14. Ethan
Ethan
Ipractically floated into the shoot.
Here I was, doing my dream job for a third day in a row, knowing I’d be back tomorrow too.
Best of all, I had a new friend.
Being excited about that little kernel was very primary school, but I couldn’t help it. It had been so long. Too damned long. If I didn’t fuck this up with Rami, then maybe my personal life would improve as well as my work one.
I’d been gifted my life back, and it was time I got on with living it.
This step with Rami was just the first I’d resolved to take.
When I was diagnosed, I’d realised there were so many things I wanted to experience that I’d been putting off.
You always think you’ll have more time. When you discover that you don’t, the regret hits.
The frustration over all the days you wasted doing nothing when you could have been making memories.
Well, no more. I had a second chance, and I wasn’t going to waste another second of it.
We were about an hour into the shoot, Rami performing what I was sure would be a fantasy for millions of people across the world and posing in a firefighter’s outfit.
One of my old friends, Matty, had a brother who was a firefighter.
I couldn’t remember him ever forgetting his shirt when wearing his uniform though.
He didn’t leave the jacket open either, teasingly revealing the taut muscles beneath.
Definitely didn’t cover said muscles in oil either.
And, yep, Rami had applied it again. Slowly. While making direct eye contact and smirking.
I thought I’d done a brilliant job at pretending I didn’t feel anything at the sight. It probably helped that I’d been sitting down with my camera on my lap at the time.
I really needed to get laid. It had been…well, months now that I thought about it. Kind of wished I hadn’t, to be honest. That sort of depressing realisation wasn’t going to help me salvage my relationship with Dave.
My camera was clicking away when Rami suddenly tensed. His eyes narrowed as he muttered a soft curse.
I lowered the camera. “Everything okay?”
He gave me a tight smile. “We’re about to have visitors, and I’ll apologise now. Please don’t take anything they say seriously. They’re both wind-up merchants.”
“More of your housemates, I’m guessing?”
He sighed. “They were warned to keep their distance, but they’re nosy fuckers. I’m amazed they’ve stayed away this long.”
“You must have amazing hearing.” I was impressed. To me, it sounded like we were the only ones in the house.
“Better than most.” Rami mustered a smile. “Just say the word, and I’ll make them leave.”
“Nah.” I cracked my neck and stretched. “We’re due a break anyway.”
Plus, I was secretly dying to meet more of the inhabitants of this house. Especially if, as both Rami and Sam had alluded to, they were attractive. Not because I was interested or concerned that Rami might be involved with one of them. Of course not. It was professional interest. Obviously.
Sure.
A loud catcall echoed through the house. Across from me, Rami groaned and covered his face with one hand. “You know what, I’m just going to go and head them off.”
He went to move past me, but I stopped him with a hand on his chest. His tight, oiled chest.
Rami instantly froze, his eyes widening before dipping down to where I touched him. It took me a moment to remember how to speak.
“It’s fine,” I murmured. My hand was on his chest. Why was I still touching him? “I’ve got a thick skin, I promise.”
He gave me a half grin. “It’s not your skin I’m worried about.”
The door swung open so hard it ricocheted off the wall. A tall man stood in the frame, grinning widely.
No, not one man.
Two.
Twins.
“What do we have here?” the first one drawled, mischief lighting up his face as he strolled into the room. “Theo, have we ever had such a personal touch from a photographer?”
“Can’t say we have,” Theo responded, hot on his brother’s heels. “Think we’ve been hiring the wrong people.”
“You’re both models?” I said, my hand finally dropping away. Despite my earlier thoughts, it was professional interest that had me eyeing them.
“As much as Rami is,” the first twin said. He extended his hand for me to shake. “I’m Nate.”
When my hand slid into his, there was a growling sound from Rami. I glanced over to see him glaring at Nate. Odd.
“And I’m Theo,” the other one said, shoving his brother aside. He didn’t shake my hand, instead opting to lift it to his lips and brush them over my skin. I blushed at the gesture, but there was no electricity there. I’d felt far more touching Rami’s chest a few moments ago.
You shouldn’t be feeling anything for anyone except Dave, remember?
Suddenly, Rami’s hands were on my shoulders, tugging me backwards. He didn’t let go, even when I collided with his broad chest. “You two are interrupting.”
“We’re bored,” Nate said, his attention lingering on me. “We wanted to meet this photographer who’s got you so…excited.”
“I think you mean Sam.” I chuckled. “He’s the one who hired me. Rami’s just putting up with my endless photo shoots.”
