Just as Avery had planned, he managed to avoid David at the café. He only received greetings from him through Joshua, who looked amused by the face the barista made at the messages and teased him about it until the end of the shift.

Then, it was time to go to the club.

Given when he finished at the cafe, he had just enough time to get home, grab a small bite to eat, and after a quick shower and putting on new clothes he didn’t give much thought to, since it didn’t matter, he could head out.

Just like in the afternoon, he left the home early this time too; after today's experience, he knew that practically anything could complicate his commute. It definitely wasn't because he was excited to see the dark-haired man after they had missed each other at his second job.

Although he had hidden from him intentionally—still not knowing what to say to him or how to act around him, especially at the cafe—he was a little sorry he hadn’t been able to greet him and admire him from a distance the way he had done for months.

Was it pathetic? Maybe. But on the other hand, he was still better off than Luca. He didn’t have a doctor who tried to hide him, who controlled him and manipulated him. David had never hidden his affection for him, and maybe he shouldn’t compare those two relationships, but he couldn’t help it.

“Hey, Johnny, having a nice Friday?”

“Now that I see you, it’s even better,” the man at the door replied with an amused smile on his lips. “And yours?”

After his words, a wide smile appeared on Avery’s face as well. “Officially even better than it was,” he replied in the same spirit.

Their small talk ended quickly after two more short exchanges, and the blond moved toward the staff entrance.

Even though he had arrived a little early, most of his coworkers were already there, and while the bartenders were preparing glasses and checking supplies, the strippers and companions were getting ready in the dressing room.

"Here comes walking temptation," Devin greeted him, drawing everyone's attention. 

"Did you see?" Trevor, another companion who went by the name Velvet at the club, asked, looking at him expectantly as if Avery should know exactly what he was talking about. That, however, was not the case. 

"See what?"

He practically had the attention of the entire room. Some of them looked almost personally offended that he had no idea what they were talking about, while the rest, including Jonah and Lionel, looked amused.

“Dax Thunder is in town. He posted on his Instagram story that he’s tempted to stop by our club,” Devin explained.

Avery still looked confused. “Who?”

“That porn star! He won Favorite Versatile Performer and also Best Oral Sex Scene. Seriously, you don’t know?”

“He’s basically the first face you see when you open any porn site,” Mickey added.

Apparently all the companions knew this Dax Thunder except him.

“Angel’s got his head full of his rich guy,” Lionel chimed in, sounding entertained by the situation.

“You can have a crush on someone and still watch porn,” Velvet pointed out.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he wanted to take a picture with you.” Lio stepped closer to him and rested his forearm on the blond’s shoulder. “I mean, you’re our local celebrity.”

“Oh my god, imagine if he asked you to be in a video with him!” Velvet’s tone made it sound like the best opportunity or even the highest honor that could happen to him. Avery didn’t join his enthusiasm, though, and instead shared the amusement of the other half of the staff.

"Well, he’d be pretty disappointed then," he assured him with a laugh. It was one thing to play a demon in a club for drunk and horny people, but porn? He really didn't want to know what he looked like during sex on video.

The enthusiasm among the companions persisted despite Avery’s lack of interest in this rare visit, and fortunately, they continued their conversation about Dax without him. Not, however, before they showed their demonic colleague what the star looked like so he wouldn't miss him if he actually showed up at the club.

"I love a world where we don't shame people who know how to sell their bodies," Lio remarked while doing his makeup at his station next to Avery’s. The man with feathers in his hair gave him a brief look and then went back to creating art on his own face.

"Me too," the blond assured him.  Even though he didn’t share the same excitement about the visit of a porn actor, he generally didn’t see celebrities as people he would obsess over or long to meet. On the other hand, he respected anyone who worked in positions like his, and because of that he viewed porn actors a little differently than most people did.

"Do you want lipstick today?" 

"What do you have?" Avery asked, and when he turned toward Lio, the other man held up several options, giving him a choice. 

"What do you think of this one?" He took a liquid lipstick from Lio's hands in a shade somewhere between burgundy and dark purple, holding the tube up to his lips to give Lio a visual example.

