Felix stood up and turned around. His jaw dropped when he saw how Ryder was dressed, and he fumbled with his camera. Luckily, Ryder was quick and sprung forward, catching it. The look between them lingered, and Ryder could feel his dick growing. He pulled away, keeping things professional... for now.
Felix took dozens of photos, with Ryder doing a few costume changes as directed. It was one of the easiest going shoots he’d ever done. Once that camera was clicking, Felix was the consummate professional. Felix would show Ryder what he’d captured and make suggestions for how they could get a better shot. He also listened to Ryder’s input, which many pro photographers did not. He had a feeling Felix could go far if he got the right exposure, and hopefully this exhibition would do that for him. He knew a lot of fellow influencers who would love to work with his straightforward style.
“Can I get you a drink?” asked Ryder once they were done.
He was hoping to keep him here longer and loosen him up.
“Yeah, okay. I’ll just have one, though.”
“Wine or beer?”
“Either is fine. Whatever is easiest.”
Felix was looking at his pictures and not watching where he was going, and Ryder put their drinks down and watched in amusement as he continued in his direction. The concentrated look on his face, with his tongue poking out slightly,was cute as fuck. Ryder had it bad for this little nerd. Felix walked straight into Ryder and almost dropped his camera again, and when he put his hands on Ryder’s bare chest to steady himself, the contact was enough to get Ryder fully hard. He should be delighted his dick wasn’t broken, but all he could think about was the beautiful man looking at him with definite lust in his eyes. Felix wanted this just as much as he did, so Ryder gripped his face and slammed their lips together.
Ryder felt Felix kiss him back for a second, but then he pulled away. Before he could realize what was happening, he felt a sharp pain as Felix slapped him across the face. Ryder was stunned. Had he read it wrong? He’d been certain Felix was interested in him. He wasn’t being arrogant. The look in his eyes had been clear, but here they were. Before Ryder could respond to what had happened, Felix had grabbed his stuff and was heading for the door.
“Felix, wait . . .”
But Felix didn’t wait. The guy couldn’t get out of Ryder’s apartment fast enough. The door slammed shut behind him, and Ryder was at a loss about what to do. Should he go after him and apologize? Or did he leave him to calm down? This was not how he’d seen today going. It was only when he stopped running through options in his head that he realized something... He was still hard.
CHAPTER 4
FELIX
“You’re a fucking idiot!” said Laura.
Felix groaned, banging his head on the table. Was she right? Had he just turned down the opportunity to get fucked by one of the hottest guys in the world? He couldn’t think like that. Felix wasn’t some piece of meat to be chewed up and spat out once all his flavor had been savored. Okay, he needed a better metaphor, but his point was still valid. Ryder Quinn was a first-class fuckboy, and this project was too important to him. Now, because of his soap-opera reaction, he’d probably not only lost Ryder from the project, but his friends as well.
“You could have just politely declined and said you’d like to keep things professional, although I don’t know why. The things I would let that man do to me.”
“Laura!”
“What? I’m a lesbian, not dead.”
Felix couldn’t help but laugh. She pulled a large piece of his cupcake off and started eating it. He scowled at her.
“What? The cupcakes are good here, and you’re just picking at it feeling sorry for yourself.”
“I’m not feeling sorry for myself. He shouldn’t have just assumed he could kiss me.”
Laura laughed out loud.
“What’s so funny?”
“I wasn’t there, but I suspect you were giving off pretty big ‘come hither’ signals.”
“Come hither?”
“Yes, you know, the wide eyes, visible swallow, licking the lips, boner in your trousers...”
He blushed and grabbed his coffee cup to cover himself, but it was empty, which just made her chuckle more.
“Look, honey... do you want him to still support the project or give you a good pounding?”
Both!
“I see. Both it is, then.”
