ModelLove (8 page)

Ian kissed Temaru on the cheek. “Good point. So…what’d you
say to them?”

“I didn’t say anything at first. I ignored them. When they
pressed the issue with inviting me for drinks tonight, I told them I had a date
with a very sexy model. They got agitated at that, saying they were better than
some ‘slutty model’ and that I should ditch her for them. To which I said, ‘my
date is not in the least slutty and I have no intention of ditching
him
’.
As it hit them, they got flustered, then turned their ignorance into a joke, as
if it wasn’t one already.”

“Sounds like you definitely handled them well. Except for
one thing.”

“What?”

Ian squeezed Temaru to him as they walked. “I
am
slutty.”

“I don’t think you’re any more slutty than me.”

“That’s good you have such a high opinion of me. I just hope
we get to your place soon so we can be slutty together.”

Temaru pointed ahead. “We’re almost there.”

Ian looked forward. Unlike many of the island bungalows that
were built on beams in the water, Temaru’s was nestled back on the beach near
the forest’s edge. A veranda wrapped around the perimeter and tan tiles covered
the roof. Red hibiscuses lined the veranda, hanging from the upper beams were
more red flowers overflowing from their pots.

“I know it’s not much,” Temaru said as they turned off the
boardwalk and neared it. “I sometimes wonder if I should get a bigger place,
but I like how quiet it is here and really, I don’t need much to be
comfortable.”

“It’s beautiful,” Ian said softly.

“I’m glad you like it.”

Ian climbed the stairs to the veranda and followed Temaru’s
example of stepping out of his sandals by the door. Temaru opened the door for
him.

Ian walked inside, gazing around the front room of the
bungalow furnished with a dark-green couch, two plush tan chairs and bamboo
tables. The teak floor was worn with age but well-kept and plants dotted the
space.

It had a natural feel to it, which didn’t surprise him. He
could already tell Temaru spent much of his time outdoors, so when Temaru was
inside, it made sense he’d still want to have some of nature around him. It
also didn’t surprise him for how neat the place was, the TV screen was covered
in a thin layer of dust. He imagined Temaru must entertain himself in any
number of ways before turning on the television.

A wide doorway at the back of the front room opened to the
kitchen. Beyond that, a backdoor overlooked the jungle. To his right, a short
hall led to two doors, the bedroom and bathroom, he assumed.

Temaru moved to Ian’s side, settling his hand on Ian’s lower
back. “What do you think?”

“You have a beautiful home. A hell of a lot better than my
shitty ass apartment back in Chicago.”

“So you live in a shitty apartment in a city of ice and
wind?” Temaru gave him a playful smile. “Maybe you should think about moving.”

“I’ve thought about it more than once.”

Temaru pressed lightly on Ian’s back, guiding him toward the
kitchen. “When you were a model, you traveled a lot?”

Ian nodded. “Paris, Barcelona, Venice, Milan, Amsterdam…I
went all over Europe and the U.S. Went to Mexico once and Canada a few times.
Never got the chance to travel much of Asia, other than a trip to Tokyo, but I
wish I could’ve explored more of it.”

Temaru went to the refrigerator, pulling out chicken breast,
a couple of mangos and papayas. “Of all the places you went, if you could live
in any of them, where would you choose?”

Ian leaned back on the counter. “Honestly? I’d pick here. I
don’t know how to describe it. I feel good here. And just saying that doesn’t
come close to describing how I really feel inside.”

Temaru worked on washing the chicken and laying it out on a
platter. “It sounds like the islands are working their way into your heart.”

Ian gazed at Temaru. His heart pounded faster and yet he
felt like he could hardly breathe. In his mind, the words screamed,
it’s not
just the islands
. But how could he say something like that to someone he’d
just met, no matter how true it felt to him?

With that thought, another crept through his mind, bringing
the taint of guilt with it. He also didn’t deserve to feel this happiness.

Ian pushed the guilt back. He knew he didn’t deserve it but
he only wanted to feel this happiness for a little while longer, even if it
ended after this night.

Temaru glanced at him. Warmth entered his eyes. He leaned
toward Ian, giving him a soft kiss.

