by Jet Mykles
“Right.” Noble sipped, noting that Reine had made use of the tiny bar just to the right of them to get him a refill. “Didn’t you say you were part of his crew?”
Reine laughed. “His ‘pact,’” he explained, using air quotes. Which meant that was part of the lexicon of the movie. Noble had read comic books and sci-fi novels; he knew what was what, even if the universe of this one was new to him. “I had a lot of scenes with him, but he mostly kept to himself. Nice enough guy, but it’s tough to get him talking.”
Quiet or not, Foxy was certainly a joy to look at. A crowd of people thought the same thing. “He’s doing okay now.”
Reine snorted. “Look carefully. He’s not saying much.”
Noble had noticed that. The guy was surrounded by people, all chattering to and around him. He smiled and listened, nodded and shrugged, but his lips spent more time with his glass than spilling conversation. It worked for him. At least four women were visibly trying to attract him. “He got a girlfriend?”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Reine slide him a sidelong glance. “A few.”
“Really?”
“Okay, I don’t know if any of ’em are official, but he was always surrounded.”
Feeling a pleasant buzz from the wine, Noble thought of the prettier-than-girls guys he’d seen on magazine covers. He knew a good number of the ones in the music scene were gay but hiding it. No reason to believe the same wasn’t true in the acting side of the world. Because he knew Reine was starting to get concerned that his affections were wandering, he slid his arm across the shorter man’s shoulders and murmured near his ear, “You ever try for him?” He entertained brief thoughts of him, Reine, and Foxy on a bed together. Nice.
Reine laughed away his dream. “No way. He’s the one all the girls flock to. The panty wetter for the teen scene.”
“So?”
“So? Guy like that can’t be gay.”
“Even if he is?”
“Even if he is.” Reine twisted a little so he fit more snugly against Noble’s side. “Besides, I was warned off him before I even met him.”
That deserved a look, so Noble pulled back a little so he could see Reine’s eyes. “What?”
“No joke.” Reine grinned up at him. “They found out I was gay and so much as told me to stay away from him.”
“No shit?”
“No damn shit.” Reine returned his attention below, sipping from his glass. “The studio’s got a major investment in this guy. They watch him like he’s a national treasure or something. You remember Urbano Young?”
Noble frowned, thinking. “Sounds familiar.”
“He was a big deal a few years ago. Same production team that’s behind Criminea had him lined up for a series.”
“Oh, wait, I remember. Some sci-fi thing about robots?”
Reine nodded. “That’s the one.”
“Didn’t he crash and burn big-time?”
“Big-time. They caught him with a teenager and heroin. It hurt the production and killed the franchise. That’s why they’re watching Foxley and all the principals in Criminea so close. It’s like the stuff I’ve heard about in the fifties when studios owned their actors.”
“Being gay isn’t such a big deal these days, is it?” Sure, it was in some circles, but for actors?
“You wouldn’t think so, but for him, it is. They’ve got him signed up all tight in his contract.”
Eyes still on the chatting crowd around the actor below, Noble ran a beringed hand through the softness of Reine’s hair. “Huh.”
Reine snuggled close. “There’s even a guy who’s paid to hang out with him.”
“Really?”
“Truth. He’s paid to hang out with him and be his friend. The guy standing beside him? That’s Zach, his handler.”
Zach was about a foot shorter than his charge. A little stocky but not in a bad way. Dark hair was cut short, and glasses made him look smart. Even as he talked, he watched everyone around Donny Foxley, clearly ready to step in if needed.
Noble shrugged, downing the last of his wine. “Cushy job if you can get it.”
“I’ll say. So…” Reine abandoned his glass on a nearby table, then twisted so he could put both arms around Noble’s waist. “How about it? You and me? Tonight?”
Noble smiled. He’d thought that was a foregone conclusion. “What? Don’t you have a rep to protect like Foxy?”
Reine snorted. “Right. Like anyone even notices me.”
Noble stared straight in his eyes. “I noticed.” Reine had shown up last night at one of Noble’s favorite clubs in the area and quickly become part of Noble’s group of new friends. He hadn’t been Noble’s chosen partner then, but he’d managed to extend the invitation for tonight before they’d parted ways. For that—and for being cute and funny—Noble had given him his phone number.
