ModelLove (7 page)

Ian paced from his bedroom to the living room, looked at
Mitch, Rodney and Jared…and turned and went back to his bedroom. Temaru would
be there any minute and he’d hoped everyone would be gone so they wouldn’t
freak out on him. He knew Mitch and Rodney would jump all over Temaru. He
thought they’d be out to dinner by now, but they were lingering.

He walked back out to the living room. Everyone was still in
the same positions they were thirty seconds ago. Why weren’t they leaving? They
needed to go! Now!

“Ian, sweetie,” Rodney said, not looking at him, “would you
please stop flitting around the house like a hummingbird.”

Mitch glanced at him. “Yeah. What’s wrong with you tonight?”

“Nothing’s wrong with me.” Ian heard the defensiveness in
his voice and worked to calm it. “Why are you guys still here? Shouldn’t you be
out to dinner?”

“We picked up some steaks and we’re grilling,” Mitch said.
“Why are you acting so anxious?”

“Yeah,” Jared said, his tone sharp. “You didn’t look too
nervous when you were hanging around scuba boy today.”

Ian shot Jared a dirty look. “You know, I think you will be
a great model. You’ve already got catty down.”

Mitch interrupted. “Now, not all models are catty.” He
glanced to Jared. “Jared, don’t be catty. It’s not attractive.” He looked back
to Ian with a smirk. “But now that he brings him up, you still haven’t dished
on how things went with scuba boy today.”

Ian turned his glare on Mitch. “First, you can stop calling
him scuba
boy
.”

Rodney leaned toward Mitch, speaking to him while grinning
at Ian. “I think what he’s saying is his date showed him he was
all man
today.”

Mitch copied Rodney’s grin. “Oh, I think you’re right.”

Ian couldn’t help but chuckle at their playful teasing.
“I’ve got no comment on that.”

Rodney pointed at him. “And you just said everything by
saying nothing. All you’ve done is deny us the details, which we’ll happily use
our imaginations to fill in on our own.”

“I think it might be better if I tell you, then. I don’t
want your pervy little minds manipulating me and him.”

Mitch adopted a look of offense. “We are
not
pervy!”

Ian gave him a doubtful look, standing with one hand on his
hip. “Really? Tying your husband to the bed with a feather boa isn’t pervy?”

“Absolutely not,” Rodney chimed in. “It was very
considerate. I have sensitive skin and leather cuffs chafe.”

Ian started to laugh, his voice catching in his throat as
the doorbell rang. He walked toward the door, only to see for as quickly as he
moved, Rodney was faster.

Rodney sprang off the couch and shot toward the door,
spinning around with his hand on the doorknob. “This must be your scuba
man
.”

Ian hushed his voice to a loud whisper. “Don’t embarrass
me.”

“I make no guarantees.” Rodney whirled toward the door and
flung it open with flourish. He froze. Ian didn’t need to see his face to know
Rodney’s jaw had dropped at the sight of Temaru standing in front of him.

Rodney slapped a hand over his heart. “Good island gods,
you’re gorgeous.”

Temaru laughed softly. “Why, thank you.” He held a bottle of
wine toward Rodney. “You must be one of Ian’s friends. I brought this for all
of you. A little welcome to the island gift.”

Rodney accepted the bottle, glancing back at Ian.
“Thoughtful
and
beautiful. Quite the catch.”

Realizing there would be no avoiding embarrassment, Ian
looked past Rodney to Temaru. “I’ll agree with that.”

Warmth entered Temaru’s eyes as he met Ian’s gaze.

The moment broke for Ian as Jared sauntered by.

A flirtatious smile on his lips, Jared said, “Temaru, It’s
good to see you again. We still need to make a date for you to take
me
diving.”

Ian let his fingers curl into a fist. If this little punk
kept up with his shit, he was going to have to educate him that black eyes
didn’t make for good photo shoots.

Temaru nodded in greeting to Jared. “I’m afraid I’m booked
out for the next few weeks. I have a friend, though, who could probably take
you. She’s very skilled. But it’s still nice to see you too. And looking so
nicely groomed. Every
hair
in place.”

Ian caught a laugh before it slipped out.

The flirtatiousness in Jared’s eyes and smile dropped away.
He turned, striding through the living room toward the back of the house. “I’m
going out on the porch.”

Mitch watched him go. “What got into him?”

