by C. J. Thomas
“Are you going to help?” I hissed. “Or make it so much worse?”
“Take your pick.” Sadie and I watched Liam shift from one knee to the other. His shoulder muscles flexed with every movement. She draped her arm around my bare shoulders, leaned into me, and said in a low voice, “Someone really should film that man in his jeans. From every angle.”
“Skip jeans,” I whispered back. “Go straight to boxer briefs.”
Liam turned to us and said something, but I’d been paying more attention to other . . . things to catch it all. “—your skin is lighter than Sadie’s and since you’re wearing white, I’m making sure you don’t look washed out.”
“Sure, sure,” Sadie said and waved him off. “Do whatever you need to do. We’re watching—” I elbowed her. “I meant waiting.”
After a few minutes, I stepped under the lights and it was as though my body immediately transported itself back to my seventh grade science class where the teacher had us stand at the front of the room and give a presentation. I just stood there, no words, no clue.
Now I was supposed to do something interesting with my body in front of this incredibly sexy man? I shook my hands out and reminded myself to take a deep breath. “It’s a lot different on this side of the camera, huh?”
Sadie shrugged. “You’ll get used to it.”
I squinted as Liam tested a few flashes, then said, “It seems to come so natural for you.”
“Just don’t think about it too much,” Sadie said. “You’ll be fine.”
Liam stepped up and nodded. “Ready?”
I wanted to say something like, “Have you been listening to this conversation? Really, I’m going to do my best not to puke on you.” Instead, I smiled.
He raised his camera and took a picture. “Perfect.”
“Hey!”
“Come on, Tessa. Do something with your hands.”
I waved them around at Sadie. “How’s this?”
Liam chuckled. “Not quite what I’m going for. Whatever hand you feel comfortable with, put it across your opposite shoulder.” He stepped to the side, then gently took my forearm with his hand and placed it for me—which made me want to move it again just to put it around him, but I didn’t.
“I want you to look left, then right, then at me,” Liam said.
“Your left or mine?” I quirked a smile and he snapped a pic. “What was that for? You took another one when I’m not even posing.”
“Which makes for some of the best shots,” Sadie said over Liam’s shoulder. “He’s going to keep taking pictures. That’s kind of the point.”
Liam studied me for a moment. It was strange seeing him be more into business than pleasure.
“Do you always shoot inside your studio?” I asked.
“Depends on what I’m going for.” Liam adjusted his camera; what I could only guess were setting changes. “I have a bit more control here and I’m not looking for natural light right now.”
“So here we are.”
He smiled and looked into my eyes, his usual heat bearing down on me. “So here we are.” He took a few more. “Tilt your head to the left. Not quite. Here, I’ll show you.” He stood and took my chin in his fingers, the same way he did before kissing me. I followed his lead and his eyes went to my mouth.
“Here?” I asked.
“Oh yes.” His deep voice resonated through me like a drum and I shivered. He stepped back and snapped a picture. “Perfect. Be natural.”
I covered my mouth and laughed. “I just don’t know what to do.”
“Picture your body as an S.”
I pushed my hip out further. “Like this?”
“Damn, you’ve got a great body.”
I laughed and stood up straight. “Stop making me laugh.”
“Why did you move? That was perfect.” Liam ran a hand through his hair and I wished I hadn’t disappointed him. “You’re not a robot. You’re a sexy woman who needs to have some fun.”
I went back to the pose.
“Move your hand to your hip.” Sadie poked her head over Liam’s shoulder. “Other hand. That’s my girl.”
I wanted to tell her that I may not be a robot but I sure felt like a puppet.
After another dozen shots, Liam went back to his stool and pulled a different lens from his bag.
Suddenly, I became very aware of my mostly exposed breasts pressing against the heart-shaped corset. The fabric barely kept my girls in check.
“You did say no jumping shots, right?”
Liam raised an eyebrow as though he was actually considering it. “If you really want to get that adventurous the first time around, don’t let me stop you.”
“No, I think I’ll stick to the hips and hands today.”
His eyes went to my hair. He grabbed a handful and his warmth beside me sent chills running down my back. I shivered.
“Cold?”
I shook my head.
“Ahh.” He moaned. “Here, hold your hair up like I am.”
I blew out a breath and tried to compose myself.
“No. Keep that look on your face.” He stepped in, and with my hair now bunched against my head, he leaned in to my exposed neck. I tilted my head back as he nipped his way down from my ear to my throat. “That’s it. You have an incredible look when you’re turned on. Let me see it.”
When he pulled away to take the shot, I groaned, wanting more.
“Gorgeous.”
“You know—” Sadie cleared her throat. Liam and I looked up to see her standing at the studio door. “I think I’m going to head out. I have . . . things to do.”
“You sure?” I asked.
“Oh, I’m sure.” She looked from Liam to me and winked as she opened the door. “I think you’ve got the hang of it.”
CHAPTER 22
Tessa
Liam’s biceps pulsed as he pulled the white chaise from the back area to where we’d been shooting.
I fluffed out the lace that Sadie called a dress for something to do with my hands. “Sure you don’t need any help?”
