by Jet Mykles
Noble sighed and shook his head. “Me neither.”
Luc echoed his sigh. “Reese wanted to be secret when we started out too.” Luc shook his head. “I couldn’t do it. I wanted to be with him too much.”
Noble looked at the platinum band that circled the third finger on the man’s left hand. Just this past New Year’s Eve, Luc had married the man he loved. Noble had been there to witness it. No one would have been able to tell that Reese had once wanted to keep Luc a secret, because the wedding had been big and lavish, and the happy couple had been inseparable and all over each other.
“Yeah.”
Luc considered him, dark eyes kind. “You care about him?”
“I think so, damn it.”
Luc chuckled. “I take it coming out is bad for him somehow?”
“He signed a morality clause for the Criminea productions.”
“Damn. Well, if you really care about each other, it’ll work out. Take a look at each of the guys around us.” Luc glanced to either side to make his point. “It’s worked out for us.”
Luckily, the photographer chose that moment to regain their attention to request a few position switches. It gave Noble a chance to drop out of that conversation and push it to the back of his mind. But when the shoot was winding down and he looked up to see Foxy and Mari sitting on the edge of the stage with Fiona, Gordon’s new assistant, he couldn’t help but think some more. All his bandmates and all of Heaven Sent were in committed relationships. Every one of them had gone through their own story of hardship. Noble knew some of the stories firsthand and others only through word of mouth, but he knew there were stories. Was this one his? Or was it just another chapter in a long line of shorts?
When the photographer thanked and released them, he put on his game face and went to meet his guests. They still made an attractive couple, both dressed in jeans. She wore a Heaven Sent T-shirt and he an Indigo Knights shirt, the knight’s helm an attractive blazon across his broad chest. Foxy’s eyes were steady on Noble during his approach, but Mari only saw him at the last minute.
She grabbed his shirt to pull him close. “That’s Johnnie Heaven,” she said with all the awe and rapture of a smitten fangirl.
Noble grinned. “Is it?”
“Don’t tease me.” She shook him without looking at him, her attention on the gorgeous man with the long hair and laughing green eyes. “Introduce me?”
“Sure.” With a grin for Foxy, Noble led Mari toward the singer.
Johnnie, a consummate professional, saw what was happening immediately. He put on an easy smile as Noble made introductions.
“Johnnie, this is Maritza Wesker.”
He took her hand. “Of course it is. I’ve seen Criminea.” With her wide-eyed and flabbergasted, Johnnie pulled her close to brush a kiss over her cheek. “But you’re much sexier in person.”
Noble had seen it happen a million times now, had even caused the reaction a few times himself, but watching it never got old. The fangirl syndrome took over, and Mari nearly fainted. The hold she had on Johnnie’s hand was probably her only connection to reality. She stared up into his eyes, and her pretty lips worked, but no sound came out. “Give her a second,” Noble joked. “I think you’re more than she bargained for.”
“How’s that possible? She knows you.” Johnnie winked.
They laughed, and it gave Mari a chance to recover. She flushed as she drew her hand from Johnnie’s. “I’m so sorry. I’m not usually like that.”
“It’s okay. Happens all the time.”
She gave him a look, then managed a smile. “Trouble is, you actually mean that.”
Now all three of them laughed. Johnnie was kind enough to stay and talk with Mari for a while.
They were just taking a selfie with her camera when Noble felt a presence behind his left shoulder. “That was nice of you.”
Noble turned, stepping back to put a little distance between them. “Nah, he’s the nice one.” He shoved his hands in his pockets to keep from reaching for Foxy. “I just made the introductions.”
They stood there, staring at each other. Goofy. Gah. Noble glanced away. “So, have you met everyone?”
“Not yet.”
“Stop staring at me. There are cameras all over the place.”
“What? Oh.” Foxy shifted, turning to put his profile to Noble. “Right.”
“Who do you want to meet?” Everyone was still there even though the photographer and her crew had mostly packed up. It was a colorful scene, however, and the photographer had another, smaller camera in her hand and was using it to snap candids.
