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Alex crossed his hands over his chest. “Now.”
Dorian’s nostrils flared. “Fuck me. Ben was right.”
“What’s that meant to mean?”
“Nothing.” Dorian snorted and moved the chair so he was now facing the wall.
Alex changed back into the first jeans and shirt Dorian had picked out. “You can look now. I’m done.”
Dorian grinned as he saw him. “I know you might have thought I was saying it for the benefit of the manager but you really do look great.”
“Thanks.” He glanced around at the collection of clothes. He’d liked them all but they would not be cheap. “Are you sure you want to get me all those?”
“Of course. As I said, you’re going to be taken to places where there’ll be an expected standard of dress. Not black tie, but the best labels. I know it’ll be awkward enough without some arse gawking at you because you’re not wearing the right things.”
“I suppose it’ll be like a uniform of sorts.” If he thought about it in that sense he could rationalise it a lot better. “Although there’s a lot less polyester in that pile.”
“You could make polyester look good.” Dorian winked at him and picked up the clothes. “Come on, Cinders. Let’s get you to the ball.”
* * *
Dorian had joined about half a dozen of the various London-based members clubs on the basis of Ben and Robin’s advice. Robin had a less than positive review of most in the city and was even vitriolic about a few of them. Ben had been more circumspect in his condemnation but had, in general, agreed with Robin’s choices. He’d also said that Dorian might want to ask Simon or Ashley their opinions as their experience of such places would be more akin to what Alex would encounter. He hadn’t done so, and was now wondering if he’d made a mistake and vowed to speak to Ashley before his next planned date to a similar place with Alex. Although now Simon had moved in, he might be a better option as Ashley hated these places and Dorian wasn’t sure he’d get a balanced opinion with his sleep-deprived state.
Alex was not comfortable, he could see it in how he held himself, the way he glanced around and dropped his head whenever people looked in his direction. He’d scurried off to the bathroom and Dorian had been left sipping his wine, wondering if they should call it quits for the evening.
He’d booked a corner table out of the way, so they didn’t have too many eyes on them. Still, the point was to be seen together. Something Alex hadn’t been prepared for was this level of scrutiny. No one had come up to bother them and Dorian thought that next time it might be better for them to be joining other people and not being exposed as much.
The place was busy, unsurprising for prime time on a Saturday evening, and it hadn’t taken long for the news to spread that Dorian Marsten was in the building with another man, on a date no less. In the main, people weren’t staring outright, but he had no doubt that several surreptitious photos would have been taken and it wouldn’t be long before the gossip sites were tipped off.
“Dorian? Is it you?”
He hadn’t noticed the man approach and he recognised him as a director of an arthouse film he’d done a few years back as a favour. “Jez? I wouldn’t have thought this was your sort of place?”
Jez Conor was an achingly hip Bostonian who had been far too cool for award ceremonies and showbiz parties. He sat down uninvited. “I’ve mellowed a bit over the last year. Divorce will do that for you.”
“Oh, you and Alan have split. That’s a shame.” They’d been a lovely couple, out and proud and, if he’d remembered right, Alan was an architect.
“These things happen. But not a shock, unlike hearing Dorian Marsten is as big a cock slut as I am.”
Dorian barked out a laugh. “You’re just annoyed your gaydar failed you.”
“Very embarrassing. That, and not catching on you were with Robin. Looking back it’s fucking obvious. I saw you two weren’t together any longer either…”
“He quite rightly decided that waiting for a self-obsessed prick to do the right thing wasn’t for him. He’s got himself a lovely fella.”
“Nasty business with the stabbing though. Hope he’s okay.”
“He’s on the mend.”
“So you and Robin are done and dusted. I would’ve thought you two would have given it another crack.”
Dorian saw Alex approach and hesitate, seeing Jez had taken his chair, so he beckoned Alex to hurry up. “That’s not just because Robin has Simon but I’ve also started seeing Alex.”
Jez turned and Dorian watched him give Alex the once-over, a considered, then approving, look. “I’ll give you this, Dorian, you have a fantastic eye for the guys.”
Dorian shifted up on the large loveseat so Alex could squeeze in. “Alex, this is Jez. He’s a director.”
Alex offered his hand to shake, which Jez took. “Nice to meet you, Alex. How are you surviving being the first public boyfriend of lover boy here?”
