The Pleasure Principle (Twenty-Eight/?)
Title: The Pleasure Principle (Twenty-Eight/?)
Author: millionstar
Pairing: Belldom, AU
Rating: NC 17 overall, to be safe
Warnings: This part: language.
Summary: Our boys are porn stars. Wait, why are you laughing?
Feedback: Is appreciated, if you're so inclined. Either way, just enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own Muse, no offense intended, this never happened, and no money is being made. 'Tis fiction, after all. Silver Star Studios and its inhabitants, however, are all mine. Mad love and thanks to dolce_piccante, frisky_biscuit & myz_bee for input, beta skills and so many other things as well. <3
Prologue | One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight | Nine | Ten | Eleven | Twelve | Thirteen | Fourteen-a | Fourteen-b | Fifteen | Sixteen | Seventeen | Eighteen | Nineteen | Twenty | Twenty-One | Twenty-Two | Twenty-Three | Twenty-Four | Twenty-Five | Twenty-Six | Twenty-Seven
"What are you talking about?" Dominic blurts out, clearly shocked at what he's just been told. "And how... how do you know these things?"
Mort takes a sip of his wine and sighs. "Evan himself told me. He was drunk as fuck one night during one of our poker games and started running off at the mouth. It all came out, the deception on Johnny's deathbed, every word of it."
"Then why didn't you tell someone?" I ask, aghast.
"I had no proof, only a drunken Evan's word."
"That, and you were also guilty yourself, weren't you," I say softly, "of blackmailing Evan."
Mort has the decency to remain silent; he merely nods.
"But, why did Evan feel so threatened, to the point that he offered me to you instead of the money he owed you?" Dominic interrupts, his forehead scrunched in concentration.
"I started recording the things he was saying on my cell phone," he replies uneasily. Lou finally stops eating and stares at Mort sadly. Killer whines, as if on cue at his disappointment in his daddy's behavior.
"Unsavory business, baby, unsavory." Still, though, he leans over and kisses Mort on the cheek, one hand on his shoulder. "I do hope this is the extent of your involvement in all of this." Before Mort can answer him, he continues, in a much more serious tone. "And I also do hope you realize that you owe Dominic, you owe him so much more than you can ever repay him at this point. You're lucky that either of them," he nods in our direction, "are even speaking to you, Morton."
"I know, believe me, I know, Louie."
"Why even tell me this now, though," Dominic asks, "it's not like I can do anything about it."
Mort chews on a piece of chicken, swallowing it before asking "What if you could?"
"What do you mean?"
"That's where I've been, doing some digging around in regards to the persons involved at the time. I came up empty-handed, though. Well, I didn't get to speak to one of the witnesses who was present that night because he was out of the country. And I was ordered," he glances at Lou, blushing a little, "to come home immediately or not bother coming back at all."
"I'm not sorry," Lou replies haughtily, "you could have told us what was going on up front but you chose not to. Who is this person you didn't get to speak to?"
"His name is Justin Wolstenholme."
Dominic drops his fork and gasps. "Justin Wolstenholme? From Oxford?"
"Yes, do you know the name?"
"I do. Yeah. He was one of Mr. Lincoln's associates, and my friend Christopher's uncle. Are you saying that he was involved in all this?"
"All I know is that he was present that night. I'm still trying to touch base with him, apparently he'll be back in the country next week."
"That won't be necessary," Dominic interrupts. "I want to talk to him myself."
I hold my breath in anticipation of what might happen next. It's been an interesting, if stressful, night and I'm honestly surprised and pleased that the tension has been pretty minimal up to this point.
"Fair enough," Mort replies, "I wish you luck, Dominic. And, I'm sorry for my part in all of this, I am, truly. I wish I could take it back, but that's just not possible. It's clear to me that you're part of Matthew's life now, and I just hope that someday you and I can get past all of this. The things that are important to Matthew are important to me as well."
Dominic opens his mouth to speak; I squeeze his knee and he covers my hand with his own.
