I knew Lennox was sassy, but I had no clue she was so deep. “Wow, just call me out, why don’t you?”
“I’m trying to help you get out of your own way.”
“Is all this flattery just because you want a job?”
She croaks in laughter. “No. You and Finn are good together. He’s relaxed and smiley all the time. He finally stood up to his dad. You don’t understand the effect you have on him. He’s been my best friend since we were in diapers. We were raised together and I have never seen him this happy. And you seem…” She holds her palm to the ceiling and points at my chest.
“Happy too,” I finish for her.
“Good. So be happy. It’s right in front of you. Stop thinking you don’t deserve it.” Lennox winks at me.
“Thank you, Lennox. You are a really good friend.”
“Okay, come on, let’s go finish your makeup and start your hair. And I can’t wait to show you the wardrobe Finn picked out for you.” She laughs to herself as she points to the black shopping bag on the living room coffee table that she brought over with her. It’s tiny. I have a sneaking suspicion that the lingerie he picked out for me is wireless. Dammit. Men just don’t understand. Wire support under the girls is far more flattering.
“Hey, so…this costume party. We can pick anything we want to be? There are no specifications?”
“Yeah, anything.”
“And if I have an idea, you can help me?”
She beams at me. “Hell yeah. What do you have in mind?”
I cover my eyes, embarrassed. I don’t know why. It’s not like Lennox was on that burning ship in my dreams. She has no clue what Pirate Finn did to me on the deck before he saved my life and threw me back into the sea.
“I want to be a mermaid.”
30
Finn
The rapid knocking at the clients’ entry of my studio tells me one thing clearly…
Avery is not amused with my outfit choice.
I watch her through the sliding glass doors with one of her hands clutching her hip tightly, her lips pursed, and her foot tapping. I’ve barely slid the door open to let her in when she holds out the thigh-high black stockings I sent over with Lennox.
“I think you forgot the rest of my wardrobe.”
“Well, hey, gorgeous. Can we pause for a moment?” I pull a long tendril of her hair over her shoulder. It’s been brushed out into soft, sleek waves. Avery’s makeup is flawless. A little overly dramatic, which is ideal for pictures. Photographs always wash out makeup, so Lennox knows to go a little heavier. “You look—”
I exhale as I clutch my chest, feeling my excited heart pump against my palm.
She tilts her head to the side adorably and her frustration has simmered for the moment. “You think?” Avery holds her chin with the back of her fingers.
“I know. You look incredible.” Grabbing her hand, I pull her into the studio and close and lock the doors behind me. Just to be safe, I lock the entry to the studio by the stairs as well. In case Lennox decided not to go home. I don’t need any interruptions tonight. I’ve been salivating thinking of this moment all week. I took my own advice. Holding out made me go from needy to full-on desperate and I’m going to wreck this beautiful woman tonight in the best way.
But first things first…
“Why don’t you head into the set and get changed.” I point to the door leading to the boudoir room. “I’ll be in shortly. Do you need anything?”
“Yes.” She blinks at me. “The rest of my outfit.” She shakes the thigh-high stockings at me again. “I never agreed to do this fully nude.”
“You’re not fully nude.” I point to her hand with a smug smile. “You have stockings. They are cozy and flattering. Give them a chance.”
“Finn.” She scowls at me.
“Avery.” I scowl right back. “I have seen, licked, and kissed every inch of your body and have enjoyed it all thoroughly. You have nothing to hide. Remember, I’m not going to see these pictures. They are for you. But I want you to experience the full effect.”
She’s unable to argue with my logic. “Is the room at least warm?”
“Sweltering,” I say. “I want you sweating.”
“Fine.” She heads toward the back room but then plants her feet and spins around. “You’re not going to watch me change? You’re going to see me naked anyway.”
I fold my arms over my chest. Goddamn, I’d like to. But then I’d be way too tempted to fuck you senseless before we got started. Photographing Avery with cum dripping down her thigh is crossing the line from boudoir to pornographic. “For the next half hour or so, I’m going to be very professional. Your gynecologist doesn’t ask you to strip down in front of her, does she?”
Avery flattens a stare at me like she’s surprised by my absolute responses. “No, he does not.”
“Exactly, so—” Wait. “He?”
“Mhm.”
She’s not my girlfriend… Am I allowed to ask her to get a new doctor? Fuck, I hate this gray area. We really need to cross this line before summer is over.
Hell, maybe we should cross it tonight.
“Anyway, I am going to treat this shoot like you’re my actual client. I want you to know what I do for a living and how I do it. So—” I clear my throat with importance. “Ms. Scott, please go get changed. I think there’s a clean robe on the hook right next to the door. Would you like me to grab you a cold water?”
She exhales. “Okay, yes, please.” I can see the nerves in her eyes, right behind the fire dancing. I’m so fucking proud of her. I know she’s nervous, and she’s blowing right past it. I know she’s insecure, but she’s not letting it ruin her life. I am obsessed with the way she carries herself. This woman sure as hell doesn’t need me…I just need her to want me.
“I’ll knock before I enter. If you’re not ready and need more time to get dressed, just say so.”
“They are stockings, Finn. It’s not rocket science. I’ll be ready in two minutes. Let’s just get this over with.”
Her long hair fans out as she whips around and heads through the door to the boudoir set, shutting it behind her.
I twiddle my thumbs, giving her longer than two minutes. I want her to have a moment alone to soak it all in. This photo shoot will move fast. Not just because I’m trying to blow past dinner to get to dessert, but I was meticulous about setting up the shoot. My light kit is fixed perfectly and I have the props staged exactly as I need them. I really wish I were doing this with a DSLR. The set Lennox designed is perfection, and it’s a shame I’m going to bumble this with a film camera, but hopefully, Avery falls in love with the powerful feeling of being the star of the show. Maybe she’ll let me repeat this properly one day.
My fist is raised at the door, but it opens a sliver before I can knock. I hear her step away, her soft footsteps on the hardwood floor, so I push it open and enter. Avery omitted the robe but is doing everything she can to cover as much of her naked body as possible. Her forearm is wrapped tight around her breasts, nearly smashing them into flat disks. She also has her thighs pressed together so tight her legs look flushed. Her other hand is sprawled out in front of her pussy like I haven’t seen it before.