Rory couldn't break contact with the intense violet eyes that held his. He'd barely noticed as the second robed man had intercepted the taller one halfway, yanking at his robes. The beautiful man bent and whispered something to the other before gently peeling his hand away. He brought the hand to his lips for a kiss, but the smaller man jerked his hand away, sending Rory an icy blue glare instead, as he stomped off in the opposite direction. Rory was stunned as a melodious, androgynous voice rang out.
"Sab, come on... Where are you going? Aren't you going to say hi, at least?" Rin didn't bother straightening the robe that was hung loosely around a well-sculpted body and barely hid narrow hips as he sauntered away dramatically from the departing man to the waiting group, hands lifted in an over-exaggerated shrug.
Sabastian spun, robes twirling magnificently around him. His eyes narrowed as he studied Rory with a snarled-up nose for a moment before he shook his head and turned once again. "Why bother? He'll not be here long enough to get to know." He snapped out over his shoulder in a heavy French accent. He stomped toward a table lined with various items and began shuffling through them. He sent Rory another glare over his shoulder as he retrieved his cigarettes from the table. "I'm going for a smoke. You can have your fun." He gave a nonchalant shrug, though it was obvious he was aggravated. "There's no point wasting my time on the flavor of the month." He bit out.
Laughter rang out, filling the room. "Cold bastard..." Rin's attention shifted to the photographer. "Dillon? You got a quick hi in you before we take a smoke break?"
Dillon nodded as he carefully placed his equipment down and made his way over. He extended his hand to Rory first, his rich, husky voice sending shivers down Rory's spine. "I'm Dillon or D..." He pointed around the room. "Photographer... among other things. We'll be seeing a lot of each other," His eyes moved pointedly between Rin and Bethany before adding, "If you stick around. And don't mind Sebastian." His eyes moved from Bethany to Rory mischievously before he bent down and whispered somewhat loudly, causing shivers to run along Rory's spine. "He just doesn't like to share, is all... but you'll find, once he likes you, he can play very well with others." He sent him and Bethany a wink. He turned to Rin and asked as he straightened Rin's disheveled robes. "Good enough?" When Rin nodded, an equally wicked grin appeared across his lips, Dillon added. "Cool... Then I'm headed out back. You want me to grab you a drink or anything from the kitchen?"
Rin chuckled, shoving his hands playfully away. "Nah, I'll give... what was your name again?"
Rory swallowed hard, feeling like he'd just fallen into the lions' den as two sets of predatory eyes measured him up and down. "R-Rory... Rory Hartings..."
Rin grinned. "Rory... I like it... Well anyway. I'll grab something when I give Rory a tour of the house. I'm sure Beth is ready to leave, right, Beth?" Rin's eyes narrowed on the secretary.
Bethany sent Rin a cold smile. "I can't imagine there would be any remaining reason for me to stay, now, is there? Surely there will not be anything for me to report to your father this early on, will there?" Her glare moved between Rin and Dillon, only causing their malicious grins to widen.
Rin sent her a tight-lipped smile. "Not at all." Throwing an arm around Rory's shoulder, Rin nodded toward the rest of the house. "We'll be the closest of friends in no time, don't you and father worry your heads about that."
Bethany narrowed her eyes. "Yes, well, we all know how close you and your friends like to be." Her eyes moved pointedly to Rory. "If Mr. Hartings is smart, he'll avoid being a close friend of yours."
Rin's eyes narrowed on Bethany. "We'll see. You've yet to find someone unwilling to be my close friend... now have you." Rin quickly sent the other woman a wicked grin and wink while licking the corner of his lip. "Save, Amanda here... but, married really isn't my type... So, she's safe... for now.." Rin's attention turned to Rory, sliding the arm that was on his shoulder slowly down his back and around his waist. Rin huskily murmured. "Shall we? I have so much I'd like to show you."
"I'm warning you, Mr. Hartings... Watch yourself." Bethany huffed out before she turned on her heels and stomped indignantly from the house.
