I chuckled. “I speak my mind and I go after what I want. I travel a lot—I’m gone for weeks at a time at the drop of a hat. I live out of a suitcase most of the time.”
“You mentioned you travel a lot last night. Why?”
“I specialize in photographing natural disasters. I travel all around the world, often in very remote areas, and I can be out of touch for days—sometimes weeks. I do a lot of freelance stuff, but I also work for Nature’s Edge magazine.”
Her eyes widened. “I’ve seen your work. I didn’t know that was you—I never put it together!”
I wasn’t surprised. I had suspected as much, and it didn’t matter to me.
“You’re so talented, Adam.” Then she frowned. “So what you do, is it dangerous?”
“Sometimes,” I answered honestly. “But I’m careful, and a professional, and the people I work with are, as well. But if you thought me being on a building ledge taking some pictures of boats on the water was dangerous”—I shook my head and gave her a pointed look—“that was tame, compared to what I normally do on a shoot.”
“Have you been hurt before?”
I thought of the bluffs I’d fallen over, the precipices I’d dangled from, and the occasions I’d been knocked out by flying debris. “A few times, but nothing I couldn’t handle.”
“Is this something you’re going to do for the rest of your life?” she asked, concern woven into her words.
“No. I’ll move on to something else. No one can keep up this pace forever. I’m at the top of my game, and it’s not something I want to give up—yet. One day I will.” I curled my hands around hers. “Is it something that would stop you from exploring this—whatever this is—with me?”
Her answer was a quiet hum in the air. “No.”
“Your parents don’t scare me. I don’t care about what they think; I care about what you think. Can you handle that? Can you handle me?”
“I want to find out.”
Relief swelled in my chest. “Why don’t we take it one step at a time? You already live two separate lives—let me be part of the one that makes you happy.” I replied. “I’m not anxious to meet your parents, to be honest.”
“I’d like that.”
“So would I. I know it’s fast, but I feel a connection with you and I want to explore it.” I ran my knuckles down her cheek, resting my hand on her neck, feeling her pulse pick up. “I want to explore you.”
Leaning forward, I brushed my mouth against hers, easy, gentle strokes of our lips. She sighed into my mouth, her eyes fluttering shut as I slipped my hand around the back of her neck, burying my fingers in her hair, and deepened the kiss. Her hands curled on my shoulders and I pulled her close, lifting her to my lap. I caressed her tongue with mine, long, sensuous strokes that teased and promised more. I sat back in the chair, content right now just to hold her. She snuggled into my chest, her head fitting perfectly under my chin. I felt her yawn, her entire body shivering as she did so. I nuzzled the top of her head regretfully; I knew she had to be exhausted.
“I should go, but I don’t want to,” she murmured.
I tightened my arms. “Are you all right to drive?”
She tilted her head. “I’m fine, but if I stay much longer I won’t be.”
“Then as much as I hate it, you should go.”
“I’m sorry about tonight. I shouldn’t have told you all that. I never talk about it.”
“No, I’m glad you did. We’ll figure all this out.”
“Still…”
I kissed the end of her nose, teasing. “Still, nothing. You can make it up to me tomorrow. Come shopping with me and have lunch.”
“Okay.”
“I want you to call me when you get home, so I don’t worry.”
I was surprised to see the glimmer of tears in her eyes. I brushed them away with my thumb. “Hey, what’s this?”
“I’m not used to people worrying about me.”
“Get used to it. You need someone to look out for you.”
“I like the sound of that, maybe too much.”
“It’s okay to like it. We can worry about each other, all right?”
She snuggled back to me, her arms wrapping around my waist. “Okay.”
Chapter 5
I texted her the next morning with an address, then grabbed a cab and met her outside the store. She got out of her car, dressed in a long shirt and leggings. Her hair was a mess, and she was sexy as hell. I wanted to push her against the side of her car and fuck her. My cock was in full agreement. Instead, I pressed a long kiss to her full mouth, trailing my tongue along her bottom lip.
“Mmm. Cherry.”
She reached up, wiping my mouth. “It suits you.”
I pulled her in for a hug, needing to feel her close. “You suit me.”
“How’s your head?”
“Actually, it feels pretty good. Not dizzy, no headache.” I ran my fingers over the bandage. “It hurts to touch it, though.”
“Stop touching it then.”
“Ha-ha.”
“Can I look?”
“Sure.”
She was careful as she peeled the bandage back, pursing her lips as she inspected the wound. I felt her featherlight touch, then the bandage being placed back. “It looks good. It’ll hurt for a few days, but it’s healing well.”
“I had a great nurse.”
She smiled, and I took her hand as we walked into the large warehouse.
“What are we doing here?”
“Shopping.”
“Duh.”
“I want some housewares shit. Sheets, towels. I know nothing about it, so I need your help.”
“Any reason for this sudden nesting?” she teased.
I yanked her to my chest. “You.”
“Oh.”
“Maybe I can convince you to spend more time at my place if it’s comfortable.”
“Maybe I don’t need that. Maybe all I need is for you to be there.”
