Captured Secret (The Captured Series) (31 page)

My loose lips brush his ear. “Sure, anything for you, Babe.” He pulls away and shakes his head with a coy grin. We dance together for several songs. Zoey interrupts and pulls me back to the table with Ty and Pierce in tow. We leave for the ladies room where Zoey gives me advice on how to get underneath Ty’s hot sweaty body. I giggle at her, and act appalled by her suggestions.

Back at the table, the skanks think they are making progress. Maybe they are with two of the guys, but definitely not Pierce. We drink down one little drink until it’s empty and grab the full one to head out on the dance floor. Ty gives us an ‘I got your next one’ look. More dancing, more giggling out loud until Pierce comes back for more. His hands slide all over Zoey’s red dress and he looks like he may fuck her right then and there.

I feel a chest flush with my back. With the height difference, I know this isn’t Ty. “It’s not the douche bag from before, Sweets. He’s making nice with some slut at the bar right now. Thought I’d swoop in here and stake my claim on your ass, tonight,” The voice screams in my ear. Instinctively, my eyes dart to find Ty. I don’t see him. Zoey starts to walk over and I give her total reassurance that I have this under control using my eyes only. She stands there and watches.

My unwanted dance partner spins me around where I meet his eyes. We are about the same height. He’s cute, but I’m not interested in some creep calling me Sweets. Those arrogant eyes take in my body from head to toe, and he pulls me up against his chest. “Don’t embarrass yourself, Sweets, and run over there. I was standing next to them when they were making plans to ditch you.” He’s screaming at me over the music. His hands circle my waist. “Douche bag said he was looking for someone a little more mature and experienced to fuck around with tonight. The slut he was talking to agreed.” I can’t help when my tummy falls into my feet. Ty’s not my boyfriend, so I have no right to check little man’s story out. He grabs my ass and says, “But I’m a different story. I see a sexy woman scorned, and I’m smart enough to grab what’s hot. And, damn, Chick, you’re hot!”

I’m about to tell him that if he does not release me, I’m gonna punch his creepy face in, but a voice I love cuts me off. It’s loud and clear over the music. “Hey, five feet four inches, this douche bag is giving you one full second to take your hands off of my girl.” Creepy McCreeperson releases me instantly. “You know, better yet, leave the fucking club asshole or I’m gonna show you who needs more experience when I wipe the floor with your short ass.” Creep doesn’t even look my way as he starts to move. Ty stops him by placing his hand on his chest. “Apologize to my girl, Dickhead, and tell her everything you just said was bullshit.” Creeper shoots a ‘fuck off’ look at Ty. Two drinks are shoved into my hand as Ty roars, “Now, asshole! Last fucking chance!”

Creeper looks at me and says in this little boy voice, “Sorry, it was bullshit.” He cast his eyes down and walks off. I’m led to the table by my arm and Ty walks over and talks to Pierce. Pierce looks confused, but just nods yes, repeatedly. Ty waves to Pierce and Zoey and shoots Jaxon an interesting look. My arm is grabbed a bit harder than necessary, but I realize he’s mad. We walk out of the club and step right into a waiting cab.

I can’t hide my happiness that I was just called his girl, but I feel a bit confused by the anger radiating from him. “Thanks for bailing me out, but I was just about to tell him I was going to punch his face in.”

“Well, Stella, when you dress the way you are dressed, you get what’s coming to you. I mean, every guy in that club saw exactly what was there for the taking. Your hair is all up and sexy and your makeup is thick and suggestive. Let’s be honest.” I’m shocked. I thought he was mad at the creeper, but he’s fucking mad at me!

“Sorry you feel I got what I deserved. Actually, I looked around that club and there were girls wearing way less than me.”