"Good choice." The stripper seemed satisfied with the selection, and once he finished his own makeup, he helped Avery apply the lipstick since he still didn't trust himself with liquid ones, especially in dark colors where every mistake was difficult and time-consuming to remove.

“Dax Thunder will go speechless when he sees you,” Lionel declared once he finished, stepping back a pace to take him in. 

Avery, now fully in character as Diablo, gave a short laugh and turned to the mirror to inspect the result. Though he didn't know what this Dax person would say, he had to admit the lipstick looked good on him, and that was enough. 

"Thanks, Lio."

When they moved to the club's main floor, the excited, or rather expectant, energy continued. No one knew for sure if the porn star would appear tonight, but it seemed most of the staff hoped so. Everyone was giving 110% tonight, and Diablo had to admit it was contagious.

Although he left more room for his colleagues, who were flirting heavily at the tables, and didn't plan on stealing any of their customers, the horned companion moved directly to the bar, letting desperate men buy him drinks. 

He barely touched them. Not only because of his rule to only drink what the bartender handed him directly, but also because of the sheer quantity. He would have been too drunk to walk a long time ago otherwise. At the same time, he did everything to convince the men to buy more and more for themselves, leaving as much money at the bar as possible.

"Tonight, I am Gluttony," he told the only man who began to question him, appearing as though he wanted to warn the other men around that Diablo's plan could quickly empty their wallets. 

"There’s nothing wrong with that." He tilted his head almost in a challenge while playing with the straw in his own drink. "Sometimes you drink for thirst, other times for pleasure." Then he turned to the man closest to him and playfully ran his fingers under his chin, tilting his head up slightly so their eyes met. "I like pleasure, don't you?"

The man, perhaps ten years older than the demonic companion and looking like he had a standard office job in his daily life, swallowed hard and then nodded eagerly, drawing a laugh from Diablo. 

"See." He turned back to the man who had tried to thwart his plans with an expression that made it clear he had won.

It was obvious the man wasn't convinced, but instead of arguing, he simply turned and walked away. Diablo was thus free to continue getting people drunk and flirting in a way that never led anywhere further, until he decided to join the men at the tables again. There, he could give them one-on-one attention, sitting with them—though he usually sat provocatively on the table itself.

He continued in practically the same way as every shift, and just like every shift, his favorite moment eventually arrived.

As soon as his gaze met the dark eyes he could see even from a distance and through the red lights on the dance floor, he stood up and, without apologizing, headed toward the place he was most drawn to.

David naturally walked towards him, and when he was right in front of him, he reached for his hips and pulled him in almost possessively, as close as possible, gluing their bodies together.

Although Avery's heart immediately began to pound, he looked up at him with amusement, meeting his eyes from up close. "So impatient." 

“With you, always,” the CEO assured him. Then, it was only a matter of seconds before he started leading him toward the staircase. 

Well, Diablo didn't let him keep the dominant hand for long; he elegantly swapped their positions so that he was the one in front, with the CEO eagerly following like a loyal dog.

The horned companion still didn't know how to act in his presence, but following the previous day's example, he automatically backed him onto the couch once they were behind closed doors and had privacy, settling into his lap.

David seemed pleased by his initiative, judging by his smile, which grew even more radiant the moment he could rest his hands on his hips and have him all to himself.

"It’s busier here than usual tonight," the dark-haired man said first, surprising him. 

"Everyone is waiting for some porn star," Avery revealed truthfully. 

"A porn star?" David sounded amused.

"Uh-huh." The companion automatically began to toy with his tie, though he hadn't yet used enough force to treat it like a collar for a disobedient dog. "Apparently, he posted on Instagram that he’d be stopping by, so everyone is eager."

"I only have eyes for you," the CEO assured him immediately.

"That’s good." Perhaps it was the overall atmosphere of the club, or maybe his conversation with Luca, but somehow Avery felt less insecure and awkward, and more flirty tonight. "Though I don't have an award for Best Oral Sex."

Amusement, surprise, and a hint of arousal… from this close, the companion could see every emotion flickering across the other man's face.

