“So I am.” He unzips the jeans and pulls them and his boxers off in one smooth motion, leaving him gloriously naked before me.
“Come.” He holds his hand out to me so he can help me step into the water. I sink down and sigh as the hot water envelops me.
“Aren’t you going to join me?”
“Yes.” He steps in and sits facing me, his legs on either side of mine, and leans against the opposite side.
“This is nice.” It’s the truth. The water is soothing after the difficult encounter with his sister, and he’s naked, which makes everything nice.
“It is.”
“You’re very monosyllabic tonight, you know.”
He grins at me almost shyly. “I’m sorry. I have a lot going through my head.”
“Spill it.”
He shakes his head.
“Oh, no, you don’t. What’s going on in that handsome head of yours, Williams?”
“I’m really sorry about the way my sister treated you tonight.”
Oh.
“I’m just sorry for the way I reacted, Luke. I’m sorry that I made you uncomfortable and for speaking that way to your family.”
“No, don’t apologize. She was way out of line. I had a bad feeling that she’d act like that, that’s why I called her last night.”
“Luke.” I pick up one of his feet and start to rub. His eyes widen and then he closes them and leans his head against the tub with a groan. “I don’t have siblings, but I can understand wanting to protect someone I love. What I don’t understand is, why the blatant hostility? I don’t get it.”
“Well, something you said tonight hit a little too close to home,” he murmurs, then opens his eyes and sighs, looking everywhere but at me.
“What?”
“The part about me being stupid enough to be with someone I know is using me because I’m rich and famous.”
I gasp and drop his foot. Oh my God, this is mortifying. “I don’t understand.”
He takes my right foot in his hands and rubs his thumb over my tattoo, frowning.
“My last relationship was with a woman who was with me for all those reasons.”
“Oh.” I do not want to hear this.
“Yeah.”
“How long ago?”
“I broke it off over a year ago.”
“I thought you said that you’ve never introduced anyone to your family.” I lean my head back on the tub. I just can’t look at him when I’m feeling jealous and nervous and unsure.
“I haven’t. They never met her. They knew of her, more so after the fact.”
I’m staring at the ceiling, listening to him, trying to find that Zen-like calm I found at his parents’ dining room table.
“Why?” My voice is calmer than I feel.
“Because she went to the tabloids and said that she was pregnant when I decided to break our engagement.”
“What the fuck?” My head snaps up, and I hold his gaze. “You’re a father?”
“No!” He tightly closes his eyes and shakes his head in frustration. “She sold the lie to the tabloids to get back at me for breaking up with her.”
“You were going to marry her?” I feel like I’ve been kicked in the stomach.
“Yes.” He’s watching me warily, no doubt gauging my reaction to all of this.
“And you never introduced her to your family?”
“She never had much interest in meeting them. Whenever I’d arrange it, something would come up.” He shrugs.
“And you didn’t find that odd?”
“I do now.”
“Why did you break it off?”
“Because she wasn’t right for me.”
“That’s a lame answer.”
“It’s the truth.” He shrugs and then sighs. “I guess I finally realized that had I not been famous or wealthy, she wouldn’t have given me the time of day. She didn’t like it that I’d stopped acting and hoped that the producing thing was just a phase and I’d miss being the center of attention. She wanted to be a celebrity wife, and that wasn’t something I was interested in.”
“Do you still talk to her?”
“No.”
I lean my head back again and look at my now wrinkled fingers. The water is starting to cool. Time flies when you’re trying to hold a calm conversation about your lover’s ex-fiancée.
“I guess that explains a lot.”
“Nat…”
“Hold on.” I hold my hand up to stop him. “Give me a minute.”
“Okay.” He frowns and continues to rub my foot.
Why do I feel so betrayed all over again? And then it hits me.
“I must have looked pretty stupid to your family when I didn’t know about your ex-fiancée.”
He abruptly leans forward and pulls me onto his lap, ignoring the water sloshing onto the floor, and wraps his arms around me.
“You were magnificent tonight. I didn’t know if I should be proud or emasculated at the way you jumped to my defense like that.”
“You should have warned me.”
“I know.”
I run my fingers through his hair and sigh. “We still have so much to learn about each other.”
“We’ll get there, baby.”
“It made me crazy when your sister was talking about you like that.”
He shakes his head and laughs ruefully. “Ironically, she was talking about you, baby.”
“I know, but in doing so she made it about you, and I couldn’t stand it.”
“No one has ever jumped to my defense like that. You were so calm and sure of yourself, and so pissed off. Your green eyes were on fire, and you just looked so beautiful. I wanted to fuck you right there at the table.”
“Luke Williams!” I pull back and stare at him, shocked.
“It’s true. You turned me on, big time.”
“I don’t think that would have been appropriate with your parents sitting at that same table.”
“I don’t think I would have cared if the pope and Elvis were sitting at that table.”
I laugh and snuggle up against him again.
“Oh, baby, what am I going to do with you?”
“Anything you want.”
“Come on.” He stands me up out of the water, and then climbs to his feet behind me. I can’t get over how strong he is. He moves me around like I’m nothing at all.