I groaned and covered her mouth with mine. I stroked her tongue, losing myself in her taste, only breaking away when someone walked beside me, reminding me we weren’t alone. I eased back, dropping another fast kiss to her inviting mouth.
Smirking, I pulled at her curls. “We need to move before I throw you down on one of these displays. I’m pretty sure what I want to do to you on that bed would get us kicked out of the store and most likely arrested.”
“Probably.”
“Stop distracting me. Come and help me pick something out.”
I gaped at what seemed like hundreds of sheet sets—all various sizes, colors, and patterns.
“What do you like?” Ally asked, running her fingers over a sample.
“Plain. No flowery shit or lace.” I shuddered at the thought.
She chuckled. “Okay. White?”
“Whatever color you want. Except girly colors.”
Laughing, she strolled away, looking at the vast selection.
Leaving her to browse, I walked to the end of the aisle and found what I was looking for. I zoned in on one bed. It was a massive frame, leather, tufted and thick. The curved headboard and footboard were joined with a padded runner and it looked like a giant sleigh. It was heavy and masculine. The color shone a deep, dark espresso, and inspecting the piece I could tell it was well made—the craftsmanship was amazing. It would look great in the loft. For the first time since moving in, I wanted to add to the place. Make it more comfortable. And the reasons for it confounded me.
The past years had been spent chasing images—moving from one project to another with no contemplations of anything but the next great shot. Now, in just a couple of days, Ally had taken over most my thoughts. This morning I had noticed how threadbare and rough my sheets were. I didn’t give much of a shit, but I had a feeling she would. I wanted to spend time with her—as much as she would give me—so it made sense to have her come and choose what she liked. As long as she was there, I was good. It was the first time in my life
I wanted to care for someone—to protect them. It was also the first time I wanted someone to care for me in return.
“Do you like that?”
I startled and met the gaze of an older man.
“Yes. Is it for sale?”
“It will be once I finish setting it up. I designed it.”
I reached out my hand to shake his. “No need. Consider it sold.”
Ally appeared beside me, frowning as she listened.
“Do you want to know how much it is?”
“No. Can you deliver soon?” Then I had an idea. “Do you design other furniture?”
After making arrangements for him to bring the bed to the loft the following week, along with his sketches for a chair I wanted made, I turned around to find Ally staring at me.
“Are you always this demanding?”
“When I want something—yes.”
“And you want that bed so much?”
“Yes.”
I bent lower, brushing her ear. “I want you, as well.”
Cue her blush. Chuckling, I ran my fingers along her smooth cheek. “Have you picked some sheets?”
“No.”
“You can’t find anything?”
“I wanted to make sure you liked what I found.”
I held out my hand, not wanting to tell her I didn’t care about the color, as long as she’d be resting between them. “Show me.”
As short time later, I smiled at Ally across the table at my favorite pizza joint. We’d spent a shit ton of money on stuff I didn’t really care about, but it seemed to make her happy. I liked making her happy—another first for me.
She sliced a bite of pizza with her knife and fork, chewing it slowly. I was fascinated watching her eat. I’d demolished over half the pizza and she was barely starting on her second slice. She ate with precision, almost meticulously, each bite disappearing at an unhurried pace. She sipped her ice tea the same way. Small, delicate little sips, the level in the glass lowering only a fraction with her swallows.
She looked up, embarrassed when she realized I was watching her.
“What are you looking at now?”
I ran a finger over my lips, studying her. “You’re very sexy. It’s artless. You don’t understand how much you turn me on, watching you.”
“I think you need another CT scan. Your head is really messed up.”
I laughed at her deflection. She had no idea how she affected me.
She rolled her eyes, indicating the remaining pizza sitting between us. “You should have another slice.”
“I already ate more than half.”
“This will be it for me.”
I sat back, frowning. “Is there anything you need to tell me? Do you not like food, or do you just eat really slow?” I narrowed my eyes, remembering the way she nibbled her toast, and barely ate any of the snacks I had put out for her. I had polished off way more than my share of the platter at dinner, as well. I wondered if she had some sort of eating disorder. She was certainly tiny enough. “Or something else?”
She frowned, and shook her head. “I was taught a girl eats like a lady. I never eat very much, I suppose out of habit.”
“So you mean it’s fine I stuff my face and you don’t?”
She shrugged.
I slid another piece onto her plate. “Nope, not happening. Be yourself with me.” I took the last one and folded it in half, taking a huge bite, chewing and swallowing. “And by the way, this is how you eat pizza.”
She giggled, and I leaned forward, holding out the piece. “C’mon, Ally. Be a rebel. Take a bite—no utensils.”
I quirked my eyebrow in a silent challenge. My laughter couldn’t be contained when she took the slice from my hand and awkwardly bit into it, sauce and cheese spilling over onto her chin. She handed me back the slice, chewing and wiping her face with the napkin as she tried not to laugh with her mouth full.
“Tastes better, yeah?”
She rolled her eyes as she picked up her iced tea.
I winked.
“Suck it back, my girl. A big, long, hard swallow. It’s good practice.”
Her eyes grew round, with her lips wrapped around the straw, her cheeks growing redder every second.
