Win A Date With Karl Urban 11

Win A Date With Karl Urban

Part 11

Posted: November 2004
Title: Win a Date with Karl Urban
Author: Estella Greenleaf

*****

Of all things Karl expected to find when he walked into his mansion, an extremely pissed off Sean was not among them. He'd never seen his agent's 'angry look' before; it was frightening enough that he wouldn't mind never seeing it again. "What's up, Sean? I thought we were celebrating."

Sean was an unhappy man. He returned to LA several hours ahead of his client. As Dave was still 'missing', he went to his friend's office. He wanted the manager to look over Karl's preliminary contract on Ann's movie before finalizing the details. No one knew their client's little quirks like Dave did.

To the agent's shock and horror, he discovered that as of last night, Dave was no longer Karl's manager. Sean had tried to get the details; but when his friend didn't want to talk, even a grizzly bear with a crowbar couldn't pry the information out of him. He was forced to be content with the fact that it was Karl's fault. "Why on earth did you fire Dave for?"

Sean's tone roused the actor's defensive instincts. Must everyone he had ever trusted turn against him? Eyes narrowed and fists clenched, he gritted out, "He helped his ex steal my boyfriend."

" So? It's not like you're in love with the little beauty from Rockbottom."

"Not you too, Sean! You aren't psychic; you can't possible *know* I don't love Orli." Karl couldn't believe it; like his former manager, his agent didn't seem to care about what *he* wanted. All they wanted to do was control his life!

"True, but I know you well enough to know that you went to Rockbottom because you like the way Mr. Bloom makes you feel, not because you like who he is."

"And is it so wrong to want to be with someone who makes you feel good, who doesn't expect you to be this perfect Prince Charming?" yelled the actor as he paced in frustration. Though Sean had a point, the man's 'know-it-all' attitude irritated him immensely. More and more, he was beginning to think he might need a new agent as well as a new manager.

"No. But if that's all you wanted, why did you fire Dave? That man adores you, has always had since long before you're Hollywood's hottest thing."

Karl felt as if a proverbial anvil had fallen on top of his head. Scenes from before his first press conference drifted into his mind. He had been so nervous and worried then. He would never have made it through that if it weren't for Dave.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Don't worry, Karl. They are going to love you."

"What if they don't?"

"Then you'll still have me. Just go out there, have fun and leave everything else to me. I'm going to take care of you."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Save for what happened in Rockbottom, Dave had been true to his word. He was always looking out for his client's professional interests, was always there whenever Karl needed a shoulder to lean on. Though neither ever mentioned it, their bond had always been much deeper than the pure manager/client relationship.

But until now, Karl had never thought of Dave in romantic terms, though the man was certainly not unattractive. Their 'work relationship' was so perfect; he would *never* risk jeopardizing the closeness they shared over his carnal instincts. Yet, when Sean put their feelings in the context of love, everything made sense. He knew he had always wanted Dave's attention all to himself; now, he understood it was because he liked the man as more than a manager and a friend.

And if Dave felt the same for him, he could imagine the hurt and jealousy that must be raging through his manager's mind when the man came to Rockbottom to fetch him. Maybe envy was the disingenuous motive Dave had hinted for helping Viggo.

Considering how many times Karl had deliberately misbehaved to draw Dave's attention when his manager got too close to other men, he knew he had no right to be angry over what happened in Rockbottom. He needed to act quickly if he were to have any chance of salvaging his 'relationship' with Dave. "I have to go."

Sean let out a sigh of relief and smiled. "He's at his beach house tonight, Karl. Said he isn't feeling well enough for company."

"Thanks, Sean," said the actor as he gave his agent a hug before setting off to make things right. He could only hope his manager would forgive him; he couldn't bear losing the man now that he finally understood Dave was the one he loved.

*****

"Hey, anytime, Dodo. Just don't try anything too strenuous, alright? You aren't exactly young anymore," teased Dave before hanging up with his ex.

Sounding cheery had taken a toll on him; but he didn't want Viggo to know his 'sorrows'. He didn't want anyone's pity. It was his own fault for being such a romantic fool anyway. He should have 'gotten over' Karl a long time ago.

He sighed and decided to take his moping to the Jacuzzi. He never quite found the time to enjoy such luxury when he worked for Karl. He was always 'working' overtime, keeping the movie star company. With a bottle of wine in hand, he headed for his pool room.

