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𝘞𝘙𝘌𝘕 𝘑𝘈𝘔𝘌𝘚
THE PHOTOSHOOT IS TODAY AND i’ve never wanted to not do something as much as I don’t want to do this. Okay, maybe that’s a lie but I really don’t want to do a nude photoshoot with my colleague. It’s weird.
Lex told me she was going to buy a hundred copies of the magazine and save them all to gift to me for the rest of my birthdays. I told her that if she did that, I would personally burn them all in front of her.
It’s not like my whole naked body is going to be on the cover. More like my back or silhouette. But in order to photograph my back or silhouette, I need to be naked.
And to top it off, i’ll have to be naked in front of Rhys. Great. Really really great.
I rest my head on my car steering wheel when my phone rings. I look at the contact name to see: Bernard Villa. I sigh. There’s no getting out of this.
__________
“They’ll get you prepped over here doll.” Bernard shoo’s me into a dressing-or undressing-room.
“When you’re done, just head to the main studio and we’ll start shooting.” Bernard gives me a once over before sighing. “Ugh. You are so beautiful and smart, everyone is going to love you.” He pecks my cheeks and then leaves the dressing room.
The makeup artists start attacking my back and stomach and I stand very still. Not wanting to mess up their work.
“So are you like an athlete or an inspiration?” A makeup artist with blue hair asks me.
“Uh, i’m just a realtor business associate.” I shiver when someone applies something cold to my back.
“Ohhh, so an inspiration.” The makeup artist nods.
Then just as fast as they started, they were done and I was making my way to the main studio in nothing but grip tape, underwear and a robe.
When I walked into the studio, the music was loud, the people looked friendly and the set was basic. I looked around and spotted Rhys and Bernard talking in the corner. I made my way to them calmly.
Rhys saw me first. He was in a robe like mine, his hair was the same; messy. But his face was surprisingly relaxed.
Bernard turned to me and smiled. “You arrived. I love cooperative models. Or in your case, young, sexy entrepreneurs.” He waved his hands as he described us, looking into the distance like he’s imagining the cover of the magazine. Then wiggles his eyebrows. “That’s good for the quote right. Yeah. Love, love, love it.”
Bernard was…a lot, but somehow made everything else feel relaxed. He was good at his job.
“Okay. Chop chop everyone! The Show. Is. About. To. Begin!” Bernard snapped his fingers and ushered us to the set, which was a white backdrop and marble floor.
He turned to us when he got the camera situated. “Alright, you can drop your robes and let’s get the creative juices flowing.” Bernard waved his hands and cracked his knuckles.
I plastered on my neutral face extra hard and untied my robe. In my peripheral vision I saw a robe drop and skin followed. I dropped my robe.
Claps and whistles of encouragement followed our actions and I turned to Rhys.
He had more tattoos, that was the first thing I noticed. One just below his collar bone, one up the side of his hip, and lots on his arms. Then I noticed his abs. Six blocks of muscle formed two rows down his stomach, they tightened and unwound sporadically. My eyes didn’t drop lower then his ‘kiss here’ tattoo. Though I could tell he was wearing cream boxers; much like my cream underwear. My eyes worked their way up to his face, he was staring at me. Right at me. Not my body but me. My face, looking directly into my eyes.
“Okay kids, let’s get to shooting!”
__________
After over an hour of posing separately, it was time to photograph us together. I had gotten comfortable-or as comfortable as I could get- with posing for the camera that I had it down. I turned when I had to turn or moved my hands when I had to.
It was semi-easy, but it got harder when Rhys stepped onto the set. He was built, but not like bodybuilder big, just like strong and defined. And the camera loved him. I was standing behind the camera while they were photographing him and there wasn’t one bad picture.
“We need the cover page picture. I don’t care if we’re here until midnight. We’ll get the perfect image.” Bernard clapped and faced the camera.
“I need Wren to stand up straight and Rhys to stand behind her and place your chin on her shoulder. Both of your hands should be around her shoulders, and Wren, your hands should be gripping his forearms. Places!”
I did as told and stood on an ‘x’ that was marked on the ground. Then waited for Rhys to wrap his arms around me. But instead I felt his breath fan my ear and then my neck and his chin was placed in the dip of my shoulder.
“Should’ve brought Puff here. Her raggedy tail would clash really well with our complexions.” Rhys said into my neck.
