Im not going to fire you, I tell her, and she visibly relaxes. s.h.i.t, Im an a.s.shole. Im going to have to give her a raise tomorrow for dealing with this photo shoot, because this wont work unless we just use a cropped pic of Calis face.

Close the set. There are too many people here. I look around. Its mainly just some of the other models, but a couple were eyeing me, and I dont want them coming up to try to talk to me. I only want attention from one woman, and I dont want someone else to f.u.c.k that up. I also dont want to lose it if some random security guard or maintenance man walks through. Thatd f.u.c.k up any chance I have with getting Cali.

I cant see a woman agreeing to go on a date with a man after she sees him land a fist in another mans face for looking at her. I want to play it safe. Maybe if she agrees to be mine, some of this jealousy will go away. If she knows Im it for her like shes it for me, maybe Ill feel less tense.

Of course. She goes over to talk to the photographer, but I stop her.

And Ill be picking the poses and a.s.sisting her in getting into them if she needs the help, I add. The idea of an innocent pinup with a touch of BDSM actually sounds good, but what doesnt sound so good is someone else binding her. That s.h.i.t will not be flying.

Im not even sure I could tie her down right now. If I crawled onto the bed with her, it might be over before it begins. Id be too close. Id be able to smell her, to touch her skin. It looks like its soft as rose petals.

I take another breath as Lynn heads back over to the photographer. I try to shake the thoughts of rose-petal skin out of my head. I dont think Ive ever thought about what a womans skin feels like, and worse, Im comparing it to flowers. f.u.c.k.

I watch as they argue for a minute, then he steps closer to the bed to talk to Cali. I cant hear what theyre saying, and I take a few steps closer, wanting to hear her voice for the first time. I see her nod as she smiles up at him.

The smile takes over her whole face, and it feels like someone just reached into my chest and squeezed my heart. I want that, to put that smile on her face. I want to see her do so many things because of me. Ive never wanted something so much as I want this.

I take another few steps towards them, past the lights shining down on the bed. Her eyes come to mine, widening a little. Im not a small guy, so Im used to the reaction. I have to have all my suits custom made. I could never just walk into a store and buy something. I often feel like I stand out, especially in the boardroom.

Im almost six foot six, and Im built like a rugby player. Before I really made a name for myself and people didnt recognize my face, I was often mistaken for security.

Cali, Id like you to meet Flynn Long. Hes going to be telling you how to pose.

Her mouth forms a perfect little O shape, and that fist around my heart squeezes even tighter. I want her to like what she sees, but I cant tell what shes thinking. I just pray shes okay with an aggressive man because Im not sure I can give her anything else. Not with how Im feeling about her.

I reach my hand out in introduction, stepping even closer to the bed. I make sure to keep my eyes locked on her face. With the light beaming down on her from the set, she looks like an angel.

Her hand comes out to grab mine, and a bolt of something shoots through my body. I hear her gasp, and I wonder if she felt it, too. I brush my finger across her wrist and feel her heartbeat pick up. She keeps staring up at me, her eyes still big and the perfect O shape still on her lips.

Shes definitely mine, and Im never letting this angel go.

Chapter 6.

Cali

Ryan clears his throat, and Im shaken out of my trance. Jesus Christ, the pull to him is unlike anything Ive ever felt in my life.

His hand grips mine a little tighter before letting go. Once the zing is gone, I bring my fingers to my lips, subconsciously wanting to feel them. I look up to see Flynn watching me, and its as if Im drunk. Im a little dizzy, feeling really warm, and suddenly have the urge to dance. I want to go up to Flynn and rub my body against him like a cat in heat. Ive never done drugs, but this must be what Ecstasy feels like.

Shall we begin? Ryan asks, pulling both my and Flynns attention to him.

Yes, Flynn answers, and his deep voice seems to vibrate through me.

I feel like Im sweating all of a sudden, and Im worried Im going to have a heart attack. This cant be normal. Ive never had this instant attraction to someone before, and my body doesn't know what to do about it.

Flynn turns back to me and looks me up and down, and I feel like I might as well be naked for the way his eyes scan me. On your back. Arms above your head. Hips turned the side.

A shiver runs down my body, and I swear to G.o.d I think I just soaked my panties. Im going to be keeping these after this shoot today. No doubt about that.

I look up into his dark eyes"they look almost black"and do what he asks. Though his eyes are intense, theyre warm, and strangely, I want to please him. I want to do what he tells me to if it makes him happy. Something inside of me needs to follow his instructions.

