“Yeah. I’ve been more twitchy and jumpy since I received that special box of chocolates. I hate staying up late at the filming studio because I keep imagining he’ll suddenly jump me.” Todd shuddered.
This was a no-brainer. I would worry about the fact I was insanely attracted to this Omega later on. Right now, he needed my help.
“I’ll take the job,” I told Todd.
“Really?” Todd blurted. “Then I’ll have my assistant Gary email you the contract.”
I rose to my feet. To my surprise, Todd launched himself at me. I easily caught his slender body, surprised when he hugged me.
I swallowed. My dick thickened at his touch.
Fuck, but the enticing scent that drew my attention before wrapped around me like a long lost lover.
“Thank you,” Todd whispered. “You won’t regret this.”
His face, his mouth was so close. It was all mine for the taking. It would be easy to kiss him, taste him.
Then I remembered we weren’t alone. Clark was watching us. My friend wouldn’t think much of me if I took advantage of the situation.
However, Todd felt so warm against me. So tempting.
I cleared my throat. Todd must’ve realized what he’d done because he took a few steps back and flashed me a sheepish look.
“Sorry, I’ll behave better next time,” he said.
I paid for my coffee and walked out of that diner, feeling a little lightheaded.
I couldn’t wait to start this job.
During our conversation, I’ve never seen a single arrogant bone in Todd’s body.
He was so different from Shane and the other snobby celebrities I’ve worked with before.
Todd wasn’t snobbish or pretentious. He was genuine. Fame hadn’t gotten to Todd’s head yet.
I truly hoped he’d stay that way.
3
Todd
“So Todd, who’s the glowering hottie that’s been coming in with you for the past three days?” Asked Lawrence, another fellow actor.
“I heard that Alpha is Todd’s new bodyguard,” added Janine, the actress who played Todd’s mother on the show.
Neither Lawrence nor Janine waited for my answer. When I didn’t rise to their bait, they moved on to other juicy news.
I sighed.
These people had nothing better to do than gossip during our downtime.
I munched on my sandwich. We were on a fifteen-minute break while the production team rearranged the props on set.
I knew that bringing Marco to work would attract unwanted attraction but I had no choice.
Marco mentioned my stalker might come after me while I was working.
Who could blame the other actors and staff for being curious about Marco?
The dark-haired and blue-eyed Alpha was a sin to look at. I finished my ham sandwich and glanced at Marco, who was standing by the food table.
Marco seemed oblivious to the comings and goings of the staff in the studio but I knew Marco was silently cataloging everyone and their actions.
The Alpha was dressed entirely black, like always. Black leather jacket over a black shirt. Jeans and work boots.
Marco seemed to know how to blend into the shadows and tight corners, but it was hard not to notice him anyway.
I met Marco’s gaze. The Alpha nodded to me, his blue eyes unreadable.
Had I mentioned that Marco had great hair?
I’ve been tempted several times to run my fingers through Marco’s thick and wavy black hair.
I thought we had a moment in that diner. When I threw myself without shame against the Alpha, I swore I felt Marco’s hard-on.
Too bad Marco was professional to the core. Every single day, Marco picked me up every morning and drove me back to my apartment after my shoot.
“Alright, take five,” said the director.
I hopped off my chair and focused on getting back to character. To say I’ve been distracted lately had been an understatement.
Part of me wondered if my reaction to my stalker was a little extreme. Maybe I had every right to be scared.
I was only taking the necessary precautions.
Five hours of filming later, I was exhausted. I headed back to my dressing room. I was eager to head home and collapse on my bed.
Marco tailed me like a silent shadow, his eyes alert. I had invited Marco inside my apartment for coffee twice now but I’ve had zero success. This was new to me. Most men had a hard time saying ’no’ to me.
I was starting to wonder if I had imagined Marco’s reaction at the diner.
Maybe my attraction was one-sided.
Bummer.
I couldn’t exactly explain why I was drawn to the Alpha. I had never felt this way about any of the guys I dated in the past.
If Marco didn’t always wear his professional and neutral mask on, I could get a better read on him. Too bad the Alpha’s outer shields were airtight.
“I won’t take long,” I told Marco.
“Hey, Todd? Your secret admirer sent you flowers and chocolates again,” said my assistant Gary before I entered my dressing room.
I stared at the elaborate bouquet of roses on the table and swallowed as I noticed the lavender envelope.
“Let me examine them,” Marco said.
He entered the room with me.
I stood back and Marco looked at the flowers and the accompanying card.
Was it my imagination or did the smell of rot fill the room?
I studied the roses carefully and noticed the flowers weren’t fresh at all. Yellowing leaves and petals had fallen on the table. That had to mean something.
Now more than ever, I was relieved I took Aaron’s advice and hired a bodyguard.
Marco then lifted the lid off the chocolates. The Alpha swore.
Curious, I approached Marco and peered over his broad shoulder. It took me a couple of seconds to process what I was seeing.
The box contained dozens of squirming and wiggling bloated white things.
Maggots.
I suddenly felt sick to the stomach. Marco closed the lid and turned to me.
“I’ll get rid of this shit,” he said.
“Why maggots?” I found myself asking. “Can I see what he wrote on the card?”
Marco hesitated, like he wasn’t sure if I should read my stalker’s message.
In the end, Marco must’ve remembered I was his client. Marco examined the envelope, then its contents, before handing it over to me.
I pulled out the card and swallowed it. My stalker’s handwriting was usually neat and elegant. The handwriting this time was jagged and rushed.
Angry almost. I was no crime expert but had Randy somehow discovered there was another man in my life?
“You broke my heart, Dave. I sent you dying roses and a box of maggots,” I read out loud. “Take these gifts as a reminder. You’re mine and I won’t give you to anyone else.”
My mind returned to Randy’s other disturbing letters. I pictured some faceless man snatching me right from under Marco’s nose.
Then Randy would bring me to the special love dungeon he created. I’d rot there for eternity, being someone else’s prisoner or until he got sick of me.
My stomach clenched. As usual, my active imagination got the better of me.
I swayed unsteadily on my feet.
Marco placed his hands over mine and I realized I was trembling like a leaf. Marco’s touch and his solid presence yanked me back to the present.