Karl/Reader story
Both are actors/ best friends.
Doing a movie together that has a sex scene in it.
First for reader but not Karl (aka The Boys)
Karl makes sure the reader is safe and comfortable even with a few hiccups on reader's part.
**have no idea where this story idea came from but feel free to add anything if you think it would work
I’m a bit behind on my asks, loves, but never fear, I’ll get to all of them! This one got a little long somehow, and it took me like a year 🙈 I really struggled with it, so this will probably be my first and only Karl x you actor fic.
I hope you like it @butchers-girl and everyone else too. I apologize in advance if it sucks! ❤️
Let me know if you’d like on the tag list
You and Karl had been friends for a very long time -since you both had acted in a film together. Of course you had always known he was very attractive, but you never wanted to jeopardize your friendship, and the timing has always been off anyway.
But you knew you could depend on him. You had just gotten booked on a film he was also working on. Your part was small but you were playing his love interest.
You were excited for the job, however, just before you left to fly to Atlanta for the film, you found out the guy you were seeing had lied about everything. He was a really bad guy. You had missed all the signs and you felt like an idiot. The night before your flight Karl called and you told him what had happened.
“I’m so sorry.” The concern in Karl’s voice was so clear, you knew he felt terrible you were going through this now but he wouldn’t let you face it alone. “And you’re not an idiot. Far from it.”
Your eyes started to sting a little with the tumult of emotions rolling through you. “Thank you, Karl,” you murmured. “But it’s still hard not to think I should’ve figured this out earlier.”
Karl’s voice softened, that protective edge coming through strong. “Hey, no. Don’t do that. Don’t sit there blaming yourself.” He sighed into the phone. “You trusted him because you’re kindhearted. That’s not a weakness. That’s one of the best things about you.” He paused seeming to consider his next words carefully. “…But if I ever meet this guy? He’ll have his own problem for him to figure out.”
That got you to crack a smile through the pain and you laughed softly. “You’re the best.”
“Nah,” Karl chuckled, that familiar, warm laugh of his coming through the phone. “Just trying to be a good friend.” He paused, and you could practically hear him thinking through the line, that mind of his always going a mile a minute. “Speaking of, you all packed up for the Atlanta shoot? Need anything?”
You were grateful for the change of topic. “Yes, all packed. I’m looking forward to seeing you.” Karl had already been in Atlanta for a few weeks filming.
“Good. You and those big suitcases of yours,” he teased, and you could clearly picture his smirk. “Can’t believe you manage to fill ‘em up every time.” He was quiet for a moment. “I’m looking forward to seeing you too.” That soft, protective edge to his voice was present again, but this time it was accompanied by something else… anticipation, maybe? “Hey, feel free to say no, but I think you should stay with me when you get here. I don’t want you all alone after what happened. And the house they gave me is big, plenty of extra rooms.”
You paused for a second, surprised. Not that you thought he wouldn’t do this, you just weren’t expecting it. “Oh, I - are you sure? I really don’t want to intrude. I’ll be okay by myself.”
“Intrude? Are you kidding?” Karl laughed, that confident, easy chuckle of his coming through the phone. “You could never intrude. You know that.” There was a pause, and you could almost imagine those hazel eyes of his as he smiled. “And I mean it, don’t think for a second about staying in some hotel. I’ve got a big house. You’re staying with me.” That familiar tone of finality was in his voice; he wasn’t going to let you argue about this.
“Well…okay.” You smiled to yourself. It meant so much to you. “I’ll be there then.”
“Good.” A pause, and then you could hear him grinning through the phone. “Can’t have you in some fancy hotel all alone when I’ve got a perfectly good guest room, anyway.” He chuckled, then the tone in his voice changed, turning a bit more serious. “You gonna be alright until you get here? About that jackass you were seeing?”
“Yeah,” you answered quietly. “I’ll be okay. I’m tired, I’ll just head to bed the early tomorrow I’ll be on that plane.”
