Extreme Close-Up (Perspectives Book 1) (9 page)

THE PLAY OF light and shadow over sculpted muscle was deliciously intriguing. Lisa adjusted the umbrella to reduce the fill light, carving deeper shadows into the oblique muscles along Braden’s ribcage.

“Sorry I don’t have anything more comfortable for you to sit on. My last models were printers and fax machines.”

Braden gave her a provocative smile from atop the white fabric-draped work table. “I’m good. Just get what you need.” He thumbed the waistband of his underwear and looked up at her from under his lashes. “Sure you don’t want these off?”

Per her earlier request, the boxer-briefs now sat halfway down his hips, low enough to reveal where his deep V-cut abs disappeared into shadowy pubic hair. She eyed his partial erection with a rueful smile. “No, but I’m sure I won’t get many more pictures taken if you aren’t wearing them.”

His answering grin confirmed her decision.

As it was, she did ultimately ask him to lose the boxers. His ass was simply too perfect to exclude from the series. She shot a few angles of his gorgeous backside before he shifted.

“Don’t move yet -- let me get a couple more.”

“Sorry.” Braden rolled to face her, carefully freeing a full erection from under his hip. “I can’t lie on my stomach right now, unless you wanna cut a glory hole in your table.”

She blinked. “Oddly enough, this was never an issue for the printers and fax machines.”

His dick looked painfully hard. It jerked and he gripped the base in a tight fist. To keep it in check, she supposed. Whatever the reason, seeing his strong hand wrapped around it made her mouth go dry and her panties damp.

And he knew it, the brat. Lisa could see in his eyes that he knew what he was doing to her, even before his hand made a slow journey over the length of his shaft to tug the swollen head of him. There was an answering tug in her core, and she gasped a little.

The glint in his eye went from mischievous to predatory in an instant. “If you need any more before I haul you onto this table, you’d better get them quick,” he said in a deep rasp.

“I know. Jesus, I know.” She wiped a damp palm on her jeans and pivoted the tripod head to a new angle. “I only want one. Squeeze it for me,” she whispered.

His brow furrowed as he did, and the muscles of his forearm and bicep bunched the way they’d done when she watched him on the lounge chair and in video chat.

Composition was everything. Of course she could crop it later if necessary, but for the shot she wanted it would feel like cheating. She checked the viewfinder and captured him from wrist to shoulder, hoping for an innocuous picture that suggestively implied what was happening just out of frame. Working quickly, she was able to snap a few before he grabbed her arm and yanked her on top of him.

Lisa popped the memory card into her computer and waited impatiently for the pictures to load. As soon as they’d returned from the studio Braden left for work and she had rushed into her office, too anxious to waste time rinsing off their sex or even grabbing a drink. One by one, the thumbnails came up, until her monitor was one big contact sheet. She made herself view them in order, despite how much she was dying to start at the end.

Having never done a shoot like this before she was afraid to expect much, but she needn’t have worried. The pictures were beautiful. Smooth, golden skin wrapped around the gorgeous body that only an hour ago was wrapped around her. Halfway through the set, she already knew this was the best work she had ever done.

Clicking through the pictures, she slowed as she neared the end. There were at least a dozen she planned to use, but she had high hopes for the last set-up. She braced herself and opened one. “Oh my god...” Even without correction or cropping, it was fantastic. The muscles of Braden’s arm bunched just enough to force the viewer to imagine what was left unseen.

The artist in her would spend the rest of the night tweaking mid-tones, color and framing so she’d be ready to upload the new stock photos tomorrow. But first, her giddy inner girl sent a quick email to Natalie, eager to share her excitement and favorite shots with her best friend. Not surprisingly, Natalie called -- screaming her own excitement -- a few minutes later.

Once Lisa posted the new gallery, it quickly became apparent that descriptors like “sexy man” and “partial nude” were lots more popular than “park bench” or “squash.” Seemed a no-brainer in retrospect, but she wasn’t complaining. In the first week, she sold more prints and digital use rights of the Braden images than she had of all her other stock photo sales combined.

She insisted Braden accept a model’s fee, since the pictures were selling so well. He was on her red sofa with his laptop, working on med school applications when she brought it up. It was almost an argument, until she showed him her sales log to prove how much she was earning.

