He licked his lips. “The assignment asked what makes a woman beautiful. That’s not the same as attraction.”
I ignored the flutter in my stomach. “So, what attracts you to a woman?”
He opened his mouth to answer but was interrupted.
“Okay, class!” Luca clapped his hands together, getting everyone’s attention. “I want to quickly go around the room and hear your thoughts on what makes a woman beautiful. Then, I’m going to give you an assignment associated with that list.” He looked around and his eyes landed on me. Gesturing to us, he smiled broadly. “So, we’ll start in the back. You don’t have to introduce yourself yet, just read your list.”
I looked over at Carlos. He gave me a nod.
“The characteristics of a beautiful woman: interesting, kind, intelligent, confident, and…” I glanced at Carlos as I tapped the last word. He nodded. “And passionate.”
“Perfect! Yes, yes,” Luca exclaimed, nodding his approval. “Okay, next.”
I tried listening to the other people in the class give their lists, but I felt Carlos staring at me.
“I like that,” he whispered.
His words washed over me, and I felt the heat creeping up my neck, flushing my cheeks. “What?” I replied discreetly, glancing over at him.
“Passionate.” He paused, capturing my gaze and reeling me in.
I swallowed hard. Is he flirting with me?
“I think I will add that to my personal list.”
No, he’s just being friendly… I think.
He licked his lips, but that time was slower, sexier. My body woke up.
I think…
Realizing I hadn’t responded, I nodded quickly. “I think you should.”
He’s definitely flirting…right?
He stared at me, into me, without saying a word. The sound of photography students rattling off their lists faded into nothing.
I swallowed hard.
“You seem okay, Akila Bishara.” He scribbled a number down on my paper and then sat back in his chair.
Typing his number into my phone and then sending him a text, I bit my lip to keep from grinning. “You too, Carlos Richmond.”
“Looking forward to this partnership.” And as if we didn’t just have a moment, he turned his attention to one of the last pairs reading their lists.
Wait, what?
The internal record scratch caused my entire body to stop abruptly.
Did he give me his number because we’re partners, or did he give me his number to get to know me on a personal level?
I liked to know how I’m being approached so I could counter it appropriately. If a man wanted to be friends, and I wanted to be friends with him, we could move forward knowing the limits and boundaries of friendship. If a man wanted to pursue me, and I wanted to be with him, we could move forward knowing the limits and boundaries of dating. I didn’t like the grey area.
The grey area was where feelings were hurt, friendships were ruined, jobs were lost, etc.
But as I stared at my mysterious partner, I had no idea if he even wanted to be friends, let alone if he was interested in me romantically. But the pull I felt between us was undeniable and not knowing where he stood made me a little nervous.
What am I doing?
I couldn’t help silently laughing at myself. Somehow, I’d let Carlos Richmond get in my head and the feeling, that elusive feeling he gave me, had me all mixed up. I smiled ruefully as I decided to just loosen up.
He glanced at me, catching me in the exact moment that I happened to be eyeing him.
I froze.
We sat there staring at one another, and I didn’t know if I should be embarrassed for getting caught looking at him or if I should be flattered that I caught him looking at me.
I swallowed hard.
“You’re staring at me,” I blurted out breathily.
He licked his lips before easing into the sexiest smile I’d ever seen. Leaning forward, his mouth was right next to my ear and the heat of his breath caused my entire body to tremble. My breathing hitched slightly when I inhaled his cologne. The hair on my arms stood on end. I’d never had that reaction to anyone before.
The only sound I could hear was my heart thumping against my chest. I held my breath and I waited, anticipating what was next.
“I was staring…” His deep voice sexily held my attention. “Because I could feel you staring at me.”
I rolled my eyes, but my cheeks were still warm from his nearness. “Whatever, dude,” I giggled.
