Chapter 9
My, Sebastian looked sexy all cleaned up! Eli stood with a glass of champagne in his hand and silently admired the photographer from a distance. Sebastian was nearly at the other end of the gallery, chatting with the woman who owned the place. He was clean-shaven for once, and he wore a white silk shirt under an ankle-length black jacket. His unruly hair had been trimmed and tamed for the evening, and he was smiling.
Eli couldn’t help but be entranced by that smile. He’d seldom seen one on Sebastian’s face before this, so he cherished each time that the photographer smiled. Better yet, Sebastian had glanced his way and said something to the woman just before he smiled, so the agent realized that HE was the cause of that bright smile. That thought made warmth coil in the pit of his stomach, and he smiled in return and silently lifted his champagne glass.
This was he and Sebastian’s fifth date so far. The photographer had invited him to the opening of the gallery that had the photographs hanging on the wall that he’d shown Eli on their first date. He was happy to come; for one he was still Sebastian’s agent. Anything that got the photographer out there and better known was great in his eyes. For another, he was very proud of Sebastian and his work. He wanted everybody else to see it too, and recognize Sebastian’s genius.
He sipped at his champagne, glancing around at the men and women in evening dress standing around talking and eating expensive tid bits. While this opening was important, he almost wished that they hadn’t had to come. He’d much rather have gone on a quiet date with Sebastian, just the two of them alone. Because the truth was, he’d much rather have taken Sebastian back to his place, served him a candlelight dinner, and then…
He sighed. His desire for Sebastian was growing stronger and stronger. Those semi-chaste goodnight kisses on his doorstep just weren’t enough anymore. While he wanted to wait to have sex with Sebastian until he figured out his feelings for the photographer, he was conflicted because if he didn’t get laid soon he was going to explode.
His lips quirked wryly at this thought. While he still wasn’t totally sure if he was in love with Sebastian, he really cared about the photographer. Wasn’t that enough? Dear God, it had to be enough! He really, really needed to have sex soon. He was starting to lose it a little.
But what would happen afterward if he finally decided that he didn’t love Sebastian after all? He didn’t want to hurt the other man. It wouldn’t be fair to Sebastian if he jumped into bed with him and then changed his mind later on. He sighed between gritted teeth. Why did he have to be so damn moral? He wished he could be liked those guys who freely jumped into bed with any guy they found hot, no matter what the circumstances. But he just couldn’t do that to Sebastian, not when he knew the other man was in love with him. He couldn’t bring himself to do something that might end up breaking Sebastian’s heart later on.
His eyes lingered on Sebastian’s profile, seeing how clean it looked without the scruff. He really was good-looking in a lean-faced, somewhat angular sort of way. Eli smiled a little as he thought about the other dates they’d gone on. After Sebastian had showed him this gallery on the first date, for the second they’d gone to the theater to see a play that Sebastian had somehow found out that he’d wanted to see. He’d really enjoye4d it, though he could see that Sebastian was bored and a little restless. That the man would sit through an entire play he didn’t enjoy just for him…it melted Eli’s heart.
For the third date, they’d gone out to dinner and afterward had seen a movie. A standard date, and one they’d both enjoyed. Eli had found himself liking the action movie they’d gone to see more than her ever would have expected. And sitting with Sebastian in the darkened theater had tempted him to start a make-out session, though somehow he’d refrained.
For the fourth date, they’d gone to the zoo. An odd destination, but Eli had found himself enjoying that as well. Sebastian bought him some cotton candy and an ice cream cone, and they’d fed the elephant peanuts. He was beginning to suspect that he could go almost anywhere with Sebastian and enjoy himself, and he didn’t even mind when the photographer’s ever present camera kept clicking as Sebastian took multiple photos of him. Sebastian also took pictures of other people around them, and Eli was looking forward to seeing the results once Sebastian had developed them.
And now here they were, at the gallery opening. His eyes scanned the walls, taking in Sebastian’s photos once again. How amazing they were! As he looked at them, Eli felt something welling up inside of himself. It was an emotion that he hadn’t felt since his relationship with David had broken up. His heart began to pound, and he took in a sharp breath. His eyes swerved back to Sebastian, who was now talking to a small crowd of people who had gathered around him to hear the artist speak about his work.
Eli swallowed thickly. He was in love with Sebastian. He knew it now. This is exactly how he’d felt about David, only stronger. Yes, he’d cared deeply for David. But he had come to see that David was right about them - that it hadn’t been what it should be between two people who really loved each other. What it was becoming between him and Sebastian. He felt almost dizzy at this revelation. He had fallen in love with Sebastian Versang. Something like giddiness raced through him, along with a bit of fear. Was it wise to be in love with Sebastian? Probably not. But the heart wasn’t wise, and his didn’t care that the photographer had been a player until recently.
