Chapter 15
NOW
A iden’s phone buzzed repeatedly, and he knew who it would be before he checked it. He’d gotten a dozen similar messages as he and Zayn had driven to Los Angeles.
Bram
Are you there yet?
Has he signed it?
Have you seen anyone?
Aiden
Yes, he's in there now, and no.
He swore Bram was more excited about this contract than Zayn. It wouldn’t have surprised him if Bram had tried to stow away in their car to get into MateHub’s headquarters. He’d even been the one to find the perfect agent to help Zayn negotiate his contract—a vampire named Adrian who represented MateHub’s only human star, Hunter Savage.
Zayn was signing on to film a few reviews for MateHub, with the potential to extend the contract if his videos went over well. He’d still be filming his usual reviews for his human viewers, but now he and Aiden would occasionally drive to LA for Zayn to review MateHub’s merch in a more professional setting, with better cameras and lighting.
MateHub had made it clear Zayn would never be allowed to do more than that. He wouldn’t be considered an official MateHub star and wouldn’t do scenes for them. His bond with Aiden disqualified him from those kinds of contracts—a fact that neither Aiden nor Zayn was particularly distraught over.
Bram
Next time you go, you need to take me with you.
Please take me with you?
Aiden
We aren't bringing you with us so you can loiter in the halls, hoping you run into Richard Knotz.
Bram
It doesn't have to be Richard. I've got a whole list.
Aiden snorted. He had no doubt Bram did.
Bram
OOH. Do you think he'll get invited to the year-end award show?
Can I go with him as his plus one if he does?
Aiden
Can you be my mate's plus one to a porn award show?
Let me think about that.
Ummm…
NO.
But if it does happen, we'll try to get you a ticket too. How about that?
Bram
Have I ever told you that you're my best friend? The absolute bestest of best?
The forum guys would be so jealous.
Aiden was about to respond, but the door to the meeting room opened, and Zayn, his agent, and a few representatives from MateHub stepped out. Zayn was grinning, his presence in Aiden’s mind a pleased warmth, and when he looked and felt this happy, it was impossible not to smile in return.
“All set?” Aiden asked, and Zayn nodded.
“The contract’s signed, and they said they’d give us a tour if we’re interested.”
“Might as well.” How many times did one get the chance to tour a porn studio? Plus, he was curious to see where Zayn would be filming.
Zayn’s agent and a MateHub representative led them through the building, wandering through the production offices and past the editing rooms. The props department had Aiden’s eyebrows climbing, and wardrobe seemed to consist mainly of outfits that required some serious suspension of disbelief. Either that, or he was ordering from the wrong pizza places, because a delivery driver had never once shown up in a sheer crop top with “Craving a good topping? Call Hot and Ready Pizza” written in glitter on the front.
Their next stop was one of the sets. The moment they stepped inside, Aiden’s breath was stolen by the sight, and Zayn’s shock reverberated through their bond.
Illusions had transformed the space into a massive Greek temple with rows of columns stretching into the distance. The scent of magic lingered in the air, making Aiden’s nose itch.
The crew bustled about, preparing for the scene. They adjusted lights and positioned the cameras surrounding an altar fit for worshiping a god.
“Um,” Zayn said, a concerned expression on his face.
His agent chuckled, shaking his head. “They’ll arrange a much smaller set for your reviews. They only do things like this for their biggest stars.”
“I’d say don’t let Richard hear that, but unlike other parts of his anatomy, I don’t think his head can swell any bigger than it already is,” a voice said behind them, and they spun around to find Tristan standing there. He looked Aiden and Zayn over with a disinterested gaze. “I take it I can stop searching for salt.”
Aiden grinned. “Yeah. No salt needed.”
“Salt?” Zayn asked.
“I’ll explain later.”
“So,” Tristan said, “are you sticking around for the filming? I can guarantee you’ll see a colossal dick. His penis is marginally larger than average too.”
“Ah…” Aiden didn’t know how to respond to that. Watching MateHub was one thing, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to watch live porn for anything other than Zayn’s reviews.
“As nice as a giant dick can be,” Zayn said, “I think we’re good.”
Tristan shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He turned to leave.
“Thank you,” Aiden called after him.
“No idea what you’re talking about. Salt is just so scarce these days.” He waved a dismissive hand and walked away.
“Yeah, you’re definitely explaining that later.” Zayn’s brow furrowed as he tried to figure out how salt could be difficult to come by. Aiden would explain, but before that, they had a tour to finish.
After they were done, a photographer took pictures of Zayn for the announcement and his profile on the site. She even snapped a few of them together. That was followed by a brief interview, and then they were free to go. They’d be back for Zayn to film his reviews, but they had things to do before then.
At the top of their list was driving up to Aiden’s pack so Zayn could meet them. Aiden usually managed the trip in two grueling days, but they’d be taking it at a more leisurely pace. They had four stops planned along the way, all perfect for nighttime observations, if they could unwrap themselves from each other for long enough to do that.
It’d be the first of many times they’d make this trip together, since they’d be staying in California for grad school, something they’d confirmed when their acceptance emails had arrived in their inboxes the week before.
As they left MateHub’s headquarters, Zayn glanced at him with a soft smile that made Aiden’s heart skip a beat. They got into their car, and Aiden pulled out onto the busy streets of LA.
The sun was bright and high in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the city as they headed toward the open road. Zayn’s hand rested gently on his thigh, and contentment permeated their bond.
They drove until they’d left the noise and chaos and light pollution far behind them. The initial blush of civil twilight darkened the sky, and Venus’s brilliant white pierced through the remnants of the day, soon joined by Sirius, Capella, Orion's Betelgeuse and Rigel, and, eventually, countless more.
This was the beginning of their journey, and it felt like gazing into the vast expanse of the night sky, knowing endless wonders awaited them among the stars. The road stretched out ahead, beckoning them to explore, and with Zayn by his side, Aiden had every intention of doing exactly that.