Their lips lingering together, Ian felt that Temaru knew his
unspoken thought.

As Temaru drew back, Ian licked his lips. “Is there anything
I can do to help with dinner?”

“You could work on cutting up the fruit.” Temaru nodded
toward a pineapple on the counter, along with the mangos and papayas. “I was
going to mix them all together for us. The pineapple tool thing is in the drawer
in front of you.”

Ian chuckled as he opened the drawer. “Is pineapple tool
thing the official name for it?”

Temaru gave him a playful nudge with his elbow. “English
isn’t my first language, you know.”

“Actually, that’s what I’d call it too.” Ian pulled out the
steel pineapple cutter, studying it. He leaned toward Temaru. “And you speak
English beautifully.”

Temaru leaned into him. “Thank you. It was another thing my
father was insistent on. He said I needed good English skills. And he was
right. Only he meant that I’d need them for working in government and now I use
them to communicate with my customers. One more disappointment on his list of
many with me.”

“I can’t believe he’s disappointed with you in any kind of
way.”

“I turned out to be the exact opposite of everything he
wanted in a son, from what I do as a career to being gay.” Temaru shrugged.
“But even if he’s not the warmest toward me, he tolerates me when we have to be
around each other, which isn’t often. I guess there are worse things. What
about your family? Other than Aiden, you haven’t said much about them.”

Ian slowly cut the fruit as he spoke. “There’s not much to
say. My mom was a single mother from the time my brother and I were born. We
never knew our father. From what she said, they dated in high school but not
long after they graduated, she got pregnant. He was set to go to school in
California, swore that he’d send money back and he’d have her move out there
with him but of course he never did. His family didn’t want anything to do with
her, saying she was going to ruin his bright future, whatever that was.

“His family ended up moving away before we were born, so
they never helped her out either. But our grandparents on her side were there
for us. We all lived together and I’m still close with them and my mom. Or, as
close as I am with anyone, anymore.”

Temaru glanced at him. “You’ve really isolated yourself,
haven’t you?”

Ian stood quiet, the only sound that of his knife slicing
through a mango to the wooden cutting board and the birdcalls outside. “I guess
you could say that.”

Temaru picked up the platter of chicken. “We can eat the
fruit salad while this cooks.” He nodded toward the refrigerator as he started
toward the backdoor. “Would you grab a couple beers while I get the fire started?”

“Sure.” Ian washed his hands quickly, then grabbed two
beers. He picked up the bowl of fruit and headed outside, aiming for a table
and chairs near the grill, and took a seat, opening both beers while looking
around.

He couldn’t envision anything closer to paradise than
Temaru’s home. Out the front was a breathtaking view of blue ocean. Here in the
back was the tropical forest, where orchids and hibiscuses of various colors
added brightness to the greenery. Bird songs came from the trees, some of the
birds flying out to land at two feeders Temaru had near his home. It was like a
dream, but with more brightness, more color, more life.

With the chicken cooking, Temaru sat beside him. They picked
at the fruit, Ian asking Temaru about the flora and fauna, the history of the
French Polynesian islands, Bora Bora in particular. With all Temaru told him,
he felt the truth of Temaru’s earlier words, that the islands were working
their way into his heart. Same for the words he’d held in his mind in response
to him.

Temaru stood and removed the chicken from the grill. Ian
took a deep breath through his nose, the fragrance of the flowers and forest
temporarily overwhelmed with the scents of turmeric, garlic and thyme.

Temaru set a plate of chicken in front of Ian. “Do you want
another beer?”

“I’m good. This looks and smells great.”

“Thanks. It’s not much, though. Just something quick and
easy. Before you leave, I’ll make you a bigger and better Polynesian dinner.”

“I’d like that.” Ian cut into the chicken and took a bite.
Along with the other spices, there was a hint of sea salt, all blended with the
chicken’s flavor. “Damn.”

Temaru paused with a bite of chicken halfway to his mouth.
“Damn bad or damn good?”

“Damn good.” Ian reached across the table and rested his
hand over Temaru’s. “Is there anything you’re not perfect at?”

“A lot of things. You should see me do math. It’s very sad.
Even with a calculator, I still count on my fingers.”