"You don't have to say anything," Mort continues, "just let me offer you that in apology and I promise I'll never stop making this up to you."
I turn my hand, still atop his knee, over, and he links our fingers together. "Okay. Thank you."
"Can we please focus on this fabulous meal I spent the afternoon preparing for us now, boys?" Lou pleads, raising his glass. Killer yaps happily as the three of us raise our glasses in kind and toast to what we all hope can be a new beginning.
The rest of dinner goes pretty well, the four of us taking a walk around the grounds for an exclusive tour of Killer's new doggie mansion. By nine o'clock or so we find ourselves back at Dominic's building. The drive there was pretty quiet, Dominic choosing to rest his head on my shoulder while the lights of the city passed us by. Before I know it we're in the lift on our way to his floor.
"What do you think of all this?"
"Honestly," he answers me, letting us into his flat, "I feel so lost right now. Its too much, and my brain hurts from it all." I follow him inside and shrug out of my jacket and before I can react he's pressed me against the closed door, kissing me as if his very life depends on it.
"I wanna lose myself in you," he pleads, walking us awkwardly to his couch. "Please, Matthew?"
"I fucking can't," I whisper into his kisses as he frantically unzips my flies, "get enough of you." I rip the buttons of his pale pink button-down in my haste to gain access to his skin. Dominic moans and captures my lips again. His couch is small when you consider our position and I want to be able to feel as much of him as I can. Moving to his bed seems like the best idea right now.
"Bedroom? It's cramped here."
"No," he replies, shaking his head so frantically that his hair bounces, "want you here. Not moving." His intensity is contagious and I find myself nodding in response as I lift my arse so I can push my jeans down my thighs. His eyes are on my groin in the instant that my cock is freed and he stills, staring at it, before reaching between us to give it a tight squeeze that takes my breath away.
"Yes. Fuck yes," he mutters. "Look at you."
"Sit up and let me get my pants off."
"No..." Dominic sits back on my denim-clad thighs and in a slow, deliberate manner proceeds to unbutton his own jeans. He's choosing to tease me, though, because he merely slips one hand inside his now opened zipper and begins to rub himself slowly. With his eyes closed and his mouth stuck in a deliciously filthy "o" shape, all I can do is whimper aloud as he gives me the best private lap dance ever. His cock grows and stiffens in his jeans before my eyes under his ministrations and my own erection positively throbs in response.
"... wanna ride you," he finally intones. "Let me?"
I reach for the collar of his shirt and pull him down to my grinning lips, kissing him hotly, Dominic's tongue assaulting my own for what seems like an eternity. "Do it."
He pulls back hurriedly to peel his jeans off, and he makes to slide the shirt off his body as well until I stop him. "Don't."
"Yeah?"
Biting my lip, I reach for the last button that's fastened, the one at his navel, and rip it apart, then sit back to admire my handiwork. Dominic Howard is on my lap, looking disheveled, the pink shirt hanging off his shoulders; he looks like he's already been thoroughly fucked - it's perfect.
"Leave it on," I groan, "it's fucking hot."
"Want you, want you, want you," he murmurs as he keeps kissing me. I throw my arms around him and our kisses become more frantic, more wet, and deliciously deep. In the distance I hear a sound that reminds me of a door opening but I push it aside until I hear another, different sound.
"Dominic? Hellooooo, darli-oh. Oh, my goodness."
"What? MOTHER!" Dominic screams, collapsing on top of me. He tries to cover himself with the tails of his pink shirt as I freeze. My eyes widen and my dick shrivels in record time, yet I can't seem to bring myself to turn my head to address the intruder because Dominic is now holding my head in place rather painfully, one set of fingers covering my eyes.
"Relax, son," a calm male voice replies, laughing softly.
"Relax?! How the fuck am I supposed to relax when you just walk-"
"Dominic Rainbow Howard, don't speak to your father like that," his mother says in an equally calm and easy tone, "negative vibes aren't healthy and we certainly didn't raise you that way. We'll just go in the other room while you two boys finish. Who's your friend?"
