1 Last Minute Changes

"Are… are you sure I'm the right one for this? Isn't there… isn't there someone you'd feel more comfortable with?"

A long-suffering sigh left Aleksi's lips as he fell back on the bed dramatically, one hand settling on his stomach as the other lay on his forehead. "Cameron, if I knew anyone else half as skilled with a camera, I would have already asked them. I know this is a little weird, and I imagine you haven't had too many lingerie boudoir shoots for men, but my normal photographer quit, and I need to get these shots done."

Emerald eyes glanced up at the other man, a pout on lush pink lips. Okay, so- Aleksi would be the first to admit that this had to be a strange situation to other man. It wasn't like they had talked much more than in passing, usually short conversations in their building laundry room. Cameron was a photographer, Aleksi had learned. A bit older than him at twenty-eight. But that had been it, short conversations backed by the soundtrack of tumbling machines. Cameron had shown him some of his work, a light flush on pale cheeks when he'd explained that he mostly did boudoir shoots for magazines.

God, he had been adorable, icy blue eyes glancing away as he explained, and not for the first time, it had taken every ounce of Aleksi's self-control to not tangle his fingers in platinum locks and press their lips together. Fuck. Of course the universe would curse him with living beside a man who looked like every wet dream Aleksi could imagine, much less a straight one. Ugh.

Marcus quitting had been both a blessing and a cursing. It had left him in a lurch, scrambling three days before his deadline to submit. And for a moment, panic had overwhelmed him until…

Maybe it was an opportunity after all. It was this that had brought him to Camerons door, desperation on his face. Two days later, and here they were. Aleksi had picked out his best outfit, a black lace bralette and matching panties, sprawled out now on the lush bed, dark chocolate curls falling in his eyes. "I promise, it's not weird to me, Cameron. I'm totally comfortable, it's just a photoshoot." Aleksi soothed. He sat up, running a hand through his hair. "If you aren't comfortable though, I understand. You don't have to do it if it's too strange, just- I've seen your work, and finding someone else in time-"

"No, no, no! I'm alright!" Ivory cheeks were crimson, those icy blue eyes finally glancing back at the other man. "I just wanted to make sure you're alright with it, we haven't… really talked much. Thank you for believing in my work though. I've… never done a shoot like this before, but I'll do my best." Cameron offered the other man a smile. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Of everyone it could possibly be, it had to be this guy coming to him. Not that Cameron was about to turn down a job but- oh God, how was he going to do this without humiliating himself?

Ok, Cam, get a hold of yourself. You can do this, you do this all the damn time-

It was easier with girls though. Their bodies were canvas to him, a base for his art, and no more. He could position them, guide them with ease. Could show his vision and that of his employers without batting a lash. But this man… fuck! It had been bad enough in the laundry room each week. Christ, it should be illegal to look that good in loose sweatpants that hung low on muscled hips, in a shirt that hung off of one shoulder- no. Nope, no, now was definitely not the time to be thinking about that.

Cameron cleared his throat, willing himself to relax for a moment until tension left his shoulders. "Alright, so you've got a really good layout here. You're lucky, the lighting in here is perfect. Out of curiosity, did you pick this place on purpose because of it?" He questioned, head cocking curiously. It hadn't been that long ago since Aleksi had moved in, after all.

Sitting up with a groan, Aleksi couldn't help but grin, emerald raking over the other man as subtly as he could. That flush was so cute, made him want to see it all the time, be the only cause of it- A dangerous game you're playing, Aleksi. He's here for a job. Ahh, but surely there was no harm in having just a little fun. His tongue darted out, ran along his lower lip slowly as he peered up at the man through his lashes. "Mmmm. I've been doing this gig for a-"

"Do that face again." He was cut off by Camerons voice. The flush remained, but gone was all hint of shyness. The blonde was messing with his camera, voice serious. "Sorry, I didn't mean to cut you off, but that face you just made would make a great shot. I need you to do it again. Hmm… black and white filter I think, lemme see…" His voice trailed off as he adjusted his settings, glancing back up. "Sorry, I don't mean to be so forceful. Please, can you do that face again?"

Aleksi paused for a moment, a quiet chuckle leaving him. "I knew I made the right choice." He murmured. His tongue darted out once more, emerald eyes peering up through his lashes as he had done before. "Like this?" He questioned, voice a light purr. Goddamn, he had not expected this change in demeanor at all. Every time they had spoken, Cameron had been shy, quiet, easily flustered. But now? It was like a switch had been flipped.

He fucking loved it.