Besides, Sebastian had given up so much just to be with him. Hell, he’d given it up BEFORE he’d had the chance of being with Eli! He’d stopped drinking practically altogether, he’d given up casual sex, and he’d tried to be nicer to everyone around him just because Eli had lectured him about it. All of those heroic efforts told Eli a lot about just how much Sebastian loved him. And there was nothing more alluring than someone who loved you to such a degree that they’d give up almost every vice they had just in the faint hope that you’d be with them. The very thought made his heart melt in his chest.
It did things to other parts of his body, as well. He felt a brisk stirring in his loins as he realized that now that he’d resolved what he felt about Sebastian, he could invite the other man into his bed. Happily and without worry. He wanted to break out in a wide, bright grin at this thought. Finally, he was going to get laid again! And poor Sebastian, who had been going without far longer than he had, would finally be able to get some, too. And with the man he loved. What could be better than that?
He deliberately handed his champagne glass to a passing waiter and began to angle through the crowd obliquely in Sebastian’s direction. Not that he wasn’t enjoying this opening, but now that he’d made up his mind he just wanted to get the hell out of here. To drag Sebastian back to his house and fuck his brains out.
He approached the small group, and heard Sebastian saying: “People interest me. Just ordinary people, on the street. What they’re thinking, what they’re feeling, I try to capture those moments in time on film. But the ones I’m most proud of are the Eli photos.”
“Yes, those are very evocative,” a woman in a silky evening dress replied. “Who is he, by the way? Someone you know?”
Sebastian’s smile was uninhibited and dazzling. “He’s a very good friend,” he said. “I’ve been taking photos of him for years. He fascinates me.”
“I can tell. Such a depth of feeling. They’re beautiful.”
“No,” Sebastian said simply. “He’s beautiful.”
Eli felt his heart turn to mush in his chest, and tears prickle a little at the backs of his eyes. He fought hard to contain them, pausing for a moment as the talk moved on to some of Sebastian’s other photos. Then he walked up to Sebastian and surreptitiously touched his elbow. The photographer turned, and his eyes lit up when he saw Eli. “Hey,” he said softly, ‘Having a good time?”
“Yes,” Eli told him. “But Sebastian…”
“Ah, the mysterious Eli!” the woman in the silky evening dress exclaimed, seeing him. “How do you do? I’m Karly French.” She held out a hand to him.
He had to take it, out of politeness. “I’m Eli Drake, Sebastian’s agent.”
“Ah!” she cried, her eyes bright with curiosity. “His agent…that’s it?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but Eli and I are also dating,” Sebastian told her coolly.
“I see. Well, your portraits are all fabulous, Eli. Sebastian has really captured something wonderful in you,” she glanced around at the black-and-white photos on the walls of the gallery, her eyes unerringly finding the ones that contained Eli.
He shrugged uncomfortably. “I don’t know about that. Sebastian’s a genius with a camera. He could bring out something wonderful in just about anyone.”
“No, I couldn’t. You’re special,” Sebastian murmured, sliding an arm around his waist possessively.
The woman said: “Aww,” under her breath, as Eli found himself gazing into Sebastian’s dark eyes. Something there computably captivated him.
He leaned forward and whispered into Sebastian’s ear. “I know this is your party, Sebastian. That you’re the star. But could we get out of here? Go to my place?” he added very softly.
He heard Sebastian’s breath catch at the implications of his words. He knew the photographer understood exactly what he was saying. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he remarked more loudly to the small group surrounding them, “Eli says that he’s getting tired. He’s had a really long day. I think I need to take him home and…tuck him into bed.”
Eli’s cheeks heated at the very faint lasciviousness in Sebastian’s voice. The woman Karly laughed, almost a titter. “We understand, Sebastian. I hope you get lots of…sleep, Eli,” she went on, her voice full of delicate insinuation.
“I’m sure I will,” he replied stiffly, so embarrassed he wanted to sink through the floor and disappear.
Sebastian took his arm and steered him away from the group with murmured “Goodnights,” to everyone. He began to lead Eli toward the front doors of the gallery.
“Not that I’m complaining,” he began softly, “But what brought about this change of heart?”
Eli glanced up at him, then he smiled. “It really was a change of heart,” he told Sebastian simply.