“If it keeps up, maybe you can quit tending bar.”

“That’d be great, but not while I’m crashing at my mom’s. She’d wonder where I was getting the money.”

“Crap. You’re right.” They had agreed never to tell their families that he’d modeled for her, and none of the pictures showed his face to ensure his identity stayed hidden.

They worked on their respective computers in comfortable silence for a while, then an email notification popped up on Lisa’s screen. She didn’t recognize the sender’s name and almost deleted it unread, until she realized it was sent from one of the biggest ad agencies in the country. The subject line read “Your Photos.” She skimmed the message and gasped.

Braden looked at her over his laptop. “You okay?”

“Listen to this,” she grinned. “‘Dear Ms. Taylor, I am heading up a new marketing campaign for Allister & Hitch Apparel. In our search for the new face of our brand, we came across your excellent photos of a faceless -- but otherwise ideal -- male model.’”

“Holy shit.”

“I know! Then he says ‘I’d be much obliged if you would forward his head shot and contact information. With warm regards, Declan Reece, Creative Director.’”

“Wild. Think it’s legit?”

She shrugged. “Seems to be. Want me to respond?”

“Sure. I don’t have a head shot, though.”

“That’s okay. I think I’ve got one or two that could work...” Lisa turned back to her monitor to hide the flush in her cheeks. Despite knowing she wouldn’t use them in her stock gallery, she had taken quite a few shots of his beautiful face. She knew she’d want them when he was gone.

After previewing a few, she found her favorite. It was framed from head to hips. He had been on his back and was in the process of sitting up, so his arms were flexed, abs tight. His deep blue-green eyes stared out of the picture and straight into her soul. That sinful mouth looked kissably soft, lips parted just a little, giving him a slight vulnerability. She turned the monitor.

“This one okay with you?”

“I don’t fucking know,” he laughed, embarrassed. “Do you like it?”

“Yes. I like it.”

“Great. Let’s roll the dice.”

She added a watermark to the photo to protect her copyright, then sent it with a reply including Braden’s name and phone number. “Okay. The dice have been rolled. Now get back to those applications, Kate Moss.”

Braden’s chuckle was low and suggestive. “I like it when you’re strict, Ms. Taylor.” He dragged his hot gaze to her mouth, down her neck and over her breasts. She felt it physically, nipples peaking like they’d been teased by his fingertips.

He set his laptop aside and stood behind her desk chair. Gently sweeping her hair to one side, he fastened his mouth on her neck, working his way down to her shoulder with warm, wet suction. She gave a little moan when his hands slid down from her shoulders to cover her breasts. He cupped her lightly, letting her nipples scrape his palms.

Right when the throbbing began between her legs, he removed his hands and spun her chair to face him. She grabbed his face and devoured his mouth, loving the slide of his tongue, the nip of his teeth, the growl in his throat. He ended the kiss by shoving her chair back.

Dropping to his knees, he pushed her shirt up and pulled a taut nipple into his mouth through her pale blue bra. His big hands held hers on the arms of the chair, trapping her in place as he worked one nipple then the other with his teeth and tongue. She squirmed in her seat, tight nipples straining against wet blue satin. He pulled the chair closer and bent to position his mouth on the seam of her jeans, directly over her clit. Through the heavy denim, she felt him nip at her and she rocked her hips toward him. It took a few seconds to realize the pulsing rhythm in her head was his phone ringing. She pushed at his shoulders.

“Your phone. Braden, your phone.”

“So?”

“It might be your mom. They’re on their way home, right?”

He sat back on his heels and stood, pulling the phone from his pocket in the same motion. With a glance at the screen, he shrugged and answered, “Hello, this is Braden.”

Lisa tugged her shirt down. She heard a man’s deep voice coming through the phone, but couldn’t tell what was being said.

Braden pointed to the computer, mouthing,
It’s him.

She smiled then listened impatiently to one side of the conversation.

“Hi, yeah. She said you might call... Okay... Uh-huh... Not far at all, we’re in Dunwoody...” He chuckled and began to pace with the phone. “No. I was a football player. I recently graduated from UGA and I’m applying to med schools now...” He winked at Lisa and she heard the deep pitch of Declan’s voice expressing surprise. He listened a while longer, then his eyebrows raised, “That sounds great, as long as Lisa’s the photographer.”

