Chapter Five #2
Terry regarded him from under hooded eyes, his cheeks filled with a touch of pink. “That was very, very bad. But in a totally good way.”
Phil chuckled. “Should you introduce me to your friend? He’s probably wondering by now if he should give us some privacy.”
“Yeah. At this point, the wood won’t be going away anytime soon, so what the hell—I mean heck.” Terry winced. After clearing his throat loudly enough to draw Van’s attention, he led them closer to the photographer. “Van, I want you to meet my Master and the love of my life, Phil Watts.”
Phil tried not to choke on his own spit at Terry’s surprise introduction and to Van’s credit, he kept his reaction confined to one brow twitch. Van held out his hand and Phil took it.
“Nice to meet you, Van. Terry tells me you’re a top fashion photographer, so I’m looking forward to the shoot.”
The smile Van radiated at him appeared genuine. “He’s very kind. I take it that posing for photos is something new for you?”
Phil chuckled. “Very new and uncomfortably so. I’ll need a lot of guidance, I’m afraid.”
Terry beamed up at him. “All you need to do is be yourself, you’re amazing just as you are.”
To Phil’s mortification, his cheeks heated. Blushing wasn’t his thing, but Terry’s praise had just changed that. “Uh, so, what was this I heard about makeup?”
****
The alluring woodsy, citrus scent of Phil’s Hugo Boss cologne distracted the shit out of Terry as he tried to concentrate on the digital images displayed on the computer screen.
Terry sat next to Van as they scrolled through the shots with Phil leaning over his shoulder, occasionally pointing to one he really liked so Van could mark it down as a keeper.
“What do you think of this one, Terry?”
He focused his attention back on what he was supposed to be doing, only a tad annoyed that Phil had used his given name instead of ‘baby’.
Work in progress. Phil had reminded him of that plenty of times.
They’d discussed various ways of handling their public selves when they’d gone over the contract a few days earlier, but putting it in practice was a different matter.
I hope he’s not upset that I introduced him as my Master.
“Baby? What are your thoughts?”
He grinned. That’s better. Everything between them had become so sharp and present since they’d agreed on being fulltime. Terry had found it difficult to stop analyzing every moment and every interaction they shared.
Once he’d absorbed how exquisite the shot was that Phil had pointed out, he let a soft ‘wow’, fall from his lips. Our love is so clear, so alive. “Yeah. That one. It’s…” He shook his head, his emotions so high it was difficult to express his feelings. “You can see how much we belong together.”
Phil kissed the side of his neck. “Yes, we do. Definitely that one, along with a few others I’d like to keep.”
Terry rubbed his cheek against Phil’s since the contact had already been made. “We can keep all of them on a thumb drive, but I want this one to frame.”
Phil squeezed his shoulder as he straightened. “Call me an old goat, but I also want hard copies of a few different poses as well.”
Terry tried to hold in an exasperated sigh. He hated it when Phil would make disparaging remarks about his age. “I would like that too. Master.”
Phil’s grip became tighter in a silent warning. “And the same goes for the ones I chose of you.”
Before he’d had the chance to say anything when the shoot was over, Phil had announced they’d be viewing Terry’s solo shots first, mumbling about how he wanted to put off seeing his own face for a long as possible.
It wasn’t that he didn’t understand how being photographed was uncomfortable for some people—he’d dealt with that issue many times over the years—it was how Phil couldn’t stop from making subtle digs at himself.
Considering how irritated it made Phil when Terry did the same thing, his attitude struck Terry as odd.
Another issue to discuss. It was time to thank Van, then send him on his way. He’d been excited all day about finally having the chance to photograph his man and they needed to have a little chat first. A thoroughly respectful and non-snippy one.
After finishing up with Van and thanking him again, they were left alone. Terry contemplated his next move. He could dive right into the session the way he’d originally planned or sit down with Phil beforehand and have a potentially birthday-destroying conversation.
Phil approached him, reaching up to cup his cheek. “Why the lip-chewing?” He chuckled. “Change your mind on the solo shots of me? If you have, it’s fine. I’m not exactly—what?” Phil’s brow creased. “You look angry.”
Terry crossed his arms as Phil lowered his hand.
“Yeah, I’m angry. But I don’t want to ruin…
” Fuck. “Look, this shoot means a lot to me. A lot. I’ve wanted to photograph you from the beginning, never dreamed I’d get another chance after you left.
And…” Terry lowered his eyes, desperate to make Phil understand.
Then he fixed him with his gaze. “Do you have any idea how fucking hot I think you are? And don’t you dare correct me on the swearing right now, because I’m fed up with the way you’re always talking shit about yourself.
Also, I don’t give a damn about the difference in our ages.
I only care about you and all the things that make up who you are.
Do you think I’d allow myself to be so vulnerable to you otherwise?
That I’d let someone I was unsure of take control of my life the way I have?
Seriously, do you think I’m a complete idiot? ”