by Kahlen Aymes
Wendy looked sullen from her position opposite me, I almost felt sorry for her. Almost.
I knew she still had that annoying crush on Cade, and had called and texted him several times when she and I were on our shopping trips. It always made my stomach lurch, but Cade never picked up or responded that I knew of. I made sure never to ask him about it because I didn’t want to come across as insecure or mistrusting.
I was so happy to see him, but it was hell to make small talk, when I wanted to hug and kiss him. Mostly, I just listened to the others. “Brook, are you okay? You seem quiet,” Cade asked.
Wendy bristled at his show of concern for me, her face hardening. I threaded my fingers through his under the jacket.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just a little tired, I guess. I tossed and turned all night.” I smiled. “I’ll be fine for the shoot.” “Tossed” was one of our secret words. It meant I want to kiss you.
He smiled in understanding of what I said, his eyes glinting with amusement.
“I understand.”
I smiled back. “I’m dragging a bit as well. I hate trans-Atlantic flying. The time change wears on me, but luckily, it will hit me tomorrow rather than today.”
“Well, if you’d stop staying out late and partying before flying here, you might fare better,” Wendy interjected. It was obvious that she was feeling pissy as she watched him.
Cade frowned and his mouth set. I could see his annoyance.
“I’m working on some new music with Dan, so I wasn’t out too late. I sincerely hate to disappoint you, Wendy, but thanks for worrying about me.” Her eyes hardened on her face as he paused.
Then he turned to me as his features softened. “I can’t have Brooklyn putting me to shame in these photos because my ass is dragging.” His thumb caressed the top of my hand under the jacket, and brilliant smile split across his face.
I had to look down because I couldn’t keep from smiling. I let my breath out in a whoosh. Cade heard it, and realized that I knew what he meant. “Shame” was another of our code-words; it meant I want to make love to you. His thumb continued its caress on the side of my hand, my skin burning where he touched me.
I remembered the day by the pool when we came up with our list of words and worked to memorize our secret language with each other. It was a lot of fun, and we were laughing the whole time. It was ridiculous how happy I was just to have him sitting next to me.
I looked up and met his gaze. “Um, well… I don’t think I’ll be putting you to shame Cade. You’re the experienced one and look gorgeous, as always.” I said the word back to him so he’d know I wanted to jump his bones as well. This was hilarious. He tightened his hand on mine.
“You will, if I’m lucky.” He grinned at me. I couldn’t help myself, I laughed out loud. Many pairs of eyes turned toward me as they tried to understand what was going on.
My left hand went up to cover my heart as my eyes rose to meet his again, a smile still on my face.
This was going to be a great day. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on him. Cade dropped his head, ran his hand over the back of his neck and cleared his throat, obviously trying not to laugh as well.
“Didn’t we have enough of your private little jokes during filming, you two?” Wendy clipped.
My smile fell away as I glared at her. I couldn’t see Cade’s expression as his face was averted to gaze out of the window, but his hand continued to stroke mine under the jacket. He was better at letting shit roll off of his back.
The window in front whizzed as it rolled down. Denise turned in her seat to send Cade and I a look. What? I mouthed at her as I felt my eyebrow shoot up. She had no idea what we were laughing at.
So what? I couldn’t even laugh now? Jesus.
Cade inhaled deeply. “Did you want something, Denise?”
She cleared her throat. “We’re almost there.”
“Good.”
When we got to the location, the handlers moved us off in two groups; the men to one trailer for wardrobe and the girls to another. Hair and make-up would be done in another trailer, but we wouldn’t be separated.
Cade and I had the most to shoot so they would be starting with us.
The field was huge and empty except for a few trees in the background, the trailers, and one large tree in the foreground with a swing on it. I looked down at the strapless black dress they had me in. It was made of lace, which I felt sure it would get full of the weeds that seemed to be everywhere I looked. Plus, I felt like it was slipping and I’d always be pulling it up, but whatever, I wasn’t the creative director. I decided to leave on the bracelet Cade had given me. It went with the movie and I’d just say it was a prop if anyone asked. I wanted something real in these pictures so when I looked at them, they’d have a personal meaning.
They did my hair in tousled windblown style, but they let me wear my own shoes, which were converse tennis shoes similar to the one’s Cade had on. They weren’t exactly elegant with the dress, but the length kept them from showing, and they were good for the terrain.
When I walked out for the first set of shots, I saw Cade was already waiting; his back was to me, and his arms wrapped around his body. He was in a black suit, and they had just touched up his hair a little. He looked like a God; a true movie star.
My breath stopped and my pulse sped up.
If I hurried maybe I’d get to talk to him a little in private as they readied the cameras. They had a portable stereo playing contemporary rock in the background, so hopefully no one would be able to hear our words.
“Hey you,” I said as I walked up to him. He turned and looked me up and down. I could now see the suit was a tuxedo and he had sunglasses on; every bit the epitome of movie stars. Holy fuck. I couldn’t breathe.
“You take my breath away. You’re gorgeous. I want to kiss you so bad, Brook.” Cade’s eyes were intent. “I can’t stand it.”
