Page 47 of Enchanted

“Nope,” he said cheerfully. “Now, where do you want me first?”

Over the next few hours, Rami moved seamlessly through various expressions and poses. He delivered every emotion I threw at him without a single complaint. A true professional.

I wished I could say the same about myself.

I’d tried every possible tactic to keep my libido under control. Thinking about gross things such as ingrown toenails. Remembering what it was like to receive my diagnosis. How awful chemo was. Nothing worked. Probably because there was never enough time for a thought to fully take root before Rami would shove himself back to the forefront of my mind.

It wasn’t his fault. He was just doing his job. He might be flirting, but he’d probably be horrified if he knew the thoughts going on inside my brain. Thoughts of how I’d like to lick the sweat from his chest to see if it was as salty as it looked.

See? Unprofessional.

I had no idea why I was finding it so difficult to not ogle him. I’d spent plenty of time around beautiful people and never had an issue. Even outside of my work there’d been plenty of temptation around. Two of my old friends in Southampton had landed themselves some of the most gorgeous men imaginable. I’d never looked twice, not even to admire them.

Not once, in my entire relationship with Dave, had I been tempted.

But this man posing with weights in both hands was a devil whispering in my ear, begging me to sin.

I wouldn’t, of course. I was a faithful and loyal man. Dave wasn’t perfect, but he’d given up his home and career to be at my side. He hadn’t left me like many people would have.

I owed him better than this.

That was the one thought that worked, the lust finally quieting.

“Okay, I think it’s time for a break,” I announced, lowering my camera and stretching. “Does that sound good to you?”

“Yep.” Rami placed the dumbbells he’d been posing with back in the rack. He snagged a towel from a nearby shelf and swiped it over his chest. “Mind if I stay like this? I’m a thousand degrees.”

“Totally fine,” I said breezily. At least, that’s what I was going for. It came out more like a squeak. “However you’re most comfortable.”

He raised a brow, lips twitching in amusement. “My comfort isn’t what I’m concerned about.”

“I’m fine,” I said, throwing in an eye-roll for good measure. “You’re not as irresistible as you think, Rami.”

Liar.

He hummed. “If you say so.”

Fuck. Maybe my ogling hadn’t been as subtle as I’d thought.

Before I could stammer out an apology, Rami was striding for the door. “Come on, I’ve made us lunch.”

It took me a minute to catch up, both figuratively and literally. “What?”

Rami chuckled as I skidded into the kitchen after him. I scowled, pointing at his long legs. “You move way too fast. It’s not human.”

He turned his back to me as he opened the fridge. “I’ll try and remember you’re a shortie.”

“I’m not that short.” I sniffed, sliding onto a stool at the massive island. This wasn’t even the only seating area in here. To my right, there was a dining table with twelve chairs arranged around it.

Just how many people lived here?

“Six foot is perfectly acceptable,” I continued. “Not everyone can be…how tall are you, exactly?”

“Six foot eight,” Rami said, placing a plate in front of me. My stomach grumbled at the sight of the couscous salad layered with chicken and avocado. “Don’t worry, you’re not the first to pout about my walking speed.”

“I didn’t pout.”

“Oh yeah?” Rami leaned on the island with one hand as the other came up to tweak my bottom lip. “Might want to tell your mouth that.”