“Yeah.” Reine squirmed, his grin broad. “That’s what’s so sexy about you.”
“Aw.” Noble tightened his fingers in Reine’s hair, pulling just a little. “And here I thought I had the whole rock-star thing going.”
“You got that going in spades,” Reine assured him, that hungry look in his eyes.
Since Reine seemed so open, Noble went ahead and brushed a kiss across his lips. Just lips, no tongue, but there was definite promise for later. “Isn’t it early for you to leave? Thought you had to work the crowd?”
The hand that had slid down to squeeze the left side of Noble’s ass paused. “I…” Then Noble saw the hunger cloud a bit with reason. Reine cast a hesitant glance over the crowd. This was, after all, something of a working night for him. He’d explained that to Noble right from the start, and Noble was the type to remind people of stated intentions.
He chuckled, kissed Reine again, then released him. “Go.” Noble picked up his glass. “I’m gonna refill and walk the crowd. Find me later.”
“But…”
Under cover of the railing and the relative dark around them, Noble moved in to put his mouth near the guy’s ear. “I’m all yours tonight. Promise.” He blew seductively into Reine’s ear before he straightened, then savored the momentary bliss that had closed Reine’s eyes and put a silly grin on his face.
Green eyes dragged open over that grin. “An hour. Two. Tops.”
Noble nodded. “Go.”
Reine left his side. Noble took another look at the crowd, both up here in the balcony and below. This wasn’t his regular scene. He was normally surrounded by musicians, record execs, and groupies, but this wasn’t so different. Same idea, slightly different focus. The feel was a little less raw, a little more subtle, probably because actors were typically better at schmoozing than musicians. But Noble was never alone for long. Like his favorite aunt, Frieda, always said, a stranger was just a friend you hadn’t met yet.
He took his glass to the bar behind him and struck up a conversation with a tipsy older lady. His first instinct was that he’d seen her before, and he was right. She was Jane Archer, a character actor who’d been around forever. She proved to be a font of knowledge about the people around them and had soon introduced him to a new group of friends. A few of them recognized who he was and were full of questions.
“Oh, the Indigo Knights.” One of the women had a nasty tone to her voice that didn’t match up with her friendliness. “Isn’t that the famous gay band?”
He arched a brow, smiling as he heard his new friends go quiet with interest. Yes, you could hear a hush descending. Noble had witnessed this phenomenon a number of times. “You’re probably thinking of Heaven Sent,” he said smoothly. “We’re the new gay band.”
Her jaw dropped a little, unsure what to say next.
“I love Heaven Sent,” said Jane. She put a hand on his arm to pull his attention around to her smiling face. “Is your music like theirs?”
He shrugged and half nodded. “Yes and no. Brent Rose is our producer, so he’s influenced us a lot.”
“And he’s the…?”
N
oble smiled, thoroughly charmed by Jane. “Guitarist.”
“And you’re a…?”
“Drummer.”
“Ah yes. I can see that in your arms.” Although she’d already established that he was gay, she still smoothed a hand down his bare arm, letting her appreciation show. Harmless flirtation. Noble loved it. “Are you playing in town? I’d love to come and see you.”
They had an avid crowd of seven hanging on their words, including Aimee, the woman who had outed him. “Sorry, no. We’re headed overseas about a week from now.”
“For a tour?” asked Jane.
“Yeah.” He purposely didn’t glance at Aimee. “We’re opening for Heaven Sent, in fact.”
That got everyone’s attention. You had to be a rabid homophobe these days to denounce Heaven Sent, and Noble would be willing to bet good money that no one in this crowd could afford to openly be a homophobe. The floodgates opened on questions about his band, his music, touring, and Heaven Sent. A few more men joined their group, clearly interested in him for more carnal reasons. He smiled and flirted, but he was faithful to his promise to Reine. He might not be a boyfriend, but he could be faithful within certain boundaries.