He had the pleasure of seeing those dark eyes light up, and Sebastian smile sweetly like a happy schoolboy. Then they were out the doors and into the night, intent on getting to Eli’s house as fast as Sebastian could drive…
My, Sebastian looked sexy all cleaned up! Eli stood with a glass of champagne in his hand and silently admired the photographer from a distance. Sebastian was nearly at the other end of the gallery, chatting with the woman who owned the place. He was clean-shaven for once, and he wore a white silk shirt under an ankle-length black jacket. His unruly hair had been trimmed and tamed for the evening, and he was smiling.
Eli couldn’t help but be entranced by that smile. He’d seldom seen one on Sebastian’s face before this, so he cherished each time that the photographer smiled. Better yet, Sebastian had glanced his way and said something to the woman just before he smiled, so the agent realized that HE was the cause of that bright smile. That thought made warmth coil in the pit of his stomach, and he smiled in return and silently lifted his champagne glass.
This was he and Sebastian’s fifth date so far. The photographer had invited him to the opening of the gallery that had the photographs hanging on the wall that he’d shown Eli on their first date. He was happy to come; for one he was still Sebastian’s agent. Anything that got the photographer out there and better known was great in his eyes. For another, he was very proud of Sebastian and his work. He wanted everybody else to see it too, and recognize Sebastian’s genius.
He sipped at his champagne, glancing around at the men and women in evening dress standing around talking and eating expensive tid bits. While this opening was important, he almost wished that they hadn’t had to come. He’d much rather have gone on a quiet date with Sebastian, just the two of them alone. Because the truth was, he’d much rather have taken Sebastian back to his place, served him a candlelight dinner, and then…
He sighed. His desire for Sebastian was growing stronger and stronger. Those semi-chaste goodnight kisses on his doorstep just weren’t enough anymore. While he wanted to wait to have sex with Sebastian until he figured out his feelings for the photographer, he was conflicted because if he didn’t get laid soon he was going to explode.
His lips quirked wryly at this thought. While he still wasn’t totally sure if he was in love with Sebastian, he really cared about the photographer. Wasn’t that enough? Dear God, it had to be enough! He really, really needed to have sex soon. He was starting to lose it a little.
But what would happen afterward if he finally decided that he didn’t love Sebastian after all? He didn’t want to hurt the other man. It wouldn’t be fair to Sebastian if he jumped into bed with him and then changed his mind later on. He sighed between gritted teeth. Why did he have to be so damn moral? He wished he could be liked those guys who freely jumped into bed with any guy they found hot, no matter what the circumstances. But he just couldn’t do that to Sebastian, not when he knew the other man was in love with him. He couldn’t bring himself to do something that might end up breaking Sebastian’s heart later on.
His eyes lingered on Sebastian’s profile, seeing how clean it looked without the scruff. He really was good-looking in a lean-faced, somewhat angular sort of way. Eli smiled a little as he thought about the other dates they’d gone on. After Sebastian had showed him this gallery on the first date, for the second they’d gone to the theater to see a play that Sebastian had somehow found out that he’d wanted to see. He’d really enjoye4d it, though he could see that Sebastian was bored and a little restless. That the man would sit through an entire play he didn’t enjoy just for him…it melted Eli’s heart.
For the third date, they’d gone out to dinner and afterward had seen a movie. A standard date, and one they’d both enjoyed. Eli had found himself liking the action movie they’d gone to see more than her ever would have expected. And sitting with Sebastian in the darkened theater had tempted him to start a make-out session, though somehow he’d refrained.
For the fourth date, they’d gone to the zoo. An odd destination, but Eli had found himself enjoying that as well. Sebastian bought him some cotton candy and an ice cream cone, and they’d fed the elephant peanuts. He was beginning to suspect that he could go almost anywhere with Sebastian and enjoy himself, and he didn’t even mind when the photographer’s ever present camera kept clicking as Sebastian took multiple photos of him. Sebastian also took pictures of other people around them, and Eli was looking forward to seeing the results once Sebastian had developed them.
And now here they were, at the gallery opening. His eyes scanned the walls, taking in Sebastian’s photos once again. How amazing they were! As he looked at them, Eli felt something welling up inside of himself. It was an emotion that he hadn’t felt since his relationship with David had broken up. His heart began to pound, and he took in a sharp breath. His eyes swerved back to Sebastian, who was now talking to a small crowd of people who had gathered around him to hear the artist speak about his work.
Eli swallowed thickly. He was in love with Sebastian. He knew it now. This is exactly how he’d felt about David, only stronger. Yes, he’d cared deeply for David. But he had come to see that David was right about them - that it hadn’t been what it should be between two people who really loved each other. What it was becoming between him and Sebastian. He felt almost dizzy at this revelation. He had fallen in love with Sebastian Versang. Something like giddiness raced through him, along with a bit of fear. Was it wise to be in love with Sebastian? Probably not. But the heart wasn’t wise, and his didn’t care that the photographer had been a player until recently.
