Chiaroscuro by Jenna Jones Read Free Book Online

freehand, from a live model--this was what made him alive inside.

    Chapter Three
    At lunch on Friday, Jamie and Dune were sharing a tray of sushi when Dune said conversationally, "So, how's Micah?"
    Jamie swallowed his sashimi. "Fine. Playing lots of Everquest, just like I thought he would."
    "Hm." Dune ate a sushi roll, not getting even a grain of rice on his clothes--unlike Jamie, who'd tucked a napkin into his collar and still had soy sauce and wasabi dotting his shirt. "You look smug and well-laid for somebody who's just watching a guy play video games."
    "I do not look smug." Jamie said and dipped a California roll into soy sauce. "And I certainly don't look well-laid."
    "Either you're getting laid or you've started using skin brighteners, and I've never seen you in makeup."
    Jamie smirked. "I'm not using skin brighteners. I'm just--it's the ocean air."
    "Liar."
    "Eat," Jamie said, pushing the tray closer to him. "You're too thin."
    "Feeding me is not going to distract me," said Dune but ate another roll anyway. He leaned back and pulled up his shirt to reveal a flat, muscular abdomen. "And you can't tell me this is too thin."
    Jamie gazed for a moment, then met Dune's eyes and grinned. "Okay. You're just right."
    "So come home with me after work and do me."
    Jamie drank some tea. "I can't. I've got plans."
    "With Micah, right?"
    "Yes--"
    "You are sleeping with him!"
    "I'm not! We're going to see a movie."
    "Which one? Which theater?"
    "The Metreon and whatever's playing when we get there."
    Dune scowled. “Somebody is putting that sparkle in your eye, Makepeace, and I'm determined to figure out who." He looked up, eyes wide. "Did you find that caterer guy again?"
    "No," Jamie said with a sigh.
    "Well, who else do you know?"
    "Funny, Bellamy."
    "'Fess up. You haven't been the most social guy lately, Jamie. You don't do clubs, you don't go to bars, I have to drag you out of the office just to take you to lunch--so who is it? Who's the lucky guy?"
    "I could start doing clubs again if it would make you happy."
    "It would make me happy to hear you admit the truth."
    "You're dramatic today." He stabbed a cucumber slice off Dune's plate.
    "Is he ugly? Is he boring? Does he have some terrible personality flaw? Is he married? Is it my dad?"
    "It is not your dad. Good lord. I've met your dad, what, once?"
    Dune said, "You're no fun anymore," and sipped some green tea. "So, tell me what's going on with the company, then."
    This was a much safer topic. "We're still waiting for the board to meet. We'll hear what's going on then. Rumor has it they're meeting today."
    "And then--what? The beatings begin?"
    "Layoffs, git. In large numbers." He sighed. "I'll have to sell my house."
    "It's not as bad as that, is it?"
    "There's not much out there right now. The whole industry is having problems. I've been looking at job listings--can't find a thing for an art director in the area. Maybe if I wanted to move to L.A.--but I don't want to move to L.A."
    "You could paint. Isn't your degree in fine art?"
    "Yeah, it is and I could, but I like eating."
    "Sellout," Dune said and gave him another roll. "Eat while you can. And if you do have to sell your house, there's an opening in my dad's building. I could get you an application."
    "Let's not rush things," Jamie said, then added, "Yes. If you would." He poked his California roll with his chopsticks.
    "At least you can take comfort in your new boy toy," Dune added.
    Jamie sighed and put down his chopsticks. He laced his fingers together, rested his chin on them, and looked at Dune. "If you swear on the bosom of your mother to keep it to yourself, I will confess all."
    Dune grinned. "I swear on the bosom of my mother."
    "Yes." He ate a roll, without bothering with chopsticks.
    Dune laughed and clapped his hands. "I knew it!"
    "Hush, you. He's finding the whole thing more than a little frightening, and I promised I'd be supportive. So not a word. Not even to tease him."
    "Frightening? Why? Most