I faltered when I walked up to the booth at the café and it was the firefighter who’d caught me staring at him in the lobby. My first instinct was to run, but Sadie was so nice and excited that I couldn’t do it. It was getting a little easier, though. He wasn’t as intimidating as I imagined. He kept touching me in ways that comforted me instead of making me more nervous, like patting my back or squeezing my hand while we were taking photos. The kiss broke the ice, and I hadn’t even been that nervous about it. It was amazing. He probably didn’t find it anything special, but I sure did.
She showed us the photo on her phone, promising it would look better when she was done, but I thought it was great the way it was. It looked so damn real, like we were a couple that had been dating for a long time, instead of strangers who just met in a hotel café.
“Can you sit on the railing there at the bottom of the stairs, Devon?” Sadie said, “Sam can stand in front of you with his hands on your waist. I want smiles for this one.”
I was still a little nervous as I tried to climb onto the stair railing. My damp palm slipped right as I got up there and I almost fell backward onto the floor. Terror flashed through my mind as I thought of the painful landing with the even more painful embarrassment, but strong arms were suddenly wrapped around me and my fall was halted. “Whoa, there. I’ve got you.”Holy shit. He backed up and looked at me. “You ok?” I nodded and he smiled. “Maybe we shouldn’t have you climb anything just yet.” If it was anyone else I’d have thought they were making fun of me because they thought I was a clumsy fool. But Sam wasn’t ridiculing me. His eyes crinkled at the corners as his smile broadened, but it was soft and gentle.
I laughed a little, and thought about how strange it was that he was hot enough to make me nervous but could also get me to calm down when it got too bad. “Yeah, I think you’re right.” He helped me adjust on the railing and he stayed right in front of me, strong hands on my waist holding me tightly. I was pretty sure I was melting.
I heard the camera clicking and saw Sadie moving, but all I could focus on was his beautiful face. His eyes were deep brown, big and beautiful, and there was something so familiar, so comforting in them. It was a feeling so far deep in my heart that I didn’t know how to begin to decipher it. It wasn’t a feeling I’d ever had before, and though it came from somewhere in my memories, embedded deep within, I wasn’t sure what it meant. His face was chiseled beneath his meticulously trimmed facial hair. He was fucking gorgeous, and the fact that he was treating me like I was, too, kind of made me want to climb him like a tree.
Sadie asked me to lean in a little bit. “I’ve got you,” he said as I did so, “I won’t let you fall.” His hands were still holding me tightly, and I thought I might turn into a puddle of goo. He was tall and strong and unmovable, and he would have no problem carrying me out of a house that was ablaze. The thought gave me an involuntary shiver. “You ok?”
I blushed again even though I’d been doing so good for a while. “Uh-huh.”
Suddenly, there was whooping in the background and I heard someone yell, “Get it, chief!”
He broke character for a second and laughed, looking behind him at the three guys who’d stopped nearby to watch us. “Shut up and go get drunk or you’re fired!” he yelled. They just laughed and continued toward the bar. He looked at me. “Sorry,” he said with a sheepish grin, “They’re from my department. They knew I was doing this tonight.” I laughed but I was pretty sure my blush had deepened.
Sadie took some photos on the staircase with our foreheads pressed together. One with him standing between my legs as we looked at each other and laughed, because he cracked a joke. His hands were still holding me, still keeping me safe. She asked for another kiss and we delivered. The fact that the kisses were making melessnervous confused me a little, but I went with it. That kiss lasted a little longer, and his lips moved with mine. One of his hands left my hip and moved up, tangling in my hair as his lips parted, even though Sadie hadn’t asked for any of that. I opened up for him, sighing into his mouth. His mouth felt perfect, feltright, like it belonged on mine. Our tongues touched tentatively, then deeper as he exhaled and pulled my head even closer. When we finally pulled apart, he looked a little nervous. “Was that ok?” he asked softly.