“Good. That’s what I like to hear. And hey, text me when you land in Atlanta, yeah? So I know you made it safe.” A pause as he considered something else. “You want me to pick you up from the airport? You won’t be lugging those suitcases around on your own.”
“Oh no. I’ll be fine really. I’ll get an Uber.”
“Uh-uh. No way,” Karl said, and you could practically see him shaking his head through the phone. “I’m not having you get some stranger picking you up when I’m right here. It makes much more sense for me to get you, and that’s that. Text me the flight details. I’ll be there.”
“Ok,” you murmured and you couldn’t help a smile. “You win.”
“Damn right,” he chuckled, that familiar confidence in his tone. “You ought to know by now I always do.” He paused. “All right, get some sleep. I don’t want to hear you’re tired tomorrow just ‘cause you stayed up packing those giant suitcases of yours.”
“Will do. I just have a couple things to finish and I’ll go straight to bed.”
“Good,” Karl nodded, that protective edge still there, but it was tinged with a bit of teasing now. “And don’t you dare try and sneak any more stuff into those bags of yours. I already see what you try and pull every time.” That charming little laugh of his came through the phone again. “You’d pack the kitchen sink if you could get away with it.”
You laughed softly. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Goodnight Karl.”
“See you tomorrow.” There was a pause before he added softly, “Night,” and there was something about the way he said it that made your heart flip a little, but you pushed down the feeling as the call disconnected.
You couldn’t help closing your eyes and just sitting with your feelings. He was so wonderful. He always had been. Of course he had been married when you met him and you had truly just been friends. Now you were older, and he had been single for a long time. You shook it away and climbed into bed.
Karl had ended the call and stood silently in his kitchen for a few moments, mind racing. He had been friends with you for years, but lately, he had been considering the what-if. What if there was more between the two of you than friendship? He had done a damn good job of pretending, of hiding it, and besides, he wanted to give you time. After the last man you dated lied and betrayed you, Karl didn’t want to rush you. But there was that damn protective side to him and the feeling he had that maybe maybe you returned his feelings.
The next day Karl was right there at the airport on time to pick you up. He even parked and came in to meet you. When you spotted him just past the security exit, relief washed over you.
The second Karl saw you, his face lit up with that warm, familiar smile, the one that had made your heart do a little flip for awhile now. He strode forward without hesitation and immediately pulled you into a tight hug. “Hey,” he murmured against your hair before pulling back just enough to look at your face, those hazel eyes scanning yours for any sign of exhaustion or distress from the flight.
Looking up at him you gave him a true genuine smile. Everything else just seemed to fade away. “Good to see you,” you murmured.
That smile of his only grew wider, genuine, relieved, and without thinking Karl leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to your forehead.
He cleared his throat lightly before heading down to baggage claim with you. When you had your suitcases, he grabbed the biggest one. “C’mon,” he said gently, already steering you toward the exit like nothing unusual had happened.
Suddenly it felt like everything was not only going to be okay, it was going to be good. It wasn’t long to get to the house Karl was staying at during the shoot and it was beautiful. And definitely more than big enough for two people. He gave you a quick tour then left you in your room to get settled, telling you dinner would be in an hour.
The house was indeed spacious, modern, sleek, but cozy. Karl had clearly taken the time to make it feel like a home while he had been staying there alone for weeks already.
After dropping your bags in the guest room (which was actually quite luxurious), he disappeared to the kitchen to cook dinner, something simple but hearty that smelled amazing as soon as you stepped back out into the hallway later.
Eating dinner with him alone in that cozy house was enough to completely make you forget about your ex. It just felt like the most wonderful time with your best friend. “Thanks for dinner,” you said as he got up to take the dishes to the sink.
Karl waved off your thanks with an easy grin as he collected the plates. “No problem, glad you liked it,” he said, that deep baritone voice of his warm from the good meal and comfortable atmosphere between you two.