She waved her arms to get Braden’s attention and hissed, “
No
!”

He ignored her and continued on the phone, “What you saw was all the modeling I’ve ever done. I wouldn’t really be comfortable working with anyone else... I understand...”

Lisa covered her face with her hands. Braden had just blown a tremendous opportunity out of loyalty to her. She didn’t know whether to kill him or kiss him.

“Sure, of course. I get it... You too, thanks.”

After he disconnected the call, she shook her head and sighed. “I know you were trying to help me, but I wish you hadn’t. A modeling gig like that would’ve covered a lot of med school tuition.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right.”

“I
am
right,” she scowled. “So why are you grinning like a doofus?”

His eyes twinkled. “‘Cause he wants to meet us in a few days to go over contracts and take some test shots.”

LESS THAN A week later, test shots had been approved and contracts had been signed.

Braden was still in the stylist’s chair when Lisa arrived at the agency’s downtown Atlanta studio. They’d driven separately, since he had to be there two hours earlier for hair and wardrobe. Plus, they’d agreed not to tell their new employer about their personal relationship, and showing up together would arouse suspicion. Not to mention, Vance and Elena were home, so carpooling was out of the question.

The stylist, a gorgeous girl with ebony skin and natural hair, unclasped a smock from Braden’s shoulders. “Remember baby, don’t touch your hair or I’ll have to break your fingers.”

“I got it,” he laughed, then his eyes met Lisa’s in the mirror. “Hey, Lisa, this is Kimani. I thought she was cool until she put makeup on me.”

Kimani flashed a bright smile at Lisa. “You know this clown?”

“Since he was about half that size,” Lisa chuckled.

When Kimani left them alone to make a coffee run, Lisa and Braden stood awkwardly, maintaining an impersonal distance in case anyone walked in.

“This is crazy, huh?” He shook his head in amazement.

“Uh, yeah. You were already gorgeous, but Christ...” she murmured, staring.

He was bare-chested under an open, long-sleeved shirt, and wore a pair of crotch-hugging jeans she recognized as Allister & Hitch brand. His hair had been carefully styled to look windblown. Or bed-tumbled.

His grin heated the chilly studio. “We’ve got some time to kill...”

“And risk ruining your makeup? No way,” she teased. “Anyhow, I saw Ivy on my way in. She said Declan should be down in a few.” Lisa liked Ivy, Declan’s goth-looking, über-efficient assistant. She had done a great job handling the contracts and test-shots when Declan was called out of town at the last minute. Still, after communicating practically non-stop with him since that first email, it would be nice to finally meet the guy in person.

“You’re gonna pay for that remark.” Braden’s eyes narrowed and his tongue slid over his lower lip. “Hope you don’t have any plans tonight,” he cautioned, adjusting himself in the tight jeans.

Whatever response Lisa might’ve made was interrupted by the deep resonance of Declan’s now-familiar voice.

“Sorry to keep you both waiting. Braden,” he smiled, shaking Braden’s hand. Then he turned sexy brown eyes on Lisa and her mouth went dry. “And Lisa, I presume,” he took her hand in his big, warm one. “Declan Reece. Great to finally meet you both,” he said, releasing Lisa’s hand a second later than custom would dictate.

Declan was a bit taller than Braden, with dark, wavy hair that brushed his collar, and sprinkles of silver in the day-old scruff on his strong jaw. He smiled frequently and with his whole face, carving deep creases in his cheeks and crinkling his eyes. It undoubtedly contributed to his success. Charming and casual in dark jeans and a blazer, he reminded Lisa of the prototypical college professor every coed has a crush on.

He laid drawings on a long table. “Lisa, I know Ivy sent you the storyboards, but I want to look at them with you to make sure we’re on the same page.”

“Sounds good,” she said, mentally giving the finger to office supplies everywhere.

“Initially, we were going for something a lot more straightforward. More like what the client has done previously, but using fresh faces.” He looked from Braden to Lisa and smiled. “After speaking with Braden last week, I looked more closely at his pictures and all your other work, Lisa, and pitched this variation of the concept.”