His fingers part above slightly and and I'm able to see him again through a small sliver of light. The grin that's on my face as I stare at Dominic's red cheeks can only be described as shit-eating. He swallows, then slowly turns his gaze back to my eyes.
"Rainbow?" I whisper.
"Oh, sweet Jesus," he sighs.
"Come on," Dominic's father says, "let's give them some privacy, Moonie."
Dominic points at me with one finger as if to hush me up, so instead I merely mouth the name "Moonie?" to him, my eyebrows raised. Before he replies, he yelps and his hand covers my eyes suddenly, but not before I see his dad's bare arse as he walks past the couch. Call me old-fashioned, but I'm not used to seeing random mens arses every day.
Oh, wait. You know what I mean.
It's only when I hear a door close down the hall that he removes his hand from my eyes completely only to collapse against me with a heavy sigh. I reach between our bodies and grasp him, sighing myself when it's obvious he's no longer, well, up for this either now. He pulls me closer, his grip around my midsection vice-like.
"So."
"So."
"Your parents?"
He nods.
"They seem nice."
Another nod. "They are."
"Moonie?" I ask, my brow crinkled still.
"My mum's name is Moonbeam. Dad's is Waterfall. They're... well, free spirits, if you will."
"Dom?"
"Hmm?"
"What just happened here? Why was your dad, erm..."
"In his birthday suit?"
"Yeah."
"Absolutely starkers?"
"Indeed."
"Au naturel?" Dominic whispers sadly.
"Um, yeah. That."
"My parents are naturists. That's just how they dress."
I squint, deep in thought. ".. or, how they don't dress, you mean."
"Yeah. My mom and dad are nudies. They choose not to wear clothes. They walk around naked. They-"
"Okay, I get you," I chide softly, Dominic blushing again. He gets up and pulls his clothes back on and I do the same. After we've dressed again he sits down and beckons or me to do the same.
"It's not a big deal, Dom. What's wrong? I thought you told me you had an uncle that looked after you?"
"I did, Uncle Milo. He lived with us when I was growing up, and he kept his clothes on. When you asked about my family, I mentioned him because I didn't want to freak you out with the fact that my mom and dad are naturists. Haven't you ever wondered why you don't see any photos of them in the flat?" He gestures around the room animatedly. "That's why. Family portraits were often X-rated in my house."
"Did you ever...?"
Dominic shook his head. "No, it was something they never forced on me. Thankfully. And it's not that I don't love them, please believe me," he implores, holding on to one of my hands, "it's just... a delicate situation, you know? When I was little I didn't have many friends over, no parties, you know? I mean, who wants to come over to the house where the mom and dad walk around with their junk hanging out? They pop in a couple times a year to visit, for a day or two, then they're gone just as fast."
"I bet you miss them."
"Well, I do, but I won't lie, it's probably for the best we don't see each other too much. Mum in particular can be a wee bit overbearing. But, they're good people, the best people I know. Apart from you."
"Shut the front door," I tease playfully, capturing his hand so I can place a kiss to the inside of his wrist, "me? One of the best people you know? Yeah?"
"Yeah," he replies, bashfully leaning in to kiss the tip of my nose, "I just wish they'd given me some warning instead of just barging in like that. I could have been better prepared, could have prepared you for meeting them. I wanted that moment to be perfect."
"Well, now that they're here and I'm here, let me meet them properly! It'll be fine."
Dominic takes a deep breath and agrees. He jumps up and bounds down the hallway. "Mum! Dad! Come on out!"
"There's my baby!" I hear Moonbeam gush. I turn around and see that she's pulled Dominic into her arms, her son hugging her back tightly. She has long blonde hair that nearly reaches her arse, and when I'm able to study her face I see that her baby boy resembles her mightily. When she releases Dominic, his father smiles at him and Dominic smiles back, embracing his father sweetly. He leads the two of them back to the living room and chews on his bottom lip.
