Olivia Brynn Collection Volume 1

by Brynn, Olivia

  “Except during the solo shots.” Keith grinned, and stroked his camera lovingly. “Then I want you to seduce this baby.”

  Solo shots? Oh God.

  Keith took a few measurements from different points around the bed, and adjusted the shades.

  “Zoe says you’re a banker.” Bo lifted a strand of hair away from her temple.

  She pulled her focus away from the mechanical monstrosity Keith was creating, and focused again on the man sitting close beside her. “Not exactly. Zoe tells people I’m a banker because it’s easier to explain.”

  “So why don’t you explain?”

  She smiled. “It’s not very interesting. I’m sure you don’t really want to hear details.”

  “We’re going to get pretty intimate in the next few hours.” He raised one eyebrow. “I don’t like to get naked with a complete stranger.”

  Keith snorted. “Liar. You’d take your clothes off to order a pizza.”

  “No one’s talking to you.”

  The photographer snapped a picture of Bo’s snarl. “Showtime, Romeo. Let’s see some skin.” Keith ducked back down, and snapped a few pictures.

  Skin? I can’t do this. Cate’s hands were damp with sweat, and she’d tangled her fingers together almost painfully.

  “Don’t rush us.” Bo peeled her hands apart and held one. “Sorry. It’s been a while since we’ve had anyone join us that isn’t at least an amateur model,” he told her. “But we can take our time. We’re on no schedule.”

  “Unless there’s no room service.” Keith rubbed his flat belly. “I’m not working on an empty stomach.”

  “Good idea. Why don’t you order some snacks while I get to know Cate here?”

  Keith straightened and shot Bo an incredulous look. “What? Why?” He glanced at her. “I mean…no offense or anything.”

  Cate wanted to disappear.

  “She’s not ready.” Bo scowled at Keith. “And I don’t push. Now go order something to eat so you can keep your mind on the job, and not the clock.”

  Keith said nothing more as he loped over to the phone and the room service menu.

  “Watch this guy put away more food than you thought humanly possible.”

  “It’s called a high metabolism.” Keith interjected.

  She relaxed, thankful that there wasn’t any pressure, and the easygoing personalities of these two men as they bantered back and forth, though she felt a bit like a fraternity house mother.

  “Order some fruit. Strawberries and grapes if they have any.” Bo squeezed her hand. “Want anything?”

  “No, thank you. I’m not hungry.” She wasn’t sure she could keep food down if she tried to eat.

  “Maybe a glass of wine? What relaxes you?”

  Thank God he didn’t offer her a glass of prune juice. Was eleven too early to start drinking? As she hesitated, Keith ordered a bottle of merlot.

  “I take it you and your sister are pretty close.” Bo threw an arm over the back of the couch, looking very much at home while she perched on the edge of the cushion in what felt like some surreal dream.

  “Yes, very. We shared a bedroom until we were teens.”

  “I’m the youngest of three boys. I think we would have killed each other if we shared a bedroom.”

  Cate smiled with memories of their masking tape line down the center of their bedroom. “It was touch and go there for a few years. I couldn’t stand how messy Zoe was, and she couldn’t stand how I made my bed every morning.”

  “I think I can see that about both of you. I only met Zoe once. In a romance author’s conference. She came across as a wild woman. You grew up in California?”

  “Yes. Our parents divorced when we were in grade school, so we divided our time between L.A. and San Francisco.”

  Keith sang a few lines of a Beach Boys tune, and continued to fiddle with his camera.

  Bo laughed. “Keith likes the blonde bombshell beach babies.”

  “Not anymore.” Keith pulled the tie out of his hair and shook it loose. “I’ve switched to brunette bombshells. They don’t break your heart.”

  “As if your heart’s ever been broken. You don’t let a woman close enough to hurt you.”

  Keith grinned. “My body is made to please, but my heart is off limits. That’s why it’s still intact.”

  As the men discussed Keith’s love life, Cate wiped her palms on her jeans. So Keith and Bo weren’t lovers. Before she could imagine what kind of man Bo preferred, he nudged her.

  “Don’t believe a thing he says. He’s still pining for his high school sweetheart.”

