Fic: I'll Be Waiting | Part 5 of 10
Title: I’ll Be Waiting
Rating: NC-17
Links to other parts: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
**
After grabbing a couple of beers, Adam followed Kris through the house and out the French doors to the backyard. Soft garden lights were staked in the well-trimmed grass along the pathway around the pool; two heat lamps were lit on the other end of the pool, close to the cabana and deck chairs. He strolled slowly behind Kris, watching him roll up his shirt sleeves, then look back nervously and try to figure out where to sit. Adam was hoping for the cabana, but knew it wouldn’t happen. He had no problem watching Kris walk in front of him.
He laughed to himself when Kris moved a small table in between two of the double-wide deck chairs and sat on the edge of one. Following his lead, Adam sat down, but instead of taking the second chair, he settled himself next to Kris. Obviously surprised, Kris’s body went rigid until Adam nudged his shoulder.
“This okay?” Adam asked.
Kris coughed into the crook of his elbow, “Yeah…I…uh, yeah.”
“So, I’m thinking we need to go out, just the two of us.”
“Like on a date?” Kris squeaked. He cleared throat, “That…that’d be…I mean, sure.”
Adam leaned back on his elbows and stretched out his legs, thigh brushing Kris’s. “This kind of reminds me of that last night in Vegas. You, me, a clear night, a pool.” He extended his hand to touch the small of Kris’s back. “Except you were sitting too far from me.”
Kris twisted his head to look at him, “What are you doing?” he asked quietly.
“Trying to keep myself from ravishing you at your parent’s house.”
Adam sat up immediately to grab Kris’s hand, knowing he would bolt up out of the chair, “What?”
“I…this is strange, right?” Kris answered, unmoving, his bare forearm gripped by Adam’s hand. “Like, this whole thing…it’s…”
Sliding his hand down to clasp Kris’s hand, Adam stood up and placed his body at an angle. Kris’s body automatically swayed into his, shoulder hitting his chest.
“What’s strange?” Adam whispered. “You and me? This? It might not have been the most conventional way of meeting and getting to know each other, but it’s not weird. It doesn’t feel wrong.”
Adam moved around until he was facing Kris, their hands still clasped, fingers tangled. Bending slightly, he brought them up to his lips and placed a light kiss on the knuckle of Kris’s pointer finger. “So, we’ll go out on proper date.” He placed another kiss on the next knuckle, “I don’t have another film lined up so I’ll be in town for a while,” another kiss, “The only thing I have to do is promotion and press for this last one when Anoop’s done.” He pulled their hands up and lifted Kris’s forearm over until he could lick at the underside of his wrist. “I hope by then, things will get less weird for you…for us.”
He felt Kris shiver under his touch, leaning into Adam, arms trapped between them. Adam bowed his head and nuzzled the side of Kris’s neck, breathing him in. They stay like that for a while, his arm wrapped firmly around Kris’s waist, hands held tightly to each other.
“Adam! Sweetie!” Nury shouted. “Oh, damn, I’m sorry.”
Adam securely fastened his arm around Kris, as he tried to break free from his grasp at the interruption.
“Yes, Nury,” Adam sighed.
“Nothing. Absolutely nothing,” Nury said backtracking.
“Sorry,” Cale breathed out heavily, obviously having run out behind Nury. “I tried to stop her from…”
“Cale, darling,” Nury purred, turning her attention onto him. “I’m afraid I’ve lost my ride home,” she said winking at Adam, “and I really don’t feel like calling for a cab or my assistant to arrange a car.” She grabbed his arm as he stopped next to her, “Would you mind being a dear and driving me home? I have an early flight out in the morning, and as much as I hate to leave the party early, Nury must be responsible tonight.”
Cale beamed patting her hand, “Of course. I would be honored to drive you.” Cale looked over at Adam and Kris and waved. “Kris, I’ll call you tomorrow. Uh, you won’t have a problem getting home, right?” he looked pointedly at Adam.
Adam gazed down to see Kris blush, but nod and smile back at Cale.
“Goodnight Nury, and thanks Cale,” Adam called out.
Kris placed his forehead on Adam’s chest and breathed out, “Oh god.”
Adam rubbed his back soothingly and chuckled, “What?”
“It just got weird again.”
“Next Saturday, we’ll go out to dinner. I’ll check my schedule with Tatiana, but it should be fine. Then it won’t be strange anymore, okay?”
Kris shook his head, “It will be.”
Adam pulled back to look at Kris, tried to meet his eyes, “Why?”
Blowing out a breath, Kris backed up out of Adam’s arms, “Because you’re you” he rubbed the back of his neck with one hand and waved the other in front of Adam, up and down, “And I’m me, that’s why.
“I’m not understanding,” Adam said confused.
“I…I don’t think I’m cut out for this.”
“For what?” Adam stepped back and sat at the end of the deck chair. “For dating? It’s just dinner.”
Kris started to pace in front of him, arms wrapped around himself. “It’s…” he turned to face Adam, “You have to check your schedule with your assistant. You have people. I don’t have people. When was the last time you went out to dinner and didn’t get chased by paparazzi?” He moved again, but Adam reached out and pulled him between his legs, holding him in place.
“I’m not apologizing for who I am, Kris.”
“And, I’m not asking you to or saying you should. I’m…” Kris tried to move, but Adam’s hands were firmly behind his knees, not allowing him space to move. “I’m just wondering why me, I guess.”
Adam tilted his body forward until the side of his face rested against Kris’s stomach, “Why not you?” He looked up and grinned, “I like you.”
**
With hands on his hips, Cale looked around the apartment. “You are officially ready for a house-warming now.”
Grunting, Kris shoved the bookcase into place along the wall. He massaged his shoulder while replying, “A what?”
“A house warming party, dude.”
Kris scrunched his face, “Uh, no, dude. Why would I want to do that?”
“Free pizza and beer for me, of course.”
“You get free pizza and beer whenever you come over.”
“Plus, I can meet your friends.”
“You’ve met them,” Kris extended out an arm. “Cale? Meet Cale.”
“So, you’re not friends with the guys you met on the movie set? You talked about them enough.”
Kris groaned as he plopped down on his new couch and laid his head down on a cushion, “It’s not the same. They were co-workers, plus it’s not like we’ve been in touch regularly. I think half of them are off on another movie.”
Cale walked to the kitchen, “You could always invite Adam. I’m sure he can bring a few people over, like that weird dude Brad. I’ll bring some of my co-workers.”
“Not happening.”
“Then just invite Adam over for a more intimate party,” he grinned handing Kris a soda.
“I hate you.”
“You two looked awful cozy at your parents’ dinner,” Cale laughed as he knocked Kris’s feet from the other end of the couch. He sat and took a long drink, “So, all that hemming and hawing about nothing going on between you two is a crock of shit.”
“We’re going out to dinner on Saturday,” Kris mumbled into the cushion. “Happy?”
“He’s so out of your league, dude.”
“I know.”
“At least I like him better than the other one,” Cale replied slowly.
“You don’t even know him, and you like him better?”
Cale shrugged, “Didn’t really know the other one either, but didn’t stop me from making a judgment call that turned out to be right.”
“His name is Zach.”
Cale blew out a raspberry and waved a hand, “Whatever. Zach…douchebag…fucktard. Same difference.”
“So,” Cale said leaning back into the couch, “What do you want on the pizza you’re buying me? It’s the least you could do since I helped move the last of your new furniture up. Beer’s already cold.”
“Have I mentioned how much I hate you?”
“Always and forever,” Cale replied and made kissing noises. “Now call. I’m starved, and you know how I get when I’m hungry.”
“Yeah, like a freshman sorority girl PMSing,” Kris grunted as he pulled out his phone.
**
“You’re really going out on a date?” Tatiana asked as she went around the office cleaning up. “Like, a date date?”
“Yes, Tatiana, a date, like an evening consisting of dinner and maybe a movie or oh! Maybe dancing,” Adam laughed. “What’s with the question?”
“Nothing,” she hedged. “Just, well, I’ve been working with you for three years, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen you make your own plans for a date, a date date.”
Adam peered over at her from his laptop, then leaned back, placing his hands behind his head and propped his feet on the desk, “Care to explain?”
“Well,” she said stopping with an armful of scripts. “Usually, you have me make the restaurants for you, and depending on the person and how much attention you want to attract, I make the reservation. Then I make sure a car is arranged while you go through your closet and throw out the clothes that you might want to wear, and I take them to the dry cleaners.”
“Okay, and?”
“Well, you didn’t do any of that this time. So,” she shrugged. “I find it cute.”
“Cute,” Adam stated flatly.
Tatiana giggled, “Yes, cute. I find it cute and adorable that Adam Lambert is making a personal effort because he actually likes a guy and isn’t having his assistant do the leg work.”
“I’ve made plans on my own before,” he pouted.
“Sure, boss. Whatever you say,” she laughed as she ducked the balled up piece of paper thrown her way. “Seriously, Adam, Kris is a sweetheart.”