"Mum, dad, this is Matthew. Matthew, Moonbeam and Waterfall Howard, my parents."
"Matthew. I've always liked that name!" Moonbeam smiles, practically running over to the couch to sit down next to me. She exudes happiness and positivity and I find myself smiling back at her in kind as I shake her hand. "So, do you work with Dominic? Oh, speaking of," she turns to her son, "love, don't you have some plastic you can cover this with so we can sit down? I know you don't like us sitting on your furniture without it."
"It's okay, mum, don't worry."
"My goodness, darling, are you eating enough?' she asks her son. "You're skinny as a rail. Your fans can't enjoy seeing you looking like this, surely? Or is there some new, strange sub-genre of gay porn that caters to the super skinny man? I bet some freaky shit goes on, yeah?"
I've known Moonbeam Howard for less than ten minutes but I've already decided that I love her.
Waterfall waves his hand dismissively. "No, we want to respect your wishes, as always, Dominic. I have a roll of plastic in the car, I always carry some in case of an emergency! I'll be right back, let me just pop down to the garage and grab it." He shrugs into his trenchcoat and his smiling face meets my own. "Matthew, would you like to accompany me?"
"Of course," I smile, "I'd like that." I glance at Dominic; he looks back at me nervously so I cross the room and, boldly, give him a quick peck on the lips. "Be right back, yeah?"
Moonbeam squeals, pointing at me with one long finger. "You. I like you, Matthew, looking after my darling boy like that! Awesome! The two of you will have to help me plan the housewarming!"
Waterfall gasps, his hand on the door. "Moonie, no! You're spoiling the surprise!"
I watch as the blood drains from Dominic's face as he turns to his father. "What surprise?"
"We're moving in, just down the hall from you! Isn't that exciting?!"
It certainly sounds exciting to me, but I don't really know how Dominic feels about this development, seeing as how he has just fainted. I suppose it's pretty understandable.
He's had one hell of a day.
Author: millionstar
Pairing: Belldom, AU
Rating: NC 17 overall, to be safe
Warnings: This part: language.
Summary: Our boys are porn stars. Wait, why are you laughing?
Feedback: Is appreciated, if you're so inclined. Either way, just enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own Muse, no offense intended, this never happened, and no money is being made. 'Tis fiction, after all. Silver Star Studios and its inhabitants, however, are all mine. Mad love and thanks to dolce_piccante, frisky_biscuit & myz_bee for input, beta skills and so many other things as well. <3
Prologue | One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight | Nine | Ten | Eleven | Twelve | Thirteen | Fourteen-a | Fourteen-b | Fifteen | Sixteen | Seventeen | Eighteen | Nineteen | Twenty | Twenty-One | Twenty-Two | Twenty-Three | Twenty-Four | Twenty-Five | Twenty-Six | Twenty-Seven
"What are you talking about?" Dominic blurts out, clearly shocked at what he's just been told. "And how... how do you know these things?"
Mort takes a sip of his wine and sighs. "Evan himself told me. He was drunk as fuck one night during one of our poker games and started running off at the mouth. It all came out, the deception on Johnny's deathbed, every word of it."
"Then why didn't you tell someone?" I ask, aghast.
"I had no proof, only a drunken Evan's word."
"That, and you were also guilty yourself, weren't you," I say softly, "of blackmailing Evan."
Mort has the decency to remain silent; he merely nods.
"But, why did Evan feel so threatened, to the point that he offered me to you instead of the money he owed you?" Dominic interrupts, his forehead scrunched in concentration.
"I started recording the things he was saying on my cell phone," he replies uneasily. Lou finally stops eating and stares at Mort sadly. Killer whines, as if on cue at his disappointment in his daddy's behavior.
