Two men sat in front of the mic stand. The fairer guy’s eyes narrowed, and Julian could read his scepticism from a mile away. The darker guy, on the other hand, leaned back in his chair, his grin slow and predatory.
“I’m Theo Sinclair,” the fair guy told him. “And this is Max Rivers.” He arched his eyebrows. “You sing?” His tone seemed cool, unimpressed even.
Julian resisted the urge to roll his eyes.Would I be here if I didn’t?He bit back the words and instead went for a full-onsmirk. “Like a fucking angel.” He paused before adding, “One who swears.”
Max’s ripple of laughter broke the tension.
Theo crossed his legs. “Okay then, show us what you’ve got.”
Julian launched into the opening bars of ‘Toxic’ but didn’t take it at tempo. He slowed it, savouring each phrase. His tenor rang clear and flexible, his chest voice rich on the low phrases, falsetto glittering at the top. Trills tumbled from his throat with effortless agility, his breath control carrying each line into something lush.
And hopefully unexpected.
Midway through, he climbed into a crystalline high note, floated it, then broke the tension with a perfectly timed wink straight at Max.
Theo’s jaw tightened, his pencil biting into the page. Max’s grin widened, his dark eyes filled with obvious delight.
When the final note dissolved into silence, the pause lasted half a beat too long.
Max’s low voice was almost a purr. “Wehaveto keep him.”
Julian resisted the urge to fist-pump.
Theo cleared his throat, and the spell was finally broken. “Your breath control is brilliant. But the ornamentation—those runs—border on indulgent.” He tapped his clipboard with his pencil. “Group singing requires restraint.”
Julian nodded, his confidence faltering for a heartbeat. Then the smirk was back, his armour fastened tight.
Max leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “Have you ever sung harmony work?”
“Plenty,” Julian said, his tone casual. “Sopranos usually tried to out-sing me. I let them.” He shrugged. “Most of the time.”
Theo arched his eyebrows again.
Max’s grin deepened. “And do you play nice with others?”
Julian flashed his teeth. “If they deserve it.”
Theo scribbled something on his notes. Max appeared more entertained.
Julian knew the impression he’d left them with: not just a singer with a tenor’s brilliance, but a spark too wild to ignore.
Exactly what I was aiming for.
Theo thanked him for attending, and Max flashed that wicked grin. “Thanks for the performance.”
Julian returned the grin at full wattage. “You’re welcome.” He left the room, went down the stairs, and out onto the street. His phone vibrated in his pocket, and he peered at the screen.
Evan: Well? Did you knock their socks off?
He typed a reply.Audition went well. I think I scared them. But in a good way.
His phone buzzed again, only this time it was an invitation. One of his clients was going to attend a high-end kink party that evening, and wanted to know if Julian would be free to accompany him.
He couldn’t think of a better way to burn off all the nervous tension still bubbling inside him. Especially when the guy inviting him knew Julian was a brat with a tendency to top.
Anything not to think about the outcome of his audition, because after meeting Theo and Max, Julian wanted in.
The door clicked shut behind Julian, leaving a faint trace of cherry gloss in the air.
