Page 89 of Quiet
Briar sighed. He wasn’t going to win this fight. He’d known that going in, but he could at least make sure to keep Isa safe. And keep at least a part of Isa to himself.
“No nude modeling.”
“That’s a given.”
“Or see-though material like you did for us.”
“I have no problem with that either.” Isa looked away and slightly down. Briar had learned that meant Isa was embarrassed and feeling shy. He wondered if Isa was remembering modeling for Briar and his team. The boy had been so beautifully radiant Briar had been unable to look away from him for a second.
“And I have to be there.” Briar tested to see exactly how much he could get away with.
“Now you’re pushing it.”
“You have to continue modeling for me.” Briar added grumpily. He wasn’t backing down on this one.
Isa put a hand on Briar’s face. “Always.”
“Twice as much as everyone else.”
“As much as you want, love.”
“And you’ll tell me where you’re going and call me if anyone makes you feel uncomfortable. I’ll come and get you.”
“You do realize that most of the people in the world are actually good people, right? And that everyone asking me to model for them are people you know?”
“Tor is someone I know.”
“And I’m not going to model for him. I don’t model for jerks.”
With that, Briar was forced to concede. He’d sent Isa off, maybe not with a smile, but at least without any clinging or frowning.
As much as part of him might want to, Briar wasn’t going to follow him to make sure no one messed with him. He had it under the highest of authority—Alex—that it was toxic behavior and a great way to end a relationship.
Briar was planning on keeping Isa forever, so he had to make concessions. Even ones that didn’t make sense to him. It was easier for him to make those—his entire life didn’t make much sense—but he followed the rules of societal behavior as they were taught to him. As long as they worked.
With Isa, he found he had a lot of leeway there. Isa didn’t seem to mind Briar’s oddness. He even catered to it, allowing Briar to spoil him, touch him, control his body as Briar saw fit . . .
He was better off not continuing that line of thought when Isa wasn’t around.
He turned his attention to his latest project—a commission his aunt had suggested to him.
Some unknown time later, Briar became aware of Isa in his studio. Then he noticed the cramp in his neck. Ow.
Before he looked up, Isa’s hands were on him, massaging out the stiffness.
Briar dropped his paintbrush into a cup of water and went limp.
He didn’t need anything more in his life but this.
He would fight to keep Isa in his life. He would do anything for him. He would never, ever let him go.
* * *
Isa’s new modeling gigs became a frequent thing. So much so that Fiona had stepped in to help him manage it. Briar was not a fan of how much the job took his boyfriend away from him, but Isa was so happy he couldn’t bring himself to say anything. Isa was lighter somehow. The haunted look in his eyes was a thing of the past, and there was a starlight sparkle to his eyes that had nothing to do with magic and everything to do with confidence and newfound freedom.
Briar was so attuned to every breath, every movement the boy made, that he was able to pinpoint the exact moment everything changed.
One evening they were watching a baking show together. Neither of them could bake worth shit—Briar because he couldn’t bring himself to care enough to focus properly and Isa because he’d never been allowed to—but they both found it enjoyable to judge strangers as they attempted it.