As I lie back against the soft comforter and pillows, I stretch my arms up over my head, grabbing the bars of the wrought-iron headboard. I keep my knees together and turn my hips to the side, which accentuates the curve of my a.s.s.

If Flynn were to f.u.c.k me in this position, he would get to grab my a.s.s as well as my t.i.ts.

Closing my eyes, I try to shake off the thought. I dont know where it came from. Ive never even had s.e.x before. How would I know what he would do? Now Im lying here, thinking about him doing just what I envisioned.

Perfect, I hear Flynn whisper close to me.

I open my eyes to see him leaning over me, a red ribbon in his hands. He puts one knee on the bed and looks down at me with such intensity, I wouldnt be surprised if he crawled on top of me and started rutting.

The thought has me biting my lip to keep from moaning. Im going to m.a.s.t.u.r.b.a.t.e so hard when I get home.

His giant body shadows mine, and I feel tiny beneath him. Ive never felt so pet.i.te and fragile before. His big hands run up my forearms, and I feel electricity flow through me at his touch. Its as if my body is coming alive for the first time, and now I dont know if I can control it.

A soft whine leaves my lips, and I dont know what Im begging for.

Leaning in a little more, Flynn runs his hands down my arms. Shhh. Easy, Cali. Ive got you.

I feel an ache between my legs like Im going to combust if I dont have some friction there soon. But having his hands on me is the most erotic thing Ive ever felt, and I dont want him to take them away.

His palms slide up my arms again, and I feel the ribbon move around my wrists. He ties it firmly, but I look up and see the bow hes made would easily come undone if I pulled.

Once hes got the ribbon in place, he runs his hands over my forearms one final time before stepping away. I bite my lip to keep another pleading sound from escaping. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, trying to remind myself that were not alone.

Perfect. Ill take a few from this angle and then well try a few more, Ryan says, and I hear the camera start to snap.

He takes a few test shots and then guides me through several frames, adjusting me slightly. When I look over to the side and see Flynn standing there, I hear the camera going off like crazy. Ryan must like the shot hes gotten, but Im so lost in Flynns eyes I have no idea what hes capturing.

Flynn steps forward, and I hear the camera stop. Our eyes remain locked as he tells me what he wants next.

I want you from behind.

I can feel the thick s.e.xual tension rolling between us, and his words make my p.u.s.s.y clench. My b.r.e.a.s.t.s ache, and I feel my hard nipples rubbing against the thin lace material. Its so sheer, he may be able to see them in this bright light. The thought makes me even hotter. Knowing he can see me like this as he puts me in the positions he wants pushes my body closer to the edge. I may just c.u.m if he keeps talking to me like this.

I should be shocked at how Im responding to him. I dont even know this guy from a stranger in the street, but dear G.o.d, Ive never felt attraction like this before. The heat between us is burning me alive, and it just might be the sweetest torture ever.

Flynn clears his throat and approaches the bed. Do you want me to untie you?

No, Im quick to say, but the word comes out like a moan.

I turn myself over on the bed and lie on my stomach while my hands remain tied. I feel his eyes on my back, and then I hear his knee on the bed again.

May I touch you? His words sound pained, like theyre being ripped from him. Meanwhile, my panties are ruined.

Please, I say breathily. Im panting like an animal in heat, and Im not even ashamed. Its as if my body has taken over and Ive thrown my cares to the wind.

I feel his giant hands on my hips as he effortlessly lifts me to my knees. Its as if I weigh nothing at all, and the feeling of being lifted by him sparks new dirty fantasies. The zing pulses through my body again at his skin on mine, and I close my eyes and lean into him, trying to get more.

After Flynn puts me in position, he steps away, and I ache for him to come back.

He has me sitting up straight with my tied hands gripping the headboard as I look back over my shoulder at the camera. Its a very s.e.xual pose, so when I look behind me and lock eyes with Flynn, it feels as if hes making love to me. The heat that pa.s.ses between us is too much, and I have to close my eyes. If I keep looking at him like this, Im going to rip this soaked sc.r.a.p of lace off my crotch and go hump his leg.

Hearing the camera click, I try to focus on the shoot. I move slightly when Ryan needs a certain shot, but otherwise I concentrate on the job and not on the hunk of meat I want to devour like a starved woman.

Maybe after this is over, I can find a way to talk to him. I want his hands on certain areas of my body for an extended period of time, and I need to find a way to make that happen.

Chapter 7.

Cali

Thats yours to keep, the seamstress says, not even looking up from the items shes sewing. I was trying to take the bra off, but my hands are still shaking. I stop and take a deep breath, trying to get control of myself. I have no clue what the h.e.l.l just happened out there.

