At the door, Asher paused, ignored the fact that he could literally feel Cameron vibrating beside him, and smiled. “Last chance to back out. Are you sure about this?”
Not taking his eyes off the floor, Cameron jerked his head up and down. It looked more like he was having a seizure than offering his agreement, but Asher figured it was the best he was going to get. Taking a last, calming breath, he settled his features into a mask of practiced neutrality and pushed open the door.
The flash of cameras illuminated the night like strobes of lightning the instant they crossed the threshold. Recorders were shoved toward his face as reporters crowded in close around them. Their shouted, rapid-fire questions echoed down the block and rang in his ears, blocking out everything else besides the pounding of his own heart.
“Mr. Dare, is it true that you used to be a prostitute?”
Nope, not that one.
“Asher, can you confirm that you legally changed your name after the Mitchell Faraday trial?”
Not that one, either.
“Were you ever romantically involved with Kyle Anders?”
Bingo. “I believed Kyle Anders was my friend, but no, we were never romantically involved.”
“What about Landon Dwyer?”
Asher ignored that question as well and shuffled ahead a few steps to make it appear as though he was trying to get away. Cameron’s grip on his hand was becoming increasingly painful, and his fingertips began to tingle with the lack of blood flow. Still, he kept his expression politely disinterested and gripped Cameron right back.
“Are you currently dating anyone?” a slender man with round, oversized glasses asked from the back of the group.
Asher looked down at Cameron, then back to the reporter. “Obviously.”
That earned him a few chuckles before the questions started again.
“It’s been reported that you’re currently dating Cameron Stone. Is this him?”
“It is.” He tugged Cameron a little closer and bent to kiss his temple.
“Is it serious?” a tiny Asian woman with a high ponytail demanded as she shoved a cell phone with a little microphone attachment toward his mouth.
Although he hadn’t prepared for that particular question, Asher didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
“So, you’re definitely gay?” the guy in the glasses asked.
“Or are you bisexual?” a blonde woman in a gray pantsuit interjected.
Asher thought she looked a little hopeful as she reached over the shoulders of her fellow reporters to pointher own recorder at him. “Yes.” He paused, his grin growing wider. “I’m definitely gay.”
“Are you concerned that coming out now will affect your book sales of the Marshall Kane Mystery series?”
He hadn’t seen who had asked that particular question, but he shook his head and prepared to lie right through his teeth. Before he could get the words out, however, Cameron tensed and lifted his head.
“Why should he be?” He stiffened when the swarm turned toward him, their eyes feverish with anticipation, but pushed on. “Asher is the same person he’s always been, and his talent speaks for itself.” He spoke passionately, vehemently, and he actually released Asher’s hand to take a step toward the crowd. “Why should his sexuality have any bearing on his ability to write a captivating story?”
Asher just stared at him, completely at a loss for words, possibly for the first time in his life. His pulse raced, his chest tightened, and a tight, painful ache burned in his throat. A strange, unfamiliar emotion bubbled to the surface as he stared at the back of Cameron’s head, but before he could examine it too closely, the questions started again.
“Are you a fan, Mr. Stone?” It was the guy in the glasses again.
Cameron paused, and it seemed for a moment that his newfound bravery would fail him. Then, he smiled and shook his head. “Aren’t you?”
Thankfully, Ryder chose that moment to pull up to the curb in his black Escalade. With a fluidity that few could hope to imitate, he rounded the vehicle, easily parting the crowd as he made his way to where Asher and Cameron waited.
“Mr. Dare,” he greeted with a tilt of his head. “Shall we?”
Asher ignored the shouts and protests hurled at him as he followed the bodyguard to the SUV and urged Cameron into the backseat ahead of him. He’d just ducked his head and was about to follow him when one of the stray questions caught his attention.
