Nao suggested Laurent was likely a virgin, but Beast didn’t want to ask or repeat to Laurent that there was gossip about his sex life behind his back. Still, Laurent’s innocence about sex was oddly endearing.
If Laurent found out there was a bet going on about how long it would take for him to get his cherry popped, he’d likely sulk for a month, because he seemed very concerned with people’s opinions about him. Beast hoped the bet was off anyway, because he’d given Joker a harsh talking-to about it.
At least Gray was back from his job to New York, which meant all the Kings were finally present, and he could take them to the complex of warehouses and garages he’d found. And the rent was not high for what the property was. Considering that King had taken Nao and Martina on a threeway date, the occasion couldn’t have been better.
When he entered his apartment, the place was oddly quiet, even though the tracker device on Laurent indicated this general area. Perhaps he was reading in his room then, since there was no splashing to be heard from the bathroom.
Bathing was one of Laurent’s favorite pastimes, and it was driving Beast nuts, but since it meant he’d sometimes get a sneak peek of Laurent submerged in water and foam, he never complained. Beast’s mind drifted off to how he’d once walked in on Laurent enjoying one of his long soaks. Stretched out in the tub, he’d fallen asleep, and Beast ended up watching him for a full five minutes, like the shameless monster that he was. Then Laurent’s head tipped into the water, and Beast rushed to him in panic, which only ended up with Laurent screaming out when he woke up and saw the intruder.
That had not been a fun time.
Beast approached the door, wondering whether he should even bother Laurent when he was busy reading or taking a nap, but Laurent was fascinated by cars, and motorcycles, and planes, and this was as good of an opportunity as any to show off his motorbike. Beast itched to be the first one to introduce Laurent to the bitch seat.
He also kind of wished to have Laurent hug him from behind, even if it would end up being yet another torture, and him - a creeper.
He knocked on the door.
“Don’t come in!” came in a high-pitched voice.
Beast blinked, startled. “Uh... is something wrong?”
“No, no! It’s fine! I’m fine!” He didn’t sound fine.
Beast stepped back and looked at the door, yet still held his hand on the cold wood, as if its presence could somehow help Laurent with whatever problem he was having. “What’s going on?”
“I… nothing.”
Beast cleared his throat. “We were heading out for a ride with the guys, and I thought you’d maybe want to go and see the town or something.”
The silence confirmed Beast’s suspicions that something was off.
Finally, Laurent spoke. “Will you promise not to laugh at me?”
Oh, so at least it wasn’t anything horrible. “I can try not to laugh at you.”
“Come in then.”
Beast stepped inside the room, which smelled curiously sweet, as if Laurent had eaten chocolate earlier. But when Laurent looked up at him from the bed, Beast froze to the floor, not recognizing him at first. Laurent’s wavy hair was up in a bun on top of his head, he was wearing only his plaid pajama pants, and his face was completely black except for his eye sockets and lips. He looked like a reverse panda.
“Uh-huh,” was all Beast could produce when faced with that image. It was the last thing he expected to see. Never before had he seen a man using a facial mask. Well, he had, but never in real life. “What’s the problem?”
“I can’t take it off. Nao gave it to me and said it was great for the skin, and I followed the instructions, but… I don’t know what to do.” Laurent’s shoulders sagged, but the dark pink nipples on show were making it hard for Beast to focus on the matte layer that made Laurent’s face freeze in the expression of wonder.
This time, Beast chuckled before he could even think. It was the oddest problem he’d ever heard this side of that guy in his high school who tried to pleasure himself with a vacuum cleaner. “Er... okay? Shouldn’t you wash it off?” he asked, approaching Laurent.
“No. The instructions advise to peel it off, but it hurts, and I can’t force myself to do it.”
“Show me,” said Beast, reaching out for the tube. He read the instructions, and Laurent was right. Beast was hardly a specialist when it came to cosmetic products, but he was positive there was no magic to it. And if Nao was so eager to offer Laurent products for women, then maybe she should be supervising the operation instead of leaving Laurent alone with this. The poor guy likely didn’t even have an idea that it was not something most men did.