“Uh, anyone. I guess.”
“You guess?”
“You’re the only one I want to be with.”
Noble sighed, dismayed more by the warmth he felt for the words than by the actual words. “You’ve really got to cut that out.”
“Don’t like it?”
It was a leading questions, and Noble let himself be led. “I like it too much. We’ve got a few years before I can enjoy it, though.”
That deflated Foxy’s bubble. Noble took him around to introduce him to everyone, and Foxy held his own, admirably displaying that he was a public figure and he knew it. A few of the girls on staff cooed over him, and Hell surprised him by proclaiming to be a huge fan. Noble’s mood lightened considerably to watch the diminutive blond take picture after picture with Noble’s secret lover, all the while peppering him with questions about Criminea lore.
“You’ll never get him back,” Luc murmured to Noble as they watched the pair.
Seeing Hell throw back his head and laugh with Foxy about something they both found highly amusing, Noble couldn’t help but smile. “That’s fine.” And it was. How could he not be happy to see the man he loved so comfortable with the people who had become his family?
* * * *
He came offstage covered in sweat. Blue hair was plastered to his skull, and his tank top was glued to his chest. The Los Angeles crowd had pumped the air full of energy that he’d fed off, maybe leading his bandmates into a slightly faster pace than normal. Grinning, he bounced down the stairs that led from the stage, pulling out the in-ear monitors to let them dangle by their cords over his shoulders.
“So what got into you?” Lance asked, mild voice echoing off the walls of the hallway that led from stage to backstage.
Noble saw his teasing grin and matched it with one that hurt his face it was so wide. “What do you mean?”
Someone pushed him from behind. “You were on fire,” Danny pronounced.
Laughing, Noble spun to walk backward so he could see all three of them. His bandmates were also sweaty, though Lance showed it less with his severe ponytail and all-black ensemble. Rabin was shirtless, and his light blue jeans had sweat patches. Danny’s hair was slicked back, the indigo streak a swath of color from hairline to nape. Everyone was all smiles.
“Just needed to be that way,” Noble assured them, arms wide as his boots clomped on the tiles. Air-conditioning caused goose bumps on his drying skin. “We needed to pick up the pace tonight.”
Rabin snorted. “I’ll say.”
With one hand, Lance spun him around just before his back would have hit the door at the end of the hall. Still grinning, Noble led the way around the corner and into the spacious green room.
“That rocked.” Darien was the first one to him, hand up for a high five.
Which Noble gave, with relish.
Darien slapped his shoulder, then gave it a good squeeze. “Man, I’m pumped after that.”
The rest of Heaven Sent were on their feet, feeling the energy as they waited for the call to send them onstage. Noble and the Knights had done their job well tonight, and everyone was riding the high.
Including the few guests in the greenroom. Even surrounded by people, even distracted by a job well done, Noble sought and found Foxy standing with Mari in the corner. Heedless of anyone else, Noble made his way through the surprisingly crowded room, eyes locked with
Foxy’s as he made his progress.
His hands curled against the urge to reach out and grab the man, and he wasn’t sure how he managed to stop himself just an arm’s length away. “Hey.”
“Hey.” Foxy’s body language mirrored his—barely suppressed tension.
“That was awesome,” Mari breathed, stepping between them slightly. “Thanks so much for letting us be here.”
“No problem.” Conscious of drying skin and a probably rank smell, he only ran a hand down her arm and kissed her cheek. “It’s been a good night.”
“Hey, Noble,” called a voice he’d heard but didn’t know at first. He turned to see one of the many photographers who seemed to be at every show. He believed this one was called Saul. The man held up his camera with a smile and a glance that took in all three of them. “Can I get a picture?”
Noble glanced at Mari, but she was looking at Foxy. He had an odd, blank smile on his face as he answered for all of them. “Sure.” That was Foxy’s public persona, the quiet, almost shy man he presented as Donny Foxley. It was the one in pictures from the red carpet. It was the Donny Foxley Noble didn’t know and wasn’t allowed to be with.