Rory's eyes widened as his gaze moved between Rin and Amanda. "What was that about?"
Rin laughed. "You'll learn soon enough."
Amanda giggled as she eyed Rin up and down. "It's about the irresistible charms Rin constantly drops... And the fact of whether you," she lightly tapped Rory in the chest with the rolled-up script she was holding. "Are gay, straight, or whatever... eventually, as long as you're single or poly, you'll give in."
Rory frowned as he tried to pull away, but Rin tightened the hold around his waist. He shifted a displeased glare between the two. "I'm sorry to disappoint, but I'll not be 'giving in' to anything... except my job."
Amanda covered her mouth and the giggles that were escaping, not saying anything in response as Rin let out a throaty laugh. "Is that so? Well, why don't we start with a tour, and then I'll show you your room. Mandy, mind telling the others to be ready in ten?"
She nodded, laughter reflecting in her eyes as she continued to cover her mouth with the rolled-up script. With continued glances back at them, she made her way toward the back of the house where the others had vanished earlier.
**
Rory couldn't focus at all on the tour. The house was enormous, with more rooms than twenty people would be able to use. There was so much to memorize, so many twists and turns... but Rory couldn't help but stare at the person walking beside him. Rin was almost like a living airbrushed artwork. He could tell there was a lot of makeup involved to achieve what he was seeing, but it didn't detract from the overall splendor. He really wanted to reach out and touch the perfectly contoured pecs peeking out from just below the robes or run his hand through the long, silky hair that was perfectly arranged in an old Japanese fashion.
Rory frowned as they passed yet another empty bedroom... Rin had said that, for the most part, it would just be the two of them staying there. Rin had rambled on as they continued down the vast hallways, but Rory missed most of what was being said, unable to pry his eyes from the perfect profile beside him for even a second.
"From time to time, the staff will crash here, especially if projects go over too long or if release dates are drawing close. Dillon is here almost as much as his own place..." Rin chuckled, bending slightly and catching Rory's gaze. "What is it? Have you never seen a cosplay up close?"
Rory shook his head. "No... I know it sounds crazy... you're standing right here, walking, talking... but it's almost like you're not real... It's amazing..."
Rin grinned. "Want to touch?"
Rory's eyes bugged. "Wha?!?!"
Rin quickly snagged Rory's wrist. He grinned as he pushed open a door and stepped inside, pulling Rory along behind him. Spinning in the center of the room, Rin pressed Rory's hand against a firm, silk-covered pec and whispered devilishly, "Does it feel like you expected? Perhaps you'd rather feel below the robes?" A devilish grin spread across Rin's lips as he began to shift Rory's hand beneath the robes when Rory jerked his hand back.
Rory's cheeks were flaming red as he clutched his hand to his own chest. His eyes moved up to the smirking face of the taller man. "You... you..."
Rin moved closer and cupped Rory's face. "I what? I thought you wanted to touch? To see if I was real?" When Rin stepped even closer, pressing into Rory, Rory reddened more. Rin chuckled deeply. "Has anyone ever told you, you're cute when you blush?" Rin ran a thumb over his bottom lip. "Close friends... I can see it now..." Rin stepped closer and began to lean toward his lips.
Rory pushed his hands out quickly, slamming them into a solid chest. Instead of moving Rin's larger body, Rory stumbled back onto the bed. Demonic laughter erupted from the taller man, sending alarm coursing through every cell of Rory's stiff body. "I get it now... the warnings... everything... This is your game, right..."
Rin grinned wickedly as he followed Rory down onto the bed. Rin wedged a thigh between Rory's trembling legs and clasped his wrists on either side of his head. "Seduce my father's spies? Of course it is..." Rin lowered nose to nose with Rory's frustrated gaze forcing him to stare into fiery violet eyes. "I've yet to lose, and I'll not this time either. Prepare yourself, Rory." Rin released Rory and stood nonchalantly. He walked toward the doorway before turning once again. "Get settled in. We have a shoot to finish, then we'll eat dinner and have a few drinks. You look like you could have a few yourself. Dillon and I will go over OUR expectations of things over dinner. Remember, Rory, my father may pay you... But you work for me..." With that, Rin was gone.
