by M. A. Innes
Oh yes.
“It’s clear how comfortable they are here and how happy they are.” I didn’t want him to think I’d missed that in the sea of nearly naked, lingerie-clad bodies.
He smiled at them before turning that heart-stopping expression back to me. “They’re family, and I’m glad that comes across.”
Eli had called it an incestuous family.
By the way he was wrapping himself around Lane, I was starting to see why.
“They play off each other very well. I loved that series you did where they were complete opposites in the same outfits, innocent and evil almost.” I looked over at Preston to see him watching me with a curious expression on his face.
“You’ve looked over the site?”
Shit.
“Um, yes?”
I had no idea how to respond. If I said it was for work, he could think that was the only reason I’d looked. I wasn’t ready to tell him everything, but...shit. I’d taken too long. Preston was starting to get that reserved look again.
“I was curious.”
Fuck.
He was going to think I was a basket case.
As he smiled again, I knew that it was better than him pulling away. I’d gladly look like a moron if it meant he’d smile at me again. I really was a nut.
Preston turned to focus on the shoot. “Did looking around satisfy your curiosity?”
I was back to not knowing what to say. How honest was I supposed to be?
“I’m not—”
Luckily, Eli bounced over at that moment, a question clear on his face. “Preston, I think we’ve got the shots. Roman said he’s good.”
Preston chuckled. “See how quickly things go when you behave?”
Eli huffed and rolled his eyes. “We already had everything planned out, and the line isn’t that big. Besides, I liven things up and you know it.”
I couldn’t argue with that, but I was glad I didn’t have to work with him all day. It would be exhausting.
Preston shook his head. “I’m not sure that’s what I’d call it.”
Eli seemed to take that as a challenge, and a wicked look came over his face. Before I could even guess what he would do, I found myself with a nearly naked Eli draped across my lap. As he smiled at me, I struggled to figure out what to do with my hands. There was too much exposed skin for me to decide what to do.
And then there was the fact he was still turned on.
But since his arousal wasn’t really focused on me, was I supposed to ignore it?
“What do you think? Don’t I liven things up?” Eli’s grin had the words refusing to come out of my mouth.
“Eli, don’t make him uncomfortable.” Preston almost growled the words out, making my heart skip a beat.
Eli must have realized that because his wicked smile softened for just a moment before it went right back to devilishly naughty. “If he were completely comfortable watching us, then I’d worry. I think he likes being...uncomfortable.”
Shit.
How did he know?
Lane wouldn’t have told him, but had I given it away? Did he know I was wearing panties?
Preston cleared his throat, but I refused to look. Instead, I glanced across the room to see Lane deep in conversation with some guy in a pair of pink panties. Shit. Why wasn’t he looking this way?
My gaze jumped back to Eli without my making a conscious decision. “I...you looked pretty.”
Shit.
He batted his eyelashes at me and gave me a look that reminded me of an old-fashioned pinup girl. “Thank you, cutie.”
Then he looked up at Preston. “Isn’t he a cutie?”
Before Preston could answer, Eli was back to focusing on me. “I bet you’d look so cute in some of our clothes. Is there anything you want to try on?”
Shit.
“I...I...” I was going to need a drink after this.
I saw a flash of understanding in his eyes, but that didn’t seem to get me out of the hot seat. “I bet Preston would like to see you in that little number Lane was wearing.”
He would?
I almost forgot about the fact that Eli was still hard and almost naked as I glanced up at Preston. He was staring at me with an intent, curious expression on his face. I couldn’t tell what it meant. Was I only fascinating because I hadn’t tossed Eli off my lap and stormed out?
There was no way I could have done that. I liked Eli...most of the time, and falling off my lap when he had almost nothing on would hurt, right? Then there was the fact that I still had no idea where to put my hands.
They were both expecting some kind of comment, so I just threw out the first thing that I could think of. “Lane was pretty.”
Moron.
That didn’t get their focus off me. If anything, it only egged Eli on. “Would you like to look pretty too? I could help you get dressed up. I think Preston would love to see you pretty.”
He would?
I refused to look over again and see what he was doing, but the curiosity was killing me. What was he thinking? Did he want to see me in something like that? He’d smiled at me and occasionally sent me funny emails, but that didn’t necessarily mean anything.
Thankfully, I was saved from Eli and from myself by Lane finally noticing my predicament. His eyes widened as he looked over. Lane seemed to toss out a quick answer to whatever question the guy had asked before walking over with a very purposeful stride.
His eyes darted between all three of us as he got closer. When he stopped, he gave me a tentative smile. “Hi.”
Clearly, he wasn’t sure what to do either.
“Eli said you guys are done. Where did you want to get dinner?” When in doubt, my policy would be to ignore the naked man.