Ian shrugged. “Who knows. He’s a temperamental little shit.”
He glanced at Temaru, sharing a knowing grin with him.

Rodney stepped back and motioned for Temaru to enter. “And
look at us, being so rude leaving you out on the porch! Come in, come in! Let’s
get a better look at you.”

Ian fixed Rodney with a stern look. “Don’t you mean get to
know him better?”

Rodney waved his hand at Ian. “Yes, yes. That too.”

Ian stepped forward to greet Temaru, only to be passed by
Mitch, who blocked him and caused Temaru to come to a short stop.

Mitch held his hand out to Temaru. “Mitch Bennett, Rodney’s
husband and agent with the Kallos Agency.”

Temaru offered his hand to him. “Temaru Marceau.”

Mitch took Temaru’s hand. “God, even your name is model
perfect.” He moved an appraising gaze down Temaru’s body. “Damn, you’re an
Armani wet dream. Have you ever considered modeling?”

Ian took a step forward, speaking between clenched teeth in
a warning tone, “Mitch…”

“Uh…” Temaru flicked his gaze at Ian before looking to Mitch
again. “No, I haven’t.”

“Good lord, man, why not?” Mitch asked.

“It never crossed my mind, I guess.”

“Well it should have,” Rodney said.

Temaru snapped his head to the side, looking slightly
startled to find Rodney had closed in on him and was assessing him from another
angle. “I, um…”

Rodney grabbed the sleeve of Temaru’s beige shirt, feeling
the material between his fingers. “Nice choice of color to complement your skin
tone, quality fabric, fine fit to it. Shows you already have good fashion
sense.”

Temaru laughed again. “Actually, I hardly ever wear shirts.
This is even Ian’s first time seeing me in one.”

Before Ian could respond, Rodney slapped a hand to his own
chest. “Be still my heart, that’s even better.”

Mitch jumped in. “If you’re already comfortable in minimal
clothing, you’re even more ideal.” His gaze went to Rodney. “Couldn’t you see
him leading a designer underwear campaign?”

“Absolutely! I can see an incredibly sexy two-page spread.”

Temaru looked back and forth between them. “I don’t think—”

“His sex value would be off the charts,” Mitch continued.
“With his exotic look, everyone would want him walking in their designs.”

“And his hair!” Rodney said, then brought his attention back
to Temaru. “Are your lowlights natural?”

Temaru gave him a confused look. “Lowlights?”

“And how are your abs?” Mitch reached for Temaru’s shirt to
lift it up. “That’s a stupid question. God knows you look tight as hell.”

Ian lashed out a hand, knocking Mitch’s away before he could
lift Temaru’s shirt. He took hold of Temaru’s hand, pulling him from between
Mitch and Rodney to his side and toward the door. “It’s time to go.”

Rodney tailed after them. “Wait! I wanted to ask if he’d let
me shoot him.”

Temaru paused and turned back to him. “Modeling shots?”

Rodney leaned one shoulder on the doorframe and nodded. “You
got it, sweetie. I could make up a gorgeous portfolio for you.”

Temaru glanced at Ian, seeing him glaring at Rodney. “What
about Ian?”

“Oh, I’m going to shoot him. As soon as he can break himself
away from you for a couple of hours.” Rodney winked at Temaru.

His voice tight, Ian said, “I never agreed to let you shoot
me. I said I’d think about it.”

“And have you?”

“I haven’t had time.”

Mitch moved to stand next to Rodney. “Make some time. You
can think about it between orgasms when you’re waiting to get hard again.”

The only thing to stop Ian from unleashing a tirade on Mitch
was Temaru’s soft laughter beside him.

“I’ll make sure he thinks about it,” Temaru said.

Mitch pointed at him. “I’d appreciate that, but don’t think
that gets you off the hook. Your assignment is to think about letting Rodney
shoot you.”

“I’m afraid I can already tell you my answer on that. I’m
very flattered, but it’s not for me. I know I wouldn’t be happy modeling.”

“That’s only because
he’s
been telling you bad things
about it.” Mitch’s gaze went to Ian to punctuate his remark. He looked to
Temaru again. “You can get so much out of modeling. You’d go to the best
parties—”

“I’m not much of a party boy,” Temaru interrupted.

“Okay, but you’d get to wear all the top designers—”

“I could do that now if I wanted. I can walk into a store
and buy Armani.”