“What do you know about him? In all the, you know, five minutes you spent talking to him.”
“Hey,” she said sitting down at the edge of the desk near his feet and smacking them lightly. “I talked to him. We had several nice conversations before you paged him and ran him ragged with nonsense. Plus, it wasn’t necessarily what he said, than what he didn’t say. And, you know me, I listen more than talk.”
“Except around me,” Adam grumbled.
She hit his ankle this time, “Shush. You want to know what I found out or not?”
Adam shifted in his seat and rested his hands on his stomach, “Tell me.”
Tatiana raised a brow and smirked, a trick she must have picked up from him. He rolled his eyes and laughed, “Please.”
“You probably know some of this, but…okay,” she said excitedly. “Kris is from Dallas, but just moved to LA a few months ago. He used to work for a non-profit organization, so that had him all over the place, most recently to a few countries in Africa. Building homes, shelters, even a couple of schools.”
Adam arched an eyebrow, “Sounds like you have a little crush on him.”
“He’s totally gay, so whatever. I can totally have a crush on him, but I think he likes my boss more,” she said and stuck her tongue out. “Anyway, what I did find out, or at least read between the lines, is that the reason he went to the other end of the world was because of a bad break-up.” She paused and sighed, “Must have been bad to need to get away from everyone and everything for so long. He would have moved onto South America, but he got sick. Like so sick this parents had him moved to Frankfurt for medical help for a few weeks. Then he stayed in Dallas for a bit to recover, then came out here.”
Nudging her side with his feet to continue, Adam contemplated this. He wasn’t surprised actually. Though, he hoped that Kris was over the break-up or at least put it behind him and would be able to move forward. With him.
“He doesn’t have a lot of friends, probably not a surprise seeing that he just moved into town. Then, he got the job on your film, so no time to actually go out and meet people. I know he and the other guys chat once in a while, but not the same, right? And, then he meets you, and wow, you know? Gosh, Adam, he’s such a sweetheart.”
Adam nodded, “Yeah, he is.”
Tatiana jumped off the desk, crossed her arms and glared sternly at him.
“What?” Adam chuckled at her “angry” face.
“Don’t be a jerk to him.”
“Oh my god, really, Tatiana?” he exclaimed as he dropped his feet to the floor. He pulled at her arms and took her hands into his. “I like him, okay? I can’t promise there won’t be broken hearts, but I swear I’ll do what I can to prevent that from happening.”
“Okay. Good.” She leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek. “You need anything else? Otherwise, I’m heading home for a date with my television.”
Adam waved her off, “Go…enjoy your evening and weekend.” He watched as she grabbed her backpack. “Those reality shows kill brain cells. Scientific fact.”
She stuck her tongue out at him, “It’s not like I work in Hollywood and an aspiring screenwriter or anything and if I was, brain cells are overrated.” She giggled again, “Goodnight Adam. Oh, and have fun on your date tomorrow. I want to hear all about it on Monday, so I better not see anything on TMZ first, okay?”
**
PerezHilton.com
Oscar-Baiting for La Lambert?
Apparently La Lambert is taking the early buzz about his Oscar chances for his new movie,Not Today, Not Tomorrow, which isn’t even out yet, a little too seriously. We’ve been hearing grumblings from sources close to his management team that he’s refusing to even look at scripts because he wants to see how the film fares and how his price will rise. The drama continues for Hollywood’s notorious drama queen.
RadarOnline.com
Lambert Social Hermit
We haven’t heard boo from actor Adam Lambert. What’s been going on with him? Except for the rare sighting of him shopping around town, the clubs he normally frequents has been weirdly quiet. Wonder if he’s taking his new serious actor-y self too seriously.
**
“Cale, this is the eighth time you called today. Don’t you have anything better to do?” Kris asked as he slid open the closet door and started to pick through his shirts.
“Nope,” Cale replied. “Living vicariously through you right now because I’m a loser. I’m not the one going out on a first date with the man every woman in the world wants, and I’m sure a lot of men would die to have, too.” He paused, “Are you mad that he had to cancel last week?”
“Of course not, he had some dubbing work to do for the film, wasn’t a big deal. As for tonight, it’s just dinner and a movie.”
Cale snorted, “Except that TMZ, Perez and a dozen other strangers will be your peanut gallery, unlike us mere mortals where we only have our parents and friends to bitch to if the date is bad.”
“Are you saying it’ll be bad tonight?” Kris laughed.
“Of course not,” Cale backpedaled. “Um, so whatcha wearing?”
Kris nearly dropped the phone from laughing, “I…I don’t even know who you are anymore Cale.”
“Well, if you’re going to be plastered all over the tabloids, gotta make sure my boy is dressed nicely and representing. Can’t have you embarrass us.”
“I don’t know what I’m wearing yet.”
“Don’t wear your Chucks, he might be taking you to someplace that doesn’t deep fry all the vegetables.”
Kris shook his head, “Yes, mom.” He laughed again, “Did you want to come over and do my hair and nails? I think we have a few minutes.”
“This is what I get for looking out for you,” Cale sighed.
“I’m going to hang up now.”
“And, I’ll be waiting anxiously for your full report, not like the gross details or anything about any kissy faces and shit, got it? Hopefully, I won’t hear from you until late tomorrow night when I bring over Thai food to watch the game.”
“Bye Cale.”
Kris tossed his phone on the bed and studied the contents of his closet and his dresser. Glancing over at the clock on the night stand, he realized he only had 30 minutes left before Adam was scheduled to arrive. He scrambled to pull a dress shirt out from under the plastic bag, a pair of dark jeans from the shelf and loafers from a box in the corner. After changing, he rushed into the bathroom to fix his hair, running a little bit of gel through it.
The doorbell rang as he was wiping his hands. Taking a deep breath and a final peek at himself in the mirror, he grabbed a sweater and went to the door. Opening it, seeing Adam for the first time in two weeks, any breath he had escaped from his body. Adam was dressed in all black, from the V-neck, long sleeve shirt, vest and jeans; the pewter belt buckle, strands of necklaces, slew of rings and pink diamond stud in his ears provided small bursts of color. His hair was down and mussed and looked soft enough to touch, his eyes shined brilliantly, highlighted by black liner.
“Hi,” Kris got out, proud of himself for not sounding breathless.
“Hey,” Adam replied. “You look good,” he said eyes roaming over his body.
Kris stepped back, allowing Adam over the threshold. “Uh, it’s a bit of a mess and small, but…”
“It’s nice and very you-sized,” Adam said lightly looking around, but he remained standing by the door. “You ready?”
“Uh, yeah, let me just grab…” He went to his coffee table and grabbed his phone, wallet and keys. He looked up to see Adam leaning against the door jam, hands in his back pockets.
They walked down the stairs, side by side, in silence.
“Over there,” Adam said pointing to a black BMW. The alarm went off as he clicked his key fob. He hesitated by the passenger door and Kris bit the inside of his mouth to not laugh. Adam pulled at the handle to open the door a little before heading to the driver’s side.
“So, where are we going?” Kris asked as he settled in the soft leather seats and strapped on his seatbelt.
As Adam backed the car out of the visitors’ parking space, he lifted the corner of lip mouth, “Going to Lucques on Melrose, an American French fusion place.”
“Sounds good.”
Kris watched Adam’s hand as he fiddled with the radio, his long fingers tipped with dark blue polish swiping the touch-screen display in the dash.
“I heard that Mr. Desai thinks he might be finished with the movie in about another month. That’s really quick isn’t it?” Kris asked, breaking the silence. “I mean, I don’t know much about the process after the film is done, but it seems fast.”
“Anoop’s fast. He knows what he wants and what kind of film he wants to put together.”
Adam glanced over, “You know you can call him Anoop, right?” He laughed as Kris shook his head. “Yeah, I think Anoop is almost done. Once it’s finished, then it’s up to your dad and Jeremy for distribution, marketing and all that other fun stuff.”
“Have you seen any of it?”
Adam barked out a laugh, “No. Only Anoop and his team know what’s going on and what it looks like. I doubt even the Black Powder execs have seen anything. It’s just how Anoop works. The other actors and I won’t see the final cut, oh, probably until the premiere. I’m not worried though.”
“How’d you two meet?”
“Anoop and me?” Adam settled back into his seat, adjusting his hand on the steering wheel. He smoothly changed lanes as they drove eastbound on Santa Monica Blvd. “I went to an open casting call. If I didn’t get a role in this movie, I was thinking of going back to school or do something else. I could only get by on part-time work and ask my parents for money so many times, you know? At the time, Anoop made some waves as an innovative director, but for commercials, and he was trying to make his first feature. It was kind of a joke around town, but hey other guys have made it big doing music videos and corporate videos, so why not?”
“That was Books, Buttons and Babies right? The one that had the screening in Phoenix and came out on Blu-Ray, right?”