"Unsavory business, baby, unsavory." Still, though, he leans over and kisses Mort on the cheek, one hand on his shoulder. "I do hope this is the extent of your involvement in all of this." Before Mort can answer him, he continues, in a much more serious tone. "And I also do hope you realize that you owe Dominic, you owe him so much more than you can ever repay him at this point. You're lucky that either of them," he nods in our direction, "are even speaking to you, Morton."
"I know, believe me, I know, Louie."
"Why even tell me this now, though," Dominic asks, "it's not like I can do anything about it."
Mort chews on a piece of chicken, swallowing it before asking "What if you could?"
"What do you mean?"
"That's where I've been, doing some digging around in regards to the persons involved at the time. I came up empty-handed, though. Well, I didn't get to speak to one of the witnesses who was present that night because he was out of the country. And I was ordered," he glances at Lou, blushing a little, "to come home immediately or not bother coming back at all."
"I'm not sorry," Lou replies haughtily, "you could have told us what was going on up front but you chose not to. Who is this person you didn't get to speak to?"
"His name is Justin Wolstenholme."
Dominic drops his fork and gasps. "Justin Wolstenholme? From Oxford?"
"Yes, do you know the name?"
"I do. Yeah. He was one of Mr. Lincoln's associates, and my friend Christopher's uncle. Are you saying that he was involved in all this?"
"All I know is that he was present that night. I'm still trying to touch base with him, apparently he'll be back in the country next week."
"That won't be necessary," Dominic interrupts. "I want to talk to him myself."
I hold my breath in anticipation of what might happen next. It's been an interesting, if stressful, night and I'm honestly surprised and pleased that the tension has been pretty minimal up to this point.
"Fair enough," Mort replies, "I wish you luck, Dominic. And, I'm sorry for my part in all of this, I am, truly. I wish I could take it back, but that's just not possible. It's clear to me that you're part of Matthew's life now, and I just hope that someday you and I can get past all of this. The things that are important to Matthew are important to me as well."
Dominic opens his mouth to speak; I squeeze his knee and he covers my hand with his own.
"You don't have to say anything," Mort continues, "just let me offer you that in apology and I promise I'll never stop making this up to you."
I turn my hand, still atop his knee, over, and he links our fingers together. "Okay. Thank you."
"Can we please focus on this fabulous meal I spent the afternoon preparing for us now, boys?" Lou pleads, raising his glass. Killer yaps happily as the three of us raise our glasses in kind and toast to what we all hope can be a new beginning.
The rest of dinner goes pretty well, the four of us taking a walk around the grounds for an exclusive tour of Killer's new doggie mansion. By nine o'clock or so we find ourselves back at Dominic's building. The drive there was pretty quiet, Dominic choosing to rest his head on my shoulder while the lights of the city passed us by. Before I know it we're in the lift on our way to his floor.
"What do you think of all this?"
"Honestly," he answers me, letting us into his flat, "I feel so lost right now. Its too much, and my brain hurts from it all." I follow him inside and shrug out of my jacket and before I can react he's pressed me against the closed door, kissing me as if his very life depends on it.
"I wanna lose myself in you," he pleads, walking us awkwardly to his couch. "Please, Matthew?"
"I fucking can't," I whisper into his kisses as he frantically unzips my flies, "get enough of you." I rip the buttons of his pale pink button-down in my haste to gain access to his skin. Dominic moans and captures my lips again. His couch is small when you consider our position and I want to be able to feel as much of him as I can. Moving to his bed seems like the best idea right now.
"Bedroom? It's cramped here."
"No," he replies, shaking his head so frantically that his hair bounces, "want you here. Not moving." His intensity is contagious and I find myself nodding in response as I lift my arse so I can push my jeans down my thighs. His eyes are on my groin in the instant that my cock is freed and he stills, staring at it, before reaching between us to give it a tight squeeze that takes my breath away.
"Yes. Fuck yes," he mutters. "Look at you."
"Sit up and let me get my pants off."
