“Hi there, come on in.” As she locked the padlock back into place holding one side of the door open, she whirled around to see what she had on her hands.
Two of the biggest men she had ever seen walked in, both side-by-side, filling the space left open by the door. Considering the fact that she was nearly six foot tall herself, the fact that these men looked over her head was practically amazing. As they slid their jackets off, she noted they were all raw muscle and sinew, stretching the confines of their dark-blue police department T-shirts.
Kat eyed the first one from the tip of his jet-black hair down to the tips of his heavy tactical boots and back up again. His darkly tanned olive skin showed a hint of an exotic heritage as did his lethal black eyes. Then her eyes moved toward the other man, the counterbalance to the darkness of the first, with his light-brown hair, amber eyes, and golden skin.
Not quite as tall as the darker man, he was built more solidly, the veins leaving a trail across his forearms that Kat suddenly wanted to travel along with her tongue. As soon as the thought left her mind, she jerked, realizing she was mentally undressing both men. Cool Ice Queen Kat felt a little melting in her core, something she had not felt in much too long. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she looked at the darker man, about to welcome them to her studio when he opened his mouth to smile.
Captivated by the gleaming white of his teeth, offset by his light, cocoa-colored skin, Kat felt her nipples tighten in response to his gesture. I act like a teenager toward a simple smile? Snap out of it!
Tamping down the fires of lust, she tried to collect herself, noting the knowing smiles on both men’s faces. “Welcome to my studio, gentlemen. My name is Katherine, but you can call me Kat, and you are?”
The lighter man spoke first, reaching out a large square hand to her. “Warren. But most of my friends call me Rock.”
Kat shook the meaty fist, wondering where the nickname came from. He was definitely rock hard, and she wondered if his cock was that hard. Shaking her head again to let the errant thoughts loose, she sighed, turning to tall, dark, and handsome.
“Kaden.” The thick hand reached out, and as Kat took it in her own, she felt tingles racing up her arm. She wanted this man in a way she had never wanted another in her life, imagining the feeling of being under his heavy weight as he pressed his firm length inside her.
My goodness, what am I doing?
Pulled from her dream state, Kat slid her hand from his, even though she barely wanted to, as she felt the heat pooling in her face. “If you want to follow me over this way, we can get set up and take your photos.”
Twisting around quickly, she pinched herself on the inner arm to wake herself up from the hazy lust she felt. Feeling the alarming presence of the two large men behind her was enough for the small hairs on the back of her neck rise, and she felt their heated glares on her backside as she walked, making her want to swish her ass like a street harlot, making her want to open herself for their touches.
Both of their touches? Oh, I really have gone off the deep end now if I am considering letting them both throw me down on the floor and ravage me.
Taking the two to the center of the room where a large white screen had already been laid out, she turned on two more of the large lights, bathing the space in so much wattage that it was almost as if they were on an island in the vast sea of darkness.
Both men lay down the heavy duffels they carried, and Kat watched the release, loving the way their muscles flexed. “So, who will be first?”
Rock stepped forward, running a hand through his short, spiky hair. “I suppose we can just get this over with. I hate having my picture taken.”
I don’t know why. You are gorgeous. “No worries, just step to the center and try to rest comfortably, as if the camera isn’t here.” Kat moved to adjust one of the lights, shining it right in the center of Rock’s chiseled abs. Moving to a stool along the front edge of the white screen lying across the floor, Kat grasped her camera.
“Hell, are you going to take my picture or shoot me? That thing looks dangerous.” A light shone in Rock’s eye as if he was joking to burn off nervous energy.
“Well, I suppose I will be doing both.” Kat winked at the man, feeling his nervousness rolling off him like a wave and glad it gave her something else to focus on instead of her lustful thoughts. “I promise I won’t hurt you. Much.”
The first two shots Kat took were a mess. The man definitely not comfortable in front of the lens. She kept throwing out little comments and bad jokes, trying to ease his mind a little, but it wasn’t much help as the pictures did not improve much. The man was hot as hell, but every picture looked like he was an animal caught in a metal trap and wanted to be anywhere but here.