“Yeah,” Adam smiled fondly. “I can’t believe the re-issue was number one for two weeks. Crazy. And, yeah, I got the role and for some reason, we clicked, and the rest, as they say is history. I trust his vision and understand the way he works better than most.”
“And you’ve worked together since then? Like, this latest is your, what, fifth film together?”
“Huh, yeah, I guess it’s the fifth full feature, but we’ve worked together on seven movies.” At Kris’s look of confusion, he clarified, “I had cameos in his other two. It’s become an inside joke at this point, since everyone has us attached at the hip. Shit, I mean, there’s fanfic about the two of us as a couple,” Adam laughed.
“There’s what? What’s fanfic?”
Adam looked over at him and cracked up, nearly choking, “You don’t know?” Kris again shook his head. “Um, how to explain,” he said. “Ah, saved by the proverbial bell,” he announced pulling up to the valet.
“You’re still going to have to explain it to me. You brought it up after all.”
Coming around to join Kris at the restaurant entrance, Adam opened the door, “Let’s enjoy dinner.”
**
Adam placed his hand on Kris’s shoulder as they followed the hostess to their corner table. Kris’s body radiated warmth, and Adam couldn’t stop his hand from rubbing it as he slipped his hand down to the lower back.
They passed giant mirrors hanging on floor to ceiling brick walls, the iron lamps hanging from exposed wooden beam ceilings creating an intimate, rustic environment. The large fireplace provided an old-school country feel, the wood crackling loudly over the Stravinsky piped out from speakers built into the floors.
Sitting down in the corner booth, they sat perpendicular to each other, knees touching under the table. Adam was nervous, and trying to keep his body still and not reach out to stroke Kris’s face or arm or any other body part, was killing him. At least standing in his doorway, he was able to shove his hands into his pockets. Driving made sure he had something else to focus on while they talked; however, sitting next to him at the table he didn’t have anything to distract him. Instead of following his gut and reaching out to clasp Kris’s hand, Adam forced his hand to play with the tines of his fork.
He watched out of the corner of his eye as Kris studied the menu. Adjusting his napkin, Adam breathed a sigh of relief when the waitress approached. After giving their drink orders, he glanced at the menu.
“Do you know what you want?”
“Everything looks good, so I don’t know if I can decide. What about you?”
“I’m thinking something light, so probably the sand dabs.”
Kris nodded, “I think I’ll go with the beet salad and the chicken.” He placed the menu down, “Why are you thinking light?”
“Ooh,” Adam agreed, “the chicken is amazing, good choice.” He put the menu on the corner of the table, “And light because my trainer is on my ass since I haven’t been eating right because of the movie. Generally, there’s a condition in my contract to bring my trainer on set or have special meals…” he stopped and held out his hand, “I know, I know, but don’t give me shit about it, okay? I was being considerate to budgets for this one since I wanted to do it. Long story short, I’ve been off track and need to get back into shape.”
Leaning back into the black leather padding, Kris looked puzzled. Adam traced the condensation on his glass of water, “What?”
“LA really is a different planet.”
Adam nodded solemnly, “Yeah, it is.” He broke out in a smile, “How are you enjoying it? Living in LA.”
“Fascinating. Creepy. Weird.”
“That pretty much sums it up.”
“What about you?”
“Me?”
“Yeah, are you originally from LA?”
Stretching out his arm, Adam tilted his head. “You really are refreshing, you know that?”
Adam grinned as Kris looked down and his cheeks started to turn pink. Pretending not to notice, Adam picked at some imaginary lint on his pants and shifted to face Kris. “I’m originally from San Diego,” he said, acting like he didn’t make the flippant comment. “My parents are divorced, and mom moved down from San Francisco a few years ago when my career started to take off and I felt myself getting overwhelmed. Dad is still in San Diego, and my younger brother is in Japan? Maybe Korea…I can’t really keep track of him lately, as he’s moving around so much.”
“Are you guys still close even being all separated like that?”
“Yeah, I think so. More so in the last few years; but we worked hard for it. I mean, it was hard right after the divorce, Neil and I were…”
“Neil?”
“Oh,” Adam chuckled. “Yeah, my brother’s name is Neil. Random, huh?” Adam continued, “So, Neil and I were a handful, to say the least, being pains in the asses for my parents. I’m sure shrinks would say we were acting out because of the divorce and wanted attention, blah, blah, but I think it was just growing pains.”
“And you always wanted to be an actor?”
They paused as their drinks arrived and their waitress took their order. Adam handed over the menus and held up his glass.
“Cheers.”
“Cheers,” Kris said, clinking his glass to Adam’s.
Kris took a small sip, set it down and squeezed more limes into the glass. “So, you were telling me about you wanting to be an actor?”
Adam lifted a brow while taking another drink, “I was?”
“Well, either that or you get to explain, what was it, fanfic to me.”
“Well, my parents always thought I was a bit of a drama queen when I was a kid…”
Kris snorted, “Chicken shit.”
“Hell yes I am.” Adam set his glass down, “And if you happen to Google it, don’t tell me. I know too much as it is, thank you very much.”
“Horrifying?”
“A cross between shocking, appalling, funny and kind of hot, actually.”
“Hot? Seriously?”
“And I guess I was a little too hyper, so my parents enrolled me into some after school programs and acting camps during the summer. I just felt the need to play a role, be other people, entertain.”
“Don’t think I didn’t notice you avoiding the other topic.”
“Hey look, our food is coming.”
**
“Where are we?”
“I thought we’d go dancing.”
“Dancing? What do you mean dancing?” Kris asked as his voice rose up high. “I…” he coughed to clear his throat. “I don’t do the dancing thing. Like…at all.”
“It’s no big deal,” Adam said nonchalantly as he handed the valet his keys. “It’s not really a dancing, bump and grind kind of club, per se…more of a lounge where there can be dancing if the music moves you.”
Kris rounded the back of the car, trying not to stare at the strange shoes walking past them on the sidewalk through the wrought iron bars on the windows of the underground parking garage.
The evening was going so well, too. Amazing food and good conversation…well, at least after the initial awkwardness of the first 15 minutes, Kris’s nerves totally disappeared. No paparazzi in their faces as they waited for the car. It was…almost normal. And now this. The butterflies that had disappeared returned with a vengeance, coming back the size of Mothra and not staying in his stomach, but pounding their way from skull to toe. What in the world was Adam thinking bringing him to a club? This would not end well.
“Come on,” Adam said throwing an arm around his shoulder. “It’ll be fun, promise.”
Adam led them to a discrete elevator in the corner and explained, “A friend of mine owns Façade. It’s really exclusive, so unless you know someone who knows someone who can then vouch for you, you’re not getting in. Sometimes there are paps outside the main entrance, but members get to come through the garage, while people on the guest list have to wade through the nonsense upstairs.”
“But, it’s still a club, right?”
“It won’t be that bad, I swear,” Adam whispered in his ear and squeezed his upper arm.
Kris shivered as Adam’s arm slipped down to his waist and held him close as the elevator moved.
Façade was unlike any club that Kris had been in…not that he had gone to many. While living in Dallas, he was more of a bar/pub guy and that was mostly in college. The elevator doors slid apart quietly and opened into a small lobby of burnished metal and red, from the floor to the lights to the plants and flowers. A giant of a woman in all black stood stoically in front of a thick velvet curtain where beats of music streamed through.
“Mr. Lambert,” she said gruffly. “Welcome back.”
“Thanks, Deena,” Adam greeted, taking her hand. “My table ready?”
“Of course,” Deena replied. She lifted up the curtain, “Amy will be here in a minute to walk you over.”
Adam’s hand steered him through the entryway, but Kris almost backed up at the sight in front of him. His eyes bugged out taking in the dancers on the four corners of the rectangular-shaped bar, bodies glistening over tiny pieces of red fabric, thick red velvet ribbons coiled around silver wrought iron that separated tables and booths, a giant gold cage decorated with red and black flashing LED lights that housed the DJ station.
“Wow,” Kris whispered.
A tall platinum blond woman approached them, her tight strapless dress showing off her curves. “Mr. Lambert, I’ll show you and your guest to your table,” she said. “A chilled bottle of Grey Goose and accompanying sodas and fruit juices, as well as extra limes are ready for you. Please let me know if you and…” she paused.
“Kris Allen,” Adam supplied.
She smiled, “…and Mr. Allen would like anything else. I’ll be around all evening, so just buzz. Derek will be in your area should anything need to be handled with discretion.”
“Appreciate it Amy,” Adam said as they stepped up to the corner.
“Uh, thank you, Amy,” Kris finally said, finding his voice. She smiled down on him and swung her ponytail around as she disappeared behind the massive bulk called Derek.
“What do you think?”
“It’s, uh, very red and black in here,” Kris said, still looking around in awe. “This is…um, wow.”
“Amazing, isn’t it?” Adam said excitedly as he scrunched his face in a cute smile that made Kris’s heart beat faster.
