“Leave me alone,” Christian grumbled before once again burying his head in the pillows and clamping his eyes closed to block out everything possible. The covers over him went flying and he felt the bed dip.
‘You need to get up. You have an appointment in half an hour. I’ve rescheduled enough of them over the last week that I’m not doing it again.” A smack on his butt had him jumping off the bed.
“What in hell do you think you’re doing?” Christian yelled before holding his head as pain shot through it.
“Tough love,” David said levelly. “You’ve been drinking like a fish all week, and I’m tired of pouring you out of bed. I’m you’re assistant, not a babysitter, butler, maid, or anything else.” David stood up and pushed open the curtains on the windows, letting the morning sun come streaming into the room. “You’ve been moping around for the past week, and I’ve had it.”
Christian felt his way to the bathroom. “Who’s the boss here anyway?” Christian sniped with a growl that he instantly regretted.And what happened to the sweet, helpful man he’d hired?David had always been helpful and attentive, so this was totally out of character.
“This morning I am. Since I’ve been covering for you all week, and offering excuses to everyone under the sun because you’ve been in the bag for almost three days straight. Besides, you stink, and have you looked in a mirror?” David kept his voice loud, and Christian wanted to wring his throat, but he couldn’t take his hands away from his head because it felt like it was going to explode. “Now clean up. I have the studio ready for today’s shoot, but you need to look it over.” David turned away and walked toward the door to Christian’s bedroom. “I’ll meet you in the studio.” David closed the door behind him, and Christian winced at the sharp sound.
“I should fire you,” he called through the closed door, and half expected David to come back in and yell at him, so he hurried up and showered before getting dressed and entering the studio. As soon as he opened the door, David handed him a large cup of coffee, and Christian sighed under his breath, sipping from the cup before glaring at his assistant. “What’s with you this morning?”
“I won’t work for a drunk. My dad nearly pickled himself with alcohol. So if that’s the way you want to be, I can’t keep working here. You’re surly, mean, and sloppy when you’ve had too much to drink.” David drank from his own cup before walking to his desk. “I’m serious. I’ve already had one alcoholic in my life and I can’t deal with another.”
“I didn’t know you cared,” Christian quipped offhandedly.
“Well I do,” David countered firmly, and Christian stared at him, trying to figure out exactly what he meant.
Neither of them broke the gaze, neither turned away from the other. Christian wondered if David meant what he hoped he meant, taking a tentative step forward, but stopping. It was just a quip, an offhanded remark. There wasn’t any way David meant… that. But something inside Christian wouldn’t let go. This was his chance, and if he only got one, he wasn’t going to waste it. “Did you mean that?” Christian asked, and swallowed, refusing to allow his eyes to shift away from David’s no matter how much he wanted to look away, in case David said no.
“Of course I care,” David answered indignantly. “Why do you think I wake you up every morning and put up with your hangovers and make dinner for you so you don’t starve?” David’s eyes blazed. “You’re not the easiest person to get along with, you know.” David took a step closer. “My dad was an alcoholic, and I’ve seen what drinking can do to a person. I don’t want that to happen to you.” The undercurrent in David’s voice touched Christian’s heart.
“It’s been a long time since anyone really cared,” Christian admitted as the blood raced through his veins and the last of the alcohol seemed to evaporate from his system. He could see clearly, in more ways than one, and admit to himself that David had stolen his heart. Taking a chance, he reached out touching David’s cheek, his fingers ghosting over warm, smooth skin, and David didn’t pull away. Christian moved closer still, stroking David’s cheek and feeling him lean into the touch. David’s eyes drifted closed, and Christian continued the light touching, afraid the moment would end if he did anything else.
A knock on the door broke them apart, but David continued smiling at him as he moved away to open the door. Christian could still feel David’s skin against his as a young man walked into the studio. Christian usually liked his models a little beefier, but when he’d seen the photos Sandra had sent over, the young man’s face had been so expressive that Christian had to give him a try. And judging by the way he moved, Christian knew he wouldn’t be disappointed. “Good morning, Mr. Coulliet, I’m Justin Lowell. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Justin seemed to radiate excited energy in all directions as he held out his hand.
“I’m glad you could sit for me,” Christian said, shaking Justin’s hand. “I thought we’d…” Christian began, and then tapered off. He’d had an idea of what he wanted to do, but seeing Justin, he got a completely different idea. “Give us a minute,” he told Justin, motioning toward a chair for him before walking to David. “I want to start with a plain white background, him in his street clothes. I have this idea that I want to play with and see where it goes.” Christian smiled and winked at David, who seemed confused, but then nodded and began to set up for him. “It’ll be just a minute,” Christian told Justin before helping David get things ready.
“What are you thinking?” David asked as they worked to set up the lighting and background.
Christian felt sheepish. “Let boys be boys,” Christian replied. “I think I want to try pictures of younger guys as they are. Let them be themselves in front of the camera, playful and exuberant. My pictures have always been high-octane, so I thought I’d try a collection of playful and fun ones, maybe couples together. The idea just came to me, and I don’t know where it will lead, but I want to give it a try.” Christian felt excited as another idea hit him. “I’d like you to be one of the models.”
David stilled and looked at him like he was crazy. Christian nodded his head slowly to emphasize his point. “You’re young, expressive, and perfect.” Christian saw David’s throat work as he swallowed hard but he didn’t actually answer him. Rather than press, Christian called Justin over as they finished up their work. “I want to photograph you in your own clothes.” Christian noticed that Justin carried a bag. “What’s in there?”