Time passed. He didn’t mind at all, enjoying himself, learning about the people around him. He turned the conversation around to the movie industry and was fascinated by what they—particularly Jane, who’d been around awhile—knew. They gravitated to the ground floor of the club at some point, but he avoided the dance floor. With as much wine as he’d had, he wasn’t sure he could fend off advances if someone got him grooving. He loved dancing far too much. He managed to stay closer to women as he chatted, using them as a shield against the invitations he saw in dozens of male eyes. I’ll have to try actors more often, he told himself, glimpsing a whole new realm of possibilities.
He convinced Jane to take his bar stool as a fresh bottle of wine arrived for their group. She fussed but accepted. Then her eyes brightened as she looked over his shoulder. “Donny!” she called, waving her hand and proving she had mastered the art of projection with the volume of her voice. Still beckoning someone beyond him, she spoke to Noble. “Dear boy, have you met Donny Foxley yet?”
For this, Noble put down his newly filled glass. “No.” He turned and backed up a step to keep Jane at his side. “No, I have not.”
Tall. Yes. Donny Foxy was maybe an inch taller than Noble. His artfully messy curls looked more black and less brown in the colorful lighting that splashed off the dance floor, and his sleepy eyes definitely looked black. But that mouth… Oh, sweet Lord in heaven, the things Noble could do with that mouth. Foxy smiled as he bent to brush a kiss on Jane’s weathered cheek, then turned that smile on Noble. Confident but quiet, not quite shy but almost. Intriguing.
“Noble, this is Donny.” Jane touched each of them on the shoulder. “He plays my apprentice in this movie.”
Donny held out his hand, eyes locking on Noble’s. “Hey.”
Noble took the hand. “Hey.” They didn’t so much shake as squeeze.
“Donny, Noble is a bona fide rock star. Do you know the Indigo Knights?”
Noble barely heard her, caught up in the magic of Foxy’s eyes. Damn, if those eyes did to the camera half of what they were doing to him, it was no wonder this boy had women creaming their seats in movie theaters. Heavy lids, maybe just a little Asian since they tilted up at the corners and the lids were closer to flat than deep set. Thick black lashes curled away from rich, dark irises that promised dreams come true.
Then the lids blinked. “Yeah, I’ve heard of the Knights. I’ve got your album. Love it.”
Noble heard praise for the album often, but coming from this particular mouth, it made something in his heart hum. He couldn’t swipe a goofy grin from his lips. “Thanks.” Noble slowly drew his hand from Foxy’s, aware they’d been holding overlong. That might normally be a signal, but it couldn’t possibly be. “Glad you like it.”
“Noble’s band is opening for Heaven Sent on tour next month,” Jane interjected. The sound of her voice allowed Noble to look way, picking up his glass as an excuse to draw back from the pull of Donny Foxy.
“I’ve heard.” Noble chanced a look to see Foxy gracing him with a warm smile. “I plan to catch a show when you’re back stateside.”
Really? Noble fought the urge to look down at Foxy’s crotch. Damn, he hadn’t felt this kind of attraction in years. Not where he wanted to rub into a guy like a cat in heat. Instead he took a strengthening sip of his wine, then nodded. “Let me know. I’ll see what I can do about getting you good seats.”
“I’ll do that.” Holy horny toad, the subtle purr in that voice was intoxicating. “I…”
“Hey.” A newcomer crowded Foxy’s side, all smiling face with glasses and a black pencil mustache and chin strap. He held out his hand to Noble. “I’m Zach. You’re Noble Welbourn, right? I’ve heard your music, man. Awesome stuff.”
He shook the hand, noting that the guy took the opportunity to ease between him and Foxy. “Thanks.”
“I’ve seen Heaven Sent, like, a dozen times,” Zach proclaimed. “Did I hear you’re opening for them?”
Noble met his eyes and saw it. Zach knew what he was, what he liked, and was protecting his boy Foxy from the bad gay rock star. It was amusing. But Noble accepted it. Zach actually seemed like a fun guy and was very easy to talk to. Almost as easy as Noble. Between them, they drew the others around them back into a group conversation that even included some brief commentary from Foxy. But Zach was very careful to stick close to the younger man’s side, very careful to bolster anything Foxy said, and very careful to steer Foxy clear of Noble. Noble had to hand it to the guy—he was worth whatever they paid him. When a nameless starlet with obvious fame lust wandered close, Zach edged her into Foxy. In no time, she was tucked under Foxy’s arm and had clearly staked her claim for the night, if not longer. Noble wished them well.