Ok?That was the best kiss I’d ever had. I was a little sad that it wasn’t real, that it was just for some photos. I nodded. “Yeah. That was…great.” I managed not to blush at my own words. He looked pleased.
“Let’s take advantage of this amazing lobby,” Sadie suggested. He gripped my hips again, picking me up off the railing easily and setting me safely on the floor. He almost had me hard. I tripped over a couch of all things and then fell into the chair Sadie asked me to sit in. He acted like he didn’t even notice. She took some pictures of him sitting on the arm of the chair beside me, leaning down toward me like he was asking me something, and then a couple of us leaning on the piano. She got low for some of them, obviously utilizing the aesthetics of the balconies in the background.
“Are you guys willing to head to my room? I have a balcony and it would take some amazing pictures over the lobby.” We both nodded and I felt a little giddy when he didn’t even hesitate. “Great, give me one second to get things set up and I’ll come to get you. I’m on the third floor.”
She headed over to the elevator and he looked at me. “So,” he said, with a slight hesitation, “I was wondering if maybe you’d like to join me at thebar for a drink after we’re done?” He paused and added. “Damn, you’re old enough to drink, right? I haven’t actually asked your age.” He cringed.
I gave him a half-smile. “No, you’re good. I’m twenty-three.” I knew I looked young. He only knew I was at least eighteen because the ad had been for adults only.
He looked a little relieved. “Ah, for a couple of years, then.”
“Yeah. Alcohol is probably the only reason I signed up for this. My friend never would have talked me into it sober.”
He laughed heartily. “I was wondering about that, honestly.”
I blushed. “I’m sorry you got stuck with someone clumsy and awkward.”
He moved quickly and touched my face. “Hey. Don’t apologize. I think you’re amazing. And in all honesty, you’re the only person I’ve seen on this entire trip that I’d want to have this photo shoot with.”Was I melting again?There were a lot of hot guys here. Why would he want onlyme?
He paused and dropped his hand, avoiding my eyes for the first time. “What about you? I’ve dated younger guys before, but is this weird for you? I don’t want you to be uncomfortable. I know this whole thing was supposed to be all in fun, but I’m not sure if I’m exactly what you were hoping for”
Had he not seen me drooling over him for days?“No,” I said quickly, “It’s not weird at all. It’s…you…I never imagined that you’d sign up for this but…” I didn’t want to say too much. I was scared to tell him he’d been the only one I’d been hoping for, too, but never for a second dreamed he would be my photo partner. I preferred older guys, anyway, and I always had. I’d made the mistake of dating someone closer to my age last time. He’d made me feel worse about myself than I already had. I cleared my throat. “How old are you?”
“Thirty eight.” He paused as though waiting for me to decide I was weirded out after all, and run.
I just nodded. “Cool.”
He smiled, his entire body relaxing. “So maybe a drink after? We won’t sit with those clowns in the lobby. They’re cool, but they’d feel like they need to initiate you. We’ll sit far away from them. I’d just like to talk to you a little more.”
My heartrate picked up. He was asking me out. For drinks. The entire time we’d been together he’d treated me like I was some gorgeous thing, and when he looked into my eyes, they didn’t stray to my scar in disgust.He could have just been acting for the photos, but after he asked me out for real, it didn’t seem like that was what he’d been doing.
“Yeah,” I said, letting out a breath, “I think I could use a drink.” I bit my lip and he grinned as Sadie reappeared.
We took several photos on the balcony. I was pretty sure I saw Matt watching from the lobby, and I thought I saw Sam’s friends in the window of the bar, but I ignored all of them and focused on Sam. We got another kiss out there, and to be honest, I forgot that people might be watching. She showed us the pictures and I was impressed. The background was perfect. She was really good at what she did.
She asked if we’d take some in the room. She made sure we knew we didn’t have to, but she had champagne on ice and rose petals on the bed in case we were up for it. “You don’t have to get in the bed,” she added, “but the illusion of the room will be great.”
