Capture Me: Alpha Billionaire Romance (Hollywood Dreams) (13 page)

“Then give me a chance.” A smile quirked on her lips and I couldn’t help but be happy to see it. “I can work on my jumping with Sadie.”

“I think I’ve got enough jumping shots for this round.”

“Then I’ll work on some other kind of shot you need.” She laid her hand on mine, sending shivers up my arm. “Tell me what you’re looking for.”

From anyone else, the words could have been taken as begging; from Tessa, they were a contract. No doubt she’d probably study a hundred magazines this week and make a damn good model.

“You’re going through a lot right now.” I lightly twisted Tessa’s ponytail around my finger. She needed me, not some modeling job. “You sure everything’s okay?”

Tessa’s eyes didn’t land on mine. “My dad . . .” She sighed and I could tell that whatever was going on, she still had a lot to work through. “There’s not enough money to live on and I’ve got Dani to think about.”

“Your sister, right?”

She nodded.

Bad idea. All signs pointed to this being a really bad idea.

I couldn’t do it. I shouldn’t do it. But—

Fuck it.

“You’re in luck. I’ve got a slot open after Sadie.” The girls exchanged looks. “Feel free to high-five, or kiss again. I’ll support whatever you need to do to celebrate the gig and get it out of your system.”

Tessa licked her lips, considering. Then smiled at me. “I can think of better ways to celebrate.”

Oh yeah, a bad idea that felt so damn good. This might just work out better than I thought.

CHAPTER 21

Tessa

“Breathe in.” Sadie pulled my corset’s ribbon taut, and the crisscrossed lacing down my back drew together. “Come on, more.”

I sucked in another breath as she cinched in the corset from hell and tied it off.

Sadie turned me around and nodded. “You look damn good, but Liam’s playing nice with you. Giving you an overbust dress.”

“What does that mean?”

She poked my left boob where the corset covered my breast with white satin and delicate lace. “Over your boob.”

I looked down at my exposed cleavage. The corset barely covered my nipples. “And how exactly is this a dress?” I pulled away playfully and stuck out my butt. “It doesn’t even cover my ass.”

She tugged at the lace brushing my upper thighs. “You’re wearing slightly more than a thong.”

“Pretty sure I wouldn’t have gone for that on my first photo round.” My head jerked backward as she pulled out my ponytail. “Are you done putting me together yet?”

Sadie stepped back and folded her arms. “Turn.”

I shifted my hips away, then looked over my shoulder to see her nod.

“You’re good.” Her eyes sparked and she snagged my arm. “You look so fucking hot. If there was ever a day to remind him of how much he wants to fuck you, it’s right now.”

I elbowed her. “Hey, that’s not what I’m going for here.”

“Yes it is,” Sadie said.

“Three date rule, remember? No sex.” Considering Liam, it was painful to say, though I’d sort of lost track given the circumstances of the last two weeks.

“There are so many other fun things you two can do. And besides, I think you’ve reached the three dates already—if you’re flexible in what you call a
date
.”

A beam of light streamed through the small part between the curtains and before I could even scowl at her, I pulled back the edge and poked my head into the main studio. Liam must have noticed the movement and he motioned me over.

Crouching beside one of the light stands, his back muscles rippled with every adjustment he made.

“Where do you want me?” I asked.

He glanced up and did a double take—something I never thought actually existed beyond cartoons. “Uh . . .”

I stood for a moment as he stared. “Let me know when you’re ready.” I walked over to the shooting area and waited for him to point his camera in my general direction. Part of me wanted to look over my shoulder to see what he actually looked at, the other part of me blushed. I wanted to keep my cool, at least a little, but having his gaze on me so intensely, I nearly lost it.

Sadie clapped her hands together, jolting Liam’s attention to his task again. She gave me a wink, and with Liam’s back to us she puckered her lips at me and wiggled her hips.

I mouthed “stop” as she walked over beside me but it did little good.

“Are you going to help?” I hissed. “Or make it so much worse?”

“Take your pick.” Sadie and I watched Liam shift from one knee to the other. His shoulder muscles flexed with every movement. She draped her arm around my bare shoulders, leaned into me, and said in a low voice, “Someone really should film that man in his jeans. From every angle.”

“Skip jeans,” I whispered back. “Go straight to boxer briefs.”

Liam turned to us and said something, but I’d been paying more attention to other . . . things to catch it all. “—your skin is lighter than Sadie’s and since you’re wearing white, I’m making sure you don’t look washed out.”

“Sure, sure,” Sadie said and waved him off. “Do whatever you need to do. We’re watching—” I elbowed her. “I meant
waiting
.”

After a few minutes, I stepped under the lights and it was as though my body immediately transported itself back to my seventh grade science class where the teacher had us stand at the front of the room and give a presentation. I just stood there, no words, no clue.

Now I was supposed to do something interesting with my body in front of this incredibly sexy man? I shook my hands out and reminded myself to take a deep breath. “It’s a lot different on this side of the camera, huh?”

Sadie shrugged. “You’ll get used to it.”

I squinted as Liam tested a few flashes, then said, “It seems to come so natural for you.”

“Just don’t think about it too much,” Sadie said. “You’ll be fine.”

Liam stepped up and nodded. “Ready?”

I wanted to say something like, “Have you been listening to this conversation? Really, I’m going to do my best not to puke on you.” Instead, I smiled.

He raised his camera and took a picture. “Perfect.”

“Hey!”

“Come on, Tessa. Do something with your hands.”

I waved them around at Sadie. “How’s this?”