At the sink, he started rinsing dishes quietly for a moment before glancing back at you over his shoulder, a little hesitant now. “…You doing okay? Like… actually okay?” His brows knit slightly in concern.
“I am,” you smiled. “Now that I’ve had some time I realized I’m not missing much.”
A slow, relieved smile spread across Karl’s face, like he had been holding his breath waiting for you to say exactly that. “Yeah?” He turned off the water and dried his hands before leaning back against the counter, arms crossing loosely over his chest as he studied you.
There was something in his expression now, softer than usual, but also hopeful.
“Can I help cleanup? I want to pitch in after that great dinner.”
Karl nodded, already pushing off the counter. “Yeah, course,” he said easily.
He handed you a dish towel without hesitation as he started loading the plates into the dishwasher together with you, your shoulders brushing lightly in that small kitchen.
When you were done you glanced at the clock. It was starting to get late and you both had a very early morning on set tomorrow. “I think I’ll turn in,” you told him.
Karl nodded, wiping his hands one last time before gesturing toward the hallway. “Right, you go ahead and get some rest,” he agreed quietly.
There was a pause where he almost looked like he wanted to say something more, but then thought better of it. Instead, he just offered you a small smile as you both headed in opposite directions: him toward his room, and you back to the guest bedroom down the hall.
The attached bathroom was amazing and you let yourself take a long shower, then got ready for bed. Just as you were settling into the big cozy bed there was a knock at the door. “Come in,” you called out and Karl entered wearing a soft dark t-shirt and pajama pants.
Karl stepped inside, looking a little more relaxed now in his sleepwear, the usual confident actor replaced by something softer, quieter. He held two mugs of warm tea in his hands, the steam curling gently into the air.
“Thought you might like this,” he said quietly as he approached your bed offering one to you.
For a moment you were surprised by the gesture, so thoughtful and kind. He seemed to always know what you needed before you did. “Oh thank you,” you moved to get up but he waved you to stay in bed.
Karl shook his head with a small, reassuring smile, already used to your politeness. “Stay put,” he murmured, stepping closer to carefully place the mug in your hands before you could even fully sit up.
He lingered there for just a second, close enough that you caught his familiar scent (woodsy soap and something subtly masculine) before taking half a step back again like he was suddenly aware of how near he was standing to your bed.
There seemed to be a special moment that passed between you but for now you both had work. And neither one of you would want to jeopardize that or be unprofessional. Not while you were filming. You blew across the rim then took a small sip. “Thank you so much, Karl.”
Karl’s expression softened at your gratitude, and he nodded, understanding the unspoken weight of this moment between you two. He got it; you were both professionals first, after all.
“Anytime,” he replied gently before turning to leave, but hesitated in the doorway for just a heartbeat longer than necessary. “…Sleep well,” he added quietly over his shoulder before finally stepping out and closing the door softly behind him.
The next day you started filming. Your part wasn’t a big one but it had some good moments. You played an analyst that helped Karl’s CIA agent with a high profile case. Of course you got thrown into some perilous situations and eventually fell in love. Karl and you ran lines at home, sometimes you had dinner, sometimes you worked too long to do anything but crash when you got home. In what seemed like no time it was time to film one of your last scenes. A love scene with Karl.
Karl had been professionally prepared for this scene from the start, always treating it as just another part of the job, no matter how… intimate. But now, on set with cameras rolling and you both in character?
There was something undeniably electric between you two as he leaned in close, close enough that his breath ghosted over your cheek when he murmured. “Ready?” The question was quiet; meant only for your ears. And if his voice sounded rougher than usual? Well… maybe that wasn’t entirely acting either.
You gave him a small smile and nodded your head. You knew he would be professional and take care of you. It was a closed set, so it was only the director, the intimacy coordinator and a couple others.
Karl exhaled quietly, half relief, half something else entirely, and nodded back. The intimacy coordinator stepped in to go over boundaries one last time (just standard procedure), and Karl listened attentively, his gaze flickering briefly to yours as if checking you were good with everything.