Rory released the breath he didn't realize he was holding. He collapsed onto the bed. "I've escaped one hell just to land in another, it would seem..." He frowned as he stared blankly at the closed door. His eyes moved around the room. "Too bad too... such a nice place..." He muttered with a yawn.
**
Rory woke with a start. He sat up, his eyes frantically searching the room for the source of the slight sound that had awoken him. His eyes met curious green ones the second he turned his head. Crouched beside the bed was the photographer he'd met earlier. Rory quickly sat up and scampered over to the far side of the bed like a frightened animal. "What are you doing in here?!"
Dillon stood, holding his hands up as he did. "Sorry, man. I came to let you know dinner was about ready, but you were out cold." He looked away a bit guilty. "The photographer in me couldn't help it when I saw your sleeping face... So, I was going to adjust your hair a bit and snap a picture, but when you jerked up like that, I dropped my phone before I got a chance to snap one." He bent and picked it up. "See? No picture. Just the food timer."
Rory's troubled eyes moved from the phone screen that showed a timer to the handsome, artsy man standing before him. His shoulder-length hair was now pulled up into a messy bun, revealing ears with several piercings each to go along with the various piercings in the man's face. There was a bar going through the center of his lower lip, a hoop in the septum of his nose, and a curved bar in his brow. The man's appearance screamed tortured artist in the sexiest of ways. Rory pulled one of the pillows from the bed against his chest and curled himself around it. "I... I'll be there in a few minutes... thank you."
Dillon arched the pierced brow. "Do you remember where the kitchen is?"
Rory frowned. "I'm sure I can find it... Thank you..."
Rory breathed a sigh of relief as he finally made his way into the kitchen, noting with another relieved breath that Rin was nowhere in sight. He'd gotten lost twice. His eyes moved around the huge area. "I didn't realize how big this place was on my tour earlier." He muttered as he took a seat at the island in the center of the kitchen.
Dillon chuckled. "Yeah. I figured you hadn't." His attention didn't leave the food he was prepping.
Rory cleared his throat before asking. "Where is everyone else?"
"Most of the staff have already left for the day. Rin and Sab are through there reviewing the takes from today. Knowing Rin, they'll probably go over some concepts for tomorrow's shoot before they wrap up." Dillon glanced up at him with a grin. "Why? You miss Rin already? I heard about it earlier."
Rory could feel his face heat, but forced his voice to remain calm. "You didn't hear about anything because nothing happened. I'll not fall for such ill-intended advances. I need this job too much..."
Dillon arched a brow. "Is that so? Gay," He paused on the word a second longer than needed. "Straight, or whatever you may be... Rin's charms, once set on someone, aren't so easily avoided, you know... There are fewer who have walked through that door that haven't been swept off their feet than have..."
Rory shook his head. "I'll not be so easily swept away..." He furrowed his brows, taking a better look at the man who was wearing an apron and cooking in someone else's home at this hour. "You... were you one of the ones who were swept up in Rin's charms?"
The corner of Dillon's mouth curved into a smirk. "I've been swept up in something... I'm not sure if it's Rin's charms per se."
Rory furrowed his brows. "Can I ask... If you and Rin... have... together... then how are you still employed here?"
Dillon nearly choked on the sputtered laugh that slipped out as he met Rory's confused eyes. "You're that interested already?"
The crease of Rory's brows deepened. "No, simply trying to understand..."
Dillon blew out a forced laugh. "Our situation is a bit different... Mr. Perish... Well, it's complicated..." He ran a hand over the back of his neck. "How about if you last past the month, I'll tell you."
Rory arched a brow. "You really think it's all that hard to avoid such single-minded advances? It will take more than that kind of 'charm' to land me."
