Unearthed (The Dungeon Black Duology 1)

Again, Sean looked surprised. “Another job?”

“Yeah. For, you know, more modeling.”

“Ah. Another class.” Sean shrugged. “Yeah, probably. What days do you-”

“Uh, no,” Max stopped him. “This wouldn’t be for class. You’d be modeling for me personally, outside of school.”

Sean’s eyebrows rose a second time. “For you personally?” His smile resumed. “Outside of school, like at your house?”

Max tightened his arms across his chest. Widened his stance. Scratched his neck. Gave a nod. “Yeah. At my house. I do freelance out of my studio.”

“Ah. Okay. So for a commissioned job.”

Max shook his head. “No. As a personal piece.”

Sean stilled, eyes gleaming. “You want to sculpt a statue of me just for you?”

Max shrugged. “Yeah. Sure.” Then he realized how that sounded. “Wait, no.” He shot his hand out. “Not for me. As my personal submission to the end of the year art show. No getting naked. Nothing funny. I promise.”

Sean’s flattered smile faltered. “Ah. Okay.” He shifted his beanie and thought for a minute. “Depends on when you’d need me. My schedule’s pretty tight.”

“It’d have to be evenings, but I’d only need a couple.”

“Hmm. I work nights, but I’m off on Tuesdays.”

Max nodded. “Tuesday’s good.”

Sean grinned and crossed his arms. “Then Tuesdays it is.”

“Awesome. I’ll email you my address and—”

“But,” Sean continued. “You gotta do something for me also.”

Max’s brow went back up. “Something for you?”

Sean’s smile widened. “Yup.”

Max frowned. “What exactly did you have in mind?”

Sean pocketed his hands and casually shrugged. “I need you to be a kind of model for me, too. Got a photography project due in a couple weeks.”

Max stiffened. “You want to take pictures of me?”

“Yeah.” Sean laughed. “Nothing posed. Just some candids. I promise. You won’t even know I’m there.”

Max highly doubted that. And he didn’t like pictures. But he really didn’t want to use another model. “Fine. Whatever. You help me, I’ll help you.”

Sean’s eyes lit up like Max couldn’t believe. Jesus. He was too fucking beautiful.

“Awesome. Man, that’s great. Best subject I’ve had in ages.”

Max chuckled and shook his head. “If you say so, kid.” He better not end up regretting this. “I’ll email you my address and a time to show up.”

Sean nodded. “Alright. Sounds good. See you Tuesday.”

Max watched him go, shamelessly eyeing his ass, till Sean paused unexpectedly at the door. Looking over his shoulder, he flashed his flirty grin. “Be ready for me, Teach. I won’t be late.”

* * * * *

Sean ambled into his apartment some twenty minutes later, a place he shared with his best friend, Jonah. They’d been tight ever since freshman year, when they’d met at a college-run LGBT event. Sean had spotted Jonah loping solo through the crowd, looking so awkward, so out of place, it was damn near painful to look at him. But he’d gone there, alone, and that shit took some balls. Sean had applauded his act of courage and decided to friend him. Take him under his wing. Because even though Sean was a freshman, too, he’d been comfortable, even then, in his skin.

Besides, from the first second he’d spotted Jonah, Sean had found him utterly adorable. Like a Labrador pup who just needed some direction. A temporary handler for a while. So that’s what Sean had been for him. His friendly guide. And since Jonah never tried to hit on him—to Sean’s happy surprise—the two became good friends as well. Of which they stayed, getting an apartment together the next year. The same one they shared to this day.

Sean eyed his friend lying there, sprawled across the couch, nose in a book, oblivious to Sean’s arrival. Funny how he kind of looked like a grown Labrador now. Tall, but not lanky, maybe close to six feet, with light brown hair that needed a trim. Although, deep down Sean actually loved that length. How Jonah’s locks curled up in little wisps around his ears and at the base of his neck. Made him look playful. And friendly. And innocent. Which honestly, he totally was. He’d only had one boyfriend since Sean had known him, and their thing didn’t last but a week. Jonah was just so shy and struggled with self-confidence. And yes, was still painfully awkward. Which deep down, Sean really loved, too. Jonah made him smile without even trying. Unfortunately, that did little to help Jonah with his dating. Yeah, Sean had tried to set him up a few times, but the chemistry just never clicked.

So, Jonah spent all his free time with his nose in a book. Pretty much like he was doing right now. No kidding. He went through those things like fucking underwear. Biggest sci-fi geek on the planet. Sean canted his head to read the latest book’s title. Scarcity. By Adam Vance. Hmm. That name sounded familiar…

Eh. Whatever. Right now it was time for Sean’s best friend to acknowledge his presence.