Chapter Three
“Your assignment for today is a quick one,” Luca Romano announced, sitting on the edge of his desk. “You have thirty minutes to go outside the classroom and capture the best examples of a beautiful woman. You and your partner must capture two different images of two different subjects. And no, you and your partner can’t take a picture of the same woman and call it a day.”
The class hummed with laughter.
“Once you’ve both completed that task, you will return and upload your photo digitally. When both raw, untouched photos have been uploaded, you and your partner have officially completed the assignment. These submissions will give me an idea of where your individual starting point is so don’t think too long and hard about it. You only have thirty minutes so let’s get started. Grab your cameras, grab a few consent forms… The time starts now!”
I pulled my camera out of my bag. “Are you ready?” I asked Carlos who was fitting a different lens on his camera.
“Yeah, I’m ready.” When he looked over at me, I could see the excitement in his eyes even though there wasn’t a hint of a smile on his face.
Standing, I smirked. “I’m starting to figure you out.”
He stood, gesturing for me to walk before him. “Is that right?”
“Yes.”
No, not at all.
“I can see right through you,” I added.
I had no idea.
Glancing over my shoulder at him, I continued, “I think you—”
“Stop,” Carlos commanded, gripping my waist and pulling me back.
I gasped as my back hit his chest and my ass hit his thighs. Turning my head, I looked around and then down.
“Oh, sorry,” Jennifer apologized in a saccharine sweet voice that dripped with insincerity and disdain. “You almost tripped over my bag. You should watch where you’re going.”
My blood boiled as I stared at her smug face in shock.
Did she really just try to trip me up?
“That was a bitchy thing to do, Jennifer.” I started moving toward her, but felt a hand flex against my hip, reminding me of his presence and preventing me from going anywhere.
“What?!” Jennifer shrieked, causing the last few students in the room to look our way.
The slight movement of Carlos’s hand sent a wave of activity through my entire body. I didn’t mean to swoon. I wasn’t even sure if I did swoon. But everything slowed down except for the flutter in my belly and the heat of his hand that scorched my skin through my clothes. I let out a small breath instead of the angry growl I was going to give Jennifer’s petty ass.
“Did you just call me a bitch?!” Jennifer yelled, catching the attention of Luca Romano.
“What’s going on?” our instructor asked, making his way across the room as Jennifer continued yelling about me verbally attacking her.
I looked at the legend up close as he approached us, and my tongue felt heavy and too big for my mouth. Cotton had lodged itself in my throat. I opened my mouth and no words came out at first.
“Luca, Akila called me a bitch,” Jennifer whined as she batted her eyelashes.
He looked at her and then looked at me.
Shifting my gaze away from the handsome instructor, I focused on the grown ass woman who was acting like a little ass kid.
“I did not call you a bitch. I said that you trying to trip me up was a bitchy thing to do, but I didn’t call you a bitch,” I corrected her. Tu
rning my attention to Luca, I swallowed hard. “Because I’ve been a fan of your work for a while now and I have the utmost respect for you, I wouldn’t disrespect you or your class like that.”
He held my gaze for a beat too long before turning to speak to Jennifer. “I wasn’t here when it happened, but I do see some belongings in the walkway.” Redirecting his attention to me, he assessed my face silently before his eyes dropped to the strong hand that was still firmly holding my hip. Carlos released me tentatively as Luca continued. “You don’t have very much time to complete your assignment. Head on out.”
I nodded, giving him a soft smile as we started heading out the room.
We’d only managed to get three steps away before I heard Jennifer’s voice. “Thank you for protecting me from her…”
“What?!” I screeched, turning to look over my shoulder.
“Let it go,” Carlos commanded, wrapping his arms around my shoulders and ushering me out of the room. “Don’t feed into her shit. You’re in this class for a reason. You want to get something out of it. Don’t worry about her.”
Inhaling his scent, I closed my eyes briefly and allowed him to lead me down the hall. With my lungs full of the sandalwood and vanilla cologne he wore, I exhaled my words. “But she’s lying on me.”