Liam chuckled. “Not quite what I’m going for. Whatever hand you feel comfortable with, put it across your opposite shoulder.” He stepped to the side, then gently took my forearm with his hand and placed it for me—which made me want to move it again just to put it around him, but I didn’t.

“I want you to look left, then right, then at me,” Liam said.

“Your left or mine?” I quirked a smile and he snapped a pic. “What was that for? You took another one when I’m not even posing.”

“Which makes for some of the best shots,” Sadie said over Liam’s shoulder. “He’s going to keep taking pictures. That’s kind of the point.”

Liam studied me for a moment. It was strange seeing him be more into business than pleasure.

“Do you always shoot inside your studio?” I asked.

“Depends on what I’m going for.” Liam adjusted his camera; what I could only guess were setting changes. “I have a bit more control here and I’m not looking for natural light right now.”

“So here we are.”

He smiled and looked into my eyes, his usual heat bearing down on me. “So here we are.” He took a few more. “Tilt your head to the left. Not quite. Here, I’ll show you.” He stood and took my chin in his fingers, the same way he did before kissing me. I followed his lead and his eyes went to my mouth.

“Here?” I asked.

“Oh yes.” His deep voice resonated through me like a drum and I shivered. He stepped back and snapped a picture. “Perfect. Be natural.”

I covered my mouth and laughed. “I just don’t know what to do.”

“Picture your body as an
S
.”

I pushed my hip out further. “Like this?”

“Damn, you’ve got a great body.”

I laughed and stood up straight. “Stop making me laugh.”

“Why did you move? That was perfect.” Liam ran a hand through his hair and I wished I hadn’t disappointed him. “You’re not a robot. You’re a sexy woman who needs to have some fun.”

I went back to the pose.

“Move your hand to your hip.” Sadie poked her head over Liam’s shoulder. “Other hand. That’s my girl.”

I wanted to tell her that I may not be a robot but I sure felt like a puppet.

After another dozen shots, Liam went back to his stool and pulled a different lens from his bag.

Suddenly, I became very aware of my mostly exposed breasts pressing against the heart-shaped corset. The fabric barely kept my girls in check.

“You did say no jumping shots, right?”

Liam raised an eyebrow as though he was actually considering it. “If you really want to get that adventurous the first time around, don’t let me stop you.”

“No, I think I’ll stick to the hips and hands today.”

His eyes went to my hair. He grabbed a handful and his warmth beside me sent chills running down my back. I shivered.

“Cold?”

I shook my head.

“Ahh.” He moaned. “Here, hold your hair up like I am.”

I blew out a breath and tried to compose myself.

“No. Keep that look on your face.” He stepped in, and with my hair now bunched against my head, he leaned in to my exposed neck. I tilted my head back as he nipped his way down from my ear to my throat. “That’s it. You have an incredible look when you’re turned on. Let me see it.”

When he pulled away to take the shot, I groaned, wanting more.

“Gorgeous.”

“You know—” Sadie cleared her throat. Liam and I looked up to see her standing at the studio door. “I think I’m going to head out. I have . . . things to do.”

“You sure?” I asked.

“Oh, I’m sure.” She looked from Liam to me and winked as she opened the door. “I think you’ve got the hang of it.”

CHAPTER 22

Tessa

Liam’s biceps pulsed as he pulled the white chaise from the back area to where we’d been shooting.

I fluffed out the lace that Sadie called a dress for something to do with my hands. “Sure you don’t need any help?”

He glanced up at me. “Relax and let me take care of things. It’ll be your turn soon enough.” Once he’d positioned the leather couch, Liam checked his flash, then nodded to me. “All yours.”

“You want me to lie down?”

He grinned. “We can get to that. Try sitting first and lean against the back.” I did as he instructed. “Good. Now relax and look over to the studio door.”

I followed his direction but something didn’t feel right.

Liam knelt in front of me and placed his hand on my thigh. “Remember what I said about shaping your body like an
S
?” He slowly slid his hand down my leg—I silently thanked myself for remembering to shave this morning—and lifted my calf to cross my legs. “Bring your chest toward me.” He groaned as his eyes trailed the minimal material pushing my breasts up. He pressed his lips together, fighting to restrain himself from using them on me.

I wanted him to. God, did I want him to.

He kept his hand on my ankle for a moment and the look of wanting me ignited in his eyes. “I want to remember this angle.” He let go of my leg and snapped several pictures.

Part of me wanted to be good enough at this to not need constant adjusting, but then, I rather enjoyed his hands on me. I wondered if he was like this with all his models. I thought back to Sadie’s shoot and the most he ever did with her was move her hair over her shoulder. I had a feeling he’d still find a reason to touch me even if I was as comfortable in front of the camera as she was.

No complaints here. The way his hands left my skin searing hot was everything a woman would want from a man as sexy as he was.

“Lean forward. More. That’s . . .” Liam’s eyes flashed and he sucked in a breath.

I looked down to see that my left nipple had slipped out. It lightly brushed the edge of the material. “Oh.”

Liam licked his lips, hunger in his eyes that he couldn’t take off my chest. He finally looked back into my eyes. The heat in them grew by the moment. “You can adjust it back . . . if you want to.”

Part of me was about to do just that. The part of me that went to school for years to become an accountant; the part that studied and worked hard to one day be the CEO of my father’s company; the part that always waited until the third date to do anything with a man.

Then I thought that this counted as that third date I’d been waiting for. Either way, that part of me wasn’t invited tonight.

I leaned forward and grinned at him.

“Oh, Tessa. You are amazing.” He held up his camera and I reached up to pull it down for a moment.

“These are for you. Only you.”