"Maybe you could have one. I can't judge that yet," David said, his voice a bit huskier than before. He maintained direct eye contact, not once glancing down at the dark purple lips as was his habit.

"Yet?" Diablo tried to sound amused, struggling not to let his imagination run wild; otherwise, he’d quickly find himself in trouble.

"I already know how your lips feel," the CEO reminded him, shifting his gaze down for just a second. Immediately, however, his heated gaze was back, locking eyes with him. "Just not... down there."

It was perhaps bold of him to assume they might ever get further than kissing, but since he had to see what his touch was doing to Avery, his tone was as confident as his expression. And as always, his confidence was incredibly hot.

"You'll have to use your imagination," the horned companion advised him, finally tugging on the tie to pull David closer while tracing his sharp jawline with a thumb.

The few drinks he’d had at the bar and the relaxed atmosphere provided by his colleagues had seemingly stripped away his stress—or rather, forced him to stop overthinking. Now, he could simply enjoy the other man’s presence.

"I missed you today," the CEO said as the space between their faces vanished to a minimum.

Diablo arched an eyebrow, though it wasn't visible behind the mask. "I’m literally in your lap." 

"But I haven't seen you at the café," David reminded him.

The mention of Bean & Blossom managed to spike Avery’s stress levels slightly. Even so, he didn't pull away or release his hold on the man.

"I'm paid for work, not for chit-chat," he replied, moving his palm higher, his fingertips disappearing into the dark strands of hair.

“You always talked with Nick,” the CEO argued, and he couldn't have chosen worse words.

"Nick talked to me from the beginning—" Avery started his reproach. "—so I know exactly how to adjust the order prep so I can manage both. You, on the other hand..." He didn't finish the sentence, but he believed his eyes said the rest clearly enough.

For months, David had only ever greeted him. Occasionally he’d answer if the barista asked both brothers how their day was, but that was it. After Avery memorized their order and knew it never changed, the number of words exchanged during their interactions had dwindled even further.

"I am a loyal man." 

Whatever argument Diablo had expected, this wasn't it.

Seeing that the man in his lap clearly didn't understand what he meant, David went straight into explaining. “Ever since we started meeting in this room, I’ve been direct. You’re the only one I want. The only one worth looking at. The only one in my eyes. Why would I give my attention to anyone else?

His gaze was painfully sincere and determined, as if trying to prove that his confession was true.

The companion, on the other hand, was lost for words. While he wanted to believe it—and perhaps, just perhaps, it was a sufficient explanation that made sense—it simultaneously confirmed that David only knew him as Diablo. Avery and "Angel" remained strangers to him.

Not that it couldn't be changed…

“I’m not asking anything from you.” When the companion stayed silent too long, David spoke again, and with gentle words and a touch as he softly brushed a dark strand of hair that had fallen into Diablo’s face aside, he tried to chase away the frown his words had caused.

"Just recently you were practically asking for my hand in marriage," Avery reminded him before he could realize what he was actually saying.

The CEO laughed briefly. “And my offer still stands,” he announced. “For now, though, I’m only hoping for a date.”

“You already see me every day,” the companion reminded him.

“We both know it’s not the same.” The man’s hands gently squeezed his hips and then moved slightly lower to his thighs, massaging them as he did.

He knew exactly what he was doing. Or maybe he didn’t, because those dark eyes were still looking into the blue ones expectantly while Diablo was having trouble concentrating.

“Maybe,” he finally managed.

It wasn’t a definite answer and not really anything hopeful at all, but since he didn’t control his gaze and for a brief second let it slip lower toward the man’s lips, it seemed the CEO read exactly what he wanted in it.

“That’s enough for me.” Another of David’s dazzling smiles appeared on his face. “Now… dance for me?”

The demonic companion raised an eyebrow and moved his hand from his dark hair onto the man’s chest so he could push himself away slightly, while in his other hand the tie slid until his fingers held its end.

“Since when are you the one making decisions here?”

Maybe it was because they hadn’t seen each other at the café and Avery could pretend they only knew each other in this world. Either way, he wasn’t about to give up control here.

“Please?”

“Good boy.”