Worse, I have bitter jealousy shooting through me right now. After Ryan told me we were done, Flynn untied me from the bed and helped me up. Id edged past him, and I thought he was going to reach out and grab me, but he didnt. I just slid right by him as Ryan called for another model. Now Im sure Flynn is out there guiding that model, too. Hes probably tying her to the bed, and I cant help but wonder if she feels the same things I did as his hands slide across her body.

s.h.i.t! I curse at my shirt as I try to b.u.t.ton it up. I need to get out of here, but my shaky hands arent helping.

f.u.c.k, hes hot. Is he helping everyone pose? I hear one of the girls say to another. I look over my shoulder at them. Both blondes. In fact, Im the only non-blonde here, unless more models are coming in and out, doing different shoots throughout the day.

He helped pose you, right? one of the girls asks, and I just nod.

They wouldnt let anyone out there when you were up, but it looks like the set has opened back up.

I have no clue why they closed it. Ive actually never been on a closed set before and was just as curious as the other girls as to why it got closed down. I thought it would be closed for everyone, but I guess not.

Well, I heard Ryan ask Mr. Long if he was going to pose Cindy, too, so I a.s.sumed he posed you. Guess I was right. She smiles like shes excited. I dont blame her, even if I hate her at this moment. I liked having him with me.

Did you see his hands? If his other parts are even half the size, Id be a lucky woman to get him into bed.

Ive got to get out of here before I lose it. Sometimes I hang around the set after a shoot to see some of the pictures, but no way can I stand around while women go after Flynn like theyre in heat. Not with the way he made me feel moments ago. I liked it. No, like is too soft a word for what I was feeling for him.

It was like I came alive the moment he touched my body. There was just something about him. He had this primal hunger, and Id felt like he was hunting me. This is not normal for me. Ive been a model for years. Ive been around some of the most so-called attractive men in the world, but Id never been drawn to them like I was to Flynn.

Some had even asked me out over the years, but I always declined. I didnt want to get a reputation for being a model who slept around. Sometimes that got you mixed in with the ones who would sleep with you for a job, so I kept my legs closed. Id never even been tempted before, and I didnt think it was something that would ever happen. Id always told myself Id do romantic relationships when I was no longer modeling, but Flynn made me want to throw all that away.

Dont even think about going in there. Flynns voice washes over my skin, and I turn to see his back. Hes standing in the doorway to the dressing room, blocking someone from coming in.

I have a delivery, man. Move out of the way, I hear the man being blocked by Flynn say.

I hear someone growl, making everyone turn to look at whats happening now. Even the seamstress finally pulls her eyes away from what shes doing.

Alright, man, then you just take the freaking box, the guy says, and I hear him scurry down the hallway.

Did he growl? I totally think I heard him growl, one of the blondes says.

That was hot, another says. Flynn finally starts to turn around, and now I kind of feel like its my turn to growl at the women watching him. I turn back around, giving him my back, not wanting to look at him or anyone else as I try to b.u.t.ton my stupid blouse.

Can you give us the room? I look back over my shoulder to see who hes talking to, and its clear he wants to be alone with me.

The seamstress puts down the bra shes working on and leaves the room. The two blondes follow suit, but not before one hands him a card. It takes everything in me to keep my face straight, to pretend I dont want to s.n.a.t.c.h the stupid card out of his hand, but when both girls finally leave the room, he tosses the card in the little trash can by the door.

Well, that was rude. I nod towards the trash can.

Im not interested, and Im already taken, he says, taking a few steps towards me. I give him my back again, not wanting to look at him. I was happy he tossed the card out, but now Im p.i.s.sed hes taken. I would not be okay with my man, if I had one, touching me like he had when we were out on that bed. And I really dont want him to see the look on my face right now, so its just best to hide it.

What can I help you with, Mr. Long? I ask, wanting to get this over with so he can go. I still dont even have pants on, and this blouse isnt covering my a.s.s very well.

I wanted to ask you to go out with me. I feel his breath on my neck.

I turn around quickly, expecting him to take a step back, but he doesnt, and I refuse to take one myself. Hes in my s.p.a.ce.

You just said you were taken, I snap, looking all the way up at him. Jesus, hes a freaking giant.

Im taken if youll have me. Dinner? he pushes, and I feel a little tension lift off my chest at his words.

Youre single? I want a clear confirmation.

For now, I guess I am. He runs a finger down my breast. I actually think he might be able to get a good handful of me with how big his hands are, and I feel my nipples tighten at the thought. His finger travels down until it meets the silk blouse. He pulls it closed and starts doing up the b.u.t.tons on it.

What will it be, Miss Carr?