Money Can Buy You Love. And Glitter. Chapter 11
Summary: AU set approximately three years after Adam Lambert won Season 8 of American Idol. He has a successful career but after a string of failed relationships, has more or less given up on romance and is focusing on his career to the point of being a workaholic. He still has trouble with inappropriate appearances of the glambulge during performance and still loves glitter. Kris Allen is a singer/guitarist from Arkansas who moved to LA nearly two years ago to try and break into the business and get away from a small town and family life that became uncomfortable after he came out of the closet. He's just about ready to give up hope of making it into the business. He's still wearing plaid.
Rating: This chapter is R.
Ship:: Adam/Kris
Story chapters:
Chapter 1: Meet cute in coffee shop
Chapter 2: Car trouble
Chapter 3: Geocaching?
Chapter 4: Dinner and a picture
Chapter 5: Bring your boyfriend to work day
Chapter 6: Date at the museum
Chapter 7: Opening the door
Chapter 8: Showing the cracks
Chapter 9: Cracked eggs, cracked plaster, cracked plans
Chapter 10: Hunger games
Chapter 11: Inspired, tested, dared and almost dazzled
"I'm not much of a dancer," Kris confessed as he looked at the dance floor. Everyone here seemed like they might be professional dancers or wannabe professional dancers. Or just totally uninhibited. And really glamorous. None of which he was. Even the strong drink he'd slammed back upon arriving here and realizing he was totally out of his element would convince him he could do this well enough to impress Adam the way he wanted, needed.
"Don't worry. I am." Adam smirked. He grinned when Kris laughed. "I'll lead."
"I'll follow. Just call me Ruth." Kris smiled up at Adam, wishing he could spend more time just looking at him -- his shirt was shiny, his pants were tight, his hair was doing that soft powderpuff thing that made Kris want to pet it and his makeup tonight had just a touch of glitter and looked amazing, but more than that, Adam looked... happy. Radiant, was that the word? Did he, was it possible that he made Adam that happy? He added with determination, "I'm totally willing to try if you don't mind me making a fool of myself when I'm with you. I could totally ruin your cool cred."
"Have you ever seen some of the shit I pull on stage? Clearly, looking cool is not on the top ten list of things I worry about at 3am." Adam laughed and edged Kris toward the edge of the dance floor, glad the club was open so late on a Friday night that Kris had been able to work his shift and then come out to play.
"But what do you worry about at 3am?" Kris asked, tugging on Adam's arm. Adam had spoken more than once about lying awake in the middle of the night. "I'd like to know."
Usually it was about why he was alone at 3am, but Adam bit back the words fearful of sounding needy even though Kris looked more interested than pitying. Looking down into Kris' soft brown eyes, Adam realized he'd stopped worrying about being alone and last night had spent the time texting Lane asking her about how her mission was going. He was so going to owe her. He was so going to owe her. She was in Arkansas for gawd's sakes. He shrugged. "Right now? I'm not happy with quite a few of the tracks on my album, so I'm usually thinking about my music or a video concept. I think I'm in a rut. I need some new ideas."
"You need to go some more new places, maybe. Get inspiration."
"Inspire me, boy." Adam grabbed Kris and pulled him onto the dance floor.
Inspired... Oh hell, yeah, Adam thought as Kris once again slid his hands down his back to rest on the top of his ass and pull him closer. He was going to be inspired after this to build a dance floor in his house just so he could dance with Kris in private and take this dance to its natural climax.
"Ohhellno!" Kris gasped for breath when Adam tried to pull him into another dance. "I need a drink. Or a new set of lungs. Where do you get your stamina?" When Adam smirked, Kris said quickly, "I hope you can fuck as long as you can dance...Ohmigod!"
Adam laughed at the look of triumph, followed by surprise that flitted across Kris' features. He appeared to have no poker face at all. Thank god. Maybe he had really met someone real over thirty-eight cents at Starbucks. Shocking. "Are you shocked you said that?"
"I'll never tell." Kris squeezed Adam's arm and looked up at him with a smile. He'd shocked himself by having a great time. He shouldn't have doubted it -- he'd swear no one knew how to have a good time better than Adam. Plus Adam was a good dancer, his enjoyment was infectious and the way he grabbed Kris by the hips and moved him around, along, and against him... Kris grinned. Who wouldn't love dancing when it was vertical foreplay? "Mmm, maybe one more dance."
Moving backwards, looking over his shoulder, Adam pulled a willing Kris back onto the dance floor. Smiling as Kris slid his hands up and down Adam's arms, Adam guided him, believing --at least for a moment, he told himself, just a moment -- that Kris was so focused on him he was a danger to the toes of others. As Kris moved closer, even though the dance was a fast tune, Adam hissed in a breath at the look of heat in Kris' eyes. Maybe.... more than a moment.