He slings a towel around his hips and grabs another soft, white, fluffy towel off the towel warmer and wraps it around me. He pulls me against him and kisses me deeply, passionately, before letting go so he can dry my body.
Oh my.
He runs the towel up and down me, soaking up the extra moisture. I can’t resist leaning forward and kissing his sternum, and I hear his quick inhale.
When I’m dry, I take the towel from around his waist and return the favor, enjoying the intoxicating sight of his muscular physique.
“There, all dry,” I whisper.
“Thank Christ.” He pulls me to him, his hands in my hair, and kisses me deeply. I wrap my arms around him and drag my nails down his back.
“God, baby, you’ll unman here in the bathroom.”
“Good.” I scrape his back again, and he growls against my neck. He abruptly spins me and plants my hands on the vanity facing the wide mirror over the sinks. I look up and am taken aback by the sexy sight that is Luke standing behind me, about six inches taller than I am, all golden hair and bronze body, leaning down to kiss my bare shoulders. He cups the back of my neck in his hand and smoothes it down my spine, hovering for a moment over my tattoo, watching his own hand’s progression, and his breathing increases. He pulls my hips back so I’m bent over, and I just can’t stop watching his beautiful, expressive face as he touches me.
Finally, he runs a single finger down my bottom and slips it inside me.
“Oh, Luke.”
“Baby, you’re so ready.” I feel him position the head of his cock on my lips and slowly, oh so slowly, push inside me. H
is eyes meet mine in the mirror as he pushes farther until he’s buried completely in my folds.
“Spank me.” Fuck! Did I just say that?
“What?” He stops, his hands on my hips, and he’s gaping at me in the mirror.
“Spank me.”
“You like it rough, baby?” He grins quizzically at me.
“Not until I met you.” His face changes from curiosity to pure possession in a matter of seconds, and I can’t help but clench around him.
“Fuck, Natalie.” He raises his right hand and brings it down on my buttock.
“Yes!” I circle my hips, and he starts moving in and out of me, holding my hips. I’m backing up against him, and we find our rhythm. Finally, he raises his hand again and slaps my ass, and it’s so fucking hot!
“Again?” he asks breathlessly.
“Yes.”
He obliges, and I feel the tension beginning low in my belly. My legs clench, and I tighten around him, my orgasm ripping through me.
“Oh, baby, yes.”
I watch in fascination as Luke tightly closes his eyes and grips my hips harder, his own orgasm pushing through him and explodes inside me.
He runs that beautiful hand down my back again, his breathing still choppy, and smiles at me in the mirror. “I had no idea you like it rough.”
“It’s a newly acquired taste.”
He slips out of me and leans down to kiss the tattoo on my upper thigh, below my buttock, and I gasp.
“I think this is the sexiest tattoo you have.”
“You do?”
“Mmm hmm.” He’s tracing it with his finger, and chills run up my back.
“Why?”
“Well, it looks fucking sexy.”
“I’m glad you like it.” I grin down at him, still through the mirror.
“I love them all,” he says earnestly, and I can’t help but fall just a little in love with his honest face.
“I want you happy, Nat.”
“Oh.” I turn at his words, and he stands up, wrapping his arms around my shoulders and pulling me into a big hug.
“I don’t know what to do with these feelings I’m having for you,” I whisper against his chest.
“We’re just going to take this one day at a time, baby.” He pulls back and gives me his tender kiss.
“Okay, I can do that.”
“Good, let’s get some sleep.” He picks me up in his arms and heads for the bed.
“You know, I can walk.” I laugh and press my face in his neck.
“No need, I have you.”
“I love how strong you are.”
“Do you now?”
“Yes. Speaking of, I have to get up early tomorrow for yoga, and then I have a session at eleven.”
“Okay. Want me to pick you up for lunch?” He pulls the duvet back and lays me down on the bed, climbing in behind me, and pulls me into his arms.
“Aren’t you sick of me?”
“Are you sick of me?” He pulls me around so he can see my face.
“Well, no.”
“I want to see you for lunch tomorrow. Please.”
“Okay,” I mumble and curl up in his arms to sleep.
Chapter Fifteen
There are some days that the work just flows. This is, thankfully, one of those days.
It was tough leaving Luke’s bed this morning, but I’m glad I went to yoga to get my blood pumping. I had a relaxed breakfast with Jules, where I filled her in on the weekend events, and I couldn’t even be very mad when my eleven o’clock session was late.
Brad is a hot twenty-one-year-old with a lot of model potential. He’s got the face and the body, and he’s hired me to help him beef up his portfolio. I usually work with women or couples, but Brad is professional and sincerely wants to break into show biz, and I just couldn’t turn him away.
Not to mention he’s tall, dark and extremely handsome. Not a bad way to spend a few hours out of the day.
We’ve been having a lot of fun all morning. Brad is easily six-foot-three and completely toned. Not unlike Luke, but I push him to the side of my brain and focus on the job. Where Luke is bronzed and golden, Brad is tanned and dark, with dark hair and eyes and the hint of a five o’clock shadow on his sculpted jaw.
He’s stripped down to an impossibly small pair of nude boxer briefs that barely cover the essentials, and he’s wrapped from the waist down in a white satin sheet.