He glanced up at me. “Relax and let me take care of things. It’ll be your turn soon enough.” Once he’d positioned the leather couch, Liam checked his flash, then nodded to me. “All yours.”
“You want me to lie down?”
He grinned. “We can get to that. Try sitting first and lean against the back.” I did as he instructed. “Good. Now relax and look over to the studio door.”
I followed his direction but something didn’t feel right.
Liam knelt in front of me and placed his hand on my thigh. “Remember what I said about shaping your body like an S?” He slowly slid his hand down my leg—I silently thanked myself for remembering to shave this morning—and lifted my calf to cross my legs. “Bring your chest toward me.” He groaned as his eyes trailed the minimal material pushing my breasts up. He pressed his lips together, fighting to restrain himself from using them on me.
I wanted him to. God, did I want him to.
He kept his hand on my ankle for a moment and the look of wanting me ignited in his eyes. “I want to remember this angle.” He let go of my leg and snapped several pictures.
Part of me wanted to be good enough at this to not need constant adjusting, but then, I rather enjoyed his hands on me. I wondered if he was like this with all his models. I thought back to Sadie’s shoot and the most he ever did with her was move her hair over her shoulder. I had a feeling he’d still find a reason to touch me even if I was as comfortable in front of the camera as she was.
No complaints here. The way his hands left my skin searing hot was everything a woman would want from a man as sexy as he was.
“Lean forward. More. That’s . . .” Liam’s eyes flashed and he sucked in a breath.
I looked down to see that my left nipple had slipped out. It lightly brushed the edge of the material. “Oh.”
Liam licked his lips, hunger in his eyes that he couldn’t take off my chest. He finally looke
d back into my eyes. The heat in them grew by the moment. “You can adjust it back . . . if you want to.”
Part of me was about to do just that. The part of me that went to school for years to become an accountant; the part that studied and worked hard to one day be the CEO of my father’s company; the part that always waited until the third date to do anything with a man.
Then I thought that this counted as that third date I’d been waiting for. Either way, that part of me wasn’t invited tonight.
I leaned forward and grinned at him.
“Oh, Tessa. You are amazing.” He held up his camera and I reached up to pull it down for a moment.
“These are for you. Only you.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Instead of taking the picture right away, he leaned in and traced his tongue around my nipple. It tightened against his mouth. I tipped my head back as tingles went down my arms.
He pulled away and cleared his throat. “Makes for a much better picture.”
“Oh, I’m sure it does,” I purred.
He pulled the corset down until my right breast was also exposed. “Wouldn’t want it to feel left out.” He smirked.
“Of course not.” My tongue slid over my bottom lip.
Liam kissed around where the white flesh met my dark nipple before taking it into his mouth again. Shivers ignited through me every time he flicked his tongue. I moaned when he reached up and caressed my other breast.
My head jerked back as an intense wave of pleasure shot through me. With my nipple still in his mouth, he moaned, and the vibration gave me goosebumps, setting my insides on fire.
I sat up and wrapped my arms around his neck. “If you’re trying to get me to relax, it’s not working very well.”
He chuckled. “Maybe I’m going for a different look.”
“Turned on?” My lids hooded over. “How am I doing?”
“Fucking nailed it.” He leaned in and kissed me. A little more than a peck, but he held back from what I knew he was capable of doing. Maybe he wanted to respect me after everything I’d been through.
Definitely unnecessary. I didn’t want that kind of respect. No, I wanted him to break all the rules when it came to him and me.
I wrapped my legs around his back and pulled him against me. His mouth opened in shock and I bit his bottom lip, just hard enough to make him buck against me. I moaned against his lips as his hardness brushed against my heated mound.
After the moment it took him to get over the surprise, he cupped his hands around my thighs and pulled my ass to the edge of the couch. “So now you’re ready for me to lie down for a few shots?”
“It’s good to change position.” With his hands still on my upper thighs, he kissed me again, pulling my hips into his as he grinded against me.
I moaned into his mouth as we moved. Though we both had layers of clothing between us, it didn’t taper the heat and thrill that continued to build. This was so much better than the fantasies I’d allowed myself, and definitely a promising start to something amazing.
Liam grabbed my hair and pulled my head back to kiss down my neck, my chest, one nipple, then the other—all while he continued to move against my clit.
I whimpered and moaned and my hands started to tingle. I dug my nails into his back as he began to move his hips in a delicious, pussy-wetting circle. With every rotation, my legs tensed with the sensation.
It was so hot.
He was so hot.
And I had him right where I wanted him.
“Yes, Tessa.” Liam pressed himself against me harder, moving faster, making me gasp. “That’s it. Feel me.”
“I . . . feel you. Oh, damn.” My body began to shake and he covered my mouth with his.
I moaned as his tongue met mine, and as I dug my nails into his back, my body felt as though it would explode.
I screamed with pleasure as I kissed him hard. The next wave hit me, then the next, until my body sagged against the couch. The expensive leather felt cool against my heated skin and I was thankful Liam had such expensive taste.