Closing his eyes to get his bearings, Kris shook his head, hoping the dizziness would go away. They were surrounded by beautiful people, people in amazing outfits, people that looked too perfect to be real and probably weren't, given what he'd learned of folks' spending habits when it came to plastic surgery out here. And yet Adam had only looked away from him when someone greeted him. He was surprised no fans had grabbed at him but then again, this club was a little too cool, so although people were looking at Adam, they were probably trying to rack up cool points by not swarming a celebrity. Which meant, hopefully, no obnoxious jerk taking pictures, he decided and pulled Adam down, needing to kiss his lips.
"Oh yesss..." Adam whispered, forcing himself to pull back. "I need to tell Lane that my new house needs a dance floor."
"Huh? Dance more?" Kris asked, his body still thrumming with need. "I need a drink, for real, this time before we dance some more."
"I think you've earned that drink." Adam kept his arm around Kris and nodded toward the stairs leading to the VIP area.
Kris looked away from Adam as he stopped at a table opposite the banquette seating where one of the four chairs was occupied by a woman who looked vaguely familiar. Smiling politely, he waited while Adam bent down and kissed the woman's cheek, laughing as she teased him about being sweaty.
Putting his hand on her shoulder, he introduced them. "Dani, this is my date, Kris and this is my best friend, Danielle."
"Oh! Hi." Kris smiled, then glanced up in alarm as Adam pointed to his left and walked over to the bar in back of the VIP area. Oh, hell, this was a test. A big one. Great, left alone with a stranger who was Adam's best friend and would probably beat his ass if he did anything stupid. He sat down with a thud, wiped his forehead, gulped and said quickly, "Adam's spoken of you."
"And of you, Mr. Thirty-Eight Cents."
Kris gasped in shock. "Seriously, he did not tell you that story!"
"Seriously, you need to know that the man has no filter." Danielle paused, hoping that was still true. Or rather, true again. Adam had grown so cautious in the last year around everyone but his closest circle.
"Yeah, I've seen his interviews. Before, though, right? Nowadays, he's much more cautious. I knew that before I even met him. Over thirty-eight cents."
Danielle nodded slowly. How did he know-- "Oh, that's right. You're a fan." And an astute one. A very astute one. Was that good or bad? How did you know? Oh god, this made her head hurt worse than this loud music. Oh hell, no wonder Adam was careful these days. She looked toward the bar and bit her lip.
"Yeah. And isn't it better that I love his music rather than I hate it or don't care about it?"
"Great point." Danielle raised her glass in a mock toast to Kris. "To all of us finding more love in our lives."
"Are you single?" Kris asked, then looking into Danielle's face, sat back for a moment. "Or... did you recently meet someone and you're trying to decide if he's worth pursuing?"
Pulling back in surprise, Danielle stared intently at Kris. He was not only cute, he was either really perceptive or... really perceptive. "How did you know?"
Kris smiled crookedly. "I just had a feeling --" He touched his stomach. "Here, that you were in the same position I was in a while ago."
"And what did you decide?"
Kris leaned forward. "I let Adam pull me out on the dance floor so I could make a total fool of myself. What does it look like I decided?" He laughed, hopeful that no one had taken pictures of him dancing.
"Adam's worth it," Danielle said quickly.
"Yeah, he is." Kris patted Danielle's hand. She was a good friend, who would probably gut him if he ever hurt Adam. So he'd just tell her the truth. "I figured that out before I finished the coffee or the muffins he bought me because he's afraid I don't eat enough." He flushed, then realized that Adam had probably told Dani that too and let it go, knowing that Adam was just a nice guy who worried about him. "If that. I may have made the decision before that..."
"And for the record, one, neither Adam nor I consider it shameful that you're having a hard time financially. Been there, done that. And second, you didn't make any kind of fool of yourself," Danielle assured him. "I was watching. You can dance."
"Oh no..." Kris moaned and covered his face with his hands, then peeked between his fingers. "Really?"
"Really. You have rhythm. I'm sure Adam's relieved to know that." Danielle grinned at him, as he looked down and maybe, even, ohmigod, blushed? Good god, the guy was adorable. No wonder Adam was smitten. It didn't hurt that while they'd been dancing, Kris had looked at Adam as if he were the only person in the room, which was just what Adam needed. But what did this guy need? "When you were out there dancing. You looked...engrossed. Did you forget--"
"That I was in public? Hell, yeah. He's so...." Kris looked down. He wasn't really interested in talking about his feelings to someone he didn't know personally. "So, you met a guy?"
