weeks to prepare for all at once. They couldn’t spare everyone at once.
This time, though, his fingers were locked tightly together. He refused to think any less of his models than the conviction that they’d steal the show, but other things still went wrong.
“This seat taken?”
A chill flashed through him like a bucket of water tossed in the air that flash-froze.
Oh, fuck. That’s why I haven’t seen him on the runway.
He gritted his teeth to answer, but Austin was already sinking into the chair, crossing one slender ankle over his knee as he turned his gaze to the runway.
“I hear you have quite a lineup. All fresh faces. Couldn’t scare up anyone else?”
“You should stick to not opening your mouth,” Briar retorted. “You’re prettier that way.”
Austin pressed his thin lips together. “You preferred me opening my mouth.”
“Both of us remember who started us.” It was a strange word rolling out of Briar’s mouth: us . Like he could put a label on their fiery, undefinable, whirlwind romance.
Not romance. Fling, generously. Austin clearly never gave a crap about him if he was here to wave his dick around.
Thank god the next designer was announced then.
This was them.
Briar leaned forward, pressing his steepled hands between his knees and ignoring Austin mirroring him beside him.
“Rumor has it you’ve invited a very fresh face along. Let’s see if I can pick him out.”
Briar’s jaw twitched but he ignored Austin, watching Adam stride out in the perfect, measured Exposed gait. Nobody could walk like his guys.
Close on his heels was Jon, then Paulo. They both did just fine—just as he’d expect. Attitude for miles, a perfect pout, a twirl or stomp at the end, back.
But his eyes were on Gabe.
Gabriel was stunning. He wore the flowing trousers Briar had guessed they would put him in, what with that ass. And Christ, he made them look less 1970s than Briar had feared.
Mostly, it wasn’t the perfectly gelled blond hair or the blush of extra red on his lips, though. It was the look in his eye, like he knew he was the hottest man in the room and he just dared anyone else to think otherwise.
Briar shifted slightly.
“Gotcha,” Austin breathed into his ear.
Briar nearly jumped out of his skin. For a brief second, he’d forgotten the asshole he’d stupidly trusted was still there; lurking at his elbow to see who he was watching the closest.
“He’s our newest and he’s a thousand times better than you ever were. You start an agency ’cause you couldn’t find anyone to hire you?” Briar breathed out under the pulsing music.
Gabriel lifted his chin and twirled like he didn’t give a single fuck who liked his walk, and Briar smirked.
“Please,” Austin snorted. “If he doesn’t sign with me by the end of the summer, I’ll suck your dick.”
“Keep your mouth and your legs closed and you’ll go a lot further in this business, honey,” Briar drawled. “Nobody wants a petty thief.”
It was a cheap shot and a dangerous one.
“I knew it was you starting that rumor,” Austin hissed. “I could go after you for libel.”
“Mm hmm. You and whose lawyer? Hearsay, darling,” Briar hummed. “Nobody knows who started those rumors.”
He wasn’t proud of it, but fucking hell, he’d earned the right to be a bit nasty. Austin had built a career under the pretense of a life together, then trimmed the fat. Including him, Exposed, and their plans for the future.
All a pipe dream until he had enough exposure to strike out on his own.
Now, looking sideways at him in the dim ballroom light, he could barely remember the whispered conversations under the covers at nights. Traveling together, Austin moving into a managerial role, a house, fuck knows what else.
“He’ll be mine,” Austin whispered and stood up to move seats, walking a few rows back during the final lineup.
And then his guys were done.
Gabriel had walked three times in different outfits, just as planned,
This time, though, his fingers were locked tightly together. He refused to think any less of his models than the conviction that they’d steal the show, but other things still went wrong.
“This seat taken?”
A chill flashed through him like a bucket of water tossed in the air that flash-froze.
Oh, fuck. That’s why I haven’t seen him on the runway.
He gritted his teeth to answer, but Austin was already sinking into the chair, crossing one slender ankle over his knee as he turned his gaze to the runway.
“I hear you have quite a lineup. All fresh faces. Couldn’t scare up anyone else?”
“You should stick to not opening your mouth,” Briar retorted. “You’re prettier that way.”
Austin pressed his thin lips together. “You preferred me opening my mouth.”
“Both of us remember who started us.” It was a strange word rolling out of Briar’s mouth: us . Like he could put a label on their fiery, undefinable, whirlwind romance.
Not romance. Fling, generously. Austin clearly never gave a crap about him if he was here to wave his dick around.
Thank god the next designer was announced then.
This was them.
Briar leaned forward, pressing his steepled hands between his knees and ignoring Austin mirroring him beside him.
“Rumor has it you’ve invited a very fresh face along. Let’s see if I can pick him out.”
Briar’s jaw twitched but he ignored Austin, watching Adam stride out in the perfect, measured Exposed gait. Nobody could walk like his guys.
Close on his heels was Jon, then Paulo. They both did just fine—just as he’d expect. Attitude for miles, a perfect pout, a twirl or stomp at the end, back.
But his eyes were on Gabe.
Gabriel was stunning. He wore the flowing trousers Briar had guessed they would put him in, what with that ass. And Christ, he made them look less 1970s than Briar had feared.
Mostly, it wasn’t the perfectly gelled blond hair or the blush of extra red on his lips, though. It was the look in his eye, like he knew he was the hottest man in the room and he just dared anyone else to think otherwise.
Briar shifted slightly.
“Gotcha,” Austin breathed into his ear.
Briar nearly jumped out of his skin. For a brief second, he’d forgotten the asshole he’d stupidly trusted was still there; lurking at his elbow to see who he was watching the closest.
“He’s our newest and he’s a thousand times better than you ever were. You start an agency ’cause you couldn’t find anyone to hire you?” Briar breathed out under the pulsing music.
Gabriel lifted his chin and twirled like he didn’t give a single fuck who liked his walk, and Briar smirked.
“Please,” Austin snorted. “If he doesn’t sign with me by the end of the summer, I’ll suck your dick.”
“Keep your mouth and your legs closed and you’ll go a lot further in this business, honey,” Briar drawled. “Nobody wants a petty thief.”
It was a cheap shot and a dangerous one.
“I knew it was you starting that rumor,” Austin hissed. “I could go after you for libel.”
“Mm hmm. You and whose lawyer? Hearsay, darling,” Briar hummed. “Nobody knows who started those rumors.”
He wasn’t proud of it, but fucking hell, he’d earned the right to be a bit nasty. Austin had built a career under the pretense of a life together, then trimmed the fat. Including him, Exposed, and their plans for the future.
All a pipe dream until he had enough exposure to strike out on his own.
Now, looking sideways at him in the dim ballroom light, he could barely remember the whispered conversations under the covers at nights. Traveling together, Austin moving into a managerial role, a house, fuck knows what else.
“He’ll be mine,” Austin whispered and stood up to move seats, walking a few rows back during the final lineup.
And then his guys were done.
Gabriel had walked three times in different outfits, just as planned,
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