"Yes, that's perfect." Cameron knelt in front of the other, reaching out to cup his chin. "Go lax for me, It's alright, I'm just… going to tip… yes, right there." He drew the others head down slightly, guiding him into the posing he wanted. "It doesn't matter how your body is right now, this one we're going to do a closeup, perfect, stay just like that and-" A click filled the air, the shutter of the camera repeatedly snapping as he moved to test different angles. "Got it, you're doing perfect, Aleksi, this is going to look great."

Long, graceful fingers reached out once more, guiding Aleksi's head to cock slightly. "Okay, I want you to put your hand against your cheek, lean into it- just like that, you're perfect, got it." Another set of shutter clicks and Cameron was pulling back. "Want to see them?" Gone was the tension, the twenty-eight year old settled into his work. Maybe this wouldn't be that hard after all. Besides, Aleksi was a gorgeous model, and while he'd never done male shoots before, he supposed there was no one better to give it a go with than the Adonis with sunkissed skin sitting nestled in ivory comforters. He could do this, he could totally do this, and it would certainly be an interesting addition to his portfolio…

Cameron held out the camera, showing the crisp black and white shots he had gotten. It worked on Aleksi, he decided, made every freckle stand off of bronze skin. He'd have to do some in warm filters too… Already his mind with racing with ideas, shots, lighting. There was a reason he was hired so often by big-name magazines, he was good at what he did once he got into the flow of it.

"These look so good! I don't think even Marcus managed to get shots that looked quite like this, and we've been working together for years." There was excitement in Aleksi's voice as his hands covered the blondes on the camera, emerald eyes peering down at the shots. "Keep up this, and I may have to hire you full time, my submission will be chosen for sure with your eyes behind the lens."

"Don't praise me too much yet, we haven't done very much work yet." Cameron laughed, reaching out to ruffle the others dark locks before he could realize what he was doing. "Alright, I want you to lay back in the sheets, give me your best Come here face, ok? I'll let you start by posing yourself how you're comfortable, and make adjustments as I need to."

Now that Aleksi could do. A wicked grin tugged at the corner of his lips as he flopped back on the bed. He made himself comfortable on the bed, one knee lifted, forearm resting on his forehead. One hand settled on his stomach, fingers dangerously close to the hem of black lace panties, already so damn tight against him. There was no shame in being hard- as though Aleksi had any shame anyhow. "How's this, Cam?" His voice was sultry, emerald eyes half-lidded, head tipped back slightly to show off the column of his throat, back arched ever so slightly off the bed. Not his first rodeo, after all…

"Hmm?" Cam glanced up from fiddling with the lights, just to nearly choke. Oh. Oh God, oh fuck, he was in trouble deep. It was good alright, too goddamn good. For a moment, Cameron's mind was filled with the thought of crawling onto the bed, cupping the other mans jaw in his hand, fitting a knee between firm thighs, pressed against lace-

He shook it quickly from his mind. He was here to do a job, no more, no less. "L- Looks great." He managed to choke out, lifting his camera. "Thank God, you're a natural at this, I wish half my girls knew what they were doing this much." A chuckle left him, as he shifted angles. Sunlight streamed in the large windows, dancing on caramel skin and he wanted to make sure he caught it. "My job would be so much easier, you barely even need direction."

Breathtaking, he thought, reaching out to adjust Aleksi's arm just so, letting those brilliant eyes peer out from beneath it. "Can you look flustered for me? Like you're looking at everything you've ever wanted, like you want the person looking at these to hold you close and never let you go- yes, that's fucking perfect!" His voice was enthused, bordering on hyper as he worked.

The shots weren't all that different to what he was used to, and he found himself relaxing more and more as the shoot went on. Yes, he could totally do this. It didn't matter that this was the man who had been driving Cameron insane for months. It was just a client like any other, like any of the girls-

"Cam? How's this?" There was mischief in Aleksi's eyes, a crooked smile on his lips from where he was nestled on his knees on the bed. His cheek was cradled by a soft white pillow, fingers curled into the comforters, lips parted and breathless. His ass was raised, lace hugging firm cheeks, thighs parted in an open invitation, toes curled as though he'd just been thoroughly worked up. Oh yes- there was no harm in having some fun at all, he mused to himself, resisting the urge to snicker at the dumbfounded look on the photographers face. And if he could cause that look on the others face while simultaneously getting a shot that would sell like gold? Bonus.

"That's… uh…" Cameron swallowed nervously, fingers curling slightly. God, the temptation to run his fingers up those golden thighs was excruciating. This had to be intentional, right? This had to be- no. No, no, no. He'd done these shots before, the whole point of a boudoir shoot was to be sexy, he reminded himself, taking a steadying breath. "It's great, Aleksi." He reassured, clutching his camera tight, swallowing hard once more.