Kris sat on the soft red leather chair as Adam started to mix their drinks. He absently nodded when Adam held up the orange juice. Making himself look around some more and not at Adam’s profile, Kris focused on the patrons of the club. He tried not to stare at the celebrities strolling about with drinks in their hands, dressed in outfits and interacting with other people their publicists probably would not approve of, especially if photographs were taken.
From what it looked like, everyone was being respectful, no cameras phones being pulled out except for goofy shots they took of themselves with arms outstretched and lots of giggles and flashes of teeth.
“Hey,” Adam said handing him a thin, tall glass and settling down close to him. “You doing okay?” He stretched out his arm along the edge of the booth, hand and fingers curling up to tickle Kris’s hair.
“I’m…uh,” Kris bit his lip to keep in a moan at the feel of Adam’s fingers by his ear. “Yeah, I’m, uh…I’m good.” He took a giant gulp from his glass, finishing half of it in one shot.
“You seem nervous.”
Kris heard the laughter in Adam’s voice and wanted to punch him. “I’m not nervous,” he lied. “Just taking this all in. I’ve never been anywhere like this, that’s all.”
“Really,” Adam said, voice low and deep.
“Why…why would I be nervous?” Kris tried to say in a normal voice, but cringed when it came out with a bit of a squeak.
“You’re adorable, you know that?”
Adam shifted in the seat, bringing his leg up to bump against Kris’s knee. By crooking his knee over Kris’s thigh, Adam had him pinned to the chair. He couldn’t get up without knocking Adam over, and he didn’t want to do that or cause a scene.
“Why won’t you look at me?” Adam whispered. “Do you want to head out of here?”
Kris moved his head until their faces nearly touched and shook his head, “No.” He reached out to hold Adam’s hand, “I’m good.”
**
After pointing out where the men’s room was, Adam watched Kris’s back as he eased through the crowd. He sat back against the chair and sipped on his drink, smiling and waving at the few individuals he knew.
He had his eyes closed, glass dangling from the tips of his fingers when he heard a voice call out Kris’s name.
“Kris! Hey, what are you doing here?”
“Oh, um, hi Zach.”
Zach? Who the fuck was Zach? How would Kris know anyone here? Adam thought as he opened his eyes.
Kris was a few feet from their table, stopped by a tall, tan blond man who was leaning in a little too close. The club was loud, but not that loud; it was also why Adam’s booth was in one of the quieter corners, away from the giant speakers and the dance floor. He narrowed his eyes watching the interaction, glancing quickly to make sure Derek was in place just in case.
“What are you doing here? Who are you here with?”
Kris shoved his left hand in the pocket of his jeans as his right went up to rub the back of his neck, his nervous gesture. This man was making him uncomfortable.
“I’m here on a date, actually. Who…uh, what…how’d you get in?”
Zach, the blond ass, actually laughed like it was silly that he wouldn’t have gotten in. He replied, “I’m here with some friends. Hot club in town, you know, so why not check it out. Are you lost? Because this is the VIP section, buddy. I know the bar’s a little crazy on that side, but would hate for you and your friend to get hassled by security. You and your date can totally join us at our table over there.” He pointed to the other side of the bar that was sectioned off for standard bottle service.
Adam leaned forward, ready to get up. This man was talking like hot, adorable Kris A) couldn’t possibly be on a date and B) that he had no right to be in this part of the club.
Kris straightened up, bringing his wide shoulders back, “Thanks, Zach, but it’s okay.”
“I know you don’t like to impose, but it wouldn’t be a big deal. You can meet my friends and hang out.”
Adam launched himself off the seat and stepped down, patting Derek on the back, giving him the signal to watch out.
“Hey Kris, there you are,” he said flashing a giant smile. “Everything okay?”
Kris hung his head and shook it before looking up at Adam, “Everything’s fine.”
If Adam hadn’t been confused about Kris’s reaction, he would have found Zach’s bug-eyed and slack-mouthed expression hilarious. Instead, he placed his hand on the small of Kris’s back and smoothed his palm from one side to the other.
“You’re here with Adam Lambert?” Zach finally managed to choke out, his head moving from Kris to Adam and back to Kris.
“Hello, and you are?” Adam asked.
“I’m Zach. Zachary Johnston,” he replied, hand out.
Adam shook it briefly, then ignored him to address Kris who stood quietly next to him, “Let’s get back to the table and have a drink.”
Kris inhaled and put on a fake smile, “Good seeing you Zach.” He turned to Adam, “Yeah, a drink sounds great.”
Adam led Kris back to the table and handed him his drink. They continued to smile at each other like nothing happened. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Zach gaping and staring until Derek shooed him away from the area.
“Wanna tell me what that was about?”
Kris downed the rest of his drink and was fixing himself another with shaky hands. Adam took the bottle away and finished making the drink for him. Before handing it, he put his free hand on Kris’s jittering knee. “Here.”
Tipping the glass back, Kris polished off the vodka soda mix in three giant gulps and a grimace before taking in a few deep breaths. Adam knew he shouldn’t push, knew that if he pushed, Kris would clam up and not tell him anything. So, he waited. He could do that.
“Thanks,” he said bending over and hanging his arms off his knees.
“Did you want to get out of here?” Adam asked.
Kris shook his head, “No…just…I just need a few minutes. Please?”
Adam kissed his temple, “Of course.” Adam busied himself by having Derek page Amy and ordering a few snacks.
**
Fucking Zach…showing up out of the blue…again. Condescending fucktwit asswipe. Kris tried to regulate his breathing. His elbows rested on his knees as he hung his head down. It was hard, fighting his first instinct to turn his back on Zach, pretend he didn’t hear his name get called out-seriously, who would he know here-and to run to the safety of the table and Adam, but that would have meant Zach would see him with Adam. Instead, he turned around and faced him, wanted to get the inevitable exchange out of the way. He was far enough away and the club was busy enough that Zach wouldn’t have to know.
Kris didn’t want him to know anything about his new life, but the gods were working against him for some reason. And to be seen with Adam? Adam fucking Lambert? Yeah, having Zach all up in his business about that would be as fun as getting bamboo shoots shoved up underneath his toenails. The conversation was about to end, and Kris would have been free, but no, Adam had to pop up behind him.
Not that it wasn’t a sweet gesture, no Kris couldn’t begrudge him that. Adam was probably worried he took so long, figuring he got lost. It was a huge club and Kris got an eyeful around every corner. And, Kris’s body language when he got caught probably didn’t help. He just didn’t need Adam to see him like that. Three fucking years, and the bastard still had the power to reduce him to a nervous bumbling wreck.
Downing two strong drinks in two minutes was probably not the best idea in the world. His body was getting warm, the edges of his vision blurring, and he could feel his brain start to shut down.
Kris felt Adam sit down next to him and start to re-arrange the table. He looked up to see a waitress set down three plates of fries, sliders and mini-quesadillas. A bottle of water popped up in front of him.
“Thanks,” he said, opening it and finishing half of it. He shook his head and hoped it would clear out his brain a little.
Kris sighed and leaned back and over onto Adam’s shoulder, snuggling in when he felt Adam’s arm come around and hug him close.
“Sorry about that,” he mumbled.
“You should eat something,” Adam said quietly. “I’d like for you to remember the date and not black out on me.”
Kris chuckled, “Won’t forget.”
“Good,” Adam laughed. He paused, “I guess we can plan for another?”
Kris nodded into Adam’s chest, “Yeah, I’d like that.”
They sat in silence, the music changing from techno-house to top 40 pop. Shouts and peals of laughter floated around them.
“That was my ex,” Kris finally said.
“He’s kind of an ass,” Adam replied drolly.
Kris snorted, “Cale hated him, still does.”
“I knew I liked Cale for a reason.” Adam said with a smile. Then, he asked, “Is he always like that?”
Kris knew what he was asking. He was pretty sure that’s why Adam popped up when he did. It was pretty hard not to hear the callousness and condescending tone coming from Zach whenever he opened his mouth.
“He wasn’t before…when we first started dating. I don’t know what happened.”
“If you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to,” Adam said softly. “You can do this another time, or even never. If you don’t want to talk, I won’t push. Up to you.”
Kris shook head, “No, it’s not a big deal…not anymore.”
**
PerezHilton.com
Does La Lambert Have a New Boy Toy?
La Lambert was seen drinking way too much and having way too much fun at Façade last night with a surprising new boy toy. Apparently his new pet is none other than Black Powder’s co-founder, Neil Allen’s, son Kris Allen. Does this mean La Lambert is getting caught with his hand in the cookie jar? His new boss might not be happy about this.
OKMagazine.com
Adam Lambert Dating the Boss’s Son
OK! Magazine has learned that Adam Lambert has been dating his boss’s son for the last six months. A lowly production assistant on Lambert’s latest film, Kris Allen, son of Black Powder founder and executive producer of the movie, met the actor on-set and the two fell madly in love. The affair has been covert while they were shooting, but now that it’s over, they felt free to make their relationship public.