“If you could just give me a minute to cool off, I think it would be for the best.” He faces the window and I do the same on my side. The ride is short and we head up to his flat. I grab my bag, walk straight to the bathroom, and lock the door. I strip off my clothes and get into his shower and wash my, apparently, slutty makeup off along with my sweat soaked body. I take a minute to collect myself and re-hash the night. I am certain I didn’t do anything wrong, so I don’t dwell long. I dry off, get dressed and complete my bedtime routine in slow motion. When I open the door, Ty is lying in bed. His eyes meet mine and he lifts the covers. I go over and slip between the sheets. I turn my back to him and feel his fingers stroke my hair. His voice is soft. “I’m sorry, Stella. You didn’t deserve that. I saw that prick walk up to you like he had any fucking business touching you. He was so preoccupied when I slipped up, he didn’t realize I heard what he said. I felt like I was going to kill him when he pulled your ass into his hands. I know it’s crazy. I’m sorry for saying you deserve it. Your outfit just showed every guy in that club what they could have and it made me unstable for a minute. Do you forgive me?”

“I accept your apology. The only guy I have eyes for smells delicious, and just wrapped me up in his arms.” I won’t hold back any longer. I’m astonished to hear what I’m actually hearing. Ty was jealous.

I
LOVE
THE
SOUND
of the waves. I can’t imagine not being able to jump in my car and be at the beach in about forty five minutes. The sun is bright and the wind is whipping my hair. My feet feel so good in the wet sand as I listen to the newlyweds explain to Ty how arguing, now that you’re married, is totally different from arguing when you are just dating or engaged. She says that they said ‘I do’ forever. So, using the words get out, or we are done is no longer an option. You actually have to figure out a solution and make it work. Ty is listening, but all I can hear running through his mind is that it won’t last long lady, so why fight it.

This is my first trash the dress session. I’ve heard of it, but I’m excited to actually see it. Gwen is the new bride and is doing this behind her mother’s back. We were up super early. While I showered, Ty packed, and while he showered, I made coffee and some peanut butter waffles. He softly took my chin in his hand as I was about to get in the Escalade and told me again that he was sorry for being an ass last night. He confessed that, for a moment, he thought maybe I was interested in creeper from the club, but once he saw my body language, he knew that was not the case.

We are loaded up and ready to rock for this shoot. It starts simple. Gwen and Blake on some huge rocks…them walking down the beach hand in hand. Her dress is slightly wet on the bottom as he dips her back and kisses her.

A ton of pictures later, the end of the session is amazing. Ty is so easy with clients. They just all seem to have this sense of trust. He explains, before the dress takes on a million gallons of seawater, his vision. Ty tells them it’s up to them how far they take it, but he’s open to anything, and not to feel pressured. They step into the surf, and it’s very playful at first, huge smiles and splashing. Finally, the water fight ends, and the groom captures his bride. Short, fun kisses turn to long ones, and at the end the bride is on her back, lying just where the surf rushes up and barely touches them. They are both soaked, the groom is shirtless, and damn, it is not a bad thing. Blake works with Pierce and Jaxon, and has a body that is hard and lean. Gwen’s head is back, legs are open as the dress has been hiked up past her knees, Blake runs his tongue all over her chest as he clenches her bodice near her breast. They are worked up for real and damn if I am not as well. They end with some serious making out and it’s over.

It got steamy and I realize that ending is optional. It can stay fun or it can turn naughty. I loved the ending. Ty explains, most keep those shots for their eyes only. She has a bikini on under and changes while Ty swipes the credit card on his phone. I pack up and it’s done. Blake tells Ty he will see him tonight at a party. It’s being held at one of the paramedic’s houses.

We walk on the beach and are both frustrated that we didn’t think about bringing bathing suits and enjoying a couple hours here. Ty fucks with me about how he took a couple pics of me looking at them all goo-goo eyes as he called it. “You’re such a sap for this wedding shit, Stella. They won’t make it. Sad but true. Most people don’t. Did you know that fifty percent of marriages don’t last?”

“I guess, one day, I want to be in the good fifty percent, Ty. Don’t you believe when you keep getting dealt a shitty hand in life that, in the end, you may actually wind up happy?”

It’s interesting how we can feel on the same page on some things, but on this one, not even close. “Why will being in love make you so happy, Stella? It’s not all that. All the worry that they are going to step out on you, does that sound like something you are interested in day in and day out?”

“I guess I just think feeling loved and wanted will complete me. Is that how your relationship was with Lacey? You worried about her cheating all the time? From day one?”

