Through The Lens (Creative Hearts Book 1) (5 page)

But again, she glanced Ale’s way, as if by some magnetic pull, and took in all of his raw strength. He took off his shirt and went to the nearby pool of water, splashing his finely honed body.
 

“Isn’t this place perfect?” he asked, giving her an easy grin. “It’s a fantasy brought to life.”

She nodded, agreeing with him wholeheartedly.
A fantasy.
And she knew. In that exact moment, with that nod, she’d decided. She would let go for once and have Alejandro for one night.
 

And then she would be gone.
 

Onto her new job and her new life. It would be fine. She’d get Alejandro the Great out of her system and move on with no fuss for either of them, as he had done countless times with countless women. It was a foolproof idea.

Chapter 3

“Okay, so you really want to do this?” Mika asked, sauntering over to Alejandro—or at least, she hoped it was a saunter. She tried to sound calm and self-assured despite her new plan, which was causing flutters where they really had no business being.
 

“Of course I do. I’ve made up my mind.”
 

“And I know exactly what that means.”
 

Alejandro whirled on her, eyes narrowed, giving her a quick up and down that sent any last bit of saunter flitting away. “Tell me, Ms. Easygoing, what does it mean?”
 

Mika planted her feet and stood to her full height, just making it to the top of his broad, wet chest. She looked up, meeting his eyes, not backing away an inch when he moved closer. “You know that
I know
that once you make up your mind about something, there’s no stopping you. You’ll have this place tricked out with wires in three days and models zipping through the air like some sort of mad circus act.”

Ale’s expression softened, his voice cooled. “Not like a circus act. Something more like nature is what I’m going for. And don’t worry, I’m not going to ruin the forest. I plan on leaving this place just as we found it. There will be no lawsuits to follow us.”

She gave him an uncompromising stare. “I sure hope not. It’ll be my name on all the documents, you know.”

“I know it. Thanks, boss,” he said, lightening the mood. “Just imagine Karina in the Volire on that tree. It will be amazing.”
 

Karina. There it was again, and with that name, like a cold splash of water, suddenly her bravado over hatching a seductive plan was squelched. She followed where he pointed and, even though she didn’t want to, she could easily imagine the beautiful Karina in the couture dress and knew he was right. She would be an exotic bird, wrapped in mystery and intrigue. It would make an amazing shot. And just like that, Mika’s fantasy plan seemed like a foolish daydream.
 

“You’re right. It’ll be wonderful. This is the perfect location, and she’s the perfect model.” Mika forced a smile. “Now I’m just going to finish up my final shots while you do your planning. I can’t live off you forever,” she said softly.

*

Ale reeled back, for a moment stunned. He was used to her taking her own shots, but something in her tone wasn’t quite right. It didn’t settle with him. This wasn’t just about the kiss, and it didn’t feel like something they could get past. What did she mean by that comment?
Not living off him forever.
 

He watched as she started to shoot her surroundings, at first looking at the cove as a whole. Then her keen eyes zeroed in on things even he had missed. Small pockets of haunting beauty. A cluster of berries hidden in a bush, mushrooms at the base of a tree, a tiny tropical bird she lightly snuck up on before it could take flight. She was good. Mika had the eye and the talent to catch it all. And as she shot the majestic scenery, he shot photos of her, admiring her as he never had before. Her arms, so long and graceful but strong enough to patiently hold her heavy camera as she waited for the perfect light to come into play. Her slim fingers with their tapered nails, quick enough to strike at just the right moment. He could just imagine them raking across his—

“Are you taking pictures of me?”

“Um?”

“Well, are you?” Mika asked accusingly.

“It’s only fair. I saw you getting shots of me earlier. I see everything, Mika.”

She sucked in a deep breath of air, causing her breasts to rise, and his own most intimate parts rose along with them. “I won’t have you making fun of me.”
 

“I’m not making fun of you. You know I never would. Besides, what was all that with you photographing me?”

She let out a huff. “You were in my shot. That was all.”

Ale started to walk toward her. “Really? You can do better than that. What’s with the pictures?”

She nervously nibbled at her bottom lip, then stopped and tilted her chin up at him. “Maybe I wanted to take your picture,” she challenged. “Put you on the other side of the camera for a change.”
 

He looked at her long and hard—Mika biting her lips made him want to bend down and do the same. He had to get a grip. “That sounds fair. But if you’re putting me on the other side of the camera, then I’m doing the same to you.”

Her eyes sparked for just a moment, and she looked away. He could practically see the wheels turning. Would she allow him to photograph her? Mika loved to hide in the background. She’d never agree. Unless...

“So, game over. You concede. I guess you’re too scared to live up to your own challenge,” Ale teased.

She instantly fired her gaze back to his. “Of course not. I only suggest we start with you.”

Ale couldn’t help the smile that came from deep down. That was his Mika. Never one to back down from a challenge.
 

*

Taking pictures of Alejandro was easy, Mika thought, as she reeled off shot after shot. Besides, she’d been doing it in her mind for longer than she cared to remember. The hard part was getting him to follow any sort of direction.
 

“You make an awful model,” she chided.
 

“Give me a break. This is tough work. Do I really give this much direction?” He yelled down to her from where she had him posing on one knee on top of a large rock.

“This is nothing. I’m going easy on you. You just remember this the next time you have some newbie in the studio, and she’s shaking in her boots. It’s not always easy to find your light, smile with your eyes, hold it in while freezing your ass off in a little scrap of next to nothing.”

He seemed to wince. “Got it. Lesson taken.”