“That . . . was amazing,” I moaned. “My panties are soaked now, thanks to you.”
“Are they?” Liam kissed his way down the corset. He sat back on his heels, slid a hand across my inner thigh, and traced his thumb across the thin material of my thong. My body jerked when he brushed against my throbbing clit. I sucked in a breath in anticipation as he hooked the thong with his finger. “Beautiful,” he said as he leaned in.
I moaned as he slowly drew his tongue across.
“You taste amazing.” He flicked his tongue and lapped me up. “I could get addicted to you.”
I grabbed a handful of his hair. It fell between my fingers as he kissed and licked. “You’re going to make me—oh, oh!”
He flicked his tongue.
I bucked my hips.
And then I came hard and fast.
After my body finally relaxed from the second orgasm, I sighed. “That was incredible.”
“Don’t thank me yet.” My body jolted in surprise as he pulled my hips back to him. “We’re just getting started.”
CHAPTER 23
Liam
I could still taste Tessa on my lips.
Ever since we first kissed, I couldn’t get her out of my head. But now that I’d tasted her, it was official.
I was addicted.
The way her legs naturally parted for me; inviting, wanting, I couldn’t get enough.
I ran my hand across the smooth, white leather of the couch. Damn did Tessa look good in white, laying on white, and here inside my studio so willing to be pleased.
I couldn’t help but wonder if this was a sign. I hadn’t consciously put her in white because of the whole ICE issue, but maybe I should take it as another sign that I was meant to be with her.
That she could be the saving grace to anchoring me to this country I so dearly loved.
We’d have to put her in something with fewer wardrobe malfunctions. Every time I pictured her nipple slipping out, my dick went rock hard and it took every bit of willpower to not look at her pictures for the tenth time today.
I didn’t want to move the couch from the main studio area after last night but I had a shoot scheduled with Paisley in ten minutes and there was no way I would take a single picture of her sitting on it. No, that was Tessa’s couch now. Part of me wanted to bubble wrap the thing. Then an image of Tessa lying there with her legs spread popped back into my head and my cock twitched again.
It was settled: I would move the chaise into my office.
I stepped through the curtain and walked over to the main clothing rack. I thumbed through the corsets, checking my stock. The last thing I wanted was to double up on a piece that another model had already worn, but until I added a few more, all I had left were underbusts.
I pulled out a steampunk halter with a row of buckles down the front. The leather strap hooked just beside the breast, looped around the back of the neck, and fastened at the other breast. Perfect to lift and separate. Given that corsets were made to bring in the midsection, it accentuated the hips and—of course—the breasts.
Gray pinstripes broke up the solid black material of the bodice, giving it a nice sophisticated edge. I pulled out fishnet hose and a shirt to match. No way did I want this to be a topless shoot. Somehow, Paisley would think there was more to it. Definitely didn’t want to dig myself deeper into that hole.
Last night, when Tessa asked for some of her images to be for my viewing only, I had no problem. She had seen my studio wall, and though always tasteful, some of my shots were part or fully nude.
Sure, I’d slept with a number of models, but that wasn’t the point of me doing this.
Especially not with her. There was more to it than just a quick fuck.
Way more to it.
Hell, I didn’t want to photograph Tessa just to make sure we didn’t mix money and enjoyment. It was a blurry line and I didn’t want things to get los
t in translation.
I pushed back the row of corsets and hung the steampunk set on the end for Paisley—who I very much needed to make things clear with that there was a separation between business and anything else.
And from this point on, there wouldn’t be anything else. I was through with sticking my prick in Paisley.
CHAPTER 24
Liam
I nearly dropped the framed print when the wind caught the studio door and slammed it shut.
I spun around.
“Paisley.” It was the only thing that I could say right about then. Her appearance startled me more than the wind catching my front door. Looking at her down the long hallway of edited photographs of gorgeous women and perfect poses really framed this sight of her into perspective.
Paisley shuffled toward me.
Her usual sleek black hair was unruly, the ends frizzed out, telling the story that it probably had not been combed in two days. She’d missed the middle button on her wrinkled top, giving a clear show of her boobs, since she wore no bra. Her dark nipples shone through the white material, and as she gave me a side smile, I swore I saw lipstick on her teeth.
This was the worst I’d ever seen her.
“I’d like to sit down for a minute before we start. The subway was especially annoying today. People couldn’t stop staring at me. I told a guy if he was so bent on jacking-off to me to grab the nearest fashion magazine.”
I stared at her, wondering what caused this natural disaster unfolding right in front of me.
“What? I do have a nice spread in there, thanks to you.” She dropped her duffel and suede for a minute before catching herself on the wall. “I really need to sit.”
“Use my bathroom. There’s a chair in there.”
Her eyes lit up because I never let anyone use my bathroom. The last thing I wanted was some model puking over my porcelain to drop weight.
“I’ll go get your outfit for today. Clean up and be out in ten.”
“Sure, sure.”
I wiped my face as I walked through the studio and grabbed the steampunk corset and the fishnet hose. Reminding myself that she did not have a bra, I picked out a gray silk shirt.