I would have shivered at his close proximity but his breath was hot, and it made my whole body ignite. He wrapped his arms around my shoulders and it felt like the warmest place in the world.
I grabbed his arms and the camera started taking pictures. “I’ll have to tell her that today, so she can go to your house and show you just what that raggedy tail can do.” I answered flatly.
“What is it, like a rope? No chance she could tie me up. I was a Boy Scout for five years. Got a pin for untying knots.”
I rolled my eyes and Bernard gave another instruction. “Wren turn your body so that your front is pressed up against his front.”
I let go of his arms and turned. My breasts pressed flat against his hard chest and I shivered. Never would I have thought i’d be naked against Rhys Moore-not like that.
“Now both of you look up toward the sky and raise you arms above your heads.” The camera fluttered and I looked up at Rhys.
“You’re so cold.” Rhys mumbled quietly. I don’t know if he meant for me to hear it, but I did.
“You’re so hard.” Wait-God. Oh no. I didn’t mean his-I meant his chest. It was like a rock. No! No that still sounds wrong. There was no coming back from this.
“Oh yeah?” His eyes met mine and his mouth was quirked into a half smirk.
“Wren move your hands to his chest. Rhys move your hands to cradle her hips.” At this point I felt like Bernard was trying to make this weird. But I didn’t want to be here until midnight, so I complied.
My hands dropped onto his hard chest. His big hands slid down from my arms to my sides and down to hold-or cradle-my hips.
“Are you okay with this?” He mumbled from above me. I murmured an ‘mhm’.
“Make sure your chests are flush together. No gaps, it makes for a weird glare.” Kill. Me. Now.
Rhys’s hands tightened on my hips and he brought me closer to him. I kept my hands planted on his chest. The flicker of the camera went off and Bernard made a comment that sounded like a ‘no no that’s not it.’
“Okay, set directors move the counter into the set. Wardrobe, get them bottoms.”
__________
After the set was ready and I had a pencil skirt on, I made my way to the studio. Standing with his arms crossed and wearing dress pants, Rhys nodded at something Bernard was saying. Bernard wasn’t slick, I knew what he was doing.
When Bernard saw me he clapped and put his hands over his mouth. “My God! That skirt fits you like a glove! Doesn’t it Rhys?” We both looked up at Rhys.
He made an ‘mhm’ sound and ran his tongue across his bottom lip, avoiding my eyes.
“Alright. Wren sweetie, you’re going to sit up on the counter, we put an ‘x’ where you should sit.” Bernard motioned to the set.
I walked to the counter-that looked like a desk, and sat up on the edge of it; on the ‘x’. I fixed my hair as Bernard gave Rhys instruction.
He walked toward me and stood directly in front of me. Then he placed a hand on my knee and moved it to the side, opening up my legs. Then he stepped in between them.
I looked up at his face and saw that his jaw was strained. His eyes trained on my bare shoulder. My hands were on my lap while I watched Rhys have an internal battle.
“Hot damn! This is gonna be the winner I can feel it.” Bernard said and then, “Rhys move closer-don’t be shy-and pose like I said.”
Rhys groaned and moved further into my legs. With one hand still on my knee, he brought the other one to my waist, and slid it to grasp my back. He then used the side of his face to push mine away, his breathing hitting my hair and ear.
On instinct I placed my hands behind me on the desk. Bernard squealed. “Lord! Is it getting hot in here? Or is it just these two? Because wow!” He fanned himself.
The camera went off and Rhys’s breathing became harsher in my ear. Every time I inhaled, my chest would press deeper into his, earning me a hitch in his breathing when I did.
Finally Bernard started clapping as did everyone else. A few ‘so hot’ or ‘I wish that was me’ or ‘damn’s’ were heard when we pulled away from each other.
I couldn’t look at Rhys as I slid off the desk and made my way to the dressing room.
__________
I had finally changed into clothes and got interviewed by someone on their team that writes the blurbs about our success. Then I said goodbye to everyone. Except Rhys. I couldn’t look at him the same. Not after seeing him so…exposed.
I slumped my head onto the steering wheel of my car and cursed myself. Because now all I could think about when I thought about Rhys, was the way his chest felt underneath my fingertips. How his fingertips felt on my hips.
This was the best-worst decision i’ve ever made.
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