Page 115 of Total Creative Control

Aaron went very still.

“It’s nothing to do with us, orthis,” Lewis said hurriedly. “It’s to do with the show. No one else has ever got what I’m reaching for, the way you do. You know the characters inside out—I see that even more clearly now that I’ve read some of your own writing. You’d be a huge asset to the team.”

Aaron took a deep breath. Opened his mouth, closed it again. Eventually, almost reluctantly, he said, “I’m sorry, but… no.”

The stab of disappointment Lewis felt at that response was painful, but he managed a nod. “Okay. Can I ask why? You love the show more than anything.”

Aaron’s mouth quirked up on one side. “Notanything,” he said. “I love you more.”

Warmth spread through Lewis’s chest at that declaration. “Well, you can have us both,” he said lightly. “We kind of come as a package deal.”

Aaron’s half-smile grew. Sweetened. “I’ll always love the show, and I’ll always want to talk about it with you. But right now… right now I want to finish the job I’m doing onBow Street. Who knows? It might even get greenlit. It’s shaping up really well. I like the way the characters are developing and”—he shrugged, blushing a little—“a lot of my ideas are making it through.”

“Yeah?” Lewis said, and the little thrill of pride that went through him helped to assuage his sadness over Aaron’s refusal. “I can’t wait to hear all about it.”

“And I’ll tell you,” Aaron promised, shuffling closer again. “After.”

Lewis grinned, “After what?”

Aaron brought his delicious body right up against Lewis’s till their chests were pressed together and their lips were brushing. “I think you know,” he murmured.

Lewis made a rueful face. “The truth is,” he said wryly. “I don’t think I actuallycango again, not quite yet. You’ve exhausted me, my love.”

He expected Aaron to laugh, to tease him—he wouldn’t even have minded—but Aaron’s eyes went soft. “Your love?”

“Yeah,” Lewis whispered hoarsely, his heart aching in the best way.

Aaron sat back a little, smiling sweetly. “If I’m honest,” he said, “I could murder a pizza right now.” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively. “We both need to refuel.”

Lewis laughed. Amused, happy, joyous.

“But can I still stay the night?” Aaron asked, “Even if I don’t put out?”

“Oh, you can stay,” Lewis said, kissing the corner of his mouth. “Tonight, tomorrow night, and every other night of our lives.”

“Okay,” Aaron murmured between kisses. “Well, let’s start with tonight.”

Epilogue

Aaron

Eighteen months later

“Uh, Aaron?” Marc said. “Don’t you have that Telopix call now?”

Aaron jerked his head up. “What?” he said, then glanced at the clock on the wall and yelped—it was five to eight. The call was in five minutes—twelve o’clock LA time.

Shit.

“Damn, I forgot,” he said, jumping to his feet. He saved and closed the file he’d been working on, then unhooked his laptop and stuck it under his arm.

“I’ll be in early tomorrow,” he promised and, when Marc nodded tiredly, added, “We’re nearly there. We’ll have these revisions wrapped up tomorrow.”

“Then we’re going out and getting drunk,” Marc said, pointing at him. “You promised.”

“Scout’s honour,” Aaron said, touching his forehead with the tips of his fingers before rushing off towards the lifts.

Since they’d got the news thatBow Streethad been picked up, the team had expanded to twice the size and been relocated to the first floor. Filming on season one was wrapping up soon, but a last-minute change of plan on the season finale had had Aaron and Marc working flat out for the last few nights creating new pages for the final days of filming.