“He really seems like he’s struggling with it,” Theo said with a smirk. I was glad they hadn’t swapped sides at all. They were so identical that I already knew I wouldn’t be able to tell them apart if they moved.
Sam hadn’t been lying about the attractiveness of their housemates. These two, plus Zeke, were some of the most handsome men I’d ever seen.
None of them held a candle to Rami, though.
“You’ve got fascinating eyes,” I said, leaning forwards to study Nate’s closer. Rami kept hold of my shoulders, simply moving with me. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone with that colour before. Is that lilac?”
“It is,” Nate said. “Goes well with our hair, don’t you think?”
The shock of white atop their heads did bring out the colour. It’d photograph beautifully. “It really does. Do you dye it?”
Theo scoffed. “No. We’re all natural, baby.”
There was another low growl from behind me.
I twisted to face Rami. I didn’t know how he managed to keep his hands on my shoulders, but he did. “Are you okay? Do you need to stop for food or something?”
“Huh?”
“Your stomach keeps grumbling.” I touched his abs lightly, and the electricity that was missing with Theo returned in full force. “We have time. You should eat.”
“Yeah, Rami,” one of the twins said from behind me. Not facing them meant I didn’t know which. “We can keep Ethan busy while you’re eating.”
“We should be shirtless, right?”
Rami’s hands tightened on my shoulders as his nostrils flared. “If you remove one single item of clothing, I swear to god…”
There was the distinct sound of fabric hitting the floor. “You’ll do what, Rami?”
Suddenly, I understood exactly what he’d meant when he said it wasn’t my skin he was worried about. Theo and Nate were, indeed, troublemakers. Troublemakers who seemed to have no issue getting under Rami’s skin.
“Actually, we need to get back to the shoot,” I said, staring up at Rami’s square jaw. “It’s been great to meet you, but we’ve got a lot of ground to cover today, so it’s best if you leave us to it.”
“But we’re more fun than Rami.”
“And better looking.”
“Doubly so.”
Rami closed his eyes and I decided to take matters into my own hands.
After easing out of his grip, I turned to put my hands on my hips and glare at the twins.
The twins, who were now down to just their boxers.
“Right. This is past unprofessional now. You’re making my model uncomfortable and I won’t allow it.
I’m going to have to insist that you leave. ”
Theo—at least, I thought it was him—clapped a hand to his chest in a theatrical manner. “Oh, and he’s fiery. Be still, my heart.”
“He might be bossier than Sam,” Nate added. “That really does it for me.”
Rami took a step forwards. “I’m going to—”
I never did find out what he was planning. His sentence was cut off by the door slamming into the wall again. This time, it was Sam who stood there, practically vibrating with rage. Over his shoulder, looking equally pissed off, was Ezekiel.
“What did I tell you two?” Sam thundered. He stomped over to stand beside me, his position mirroring mine. Hands on hips, deadly glare in place. “You were under strict instructions not to interfere with Rami’s shoots.”
Theo rolled his eyes. “Because we’re so good at doing what we’re told.”
“We’ll do the laps.” Nate yawned, scratching at his bare stomach. Laps? What did that mean? “We just wanted a bit of fun first.”
“Totally worth the price.” Theo raised his hand for his twin to slap.
I glanced over to see Sam was smiling sweetly. No, not sweetly. Threateningly. “I’m not going to make you do laps.”
I wasn’t sure if it was his words or the smile, which had now taken on a slightly manic lilt, but the twins suddenly stiffened. All mischief was replaced with wariness.
“I’ve cleared it with Micah,” Sam continued. Micah? Oh yes, he was the one who drove the Rolls. Was everyone who lived here a model? It’d explain the wealth they evidently possessed. “You’re to train with Ez for a few hours. Individually.”
The twins wore identical looks of horror. Behind them, Ez was grinning.
Nate spoke first. “Fuck off.”
“Brave of you to be saying that to my ma—man, right before stepping in the ring with me.” Ez drawled.
Training? Ring? I shot a quizzical look at Rami, but he was too busy glowering at the twins to notice.
“The punishment doesn’t fit the crime,” Theo chimed in. “We barely interfered.”
“You can go with Ez,” Rami said softly, “or you can wait until I’ve taken Ethan home and train with me instead. Up to you.”
The twins winced simultaneously.
“On second thought, we can train with Ez,” Nate said, already backing away. Theo followed in his wake, both of them hastily swiping their clothes from where they’d chucked them. “Yep. No problem with that at all.”
They disappeared from the room with Ez on their heels. Only then did Sam drop his hands from his hips. He sighed as he turned to face us. “I’m sorry you were interrupted, truly.”