Alec’s eyebrows narrowed once more. “Are you uncomfortable with your body, ma jolie?”
“Fuck. I cannot believe this!” I shook my head and crossed my arms over my chest. “No, I’m not uncomfortable with my body, well, not really. I could do to lose a few pounds, but I don’t know one person who’s comfortable walking around in their birthday suit all day long.”
“Hmm, this poses a slight problem then. I am certain we’ll work through this. Finish up your breakfast, we need to get to the loft. I need to do some stills of you before the light changes and then start with the paint.” He shoved the last bite of his breakfast into his mouth while walking over to the sink. He rinsed his plate and set the dish in the dishwasher. “I shall get ready. We’ll discuss more later, oui?”
“Oui,” I said with a purpose-based sarcastic tone. He shook his head and rushed up the stairs. In a flash, he’d grabbed whatever clothing he intended to wear and headed to the bathroom. Seconds later, I could hear the shower going and the old pipes of the warehouse working overtime.
He wanted me naked all the time. Just like I thought, bizarre dude. I rolled my eyes and clenched my teeth. He didn’t really answer me, just said we had a problem, effectively changed the subject, then bailed. Day two was not looking any better than day one. Well, I did get to see his beautiful body half-naked. That was pleasant and definitely edged day two over day one’s falling and embarrassing episode. Even though last night’s kiss could go to war against today’s annoying I-want-you-naked-at-all-times load of crap, I did not plan to walk around naked. That was in no way part of my contract or anything else I’d agreed to. I’d read through that contract on the plane and nowhere in there did it say, ‘Mia willfully agrees to run around stark naked for a month.’ Lunatic!
***
After breakfast, Alec led me back down to the lower level workspace. “So you own both floors then?” I asked while following him through the workspace. Surprisingly enough, there were only a couple people milling about and it was eight in the morning. Maybe they didn’t work a standard eight to five job.
“Yes, this is my work space; the other, as you know, is my home. I like to be close to my home. Sometimes I work well into the night and morning. When I want to end my day, I don’t want to have to drive across town to do it. This way I’m just a short elevator ride up.”
I nodded. “Makes sense. Where is everyone?” I slumped into the chair he pushed out in front of me. Before us, about ten feet away, was a brightly lit area and two blank canvases hanging on the wall. One was about six feet wide by four feet tall. The other was a good six feet tall and four feet wide. So basically the same size only one was horizontal the other vertical.
“Creative day. I don’t need much assistance today. Only you, my camera and paint, all of which I have in front of me.”
“Cool,” I looked around. “So, what do you want me to do?”
“We’ll start with test shots. I’ll need you to stand in front of the horizontal painting.” He helped me to stand then scooped me up and walked me over to another chair that had been placed in front of the wall. On the floor under my twisted ankle was a pillow. He stood me next to the chair so I was using the back of it to bear weight on that side of my body. “The pillow is in case you need to place your foot down. I don’t want you placing it on hard concrete and further injuring it. This should help, oui?”
I smiled wide. “Yes, thank you, Alec. Just do whatever you need to do. I’m fine, perfectly comfortable,” I assured him.
He moved around the space and over to a tripod then adjusted the lights. “Okay, now remove your t-shirt. Leave the undergarment on, for now, I only need to see the angles and shapes of your shoulders, arms, neck, sides, of your upper body.”
Taking a deep breath I bit down on my lip then lifted my shirt and flung it aside. “Okay, Frenchie, but it’s gonna cost you,” I warned.
“I’m well aware of the expense,” he said behind his camera. The second I removed my shirt the camera started clicking.
I stood stock still in my black lace bra. It covered me completely, no more skin showing than a bikini top would, but still, I was nervous. Over the years I’d done a bit of acting and hoped to do more but never really spent any time modeling. Never thought I had the body for it.
“Impressionnant,” Alec mumbled in French. That one sounded like a compliment, so I kept quiet and let him do his thing. “You’re doing fine,” he said.
A breath of air left me in a huff. “How is that possible? I’m not doing anything but standing here.”
“With your beauty, it’s enough. Besides, these are test shots for positioning, lighting, and such.” After a few more clicks he came over to me. “Are you tired of standing?”