Besides, Sebastian had given up so much just to be with him. Hell, he’d given it up BEFORE he’d had the chance of being with Eli! He’d stopped drinking practically altogether, he’d given up casual sex, and he’d tried to be nicer to everyone around him just because Eli had lectured him about it. All of those heroic efforts told Eli a lot about just how much Sebastian loved him. And there was nothing more alluring than someone who loved you to such a degree that they’d give up almost every vice they had just in the faint hope that you’d be with them. The very thought made his heart melt in his chest.
It did things to other parts of his body, as well. He felt a brisk stirring in his loins as he realized that now that he’d resolved what he felt about Sebastian, he could invite the other man into his bed. Happily and without worry. He wanted to break out in a wide, bright grin at this thought. Finally, he was going to get laid again! And poor Sebastian, who had been going without far longer than he had, would finally be able to get some, too. And with the man he loved. What could be better than that?
He deliberately handed his champagne glass to a passing waiter and began to angle through the crowd obliquely in Sebastian’s direction. Not that he wasn’t enjoying this opening, but now that he’d made up his mind he just wanted to get the hell out of here. To drag Sebastian back to his house and fuck his brains out.
He approached the small group, and heard Sebastian saying: “People interest me. Just ordinary people, on the street. What they’re thinking, what they’re feeling, I try to capture those moments in time on film. But the ones I’m most proud of are the Eli photos.”
“Yes, those are very evocative,” a woman in a silky evening dress replied. “Who is he, by the way? Someone you know?”
Sebastian’s smile was uninhibited and dazzling. “He’s a very good friend,” he said. “I’ve been taking photos of him for years. He fascinates me.”
“I can tell. Such a depth of feeling. They’re beautiful.”
“No,” Sebastian said simply. “He’s beautiful.”
Eli felt his heart turn to mush in his chest, and tears prickle a little at the backs of his eyes. He fought hard to contain them, pausing for a moment as the talk moved on to some of Sebastian’s other photos. Then he walked up to Sebastian and surreptitiously touched his elbow. The photographer turned, and his eyes lit up when he saw Eli. “Hey,” he said softly, ‘Having a good time?”
“Yes,” Eli told him. “But Sebastian…”
“Ah, the mysterious Eli!” the woman in the silky evening dress exclaimed, seeing him. “How do you do? I’m Karly French.” She held out a hand to him.
He had to take it, out of politeness. “I’m Eli Drake, Sebastian’s agent.”
“Ah!” she cried, her eyes bright with curiosity. “His agent…that’s it?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but Eli and I are also dating,” Sebastian told her coolly.
“I see. Well, your portraits are all fabulous, Eli. Sebastian has really captured something wonderful in you,” she glanced around at the black-and-white photos on the walls of the gallery, her eyes unerringly finding the ones that contained Eli.
He shrugged uncomfortably. “I don’t know about that. Sebastian’s a genius with a camera. He could bring out something wonderful in just about anyone.”
“No, I couldn’t. You’re special,” Sebastian murmured, sliding an arm around his waist possessively.
The woman said: “Aww,” under her breath, as Eli found himself gazing into Sebastian’s dark eyes. Something there computably captivated him.
He leaned forward and whispered into Sebastian’s ear. “I know this is your party, Sebastian. That you’re the star. But could we get out of here? Go to my place?” he added very softly.
He heard Sebastian’s breath catch at the implications of his words. He knew the photographer understood exactly what he was saying. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he remarked more loudly to the small group surrounding them, “Eli says that he’s getting tired. He’s had a really long day. I think I need to take him home and…tuck him into bed.”
Eli’s cheeks heated at the very faint lasciviousness in Sebastian’s voice. The woman Karly laughed, almost a titter. “We understand, Sebastian. I hope you get lots of…sleep, Eli,” she went on, her voice full of delicate insinuation.
“I’m sure I will,” he replied stiffly, so embarrassed he wanted to sink through the floor and disappear.
Sebastian took his arm and steered him away from the group with murmured “Goodnights,” to everyone. He began to lead Eli toward the front doors of the gallery.
“Not that I’m complaining,” he began softly, “But what brought about this change of heart?”
Eli glanced up at him, then he smiled. “It really was a change of heart,” he told Sebastian simply.
He had the pleasure of seeing those dark eyes light up, and Sebastian smile sweetly like a happy schoolboy. Then they were out the doors and into the night, intent on getting to Eli’s house as fast as Sebastian could drive…