Newly Exposed (18 page)

“Had some things I had to take care of. Did you wait for me out by the pool?”

I shrugged my shoulders and turned to the cords I was trying to unravel.
 

“Damn,” he said, as his arms wrapped around me again and his chin rested on my shoulder. “I’m sorry that I made you wait. I should have called you, but I left my charger at my mom’s and my phone’s been dead.”

“You don’t need to explain anything to me, Adam,” I said nonchalantly, as I smiled and packed the cords we weren’t using in the giant Tupperware bin where we kept them all.
 

“I know, but I want to.”

“Well, thanks, I guess.”

He studied me for a second and shifted in place. “I hate these new clothes. They’re so tight and this hair, I feel like a tool bag,” he laughed nervously.
 

My eyes connected with his and I spoke from the heart, “You don’t look like one at all. You actually look…really hot.” I paused for a second.

His eyes widened in shock. “Really?”

I nodded and then said, “Don’t get me wrong, I liked your long hair, but you can totally…um, rock this new look.”

My hand went up to his hair as I explored the new look. He really did look so good. After today, there was no way his life was going to be normal. Zia was going to get some amazing shots of him, and he thought people liked him now; they were going to go bat shit crazy with his new look.
 

“Thanks, Solo.”

We stood there awkwardly and stared at each other. I didn’t know what to say, which was odd, because I found talking to Adam was one of the easiest things I’ve ever done, but now he sort of intimidated me with his new look.
 

“What’s wrong?” he asked, as he kicked my shoe with his.
 

“Nothing,” I turned to see if anything else needed to be taken care of, but I was extremely efficient earlier, and everything was set up and good to go.
 

“Don’t lie to me,” he sidled up right behind me, so I could feel his breath on my neck.
 

“It’s just…”
 

“Alright, let’s get this done,” Zia said, as she walked into the room, looking down at her phone and breaking the little bubble Adam and I were in.
 

Adam gave me an apologetic smile and squeezed my hand.
 

“Where is this Axel guy?” Zia asked, looking around.
 

“Right here,” Adam raised his hand like a nerd.
 

Zia’s head snapped up, and the moment she made eye contact with Adam, a sexy grin spread across her face. I could see the inner workings of her mind taking him all in. It was what she did with all the models she worked with. She assessed them, and when that grin appeared on her face, I knew she was interested. My stomach bottomed out as I realized that Adam was fair game, and Zia was an extremely attractive woman with the ability to bring any model to his knees.
 

Zia walked up to Adam and placed her hand on his chest, startling him from her abrasiveness. Her hands went to the hem of his shirt and she lifted it up and dragged it over his head, which he allowed her to do…I think more out of shock than anything. Well, and the fact that he worked for her. Zia’s eyes lit up once she got the full picture of the new Adam and the practically naked Adam.
 

The need to punch Zia square in the cooch from taking Adam’s shirt off was overwhelming. He wasn’t mine, not the least bit mine, but I didn’t want anyone else touching him, that was for damn sure.
 

“You clean up well,” she said, leaning in and looking at the earrings he had in. “Axel,” she hummed while testing out his new name. “Yes, you will do. Let’s hold off on the tattoos, because I kind of like what you have going on right now. I like it a lot, actually.”

I watched as Zia’s hand traveled up Adam’s chest, exploring his body and every defined muscle he had. Adam was visibly uncomfortable and had no clue what to do, so I decided to step in, not just to save Adam, but because I couldn’t stand the sight of Zia touching him anymore.
 

“Zia, your camera is ready if you want to get started. I wasn’t sure what you wanted Adam in…”

“Briefs,” Zia said, looking directly into Adam’s eyes, who looked terrified.
 

“Okay.” I turned to Adam and said, “Come with me; I’ll get you settled.”

Adam nodded his head and followed me to the changing room. When I shut the door, Adam leaned against the wall and took a deep breath.
 

“God, that was uncomfortable.”

“Get used to it,” I said, digging around for some dark briefs. “When Zia sees something she likes, she goes for it, not caring what anyone else wants.” I turned and handed him a pair of briefs. “Here, put these on and then meet us outside.”

I went to walk outside, but Adam grabbed my arm and stopped me. Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm my beating heart from the mere touch of his hand.
 

“Hold up, Solo. Are you mad at me? You’re acting different.”

“I’m not mad at you, Adam, but I have to do my job, so put on your briefs and meet me outside.”

“I’m not interested in her, in the least. There is nothing about her that attracts me to even want to spend time with her if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“Like I said, you don’t have to explain anything to me,” I held up my hands, as if I was washing them of the situation, and headed toward the door again. I was about to open it when it was slammed shut by Adam’s hand above my head. He whipped me around and pressed me up against the door by the hips with one hand as the other hand was up against the door next to my head. He leaned in and spoke directly into my eyes.
 

“Listen closely, Solo, Zia and I apparently have something in common, because when I see something I want, I go after it as well, and I want you, more than anything. I want nothing more than to take you back to the house, into that giant bed of mine and explore every last inch of your body, and then afterwards hold you in my arms while stroking that beautiful hair of yours. I’m not interested in Zia or any of the other girls who post messages on my fan page. I want you and you alone, and I won’t settle until I have you in my arms as mine. Do you understand that?”

I swallowed hard as the tingle that floated through my body tried to settle. A throbbing ache took place between my legs from the words coming out of his mouth, the proximity of his body, and the fresh soap scent radiating off of him. It was a deadly triple threat to my senses. I wanted him just as much, maybe even more.
 