Reine joined the group, and Noble helped him filter away from the others. Soon it was just Noble, Jane, Reine, and an empty bottle at the end of the bar.
“Well, my dears,” said Jane, polishing off the last of her wine, “it’s been a marvelous night, but it’s time for me to leave.” She set down her glass, then reached over to squeeze Noble’s arm. “It’s been lovely meeting you. I do hope to see you around when you’re back in town.”
“Absolutely.” He laid a fond hand over hers and squeezed back. “We need to make arrangements to go wine tasting. You promised.”
She laughed and patted his cheek. “You’re such a charmer. If I were only twenty years younger and a man.”
Chuckling, he gathered her into a hug that smelled of wine and lilacs. “I’d be all over you.”
She hugged him, patting his back. “Darling boy.” Drawing away, she stood. Both Noble and Reine were ready to catch her if needed, but she was steady on her feet. She hugged Reine, then toddled off into the crowd.
“She’s awesome,” Reine proclaimed.
“That she is.”
Reine looked at him, and that hunger was back. “You’re awesome.”
“Mmmm.” Noble finished his wine, then crowded Reine by hovering over his seat. “How about we go so you can find out just how awesome?”
“We’re out of here.” Reine hopped down from his chair, turned, and led the way.
Grinning, Noble dug his thumbs into the tight pockets of his pants and followed. He didn’t get very far before he had to pause to say good-bye to some other new friends. He did his best to make it quick, aware of Reine’s impatience. To be honest, he was impatient too. Despite the passing of time, he was still primed from those brief moments in front of Foxy. Foxy, whom he could not possibly think of as Donny or Donald or even Foxley. No, he was Foxy in more ways than one.
Thoughts of him drew Noble’s attention to the dance floor, where Foxy played catnip mouse to the starlet’s kitten. She was all long leg and pale skin wrapped around him, not that he seemed to mind. He moved well, with the sle
ek grace of a big cat. Noble let himself briefly imagine what it’d be like to be that starlet, to rub up against all those muscles. He let himself imagine further that Foxy felt him watching and that was the reason the man looked over and caught Noble’s eye. Even as Foxy tucked the girl’s head against his shoulder, he smiled and waved his free hand at Noble. At least, Noble thought so, though he wasn’t the only one in his vicinity who waved back. Laughing at himself, he turned away from dreamy Foxy to follow Reine out of the party.
Chapter Two
“Who?”
“Donny Foxley. Remember him? From the party?”
Of course Noble remembered him. He’d had a few wet dreams about the man over the past week, not all of them while he was sleeping. With a finger in his opposite ear to drown out the sound of the city street, he turned to face the storefront and huddled over his phone. “I remember.”
Danny stopped at his side, watching the passersby. The New York afternoon pedestrians moved around them without a second look.
“He’s having a party tomorrow.” Reine kept his voice calm, but Noble heard the plaintive note even though the connection wasn’t that great. He wanted to see Noble again. “He asked me to invite you.”
“He asked you?”
“Yeah. Called me up. Shocked the hell out of me ’cause he doesn’t talk to me much.”
Interesting. Donny Foxy called Reine to invite Noble to a party. “This another movie thing?”
“Nope. Just a party at his place. It’s his birthday, so it’s a big one. A ton of people will be there. He said you could invite the band if they wanted to come.”
So it could be that Foxy wanted some names at the party. The Knights weren’t as huge as Heaven Sent yet, but their name was growing. And Foxy had proclaimed himself a fan. “I’ve got rehearsal tomorrow.”
“It’ll be going all night. You can come late.”
“Yeah. Okay. Text me the info. I’ll try and come.”
“Awesome. Hey, maybe we could hook up again.”
“Maybe.” He didn’t make promises. Reine had been fun, but Noble didn’t like to limit himself.