“Alright,” the director finally called out after a few more adjustments. “Action.”
And then it was just you again, two people who knew each other too well pretending this wasn’t personal at all… even though every brush of lips against skin felt just a little different now.
It wasn’t romantic… you had cues and directions, people were in the room, it was clinical in a way but it was still the closest you had ever been to him and it just felt natural. You had already filmed scenes of shedding clothes. You each had those Hollywood magic things that kept you both decent even though you were meant to look bare. Karl scooped you up and laid you on the bed. He was consummately professional, and you appreciated it so much.
With Karl’s strong arms lifting you so easily, so gently, your breath caught the moment your back hit the mattress. He paused for just a second, hovering over you with those hazel eyes of his staring down into yours. To anyone else, he was the perfect actor in character as a protective agent giving in to emotion and desperate to keep his lover from harm’s way.
But to you, you recognized that tender undercurrent; the way you could feel how much he cared for you but kept every move professional for the cameras.
You were nervous but you did your best to hide it. You shifted when he crawled over you on the bed, following the script perfectly but you bumped your head against his shoulder clumsily. The director immediately called cut.
Karl reacted instantly, his hands coming up to steady you as the director called for a break. “Hey, you okay?” he murmured, his voice low enough that only you could hear the concern beneath it.
The intimacy coordinator stepped in quickly too, checking on your comfort level while Karl kept one arm loosely around your shoulders like an unspoken shield between you and anyone else on set who might be staring now.
“…Want me to get water?” he asked quietly, an easy out if needed; no questions asked either way.
You gave him a quick smile reassuring him you were fine and as soon as you did he moved back to sit on the bed giving you space. “No, I’m fine,” you gave a nod to the director and the intimacy coordinator with an apologetic smile. “Just moved wrong. My fault, I’m sorry.”
Karl stayed close but didn’t crowd you, just watching as you reassured everyone you were okay while the director gave some quick direction to reset; the intimacy coordinator watched as well before giving a thumbs-up to the camera team.
“Whenever you’re ready,” she murmured encouragingly. Karl turned to you now, that steady, familiar look in his eyes. “Still good?” His concern was palpable; his worry for you, not just the scene.
“Perfect,” you smiled at him. Now that you had gotten the first mistake out of the way you felt a little less nervous. The director called action again and Karl stepped right back into the role, following the script to perfection, completely professional, dipping his head to nuzzle at your neck.
The second time around, Karl’s movements were fluid, instinctive. He pressed his lips gently to the nape of your neck, feeling that little shiver it sent through you that had nothing to do with acting.
He kept his hands loosely on either side of you, careful not to put even the smallest bit of weight on top of you, as if the idea of hurting you in any way you unthinkable.
His head dipped lower now in the script’s direction, mouthing along your shoulder, and the warm exhale against your skin was so intimate that you nearly forgot about the cameras.
You had to cut and resume a couple more times and you were annoyed at yourself for being so new at this side of acting but Karl assured you it was normal for multiple takes especially in this type of scene.
He knew you were getting in your head about it too; that protective instinct kicked in as he watched the director discuss the scene with the intimacy coordinator and camera crew. He could see that look in your eyes that meant you were starting to doubt yourself… but he also knew better than to say anything in front of others.
Once the director called a short break, Karl finally had a moment to step over to you. “You’re doing fine, darlin’,” he murmured low enough that the others wouldn’t overhear. Just reassuring you; a gentle reminder that he knew you were doing a good job.
You gave him a grateful smile, tightening the robe around your body and looking up at him. He was so tall. “Thanks. Karl.”
Karl’s smile softened as he looked down at you, that protective edge still there in the way his gaze lingered, like he wanted to say something more but wasn’t sure if this was the right time.
“Anytime,” he murmured back, just as quietly before stepping away again. He grabbed his water bottle and took a quick sip while watching from across set, ready for when it was time to roll again.