“You need to complete you. Not anyone else, and absolutely not. I was sure she was completely mine, but you’ve heard that wasn’t the case and didn’t work that way.” I really don’t want to end this on a bad note. It’s been a great morning and I still have warmth in my belly from watching two people in love.

“Well, sorry that was done to you. It doesn’t have to be that way. There are great girls out there, Ty.” My voice trails off and I say, “I think you just have to open your eyes.”

We walk in silence and finally turn around after heading about thirty minutes away from the car. He speaks first. “Do you want to get some lunch on the pier?”

My tummy is grumbling. “Yeah, that sounds good, but I want some ice cream. I’ve been craving it, and not giving in, but today, I can no longer hold out.”

“Craving huh? Is there something you want to tell me?” His tone is light and I laugh because I know what he’s insinuating.

I half look serious and say in an almost crying voice. “Ty, don’t be mad, but I’m craving ice cream, because well…oh God…you’ll be mad…but I must have it because…well….it’s the baby, Ty. The baby wants it! Okay, there I’ve said it. You’re to be a father, Ty Caulder, a father I tell you!” I’m ridiculously dramatic.

He rolls his eyes and doesn’t seem to enjoy my performance. “You’re a dork, Stella,” I laugh, because I thought it was good.

“I’m so kidding. I take that pill religiously. Shark week comes tomorrow some time, so my girly parts will be out of commission for about three to four days.”

“Did you just call your period, shark week?”

“Yeah, it’s something that Zoey and I say. We yell, they are eating us alive!”

He looks at me all concerned. I’m wondering what he is going to say. “How shall I ever get through shark week, Stella Avery? I must not be without your body for that extended period of time!” I now giggle at his dramatic performance.

“Oh, I think you will fare well, big boy. You’ve been without it longer than that since we started having sex, so I think you will make it through.”

“Sweet heavens, you are killing me. My hand just will not compensate in your absence.”

“Now who’s being a dork?” I push him further into the surf and giggle at his horrible try at recreating my dramatic scene. I hate it, but I think I have gotten over it that he likes to capture me on his camera. Because I have a big stupid smile as I hear the shutter opening and closing like crazy. “I’m not even going to ask you why you torture me with your camera. I’ll just be me and you will stop taking pictures.”

“I like catching your genuine looks. And no I won’t,” he says from behind the camera. “That slightly annoyed face is one of my favorites.”

We stop and look out at the ocean. Ty slightly turns away from me and I grab my phone out of my pocket, flip it to silent and take a few shots of his perfect face. He turns and looks at me. “It sucks, doesn’t it? Being photographed and not wanting it?”

“Hell no! Give me the phone, Stella,” I giggle as I’m grabbed around my waist and the phone is wrestled away from me. “Yes. Now, hold on. I’m a professional and extremely good looking, so these pictures may be so amazing they’ll hurt your eyes.”

“Oh, my God, are we a bit full of ourselves?” He switches the camera to take self-portraits. He turns us until he finds the right lighting and background and angles the camera. I don’t hear it, but I know he’s starting to take the pictures.

“Definitely not full of myself, but these are damn near perfect.” I lift my head up until I can see him on my screen. I give this squinty eye, nerdy girl, confused look, and photo bomb him being all sexy. Ty starts laughing. “Stella, you are a perfect photo bomber. Holy shit that was great!” He pulls me back to his front and angles my phone. You can see us both perfectly because his arms are long. He gets us again in the perfect spot and says, “Smile.” I do, and he takes a perfect picture of us. And there it is… our Captured Secret. Us smiling, laughing and enjoying one another, and no one else knows any of this happens. No one gets to see us happy together.

We rinse our feet off downstairs at his flat and unpack all the gear. The flat is cool, and at the moment, it’s a touch cloudy, so there’s a relaxing shade of light coming in through all the windows. We fall into his bed and are face to face when he starts asking a shit ton of questions about my mom and growing up with a dad. Alone in his bed and shark week coming, this is not what I want to be doing. However, the mom situation is simple really. “My dad’s not rich. He couldn’t give her a mansion and luxury cars so she went and found someone who could. He’s a plastic surgeon in New York and she lives in total luxury with her two pre-teenage daughters.”