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JOSEPHINE

After what feels like an eternity of me trying to get dolled up, Aiden and I finally arrive at the studio for the photo shoot. He looks immaculate, but his usual slacks and polo don’t make an appearance here.

He’s in an expensive, made-to-fit, black suit with a sleek black and red striped tie to match my dress. I feel slightly out of place wearing the red satin dress he bought me. It’s a beautiful gown, but it’s so far from my normal baggy T-shirts and tattered jeans that it’s uncomfortable.

As we enter the room, my hand brushes over my hip, smoothing out the fabric. There are many familiar faces inside, and everyone immediately congratulates us simultaneously.

“Thank you all so much! I really appreciate your warm greetings. It’s nice to have you all here, too. You can make sure we’re posing correctly,” I giggle. Aiden nods and moves toward the camera in the corner.

“Are we all set?” he asks the photographer. “My beautiful bride here is ready,” he teases, giving me a mischievous look. “Believe me, you don’t want to make her wait.”

I follow Aiden. Even though I know he is just joking, I feel my cheeks heat up anyway. I run one hand lightly over my hair, feeling like a simpering school girl. His comment, calling me his beautiful bride, echoes in my head.

“Yeah, I’m ready whenever you are. My name is Ryan,” responds the photographer politely. Aiden nods and takes my arm, drawing me closer.

Ryan starts positioning Aiden in front of the background and gestures for me to enter. He helps position me beside Aiden and tells him where to put his hands on my hips.

As soon as I feel his hands on me, I start to feel things stirring within me. It’s enough to make me instinctively inch away from him, remembering I need to keep my distance. I know I can’t let myself get close to him or feel anything.

This is an arrangement. He doesn’t think of you in any other way, and he never will. You will only be hurting yourself if you let anything happen between you.

It’s like Ryan is playing a cruel joke on me as he keeps positioning us closer. I’m trying desperately to keep a safe distance, but I have to be discreet about it. To all these people, we are a happily married couple.

I don’t want to touch him. I don’t want to feel the warmth of his skin or the tightness of his lean body….

The harder I try to keep a space between us, the harder the man fights with me. It’s like I’m trying to be a good girl, but the fates are making it way too hard for me to succeed. It’s really playing unfairly with my feelings…

Finally, we’re standing in the perfect position, and he snaps a few photographs,

“Perfect. You two look great! This pose was just to check the lighting. If you two could turn and face each other now, we’ll start with the real ones,” Ryan says and adjusts the lens on his camera.

Aiden and I turn toward each other, and I’m awkwardly avoiding his eyes. I know how deep blue they are; the way they stand out against his skin and hair is almost too much to handle.

His hands are still on my hips, and it’s hard not to imagine them going down lower and grabbing hold of my ass. My mind shifts to think of him lifting me so I can wrap my legs around his waist and…

Just as my mind is about to watch us kiss, Ryan interrupts and shifts my thoughts back to the present.

“Okay, I like that pose. If you two can just make eye contact and smile, it’ll make it perfect,” he says.

Shit. Focus. Focus. This is just for pictures. Don’t look into his eyes too long or too intensely. He’s not yours. You can’t fall for him.

I sigh and look up at him. He’s already eyeing me, and a shiver runs down my spine as our eyes lock. The longer I stare, the more beautiful his eyes get. I’m noticing every flaw in his iris, how every inch of deep blue sucks me in and makes me want more.

He leans into me until I can feel the warmth of his breath on my skin. I suddenly imagine what his lips would feel like on my neck, and a pleasant sensation washes over me. My heart skips a beat with every breath, but I’m trying to keep my composure.

I’m hoping he won’t notice how hard I’m struggling. I can’t deal if he tries to ask what’s going on. Mostly because I don’t know what my excuse will be.

Um, you’re gorgeous and breathing all over me? Or, your deep pools of blue won’t release me from their grasp, and I’m trying not to jump your bones in front of your family?Somehow, I doubt either of those thoughts are things I can voice out loud.

“Okay, now I’ll give you some free rein with your poses, and we’ll see if we like the natural ones better. So, have fun with each other. Do whatever feels right and we’ll see what happens. Get cute and cozy for me,” Ryan says, adjusting his camera again.

Suddenly, Aiden’s whole mood changes, and he’s being the sweetest man ever. He was a bit stoic before, his usual rigid perfectionism shining through. Now, he relaxes, and I am startled by the difference.

He hugs me, kissing the side of my head and holding it long enough to let Ryan capture it. My heart swells with every touch, and the whole crowd of employees oohs and awes at every pose.

We’re obviously impressing everyone and keeping our secret well, which makes me happy. But his actions are also crushing me. I love how he’s acting right now. I just wish it wasn’tacting.

I can’t help feeling a little resentful with every hug or peck on the head because none of this is real to him. Someday, this is going to come crashing down. It could be when we leave this studio, the resort, or a few weeks later.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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