You managed to quell most of your anxiety during the break. The director was happy with the scenes you’d done and Karl believed in you. The next scenes would be mimicking actual sex but it wasn’t long. When they called to start again, you slipped back into the bed and Karl climbed over you, pulling the blankets up to his waist.
The moment he climbed over you, that warm weight of him settling on top, you could feel both the script and those unscripted feelings swirling together like an intoxicating mix. He was careful not to put his full weight on you, but the heat from his body alone was enough to make you shiver from the sheer intimacy of the position.
He paused then, looking down at you through half-lidded eyes, that familiar protective edge to his expression. “Good?” he checked before the cameras rolled.
You nodded. “I’m good,” you smiled at him. The director called action and Karl slipped right into character, bracing himself over you and rolling his hips…
The moment the director called action, Karl’s body moved with practiced precision, his hips rolling in slow, deliberate motions that mimicked everything but didn’t cross a single line. The heat of him pressed against you was impossible to ignore, though; his breath came just slightly faster than before as he kept his forehead resting lightly against yours.
Every brush of fabric between you felt charged, every sound from the crew faded into background noise as he held your gaze like an anchor point: reminding you (and maybe himself) this was still just acting… even if deep down both of you had feelings developing that meant so much more.
The movements of the crew, the director, the camera, all of it kept the scene professional and in order. As soon as the camera was set again you started. The script called for Karl to bury his face against your neck as you both started to reach your peaks.
Karl’s head dipped down then, just like the script instructed. His lips were warm against your neck, a low sound rumbling in the back of his throat for the scene. You reacted in character but you memorized the way the weight of his body felt pressed against yours.
One of his hands came up instinctively to grip your hip, holding you in place beneath him as he made those slow, deliberate rolling motions above you.
The director made the call to finish the scene up and you moaned softly as his character took yours right to the edge.
Karl heard that soft sound you made, just for a second, his movements stuttered before he regained control. His grip on your hip tightened slightly (scripted; it was supposed to look possessive) as the scene reached its climax… but there was something in the way he looked down at you now that felt less like acting and more like something just a little bit more.
In the next moment, you cried out softly as the script called for your character to climax and then Karl’s character was supposed to climax as well right after you.
The look of focus was back in those hazel eyes then, the one that was meant to mask the way his eyes darkened at the sounds you made. Even though he knew it was just a scene, he couldn’t shake that possessive edge to the way he was holding you… almost like he couldn’t help himself.
And when you cried out, his jaw clenched before he murmured that low, broken moan of his character. He trembled against you for a second before his body finally stilled, the sound of the camera stopping echoing between you.
As soon as the director called cut Karl was standing, reaching for his robe and grabbing yours.
Karl handed you your robe quickly, his gaze flickering over you for a moment as he watched for any sign you were overwhelmed. He knew how many times this kind of scene could be exhausting, physically and emotionally. He reached out without thinking, just touching your shoulder in reassurance.
“You okay?” he whispered, keeping his voice low, just for you.
You took a breath smiled and nodded. You were glad you did this together. “Yes I’m good,” you told him. “I hope it works.”
He smiled too, the relief easy to see in his expression. “Of course it will,” he answered confidently, because he knew how good you were and there was no way the chemistry on screen wasn’t gonna translate. “You did great. We did great.”
He gave your shoulder a light squeeze, letting his hand linger for a moment longer than necessary but stepping back before it started to look like anything more than a supportive gesture.
You were both ushered to your separate trailers and the next day you finished up all your scenes.
Karl had been keeping an eye on you from across set, subtly, of course. He noticed the way you seemed a little more subdued than usual today after yesterday’s scenes… and he hated that it might be because of him.
Once your final shot was done, he made his way over to your trailer like it was just another friendly check-in. His knock was light but firm. “Hey, darlin’. You in there?”
“Yes,” you called out. “Come in.” This had been by far your best experience filming ever and you were just a little sad it was over.