“And everyone knows that.”
“But Luca—”
“Come on now, Akila…” Carlos removed his arm from around my shoulders and gestured for me to walk through the door before him. When we were walking side by side again, he didn’t look at me as he continued. “If you think Luca gave a damn about what that woman had to say about you, you weren’t paying attention.”
I stared at the strong profile of my partner. His chiseled jawline clenched as we made our way out into the courtyard of Hamilton University.
My stomach twisted.
“What do you mean?” I asked, somewhat sure I understood exactly what he meant.
He slowed to a stop and looked at me. “You’re…” His voice trailed off as we held each other’s gaze.
I swallowed hard. “I’m what?” I whispered, my belly fluttering in anticipation.
“Look out!” A woman screamed as the clunking sound of a rouge skateboard barreled toward us.
“Umph,” I grunted as my body slammed into Carlos’s chest. He’d grabbed me and pulled me into him, out of the way of the skateboard. Our faces were close, too close.
My eyes widened as I looked up into his. My lips parted as I attempted to say something, anything. I wanted to thank him for saving me from falling on my face twice in a five-minute period. I wanted to make a joke to get him to show me those pearly white teeth. But all I could do with those beautiful eyes staring into mine was gape at him. A breathy sigh escaped me as he continued to hold me against him.
“I’m sorry!” Stealing our attention away, the woman ran up to us, throwing an apology over her shoulder as she scooped up her skateboard from the grass a few feet away. “I’m so sorry!”
Carlos let me go and looked down at his watch. “We have twenty, twenty-five minutes.”
I turned my head, looking around the courtyard, so he wouldn’t see how severely his touch affected me.
Still slightly shaken from the rush of endorphins that flooded my brain while in his arms, I pulled myself together. “So, what were you saying? I’m what?” I asked again, my voice back to normal. “And if you say something shitty, I’m going to kick your ass.”
A smile played on his lips. “You’ll kick my ass?”
“Yes.”
“Well, lucky for you, I don’t fight women.”
“Lucky for you.” I shrugged, pursing my lips. “So, I guess you better not say anything shitty, so you won’t have to meet your match.”
“You’re what? Five feet, seven inches? I think you’re tough, but you’re not tough enough to kick my ass. I’m seven inches taller than you and twice your size. So, even with me not fighting back, you wouldn’t be able to kick my ass. Not without some help anyway.”
I stared into his eyes. “I don’t need help.” Raising the arm that didn’t have my bag strap slung over it, I flexed my muscle. “I just need my guns.”
Finally, the sound I’d been waiting for danced against my eardrum.
His deep, rolling chuckle was intoxicatingly sexy. It drew me in with each inflection and as hard as I tried not to, I smiled. Without warning, my smile turned into a small giggle.
“Put your weapon away,” he laughed, pushing my arm down.
I looked at the ground as his fingertips seemed to burn their way into my skin.
“All I was going to say is that… you’re beautiful.”
My eyes met his unintentionally and just when I was about to melt, he continued.
“And beautiful women tend to rise to the top of the class with teachers like Luca Romano.”
I stopped mid-swoon. Furrowing my brows, I asked, “So, I can’t be attractive and talented? You don’t think I could excel in the class on my own merit?”
He gave me a look. “I didn’t say that at all. My comment is less about you and more about him.” He shrugged. “Maybe if you paid any attention to the way he was looking at you, you’d understand what I’m talking about.”
“He wasn’t looking at me any kind of way.”
“Okay.” He shook his head, turning to watch the people around us. “Excuse me, miss,” he called out to the woman with the skateboard, moving into her path, but keeping a safe distance away. “Hello, I’m Carlos.”
Beaming, she bit her bottom lip. “I’m Ava.”
“Hi, Ava,” Carlos’s voice was seductively smooth.
A pang of displeasure tugged at my gut. I wasn’t quite sure why it rubbed me the wrong way that he was speaking to her like that, but it did. I wasn’t jealous or anything. It just felt wrong.
