"Next question?" Rin called out over the microphone to the excited audience.

Several hands shot up, and the girl carrying around an extra microphone walked to the nearest person. The girl stood and began to speak. "Hello, I've been a fan for several years now, and though I absolutely love 'Seduction in a Time of Cherry Blossoms', I just can't wait! What's next? Do you have plans for your next book yet?"

Rin's lips widened as he turned a smirk to Rory, who sat quietly beside him. "I do, in fact. My new assistant here has been working very diligently lately to help me bring you all something new and special." Rin sent the entire audience a wicked wink. "In fact, some of you might have seen us running through some of the scenarios for the new story last night."

The sound of gasps and hushed whispers could be heard throughout the room as several hands shot up. The girl with the mic walked over to another girl. "There are several viral videos thought to be you and an unknown man taken in the elevator last night... would that be you and your new assistant playing out parts to the new story?"

Rin's grin widened as he held his hand out to Rory. "It was! I hadn't intended to announce this here, but since the cat is already out of the bag." He tugged Rory out of his seat and into his arms. Rin pulled Rory into a hug as Rory struggled against him. Resting his head on Rory's shoulder, Rin continued. "The story is about a shy nerd who comes into contact with and then possesses a fox god." Rin indicated himself when he said fox god. "My introverted assistant here has given me wonderful incite into the MC and is helping me craft a true romance instead of my typical steamy smut." When murmurs erupted through the crowd, Rin quickly added. "But not to worry, there will still be plenty of steam between the two." He placed a light peck on Rory's cheek. "Isn't that right, Buttercup?"

Rory could only groan in agreement. His cheeks flushed with humiliation, and all he wanted to do at that very moment was to vanish or crawl under the table in the very least.

Rin released Rory and clapped his hands together. "Now, any last questions about the current story?"

A boy with cat ears stood, and the girl with the mic walked over to him. "Will there be any more shots of the characters during the event, or was yesterday the only day?"

Rin shook his head. "No, we are doing a shoot later today, followed by a meet and greet. I'll be signing books and other merch in character. We still have several copies of the books left, but the prints are running low. So, we recommend anyone wanting copies make their way to our booths as soon as possible while supplies last. We'll not be re-releasing these prints."

Rory watched as eager patrons flooded their booth. "I can't believe there's even more than yesterday. Will you really not release more copies?"

Rin shook his head. "Nope. Most of the pictures are on our website, but the prints can't be purchased. They were for this event only." Rin's eyes lingered on Rory. "What are your plans for tonight?"

Rory shrugged. "I'm your assistant... I do whatever you do, yes?"

The corner of Rin's lips turned upward. "The event coordinator is planning a get-together for everyone who was invited out... I thought you... might want to be my plus one..."

Rory scrunched his brows. "What about Dillon or Sabastian?"

"Dillon has had enough of Sabastian's shit and is taking him home the second the event wraps up." When Rory still looked hesitant, Rin continued. "Apparently, Sab caused some problems at the club they were at last night, and Dillon had to do some major damage control. Not to mention the chaos and fights he nearly got them into." Rin shrugged, "Either way, it's just going to be the two of us tonight. So... we could either go to this event dinner together... or we could go out and have a nice quiet meal before coming back to an empty hotel room... just the two of us..." Rin closed the distance between them and ran his hand across Rory's forearm suggestively.

Rory jerked his arm back. "Regardless of where we eat and spend the earlier part of the night... won't we still have to go back to the same room?"

Rin chuckled. "Yeah, I guess you're right. I just thought it would sound more romantic if it were following a dinner with just us versus a night out with a bunch of people up our asses all night."

Rory arched a brow. "You don't seem to like the idea of the event dinner. If that's the case, why go?"

Rin shrugged. "It's expected of me." With that, he turned back to the crowd gathered around the booth.

Rory furrowed his brows. So, all that other nonsense was just to tease him... How much more of Rin's actions were nothing more than overstepped teasing? Rory watched as Rin signed books, pictures, posters, and more for the better part of three hours. He wasn't sure how Rin tolerated all the heavy makeup and accessories that went along with the costume, but true to his word, Rin stayed the entire time to do signings and meet-and-greets for all his fans.

