“You do?”
“Mmm hmm.” He’s tracing it with his finger and chills run up my back.
“Why?”
“Well, it looks fucking sexy.”
“I’m glad you like it.” I grin down at him, still through the mirror.
“I love them all,” he says earnestly, and I can’t help but fall just a little in love with his honest face.
“I want you happy, Nat.”
“Oh.” I turn around at his words and he stands up, wrapping his arms around my shoulders and pulling me into a big hug.
“I don’t know what to do with these feelings I’m having for you,” I whisper against his chest.
“We’re just going to take this one day at a time, baby.” He pulls back and gives me his tender kiss.
“Okay, I can do that.”
“Good, let’s get some sleep.” He picks me up in his arms and heads for the bed.
“You know, I can walk.” I laugh and press my face in his neck.
“No need, I have you.”
“I love how strong you are.”
“Do you now?”
“Yes. Speaking of, I have to get up early tomorrow for yoga, and then I have a session at eleven.”
“Okay. Want me to pick you up for lunch?” He pulls the duvet back and lays me down on the bed, climbing in behind me and pulls me into his arms.
“Aren’t you sick of me?”
“Are you sick of me?” He pulls me around so he can see my face.
“Well, no.”
“I want to see you for lunch tomorrow. Please.”
“Okay,” I mumble and curl up into his arms to sleep.
Chapter Fifteen
There are some days that the work just flows. This is, thankfully, one of those days.
It was tough leaving Luke’s bed this morning, but I’m glad I went to yoga to get my blood pumping. I had a relaxed breakfast with Jules, where I filled her in on the weekend events, and I couldn’t even be very mad when my eleven o’clock session was late.
Brad is a hot twenty-one year old with a lot of model potential. He’s got the face and the body, and he’s hired me to help him beef up his portfolio. I usually work with women or couples, but Brad is professional, and sincerely wants to break out into show-biz, and I just couldn’t turn him away.
Not to mention he’s tall, dark and extremely handsome. Not a bad way to spend a few hours out of the day.
We’ve been having a lot of fun all morning. Brad is easily six foot three and completely toned. Not unlike Luke, but I push him to the side of my brain and focus on the job. Where Luke is bronzed and golden, Brad is tanned and dark; dark hair and eyes with a hint of a dark five o’clock shadow on his sculpted jaw.
He’s stripped down to an impossibly small pair of nude boxer briefs that barely cover the essentials, and he’s wrapped from the waist down in a white satin sheet.
“You’re good at this Natalie. It doesn’t even feel like work.”
“Thank you.” I raise the camera to my eye and start clicking. “These sessions should be fun.”
“Are you single?” He asks as he gives the camera a sexy half smile.
“Uh, no.” I frown at him. “No flirting, Brad.”
“Sorry, couldn’t resist. I’m in bed, mostly naked, and a beautiful woman is taking my photo.”
I laugh and change memory cards.
Man, it’s hot in here! I take my blue hoodie off, leaving a fitted black tank over my sports bra. I have cropped yoga pants on, but go in the bathroom and change into yoga shorts. I refasten my hair up into a bun and kick off my shoes.
“Okay, Brad, back in bed.”
“How can I resist that?” He is such a flirt! He climbs back on the bed and pulls the sheet low over his hips.
“Okay, on your back, one arm over your head. Good, don’t move.” I climb on the bed and straddle his hips with my feet, standing directly over him.
“This is a great shot.” I’m snapping away, so pleased with the images I’m capturing.
“Should I look serious for some?”
“Sure, don’t give me that sexy smile.
Perfect!” Snap, snap snap. I walk up his body, focusing down on his face. I almost lose my balance but he reaches up and clasps his hands around the back of my calves.
“Whew! Thanks.” I giggle and continue to snap head shots while he throws one hand back up over his head, keeping one hand braced on my leg to keep me steady.
“What the fuck is going on?!”
Brad and I both jump, startled at the angry shout coming from my front door.
“Luke! You scared the hell out of me!”
Brad immediately releases my leg, accurately assessing that he may have his money maker punched any moment.
“What the fuck, Natalie!”
“Stop yelling at me!” I jump off the bed and stow my camera.
“Brad, you can go ahead and get dressed. We’re finished here anyway.”
Brad rises off the bed, letting the sheet fall and I avert my eyes. He saunters into the bathroom to get dressed.
“What the hell is your problem?” I hiss at Luke.
“What do you think? You were on a bed with a naked man and his hands were on you!”
I take a deep breath. “He wasn’t naked, Luke. I am not naked.”
“Close enough,” he mutters.
“Hey, this is why I told you not to freak out on me when I showed you this studio.”
“You didn’t tell me that you work with young naked men.” He’s pissed all over again.
“I don’t, usually. He’s a friend of a friend who needs images for his portfolio. Don’t be a jealous ass.”
“You led me to believe that you work with women or couples, Natalie.”
“Luke, I just told you, this is an exception.”
“I don’t like it.”
“It doesn’t matter if you like it.”
Luke glares at me like I’ve grown a second head and runs both hands through his hair.
Brad saunters out of the bathroom, fully dressed in jeans, t-shirt and sneakers.
“Thanks again, Natalie. I had a great time.”
I smile warmly at him. “Me too, and you’re welcome. I should have them edited for you this week.”
“Great. See ya.” He leaves, shutting the door behind him.