“You’re good at this, Natalie. It doesn’t even feel like work.”
“Thank you.” I raise the camera to my eye and start clicking. “These sessions should be fun.”
“Are you single?” he asks as he gives the camera a sexy half smile.
“Uh, no.” I frown at him. “No flirting, Brad.”
“Sorry, couldn’t resist. I’m in bed, mostly naked, and a beautiful woman is taking my photo.”
I laugh and change memory cards. Man, it’s hot in here! I take my blue hoodie off, leaving a fitted black tank over my sports bra. I have cropped yoga pants on, but go in the bathroom and change into yoga shorts. I refasten my hair up into a bun and kick off my shoes.
“Okay, Brad, back in bed.”
“How can I resist that?” He is such a flirt! He climbs back on the bed and pulls the sheet low over his hips.
“Okay, on your back, one arm over your head. Good, don’t move.” I climb on the bed and straddle his hips with my feet, standing directly over him.
“This is a great shot.” I’m snapping away, so pleased with the images I’m capturing.
“Should I look serious for some?”
“Sure, don’t give me that sexy smile. Perfect!” Snap, snap, snap. I walk up his body, focusing down on his face. I almost lose my balance, but he reaches up and clasps his hands around the backs of my calves.
“Whew! Thanks.” I giggle and continue to snap head shots while he throws one hand back up over his head, keeping one hand braced on my leg to keep me steady.
“What the fuck is going on?!”
Brad and I both jump, startled at the angry shout coming from my front door.
“Luke! You scared the hell out of me!”
Brad immediately releases my leg, accurately assessing that he may have his moneymaker punched any moment.
“What the fuck, Natalie!”
“Stop yelling at me!” I jump off the bed and stow my camera. “Brad, you can go ahead and get dressed. We’re finished here anyway.”
Brad rises off the bed, letting the sheet fall, and I avert my eyes. He saunters into the bathroom to get dressed.
“What the hell is your problem?” I hiss at Luke.
“What do you think? You were on a bed with a naked man, and his hands were on you!”
I take a deep breath. “He wasn’t naked, Luke. I am not naked.”
“Close enough,” he mutters.
“Hey, this is why I told you not to freak out on me when I showed you this studio.”
“You didn’t tell me that you work with young naked men.” He’s pissed all over again.
“I don’t, usually. He’s a friend of a friend who needs images for his portfolio. Don’t be a jealous ass.”
“You led me to believe that you work with women or couples, Natalie.”
“Luke, I just told you, this is an exception.”
“I don’t like it.”
“It doesn’t matter if you like it.”
Luke glares at me like I’ve grown a second head and runs both hands through his hair.
Brad saunters out of the bathroom, fully dressed in jeans, T-shirt and sneakers. “Thanks again, Natalie. I had a great time.”
I smile warmly at him. “Me, too, and you’re welcome. I should have them edited for you this week.”
“Great. See ya.” He leaves, shutting the door behind him.
I turn back to Luke to find his glacial blue eyes narrowed on me. He’s royally pissed.
“What, exactly, are you mad about?” I ask as I turn back to the bed and begin stripping the sh
eets.
“Natalie, I just walked into this studio to find my girlfriend standing in what would only be appropriate as nightwear over a naked guy on a bed, and he’s got his hands on her bare leg. What do you think I’m mad about?” His voice has risen several decibels, but I’m stuck like stupid on one word.
“Girlfriend?”
He stops his rant and stares at me. “Yes, girlfriend. I thought after this past weekend that that’s where we are.”
Oh.
Wow.
“Am I wrong?” His voice is worryingly calm.
“Well, no, I guess I just hadn’t thought about it.” I finish with the bed and turn to face him again. “Luke, this is my job.”
“I don’t like it.”
“It isn’t your place to tell me that I can’t do this.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“That’s what you’re implying. I’ve done this for years. No one has ever gotten out of hand. Remember, I told you I don’t have sex in here, and I don’t have sex with clients. Jesus, do you have so little faith in me?”
“No, it’s just…” He runs his hands through his hair again and paces back and forth. “I wasn’t expecting to feel the way I felt when I saw his hand on you.”
“How did you feel?” I tilt my head at him, my curiosity piqued.
“Like I wanted to kill him,” he growls.
“Oh.”
“Nat, think of how you would feel if I had to do a love scene in a movie. It would be work to me, but I’d still have to hold another woman, kiss her…”
“Stop right there.” I do not want to hear this.
“It’s the same thing for me.”
Geez.
I take a deep breath and sit on the side of the bed, suddenly weary. “I’m sorry, it didn’t occur to me. Honey, I haven’t had to explain my actions to another human being in years.”
“I know.”
“You were jealous.”
“Jealous is too tame a word for what I was feeling.”
Part of me wants to squeal and do a little happy dance, but I hold it in and gaze at him impassively. “You don’t have any reason to be jealous. You’re all I see, Luke, even when I’m not with you.”
He closes his eyes tightly, as though some great weight has been lifted, and I take him all in. He’s wearing another button-down shirt today, in black this time, and black jeans. He looks young and impossibly beautiful.