I nodded my head in understanding, which eased his body. He pulled away, but let his hand travel to my chin, where he gripped it with his thumb.
 

“Tonight, we will be hanging out by the pool. Wear your bathing suit, because I plan on getting you wet, in more ways than one.”

“Adam…”

“Stop,” he bent down and pressed his lips gently, like a whisper, against mine, and my entire stomach flipped upside down. When he pulled away, he stroked my hair and said, “Stop denying your feelings and just accept them. I don’t care about your model phobia, because I’m different, and you know it. I see you for who you are, Solo, not the package you came in. So, don’t treat me like every other guy out there who only knows how to eye fuck you, because I see the nerdy beautiful girl you are and I want nothing more than to have you in my life.”

My heart hammered against my chest from his confession. He was right; he was the only one who had really seen me for who I am and not what I look like. He was a rarity, and there was no way I could deny him anymore; I didn’t have the strength.
 

“Don’t hurt me,” I squeaked out.
 

His face softened from my request. He bent down and kissed my lips one last time before stepping away and looking down at the briefs.
 

“I could never hurt you, Solo, you’re too damn precious to me.”

I nodded my head and walked out of the room before I physically mauled the man. With the way he was talking to me, he was only asking for it.
 

I busied myself on the set, making sure the lights were adjusted properly, and waited for Adam to come out. I hoped he wasn’t too nervous, because even though he was hot and just too damn sexy, Zia hated working with stiffs, and in a matter of seconds, she would cut off a photo shoot and fire a model just because the chemistry didn’t ignite within her in the first couple of seconds.
 

“I can’t believe what a haircut can do for someone,” Zia said, as she took some test shots with her camera. “I mean, he always had the body, but that longer hair and that body of his didn’t match up. The fauxhawk was a good choice.”

I wanted to tell her that his longer hair that curled out under his hat was perfect for him, but I wasn’t about to start a fight with my boss, so instead, I agreed.
 

“Yes, his hair looks great.”

“Tattoo, no tattoo. I can’t decide. What do you think?”

“I think he should decide.”

Zia laughed. “Oh, Solo, you’re going soft on me. When have we ever let the model decide?”

She was right, before Adam, I was very opinionated when it came to the models and what they needed for their image, because frankly, I was the social media queen, and I could look at one guy, say what image he would fit into, and make it happen, but with Adam, it was different. He didn’t belong in any kind of pre-designed slot. He was a special kind of guy that I didn’t want to expose to everyone; I wanted to keep him for myself.
 

The door to the changing room creaked open and Adam popped out with a nervous look on his face; it was endearing and it made my heart leap out of my chest. I wanted to run up to him, place a kiss on his chest, and tell him it would be alright, but I knew that wouldn’t go over well with Zia, so I visibly took a deep breath to remind him to relax and smiled at him. He smiled back and walked to the center of the floor, where the shoot would be taking place.
 

Taking her eyes off her camera, Zia looked up and scanned Adam from head to toe. A sly smile played on her face and she nodded.
 

“Yup, you’re going to be the next big thing,” she stated. “Let’s get to work.”

“Okay,” he said nervously, “What should I do?”

“Just act normal. I want to play up this whole sensitive on the inside, hard on the outside thing you have going for you.” Zia started walking around Adam and taking pictures. With every snap of the light, he blinked and cringed.
 

Anyone off the street would be able to see that Adam was obviously uncomfortable and wanted nothing more than to go put his clothes back on and get the hell out of the studio. I started to get nervous for him, because even though I wanted nothing more than for Adam to quit the modeling gig, I knew he needed the money, so I popped one of the plugs out of the outlet that connected to the wall, which turned off one of the lights. The minute Zia noticed the dim of the flash, she stopped and looked up at the lights.
 

“Solo, what’s going on?”

“Uh, not sure, maybe one of the bulbs is out. I’ll have to check it out and see.”

Zia huffed, looked at her watch, and said, “I need to run to the bathroom real quick, and then I’ll be back. I have a shoot in an hour and I want to at least get a couple of shots of Axel before then. Please hurry up and fix it.”

“Not a problem, Zia. Give me five minutes.”

“Thanks, girl.” Zia set her camera down and then went off to the bathroom, while pulling her phone out of her back pocket.
 

Adam rested his body against the wall and took a deep breath. He looked almost pained from how uncomfortable he was.
 

“What the hell am I doing? I’m not good at this.”

I plugged the light in really quick and then walked over to him. I pressed my hands against his chest and looked up into his eyes. His gaze softened and his hands landed on my hips.
 

“You need to relax and just be yourself. Don’t pose, because that will be obvious, and Zia will hate it. Just stand there, shift side to side on your feet so your body moves, and then look out at the other wall across the studio, occasionally glance at the camera and keep that light in your eyes that you have now.”

“That light is because of you,” he said, rubbing my hip bones.
 

“I hate to say this, because I don’t want to encourage bad habits, but think about me. If you do those little steps, then Zia will direct you to lift your head a little, tilt ever so slightly, and so forth. Just remember, small movements and no posing.”

“So I shouldn’t suck in my gut and flex my arms?”

I laughed and shook my head. “No, that would be a bad idea, plus, you don’t have any gut to suck in.” I tapped his abs and he buckled over, over-exaggerating.
 

“Ohhhh, ya got me. Man down,” he groaned out.
 

“Shut up,” I laughed, pushing his shoulder. “You’re such a drama queen.”

“Have to keep things ripe, muffin. No one likes moldy bread.”