Business block, Zithen family complex, State Zhyphrese, Draconian continent Voldage, and the Year 2041, Planet Grimoire.
What in the world inspired that reaction in a healthy young draconian lad, anyway? Cade Odin frowned at Tae-Jun. "Don't tell me you're worried about your ego getting crushed?" That would be a disappointment if he was going to act that childish and egocentric.
Immediately, Tae-Jun shook his head. "No, that's not what was bothering me."
Cade sighed. It was becoming increasingly obvious to him that this kid didn't mind not having a bunch of women around. Great, he'd lucked out then.
Tae-Jun's immediate reassurance of. "No worries," made Cade sigh and wonder if Tae-Jun was terrified of women.
Tae-Jun's comment. "I tend to screw up whenever I'm having to do something around them anyway."
It made Cade believe that something happened in the kid's past that had everything to do with his skittishness around women. However, he really needed to watch what he said around other people in the future.
While that hadn't carried over from his past life, Tae-Jun certainly didn't have great memories to extrapolate from this life either. He frowned slightly when Cade warned him. "Word of advice to you, Thera," Cade glanced at him with a narrowed gaze. "Don't ever mention that to anyone else except perhaps Cilin Midda," On second thought, he frowned when adding. "Even then, you should keep a distance from him." Nothing would happen if that didn't make Tae-Jun pay more attention to his surroundings.
He wouldn't waste more time on a kid who wouldn't take advice from adults. Cade finished with the shots that he wanted. "Now, please try lying on the dark blanket in the middle of the bed."
He watched as Tae-Jun turned his head in surprise to look over his shoulder. "Huh?"
Cade noticed that Tae-Jun was perched uneasily on the foot of the bed. He should've checked to see what kind of sheets had been put onto the bed before Tae-Jun arrived.
Tae-Jun's expression altered subtly, showing extreme distaste at what he touched with his fingertips. "Oh, I hadn't seen that there." He didn't care for the texture of the sheets or anything else.
Cade frowned because that definitely indicated some kind of textural abnormality in Tae-Jun. No wonder he found adapting to what studios used as equipment challenging. He simply waited for Tae-Jun to figure out what was happening now.
"So, I need to just lie down on this?" Tae-Jun inspected it warily. From what he could tell that item was too slippery. At this rate, he was likelier to fall off rather than remain in one place.
*
Tae-Jun really wasn't comfortable with what was happening now. Sure, he'd been fairly patient earlier, but it felt as though this had dragged on a little too long for comfort. Not only that, but he got the impression that the photographer was suddenly too curious about his background.
Just what was it about him that made Cade Odin so curious? Tae-Jun sighed because he wasn't in the mood to play games, answer unnecessary questions, or remove clothing that was barely staying on anyway.
When Odin attempted to tug at his jeans, pulling them down too far, Tae-Jun pulled a stiletto on him. "No more," he growled. You've gone too far." He locked eyes with the photographer. "I'll tolerate some stuff, but that isn't part of the deal."
Cade Odin eyed the knife and then Tae-Jun. "If you keep doing this, there's going to be a real problem in the near future." He did back off, though, and kept his hands to himself.
If he still insisted, there would be a problem. "You've now figured out what I'm not going to put up with without a fight." Tae-Jun didn't want to holler about sexual harassment, but he would do it in a heartbeat.
His eyes narrowed when Cade scowled at him. Tae-Jun warned. "Don't make me complain about sexual harassment, even if it's for art's sake." That was just something Tae-Jun wasn't going to put up with. "I know there are different ways of getting the effect you're going after."
Cade shrugged and stayed put.
Tae-Jun no longer trusted his intentions. He hadn't allowed it in the past. "I suggest you figure out what else to do in the future if you want to continue this successfully." Tae-Jun wasn't going to change that stance now, either.
*
Hmm, this was going to be difficult if he couldn't stay on the bed. Oh well, he would just do the best that he could under the circumstances. There was no reason to delay the rest of the shoot because of unwieldy bedsheets. Cade nodded. "You're almost done." He smiled. "This has been a breeze compared to others I've worked with."
It didn't escape Cade's notice that Tae-Jun was relieved when he heard that. That's when it occurred to Cade that Tae-Jun wanted to get this over with. He probably thought it meant getting some breathing room between studios. Cade shrugged. Usually, that would be the case, but he wanted more than what Cade had to do today. Damned higher-ups pressuring him to get too close to the model. He ground his teeth in frustration. Earlier, he'd warned Tae-Jun that not all of this would be comfortable. Cade had second thoughts about going through with the remainder of the photo shoot.
However, Cade thought Tae-Jun needed to be more comfortable with what followed.
After a near miss with a knife, Cade understood what Tae-Jun wouldn't tolerate and exhaled. "You're making this difficult, kiddo."
Tae-Jun shrugged. "No removing the lower half of the clothing. I refuse to do nude even though I'm eighteen." He made his limits very clear.
Cade nodded with a sigh. "Fine," he'd known there were limits not to push. At least he could handle that. "Keep in mind that other photographers won't be as lenient as I am," Cade warned Tae-Jun. I'm almost done with this shoot," he promised.
"That's what you said about fifteen minutes ago," Tae-Jun growled at him. "Though I'm willing to put up with the rest of what you want me to do. Just no more clothing getting removed." Otherwise, he was okay with doing what Cade Odin instructed.
"Fine, whatever," Cade rolled his eyes and his head. "This will be the ending shot." His neck popped as he tried to relieve the stress. "Just stretch out on your stomach with your arms lifted to touch the walls and make it a slight arch." He took the photos as Tae-Jun did as he instructed. "Good, now we're done officially." Cade was relieved it was over; he didn't doubt that Tae-Jun was just as pleased.
Neither wanted to continue this particular assignment any longer than necessary.