after Nathan's retu

edging Nathan's presence. The other staff noticed too, whispers

an didn

had taken control of

an was h

door, or behind him at events, stood the man who had once grabbed h

car, the brief glance Nathan gave every time Ethan entered

hing was

a new watchfulness in his gaze.

t thrilled and terri

for Stellar Magazine was schedul

lists, photographers, lighting techs. Racks of designer clothes stood

there, on the phone,

e spreads, one bare skin shoot. Make

olled h

n's team began prepping him, light foundat

athan's eye ac

n seemed to ask

miled f

r, vintage suits. Ethan slipped easily into each

came the

pt-designed to be raw

m softly. "We're ready for th

ded. "

e before, hundreds of times. But today, wi

off the s

o air kiss

her called, "

s hips. His pale skin glowed under the lights,smooth and

's gaze from the sha

it, or did Nathan

mera s

, perfect. Now bring one arm across th

othly, moving thro

one hip, turned his body at an angle,

ng Nathan's gaze deliberat

ned. His arms folde

in the air between them,

ounded. His ski

than pulled on a soft cotton shirt

was still hammering from the shoot, the charged stare with Nathan replaying in his head like a loop h

knock s

or eased open, and Nathan step

asked, voice low,

eah. Just... cat

stepped toward the chair where E

time. Their hands met,skin brushing skin. Warm. Brie

in, another ten seconds stretched impossibly long in

kly slid the strap over his shoulder,

d, pulse rac

other thing , they

el, Ethan couldn't st

, not with pity, not as a client

ime, the ache insid

ust lonelin

as w

days,their clo

with him in the car after long sh

rehearsals, making casual e

his part, ne

ut sometimes his glances lin

r stormed out to meetings, leaving

lounge, found Nathan watching

h when we're alone,

er. "I'm here if

heart thudding. "What if

tched betwee

voice, low: "T

that n

ity lights flickering softly through the curtains. H

thumb hovering, t

he text

ng warm, unsettled, that tugged at him in a w

t out a quiet breath, set the pho