Star furrowed his brows. “For what?”
“I might have caused you some distress—”
“No, don't say any more,” Star stopped him, as if knowing what the other man would say. “I'm the one that needs to apologize. Any discomfort I experienced today was of my own doing. You're the director; I'm supposed to do my job as an actor. Sometimes it will get uncomfortable. I should have been prepared for changes to happen in this business. You did your due diligence by sending out the script changes, but I didn’t read it out of my own arrogance.”
“But I made you uneasy.”
Yes, you did,Star wanted to say. But instead, he said, “I also have some personal shit from my past that I need to work out, and I brought it into my work. If I had read the script, I would have been mentally prepared to handle today.”
“Can you tell me what caused you to enter such a state?”
Star sighed and flopped back on the couch. “I wish I could tell you, but much has happened in my life, especially the past couple of months, even I'm finding it hard to believe.”
“What do you mean?” Anubis asked softly.
Star looked at Anubis, whose brows were creased together so tight they appeared as one, but it didn’t take away from the man's arrogant but noble aura.Could he be royalty? Wouldn't that be a fairy tale ending in my miserable life? I died, came back to life, and fell in love with a prince. My sugar daddy!
Star mentally chuckled at his ridiculous thoughts. He had no time for relationships. His only focus was work. Besides, nobility or not, he couldn’t trust him, especially because of how much of an asshole he was on set. Star understood the man was doing his job, but he could have listened to Star’s reason for not wanting to do the scene then.
He’s completely different on set than in the bedroom,Star thought, recalling how Anubis paid attention to his every need the night they slept together. Thinking about the man’s large hands caressing his body, Star felt flushed, and he had to clear his throat to dispel the thoughts.
“Maybe one day I will tell you. Until then, I should go. I'm sure Vivienne has a lecture ready for me to listen to.”
“Have dinner with me,” Anubis said as Star sat up.
Star gazed at the other man, wondering if he was serious, but even if he was, Star wasn't sure if he should give Anubis the answer they both wanted. “I don't think that's a good idea.”
“Why not?” Anubis tilted his head to the side, and Star thought he looked like a cute, curious dog.
“It's bad enough the cast saw you escorting me off the set...”
“Carrying,” Anubis interrupted Star.
“What did you say?”
“I carried you off set. In my arms.” He smiled teasingly. “Like a little princess.”
“Oh my fucking gods, I'm ruined,” Star exclaimed in horror, rising to his feet. “Why would you do that? How could you do this to me? The gossip sites will have a fucking field day with the news. Not to mention all the lies they’re going to make up. They will think I got the role in this andMy One-Night Standbecause we slept together.” Star dropped onto the couch, covering his face. He was trying to hold back his tears but couldn't. It was happening all over again. No one was going to recognize his talent as an actor.
“You don't need to worry,” Anubis said, which only made Star angry.
“How can I not?” he shouted, glaring at the other man. “Everyone will think I sleep with anyone to get a fucking leg up. I will not be labeled a whore.”
“No one will talk about what happened on set today,” he said, too calmly for Star's liking.
“How can you be so sure? Unless you killed them all.” Star's eyes widened in shock when Anubis smiled, showing two sharp fangs. “Please tell me you didn't kill the cast.”
Anubis laughed heartily and pulled Star into his embrace. “Oh, my sweet baby boy, you are simply adorable.”
Star didn't feel adorable. “Who’s your damn baby boy? I’m being serious here.” He was so scared and worried for his career, and Anubis simply laughed as if nothing had happened. Star couldn't explain why his first reaction was to accuse Anubis of being evil enough to kill an entire crew.
Fuck, what the hell am I thinking?
“Maybe you’re not my baby boy—” Stranger still, Star heard a silentyetat the end of his sentence and scowled at the other man.
“You’re not funny, Anubis,” Star hissed like the cat he was.
The other man moaned and licked his lips. “Repeat my name.”