"I met a guy." Danielle looked at Kris carefully. Kris was this odd mixture of assertive and easy-going, open and yet circumspect. No wonder Adam found him interesting. He was interesting.
"Has Adam met him yet? You two vet each other's potential significant others, don't you? Am I right?" Kris asked, his instincts screaming that it was true, that meeting Danielle was a test of some kind, one of many Adam felt compelled to put before him. Poor guy, he'd been tested too much himself.
"Not yet. Adam's..." Danielle stopped talking and debated. Looking into Kris' soft brown eyes, she made a decision. "Adam is more cynical and suspicious these days."
"He has a right to be, doesn't he?" Kris sighed and glanced toward the bar, looking for Adam. He was looking intently and dubiously at some guy at the bar who was talking at him a mile a minute.
"Yes, unfortunately, he does."
Kris looked back at Dani and considered how he'd feel if his best friend had gone through that crap. "It must be hard to see someone you love get cynical and suspicious when that's not their nature."
"True that." Danielle nodded. Either Kris was an actual nice guy who cared about others or the best damn actor ever or he'd been well-coached and -- okay, now she was getting totally paranoid. But still, just because you were paranoid... OMFG, she totally needed to apologize to Adam -- worrying about motivations like this just sucked. "So, did you come to LA to be an actor?"
Puzzled, Kris blinked and shook his head. "Why does everyone ask me that?" Who was that guy at the bar that looked like he was pissing Adam off?
Danielled shrugged. "You're cute, plus skinny and short -- which is the body profile of most actors or wannabe actors in Hollywood."
"They're short?" Kris asked in surprise. "They look tall on screen."
"Yeah. Totally. The first time Adam took me to a celebrity event, I couldn't believe it. I felt like I was Dorothy in Munchkinland. If you pay attention when Adam's on a red carpet, he towers over them."
"Maybe that's just an illusion caused by all the glitter he wears. Reflects and all. "
Danielle laughed. "Could be. But then again, I'm not that tall and I'm often looking down on them."
"Maybe it's all a plot so they can look at women's cleavages at eye level." Kris nodded. "Wait. Is cleavages a word?"
"Hmm, I don't know. Cleavage... cleavages..."
"Well, this sounds like a fascinating conversation...." A deep voice drawled. Kris looked up with a frown. The blonde-haired man who'd been standing next to Adam at the bar was now next to him at their table.
"So, Dani. You neglected to tell me you were dating anyone..." Adam said in an even tone, hoping his annoyance did not show. "Or that your anyone was a musician."
Dani bit her lip. Adam was pissed at being out of the loop and probably had realized she had kept quiet to keep him from feeling left out while she was dating. "I take it you've already met Brian."
"I introduced myself at the bar." Brian smiled widely.
"Oh, almost forgot." Adam smiled as he handed Kris his drink and Dani hers, nodding when they both thanked him. He glanced at Brian, wondering why he was buying Dani's drinks if she had a date here. He certainly didn't mind buying Dani a drink, but when you asked someone out, you were responsible for them, you paid for them. Period. Point against the guy.
"Thanks!" Kris licked dry lips, before tilting the glass and draining it one long drink. "Sorry..." he smiled sheepishly up at Adam. "I worked up a thirst out there."
"I'll get you another," Adam said immediately, wanting a second to consider this guy of Dani's. As well as the news Lane had texted him. So far, so good. But damn, she hated Arkansas. Uh-oh.
"So, Kris is a musician too," Dani told her date as Adam walked back to the bar. She glanced at him, knowing he would not like that Brian had not paid for her drink. Uh-oh.
"Oh, really? What kind?" Brian asked
"A singer-songwriter. Or I've tried to be, not gotten anywhere. I've been trying to get a deal, but --"
"It's impossible without connections." Brian nodded. "Yeah, I've been in a band for a while, not going anywhere. But what I don't get is why Dani here -- who sings -- hasn't gone anywhere when Adam Lambert is her best friend."
"I've told you before..." Dani began. She liked Brian, a lot, but didn't like his persistent suggestions that Adam 'do something' for her career or his attitude that Adam's success meant he owed his friends anything. She understood his drive and his desperation, but still. "Adam has enough people trying to use his fame and connections. I'm his best friend, not his best coattail hanger-on-er."
"Adam doesn't like people using him to further their careers," Kris said sharply. He had a feeling that Brian was the one gonna fail a test tonight.
"No, Adam doesn't," Adam said, sitting down next to Kris on the banquette and handing Kris another drink, while Dani remonstrated her boyfriend. As Kris slid closer to him and patted him on his leg, Adam felt his shoulders release their tension. Giving a silent sigh, he relaxed and pressed against Kris' warm body.
