Chapter 36 - Nick
“I’ve never been to a fashion show before. I’m getting excited.” Declan slapped a hand on Nick’s leg, and Nick smacked it off him. “Who would’ve guessed you’d get invited to the same show Reece’s modeling! And get a plus-one for me! Ha.”
Nick hadn’t known what to expect either, but it certainly wasn’t anything this…
grand. The runway was long enough to have hundreds of people seated on either side of it, and Nick had been invited and reserved a seat on the front row.
Nick was never one to pay attention to fashion brands before, outside of things Reece talked about and liked.
This fashion show was nothing like Nick ever experienced—and nothing like Fashion Disaster.
When the music started and the first model strutted down the runway, the mood was set and everyone in attendance seemed to vibe with it.
Every outfit was all black and Nick didn’t pay them much mind beyond that until Reece stepped out.
He wore black pants that flowed like they were thin and soft as his hair with every step.
And every step was purposeful. Powerful.
His expression was hard, eyes like a siren’s, staring straight ahead with a cool confidence that had Nick choking on air as much as the top Reece was wearing did.
It was fitted and tucked in, sheer black that made his pale skin beneath visible.
The wave-like details patterned into the top were thin, the collar open, half of Reece’s chest on display, a black choker around his throat.
“Fuck me,” Nick groaned, throwing a hand up in disbelief.
Declan just whistled, both of them turning their heads to follow Reece’s path. “Even better in person.”
“Don’t fuckin’ look at him,” Nick snapped and Declan turned his head to give him an unimpressed look.
“The fuck else am I gonna do?”
Nick ignored him, disappointed that Reece passed by so quickly.
But then he appeared again, and Nick was on the edge of his seat.
The black outfits had been replaced with ones that were pure white.
This time Reece wore a full suit, and he looked like a goddamn angel, the shirt much too big but stylishly so.
His expression was the same, so focused.
The posture, the attitude, everything about him was making Nick melt in his seat.
The second time passed just as quickly, but then Reece returned, this time still in white, in a sheer robe so long that it flowed at his feet with each step.
The tie at his waist was loose, the white underwear he was wearing covering him nicely and yet revealing way too fucking much at the same time.
Nick was bolting from his seat before he could stop himself, only to be yanked back down by Declan.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Declan growled at his ear, both of their gazes following Reece as he walked past, completely oblivious to their presence.
“What the fuck does he think he’s wearing?”
“Do you hear yourself, man?”
Nick shrugged Declan off of him, jaw tensing. Fuck, Reece looked amazing—so good Nick didn’t want to share him with anyone. But Reece wasn’t even his anymore.
He never had been either, because Nick never allowed him to be. Not really.
“Goddammit.”
“Relax, Nick. Try not to give me a damn heart attack.”
Nick just glared at the passing models until Reece appeared once more, in all black again, this time wearing shorts, another sheer top that was loose with black roses adorning it, and a long black overcoat that hung all the way down to his calves.
The look was completed with a pair of ankle boots, tall black socks, and a black hat.
It was over so fast that Nick didn’t know what to make of it.
It happened in a flash. Then Nick and Declan went about trying to find Reece, only to end up waiting for nearly an hour before they found him outside, leaning against a black SUV, posing for several members of the paparazzi who were screaming things at him.
Reece appeared unfazed, moving his body minutely, as if constantly finding a new pose to offer their cameras.
He was so good at what he did. He was made to model.
Reece was back in the first outfit he’d modeled, his body covered and yet right there for Nick’s viewing. And everyone else’s.
Nick stood still, just watching Reece in amazement until some bald guy started ushering the photographers back and opened the back door of the SUV for Reece.
“Yo.”
Reece stilled at the sound of Nick’s voice, eyes so wide when he looked back over his shoulder that Nick instantly felt guilt consuming him. Reece probably thought that Nick didn’t give a damn about his work, which just wasn’t the case. Not at all.
“Nicky?”
Nick walked through the crowd, Declan at his side. With a jerk of his head, he signaled Reece to get into the SUV, and when he did, Nick and Declan followed, the three of them squeezing together, Nick in the middle.
“You guys… What are you doing here?”
“We watched your show, and damn, you were something!”
“You… were watching?” Reece’s cheeks turned red as he crossed his legs to make more room for Nick, but Nick took Reece’s legs and moved them over his left so he didn’t have to cross them.
“Will your guests be joining you at the after-party, Mr. Keys?”
“Ah—”
“Hell yeah,” both Nick and Declan said.
Nick watched Reece’s throat bob. Watched his lips part, the way his tongue trailed between them to moisten them. Watched his fingers pick at his pants, his breathing pick up.
Fuck. He never looked better.
“Y-yes, they will be…”