  Keith stiffened. “Fuck off, Bo.” His eyes narrowed. “I barely remember her.”

  Bo leaned close to her. “Wait until he’s had four shots of whiskey.”

  “Quit being a bastard.”

  “Your sensitivity proves my point.”

  “And your insensitivity is why I hate you.” Keith flipped him off, and went back to his equipment.

  Bo winked at Cate. “We have a great working relationship.”

  “I see that.” Cate smiled. The more they sat and chatted, the more she relaxed. By the time their lunch arrived, she no longer needed it, but she still accepted a glass of red wine.

  “Have you read Four Seasons?” Bo popped a grape in his mouth.

  “Yes, but that was before edits. I’ll read it again when I can buy the hardcover.” The strawberries came with a delicious chocolate dipping sauce, and despite her assurances that she wasn’t hungry, she couldn’t stop with just one. “Zoe always was the storyteller.”

  “And you were the bookworm?”

  She laughed. “I suppose so. We make a good team.”

  “Mind if I put on some music?” Keith studied the console stereo.

  Bo raised his eyebrows, clearly leaving the decision up to her.

  “Sure!” Cate drained her glass, and poured herself another. “Not too loud though, I don’t want to get kicked out.”

  Soft rock filled the room from invisible speakers. “That would be right up Bo’s alley.” Keith raised his glass in a mock salute. “Ever get that bill paid?”

  Bo rolled his eyes. “That was a long time ago.”

  “You see,” Keith leaned against the back of the sofa, “Bo went through a destructive phase—”

  “Once,” Bo growled, “And you weren’t even there. Don’t act like you know what happened.”

  Cate propped a hip on the back of the sofa next to Keith and raised her eyebrow. “So what did happen?”

  Even the glower he shot at the photographer was sexy. “A little too much beer, and a few too many people in one hotel room. I never should have told this guy about it. He brings it up all the damn time.”

  “Just keeping you grounded, bro.” Keith finished his glass of wine, and returned to his camera. “You two keep talking. I’m going to start getting some shots. Ignore me.”

  “No problem.” Bo turned away from Keith and the camera and winked. Zoe was right. He was good.

  He told her a little about growing up in Florida, his first job at Disney World, and she shared more about her job in investments. “I told you it was boring.”

  “I sure don’t understand it, but I’m glad there are people like you out there watching out for people like me.”

  Oh, that dimple was adorable. It only showed itself in certain smiles. Cate made a mental note to cruise his website for one caught on film. “Well you know,” she raised an eyebrow, and ignored the camera flash. “I can leave you my business card.”

  “I’d like that.”

  He’s gay, Cate. Gay. And probably Sean’s age for Christ’s sake. Not your type.

  She took another sip of wine. Damn.

  Bo nudged her. “So what do you think? Ready to get started?”

  Was she? Cate swallowed, and nodded before she could think better of it. “Just…like this?” She looked down at her attire.

  “I brought a few wardrobe changes. You know that scene where Cassandra is wearin
g Lucas’s shirt? I thought that would be a sexy shot.”

  Bo reached up to arrange the curls of her hair. “We could start with that and see how it goes?”

  The camera flashed, but Cate focused on the man in front of her. She was close enough to feel the heat coming off him, and breathe in the clean scent of his cologne. “Okay,” she answered.

  “Keep the jeans too. We’ll work up to that. Keith, hand me the white button down.” He never took his eyes off of her, even when the shirt appeared in his hands. “Go change, and we can get started.”

  “Okay.”

  Cate walked into the bathroom in a daze, and quickly changed into his shirt. His shirt? She held the collar to her nose, and breathed deep. Unfortunately there wasn’t a trace of men’s cologne, just the clean scent of starch. There should be a rule against gay men being so damn sexy. And sweet. Of course the gay men of the world would probably disagree.

  She checked her reflection. Her hair was fuller than usual. Her cheeks flushed, her eyes fevered. Too much wine. A shadow of her red bra showed through the white shirt. She licked her lips, released a few buttons from the top, then left the bathroom before she could chicken out.

  Bo met her on the way. He’d removed his shirt, and Cate had a hard time peeling her eyes away from his chest. Smooth, tanned, and rippling with muscles.