**
Part 6 is right this way ...go here...
Rating: NC-17
Links to other parts: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
**
After grabbing a couple of beers, Adam followed Kris through the house and out the French doors to the backyard. Soft garden lights were staked in the well-trimmed grass along the pathway around the pool; two heat lamps were lit on the other end of the pool, close to the cabana and deck chairs. He strolled slowly behind Kris, watching him roll up his shirt sleeves, then look back nervously and try to figure out where to sit. Adam was hoping for the cabana, but knew it wouldn’t happen. He had no problem watching Kris walk in front of him.
He laughed to himself when Kris moved a small table in between two of the double-wide deck chairs and sat on the edge of one. Following his lead, Adam sat down, but instead of taking the second chair, he settled himself next to Kris. Obviously surprised, Kris’s body went rigid until Adam nudged his shoulder.
“This okay?” Adam asked.
Kris coughed into the crook of his elbow, “Yeah…I…uh, yeah.”
“So, I’m thinking we need to go out, just the two of us.”
“Like on a date?” Kris squeaked. He cleared throat, “That…that’d be…I mean, sure.”
Adam leaned back on his elbows and stretched out his legs, thigh brushing Kris’s. “This kind of reminds me of that last night in Vegas. You, me, a clear night, a pool.” He extended his hand to touch the small of Kris’s back. “Except you were sitting too far from me.”
Kris twisted his head to look at him, “What are you doing?” he asked quietly.
“Trying to keep myself from ravishing you at your parent’s house.”
Adam sat up immediately to grab Kris’s hand, knowing he would bolt up out of the chair, “What?”
“I…this is strange, right?” Kris answered, unmoving, his bare forearm gripped by Adam’s hand. “Like, this whole thing…it’s…”
Sliding his hand down to clasp Kris’s hand, Adam stood up and placed his body at an angle. Kris’s body automatically swayed into his, shoulder hitting his chest.
“What’s strange?” Adam whispered. “You and me? This? It might not have been the most conventional way of meeting and getting to know each other, but it’s not weird. It doesn’t feel wrong.”
Adam moved around until he was facing Kris, their hands still clasped, fingers tangled. Bending slightly, he brought them up to his lips and placed a light kiss on the knuckle of Kris’s pointer finger. “So, we’ll go out on proper date.” He placed another kiss on the next knuckle, “I don’t have another film lined up so I’ll be in town for a while,” another kiss, “The only thing I have to do is promotion and press for this last one when Anoop’s done.” He pulled their hands up and lifted Kris’s forearm over until he could lick at the underside of his wrist. “I hope by then, things will get less weird for you…for us.”
He felt Kris shiver under his touch, leaning into Adam, arms trapped between them. Adam bowed his head and nuzzled the side of Kris’s neck, breathing him in. They stay like that for a while, his arm wrapped firmly around Kris’s waist, hands held tightly to each other.
“Adam! Sweetie!” Nury shouted. “Oh, damn, I’m sorry.”
Adam securely fastened his arm around Kris, as he tried to break free from his grasp at the interruption.
“Yes, Nury,” Adam sighed.
“Nothing. Absolutely nothing,” Nury said backtracking.
“Sorry,” Cale breathed out heavily, obviously having run out behind Nury. “I tried to stop her from…”
“Cale, darling,” Nury purred, turning her attention onto him. “I’m afraid I’ve lost my ride home,” she said winking at Adam, “and I really don’t feel like calling for a cab or my assistant to arrange a car.” She grabbed his arm as he stopped next to her, “Would you mind being a dear and driving me home? I have an early flight out in the morning, and as much as I hate to leave the party early, Nury must be responsible tonight.”
Cale beamed patting her hand, “Of course. I would be honored to drive you.” Cale looked over at Adam and Kris and waved. “Kris, I’ll call you tomorrow. Uh, you won’t have a problem getting home, right?” he looked pointedly at Adam.
Adam gazed down to see Kris blush, but nod and smile back at Cale.
“Goodnight Nury, and thanks Cale,” Adam called out.
Kris placed his forehead on Adam’s chest and breathed out, “Oh god.”
Adam rubbed his back soothingly and chuckled, “What?”
“It just got weird again.”
“Next Saturday, we’ll go out to dinner. I’ll check my schedule with Tatiana, but it should be fine. Then it won’t be strange anymore, okay?”
Kris shook his head, “It will be.”
Adam pulled back to look at Kris, tried to meet his eyes, “Why?”
Blowing out a breath, Kris backed up out of Adam’s arms, “Because you’re you” he rubbed the back of his neck with one hand and waved the other in front of Adam, up and down, “And I’m me, that’s why.
“I’m not understanding,” Adam said confused.
“I…I don’t think I’m cut out for this.”
“For what?” Adam stepped back and sat at the end of the deck chair. “For dating? It’s just dinner.”
Kris started to pace in front of him, arms wrapped around himself. “It’s…” he turned to face Adam, “You have to check your schedule with your assistant. You have people. I don’t have people. When was the last time you went out to dinner and didn’t get chased by paparazzi?” He moved again, but Adam reached out and pulled him between his legs, holding him in place.
“I’m not apologizing for who I am, Kris.”
“And, I’m not asking you to or saying you should. I’m…” Kris tried to move, but Adam’s hands were firmly behind his knees, not allowing him space to move. “I’m just wondering why me, I guess.”
Adam tilted his body forward until the side of his face rested against Kris’s stomach, “Why not you?” He looked up and grinned, “I like you.”
**
With hands on his hips, Cale looked around the apartment. “You are officially ready for a house-warming now.”
Grunting, Kris shoved the bookcase into place along the wall. He massaged his shoulder while replying, “A what?”
“A house warming party, dude.”
Kris scrunched his face, “Uh, no, dude. Why would I want to do that?”
“Free pizza and beer for me, of course.”
“You get free pizza and beer whenever you come over.”
“Plus, I can meet your friends.”
“You’ve met them,” Kris extended out an arm. “Cale? Meet Cale.”
“So, you’re not friends with the guys you met on the movie set? You talked about them enough.”
Kris groaned as he plopped down on his new couch and laid his head down on a cushion, “It’s not the same. They were co-workers, plus it’s not like we’ve been in touch regularly. I think half of them are off on another movie.”
Cale walked to the kitchen, “You could always invite Adam. I’m sure he can bring a few people over, like that weird dude Brad. I’ll bring some of my co-workers.”
“Not happening.”
“Then just invite Adam over for a more intimate party,” he grinned handing Kris a soda.
“I hate you.”
“You two looked awful cozy at your parents’ dinner,” Cale laughed as he knocked Kris’s feet from the other end of the couch. He sat and took a long drink, “So, all that hemming and hawing about nothing going on between you two is a crock of shit.”
“We’re going out to dinner on Saturday,” Kris mumbled into the cushion. “Happy?”
“He’s so out of your league, dude.”
“I know.”
“At least I like him better than the other one,” Cale replied slowly.
“You don’t even know him, and you like him better?”
Cale shrugged, “Didn’t really know the other one either, but didn’t stop me from making a judgment call that turned out to be right.”
“His name is Zach.”
Cale blew out a raspberry and waved a hand, “Whatever. Zach…douchebag…fucktard. Same difference.”
“So,” Cale said leaning back into the couch, “What do you want on the pizza you’re buying me? It’s the least you could do since I helped move the last of your new furniture up. Beer’s already cold.”
“Have I mentioned how much I hate you?”
“Always and forever,” Cale replied and made kissing noises. “Now call. I’m starved, and you know how I get when I’m hungry.”
“Yeah, like a freshman sorority girl PMSing,” Kris grunted as he pulled out his phone.
**
“You’re really going out on a date?” Tatiana asked as she went around the office cleaning up. “Like, a date date?”
“Yes, Tatiana, a date, like an evening consisting of dinner and maybe a movie or oh! Maybe dancing,” Adam laughed. “What’s with the question?”
“Nothing,” she hedged. “Just, well, I’ve been working with you for three years, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen you make your own plans for a date, a date date.”
Adam peered over at her from his laptop, then leaned back, placing his hands behind his head and propped his feet on the desk, “Care to explain?”
“Well,” she said stopping with an armful of scripts. “Usually, you have me make the restaurants for you, and depending on the person and how much attention you want to attract, I make the reservation. Then I make sure a car is arranged while you go through your closet and throw out the clothes that you might want to wear, and I take them to the dry cleaners.”
“Okay, and?”
“Well, you didn’t do any of that this time. So,” she shrugged. “I find it cute.”
“Cute,” Adam stated flatly.
Tatiana giggled, “Yes, cute. I find it cute and adorable that Adam Lambert is making a personal effort because he actually likes a guy and isn’t having his assistant do the leg work.”
“I’ve made plans on my own before,” he pouted.
“Sure, boss. Whatever you say,” she laughed as she ducked the balled up piece of paper thrown her way. “Seriously, Adam, Kris is a sweetheart.”