By the time they made it to the room, Dillon and Sabastian had already packed their things, and in true Sabastian fashion, Sabastian was throwing a fit. "I'm not ready to leave yet! It's early! I want to go out too! Why does he go, and I don't?! I did all the goddamn work, did I not, while that connard sat on his ass doing nothing!"

Dillon rolled his eyes. "Maybe because you can't be trusted not to make a complete and utter ass out of yourself... have you thought of that? Or has last night already slipped your fucking mind?"

"Fuck you!" Sabastian yelled as he grabbed the lamp from the desk and hurled it toward Dillon's head.

Dillon caught it and tossed it to the bed. "Yeah, way to make your point. Why don't you show us just how civil you can be? Go smash the fucking mirror next, why don't you? Show us all what a little cunt you can be when the drugs and alcohol have worn out of your system!"

Rin shook his head as he stood in the open doorway and turned to Rory. "Why don't you wait out here for a second?" He stepped in and closed the door behind him.

Rory could hear muffled yells and glass breaking from outside the door before it finally slammed open. Sabastian's angry eyes burned into Rory's as he stomped out of the room. "Fuck you! I hope you enjoy being Rin's new little bitch... You fucking whore ass bitch! I hope you choke on the big one! You stupid fuck! You don't even know." He narrowed his eyes as he came closer to Rory and began shoving his thin, sharp fingers into Rory's shoulder. "You're such a stupid hoe, I bet you still haven't figured it out. Ha! You're so fucking stupid, you won't know until Rin has a dildo shoved all the way up your ass-"

"That's enough!" Dillon grabbed Sabastian's wrist and dragged him and their bags toward the elevators.

Rin followed behind them, still shaking his head. A red handprint marred his otherwise perfect face. "Dude, I'm sorry you had to go through that just now."

Without thinking, Rory rushed over and gently pressed his fingers to the handprint on Rin's cheek. "Are... are you ok? Does... Does it hurt?"

Surprise flashed across Rin's face, but he quickly masked it with a smirk. "Hurt? Oh... nah... You can't be a hopeless rake like me and not get a few slaps here and there, right?"

Rory frowned. "It looks pretty swollen... Are you sure you don't need ice?"

Rin shrugged. "It'll be fine for now. If it doesn't look better before we leave for the event dinner, I'll let you ice it then."

***

Rory couldn't take his eyes off Rin. He hadn't been to an event that called for formal attire since his high school prom, and even then, the outfits hadn't been all that stunning... at least not that of the boys. His eyes trailed over Rin. A well-tailored three-piece suit hugged his body, emphasizing Rin's broad shoulders, well-defined pecks, and narrow waist. Rory had never understood the feral response all the thirst traps on the internet got until the second Rin had stepped out of the bathroom earlier. His eyes had barely left him since. Rory tugged at his own suit jacket. Though it was the best-fitting of all the suits he'd tried on, it was still at least one size too big and made him feel like a child. He lowered his head as heat flooded his cheeks. I should have gotten the first suit Rin picked out adjusted as he'd suggested...

Rin clasped an arm around the back of Rory's seat. "Have you drunk too much wine? If you need to make an excuse to go to the bathroom, I'll go with you."

Rory's cheeks heated more as he lifted his gaze to his empty glass, then to Rin. Have I drunk too much? Does he think I'm going to do something to embarrass him like Sabastian? "I'm... I'm fine..." Rory's gaze moved around to the others at the table. Initially, he'd assumed they would be having dinner with other cosplayers and such from the event, but no. Most of the company tonight consisted of publishers, producers, sponsors, writers, and their editors, and various assistants. Rory felt out of place among the crowd and quickly realized why Sabastian hadn't been invited.

"If you're nervous, don't be. Remember, dear old dad is my publisher, so there's no need to fight for attention here. I don't need any of the endorsements offered at this table. Dad just demands that I make an appearance to show I'm still 'humble'." Rin lifted his hand for the server to refill their glasses and waited until she moved away. "He wouldn't complain if I landed a new sponsor here or there, but even that isn't needed. So, relax and try to enjoy yourself." Rin glanced down at the elegant watch on his wrist. "What do you say we give it another 20... 30 minutes, then call it a night?"

Rory nervously nodded as he took his glass of wine and began to drink down the soothing liquid, unaware of how tipsy he was actually getting.