I burst out laughing. She was so easy to tease. Her eyes were very expressive and I could read every emotion she was feeling in them. I was determined to start taking her picture this afternoon. I wanted to capture every expression I could.
She glared and swallowed the tea, setting her glass down with a thump. I struggled to stop laughing, grabbing for her hand again. “I’m sorry. I’ll behave.”
“Can you?”
I slid out of the booth and slipped in beside her. Before she could ask what I was doing, I kissed her. I plunged my hands into her hair, fisting it tight as I claimed her mouth. She whimpered, clutching my shirt in her hands as I kissed her until we were breathless.
Leaning my forehead to hers, I tried to catch my breath. “You do this to me. You make me want to tease you. Get you to laugh. Laugh with you.” I confessed. “Sean tells me all the time I’m too serious, and I don’t laugh enough, yet with you I find myself doing it all the time.”
“Oh,” she breathed out.
Slipping my fingers under her chin and caressing the silky skin, I kissed her lips. “You make me feel things I can’t explain. You make me want to buy sheets so I know you’re comfortable. Want things I’ve never wanted before.”
“You hardly know me,” she whispered. “How could I affect you like that? How do you know you want all those things with me?”
I shook my head. “I only met you a couple days ago, Ally, but I’ve been waiting for you all my life. Waiting for you to find me.”
“Adam.”
She stared at me, her eyes glistening under the lights.
“Am I scaring you?”
“No.” She replied, her lips quivering, eyes watery. “That’s the part that scares me. I feel— I feel the same way.”
“Good.”
I slid back over to my side of the table. I knew if I stayed beside her, I would just keep kissing her, and I wanted her to eat her lunch. All of it.
I ordered coffee and sipped it while she resumed eating. Although she was still slow, she did at least pick the pizza up with her fingers. It was progress.
“So you go back to work Monday night?”
“Yes.”
“Your schedule is set?”
“It changes every few months and the days move forward. This is the first time I’ve had entire weekends off. Next change I’ll have Sunday to Tuesday off.”
“Do you have plans?”
She frowned. “No, I was hoping to see Emma, but she canceled her trip. That happens a lot these days.”
“Emma?”
“She’s my best friend. She got married a few months ago, and they moved to Ottawa. She designs clothing and owns a boutique here, and one there, so she goes back and forth. I see her when she’s in town, and I visit when I can.”
“You miss her.”
“She was the first friend I made when I went to school. She lived in the same building and I met her when I was doing laundry. We started talking and have been friends ever since.” She smiled wistfully. “I adore her husband, Alan, and they’re great together, but yes, I miss her. She’s so busy now. And Elena is away so I can’t see her, either.”
“You see her a lot?”
“I try to. I can just be me when I’m with her. We have sleepovers, which are always fun.”
“Should I ask what that entails? I assume there’re no pillow fights happening.”
Ally snorted and covered her mouth. I chuckled at the very unladylike sound.
“That’s just a male fantasy, Adam. We don’t really do that sort of thing.”
I shook my head. “Don’t destroy the illusions. We men, as a whole, cling to them.”
“Elena and I make martinis and finger food. We play cards or Scrabble and she fills me in on all the gossip. I lo
ve spending time with her.”
“Why don’t you live with her?”
“The place she lives in is age restrictive. It’s very elegant, very expensive. She has a circle of friends and her life. I can stay the night on occasion, but I can’t live there.”
I nodded. I knew the type of place she was talking about.
“What about other friends?”
“I’m friendly with a few of the nurses at the hospital. We have coffee and the occasional dinner. Most of them are married and have families.” She shrugged. “Working nights, it’s hard to maintain a lot of friendships. I’m asleep while they’re awake, and vice-versa. But we do some sporadic get-togethers, and spend time together.”
“What about you?” she asked.
I sighed. “My lifestyle is even less conducive to friends. I never know when I’m going to be in town, and often when I am, I’m busy working on the last shoot, or planning a job I got hired for. Like you, I’m friendly with a few people I work with. My boss, Sean, is probably my closest friend. And to be honest, we’re both so busy, we rarely see each outside business.”
“Ah.”
“Do you keep in touch with Emma via social media? Facebook and such? Do you save pictures of cats and share funny stories?”
“No—I’m not one for all that stuff. Not much point, since I know so few people, and they all live in town. I don’t even have an account. Emma doesn’t, either. At least not a personal one. She has a business page, but her assistant handles it. We both prefer to talk or text. Are you a big social media guy?”
“I have a presence on most of the platforms, but they’re all business related, too. My people handle all that. Much like you, my circle of friends is small and I prefer to talk rather than use Facebook to connect.” I brushed a finger down her cheek. “I guess we’re both private people.”
She smiled. “I guess so.”
“So you work until Thursday, and Friday is lunch. Can I take you out on Saturday?”
She started to nod again, but then froze. Panic flared in her eyes and I frowned.
“What?”
She put down her pizza, wiping her fingers. “I’m done.”
“Forget the pizza. What’s wrong?”
“I can’t go out with you on Saturday.”
“Why?”
My Image of You Page 6
