I stop walking and look at him. “What?”
“I’m splitting the money I make from these videos with you.”
“Wait, why?”
“Because it was your idea. Just like taking that photo wearing that mask was your idea. I’m giving you half of that money from the brand deal, by the way.”
My mouth falls open in shock. “Blake, no. It’s your money. You’re the one in that photo, not me.”
His mouth curves up in a sexy smile. “I wouldn’t have taken that photo at all if you hadn’t told me to. I wouldn’t have gotten that brand deal. It’s all because of you and your filthy imagination, naughty girl.”
Goosebumps flash across my skin when he calls me that. I love that nickname he came up with. It’s so playful and dirty.
“Blake, I can’t just accept thousands of dollars from you.”
“Yes, you can. Those videos you want to film, they’re your idea, and you’re going to be in them with me. You deserve to get paid too.”
Warmth swoops through my chest. Blake is so generous, it makes my heart explode.
I think about how having this extra income would change things for me. I make okay money working at the library, but I’m still cutting it close every month when I pay my bills. Having that extra money would be such a help.
“Okay. I’ll do it,” I say.
He beams at me. “Let’s go make some sexy scary videos.”
* * *
I position Blake’s phone on top of his dresser.
“Are you ready?” I ask.
“Yup.” He pulls the scary mask over his face.
I stare at him. God, he’s so sexy. He’s wearing gray sweatpants and nothing else. All of the ripped, cut muscles in his torso are on display. He’s a cross between a horror movie villain and a fitness model.
I refocus. “I’ll be the only one in frame at first. Then you step in, stand in front of me, and look at me for a few seconds, all threatening. Like you’re a predator sizing up his prey.”
He lets out a muffled chuckle. “Okay.”
“Then haul me over your shoulder, walk me over to the bed, and drop me on it.”
“Can do.”
I grab the black disposable face mask that I picked up from the drug store this morning before classes and put it on. Blake insisted that I conceal my identity so that our privacy is protected. I’m wearing black yoga pants and a tank top. Nothing with a logo that anyone would be able to recognize.
I tap “record” on his phone and get into position. I stand, looking off camera at him. He steps forward, into frame, then stands in front of me. He’s close, almost bumping the front of me with his massive, muscled chest.
I lean my head back up to look at him. Slowly, he tilts his head to the side in a way that’s perfectly menacing and playful. I can tell by his eyes that he’s smiling.
Slowly, he shakes his head at me. It’s all sexy and taunting. I grin at how he’s having fun with this. Then he leans down, grabs me, and hauls me over his shoulder. I kick my legs and pound my fists against his back in an exaggerated way to play things up for the video.
He drops me on the bed. I’m on my back, but I prop up on my elbows. He leers over me. We stay like that for a few seconds.
I hop up from the bed and pull off my mask. “That was so good!”
We high-five. Blake pulls off his mask too. I grab the phone, stop recording, and play the video for Blake and me to watch.
I squeal. “This is gonna be so good.”
