you.” Alex could barely catch his breath.

Randy drew Alex to his mouth and wrapped one arm around Alex’s waist, the other cupped behind his head.

Alex let out a sensual whimper and became pliant in Randy’s arms.

Randy began moving Alex to
the
bed. He drew the sweater up over Alex’s head
,
revealing his hairless taut form.
Alex
had to remove his nipple ring for the filming and his tattoo of the lieutenant badge near his pelvis was also hidden with makeup.
His t
iny dark nipples
were
erect from the passion and cool air. Randy tossed the sweater aside and began nibbling one, opening Alex’s slacks as he did.

“Yes…”
Alex
held onto
Randy
for balance as he was being urged to lie down on his back.

Rand
y spread
Alex
’s pants wide and reached inside them for his cock.

I
t
was
stiff as a board and wet at the tip.
Maybe this scene didn’t excite Randy, but Alex was going out of his mind without nightly sex
with Billy
.

Running his hand over
Alex’s cock
as he moved it upright,
Randy
backed up to look. “Son-of-a-bitch,” he said then licked his lips
.
“You
gorgeous young thing.
”

Rand
y used one hand to push
Alex
flat on
the bed. He removed Alex
’s shoes and socks and then his slacks, tugging them off his legs. When
Alex
was in just his briefs, and those were low on his hips,
Rand
y reached to drag them off as well.

Reclining on the bed, leaning on his elbows,
Alex’s chest heaved as he lay naked
,
feeling very
vulnerable.

“You are American?”
Alex asked.

“Yes.”
Randy
nudged
Alex
’s clothing to the floor.

“You
…
you know what you want, yes?”

Ran
dy knelt on the bed and held
Alex
’s knees, parting them as
Alex
shyly
tried to
ke
ep
them together.

Randy forcibly
spread
Alex
’s thighs and bent
Alex
’s legs, exposing his ass.
Randy
simulated
chew
ing
his way
to
Alex’s balls
.

“Do as you want. I am ready for you.”
Alex
’s tense body went limp, his arms outstretched on the bed. “Do as you please.”

Ran
dy said, “I intend to,” and
pretended to
lick his way
towards Alex’s stiff cock
.

“Cut!”

Randy stood up and walked away.

Alex c
upp
ed his dick with his hand and was handed a robe and helped off the bed.
He
cover
ed himself with the robe, was
given
a bottle of expensive sparkling water, and waited as the master
director
took a look at the footage.

“Great. Make sure you get your
schedule
for the morning. Try and sleep.” George kept reviewing the footage
on a video screen, conversing with another man as he did
.

Alex looked for Randy. He was at the
craft-food
table, eating. After Alex slipped his clothing on quickly, leaving the robe on the bed, he approached him. “Hey.”

Randy looked over his shoulder at Alex, uninterested, eating a shrimp with cocktail sauce.

“I, uh
…
the guys who play Eden and Roberto and I are going to hang out and read lines. Are you into it?”

“No. Goodnight.”

Alex watched him walk off and felt as if he had done something to offend him. He chased after him. “Randy.”

Randy did not wait, leaving the hotel room where the shoot was tak
ing
place and heading to his own room. They had commandeered the entire hotel, pure George Ford style, and each actor had their own suite. “Wait. Randy. Are you still mad about what Steve and Billy did?”
Alex knew his husband and Steve had warned Randy to keep away from Alex, ‘sexually’ before the film contract had been signed. Mark had smoothed the mess out, as usual.

Holding a card key in his hand, Randy said, “Look, Alex, I’m tired. Okay?”

An assistant raced towards them both and handed them the paperwork for the next day’s shoot, which included the time to be on set, who was expected to arrive
and
when, plus their lines and which scene to memorize.

Randy thanked the assistant and walked away.

Alex watched him go.

The two young
actors
who were from Rome
raced to catch up to Alex. They were in their twenties and their enthusiasm was contagious. Emilo was cast to play the character Roberto, who was stocky, muscular, with a beard and deep voice, and Giovani was
hired
to play Eden, the bi-sexual slender young singer, who slept with either men or women for money.

“Time for some wine
.
” Emilo put his arm around Alex’s shoulder. “Your room is the closest. I have ordered room service. We shall dine like kings.”

Giovani held onto Alex on the opposite side as they walked the hall to Alex’s room. “I am thrilled to work with you, Alex. You are, how you say? My idol. Yes?”

Alex laughed modestly. He opened the door to his room and they hustled
in, going for the wine and a cork
screw.

“How do you even know me out here?” Alex took off his shoes and headed to the bathroom to wash the makeup off his face.

“We love you!” Giovani yelled from the other room.

Alex laughed and scrubbed the makeup off, wishing his co-star was as enamored. He didn’t have
any
sex scenes with these two.

Once he had cleaned up, he found both men drinking, lying on the big bed, and a glass of wine poured for Alex.

“Come. We have a little time to relax and then we can go over our lines for tomorrow.”

Alex checked the time. “Let me just see if my husband is around.”

“Of course!” Giovani picked up the phone and said, “Yes, room service? Food! We order meal? Huh? Why it take so long?” then he went off in Italian.

Alex opened his laptop which was on a desk near the balcony. He logged on and dialed his captain.