*****

Dave wasn't answering the door. Being impatient and more than a little spoiled, Karl decided to let himself in. It wasn't that difficult; he knew where his manager hid his spare key as well as the security code to disable the house's alarm. Within minutes, he was inside and ready to begin his search.

Karl was in the living room when he found his manager. Dave was wearing a blue flimsy satin robe, which clung to his wet form like a second skin, leaving nothing to the imagination. The man's back was to the actor, seemingly oblivious to the fact that he was no longer alone. He proceeded to bend down to rummage through his wine rack, an action that offered Karl a perfect view of his shapely behind.

After telling a certain part of his anatomy to behave, the movie star made his presence know. "Hey, Dave."

Dave jumped and almost knocked over his wine stash. He was inebriated to the point where his motor control was diminished. Turning round as quick as he could without causing nausea, he faced his intruder. "Karl! What are you doing here?"

"Sean said you aren't feeling well; I thought I'd come check on you," replied the movie star nervously, unable to summon his usual charm. He'd never wanted anything as much as he wanted another chance with Dave before.

"But you said you never want to see me again," replied Dave with a confused frown. Normally, he would have guessed that Karl wanted to apologize; but alcohol had reduced his capacity to think.

"Yes, but I shouldn't have. It hurt so much to find out you've been helping Viggo behind my back; I just overreacted. I'm really sorry," the actor explained quietly, eyes never leaving Dave.

When his ex-manager showed no reaction, Karl continued , "Will you come back and work for me?" He didn't want to confess his feelings without some sort of indication on Dave's part. Perhaps it was best to first rebuild the relationship they once had.

If Dave were sober, he'd be tempted to dance around in joy. He knew Karl *hated* apologizing; he must be very important to his ex-client for the man to come tonight to 'say sorry'. But hw wasn't sober; and unluckily for Karl, the manager was a 'pessimistic drunk'. He was certain he had no hope of winning the movie star's affections. He'd rather be alone and openly miserable than work for Karl again and pretend he wasn't miserable. "No."

"Dave, please. I'll pay you anything. No one takes care of me the way you do," pleaded Karl as he moved to hold Dave's hand.

"You'll find someone else. You always do," replied Dave with uncharacteristic bitterness. "I'm just the guy to go to when you have nothing better to do. Anyone can do that."

Seeing that there was nothing to lose, Karl had no choice but to 'tell the whole truth'. He could only hope Dave would be touched. "But they aren't you. They don't smirk when I miss easy questions on trivia pursuit; they don't poke me when I'm being silly; and they don't rub my shoulders when I'm nervous."

When Dave frowned, as if trying to make sense of the words, the actor continued, "I've known you for five years; and I think, in my own way, I've always loved you. I've taken so much for granted in the past; and I can't begin to say how sorry I am. But I can promise that I'll never act like such a blind idiot again if you give me another chance."

"Are you saying what I think you're saying? My brain isn't quite working and..."

Knowing it was time to let his action speak, Karl encircled the slighter blond in his arms and silenced the man with a soft, wondering kiss.

Dave was frozen in shock. He couldn't believe what was happening. He had dreamed of the actor's lips claiming his for so long, he wondered if he had passed out and was fantasizing...

Karl broke the kiss, dismayed that his manager remained stiff in his arms. But when he saw the pleased, dreamy expression on the man's face, he realized the lack of reaction was a good thing.
Searching his brain for something romantic to say, he recited a line from one of his old movies. "Dave, underneath this movie star exterior is just a man who is desperate to be loved for who he is. Please..."

This time, the actor never got a chance to finish his plea. He found himself on the other end of a silencing kiss, except that, this time, it was anything but soft. Dave latched onto Karl, kissing him with every ounce of long restrained passion. For a long moment, they remained wrapped in each other's arms, drowning in each other's taste.

When they finally parted, Dave panted, "Now, that's a bonus I can't refuse."

Laughing mischievously, Karl replied, "That's nothing, babe. I'll show you want a real bonus is." Without warning, he scooped Dave into his arms and began bouncing up the stairs to the master bedroom.

Tonight would be a new beginning for them. As laughter permeated the house, both men were content. A life with someone they loved beside them, neither could ever ask for more.

*****

*~* And both couples lived happily ever after *~*

*****

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