  “Okay? We’ll take it in steps.” He cupped her shoulders, and slid his warm hands down her arms to her elbows.

  She lifted her gaze to his and nodded.

  When Bo smiled, Keith started snapping pictures. “Beautiful. Keep going, kids.”

  Cate glanced over at the camera, but Bo used two long fingers against her cheek to bring her attention back to him. “Forget he’s here, Cate. It’s just you and me.”

  She tried to swallow, but her mouth was too dry. “Okay,” she croaked.

  “I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do. You’re in charge here.” He stroked her forearms and clasped her hands.

  Click.

  Cate bit her lip

  “Now, we’ll start by getting used to me being close to you. Try touching me.”

  She dropped her gaze to his pectorals. Why not? It was completely safe. Her touch wouldn’t fill him with desire. He wouldn’t take advantage of her—hell, he wasn’t even attracted to women!

  She raised both hands to cover the dark circles of his nipples. Hot. His skin was so warm. She curled her fingers, denting the smooth flesh of his pecs.

  “That’s right,” he growled. “Learn me. Don’t be shy. Nothing is off limits to you.”

  His words sent a splinter of lust through her core. This sexy man was hers to do with as she pleased. The fact that her lust was one-sided, and she couldn’t do any more than touch only enflamed her further. She didn’t try to analyze the reasoning, and maybe it had something to do with the wine, but when Bo ran his hands down her sides to stroke her hips, she didn’t care.

  She was vaguely aware of the click of the camera, but either she tuned it out, or it was drowned out by the soft music. Or the sound of her heart pounding.

  His nipples stiffened beneath her palms, and she adjusted to pinch them between her fingers. She’d never known a man’s body to be this responsive. She pulled at one peak until his hissed breath made her pause.

  “It’s okay,” he whispered, his mouth close to her ear. “Don’t stop. I like it.”

  “You’ve got a very nice chest.”

  “I work hard on it.” He slipped one hand beneath her shirt. His shirt.

  When he touched the skin on her back, she caught her breath.

  “Too much?”

  Click.

  “No. It’s fine.” Her eyes slid closed as his hands explored her back. His touch was soothing, not arousing, but her libido didn’t care. Her nipples beaded beneath her bra. She slipped her hands behind him, and pulled closer, hoping to get the heat of his chest against hers. Had it been that long since she’d been with a man? Bo awakened nerve endings that Cate barely remembered possessing. Each time she tried to focus on the job, his hands would take a new path along her skin to steal her attention.

  He bent over her, his breath hot against her ear when he whispered, “Your skin is so soft. You’re a beautiful woman, Cate.”

  Flattery must be part of the package. Well, if he could pretend to be heterosexual, maybe she could act as Cassandra, with Bo as her sexy Lucas. Hell, she’d taken some drama classes in college. She peeled open her eyes, and smiled. Cassandra’s smile. The smile of a woman who knows she has her man at her mercy. “Thank you.”

  “Jesus, Bo.” Keith’s whisper reached her as he snapped the camera. “Whatever you said, keep it up. That’s perfect baby.”

  Confidence warmed her blood, but she refused to look at the photographer. Standing this close to Bo Gaddis consumed her attention. Maybe faking lust wouldn’t be too hard.

  “Come.” He led her to the bed, which had been transformed. The white comforter was missing, and the mattress was draped with an overabundance of silky red fabric. She couldn’t take it all in before Bo sat down, drawing her between his knees. With the height of the bed, it put them at eye level. “Look at me.”

  She did. She lost herself in his eyes. Barely registering the fact that he’d released the top button on the dress shirt.

  Click.

  “I’m just going to unbutton this. We’ll leave it on as long as you’d like.” Another button slipped free.

  “Okay.”

  “Stop me if you start to feel uncomfortable.”

  Click.

  He released another button. Then two. “Touch me Cate. Let me feel your hands all over me.”

  Cate tried to suck a lungful of air, but could only manage little panting breaths. She gripped his biceps, loving the way the hard ropes of muscles felt beneath his smooth skin. She traced one tendon from his shoulder to his nape, then tunneled her fingers through his thick hair, surprised at how soft it was.