"What of my charms?" A throaty purr sounded from the other side of the room, drawing their attention in that direction. Rin leaned against the door frame. The wig was gone, the makeup was a bit smudged, especially around the lips, and the robes were more disheveled than earlier. Messy hair, smudged makeup, and open robes gave Rin a sexy, straight out of bed... not with the intention of sleep... look that would make anyone stare.
Rory's brows furrowed as he took Rin in. Just as he was about to chalk it up to activities from the shoot, slim hands snaked around Rin's waist and into the robe. Rory had to force his expression to remain neutral as taunting eyes held his, daring him to react, even to comment. He was saved from replying to the taunt in those hungry violet eyes as the seductive French accent filled the silence, making things even more awkward for Rory.
"I really do love it when you wear this thing. Your body is already so muscular, but this makes it even more so. I can't help but want to feel every inch." Sabastian's voice was completely different from earlier. Anger and irritation were now completely replaced with desire and lust, creating a sing-song beauty to the heavy accent. "I want you to leave it on." His hands continued gliding over Rin's chest and abs under the robe. "Baise-moi, Mon amour."
Rory's brows furrowed in confusion as his eyes moved from Rin to Dillon. "Leave it on? What did he just say? I don't speak French. Will I need to learn it?"
Rin's grin grew wider before turning and grasping the other man in his arms. "We'll be back... Gotta... take care of this..." His melodious voice sang as he turned and hooked his arms around Sabastian.
Dillon laughed as he shook his head. "You'll figure it out soon enough. I can't wait for the second the whole picture comes into focus for you. It's always my favorite part with you, new people... and it couldn't hurt to learn... had you known what was just said, I'm sure it would have made some things a bit more obvious." Dillon's laughing eyes moved to the hands that were now gripping Rin's ass as the two clung to each other, mouths interlocked as they made their way from the room. "Take the robes off first! And don't fuck up the chest piece! Those bitches take too long to ship!" Dillon called after them in his best authoritative tone.
Rin just tossed a dismissive wave over his shoulder as he lifted Sabastian off the floor and carried him down the hall.
Rory frowned. "Is there really no one here Rin doesn't sleep with?"
Dillon spat out a laugh. "Those who work for Mr. Perish..."
Rory glared at him dubiously. "So, you and that guy don't work for Mr. Perish?"
Dillon shrugged as he turned his focus back to dinner. "Me? Not anymore... not in the way Mr. Perish would prefer... And Sabastian never has. He was hired by Rin and me as a model, among others we use from time to time. Nothing permanent enough for Mr. Perish to get involved with."
Rory's brows knitted. "I don't understand..."
Dillon blew out a heavy sigh as he wiped off his hands and rounded the island. He leaned onto one elbow and swept the long bangs of Rory's boyish hairstyle to one side. He continued toying with Rory's face, ears, and neck as he spoke, as if cataloging the feel of each to memory as he did so. "It's simple." He purred. "I broke the contract. Just like you will do inevitably... just like they all do. But the difference is, I made sure that I was irreplaceable first... Not only to Rin but to Mr. Perish as well..." He let his hand slide loosely around Rory's throat as his eyes burned into Rory. "You think you can do that? Can you make yourself irreplaceable, Rory?"
Rory swallowed hard against the hand gripping his neck, feeling the noose-like sensation tighten both physically and metaphorically. Was this man a friend or foe? He seriously doubted Dillon would ever be anything but the latter...
Dillon tilted his head as he leaned closer. Quizzical curiosity warred with primal hunger across his pale face. Long tendrils of curly ebony hair fell into his face, casting shadows under his already darkly circled eyes. "Tell me..." His tongue came out and licked his lips before he bit into the bottom side of his lip with the hoop through it, drawing the piercing into his mouth before slowly letting it slide out of his mouth. His eyes drifted enticingly between Rory's eyes and lips. "Does your contract with Perish strictly name Rin or does it include any other members of Rin's team... Like me?"
Rory clasped the hand Dillon had loosely around his neck. Rory's hands trembled as he struggled to push the hand away. "I... I don't know... But..."
Dillon chuckled as he released his hold and pushed away from the island. "Let me know when you find out."