Chapter 2 Protective

Maddox, perfectly calm, took a sip of his drink without saying a word. But his eyes never left the man.

Soren didn't speak either.

He felt the shift between them-unspoken, but heavy, the way Maddox stared wasn't friendly. It wasn't polite. It was territorial.

The model lingered a moment longer, clearly trying to find something clever to say, but the words died in his throat. He gave a tight smile and turned away, retreating into the crowd.

Soren didn't watch him go. His focus was on Maddox now.

"You're doing it again," he said quietly.

Maddox set his glass down with quiet precision. "Doing what?"

"Looking at people like you want them to disappear."

"If they come too close, I do."

Soren blinked once. "You really don't hear yourself, do you?"

Maddox finally turned to him fully. "I'm just stating facts."

Soren scoffed under his breath, half amused, half unsettled.

"You say that like I belong to you."

Maddox didn't answer. Not immediately.

Soren's chest tightened just a little at the silence. Not because of what Maddox said-but because of what he didn't. "I don't," Soren added quickly, almost defensively. "Belong to anyone."

"You think I don't know that?"

His voice was steady, almost quiet, but there was something else beneath it. Not anger. Not sarcasm. Just a strange, silent weight that made Soren forget what he was about to say.

The silence dragged, too long to be comfortable.

Finally, Soren turned back to the bar, pressing his fingertips against the rim of his glass. "You don't usually care what I do."

"I care more than you think."

Soren looked up at him sharply, but Maddox was already scanning the room again, his expression unreadable.

Before he could speak, a voice echoed from nearby-one of the event hosts calling them forward for closing photographs.

Soren exhaled and adjusted his sleeve. "Duty calls."

Maddox nodded once, stepping forward.

Maddox, perfectly calm, took a sip of his drink without saying a word. But his eyes never left the man.

Soren noticed, he always did.

There was no change in Maddox's posture, no sharp inhale, no twitch in his jaw. Just that look-the kind that didn't scream anything, but still managed to freeze someone in place.

The model shifted uncomfortably under the weight of it, his practiced charm unraveling one thread at a time.

He gave a forced laugh and mumbled something polite before stepping back, blending into the crowd with the grace of someone who'd just been warned.

Soren didn't say anything at first. His fingers played with the stem of his glass, ice clinking softly.

"You're doing it again," he said after a moment, eyes still ahead.

Maddox set his glass down gently. "Doing what?"

Soren turned his head. "Looking at people like they've committed a crime by speaking to me."

"If they come too close," Maddox said, "then they have."

Soren let out a quiet breath that was almost a laugh.

"Seriously, Maddie?"

"I'm serious."

"You say that like I'm not allowed to talk to anyone."

Maddox didn't blink. "I didn't say that."

"But you meant it."

Maddox didn't deny it. His gaze was steady, unbothered, like he hadn't just claimed something without actually saying it.

Soren tilted his head, watching him. "You say things like that without thinking."

"No," Maddox said. "I just don't explain myself."

Soren smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "You sound like I belong to you."

"You don't," Maddox said calmly, eyes narrowing just slightly. "But that doesn't mean I'll tolerate people acting like you do."

Soren's throat tightened. He looked away, unsure how to respond without giving himself away. This wasn't the first time Maddox had said something that sat too long in his chest. And every time, it left a bruise he couldn't show.

"You've been weird tonight," he said, softer this time. "Even for you."

Maddox raised an eyebrow. "Weird how?"

"Over watchful. Like I'll break if someone breathes too close."

Maddox paused. "I just didn't like the way Luca touched you."

"He touched my back," Soren said with a teasing smirk. "You gonna fight every man who walks behind me?"

Maddox didn't smile. "If they try that again, maybe." he smirked teasingly.

The silence that followed was heavier this time. Soren's fingers stilled on his glass. His chest burned with a question he didn't know how to ask. Not here. Not yet.

Before he could decide what to say, the lights dimmed slightly as one of the event hosts stepped up to the platform, calling attention for final photos and VIP acknowledgements.

Soren blinked. The moment broke.

He reached for his cuff, adjusting it with slow fingers. "Duty calls."

Maddox gave a small nod. "Let's go."

They walked side by side toward the stage, the crowd parting for them like silk.

But as Soren moved beside him, his eyes flicked up once-watching Maddox's face in profile.

"Let's get it over with," Maddox muttered, buttoning his jacket as he stepped forward.

Soren adjusted his cufflink and followed, walking beside him like they always did, shoulders aligned, steps in sync. The cameras flashed the moment they appeared under the spotlight. Applause followed, polite and distant.

They posed without needing direction. Maddox stood slightly behind, hand grazing Soren's waist. Soren's smile was flawless, head tilted at just the right angle. The photographer gave a few shallow compliments, called it a wrap, and moved on.

As soon as they were off-stage, Soren rolled his eyes. "Why do they always act like it's the Oscars?"

Maddox didn't respond. His hand dropped from Soren's back the moment the flashes stopped.

They were ushered through a discreet corridor into the VVIP lounge, velvet ropes lifted silently as if even security knew better than to speak. The lounge was dim, sleek, private-bottles of vintage liquor lined the marble bar.

Soren slid onto the velvet sofa, crossing one leg over the other. Maddox stood instead, reaching for the scotch.

"You're quiet," Soren said, pulling his phone out. "Let me guess-you're going to pretend nothing happened back there?"

"Nothing did."

Soren smirked. "Sure. Except you froze a man with a single glance."

"I do that to people all the time."

"You don't glare at people for complimenting me."

"He wasn't complimenting. He was fishing."

Soren chuckled, scrolling through his notifications. "You sound jealous."

"I'm not."

"Of course not."

Maddox poured the drink and handed it to him without comment. Soren took it with a nod, letting silence hang. The music outside was faint now, only a thump beneath the floor.

Maddox remained standing. His phone buzzed once in his pocket. He ignored it.

"You don't like Luca," Soren said, without looking up.

"No."

"You don't like any man who looks at me too long."

"I don't like indecent men."

Soren tapped the edge of his glass thoughtfully. "You call a lot of people indecent."

"They usually are."

A knock came, light but firm.

Maddox glanced at the door just as it opened.

Luca stepped in, smooth and smiling like nothing had happened.

"There you are," he said to Soren. "I thought you disappeared."

Soren leaned back. "Just needed air."

Luca walked in like he belonged there, not bothering to acknowledge Maddox. "You left before I could say goodnight. Mind if I steal a minute?"

Maddox didn't move. He set his glass down and stood straight, gaze calm but direct.

"No," he said simply.

Luca paused. "I wasn't talking to you."

"You are now." Soren glanced between them once, lips parting.

Luca's smile twitched.