“I’m sorry, Kat. This is why I am a cop and not a model. I much prefer being the one to take the pictures, not the subject.” Rock looked down at the floor and ran a fist through his nearly nonexistent hair.
Kat felt bad for the guy. She had tried to loosen him up, but nothing was working. “There are few people in the world that like to have their picture taken. We just need to find the right way to loosen you up.”
“Perhaps loosening up the photographer could help as well?” Kat felt a heavy hand on her hip and melted at Kaden’s touch. Swallowing hard, she turned to look up at the fire circling in both of his dark eyes. A shiver ran down her length at the promise those eyes held, and her gaze drifted down to his firm lips, imagining them wrapped around her nipple.
Pulling from him some, Kat knew she would have no way of getting through this photo shoot if she didn’t keep her lust in check. Kaden moved with her, pressing into her, and she felt his hardness rubbing against her lower back.
All Kat wanted to do was push back against him and let him have his way with her, but she had a job to do, and he was a complete stranger. Gathering what little willpower she had left, she retrained her eye onto Rock and began taking shots again as she felt Kaden’s hand spread across her midsection. Reaching into the waistband of his pants, Rock released the edges of his T-shirt, pulling the dark jersey over his head and casting the pile to the edge of the white space.
Looking through the lens, she noticed a fire light in Rock’s eyes. He was intent on the movement of Kaden’s hand on her body, noticeably aroused by the action, and it showed on his face and his body, particularly in the light that glistened in his amber eyes. Kat took shot after powerful shot, the exact thing the charity would need to drive up the price on the hunk at the auction. The exact thing Kat needed to build her flames up higher and higher.
Soft lips pressed against her neck as she snapped away, one man devouring her from behind, the other through the lens of her camera. Kat felt the heat level skyrocket through the room, a soft sheen of perspiration covering her body as she felt as though she was engulfed in flames. Thick fingers reached up and stroked the underside of her breast, and a moan escaped her lips.
“I suppose it’s my turn now,” Kaden whispered in her ear as he gently released his hold on Kat. Devoid of his touch, Kat’s body screamed in frustration. She watched as Kaden stepped to center stage and Rock fell behind her, close enough to feel the heat emanating from his body.
A small smile quirked Kaden’s lips as Kat raised her camera to begin the shoot. Much more comfortable in front of the camera, Kaden was a natural, his olive skin glistening in the overhead lights, a sharp contrast to the white background. The man practically made love to her through the pictures, his blatant desire for her apparent in every click of her finger.
Lost in the moment, she had not registered that Rock had stepped closer and was a hairsbreadth from touching her with his big body. She felt so delicate, so feminine, surrounded by their palpable masculinity, something the Ice Queen had not felt in much too long.
Pressing a firm hand to her stomach, Rock pulled her into his embrace, and she felt his hardness lengthen farther against her rear, loving that she was responsible for both of these men’s erections. Continuin
g to click away at the camera, she saw the dark lust in Kaden’s eyes and sensed almost what she considered jealousy, but there was no way this man felt jealousy for a woman he had just met.
There was some unspoken emotion she saw, and whatever it was warred with the desire he felt seeing her in Rock’s arms.
“Have you got what you need?” Kaden’s low rumble met her ears.
“What?”
“The pictures? Do you have what you need?”
She knew she had more than enough to give the charity plenty of material that should make the bids skyrocket and enough to keep her dreams wet for the next decade, but she was loath to admit to the men they were done. Kat could have kept taking pictures of the two all night, but she also knew the men had taken time out of their busy work schedules to be there tonight and may have other things to do.
Breathing a sigh of disappointment, she pulled from Rock’s arms and put her camera back on the stool. “Yeah, I suppose we have enough here to do the trick.”
Moving to stand directly in front of her, Kaden took her face in both of his. “Good. Because I can’t wait any longer.”
