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Adrien s armor was in the lift of his brow, the angle of his mouth,
the way his whole expression seemed to convey an attitude that the
world wasn t as serious as everyone made it out to be, and he was
just in it for the kicks.
 Who s Jon? Cristian asked as he came back into the bedroom
with a glass of water and a bundle of damp hand towels.
 A mistake. Adrien took the glass and drank a third of it, then
grimaced.  A guy I had a fling with, who thought that it was
something more. Now he s running around outing me to anybody
who ll stand still long enough to listen, to get back at me.
 And Amber? Cristian gestured to the bed.  Lie down, on
your stomach.
Adrien eyed the towels in Cristian s hands. His mouth turned
up at one corner, a wry grin that Felix didn t buy for an instant.
 You re going to get my bed wet, he protested.  I have to sleep in
here tonight, you know.
Cristian gave him a stern look.  Lie down.
Adrien rocked back and raised an eyebrow at Cristian, like he
couldn t believe the other man was giving him orders and
expecting him to obey. Felix was startled by it, too, but he was
even more surprised when, after that one look, Adrien shrugged
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and rolled over to stretch out on his stomach.
He crossed his arms under his cheek, his face turned toward
both of them.  Amber s freaking out, of course. He hissed in a
sharp breath when Cristian lay the first towel over his back.
 Christ, what d you do, soak it in ice water?
Cristian made a sound low in his throat and pushed on Adrien s
shoulder.  Stop that. It ll help.
Adrien settled back down at Cristian s direction, and it was no
less amazing than it had been the first time. Felix watched in
wonder, shaking his head.
 Why s Amber worried? he asked while Cristian laid the
strips out across Adrien s back.  I can t open my datascreen
without running across some new and lascivious rumor about you.
That s nothing new.
Adrien made a sound that Felix took for acknowledgment.
 Yes, well. People don t stop seeing my vids because there s a
rumor going around that I m banging some up-and-coming
Hollywood starlet.
Felix waited when Adrien stopped speaking, expecting him to
continue. When it seemed like he didn t intend to, Felix prompted,
 But they will if they hear these rumors?
Adrien s brows lowered. When Cristian put the next cold towel
across the small of his back, he hissed and tensed, rising off the
bed. When he settled back down, it was with his head on his arms,
his face hidden. His words came muffled.  It s only the trash mags
now, and everyone knows they re full of shit, but the others will
catch on to the story soon enough. That s when the trouble starts.
They re the ones people pay attention to, and take as gospel.
Makes it hard for women to get immersed in the holo experience
when they know I d rather be fucking a guy.
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Felix was startled silent for a moment.  I wouldn t know, he
said at last.  Does it? Isn t that the whole point of acting? To
convincingly pretend you re someone you re not?
 Mmm, Adrien murmured, which might have meant anything.
 In theory, but the numbers say otherwise. It is possible to be an
actor, and be out, and be successful. But it s too late for that. My
whole career s built on sex appeal.
 How s that feel? Cristian asked before Felix could voice
another question.
Adrien lifted his head to shoot Cristian a wry glance over his
shoulder.  Like I ve been swimming about in the Arctic, thanks.
Cristian s expression flattened even farther.  I ve got a gel that
will help with bruising, he said with exaggerated slowness, like he
was speaking to a child.  But if you need the towels on a little
longer 
 Oh, God, by all means, take them off. I d prefer not to turn
into a Popsicle.
Felix took the towels from Cristian as he removed them, so
they wouldn t get Adrien s bed wet, and carried them into the
bathroom to hang over the shower rod. When he returned to the
bedroom, Cristian was very tenderly spreading a clear gel onto
Adrien s back.
Felix stopped in the doorway, watching as Cristian drew his
fingers over the marks, frowning very faintly. He d never have
anticipated any of this. Not that Cristian would fuck Adrien, or
beat him, or that afterward he d be like someone else entirely, kind
and protective and concerned.
What on earth happened between them? Felix wondered again.
And why had Adrien looked like he d been put through the
wringer when Felix woke him?
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 But you ve dealt with rumors that could have derailed your
career before, Felix said from the doorway. Adrien turned his
head to look at him.  Maybe not as often as the ones that don t
matter, but I m sure you have. Surely your agent has some idea of
how to handle a situation like this.
 Amber s got an idea, all right, Adrien said darkly, softly.
 That s the problem.
Felix just watched him, waiting for elaboration.
 She wants me to marry Juliette Halles, he said at last.
Felix s brows shot up. Even Cristian s hands hesitated on
Adrien s back.  The supermodel?
 Yeah. Adrien lay his head down on his arms again.  That s
the one.
 She doesn t know that the rumors are true? That you really are
gay?
Adrien was quiet for a moment. He chewed on his lip as a
shadow passed across his expression.  She knows.
Cristian stopped his ministrations. His head snapped up.
 Excuse me?
Adrien shifted, freeing a hand so he could rub at his eyes.  She
knows, he repeated.  It doesn t matter.
 She knows you re gay and she s trying to get you to marry
some woman anyway? Felix demanded, irate.  For publicity?
Jesus, Adrien.
 It s&  Adrien made a frustrated gesture.  She doesn t care
who I sleep with, or who I want to sleep with, except when it
affects my career. Sleeping with Jon fucked things up. Marrying
Juliette is damage control. It ll take the wind out of their sails if the
mags go and announce that I m gay after Juliette and I have
announced our engagement.
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Felix rocked back on his heels, staring at Adrien.  You sound
like you re really thinking about it. You can t do that.
 Sure I can. His voice sounded flat, lifeless.  It s not like
she s under some delusion that I d be marrying her for love. She
doesn t love me, either, but Amber says she s carrying her clone
and there s bound to be scandal about that, when it gets out. If we
got married, no one would stop to ask who the father is. It d be
good for both of us.
 Good? It s horrific.
Adrien shrugged and laid his head down again.  It s just
business.
 Living with a woman you ve never even met? That s
business? You don t even know her. Adrien flinched as Felix
echoed his own words back at him.  You might not get on at all.
 She s a supermodel. I m an actor. Tension rippled down
Adrien s back as he buried his face in his arms.  We ve got busy [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]