"No..." Dominic sits back on my denim-clad thighs and in a slow, deliberate manner proceeds to unbutton his own jeans. He's choosing to tease me, though, because he merely slips one hand inside his now opened zipper and begins to rub himself slowly. With his eyes closed and his mouth stuck in a deliciously filthy "o" shape, all I can do is whimper aloud as he gives me the best private lap dance ever. His cock grows and stiffens in his jeans before my eyes under his ministrations and my own erection positively throbs in response.
"... wanna ride you," he finally intones. "Let me?"
I reach for the collar of his shirt and pull him down to my grinning lips, kissing him hotly, Dominic's tongue assaulting my own for what seems like an eternity. "Do it."
He pulls back hurriedly to peel his jeans off, and he makes to slide the shirt off his body as well until I stop him. "Don't."
"Yeah?"
Biting my lip, I reach for the last button that's fastened, the one at his navel, and rip it apart, then sit back to admire my handiwork. Dominic Howard is on my lap, looking disheveled, the pink shirt hanging off his shoulders; he looks like he's already been thoroughly fucked - it's perfect.
"Leave it on," I groan, "it's fucking hot."
"Want you, want you, want you," he murmurs as he keeps kissing me. I throw my arms around him and our kisses become more frantic, more wet, and deliciously deep. In the distance I hear a sound that reminds me of a door opening but I push it aside until I hear another, different sound.
"Dominic? Hellooooo, darli-oh. Oh, my goodness."
"What? MOTHER!" Dominic screams, collapsing on top of me. He tries to cover himself with the tails of his pink shirt as I freeze. My eyes widen and my dick shrivels in record time, yet I can't seem to bring myself to turn my head to address the intruder because Dominic is now holding my head in place rather painfully, one set of fingers covering my eyes.
"Relax, son," a calm male voice replies, laughing softly.
"Relax?! How the fuck am I supposed to relax when you just walk-"
"Dominic Rainbow Howard, don't speak to your father like that," his mother says in an equally calm and easy tone, "negative vibes aren't healthy and we certainly didn't raise you that way. We'll just go in the other room while you two boys finish. Who's your friend?"
His fingers part above slightly and and I'm able to see him again through a small sliver of light. The grin that's on my face as I stare at Dominic's red cheeks can only be described as shit-eating. He swallows, then slowly turns his gaze back to my eyes.
"Rainbow?" I whisper.
"Oh, sweet Jesus," he sighs.
"Come on," Dominic's father says, "let's give them some privacy, Moonie."
Dominic points at me with one finger as if to hush me up, so instead I merely mouth the name "Moonie?" to him, my eyebrows raised. Before he replies, he yelps and his hand covers my eyes suddenly, but not before I see his dad's bare arse as he walks past the couch. Call me old-fashioned, but I'm not used to seeing random mens arses every day.
Oh, wait. You know what I mean.
It's only when I hear a door close down the hall that he removes his hand from my eyes completely only to collapse against me with a heavy sigh. I reach between our bodies and grasp him, sighing myself when it's obvious he's no longer, well, up for this either now. He pulls me closer, his grip around my midsection vice-like.
"So."
"So."
"Your parents?"
He nods.
"They seem nice."
Another nod. "They are."
"Moonie?" I ask, my brow crinkled still.
"My mum's name is Moonbeam. Dad's is Waterfall. They're... well, free spirits, if you will."
"Dom?"
"Hmm?"
"What just happened here? Why was your dad, erm..."
"In his birthday suit?"
"Yeah."
"Absolutely starkers?"
"Indeed."
"Au naturel?" Dominic whispers sadly.
"Um, yeah. That."
"My parents are naturists. That's just how they dress."
I squint, deep in thought. ".. or, how they don't dress, you mean."
"Yeah. My mom and dad are nudies. They choose not to wear clothes. They walk around naked. They-"
"Okay, I get you," I chide softly, Dominic blushing again. He gets up and pulls his clothes back on and I do the same. After we've dressed again he sits down and beckons or me to do the same.