“What do you know about him? In all the, you know, five minutes you spent talking to him.”
“Hey,” she said sitting down at the edge of the desk near his feet and smacking them lightly. “I talked to him. We had several nice conversations before you paged him and ran him ragged with nonsense. Plus, it wasn’t necessarily what he said, than what he didn’t say. And, you know me, I listen more than talk.”
“Except around me,” Adam grumbled.
She hit his ankle this time, “Shush. You want to know what I found out or not?”
Adam shifted in his seat and rested his hands on his stomach, “Tell me.”
Tatiana raised a brow and smirked, a trick she must have picked up from him. He rolled his eyes and laughed, “Please.”
“You probably know some of this, but…okay,” she said excitedly. “Kris is from Dallas, but just moved to LA a few months ago. He used to work for a non-profit organization, so that had him all over the place, most recently to a few countries in Africa. Building homes, shelters, even a couple of schools.”
Adam arched an eyebrow, “Sounds like you have a little crush on him.”
“He’s totally gay, so whatever. I can totally have a crush on him, but I think he likes my boss more,” she said and stuck her tongue out. “Anyway, what I did find out, or at least read between the lines, is that the reason he went to the other end of the world was because of a bad break-up.” She paused and sighed, “Must have been bad to need to get away from everyone and everything for so long. He would have moved onto South America, but he got sick. Like so sick this parents had him moved to Frankfurt for medical help for a few weeks. Then he stayed in Dallas for a bit to recover, then came out here.”
Nudging her side with his feet to continue, Adam contemplated this. He wasn’t surprised actually. Though, he hoped that Kris was over the break-up or at least put it behind him and would be able to move forward. With him.
“He doesn’t have a lot of friends, probably not a surprise seeing that he just moved into town. Then, he got the job on your film, so no time to actually go out and meet people. I know he and the other guys chat once in a while, but not the same, right? And, then he meets you, and wow, you know? Gosh, Adam, he’s such a sweetheart.”
Adam nodded, “Yeah, he is.”
Tatiana jumped off the desk, crossed her arms and glared sternly at him.
“What?” Adam chuckled at her “angry” face.
“Don’t be a jerk to him.”
“Oh my god, really, Tatiana?” he exclaimed as he dropped his feet to the floor. He pulled at her arms and took her hands into his. “I like him, okay? I can’t promise there won’t be broken hearts, but I swear I’ll do what I can to prevent that from happening.”
“Okay. Good.” She leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek. “You need anything else? Otherwise, I’m heading home for a date with my television.”
Adam waved her off, “Go…enjoy your evening and weekend.” He watched as she grabbed her backpack. “Those reality shows kill brain cells. Scientific fact.”
She stuck her tongue out at him, “It’s not like I work in Hollywood and an aspiring screenwriter or anything and if I was, brain cells are overrated.” She giggled again, “Goodnight Adam. Oh, and have fun on your date tomorrow. I want to hear all about it on Monday, so I better not see anything on TMZ first, okay?”
**
PerezHilton.com
Oscar-Baiting for La Lambert?
Apparently La Lambert is taking the early buzz about his Oscar chances for his new movie,Not Today, Not Tomorrow, which isn’t even out yet, a little too seriously. We’ve been hearing grumblings from sources close to his management team that he’s refusing to even look at scripts because he wants to see how the film fares and how his price will rise. The drama continues for Hollywood’s notorious drama queen.
RadarOnline.com
Lambert Social Hermit
We haven’t heard boo from actor Adam Lambert. What’s been going on with him? Except for the rare sighting of him shopping around town, the clubs he normally frequents has been weirdly quiet. Wonder if he’s taking his new serious actor-y self too seriously.
**
“Cale, this is the eighth time you called today. Don’t you have anything better to do?” Kris asked as he slid open the closet door and started to pick through his shirts.
“Nope,” Cale replied. “Living vicariously through you right now because I’m a loser. I’m not the one going out on a first date with the man every woman in the world wants, and I’m sure a lot of men would die to have, too.” He paused, “Are you mad that he had to cancel last week?”
“Of course not, he had some dubbing work to do for the film, wasn’t a big deal. As for tonight, it’s just dinner and a movie.”
Cale snorted, “Except that TMZ, Perez and a dozen other strangers will be your peanut gallery, unlike us mere mortals where we only have our parents and friends to bitch to if the date is bad.”
“Are you saying it’ll be bad tonight?” Kris laughed.
“Of course not,” Cale backpedaled. “Um, so whatcha wearing?”
Kris nearly dropped the phone from laughing, “I…I don’t even know who you are anymore Cale.”
“Well, if you’re going to be plastered all over the tabloids, gotta make sure my boy is dressed nicely and representing. Can’t have you embarrass us.”
“I don’t know what I’m wearing yet.”
“Don’t wear your Chucks, he might be taking you to someplace that doesn’t deep fry all the vegetables.”
Kris shook his head, “Yes, mom.” He laughed again, “Did you want to come over and do my hair and nails? I think we have a few minutes.”
“This is what I get for looking out for you,” Cale sighed.
“I’m going to hang up now.”
“And, I’ll be waiting anxiously for your full report, not like the gross details or anything about any kissy faces and shit, got it? Hopefully, I won’t hear from you until late tomorrow night when I bring over Thai food to watch the game.”
“Bye Cale.”
Kris tossed his phone on the bed and studied the contents of his closet and his dresser. Glancing over at the clock on the night stand, he realized he only had 30 minutes left before Adam was scheduled to arrive. He scrambled to pull a dress shirt out from under the plastic bag, a pair of dark jeans from the shelf and loafers from a box in the corner. After changing, he rushed into the bathroom to fix his hair, running a little bit of gel through it.
The doorbell rang as he was wiping his hands. Taking a deep breath and a final peek at himself in the mirror, he grabbed a sweater and went to the door. Opening it, seeing Adam for the first time in two weeks, any breath he had escaped from his body. Adam was dressed in all black, from the V-neck, long sleeve shirt, vest and jeans; the pewter belt buckle, strands of necklaces, slew of rings and pink diamond stud in his ears provided small bursts of color. His hair was down and mussed and looked soft enough to touch, his eyes shined brilliantly, highlighted by black liner.
“Hi,” Kris got out, proud of himself for not sounding breathless.
“Hey,” Adam replied. “You look good,” he said eyes roaming over his body.
Kris stepped back, allowing Adam over the threshold. “Uh, it’s a bit of a mess and small, but…”
“It’s nice and very you-sized,” Adam said lightly looking around, but he remained standing by the door. “You ready?”
“Uh, yeah, let me just grab…” He went to his coffee table and grabbed his phone, wallet and keys. He looked up to see Adam leaning against the door jam, hands in his back pockets.
They walked down the stairs, side by side, in silence.
“Over there,” Adam said pointing to a black BMW. The alarm went off as he clicked his key fob. He hesitated by the passenger door and Kris bit the inside of his mouth to not laugh. Adam pulled at the handle to open the door a little before heading to the driver’s side.
“So, where are we going?” Kris asked as he settled in the soft leather seats and strapped on his seatbelt.
As Adam backed the car out of the visitors’ parking space, he lifted the corner of lip mouth, “Going to Lucques on Melrose, an American French fusion place.”
“Sounds good.”
Kris watched Adam’s hand as he fiddled with the radio, his long fingers tipped with dark blue polish swiping the touch-screen display in the dash.
“I heard that Mr. Desai thinks he might be finished with the movie in about another month. That’s really quick isn’t it?” Kris asked, breaking the silence. “I mean, I don’t know much about the process after the film is done, but it seems fast.”
“Anoop’s fast. He knows what he wants and what kind of film he wants to put together.”
Adam glanced over, “You know you can call him Anoop, right?” He laughed as Kris shook his head. “Yeah, I think Anoop is almost done. Once it’s finished, then it’s up to your dad and Jeremy for distribution, marketing and all that other fun stuff.”
“Have you seen any of it?”
Adam barked out a laugh, “No. Only Anoop and his team know what’s going on and what it looks like. I doubt even the Black Powder execs have seen anything. It’s just how Anoop works. The other actors and I won’t see the final cut, oh, probably until the premiere. I’m not worried though.”
“How’d you two meet?”
“Anoop and me?” Adam settled back into his seat, adjusting his hand on the steering wheel. He smoothly changed lanes as they drove eastbound on Santa Monica Blvd. “I went to an open casting call. If I didn’t get a role in this movie, I was thinking of going back to school or do something else. I could only get by on part-time work and ask my parents for money so many times, you know? At the time, Anoop made some waves as an innovative director, but for commercials, and he was trying to make his first feature. It was kind of a joke around town, but hey other guys have made it big doing music videos and corporate videos, so why not?”
“That was Books, Buttons and Babies right? The one that had the screening in Phoenix and came out on Blu-Ray, right?”
