Without my arm to steady him, he loses his balance.
I catch him once again with a soft chuckle. “Please don’t hurt yourself. I’d hate to be blamed for that, too.”
He’s absolutely fuming as we make our way across the parking lot.
“Stupid shoes,” he mutters.
“At least they’re pretty.”
His anger twists into uncertainty as he bites at his lip and glances at me from the corner of his eye. “You’re making fun of me.”
There’s a trace of vulnerability to his words that hurts my heart. I don’t like hearing it.
“Hey,” I say as I jiggle his arm, and he finally meets my eyes. “I am absolutely not, inanyway, making fun of you. You look incredible. Have you seen your calf muscles in those things? Could slice a piece of paper on that sharp edge.”
He snorts a quiet laugh, but his face relaxes.
“I’m too clumsy to pull those off,” I continue. “I’d either snap the heel right off the shoe or break my ankle in the first few steps, but you’ve got legs for days.”
“Stupid,” he mutters, but a grin tugs at his mouth. “To be fair, I’m not doing much better at being graceful.”
“Hmm, well that’s fitting,” I say, and I’m thrilled when he takes the bait and hikes that brow at me again.
“Oh, by all means, please elaborate.”
“Nothing! I was just thinking you’re more skilled at walking than driving.”
The irritation that had eased from his face ramps back up, wrinkling his forehead. He’s a snarly little kitten, claws out as his fingernails dig into my forearm.
Sadie steps in front of us and interrupts whatever expletives are brewing on Devon’s tongue. It’s a damn shame, too. I would’ve loved to hear them.
Her excitement is contagious as she bounces on her toes. “I thought we’d get started with something fun. Nothing too intimate while the two of you are getting acquainted.” She glances down at Devon’s hand on my arm and smiles.
We step off the solid parking lot onto the grass, where weeds and wildflowers have created a natural mosaic. Devon groans as he struggles to walk in the softer soil. His heel sinks into the ground, and he teeters backwards with a gasp.
I lunge for him and catch his waist, and his wide eyes meet mine.
“I got you.” My voice is low enough that only he can hear me, and his gaze flicks over my face in surprise. He’s heavier than I would’ve expected with his lean frame, although the deep V of fabric formed by his unbuttoned shirt tells me he has a bit of bulk hiding behind those flowing fabrics.
Sadie gives a little squeal as she claps. “That’s perfect! Let’s run with this!”
She walks in a circle around us as my hands support Devon’s back. He’s hesitant as she encourages me to dip him lower. His hand shoots up to grip my shirt as his eyes flare, and our gazes lock as she instructs him to lift his knee.
“This is weirdly intimate,” he says as his leg rests against my hipbone. “I’m pretty sure my exneverheld me like this in the two months we were dating.” The fabric of his skirt flutters in the wind as the bare skin of his thigh peeks from underneath.
I bite my lip as I steal a glimpse.
“His loss,” I say, still staring at that exposed skin.
“Look at each other,” Sadie directs, and as I pry my gaze away from his leg, I find his eyes still locked on mine .
“But yeah, it is intimate,” I agree as Sadie works in our peripherals, kneeling and framing her camera to catch the light at our backs. “Feels like this should be happening somewhere a little more private.” I wink at him, and he scoffs, but there’s no heat behind it.
“Why’d you go along with this?” he asks.
I tilt my head in question as a faint blush forms on his cheeks. “Which part? The pictures or the outfits?”
“Both.”
