This time it involved his whole damn body. If his heart didn’t slow down, he’d probably have a stroke, and his palms were sweating like a pre-teen at his first dance. For the first time, he’d forgotten his role. Gay model. Women are more comfortable when at their most vulnerable, when the stranger manhandling them is gay. Less pressure. Less fear. He knew that. He’d come to terms with it as part of the job. Ironically, he’d put himself in a closet for these women, but fighting attraction had never been so damn hard.
“I’m sorry, Bo.” Keith had gathered his hair in a low ponytail, a sure sign of his focus. “It couldn’t have happened at a worse time. It was looking great.”
Bo raised an eyebrow. “You’re saying you didn’t do that on purpose?” Keith’s gaze dropped to Bo’s lap. Bo blocked his perusal with a raised middle finger. “Too late. You forfeit your twenty.”
Keith snorted. “Fair enough. I admit I wasn’t paying much attention to your horny ass.” He gestured toward the bathroom. “She’s good.”
Bo stared at the bathroom door. Was she good? If so, she lied about this being her first modeling gig. Either she was a natural in front of the camera, or she was real.
“I’m just going to leave the equipment here for now. I’ve got another camera at the studio, I’ll just go get that one.” He shut the lamps off, leaving the room feeling dim, then moved the lamps into a corner.
“Why don’t you just send for it? I don’t want to lose our progress here.” He’d have to rub one off before they got started again, but God, how he wanted her back in his arms.
“Julio isn’t at the studio. He’s shooting some high school reunion today. I can be back in forty minutes.”
Bo ran through his repertoire of swear words, half listening to Keith’s chatter as he packed the camera carefully in its case, and switched off the music.
Bo dug the heels of his hands into his eye sockets. He’d lost his cool. For the first time since he began shooting erotic romance covers, he’d gotten caught up in the moment. Fuck—he’d been caught up in the woman. What the hell is wrong with you?
“Bo?”
He dragged his hands down his cheeks to face Keith. “Yeah?”
“Want to reschedule for another day?”
“No.” His answer came too quickly, and Keith’s raised eyebrow. “I think we’re on the right track here. I don’t want to start over.”
Keith rolled up an extension cord and tossed it at the foot of one lamp. “All right.” He slung the case over his shoulder and backed toward the door. “I’ll hurry. Sorry again.”
“Not your fault. Shit happens.” Thankfully his erection had gone down enough for him to be able to stand.
Keith paused, his hand on the doorknob. His face full of mischief. “You gonna be okay here alone? I have a feeling you need a chaperone.”
Bo scowled, but couldn’t come up with a suitable response before Keith winked and disappeared through the door.
The bastard would pay for that. But he was right. He probably shouldn’t trust himself alone in the hotel room with Catherine Roberts.
He closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. His mind, already drunk on her taste, showed him an image of her behind the door of the bathroom, slipping out of his shirt. Revealing every inch of that creamy smooth skin he longed to memorize with each fingertip.
He didn’t mess with his models. It was a die-hard rule. Never mix business with pleasure. It had worked this long, there was no reason to blow it all now. “You can’t sleep with a model.” He mumbled, hoping that hearing the words aloud would somehow sink into his brain.
But she’s not a model, the devil on his shoulder answered.
When he opened his eyes, she had emerged. She stood near the side table watching him warily. She hadn’t changed. She still wore his shirt and those fuck-me jeans.
“Keith ran across town to get a replacement camera. He should be back within an hour or so. Do you mind waiting?” He tried to keep his voice light. He could analyze his personal issues later.
Cate shook her head, reached for a glass of wine, and took a long drink.
When he realized that it was his wineglass, he had to stuff down an animal groan. He glanced again at her face, and she quickly looked away. The flush on her cheeks gave her away. She might be a natural, but her reactions were real. Bo grinned, and walked back toward the table, where the remnants of their snack sat. Good thing his schedule was clear for a few days.
He schooled his features before taking a few steps toward her. She’d clutched her—his—wineglass so tightly, her fingertips were white with the strain. As he walked toward her, she drained it, then set the glass down.
“I guess it’s a good thing you planned on having nothing to do this week.”
Her smile was tentative. God, her shyness only endeared her to him. “I guess so. I hope you and Keith can afford this set-back.”
“This is my last job until Monday morning. So what do you think about grabbing a cup of coffee or something?”
Her eyes widened, and she glanced toward the door before meeting his gaze again. “You don’t have to entertain me.”
“I know I don’t. You can entertain me.”
Now her gaze shot to the bed, which still showed the impression where he sat with her in his arms.
Bo smiled. So she wasn’t as unaffected as she might want him to think. “Are you okay?”
Cate’s shoulders slumped, and a shy smile spread across her face. “Yes, I’m fine. I was just…” She waved toward the bed, then bit her lip. “I guess you must…just…get used to it.”
Bo stepped closer to her, and she stiffened. That defensive action froze him in his tracks. His common sense told him to leave. Get out of the hotel. Maybe run home and take care of the problem himself. His libido, however, spoke louder. “If you’re asking if every woman I’ve posed with affected me like you just did, the answer is no.”