“Yeah,” Adam smiled fondly. “I can’t believe the re-issue was number one for two weeks. Crazy. And, yeah, I got the role and for some reason, we clicked, and the rest, as they say is history. I trust his vision and understand the way he works better than most.”
“And you’ve worked together since then? Like, this latest is your, what, fifth film together?”
“Huh, yeah, I guess it’s the fifth full feature, but we’ve worked together on seven movies.” At Kris’s look of confusion, he clarified, “I had cameos in his other two. It’s become an inside joke at this point, since everyone has us attached at the hip. Shit, I mean, there’s fanfic about the two of us as a couple,” Adam laughed.
“There’s what? What’s fanfic?”
Adam looked over at him and cracked up, nearly choking, “You don’t know?” Kris again shook his head. “Um, how to explain,” he said. “Ah, saved by the proverbial bell,” he announced pulling up to the valet.
“You’re still going to have to explain it to me. You brought it up after all.”
Coming around to join Kris at the restaurant entrance, Adam opened the door, “Let’s enjoy dinner.”
**
Adam placed his hand on Kris’s shoulder as they followed the hostess to their corner table. Kris’s body radiated warmth, and Adam couldn’t stop his hand from rubbing it as he slipped his hand down to the lower back.
They passed giant mirrors hanging on floor to ceiling brick walls, the iron lamps hanging from exposed wooden beam ceilings creating an intimate, rustic environment. The large fireplace provided an old-school country feel, the wood crackling loudly over the Stravinsky piped out from speakers built into the floors.
Sitting down in the corner booth, they sat perpendicular to each other, knees touching under the table. Adam was nervous, and trying to keep his body still and not reach out to stroke Kris’s face or arm or any other body part, was killing him. At least standing in his doorway, he was able to shove his hands into his pockets. Driving made sure he had something else to focus on while they talked; however, sitting next to him at the table he didn’t have anything to distract him. Instead of following his gut and reaching out to clasp Kris’s hand, Adam forced his hand to play with the tines of his fork.
He watched out of the corner of his eye as Kris studied the menu. Adjusting his napkin, Adam breathed a sigh of relief when the waitress approached. After giving their drink orders, he glanced at the menu.
“Do you know what you want?”
“Everything looks good, so I don’t know if I can decide. What about you?”
“I’m thinking something light, so probably the sand dabs.”
Kris nodded, “I think I’ll go with the beet salad and the chicken.” He placed the menu down, “Why are you thinking light?”
“Ooh,” Adam agreed, “the chicken is amazing, good choice.” He put the menu on the corner of the table, “And light because my trainer is on my ass since I haven’t been eating right because of the movie. Generally, there’s a condition in my contract to bring my trainer on set or have special meals…” he stopped and held out his hand, “I know, I know, but don’t give me shit about it, okay? I was being considerate to budgets for this one since I wanted to do it. Long story short, I’ve been off track and need to get back into shape.”
Leaning back into the black leather padding, Kris looked puzzled. Adam traced the condensation on his glass of water, “What?”
“LA really is a different planet.”
Adam nodded solemnly, “Yeah, it is.” He broke out in a smile, “How are you enjoying it? Living in LA.”
“Fascinating. Creepy. Weird.”
“That pretty much sums it up.”
“What about you?”
“Me?”
“Yeah, are you originally from LA?”
Stretching out his arm, Adam tilted his head. “You really are refreshing, you know that?”
Adam grinned as Kris looked down and his cheeks started to turn pink. Pretending not to notice, Adam picked at some imaginary lint on his pants and shifted to face Kris. “I’m originally from San Diego,” he said, acting like he didn’t make the flippant comment. “My parents are divorced, and mom moved down from San Francisco a few years ago when my career started to take off and I felt myself getting overwhelmed. Dad is still in San Diego, and my younger brother is in Japan? Maybe Korea…I can’t really keep track of him lately, as he’s moving around so much.”
“Are you guys still close even being all separated like that?”
“Yeah, I think so. More so in the last few years; but we worked hard for it. I mean, it was hard right after the divorce, Neil and I were…”
“Neil?”
“Oh,” Adam chuckled. “Yeah, my brother’s name is Neil. Random, huh?” Adam continued, “So, Neil and I were a handful, to say the least, being pains in the asses for my parents. I’m sure shrinks would say we were acting out because of the divorce and wanted attention, blah, blah, but I think it was just growing pains.”
“And you always wanted to be an actor?”
They paused as their drinks arrived and their waitress took their order. Adam handed over the menus and held up his glass.
“Cheers.”
“Cheers,” Kris said, clinking his glass to Adam’s.
Kris took a small sip, set it down and squeezed more limes into the glass. “So, you were telling me about you wanting to be an actor?”
Adam lifted a brow while taking another drink, “I was?”
“Well, either that or you get to explain, what was it, fanfic to me.”
“Well, my parents always thought I was a bit of a drama queen when I was a kid…”
Kris snorted, “Chicken shit.”
“Hell yes I am.” Adam set his glass down, “And if you happen to Google it, don’t tell me. I know too much as it is, thank you very much.”
“Horrifying?”
“A cross between shocking, appalling, funny and kind of hot, actually.”
“Hot? Seriously?”
“And I guess I was a little too hyper, so my parents enrolled me into some after school programs and acting camps during the summer. I just felt the need to play a role, be other people, entertain.”
“Don’t think I didn’t notice you avoiding the other topic.”
“Hey look, our food is coming.”
**
“Where are we?”
“I thought we’d go dancing.”
“Dancing? What do you mean dancing?” Kris asked as his voice rose up high. “I…” he coughed to clear his throat. “I don’t do the dancing thing. Like…at all.”
“It’s no big deal,” Adam said nonchalantly as he handed the valet his keys. “It’s not really a dancing, bump and grind kind of club, per se…more of a lounge where there can be dancing if the music moves you.”
Kris rounded the back of the car, trying not to stare at the strange shoes walking past them on the sidewalk through the wrought iron bars on the windows of the underground parking garage.
The evening was going so well, too. Amazing food and good conversation…well, at least after the initial awkwardness of the first 15 minutes, Kris’s nerves totally disappeared. No paparazzi in their faces as they waited for the car. It was…almost normal. And now this. The butterflies that had disappeared returned with a vengeance, coming back the size of Mothra and not staying in his stomach, but pounding their way from skull to toe. What in the world was Adam thinking bringing him to a club? This would not end well.
“Come on,” Adam said throwing an arm around his shoulder. “It’ll be fun, promise.”
Adam led them to a discrete elevator in the corner and explained, “A friend of mine owns Façade. It’s really exclusive, so unless you know someone who knows someone who can then vouch for you, you’re not getting in. Sometimes there are paps outside the main entrance, but members get to come through the garage, while people on the guest list have to wade through the nonsense upstairs.”
“But, it’s still a club, right?”
“It won’t be that bad, I swear,” Adam whispered in his ear and squeezed his upper arm.
Kris shivered as Adam’s arm slipped down to his waist and held him close as the elevator moved.
Façade was unlike any club that Kris had been in…not that he had gone to many. While living in Dallas, he was more of a bar/pub guy and that was mostly in college. The elevator doors slid apart quietly and opened into a small lobby of burnished metal and red, from the floor to the lights to the plants and flowers. A giant of a woman in all black stood stoically in front of a thick velvet curtain where beats of music streamed through.
“Mr. Lambert,” she said gruffly. “Welcome back.”
“Thanks, Deena,” Adam greeted, taking her hand. “My table ready?”
“Of course,” Deena replied. She lifted up the curtain, “Amy will be here in a minute to walk you over.”
Adam’s hand steered him through the entryway, but Kris almost backed up at the sight in front of him. His eyes bugged out taking in the dancers on the four corners of the rectangular-shaped bar, bodies glistening over tiny pieces of red fabric, thick red velvet ribbons coiled around silver wrought iron that separated tables and booths, a giant gold cage decorated with red and black flashing LED lights that housed the DJ station.
“Wow,” Kris whispered.
A tall platinum blond woman approached them, her tight strapless dress showing off her curves. “Mr. Lambert, I’ll show you and your guest to your table,” she said. “A chilled bottle of Grey Goose and accompanying sodas and fruit juices, as well as extra limes are ready for you. Please let me know if you and…” she paused.
“Kris Allen,” Adam supplied.
She smiled, “…and Mr. Allen would like anything else. I’ll be around all evening, so just buzz. Derek will be in your area should anything need to be handled with discretion.”
“Appreciate it Amy,” Adam said as they stepped up to the corner.
“Uh, thank you, Amy,” Kris finally said, finding his voice. She smiled down on him and swung her ponytail around as she disappeared behind the massive bulk called Derek.
“What do you think?”
“It’s, uh, very red and black in here,” Kris said, still looking around in awe. “This is…um, wow.”
“Amazing, isn’t it?” Adam said excitedly as he scrunched his face in a cute smile that made Kris’s heart beat faster.
