Page 30 of Shatter

"You!" Melody shouts, shoving Parker harshly. "Stop staring at my boyfriend!"

I quirk my brow again, mouthing 'boyfriend?' at her while trying to suppress a grin. Her cheeks flush and she gets this adorably shy look on her face, before it morphs into a brat again.

"And you!" she shouts, this time pointing at me. "Go put a shirt on!"

I dig my tongue into my cheek to keep my smile at bay.

"Yes, ma'am," I reply, tossing her a cheeky salute before walking back to my bedroom. I take a quick shower, dress in a T-shirt and sweats, before walking back into the kitchen.

When I do, Parker's standing in the kitchen, looking like a kicked puppy.

"Look, man. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable just then," he says, shifting his weight from foot to foot. I simply look over at Mel, who's resting her hip against the couch now, arms folded in front of her chest. I wonder what in the world she told him while I was gone.

I shrug. "No apology needed. I appreciate the ogle. Doesn't happen nearly enough."

"I wasn't sure. Some straight men are weirded out by being checked out by a gay guy."

"I manage a kink club. Nothing about your sexuality is going to bother me."

Parker must not have known this because his eyes bug out, darting between Mel and me.

"I love that for you," he whispers, tilting his head towards Mel. Her blush returns.

I pull out the carton of eggs I have. "Everyone okay with omelets?" I ask as I pull out the onions and peppers, too.

Two sets of 'yes' and I get to work. Parker slides onto one of the chairs at the island.

"So, tell me about this kink club?"

I smile to myself.

"Actually, I was going to extend an invitation to you and Marco, if you'd like. All of our members sign strict NDAs, and some are as famous as you guys are. It'd be a safe space for you and Marco to explore. If you want."

Melody must slide onto another stool, because she picks up for me, while I concentrate on breakfast.

"It's a member's only club where, as long as everything is safe and consensual, anything goes. Impact play, lights out, teasing, rigging, or just a date night."

It sounds like she's reading off of our website, and pride fills me again. She's not ashamed of my work, or passing it off as something other than what it is - a safe space for people to explore their sexuality.

"Oh, I turned your phone off last night so you could get some sleep," I mention, tilting my head toward the phone on the counter next to the fridge. "But I texted Marco. He should be over some time this morning."

"You did?"

I nod. "I figure the public probably hasn't figured out who he is yet, so he's able to travel freely. The guest bedroom is yours for as long as you need it."

Parker grabs his phone and turns it back on, wincing as the notifications load, one piling on top of another.

"It's Marty," he whispers to Melody, and I rack my brain trying to place the name before I remember meeting a sleazy looking motherfucker at one of her wrap parties. Their agent.

I flip the burner off, moving the frying pan from the heat.

"Put it on speaker."

Chapter sixteen

Melody

The fear in Parker's eyes is a living, breathing entity. But I grab his hand and squeeze it, trying to convey to him in half a breath that Harrison won't let anything bad happen to us - to trust him; trust us. He must decide to trust us, because after a deep breath in, he presses the 'answer button'.