“I know. Me, too.” I took a shaky breath. “I wish. Mmmmm.” I pushed a small strand of my hair back off of my face.
“At least we get to touch today, and I can look at you all I want.” He smiled his crooked grin and my heart stopped. “I love you, Brook.”
“I love you, more,” I said, licking my lips, and added in a whisper, “You look hot.”
“You’re gonna kill me, woman,” he groaned.
“That’s not exactly my plan for you.” I smiled sweetly, even though I was feeling devilish. Denise was watching us, damn her. I pushed the sunglasses the wardrobe girl had given me onto my face.
Cade laughed at my words, and raised his eyebrows. “I can’t wait for you to follow through on that one, babe.”
“Cade!” Denise shot him a warning look.
“Buggar off, Denise,” Cade dismissed her.
I laughed under my breath, but turned my back to the woman.
The photographer took us through several poses, some just standing near each other and leaning in toward each other. In the same series, there were some that I reclined on a chaise lounge under a big tree and Cade stood behind it, looking off to one side. Then, he was told to sit next to me and take my hand. He brought it to his mouth and the camera clicked over and over as shivers ran down my spine.
Once we touched, we couldn’t seem to let go of each other. When they adjusted our hair or the lighting, our hands were locked together as we hung on to each other for dear life.
Later, they asked Cade to sit behind me, and I leaned back against him, my head on his shoulder, or my face turned to rest my forehead on the side of his jaw.
His cologne enveloped me as he cradled me to him. His hand reached over his to poke at me gently in the ribs.
When the photographer reloaded, I wanted to turn into him and hold on tight, but the most I could do was to wind my arm up and around, behind his head so my fingers twined in his hair while we waited. I did get to cling to him during some of the shots, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
For the next set, they had him sitting on the end of the cha
ise while I stood behind him, my hand on his shoulder. His hand came up to hold mine as we looked into the camera. I was able to lean on him and feel him breathing, his warmth burning through my body where we touched. I wanted to kiss the back of his neck.
“Okay, Cade, just bring your right hand to your face as you lean into it. Brook, sort of wrap around Cade a little more. You may have to sit behind him.”
I did as I was told, and the crew moved in and situated us as they wanted. It was hot, and the arid wind blowing made this the shittiest place for evening dresses and tuxedos, but I assumed the contrast was what they were going for. As I looked into the camera, my heart was pounding, and my brain screaming; You want me to hold him? No problem, since I love him more than anything.
Finally, they decided to move Cade and I inside a tent for the next series of shots. It was filled with rich fabrics and pillows, like a luxurious scene from The Arabian Nights. They removed Cade’s jacket and tie, unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it from his slacks, and tousled his hair more. With me, they changed me into a slinkier silk dress that was very sexy and on the verge of being lingerie. Cade’s eyes widened when they brought me back out.
We started with me lying back on the pillows and Cade posed to look like he was crawling over me on the bed, our eyes staring into each other’s. We were so lost in the moment, that we didn’t hear them tell us to move to the next shot.
“Guys,” the photographer said. “Hello? Brook, Cade, next shot please.”
I felt my face burn in embarrassment, as he moved off of the pillows. Cade turned away to run both hands through his hair.
The last one was worse.
“Okay,” the photographer said, “I think we’ve got some good shots, but I just want to try one more thing. Cade, remove your shirt and then lay on top of Brook. I want your head on her chest. I want to get some real intimacy,” she said.
Huhhh! My breath left in a rush. Wendy, Jen and the boys were all standing off to one side watching, but that didn’t stop my heart from pounding. My eyes drank in his bare chest and Cade’s deep blue eyes met mine as he began to do as the photographer and director instructed.
When he settled down on my body, I wound my fingers through is hair automatically. Cade’s heart was beating against my chest.
Oh, babe, I missed you. I didn’t mind the heat and the dust, because we were able to touch and get close.
“Think you can handle some real intimacy, honey?” He leaned in toward me; his voice was low and husky, as he settled down on top of me.
I laughed. “Um, yeah. I’m an actor, remember?” I teased.
“Oh, right.” Cade smiled.
“Okay, so how are we going to do this, then?” I asked. “Is this good?” I directed my question at the photographer, conscious of Denise’s, and everyone else’s eyes, trained on Cade and me.
Cade pressed his hips into mine; his movements so subtle, no one could tell, but I felt his erection pressing into me.
“I think this is my favorite pose so far.” Cade smirked. My breath whooshed out of my lungs at his words.
The stylists fiddled with our hair as we held the position, each passing second was pure torture. Finally, the photographer was giving us instructions.
“Brook, bring your left knee up alongside Cade’s hip and waist, keep your hand in his hair and turn your head toward me. Cade, nuzzle into her, or something.” He complied by running his nose up the side of my cheek.
“That’s good, but hold it.” The camera fired off for sixty seconds.
Now, move down her body to nestle against her, Cade. End with your head on her chest and looking toward the camera. I’m going to be shooting as you move, so make the whole thing look real.
“No problem,” he murmured as they started to shoot. I almost forgot that we were in the middle of a desert with twenty or thirty people watching. He was all that existed.
