Chapter 5 #2
He hurried over to Robin. “Do you still have time? I don’t want to get you in trouble if you need to be somewhere.”
“It’s fine. I’ll let them know I need a little longer and get them to portal me directly from Factor8.”
A portal meant the fae were involved. He’d seen Robin disappear into one a couple of times. “Is Simon collecting you? He could join us for a drink.”
He knew it would be better to make Robin think he was being inclusive.
“No, one of his security team will collect me.”
A car was called, and Dorian was careful to keep a respectful distance as he got in. “Where are you going after?” he asked.
“I’m meeting my sire.”
“Is he in the US? I didn’t think he travels far these days.”
“No, hence the portal. He wants my opinion on a gift for Lady Whetford. I’ve secured him an audience with a jewellery designer I know she loves in London. Then we have some House business to attend to.”
Robin was next in line to become the Dark Viscount Whetford. He had never discussed that side of his afterlife with him. “I thought it would be fae business since you’re being collected via a portal.”
“As the husband of a fae prince, I have access to their portals. You do realise I don’t spend that much time in LA these days?”
He hadn’t realised. “But you’re here for work.”
“And I spend as much of my downtime as I can with Simon.”
Robin’s enchantment was worse than Dorian realised. Simon had been able to separate Robin from LA, something Dorian hadn’t thought possible. “Don’t you miss being here?”
“Sometimes. Simon is happy to travel if I ask, but I want to be at home with him when I can.”
They arrived at Factor8. It was one of the clubs that liked to pretend it wasn’t there, with a black door being its only outward sign. He didn’t understand vampires, and their pretence to be understated in some ways and in others, they were some of the flashiest bastards on the planet.
The door opened as they approached. Robin was too well known to be stopped, and he walked straight into the bar area and claimed a table at the side. He waved away the waitress. “We won’t be here long.”
Dorian called her back. “I’ll have a Russian mule.”
Robin tutted. “You’re as stubborn as one.”
He got that Robin wanted to get away, but Dorian still expected a minimum of respect. “I’ve been working. I at least deserve a drink.”
“Fair enough.”
The waitress scurried away, leaving them alone. “I know you’ve somewhere you need to be, but it’s not my fault. And I’d have gone to your office if you’d preferred.”
“I didn’t have time to do that.”
“Robin, I know you’re in a tricky position with your husband’s opinion on our continued involvement. I’ve overstepped in the past, but I don’t intend to do so again. We’ve known each other a long time, I’d like to think we were friends as well as you being my manager.”
Debi had suggested this path. The cologne and dust would work, but she’d been concerned Robin would be suspicious of any change in his feelings for Dorian.
Robin hadn’t reached his level of importance by being easily fooled, and thought it would be a good idea for Dorian to back off from being his usual over-friendly self.
“What’s brought on the change?” Robin asked.
“I realised, as good as the sex was between us, I’m not going to beg for someone’s attention. You’re not interested, and I’ve rediscovered my pride.”
“I see. We were never a couple.”
“Exactly, so I shouldn’t be running after something that’ll never happen. I’ve many options, and you have your Simon. I’m admitting defeat, but that doesn’t mean I want to constantly talk about him, so let’s discuss this script.”
It was rare to see Robin surprised by an encounter, and he forgot himself for a moment before taking out his phone. “Probably easier to record the conversation and then I’ll get the notes transcribed.”
“I don’t have the script with me, but I can have Debi drop an annotated version to your office with the detailed changes I’d like to make.”
“Are any showstoppers?” Robin asked. “Most things are negotiable.”
“I want to stop doing sex scenes and reduce the amount of skin I have on display.” This wasn’t a new departure; he wanted to be seen as less of a himbo.
He might not be the brightest academically, but he was a good actor, and he didn’t get the credit he thought he deserved.
He hated some of the extreme dieting and exercise routines he needed to endure for some parts.
Even as a dragon, it wasn’t easy, and he wouldn’t have been able to do what the human actors went through.
“The script’s an action movie, I think your sex scenes could be fade to black without causing a risk to the plot, so that’s not an unreasonable ask,” Robin said.
“Then there are a few lines that make my IQ drop when I speak them. I get the role’s not a professor, but I don’t want to sound like a hatchling.”
Robin laughed. “I don’t think anyone would think that. Anything else?”
“There’s a subplot running through that gives off the other man vibes towards one of the female characters. I don’t want to be seen as a homewrecker on screen any more than I want to be accused of being one in real life.”
“I didn’t pick up that angle,” Robin said. “But I suppose if you squint, it could be. I thought it was more of a friendship, sibling-like even; there’s a way to adapt the dialogue to make that happen. It shouldn’t be an issue.”
He leaned and pretended to pick a piece of lint from Robin’s lapel, letting his thrall out a little, and the cologne would add the extra zing. Robin stared at him, his gaze seemingly fixed on Dorian’s lips.
“Robin? Are you all right?” He placed his hand on his arm.
Robin jolted away. “Anything else about the script?”
“No. I think I’ve covered everything.”
The waitress returned with Dorian’s drink. “There’s a fae at reception,” she said. “He said he’s here for Mr Flint.”
Robin smiled tightly. “I have to go.”
“Let me know about the script. Hope you have a good evening.”
Dorian grinned as he watched Robin leave. The potion and dust were working. He had time to see this play out; he’d be patient. Get Robin his freedom, and then, when the time was right, remind him of why they could be the hottest couple in Hollywood.