She had put Ale into a multitude of uncomfortable positions for half an hour just to give him a bit of business, but now it was time to really get to work.

“I want you to come down here and lay on the grass. The light is perfect.” She couldn’t stop the shakiness that came to her voice and hoped he didn’t catch it.

“As you say.” Alejandro easily jumped down from the rock and went to lie on the grass where Mika pointed.

She swallowed. He was like a Greek god come down before her, bronzed and statuesque. “Now close your eyes and try to look relaxed,” Mika said softly. She watched as his dark lashes swept closed, creating the perfect frame for his sharp cheekbones. She clicked the shutter, her heart clicking right along as the sun streamed through the trees, casting radiant beams of light along Alejandro’s muscular body.
 

“Now put your arms above your head,” she croaked out.

He slowly raised his arms and then opened his eyes, squinting up at her standing over him. “You know, if these photos ever get out, I don’t know what I’d do to you. But just know the punishment would be severe, that’s for sure.”

Mika grinned down at him, cocking her head to the side, then clicking faster. “Do you promise?”

Just then Ale grabbed her, pulling her down on him playfully. But there was nothing playful about the moment their bodies connected. “I swear you can drive a man mad. Enough of this, woman, it’s my turn.”

Yes, please. Have your turn.
Mika was ready. That jolt was practically too much. Her body went still against his, the words “just one night” were right there on her next breath.

But he let her go. Pushing her off him, he rose, leaving a void behind as he put her camera down to the side and reached for his own.
 

Mika sat up and looked at him while he leveled his focus on her. She ran a hand though her hair. “Okay, how do you want me?” she asked as lightly as she could, letting the moment go, happy to have not made a fool of herself.
 

He studied her for a while as he seemed to contemplate her loaded question. “There are so many ways to answer that you just don’t know.”

Mika’s eyes widened in surprise at his words, but his easy smile told her he was just being Ale.
 

“Sorry, I had to say it. Too soon?” he asked.

“Of course it is, but I said we were cool and we are. Don’t worry about it. You can’t help being you.”

She thought she may have caught a slight frown from him, but he covered it quickly by starting to laugh. Well, this would not do. She wanted to be serious and smoldering, so he would see her differently. Not be the same “old Mika, old buddy, old pal.” She pushed her hair from her eyes, annoyed with herself. Ale started to shoot.

“Wait. I wasn’t ready!”
 

“What? You look fine.”
 

Fine. Yeah, that’s just what she was going for. She gave him a cold stare, and he clicked again. “Ale, you’re not taking this seriously.”

“Okay, okay, come over here by the water.” He led her to edge of the pool near an overgrowth of vegetation, but the liquid was still clear enough to see the rocks at the bottom. “I want you to look at your reflection and run your hand across the water.”
 

Mika gave him an “Oh, please” look.

“Don’t challenge me. I’m the photographer.”

“Okay. I will do as I’m told. But if you’re going to be corny with it, then I am too.” Mika plucked a nearby pink flower and stuck it behind her ear. She couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across her face as she caught Alejandro’s look of approval. As he shot, she forced herself to get lost in the moment and just go with it. She focused on him and just smiled.

“Now, I need you up and by the tree.” Ale’s voice had her blinking and coming back to the moment. She looked into his eyes. “And, yes, keep the flower. It’s lovely.”
 

She blossomed under his praise, grinning back down at her own reflection like a schoolgirl as she ran her hands through the clear water.
 

She got up, brushing herself off as Ale grabbed the bag and walked toward a nearby tree that was so large it looked like it had been there since the dawn of time. The trunk was wider than four men and the branches seemed to expand to heaven.
 

“It’s glorious,” she breathed out, looking up in awe.
 

“It is,” he said close to her ear, sending a thrill of sensation down to her core.

“You’re wearing a swimsuit, right?”

Mika looked around, suddenly self-conscious once again. “Um, yes.”
 

“So take off your clothes.”

“You can’t be serious.”

He gave her a stern look, suddenly the Ale of Madison Avenue. “Mika, when am I ever not serious about a shot? Now come on, I want to really see you.”
 

She stared at him, her mouth slightly agape. The challenge was there in his eyes. And despite her raging, fearful heart, Mika answered his call by reaching for the hem of her top.

Alejandro swallowed. She watched his throat muscles work. She would not back down. She could do this. Besides, it was just a picture. No need to be afraid.

She pulled off her top quickly then made fast work of her shorts, leaving her in nothing but her black bikini and flip-flops. She did a quick check to make sure the flower remained in place, as if it would afford her the necessary cover she needed to hide her insecurities. She knew her whole body was heating up. Her face certainly was. What must he think of her? She was nothing like the models he was used to. Compared to them, everything was just, well,
off
. Hips too wide, belly too round. Thighs too...well, they were
her
thighs!
 

She sucked in her stomach and leaned back against the tree trunk, closing her eyes. The slight pricks from the worn bark on her bare skin were a welcome distraction to her anxiety. She listened to the sound of her own slightly too loud breathing and hoped Ale couldn’t hear it. But all too quickly the noise was replaced by the
click, click, click
of Ale’s shutter advancing. Fast. So fast. Mika’s eyes shot open. And there he was. Moving around her with the grace of a panther.
 

“My God, Mika.” He said her name like a prayer. Like she was a revelation to him. He wielded the camera as if it were an extension of his own body, as natural as breathing—and to him, maybe it was.
 

She didn’t dare move. She just watched him, her eyes wide, her lips trembling.
 

His long finger moved quickly.
Click, click, click.
She thought she could see his pulse jump beneath the muscle of his neck. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered, practically to himself.