It did not take long for Gabriel to start dreaming up intricate scenarios in which Raiden agreed to play Akemi. He often fantasized about the trajectory of their relationship. When they first started working together, there would be a polite distance between them. The more they saw of each other, the more they would enjoy each other’s company. As they grew closer, the sexual tension between them would intensify. Finally—bursting with desire—they would screw in Gabriel’s trailer between takes.
The aftermath of these dirty little fantasies was often messy, with tissues required for the cleanup: a minor inconvenience. One night, however, after having indulged in another happy-ending fantasy, it dawned on Gabriel that if Raiden refused to accept the role of Akemi, then he might not fully recover from his crush’s rejection. Determined to succeed, he vowed to expend all his energy into recruiting Raiden for Luna Sunset—no matter how difficult the task proved to be.
Having recently finished filming the latest season of Mesmerized (now hugely popular, and single-handedly responsible for launching his international stardom), Gabriel decided that he was ready to commence his film career—with his idol in tow.
Acting upon blind faith, he secured lodgings in West Bloomfield, an upper-class Metro Detroit suburb, from the end of May through the middle of June. Gabriel made this “spontaneous” choice based on the knowledge that Scent was planning to tour the US with Prodigal Son that summer and would perform in Detroit on June 15.
Though certain members of his staff expressed alarm at his hasty decision, Gabriel assured them that his impulsiveness would pay off. He had no major projects lined up for a couple of months, so he had some free time. To amplify his monetary assets during the offseason, he agreed to do a few public appearances in the Detroit area. Though he certainly needed no extra income, Gabriel maintained that having more was always better than making do with less.
Ken Laurent, his close friend, roommate, and Mesmerized costar, had traveled to Michigan with Gabriel out of boredom. The previous night, however, after two days in town, Ken had declared himself “over it.” After bidding a fond farewell, Ken hopped into a cab and booked a red-eye to an unknown destination. Gabriel was unfazed. He had no doubt his roomie would reappear at some point. Ken was always popping in and out of the scene, traveling from here to there, bringing back corny souvenirs from his journeys. It was only a matter of time before he returned, since they both had tickets to fly back to LA on June 16—not by coincidence, the day after Scent’s Detroit concert.
Some of Gabriel’s entourage and his bodyguard, Joe, served as his chief companions while Ken was jet-setting. Joe had worked for Gabriel since last year. The two of them were close, despite Joe’s position as his employee. At present, the burly black bodyguard was waiting patiently at the rental house. Gabriel had requested that he stay behind this time, since his muscle was not needed. The actor had also ordered his driver not to pick him up, as he preferred to drive himself whenever he was away from Hollywood. An affectionate smile graced Gabriel’s silicone-enhanced lips as he remembered a joke Joe told him earlier about what prostitutes do on their days off.
I think I can handle it if Raiden gives me a hard time. Gabriel smirked at his mental double entendre. A few days ago, at a morning radio show gig, he had caught a glimpse of Raiden backstage. Predictably, the singer was even more gorgeous in person. They made eye contact and exchanged polite smiles—Gabriel’s was more lascivious than courteous—but that was the beginning and the end of their interaction.
He had not fretted over this missed opportunity to introduce himself, since he knew he would have a better chance of catching Raiden alone at Baza’s party. He was not too worried that Raiden would decline his film proposal once they got the chance to chat. After all, Gabriel Colin was currently one of the most sought-after small screen celebrities in America and boasted an impressive international fan base.
As he stood in the corner of the basement bar, nursing his fourth glass of Cabernet, he nonetheless started to lose hope. Maybe Raiden really won’t come. He sighed noisily in an effort to silence the worried voice festering in the forefront of his brain. The woman standing next to him jumped in surprise as his expelled breath ruffled the back of her hair. She shot him a sub-arctic look and departed in a huff. He cringed, mortified.
Well, excuse me, bitch. Your hair looked like a rat’s nest anyway.
Gabriel stared into his wine glass. The remaining liquid undulated in a series of waves. Hoping to numb the sting of disappointment he felt from Raiden’s failure to appear, he gulped down the remaining contents of his glass, anxiety dragging its leaden feet along the inside of his chest. As the minutes ticked by, there was still no sign of the singer. It was getting late—past midnight—and no new guests had arrived for at least an hour. Gabriel’s patience was waning. In his intoxicated state, he wanted nothing more than to go back to the rental house and wallow in self-pitying defeat. In the morning, he would have to devise some other plan to get in contact with the singer.
Raiden was so special. He personified the image of Gabriel’s ideal man. There was a mysterious air about him, otherworldly and tainted, flawed and fragile—yet iron strength lurked beneath that delicate façade. Lately, it was always Raiden’s face and voice permeating his thoughts and dreams, waking him out of a sound sleep, inspiring his most perverted fantasies. Gabriel wanted to be around him, breathe him in, steal his energy and keep it. There was no way Luna Sunset would ever work without his presence.
Gabriel tore off his sunglasses and slammed his empty wine glass on the counter, nearly shattering it. The bartender gave him a withering glance. Her contemptuous scowl changed into a seductive smile as soon as she recognized his globally famous face. He thought briefly of giving her the finger, but then decided against it. Even when inebriated, he still managed to maintain an air of decorum.
God knows I don’t need another rumor going around that I’m gay. Gabriel returned the smile with a lecherous wink, secretly disgusted when the girl ran the obscene length of her tongue along her bottom lip. He pretended not to see it.
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