  Bo had her shirt undone, and his hands framing her waist. “So soft. God, you smell good.” He dipped his head and his breath washed against the base of her neck.

  “Bo…” She threw her head back with a moan.

  Click.

  “Keith was right. Your skin is flawless.” He traced circles on her skin where her neck sloped to her shoulder. “But to mark it would be like defacing a piece of art.”

  Cate could barely think straight. Lust poured through her.

  “See how my hands look against your skin? So hot.”

  She blinked a few times to focus on his hands on her shoulder. He pushed one shoulder of the shirt down to gather at her elbow. His perfectly manicured finger slipped beneath her bra strap and followed it down to the cup.

  Click.

  “Doing okay?” He traced the lacy edge of her bra from the top to the center, and toyed with the clasp.

  “Yes.”

  Somehow, as soon as this man touched her, she’d lost all her reservations. She wanted him to release that clasp. She wanted his hands on her flesh, his lips on her breasts, but had to bite back a whimper when he left the clasp intact and skimmed down her abdomen instead.

  “I’m going to unzip your jeans,” he whispered, his lips so close to her chest that she felt his words. When she didn’t object, he made quick work of the button and zipper. “You’re doing wonderfully, Cate. Let it all show. I want to see pleasure all over your beautiful face.

  He slid his finger beneath the waistband of her panties, and a rush of heat spread from there to her toes.

  Click.

  Whirr.

  “Shit!”

  Chapter Two

  Bo, instantly in tune with Keith across the room, refused to look his way. Damn it. Cate had been doing an amazing job. Her reactions to his touch were so genuine, he’d started to lose his cool.

  Her eyes flittered open, and he smiled as encouragingly as he could. “Everything okay, Keith?”

  “Just…shit. Hold on a second.” Keith cursed the equipment, then a
steady beep emitted from somewhere. “Shit!”

  Cate winced.

  Bo winked at her, not releasing her from his gaze. “Would you like us to go on without you?”

  A string of colorful words erupted from Keith. “No, just give me a second.” More fumbling. “God damn it.”

  Bo chuckled. “Just our luck, huh?” He held her tight enough to feel the tension returning to her once relaxed body. He rubbed circles on her back, silently cursing right along with Keith.

  “Does this happen often?”

  “No, interruptions are usually my fault. You’re doing great, now don’t freeze up on me.” He willed his gaze to remain on hers, though he desperately wanted to reach down and adjust. He knew if he did, he’d blow his cover. It was difficult enough to keep his arousal at bay from the tactile sensations. He’d been just as intimate with hundreds of women, but this one… “You sure you’ve never done this before?”

  “Never. But I’ve seen a lot of romance covers.”

  “You’re a natural. I can’t wait to see the proofs. The look on your face is just…perfect. Very realistic.”

  Color flooded her cheeks. She leaned away, and tried to step out of his arms.

  “Huh uh. Stay right here. We need to stay as close to still as possible.”

  She moistened her lips. Damn. Would he still be able to taste the chocolate and strawberry on her tongue? “What’s the diagnosis, Keith?” He locked his hands behind her back.

  “Doesn’t look good. The diaphragm seized, and the aperture is stuck. I don’t have the tools with me to fix it.” He cussed. “I hate to say it, but I think we’re done for now.”

  Fuck.

  She pulled away again, and this time he had no choice but to let her go. She clutched the shirt together, and with one last look at Keith, she scurried down the short hallway to the bathroom, shirttails billowing behind her.

  Zoe had the right idea. This woman looked damn sexy in his shirt. Even better with it hanging off her shoulders. If he hadn’t been going so fucking slow, he would have had a better view right now. He took a deep breath, and cradled his head in his hands. It was probably a good thing they’d had to stop. His staunch self-control could only go so far. If she’d glanced down at all she would have seen what he’d tried so damn hard to suppress—which he’d almost successfully done for the past seven years—was pounding painfully between his legs. Whenever his cock disobeyed direct orders, Keith was there to redirect and distract their model. Now, not only did he owe his photographer twenty bucks, he was left with more than a swollen prick.