Ducking, he pressed his firm lips to hers, gentler than she expected. Shock had her mouth opening, and he took advantage of the moment, letting his tongue slip in to press against hers. Deepening the kiss ever so slightly, he pulled Kat closer to him as she felt Rock press closer to her back. Lifting the hair from her nape, Rock pressed a kiss to her. She sighed as she felt his lips brush against her neck, right at the most sensitive spot where her hair began to grow.
Shivering in their touches, she felt her thighs quake and her knees wobble, unable to stand between them. Rock then leaned her back slightly, holding her weight on his frame, cradling her as Kaden further deepened the kiss. Raising an arm, she wrapped it around Kaden’s neck, holding his mouth to hers so she could trap him to her mouth. Her other hand reached back to clasp Rock’s hand, intertwining her fingers with his.
“That son of a bitch stood me up. Do you believe that, me. I left him a scalding text telling him—¡Dios mío!”
Kat broke the kiss, looking over Kaden’s shoulder to see Jorge standing on the outer edges of the light with his chin on the floor. Pushing from the men, she blushed furiously and rubbed a hand down her face. “Jorge, umm, is there a reason you are interrupting the shoot?”
“Interrupting the shoot? Oh yeah, the shoot. With the muy caliente hombres.”
Kat put her head into her hands, wishing that some alien life form would choose that very moment to abduct her and take her as far from this place as possible. Feeling a hand resting on her shoulder, she looked up to see Rock staring into her eyes. He pressed a kiss on her forehead, and she sighed into his touch, not knowing how to address either man. Kaden put his shirt back on, eyeing Jorge with an angry glare, and gave her a quick peck on the cheek.
“Thank you for work on the charity. You have another shoot the day after tomorrow, correct?” Kaden’s warm eyes lost her within their depths.
Trying to work her mouth, she failed, deciding to nod yes instead. Kaden smirked, kissed her once more before nodding to his friend that it was time to leave. Watching the two men walk out, their sinewy muscles graceful with every step, she longed for what might have been that night.
As soon as they exited the space, she ran over to the door, unlocked the bolt, and slid the aluminum shut as quickly as possible.
What the hell was I thinking? Thank goodness Jorge showed up when he did, or I would have made the biggest mistake of my life.
“I’m sorry to have broken up your little fiesta. It looked like a lot of fun. Perhaps a little more fun if I had been the meat in that sandwich, but still, go ahead, Katherine. There is still a woman roaring inside that harpy armor of yours.”
“Roaring or not, you saved me from a mistake. Thank you.”
“Mistake? Are you kidding me, Kat? That would have been a serious notch, or rather two, on your bedpost that you would never, ever forget. After five years of nothing, I think it would take two men to shake off all the ice.”
Kat moved to her office, shutting the door behind her, shutting off the voice that was saying all the things her heart was whispering to her head.
* * * *
“Are you thinking what I am?” Apollo wondered aloud, eyeing Jorge studiously.
“He seems to care about Kat, so I don’t think he would interrupt purposefully. I get no feeling from him either. He isn’t otherworldly, plus Fate is still woven. And Jorge told her to go for it. Maybe she needed a taste of fire before she could allow herself to succumb to it.” Eros smiled at the other god. “She was ever so close, though.”
“So, we have a show to look forward to.”
“Your voyeur streak is a mile wide, Uncle.”
“You see this sort of thing every day. It is your job. Me, not as often. Getting a bird’s eye view of random sex lives is gritty stuff. After this is all over, I may have to find some arbitrary Muse and bed her well. Or perhaps two Muses.” The lust glancing over Apollo’s eyes made Eros laugh.
Chapter Sixteen
Kat checked her makeup in the hall mirror before she knocked on the door. A small party for City Life Magazine’s new editor-in-chief, Amanda Gray, Kat would make the rounds, schmooze as little as possible, and try to get out as soon as she could. Last night’s escapades had run through her head all day long, and for the life of her, she couldn’t understand why she had gone into hyperdrive.
Menopause rearing its ugly head?
God, no. Please no.