That sobering thought brought down his mood a bit, but he donned a smile for the pretty pictures. Saul moved on, and Noble put his back to Foxy by turning to catch the eye of one of the assistants, who came to him with a towel and a bottle of water. Mari, seeing that he wasn’t leaving their side, started peppering him with questions, all of which he was happy to answer. It served to get his mind off the man who now stood quietly behind him, radiating a heat that was probably Noble’s imagination. But the fact that it was all in his head didn’t make it any less hot. Another roadie took his earpieces and the receiver clipped to his belt, and that fired another round of questions from Mari. Then, finally, the lights flashed, and an assistant came to get the band and lead them to the stage.
“Aren’t they leaving?” Foxy asked in a voice that only Noble and Mari could possibly hear.
Noble looked up to see him eyeing the three people with press passes who were chatting with Lance and Rabin while Danny ducked into the corner to change clothes. Lance and Rabin had already changed. “No.” Heedless of his audience, Noble yanked off his tank and dropped it on a folding chair. “They used to leave, but they stick around now.” He grinned at Foxy, aware that his naked torso was distracting. “We’re a big deal now.” He knew the grin didn’t reach his eyes, and Foxy saw it, a small frown turning the corners of his luscious mouth. The mouth Noble wanted to devour so bad. “So, there’s a party. Somewhere. When they’re done. You guys game?”
Mari perked up. “Where?”
Before Noble could answer, Gordon’s voice filled the room as he came through the door. “Okay, ladies and gentlemen of the press, I’m going to ask you to leave. Friends and family only for a bit.” He focused on the three reporters standing with Lance and Rabin.
Two of the three glanced to where Foxy and Mari stood with Noble, as they were the only possible people in the room to fall under the “friends and family” category. One of them, a loud, ballsy woman named Tammi, called, “Hey, Noble. How are you and Foxy family?”
Noble kept staring at her with a cool, calm smile on his face, hoping Foxy and Mari behind him hadn’t shown surprise.
Gordon put an arm around the woman’s shoulders. “More questions later. Now the guys get to relax with their guests. We’ll have you back in a bit.”
Noble wasn’t sure she bought that, but she didn’t have much to go on. Gordon escorted her and the other two out, then closed the door so that it was only the band and Noble’s guests. Even the roadies had disappeared.
“Sorry,” Gordon said, coming toward them. “I might have made that worse.”
“No worries,” Noble replied, eyeing the door. Then it dawned on him what Gordon had done. Before the thought finished, Noble had spun around and was on Foxy like white on rice, tumbling the man back into the wall. Fortunately, Foxy was on the same wavelength and caught him. Even managed to keep them from falling over, sucking in Noble’s tongue while something crashed to the floor beside them.
Laughter broke out behind Noble, but he couldn’t be bothered to listen. It was all he could do not to drop to his knees and delve into Foxy’s jeans for the cock he wanted too much. Kissing would have to do, and kiss they did. Like putting a Band-Aid over the wound, it helped. For now. Finally they tapered off, and Noble could figure out what the people behind him were saying. Mari was close, talking with Gordon and maybe Danny.
Yes, Danny, who laughed as Noble tipped his head back. “You get what you needed?”
Noble didn’t even look at him, eyes still closed as his fingers loosened from Foxy’s hair. “Put Cash in the room, and you’d do the same thing.”
“True.”
An additional hand touched his back, and he could tell it was Gordon. “If you two can come up for air, I’d like to ask you something.”
Noble nodded, took two more seconds to enjoy his body plastered to Foxy’s, and opened his eyes. Foxy’s dark gaze met his for a moment of understanding; then Noble backed away and turned to face his friends. All eyes were sympathetic.
“So.” Gordon got their attention, his eyes on Foxy. “This thing between you is serious?”
Foxy’s fingers had twined with Noble’s. He nodded.
“But it needs to be kept a secret?”
“He signed a morality clause,” Noble spoke up, defending his lover.
Gordon nodded. “Those can be tricky. Any chance you can tell me the details of this one?”