Her eyes widened, and she met his gaze.
He nodded. “I’m serious. If that camera didn’t break, I’d have to do some creative photo editing to keep those pictures legal.”
Her wide eyes dropped to his cock, and the damn thing twitched with the attention. He took another step, and she looked up at him. It wasn’t wariness behind those brown eyes. It was lust.
Hell yeah. The invisible restraints holding him back snapped away. Another step and he could touch her. He didn’t, but he could.
“I don’t know what you did to me, but I don’t think I can walk out of this room without tasting your mouth.”
She didn’t look scared. She didn’t step around him to get away. She licked her lips. That was all the invitation he needed. Within a heartbeat, he had her in his arms. Her breasts pressed against him, and her soft stomach cushioned his hard cock. He only spent a second appreciating the way she fit him before he claimed her mouth.
Sweet mother of God. Her lips were soft, her tongue tentative as she joined in his kiss. Her hands dug into his back, and she tilted her hips into his. Bo groaned, and pushed her against the table. He moved his chest, reveling in the sensation of her hard nipples poking through her bra and his shirt.
“Wait…what—what are you doing?” She pushed him away, and covered her mouth. “Bo?” She stepped to the side, her brow furrowed as if she’d never seen him before.
“If you can’t tell, I’m doing it wrong.” He reached out to her.
She shook her head, and brought one hand to her throat. “But you’re…”
He followed her with each step she backed away. She didn’t continue speaking, and Bo took a mental step back. “Am I scaring you?”
“No, you’re not scaring me, but I just thought that…” Again, she bit her lip rather than finish.
“Thought what? That I wouldn’t want to continue what we just started over there?”
“No. I mean…we can’t.”
“My body seems to think otherwise.”
She shook her head, her brow still wrinkled. “No.”
“No? You’re not interested?”
“No. I mean—”
“I’m not your type?”
Her blush answered more than her words ever could. She spun around to fill her wine glass. His wine glass.
“Well? You can tell me. You prefer blonds? Someone better looking?”
She laughed. “Humility suits you.”
“So?” He grinned.
She faced him again, her blush gone. “I take that back. You know you’re a great looking guy. You make your living from it. You aren’t being humble, you’re fishing for compliments.”
“Not at all.” He clasped his hands behind his back. He knew the stance would show off his chest. “What one woman finds attractive isn’t always what another will. I just wondered which side of the fence you fell.”
“Since it’s completely inconsequential, I’ll tell you.” She poured more wine, and took another sip, this one considerably daintier. “Yes, I do find you attractive.”
Maybe now wasn’t the time to bring this up. Not when they stood alone in a room with a bed. But maybe that was exactly why he wouldn’t let it go, too. “And why is that inconsequential?”
“Because that’s where it ends. It’s not like we’d ever end up…you know…together.”
“You’re deciding that already? After only a few hours together? Do I stink?” He made a show of sniffing his underarms.
She slapped him good-naturedly. “Don’t act dumb. You know what I mean.”
“I guess I’m dumb then, because I don’t. Are you saying you wouldn’t go out with me?”
She walked through the room, weaving around the furniture, and avoiding the bed. “Bo, really. What are you doing?”
“I’m putting the make on you.” He wagged his eyebrows.
“No you’re not. You’re making fun of me.”
“Of course not, I had to see if you were interested before I put myself out there. I don’t like rejection.”
“As if you were ever rejected.”
“Sounds like you’re rejecting me now, when it’s obvious I want you.”
Finally she spun around to face him. “You can’t want me.”
“Why is that?”
She laughed, and shook her head. “There are a lot of reasons.”
“Like what?”
“Start with the obvious.” She backed up with each step he took towards her. He used it to his advantage and steered her toward the bed.
He grinned. The smile he usually used for his vampire covers. “It looks like you’ll have to spell it out for me.” He rubbed his cheek along hers, breathing in her scent. A touch of floral perfume, mixed with a hint of perspiration from the hot California day. Even the remnants of the hair spray he’d used hours ago added up to a mind-blowing sensory cocktail. “Tell me. Give me one good reason why we can’t do this.”
“You’re gay.”
Chapter Three
He didn’t say anything for such a long time, she started to worry. She bit her tongue, wishing she could sink through the floor. Was he offended? No, why would he be offended? He is gay! Though he didn’t move from his position arching over her, their bodies sharing space but not quite touching. Except where she could feel his smile grow against her cheek. Well, okay. Maybe he’s bisexual.
He slid one hot hand down her spine to the small of her back, and pulled her close. “If I were gay, I wouldn’t be this hard right now.”
Oh God.
His erection gouged her stomach, and she had to stop herself from moving against it. “But Zoe said—”
“I know. But I’m not gay. I’ll explain that some other time. Now, is that all that’s bothering you?”
She nodded. She couldn’t think clearly. Not with his hands and mouth wreaking havoc on her senses. Her nod morphed into a negative shake. “Well, no.” She looked everywhere but at him. “You’re…I’m just…”
“You’re just what?”
She sighed, then chewed on her lip. “I’m much older than you.”