Karl stepped inside a few moments later, the door closing quietly behind him before his gaze landed on you… and that protective edge was back. He could see you were down and while there were a hundred reasons why… there was a part of him that worried that he had something to do with it.
He moved further into the trailer, stopping a few steps in front of you. “You all finished?” he asked quietly. He already knew the answer… he just wanted to hear your voice.
“Yes,” you sat down to slip your shoes on. “All done. Really hoping - well hoping it looks good on screen. My work I mean,” you gave him a warm smile.
“It will.” The assurance was easy, automatic, without a second thought. He had been watching the dailies from your scenes and knew damn well you were one hell of an actress.
He was still standing in the middle of your trailer but he didn’t look like he was in a hurry to leave just quite yet. He hesitated for a moment but didn’t stop himself from blurting out, “…You sure you’re alright? You seem kind of quiet today.”
You were surprised he noticed. You had been trying to keep it to yourself. “Oh - yes. Yes I’m okay. I’m sorry if I seemed off. I just - I had a really good time. Just a little sad it’s over.”
Karl’s expression softened at that, something unreadable flashing in his eyes for a second before he nodded. “Yeah,” he murmured quietly, almost to himself. “I get that.”
He shifted slightly on his feet, arms crossing loosely over his chest as if physically stopping himself from reaching out to you. “…Guess we’ll have to find another project together then,” he added with a half-smile, trying too hard not to sound hopeful about it.
“If you see anything good, send it my way,” you grinned at him. And then you were all ready to go. For now, you were no longer coworkers and maybe - well maybe that thing you thought you’d both been feeling could come to light. You stood, stepping over to him. “Thank you for everything. You really made this wonderful.”
Karl’s breath hitched the second you stepped closer, like he hadn’t quite realized how much space was between you two until now. His hands flexed slightly at his sides, that protective edge warring with something else entirely as he stared down at you.
“Anytime,” he murmured back, voice rougher than intended. He wanted to say more, wanted to ask if this meant what he thought it meant…
You watched him take a breath and then…
Karl didn’t usually get nervous; but right then, his heart was pounding as he tried to sound casual about the whole thing. “There’s this, uh, place I know of. A new Italian spot, really good. Good wine.” He cleared his throat as if to regain his composure. “I thought maybe, tonight…”
He tried to sound normal, like a friend casually asking another out. The fact that he was hoping for something more was carefully hidden behind that familiar confident smile.
Your heart fluttered. Was he asking you out? You needed to know. You were sure your eyes were shining. “Tonight…?” you encouraged him to continue.
Karl’s smirk softened at the hopeful lilt in your voice, god, he loved that sound. He leaned in just slightly, his hazel eyes locking onto yours as he finally dropped the act entirely.
“Yeah,” he murmured, rough and warm all at once. “Tonight. Just us.” A pause, then a slow exhale through his nose like this was some kind of confession. “…If you want to.”
His deep voice did something to you and you couldn’t help grinning. “Like a date?”
“Like a date,” he confirmed quietly. And then, just because he couldn’t help teasing, “Unless you’ve got a better offer, of course.”
He kept that familiar smirk, but there was something else there in his gaze now… something almost like hope.
You laughed softly. “There’s definitely no better offer out there than you.”
Karl’s smirk softened into something softer, something that almost looked like relief. His fingers flexed at his sides again before he finally gave in and reached out to tuck a loose strand of your hair behind your ear, his thumb lingering just for a second on the curve of it.
“Good,” he murmured, voice gruff with something unspoken as those hazel eyes held yours captive now. “Because I’m not really good at sharing.”
You bit your lip as you got a little lost in his eyes. “Then it’s a date.”
Karl’s thumb lingered against the side of your face before he finally managed to pull back from you, even if he didn’t want to. He shoved his hands in his pockets to keep from doing something stupid like hauling you against him and kissing you senseless.
“It’s a date,” he agreed quietly, that familiar lopsided grin creeping back again.
*~*~*~*~*~
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