“If that’s the worst you’ve got, wait until you see all my
flaws.”

Temaru waved him off. “You’re too hard on yourself.”

Ian made a small noise of disagreement in his throat as he
continued eating.

Temaru worked slower on his food, poking at it more than
eating. “I was thinking about what your friends were saying about modeling.”

Ian spoke around a mouthful of food. “Are you going to take
them up on getting a portfolio done?”

Temaru shook his head. “No, I was thinking of it more
regarding you. I think you should do it.”

Ian stopped chewing, his gaze fixed down on the table. After
a moment, he swallowed and grabbed his beer, taking a long drink. “And why’s
that?”

“Because what else are you going to do with your life?”

Ian snapped his head up, surprised and hurt by Temaru’s
words.

“I’m sorry,” Temaru said quickly. “That didn’t come out
right. What I was trying to say was, you deserve better than how you’re living
now. You’re not happy. I saw that the first time I met you. Don’t you want to
do something that could make you happy again?”

Ian lowered his gaze, his voice soft as he replied. “I
can’t.”

“Why not?”

“What if I try to get back into it and I fall flat on my
face, laughed at by everyone who used to know me and Aiden?”

“What if you don’t try to you spend your life wondering what
if you would’ve been successful again?”

Ian sat in silence. With how Temaru had put it, he didn’t
know what scared him more, the thought of trying to get back into the modeling
world or
not
trying.

Temaru took Ian’s hand and squeezed it. “Just think about
it. And even more, think about what you want out of life. What goals and dreams
you have for yourself. Even if modeling again isn’t a dream you have, maybe it
could be a step to help you achieve another dream.”

“Yeah,” Ian said softly, keeping to himself that he didn’t
even know what dream or goal he had for himself.

When he was younger, his dream was to become a model. When
he became a model, it was to be one of the best. When he became one of the
best, he wanted to make enough money so he could be comfortable for the rest of
his life and eventually become an agent. Wanting to earn enough money to live
without worry could still be a goal, but what would he do with it? Just keep
trudging through the same gray world…alone?

Temaru gave Ian’s hand another squeeze. “I’ve ruined your
good mood.”

Ian laid his other hand over Temaru’s. “No. You’re making me
think. No one’s done that to me in a long time.”

“I hope they’re good thoughts.”

“I’m not sure yet, but I’ll figure that out soon. I can say,
though, I’m glad for it, no matter if the thoughts are good or bad.” He grinned
at Temaru. “You challenge me and I know for sure that’s a good thing.”

Temaru stood and moved around the table to Ian’s side,
leaning down to him. “And I’m very glad for that.”

Ian tipped his head back to meet Temaru’s lips. As Temaru’s
soft lips touched his, a deep moan sounded in Ian’s throat. Every time Temaru
kissed him, it felt as if everything inside him balanced. Doubts and questions
faded. The only thing he became aware of was the beautiful man before him.

Ian stood, keeping their lips together. He wrapped his arms
around Temaru, pressing their bodies together. Temaru drew back from the kiss,
only to dip his head down, kissing along Ian’s throat.

Ian threaded his fingers into Temaru’s hair, the silken
strands sliding between them. “See? You’ve definitely not ruined my mood.”

Temaru smiled against Ian’s neck. “But maybe I’ve put you in
a different one.”

“I don’t think I’ve gotten out of this mood since I first
saw you.”

Temaru brought his lips close to Ian’s. “Neither have I.” On
his final word, he claimed Ian’s mouth, his kiss more demanding than before.

Ian responded by tightening his fingers into a fist around
Temaru’s hair. Temaru gripped Ian’s back, shifting and rubbing his hard cock on
him. Ian could feel the tension in Temaru’s body and knew his own was just as
taut with desire. The flirtations and touches they’d given throughout dinner
had only built their need. Now all he wanted was to have Temaru inside him,
fucking him until they were both senseless with pleasure.

Ian broke the kiss, speaking quickly before Temaru could
take his lips again. “Let’s go inside.”

Temaru kissed him once more, lightly. Turning, he took hold
of Ian’s hand and led him inside, through the bungalow and down the hall to his
bedroom.