“I’m not supposed to make any big life changes. No getting married, no getting caught with drugs, no sex changes.”
“And no announcing you’re gay.”
“Right.”
“Or what happens?”
“It’s sort of up to them.”
“And they are your producers?”
“I think so.”
Gordon considered him, head cocked. “Any chance you could get your hands on the wording of this clause and get it to me?”
“You think there’s a way around it?” Noble asked, hardly daring to hope.
“Maybe.” Gordon had studied law for a while. He certainly knew his way around contracts. “Morality clauses aren’t that easy to enforce. It depends on how it’s worded and who’s enforcing it. I can’t make any promises, but we can show it to Chris, at least.” Christopher Faith, Darien’s boyfriend, actually was a lawyer. His firm represented both bands as well as the management company Gordon worked for.
Foxy nodded. “I can do that.”
“Good. Noble can get you my e-mail address. Meantime, what are you planning to do?” This to Noble.
He blinked. Glanced at Foxy, who was looking at him with guarded hope. With a little laugh, Noble shrugged. “I don’t know. Wing it?”
Gordon gave him a wry smile. “You might want to give it some thought.” Then to Foxy: “If you’re serious, you should speak to your agent and tell him or her about this. They might be able to test the waters for you.”
Foxy nodded.
Gordon sighed. With a hand on Noble’s shoulder, he leaned in to kiss his cheek. “It’s not going to be easy.” With a smile, he slid an arm around Foxy for a hug. “But welcome to the family.”
* * * *
Later that night, Foxy lay with Noble in his room. It was dark, but no hotel room in a big city could ever be truly black, so they could see just fine as they faced each other on their sides. All the sheets and blankets were bunched at their feet or on the floor, and the air-conditioning had just about dried the sweat on their skin.
Staring into those dark eyes, made only darker by the lack of light, Noble asked a question he’d never thought to ask before. “Why me?”
A slow smile curled Foxy’s sexy mouth. “Why you?”
“Yeah.”
One hand slid down Noble’s side to rest on his hip. “Other than the fact that you’re outrageously sexy?”
&n
bsp; Noble gave him the grin he wanted. “Yeah. Other than that.”
“There needs to be more?” Foxy was teasing.
While Noble enjoyed a good tease, he found he wanted a serious answer. So he let his smile fade and willed Foxy to see his need. “Yes.”
The hand on his hip slid around to cup his ass to pull him closer. Noble went but wouldn’t get close enough that he couldn’t see Foxy’s eyes.
“You’re never lonely.”
Not the words he expected. Noble blinked and waited for elaboration.
It came slowly. “You’re always comfortable with yourself and where you are. I’m…” Foxy shook his head. “I’m not like that.”
“You seem pretty comfortable.”
Foxy chuckled. “Yeah, well, that’s kind of why I went into acting. I’ve never been real happy with myself, so I got good at pretending.”
Noble had to think about that some. “I’ve never thought about that for actors before.”
“Yeah, it’s weird. We’re supposed to be these confident show-offs, but a lot of us just don’t like who we are, so we make a living at being what we’re not.”
Noble stroked Foxy’s cheek. “So who’s the guy I’ve been sleeping with?”
The smile returned. “That’s me. That’s what’s so special about you. From that first time we talked, I felt like I could be me. You didn’t care that I was a movie star, you didn’t want anything from me, and you weren’t trying to be something special to impress me. You were just you. You’re always just you.”
Noble snorted. “Yeah, well, that’s not always a plus.”
“Take it from someone who’s never been like that—it’s pretty awesome.”
Noble let that settle for a few moments, liking what he’d heard. He could have left it alone, but Foxy had shared, so Noble felt a need to open up as well. “The whole fact that I wouldn’t hide what I was got me kicked out of my parents’ house.”
Foxy bent his head so their foreheads touched, his hand once again stroking Noble’s side.
Noble played with a curl of Foxy’s hair at the side of his neck. “I got that it was dangerous to be so out where we lived, but I thought it was worth it. I wasn’t very good at hiding it, so I never really tried. My dad couldn’t handle me being gay.”