“The money—”

“I’m very comfortable as it is.”

“You’d meet interesting people.”

“I do that every day with my customers and saying hi to
people around the island.”

“You could travel to beautiful places.”

Temaru answered with a sweep of his hand toward the jungle
and back to encompass the ocean.

Mitch huffed and spun around to go back inside. “You know
what? Just go on your date. We’ll talk about it some other time.”

Temaru raised his voice to carry into the home. “I’m sorry.
I didn’t mean to offend you.”

Rodney waved Temaru’s words away. “You didn’t offend him.
He’s just pissy because he couldn’t convince you on the spot and he doesn’t
like to be told no.” He lowered his voice, but kept it loud enough where Mitch
was sure to overhear. “Trust me, I know.”

“Rodney!”

Rodney grinned. “See? But I better get in and comfort him.”
He blew them a kiss. “Have a good night, boys.” He started inside, then turned
around, adding as an afterthought, “And seriously think about posing for us.
Both of you!”

Ian shook his head, glancing at Temaru as they walked away.
“Sorry they were all over you.”

“It’s okay. They’re…um, interesting people.”

“Interesting. More polite than what I’d say, but yeah, they
are.” He stopped, tightening his hold on Temaru’s hand to make him halt as
well. “But they were so busy drooling over you, they didn’t give me a chance to
kiss you.”

Temaru closed the distance between them, angling his head to
kiss him. “But now we’ll have the whole night to do that as much as we want.”

A pleased groan rumbled in Ian’s throat as their lips met.
He wrapped his arms around him, reveling in the firmness and strength of
Temaru’s body against his own. It amazed him how good he felt when he was with
Temaru. The handful of hours they’d spent together seemed so much longer.

As the kiss ended, Temaru brushed Ian’s cheek with his
fingertips. “I’ve wanted more of those since you left this afternoon.”

“Same here. I’ve been thinking about you all day.”

“I’m glad for that. It took every bit of willpower I had to
stay focused on my customers today. Even then, my mind kept slipping to you.”
Temaru glanced up the beach. “Where do you want to go for dinner? There are a
couple of restaurants I had in mind or we could go back to my place and I could
cook something.”

Ian touched one fingertip to Temaru’s chest where the shirt
was open and caressed down until his progress was stopped by the first fastened
button. “I like the idea of going to your place. You don’t even have to cook
for me.”

“But I want to. Of course, after I do, you may never want me
to cook again.”

Ian lifted his other hand to Temaru’s shirt, undoing the
button. “I’m easy when it comes to food. Now that I let myself eat without
feeling guilty about it or running to the gym afterward. I’ll like anything you
make.”

“Then my place it is.” Temaru leaned forward, giving him a
light kiss. Ian opened another button on his shirt. He glanced down at it, then
back up to Ian with a smirk. “Unless you plan on stripping me here in the
street.”

“My plan was actually to reduce stripping time once we’re
alone but I’m good with stripping you here too.”

Temaru wrapped his arm around Ian’s shoulders and steered
him up the quiet street. “Yes, but my place isn’t far from here and if we strip
there, we can do it in a soft bed rather than the hard pavement.”

Ian slipped his arm around Temaru’s waist. “Good point. I
really don’t want to get road burn on my knees. Or back, depending on how you want
me.”

Temaru pressed into Ian’s side. “Both sound good to me.”

Ian grinned at him. “Me too.”

Temaru guided him away from the street down to a boardwalk.
The buildings grew sparse, the forest filling in space between homes.

“How was the rest of your day?” Ian asked. “Did you go out a
lot this afternoon?”

“Only one more time after the couple we met at the dock. I
had to take a group of young women snorkeling and they added an extra hour onto
the time we agreed on while we were out.” Temaru made a displeased sound in his
throat. “They were loud, obnoxious and spoke like spoiled brats, alternating
between ordering me around and trying to flirt with me.”

“Sounds like a group of rich girls playing on their mommy
and daddy’s credit cards.”

“That was my impression.”

“What’d you do when they were trying to flirt with you?”

Temaru glanced at him, a teasing shine in his eyes. “So of
the two things, you’re more concerned about them hitting on me than ordering me
around?”

“I just assumed you wouldn’t take any of their crap with the
ordering around.”

“I was even less inclined to take what they were offering
when flirting with me.”