Gathering a breath, she raised her hand to the gleaming white wood of the door and rapped twice. Hearing the quiet murmurs of the gathering behind it, she prayed for strength. These little events were usually ripe with drama, gossip, and social climbers. Kat really didn’t care about any of it anymore. Once, when her career was new, she would have sold her soul to be in the midst of this action. Now, she could care less. Maybe she had already sold her soul.
Perhaps she could exit the party unscathed tonight and avoid any unpleasantries. Well, she could hope in one hand…
A butler opened the door and gathered her coat and hat. Putting a flute of champagne in her hand, Kat stood back and saw a couple of hands waving at her, and she waved back. Seeing the belle of the ball toward the long row of windows open to the city sky, she made a beeline, wanting to pay her congratulations to the new regime at the magazine.
The sea parted as she navigated a path to the back, and she began looking around the room to see whom she would be forced to converse with before she could make her hasty exit. Stopping suddenly, she blinked her eyes.
Kaden.
The man stood near Amanda, looking fine as hell in black sports jacket, the crisp white shirt below it bright against his tanned skin. As if sensing her eyes on him, he turned toward her and smiled. Not a smile of hello. More a smile of conquest, the need flaring to his eyes the moment they landed on her.
What was he doing here?
Starting off again, she continued her path to Amanda, needing to bestow her well wishes on the woman. Arriving in front of the elegant new editor, Kat saw a near mirror image of herself. The same age, they had both started in the industry as models, once had competed for jobs, and had become quite adversarial at the time. Both had also been bright enough to find a way to keep their fashion careers going after they hit twenty-five. Kat smiled and placed her open palm out to her, hoping their once-combative relationship had mellowed with time.
Kat’s eyes kept sneaking to the right, trying to keep Kaden in her periphery. Shaking Amanda’s hand, she smiled. “Congratulations, Amanda. I was so happy to hear you were coming to town. I love the work you did for Harper’s.”
Amanda smiled, her hazel eyes also moving to Kaden as she shook her hand. The woman had a reputation as being honest, sometimes to a fault, and as shrewd as they come. Kat hoped she had not seen the surprise on her face when she had noticed Kaden in the room, because she had heard that Amanda Gray could fi
nd the skeletons in anyone’s closet.
“Thank you, Kat. I am so glad you were able to make it tonight. And I believe you have already met Kaden Jefferies?”
Kat held her breath and tried to keep her face impassive. Turning to put her hand out to Kaden, she smiled tightly. “Yes, my shoot with Kaden and Rock was last night. How are you, Kaden?”
The fire in Kaden’s eyes nearly roasted her on the spot. He grasped her hand, but instead of shaking it, he brought it to his mouth, placing a firm kiss to the back of it. As he lifted his head, he caught her eyes with his own. The heat he was projecting was consuming her.
Pulling her hand from his grasp as artfully as she could, she did not know how to react to him. Kat glanced around the crowd. She felt under the microscope, as if everyone in the room was waiting on baited breath for her reaction. Laughing it off, she shook her head at Amanda. “Whoever bids on this one is going to have their hands full.”
The group around her chuckled, and Kaden’s face fell as she watched him over the rim of the champagne glass. She took a sip to prevent her from saying anything more.
“And will you bid on him, Kat?”
Kat nearly spit out her mouthful of bubbly as she looked over at Amanda in shock. Taking a breath, she tried to swallow normally. “No, no. I just take the pictures.”
“Perhaps you are a bit too old for him. I mean, you are close to fifty now, aren’t you? And I happen to know that Kaden here is just thirty. But then again, I suppose you would make one interesting cougar.”
Kat bit her tongue, not wanting to say what she really thought, anger coursing through her veins. “Well, I believe you are older than I am, Amanda, so, what, that makes you about sixty?”
Amanda smirked, one lone eyebrow rising. “Touché.” Stepping close, Amanda leaned in to Kat’s ear. “At least I don’t publicly drool over a man who is young enough to be my son. How about a little grace?”
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