Seeing the way Adam leaned into Kris, Dani smiled. Adam appeared to have made up his mind about trusting Kris, even if he didn't really know that yet. And Kris looked like he wanted to crawl on top of Adam or maybe inside him, whichever would get him closer faster.
Staring up at Adam, Kris said abruptly, "Your hair before we got dancing reminded me of my Gramma's powderpuff."
"Your Gramma's powderpuff?" Dani repeated, beginning to laugh. Adam had said Kris sometimes made the most random comments ever and he was right.
"Yup." Kris grinned and raised up on one knee so that he could lightly pat Adam's hair. "It was like this. Bop, bop, bop. You could bop it and it would still pop right back up. Only the powder wasn't black."
"No?" Adam asked bemusedly as he looked up at Kris. That last drink must have gone right to his head.
"Naw. The powder was pinky peachy." Kris sat down with a plop, nearly on top of Adam, then leaned in and took a long sniff. "But you don't smell like her."
"That's... good?" Adam looked over at Dani, who was quietly laughing into her drink, then put her glass down to whisper, 'So cute' at him. Adam nodded.
"Well, yeah." Kris rolled his eyes. "Not like I'd want to get a hard-on over something that smelled like my Gramma. That's sick and creepy. But your makeup... and by the way, I don't know if you care, but your make-up is almost all gone."
"Oh?" Adam touched his face and looked at his finger, hoping Kris wasn't about to say that he was relieved to see the make up was gone. "I suppose so. Do you..."
Kris leaned up and kissed Adam's lips, seeing the question in his eyes. "I liked you bare-faced and with bug spray on in the woods. And I liked you tonight with tight-as-hell jeans and glitter eye make up. Either look, I like." He ran his finger down the open neck of Adam's shirt and flicked his finger at Adam's necklace. "I'd like you better naked except for this necklace, though..."
"I don't like him," Adam blurted out as they stood at the railing of the VIP balcony and watched Danielle dance with her new boyfriend. He felt awful. She had just given him the thumbs up on Kris and he hadn't, couldn't, wouldn't do the same for her boyfriend. Yet, hopefully. Maybe he'd improve upon continued exposure...
"Me neither." Kris glared at the guy as he danced with Adam's friend. "Not one bit." He had a bad feeling about the guy. He drank from his latest glass, set it down on a nearby table and rubbed his hair nervously, hoping the drink would give him enough courage to go back on the dance floor now that he knew Dani was nearby, watching.
Adam affectionately patted Kris' hair down while heaving a sigh of relief. "Thank god. I thought I was being paranoid."
"You? Never!" Kris grinned as Adam swatted his arm. "Nope. Just observant. Notice how he kept--"
"Looking at other women when Danielle wasn't paying attention."
"Rude." Kris slid his finger through Adam's belt loop and pulled him away from the railing and spying on his friend. Adam steered them back toward the banquettes, which Kris was glad to see was empty except for a bored bartender. Good, cuddle time, he decided and angled his shoulder into Adam's side until Adam put his arm around him.
"Very rude," Adam agreed as he looked down at Kris' hand on his thigh, then raised his eyes to see Kris staring up at him. Was it his imagination or was Kris really always looking at him? He remembered Geoffrey's comments in the restaurant and decided he wasn't fooling himself this time and bent to brush a kiss against the upturned lips.
"It's one thing to notice other people, but it's another to ..." Kris squinted his eyes and twisted his mouth as he looked at Adam in a sidelong glance.
"Leer." Adam burst out laughing at Kris' expression.
"Is that what I was doing?" Kris asked.
"You were trying. You're not really a leer-er."
"And I'm not a lemur either." Kris laughed at his own joke.
"But you are a little drunk," Adam said.
Kris shrugged. "That's okay. I'm with you. You'll take care of me. Which doesn't mean I didn't notice all the people leering at you and you ignoring them."
Adam shook his head. "They're just seeing the haze of fame, not me."
"Puh-leeze..." Kris slid his hand up the length of Adam's thigh.
"It didn't really happen before Idol and fame, Kris."
"Really? Well, there is such a thing as mass stupidity. Look at the people who've voted for Sarah Palin if you need an example. But I think you just didn't notice." Kris slowly looked Adam up and down and shook his head. "You must not be part... partic... particularly ob.... Screw it. Like I said, you just didn't notice."
"No, I--" Adam broke off as Kris stood suddenly and plopped himself down on Adam's lap. He grinned and wrapped his arm around Kris' hips to hold him in place. "Well, hi there, handsome."
"Is that a Bedazzler in your pants or are you glad to see me?" Kris asked as he wiggled around on Adam's lap.
Next chapter is rated NC-17 and is here: Chapter 12: Define slutty for me