"It's not a big deal, Dom. What's wrong? I thought you told me you had an uncle that looked after you?"
"I did, Uncle Milo. He lived with us when I was growing up, and he kept his clothes on. When you asked about my family, I mentioned him because I didn't want to freak you out with the fact that my mom and dad are naturists. Haven't you ever wondered why you don't see any photos of them in the flat?" He gestures around the room animatedly. "That's why. Family portraits were often X-rated in my house."
"Did you ever...?"
Dominic shook his head. "No, it was something they never forced on me. Thankfully. And it's not that I don't love them, please believe me," he implores, holding on to one of my hands, "it's just... a delicate situation, you know? When I was little I didn't have many friends over, no parties, you know? I mean, who wants to come over to the house where the mom and dad walk around with their junk hanging out? They pop in a couple times a year to visit, for a day or two, then they're gone just as fast."
"I bet you miss them."
"Well, I do, but I won't lie, it's probably for the best we don't see each other too much. Mum in particular can be a wee bit overbearing. But, they're good people, the best people I know. Apart from you."
"Shut the front door," I tease playfully, capturing his hand so I can place a kiss to the inside of his wrist, "me? One of the best people you know? Yeah?"
"Yeah," he replies, bashfully leaning in to kiss the tip of my nose, "I just wish they'd given me some warning instead of just barging in like that. I could have been better prepared, could have prepared you for meeting them. I wanted that moment to be perfect."
"Well, now that they're here and I'm here, let me meet them properly! It'll be fine."
Dominic takes a deep breath and agrees. He jumps up and bounds down the hallway. "Mum! Dad! Come on out!"
"There's my baby!" I hear Moonbeam gush. I turn around and see that she's pulled Dominic into her arms, her son hugging her back tightly. She has long blonde hair that nearly reaches her arse, and when I'm able to study her face I see that her baby boy resembles her mightily. When she releases Dominic, his father smiles at him and Dominic smiles back, embracing his father sweetly. He leads the two of them back to the living room and chews on his bottom lip.
"Mum, dad, this is Matthew. Matthew, Moonbeam and Waterfall Howard, my parents."
"Matthew. I've always liked that name!" Moonbeam smiles, practically running over to the couch to sit down next to me. She exudes happiness and positivity and I find myself smiling back at her in kind as I shake her hand. "So, do you work with Dominic? Oh, speaking of," she turns to her son, "love, don't you have some plastic you can cover this with so we can sit down? I know you don't like us sitting on your furniture without it."
"It's okay, mum, don't worry."
"My goodness, darling, are you eating enough?' she asks her son. "You're skinny as a rail. Your fans can't enjoy seeing you looking like this, surely? Or is there some new, strange sub-genre of gay porn that caters to the super skinny man? I bet some freaky shit goes on, yeah?"
I've known Moonbeam Howard for less than ten minutes but I've already decided that I love her.
Waterfall waves his hand dismissively. "No, we want to respect your wishes, as always, Dominic. I have a roll of plastic in the car, I always carry some in case of an emergency! I'll be right back, let me just pop down to the garage and grab it." He shrugs into his trenchcoat and his smiling face meets my own. "Matthew, would you like to accompany me?"
"Of course," I smile, "I'd like that." I glance at Dominic; he looks back at me nervously so I cross the room and, boldly, give him a quick peck on the lips. "Be right back, yeah?"
Moonbeam squeals, pointing at me with one long finger. "You. I like you, Matthew, looking after my darling boy like that! Awesome! The two of you will have to help me plan the housewarming!"
Waterfall gasps, his hand on the door. "Moonie, no! You're spoiling the surprise!"
I watch as the blood drains from Dominic's face as he turns to his father. "What surprise?"
"We're moving in, just down the hall from you! Isn't that exciting?!"
It certainly sounds exciting to me, but I don't really know how Dominic feels about this development, seeing as how he has just fainted. I suppose it's pretty understandable.
He's had one hell of a day.