He reached out to run a finger down the slender slope of her neck, then tilted her head back to force her gaze to meet his. “I’m not a kid, you know. I’ll be twenty eight this year. Now, I’m going to forget you said that.” He moved his finger to her mouth to stifle what she opened it to say. “I’m not even going to ask how old you are, because I don’t give a damn.”
She shut her mouth. He traced the outline of her lips, then brushed his along her cheekbone.
“Shh,” he whispered in her ear, his breath warm against the sensitive skin. “No age. No sexual orientation. Just me.” He nipped her earlobe, and laved it with his tongue. “And you. Two adults.” He kissed her cheek. A soft press of warm lips that moved as he continued. “I think you’re gorgeous, Cate. Sweet, and sexy, and so damn real. I had a hell of a time hiding my desire for you earlier. I don’t want to do that anymore.”
“But—”
He silenced her with a kiss.
But I was in middle school when you were born. But I started college when you started kindergarten. But…you’re not gay?
Soft lips moved with purpose over hers, nudging her mouth open, until his warm tongue snaked inside to devour her mouth. Cate would have collapsed had he not held her so tightly against him.
He’s so strong. Solid. Male.
She was tired of finding excuses not to enjoy it. A sexy-as-hell man was kissing her, so why fight it?
Enjoy it while it lasts.
Without another thought, she slid her arms around his back and gripped his solid frame.
He hummed his approval, then tilted his head to gain deeper access. He dipped into her mouth, stroking her tongue and teasing her lips with licks and nibbles that left her aching for more.
His hips moved against hers in a seductive rhythm, a dance she happily joined. She sighed in surrender, and allowed her tongue to slip behind his teeth.
He groaned. Warm hands slipped beneath her shirt, leaving goosebumps in his wake. She followed suit and gathered the hem of his tee shirt above his waist, her breath hitching with each inch of skin she touched. “I can’t believe this,” she whispered against his mouth. “This is so…” She could no longer form words.
“I know.” His hand dragged around her waist to splay across her stomach. He continued to kiss her, his hand still, and she was torn between hoping he’d move it higher to her breasts, or dip lower to release her jeans. Instead he used it to push her onto her back, cushioned by the mattress.
She pulled him down with her, parting her legs so he could nestle in between them.
He propped himself on one elbow and continued up beneath her shirt to toy with her bra’s clasp without breaking the kiss. The man was gifted. Physically for sure, but he had an amazingly talented tongue, and his hands were enough to make her body shiver with need. She arched against him, desperate for some friction to ease her aching sex.
“I can feel your heat. I want to sink into that. Deep and long” He spoke between each mind-numbing kiss. He nibbled a path along her jaw, and worked hot kisses into the sensitive skin on her throat. “I want to taste every inch of your body. So damn sweet.”
Cate whimpered. She gripped his scalp as he moved lower, shoving her shirt over her breasts. He finally released the clasp to her bra with a deft flick of his fingers, then covered her with his hands. His fingers were soothing and warm, but he teased each nipple until they stuck out almost painfully, aching for assuagement.
She squirmed against his hard body, as he held her still with one nipple in his mouth, pulling strings of pleasure through her. She bit her lip to refrain from whimpering again.
Desire spiraled through her body to pool in her sex. She wanted to tear off her clothes and then his, but she didn’t want to pull away from his masterful mouth.
He moved from one breast to the other, until she was tugging on his hair in need. Only after a long groan did he move down to her navel, and begin pressing hot kisses against her quivering flesh. One hand slowly worked at the button
and zipper of her jeans.
Cate fell back against the mattress, and stared up at the ceiling. Was this really happening? Was she really about to have sex with a male model? A very young male model?
Bo crawled up to cover her with his bare chest, leaving her jeans where they were. “Too fast?”
She looked up at him where he hovered over her, concern in his eyes, and flashing that damn sexy dimple. She swallowed, and licked her suddenly dry lips. “I just can’t believe this is happening.”
“I can’t either.” He licked her upper lip. “Maybe I’m dreaming.”
She sighed against his mouth. “Whatever you do, don’t wake up.”
He kissed her again, his tongue inside her mouth matching the rhythm of his hips rocking against hers. Her jeans, tight against her thighs, prevented her from wrapping her legs around him like she wanted to.
With a groan, she rolled away to give him room to trace the waistband of the triangle of her panties.
“God, look at you.” He reached down to adjust himself, drawing Cate’s attention to the outline of his hard cock pressing at the buttons of his fly.
She tried not to think about the way her tummy looked with those extra ten pounds. She was afraid that he’d notice that her breasts weren’t nearly as perky as a twenty-year-old’s. She knew that most of the young women today shaved their pubic hair, and Cate had only neatly shaped and trimmed hers. Her cheeks burned, but Bo’s focus never wavered. She was worried that he’d find her lacking but from the way he rubbed himself through his pants, the look on his gorgeous face pinched up with something between pain and longing, she began to relax, sure of his involvement. She was further comforted when he tore open his fly and shoved a hand down to circle his cock.
“Jesus. You’re beautiful.” His husky tone rumbled through the room, making Cate squirm.
Olivia Brynn Collection Volume 1 Page 3