"I… I think we got all the shots we needed." Cameron cleared his throat quietly as he finished, setting down the camera. "You're… a really great model. I can't help but wonder why your photographer quit on you, you need almost no direction." He stabbed a hand through platinum locks, pale blue eyes glancing away quickly as the dark-haired male sat up in the bed, reaching for a long, soft-looking pale pink sweater.

A soft chuckle escaped Aleksi's lips as he tugged on the sweater, straightening it until it fell around his thighs. "You know, for someone whose whole job revolves around being around half-naked people, you still turn an awful cute pink." He teased, grabbing a pack of smokes from the nightstand drawer. Nimble fingers pressed one between his lips. He lit it quickly, taking a deep drag and sighing out softly. "His wife got tired of him taking pictures like this. Didn't believe him that clients were clients, accused him of cheating with me." He scoffed, rolled his eyes. "As though Marcus were my type for a damned second. I may be gay, and take pictures in stuff like this, but I have standards, y'know? But the man values his marriage, so he bailed. Can't say I blame him, I suppose." A shrug, another deep drag. Aleksi tipped his head back on the exhale, smoke curling around his head.

"O-oh! So uhm… you're g-gay then?" Cameron questioned awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. God, it must be nice to be able to be so open with who you are. "Well, I'm sorry she thought that. I don't mind filling in until you find someone ne-" He was cut off by his cellphone ringing, swearing lightly as the screen light up.

Incoming Call, Emily.

"Shit, one second, I have to take this." He apologized, hitting talk and holding the phone to his ear. "Hey babe. Sorry I forgot to call sooner. No, no, I just finished the shoot, so no late night tonight. I'll definitely be home for dinner, Ems. That sounds great…"

The moment Cameron had his back turned, wandering back out to the living room to talk, Aleksi's smile fell into a frown, brow furrowing. Ah, yes. The girlfriend, he noted with displeasure, fingers curling into the soft fabric of the sweater tight. How could he possibly have forgotten about her? It wasn't as though he had seen her often, only once or twice in passing, usually hanging off of the blonde's arm when they passed each other in the lobby. It was a sharp, stark reminder- no matter how flushed and flustered Cameron had seemed during the shoot- he was painfully straight. The girlfriend was proof of that, she could be a model herself if she wanted. Even still…

There was no harm in letting himself get closer to the other man right? He took another drag on his cigarette, sighing to himself quietly. "Dammit, Leksi. You always go for the ones you can't have." He muttered, shaking his head. "It's not even like you know anything about him." Other than he would pay good money for Cameron to pin him to a wall and kiss him breathless.

"Sorry about that." Cameron smiled sheepishly as he returned, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "My girlfriends parents are in town, and she wanted to make sure I'd be home for dinner with them tonight, it'd been a while since we've seen them last." And there was that guilt, settling deep in Cameron's stomach once more. He pushed it aside, settling into a chair opposite the other. "You really were great to work with. Like I say, if you need someone in the interim until you can find a new photographer, I'd be happy to help." Shut up, Cameron, are you a masochist? He pushed the thought down, as he had the rest. Not the time, nor the place.

"I'd like that. Your work is amazing, I think these are going to be some of my new favorite shots I've had done. They'll definitely get chosen." Aleksi nodded eagerly. "Imagine my luck, having a photographer as talented as you down the hall. I seriously can't thank you enough. Let me take you out for a drink sometime? On me?"

"You don't have t-"

"Nonsense." Aleksi snorted, rolling his eyes as he put out his cigarette in the ashtray on the nightstand. "It's the least I can do, you're seriously saving my ass here.I would have been completely fucked if you hadn't agreed to help me. Please? I'll feel bad if you don't let me." He purred. "Just one night for drinks. It'll be fun, I promise."

Cameron was quiet a moment, teeth worrying his lower lip in thought. What could one night hurt…? "Alright, I suppose it's been a while since I've gotten to go out for a boys night. Sounds fun. I'm free Saturday?"

"Perfect." Aleksi stood, hesitating a moment before reaching out to brush back a lock of platinum hair, ignoring the way his heart pounded in his chest. Fuck, it was so soft… "I'll pick you up at nine? Casual is fine, it's not a dive I have in mind, but it's not fancy as hell, either."

"I can do nine." Cameron agreed. "Emily is going to be out of town this weekend anyways, so I won't have to worry about coming home drunk and worrying her." He slung his equipment bag over his shoulder as he made his way out of the bedroom, pausing in the doorway to the apartment, glancing over his shoulder, an almost shy smile on his lips. "I hope we can become friends, Aleksi. I look forward to hanging out with you Saturday."

With that, he was gone, that smile burned into Aleksi's mind as he fell back onto the couch, covering a now reddening face with his hands.

Fuck. He was screwed.