She nodded. As expected, the storyboard sketches of a shirtless male body were more than a little similar to many of Lisa’s shots of Braden. When Natalie reviewed their contracts prior to signing she had insisted Lisa be paid an additional bonus for concept creation, and Declan readily agreed.

“I really respond to the whole ‘what are you hiding, what am I not seeing’ thing in your work... how it sucks you into the image, so let’s teeter on that edge as much as possible. All right?” He studied her face with calm intensity, like he truly wanted to know that she was okay with his suggestions. It boosted her confidence. Not only was she about to do a photo shoot for a major brand and a huge agency, she’d gotten the job because her client actually recognized what set her work apart and saw value in that.

“It’s more than okay. It’s perfect.” Lisa grinned so hard her face hurt.
How ironic that after years of struggle, she was finally getting paid well for something she would happily do for free.

They discussed which poses to start with, then Braden stood on his mark and Lisa started setting up the lighting. Declan was chatting amiably with them both when Ivy arrived with a craft services cart. He snagged two bottles of water, handing one to Lisa then tossing the other to Braden, who snatched it out of the air.

“Thanks, man.”

Declan opened a bottle for himself and settled into a folding chair. “Let me know if you need anything. Bathrooms are down the hall to the left, and feel free to plug into the speaker there if you want music.”

When Lisa was satisfied with her light meter’s findings, she sent Braden to the restroom. “You probably should go before we get started.” He gave her an odd look as he walked out, and she cringed when she realized how much she had sounded like a mom.

“Known him a while, huh?” Declan chuckled.

“He used to babysit my son, and my ex left me for his mom.” Then she laughed. “Wow, that sounded flippant, didn’t it?”

“A little.” His eyes crinkled as he considered her. “But healthy-flippant.”

She uncapped her water. “I’m a few years past basket-case-flippant.”

“Good to know,” he murmured, sending a frisson of tingly awareness through her.

They heard laughter as Braden returned with Kimani. The stylist sent him back to his mark, then made minor adjustments to his hair and wardrobe. She moved the sides of his open shirt to fully expose one side of his chest while barely covering his other nipple.

“Now unbutton your jeans and tug ‘em down a little bit, handsome,” Kimani ordered.

“I thought you’d never ask,” he teased and complied.

“A little lower... all the ladies wanna see those V-cuts you work so hard for.”

He looked past Kimani to Lisa as he worked the jeans further down his narrow hips.

Emotions in turmoil, Lisa took a deep drink of water and almost did a spit-take when Kimani squeaked, “Whoa, baby -- that’s enough. We only want the rainbow, not the pot of gold.”

The atmosphere was light as they shot over the next couple hours. Declan occasionally gave input or direction, but was always considerate. He had Lisa recreate many of the shots from her first session with Braden, but better, since his beautiful face wasn’t cropped out of these. She and Braden were confident they could defend their working relationship if Vance and Elena ever found out Lisa was the photographer on this job.

When they broke for lunch, Lisa took her sandwich to an empty table and popped the memory card into her laptop. The thumbnails had just come up when Declan slid onto the seat beside her. Her breath caught as his hard thigh brushed against hers.

“Mind if I look, too?”

“Oh. Well, um...” Glancing at his face, she saw respect and what appeared to be warm interest. She would think about the why of it later, but kept her thigh where it would continue to feel the heat of his. “I was gonna pull the weeds before showing you, but I don’t mind if you don’t.” The first few shots were good, although Braden started out a little stiff. As soon as he relaxed, though, every one was excellent. Declan smirked and called over to Braden, “You are one ugly son-of-a-bitch, my friend.”

Braden shot back, “You’re pretty ugly yourself, boss. Maybe you should be the one dropping trou for the camera.”

Lisa decided she would be totally fine with that.

As she scrolled to the next shot Declan shoved a hand through his hair, messing the dark waves and grumbled, “Shit. It’s gonna suck trying to narrow these down.”

Lisa beamed. “I’ve never been so happy to hear a client complain.”

His lip quirked in a little smile as his eyes flicked over her face. “I’m not complaining.”

After lunch, Kimani had Braden change into a faded indigo T-shirt. The soft cotton clung in all the right places, and the color she chose did sinful things for his eyes.