Kris sat on the soft red leather chair as Adam started to mix their drinks. He absently nodded when Adam held up the orange juice. Making himself look around some more and not at Adam’s profile, Kris focused on the patrons of the club. He tried not to stare at the celebrities strolling about with drinks in their hands, dressed in outfits and interacting with other people their publicists probably would not approve of, especially if photographs were taken.
From what it looked like, everyone was being respectful, no cameras phones being pulled out except for goofy shots they took of themselves with arms outstretched and lots of giggles and flashes of teeth.
“Hey,” Adam said handing him a thin, tall glass and settling down close to him. “You doing okay?” He stretched out his arm along the edge of the booth, hand and fingers curling up to tickle Kris’s hair.
“I’m…uh,” Kris bit his lip to keep in a moan at the feel of Adam’s fingers by his ear. “Yeah, I’m, uh…I’m good.” He took a giant gulp from his glass, finishing half of it in one shot.
“You seem nervous.”
Kris heard the laughter in Adam’s voice and wanted to punch him. “I’m not nervous,” he lied. “Just taking this all in. I’ve never been anywhere like this, that’s all.”
“Really,” Adam said, voice low and deep.
“Why…why would I be nervous?” Kris tried to say in a normal voice, but cringed when it came out with a bit of a squeak.
“You’re adorable, you know that?”
Adam shifted in the seat, bringing his leg up to bump against Kris’s knee. By crooking his knee over Kris’s thigh, Adam had him pinned to the chair. He couldn’t get up without knocking Adam over, and he didn’t want to do that or cause a scene.
“Why won’t you look at me?” Adam whispered. “Do you want to head out of here?”
Kris moved his head until their faces nearly touched and shook his head, “No.” He reached out to hold Adam’s hand, “I’m good.”
**
After pointing out where the men’s room was, Adam watched Kris’s back as he eased through the crowd. He sat back against the chair and sipped on his drink, smiling and waving at the few individuals he knew.
He had his eyes closed, glass dangling from the tips of his fingers when he heard a voice call out Kris’s name.
“Kris! Hey, what are you doing here?”
“Oh, um, hi Zach.”
Zach? Who the fuck was Zach? How would Kris know anyone here? Adam thought as he opened his eyes.
Kris was a few feet from their table, stopped by a tall, tan blond man who was leaning in a little too close. The club was loud, but not that loud; it was also why Adam’s booth was in one of the quieter corners, away from the giant speakers and the dance floor. He narrowed his eyes watching the interaction, glancing quickly to make sure Derek was in place just in case.
“What are you doing here? Who are you here with?”
Kris shoved his left hand in the pocket of his jeans as his right went up to rub the back of his neck, his nervous gesture. This man was making him uncomfortable.
“I’m here on a date, actually. Who…uh, what…how’d you get in?”
Zach, the blond ass, actually laughed like it was silly that he wouldn’t have gotten in. He replied, “I’m here with some friends. Hot club in town, you know, so why not check it out. Are you lost? Because this is the VIP section, buddy. I know the bar’s a little crazy on that side, but would hate for you and your friend to get hassled by security. You and your date can totally join us at our table over there.” He pointed to the other side of the bar that was sectioned off for standard bottle service.
Adam leaned forward, ready to get up. This man was talking like hot, adorable Kris A) couldn’t possibly be on a date and B) that he had no right to be in this part of the club.
Kris straightened up, bringing his wide shoulders back, “Thanks, Zach, but it’s okay.”
“I know you don’t like to impose, but it wouldn’t be a big deal. You can meet my friends and hang out.”
Adam launched himself off the seat and stepped down, patting Derek on the back, giving him the signal to watch out.
“Hey Kris, there you are,” he said flashing a giant smile. “Everything okay?”
Kris hung his head and shook it before looking up at Adam, “Everything’s fine.”
If Adam hadn’t been confused about Kris’s reaction, he would have found Zach’s bug-eyed and slack-mouthed expression hilarious. Instead, he placed his hand on the small of Kris’s back and smoothed his palm from one side to the other.
“You’re here with Adam Lambert?” Zach finally managed to choke out, his head moving from Kris to Adam and back to Kris.
“Hello, and you are?” Adam asked.
“I’m Zach. Zachary Johnston,” he replied, hand out.
Adam shook it briefly, then ignored him to address Kris who stood quietly next to him, “Let’s get back to the table and have a drink.”
Kris inhaled and put on a fake smile, “Good seeing you Zach.” He turned to Adam, “Yeah, a drink sounds great.”
Adam led Kris back to the table and handed him his drink. They continued to smile at each other like nothing happened. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Zach gaping and staring until Derek shooed him away from the area.
“Wanna tell me what that was about?”
Kris downed the rest of his drink and was fixing himself another with shaky hands. Adam took the bottle away and finished making the drink for him. Before handing it, he put his free hand on Kris’s jittering knee. “Here.”
Tipping the glass back, Kris polished off the vodka soda mix in three giant gulps and a grimace before taking in a few deep breaths. Adam knew he shouldn’t push, knew that if he pushed, Kris would clam up and not tell him anything. So, he waited. He could do that.
“Thanks,” he said bending over and hanging his arms off his knees.
“Did you want to get out of here?” Adam asked.
Kris shook his head, “No…just…I just need a few minutes. Please?”
Adam kissed his temple, “Of course.” Adam busied himself by having Derek page Amy and ordering a few snacks.
**
Fucking Zach…showing up out of the blue…again. Condescending fucktwit asswipe. Kris tried to regulate his breathing. His elbows rested on his knees as he hung his head down. It was hard, fighting his first instinct to turn his back on Zach, pretend he didn’t hear his name get called out-seriously, who would he know here-and to run to the safety of the table and Adam, but that would have meant Zach would see him with Adam. Instead, he turned around and faced him, wanted to get the inevitable exchange out of the way. He was far enough away and the club was busy enough that Zach wouldn’t have to know.
Kris didn’t want him to know anything about his new life, but the gods were working against him for some reason. And to be seen with Adam? Adam fucking Lambert? Yeah, having Zach all up in his business about that would be as fun as getting bamboo shoots shoved up underneath his toenails. The conversation was about to end, and Kris would have been free, but no, Adam had to pop up behind him.
Not that it wasn’t a sweet gesture, no Kris couldn’t begrudge him that. Adam was probably worried he took so long, figuring he got lost. It was a huge club and Kris got an eyeful around every corner. And, Kris’s body language when he got caught probably didn’t help. He just didn’t need Adam to see him like that. Three fucking years, and the bastard still had the power to reduce him to a nervous bumbling wreck.
Downing two strong drinks in two minutes was probably not the best idea in the world. His body was getting warm, the edges of his vision blurring, and he could feel his brain start to shut down.
Kris felt Adam sit down next to him and start to re-arrange the table. He looked up to see a waitress set down three plates of fries, sliders and mini-quesadillas. A bottle of water popped up in front of him.
“Thanks,” he said, opening it and finishing half of it. He shook his head and hoped it would clear out his brain a little.
Kris sighed and leaned back and over onto Adam’s shoulder, snuggling in when he felt Adam’s arm come around and hug him close.
“Sorry about that,” he mumbled.
“You should eat something,” Adam said quietly. “I’d like for you to remember the date and not black out on me.”
Kris chuckled, “Won’t forget.”
“Good,” Adam laughed. He paused, “I guess we can plan for another?”
Kris nodded into Adam’s chest, “Yeah, I’d like that.”
They sat in silence, the music changing from techno-house to top 40 pop. Shouts and peals of laughter floated around them.
“That was my ex,” Kris finally said.
“He’s kind of an ass,” Adam replied drolly.
Kris snorted, “Cale hated him, still does.”
“I knew I liked Cale for a reason.” Adam said with a smile. Then, he asked, “Is he always like that?”
Kris knew what he was asking. He was pretty sure that’s why Adam popped up when he did. It was pretty hard not to hear the callousness and condescending tone coming from Zach whenever he opened his mouth.
“He wasn’t before…when we first started dating. I don’t know what happened.”
“If you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to,” Adam said softly. “You can do this another time, or even never. If you don’t want to talk, I won’t push. Up to you.”
Kris shook head, “No, it’s not a big deal…not anymore.”
**
PerezHilton.com
Does La Lambert Have a New Boy Toy?
La Lambert was seen drinking way too much and having way too much fun at Façade last night with a surprising new boy toy. Apparently his new pet is none other than Black Powder’s co-founder, Neil Allen’s, son Kris Allen. Does this mean La Lambert is getting caught with his hand in the cookie jar? His new boss might not be happy about this.
OKMagazine.com
Adam Lambert Dating the Boss’s Son
OK! Magazine has learned that Adam Lambert has been dating his boss’s son for the last six months. A lowly production assistant on Lambert’s latest film, Kris Allen, son of Black Powder founder and executive producer of the movie, met the actor on-set and the two fell madly in love. The affair has been covert while they were shooting, but now that it’s over, they felt free to make their relationship public.
**
Part 6 is right this way ...go here...