At the end, as we looked at the camera, I wondered if the whole world would be able to see the love and desire in these pictures. Finally getting our hands around each other for the first time in a month, I tingled everywhere he touched me.
The photographer reversed our positions so I was draped over the top of Cade, my leg hooked over his, and his arm bent at the elbow so his hand could play with a strand of my hair.
“Okay, Cade, lean your cheek on Brook’s forehead, and then both of you look at the camera. Try to look sexy and smoldering, you know what I mean.” She laughed as she instructed the assistant to turn on the fans.
Oh yeah, I know what you mean. “We got this,” I said under my breath, and Cade sighed as his arms tightened around me.
My heart was pounding at being this close to him and I knew the longing I felt would show on my features. My fingers trailed down his bare chest, as I looked right in the lens, my mouth opened slightly. Click, click, click; the cameras flashed.
I raised my head, and Cade reached up and softly nuzzled and kissed the underside of my jaw as his hand slid down my thigh, now bare, because the silk had hoisted up my leg. Um, not supposed to do that. Click, click, click; the camera went off again.
“Sorry, couldn’t resist. You’re so delicious and I’m just… starving,” he whispered as he slid me down his body until my feet touched the ground and his eyes burned into me.
“Yeah, I’m going off of my fast today, too,” I said softly for only his ears. I felt my skin prickle and goose bumps ran down my arms, despite the hundred-degree temperature, and my mouth went dry.
“Mmmm,” he said as I lifted away from his body and ran a hand through my hair, trying to get a hold of my emotions.
“Are we finished?” I asked the photographer.
“Just about.”
They asked Noah to join us, and told him to take my hand and pull me away from Cade, who huffed under his breath and I laughed softly. “Are they serious?” Cade asked.
“It’s part of the plot, ba— er, Cade.”
He laughed out loud at my slip up.
“Sober faces!” The photographer shouted above the music.
Cade was the embodiment of professional, but toward the end we were getting tired.
“Hey, can we wrap this up? Parts of me, that I’m too gentlemanly to name in the presence of women, are beginning to chafe.”
I started giggling so bad we had to stop. Noah joined in the laughter, as well.
“I’m so sorry,” I gasped through my giggles. The photographer looked at us sternly as we made fun of her idea. “Sorry,” I said again as I tried to get control of my giggles.
Cade grinned and winked at me. “Well, it is bloody ridiculous, isn’t it,” he said to the photographer; his British accent making me swoon. “It’s got to be forty degrees out here.”
“Forty? It’s over one hundred, Cade,” Noah said.
Cade nodded. “Exactly, mate. Forty, Celsius.”
Thankfully, they brought the rest of the cast out and took a series of shots in various poses. Cade and I were not side-by-side, and Wendy weaseled her way near him. I should have laughed, but she was blatant and the heat boiling under my skin only made the temperature more unbearable.
After that, we changed again and took a few shots with the entire cast in various groups, then the photo of all of us together. Wendy stood next to me with her arm around me, even kissing my cheek during the shoot. It looked like we were friends to everyone else, and would to the world in the photos, but she whispered, in my ear; “You are one lucky little bitch.” I wasn’t sure if she meant the photos with Cade or she knew something more. I was just happy when we were done.
I glanced at Cade as I made my way toward the trailer where I would change back into my street clothes. He smiled as he hurried into the men’s trailer with the rest of the guys. They were all joking and laughing with each other. He looked so happy, my heart thumped in my chest.
As I walked toward the women’s trailer, Denise stopped me. “Brook, can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Yeah, what’s up?” I looke
d into her face. She had a ruddy complexion and blondish-red hair. She was fit, and attractive, but not beautiful in a conventional sort of way. She looked at me sternly.
“You and Cade are going to have to rein in some of the looks and laughing. And, what is up with that kiss?” she wanted to know.
“Denise, it was a peck, for God’s sake. It’s acting. You know, for the shoot.” I made a hand gesture toward the field we’d just come from. She knew I was lying out of my ass, but there was nothing else I could say. “We were only doing what they told us to do!”
“We’ll have to make sure that shot doesn’t get published. You need to be aware that everyone is watching you. Wendy is watching Cade like a hawk and her reputation for being a paparazzi sympathizer is not something we want to mess with.” She sighed in frustration.
“Well, the term I’ve heard her referred to is fame whore, but your term is more politically correct.” I cringed and Denise nodded emphatically.
“Exactly.”
“About that,” I said. “Can you do something about her coming on to Cade all the time?” I asked. “Doesn’t her contract state the same as ours? If so, can you please point that out to her manager? It’s one thing for Cade and I to have to hide our relationship, but I don’t want to be subjected to that crap all the time.”
“Brook, if we do that it might look like you’re jealous, and we can’t have any eyebrows raised for any reason. Besides, it will just make her worse. You understand that don’t you?” She lit a cigarette.
“Yeah, I guess.” My voice was resigned. “But she looks at him like she wants to constantly lick him from head to toe. I’m so fucking sick of it.” I sighed, and threaded my fingers through my hair.