Ivy’s phone buzzed with a text. “Hey Dec, I’ve gotta run upstairs for a minute. Andie’s here to drop off some wardrobe.”

“Tell her to come down and say hi.” Declan turned to Lisa, “Andie’s the other new model. We shot her stuff last week...” His voice trailed off as he apparently got caught up in a train of thought.

Braden got on his mark so Lisa could adjust the lighting. They hadn’t had time alone all day and though they tried to communicate with their eyes, it did nothing but make them laugh.

Lisa checked the light meter and snapped a few test shots, leaning to the side when Declan looked at the viewfinder over her shoulder.

Braden drawled, “Yo, Declan, you want me to drop my drawers again?”

“With all my heart,” Declan deadpanned.

Lisa’s laugh got a little stuck in her throat as she watched Braden work the jeans down.

“Look what I found...” Ivy came in singing, tugging a young brunette by the hand. In track pants and a tank top, with no makeup and her hair in a messy bun, Andie was naturally gorgeous. She hugged Kimani and Declan, who both seemed genuinely happy to see her.

Declan introduced her to Lisa first, then Braden. When Braden shook the girl’s hand, Lisa tamped down a misguided pang of jealousy. They looked beautiful together.

Ivy appeared beside Lisa and chuckled. “Could those two be any better looking?”

Lisa shook her head and smiled, thankful for the camaraderie. “Andie seems sweet. Guess I expected a girl who looks like that to be more of a diva.”

“No, not at all. She played volleyball in the last Summer Olympics; that’s where she got the ridiculous body. I think she’s in grad school, now.”

When Ivy left to take a call, Declan joined Lisa in watching Braden chat amiably with Andie. He indicated her camera and asked, “May I?”

“Be my guest.” She stepped aside as he looked through the viewfinder.

When he straightened, he leaned close and quietly asked, “Do you see what I see?”

She took a deep breath and schooled her face and voice not to reveal any emotion as she murmured back, “What? That they look like they were made for each other?”

“Yeah, that.” He gave her a crinkly-eyed smile. Then, watching her closely he asked in a low voice, “While she’s here, would you mind taking some test shots of the two of them together?”

“Of course not. I’d be happy to.” She hoped she sounded sincere.

Lisa pretended to check settings on her camera while Declan discussed the idea with Andie and Braden. She tried unsuccessfully to tune them out after she heard him ask whether they would be comfortable mimicking foreplay. Since nobody left the studio after that, she assumed their answers were affirmative.

When Kimani took Andie for a quick wardrobe change and hair styling, and Declan conferred with Ivy about updating contracts, Braden stole a private moment with Lisa.

“You sure you’re okay with this?” He looked worried.

“I’m sure,” she said, trying to convince them both. “It’s not porn for Chrissake.”

He chuckled. “No, but it’s not the JC Penney catalogue, either.”

They were both right, although the brief photo session certainly skewed more toward the porn side of the spectrum.

Andie had changed into a pair of ass-hugging jeans and a fitted t-shirt. Her breasts were of average size, proportionate to the rest of her athlete’s body. If she wore a bra, it wasn’t evident. Her dark brown hair hung in shiny waves almost to her waist.

Since Lisa was new to photographing couples, Declan gave most of the direction. First, he had Braden and Andie stand close, laughing together without touching. Then he had Braden pick Andie up in a bear hug and spin her around, both laughing. Lisa knew the pictures would be cute and sexy, and was proud of herself for not feeling jealous.

That pride was short-lived.

“Braden, don’t put her down, yet,” Declan said. “Hold her tight against you and I want you to look in each other’s eyes... good... and now let her slide down your body-- slower, so Lisa can get the shots... nice. Lisa, how’s it look to you?”

It looks like Andie’s perky tits with their tight little nipples are brushing the part of Braden’s chest I most enjoy licking, thanks for asking.

She ignored the twist in her gut. “It looks great. Really great.”

Declan continued, “Andie, hold his face in both hands and lean in like you’re about to kiss him... Perfect. Now Braden, hook your thumbs under the hem of her shirt, so it lifts and we see your hands on her bare ribcage as she slides the rest of the way down... Not too fast. Yeah, just like that...”

Lisa’s hand was unsteady on the camera, and she gave thanks for the stability of tripods.