“I’m taking a photography course and our first assignment is to find a beautiful woman and capture that beauty on film.” He handed her the release form. “Would you be interested in being photographed?”
Ava barely read over it before she stared up into Carlos’s face. “I don’t do nudes—well not for anyone I’m not dating.” She swayed back and forth. “But for you, I’ll pose however you want me.”
I almost threw up in my mouth.
Rolling my eyes, I turned my back on the flirtatious display in front of me.
“Really now?” Carlos sounded amused. “Well, I just want to get a couple of fully clothed shots of you...”
I tuned them out. Casting my gaze around the courtyard, I searched for any woman that stood out to me. I didn’t see anyone that really caught my attention, but I heard a laugh that caught my ear. Following the sound, I eyed the most stylish woman on campus at that moment.
In bright blue, wide-legged pants, a white and black polka dot top, and a black leather jacket, she stood out in a sea of casual wear. But it was her big, curly hair, musical laugh, and undeniable confidence that drew me to her. She had three men and one woman surrounding her as she told a story. As I got closer to her, I noticed the black spiked heels and the impeccable makeup.
She was perfect for the assignment.
“Excuse me,” I interrupted as the men were exchanging goodbyes with the beautiful woman.
“Hey!” She flashed a sparkling smile.
“I don’t know if you’re familiar with Luca Romano, but—”
“I’m familiar with the fact that I prayed to the gods that I’d get into his class and wasn’t selected,” she interjected with a laugh. “I’m guessing you were one of the lucky ones?”
I smiled. “Yes. But if it’s any consolation, my sister wanted this more than anything. She loves his work and she didn’t get in either.”
“So, she feels my pain?”
“I imagine she does.” I laughed along with her. “Speaking of his class, our first assignment is to photograph someone beautiful”—I handed her the form— “and with your beauty and your awesome style, I thought you’d be the perfect per
son for this quick assignment.”
She read over the paper quickly as she spoke. “Well, thank you. I love it when women compliment other women. But I have a question?”
“What’s that?” I pointed to the bold print on the form. “Just so you know, your photo won’t be used for anything outside of this assignment.”
“Yeah, I read that part, and I’m willing to do it,” she replied, scribbling her name at the bottom of the form. “But I was going to ask for something in return.”
“What’s that?” I asked slowly.
I silently prayed she didn’t ask for financial compensation. Time was running out and I’d have to be back in class shortly. I couldn’t go back with assignment number one incomplete. Failing the first assignment was not an option.
“Would you give Luca Romano my card?” She pulled a card out of her pocket. “I’m a stylist, model, and budding photographer.”
“Oh, yeah.” I nodded, relieved. Taking her card, I glanced at the name and the headshot of her that covered the entire back. “This is gorgeous! I can definitely get this to him,” I agreed, before putting it in my bag with the consent form she’d signed.
“And what’s your name?”
“I’m Akila.”
After we shook hands, I positioned my camera to my face and snapped a bunch of shots. In the two-minute photoshoot, I didn’t give her any direction because she knew her angles, she knew how to pose, and she effortlessly slipped into model mode.
“Got it,” I said as I looked at the screen of the last shot I’d taken. “You made this easy.”
“Thanks! And I appreciate you giving THE Luca Romano my card. A campus wide email went out asking us to respect his space, but a secondary email went out to the School of the Arts basically asking us not to embarrass Hamilton University by throwing ourselves and our portfolios at him.”
I giggled. “I get it. So, what I’m going to do is rave about my model and give him your card casually once he raves about the pictures here.”
She grinned. “Perfect!”
“Okay, I have to head back to class, but thank you, Serena.”
“No, thank you!”
Turning, I was only a little surprised to see Carlos standing a few feet away, watching me. As I approached him, I could see the way he searched my face.
Sweatpants Season Page 4