His eyes practically bugged out of his head. Then he pouted. “I missed it.”
“I’ll give you a private lap dance whenever you want. Just say the word.”
Jae stroked my nape. “I distracted you. You were going to tell me the tale of how you went from doing YouTube streams in a cellar to living in a loft apartment opposite the freaking O2 Arena.”
I stole another kiss. “You can distract me whenever you like.”
“Careful. If you keep offering things like that, I’ll have you wrapped around my little finger before you know it.”
I wrinkled my nose. “I wouldn’t mind that.”
“You wouldn’t?”
“Nope.” I rested my hands on his hips. “I saved as much as possible to get better equipment. Maddison helped with that. She was hired to do some promo shots for the nightclub I worked at. She handed everyone her business card, and I contacted her and asked for help. She set me up with a friend who’s great at social-media promotion. My YouTube channel grew thanks to better equipment and some kick-arse marketing. Eventually, it was big enough to monetise and kept growing.”
“How did you go from YouTube to True Fans?”
“A guy I worked with at the nightclub suggested it. I wasn’t sure at first. Stripping in front of a bunch of people in a nightclub is one thing. But online, for anyone who subscribes to see? Eventually, I decided I had nothing to lose. I don’t want a traditional job. I’m doing what I love and making a living out of it. Because I’m in front of a camera, it’s easier than stripping at the club. All I’m doing is working out while naked.”
“Do you think anyone works out with you?”
I snorted. “On True Fans? The only workout my subscribers get is for their wrists.”
Jae cackled, and then his face went bright red.
“Have you had lots of wrist exercise while watching me?”
“Yes.” He hid his face against my chest.
“You don’t need to be embarrassed.”
“But I am.”
I stroked his hair. “I know. But you don’t need to be. I’m flattered.” I tucked my finger under his chin and coaxed him to look up. When he did, I rewarded him with a long, slow kiss.
“That was so nice.”
“There’s plenty more where that came from.”
Jae fanned himself. “I hope so.”
“What about you? What have you been up to for the last three years?”
Jae sighed. “I went to uni, but you know that.”
“You said your degree would give you something to fall back on if modelling didn’t work out. Did your parents push you into going to uni?”
Jae nodded.
It was an all-too-familiar tale. That was precisely what my parents had done. Like a dutiful son, I’d done as they’d asked. I’d gone to uni and done computer science like Dad. I’d hoped they’d support me in my endeavours once my degree was over. Spoiler alert: they hadn’t. Which was why I’d left.
From what Jae had told me, it was the same with him and his parents.
“I’m sorry they aren’t more supportive,” I said quietly.
Jae’s mouth twisted. “The day I came here, Mum wanted me to apply for a managerial role in a local supermarket. She didn’t wish me luck.” He slid his arms away from my shoulders and pressed his palms against his splayed thighs. “I get it. They want me to be successful. They don’t want me to struggle. But some support would be nice.”
“I know the feeling.”
