Behind His Lens(60)

“Do we have our next model?” Ryan asks, glancing down at his clipboard while his papers flap wildly in the ocean breeze. He has to keep clapping his hand on top of the errant sheets of paper, and I can’t help a private smile from creeping across my lips.

“Charley?” his assistant asks, waving me over, and I look up and nod with a gentle smile, realizing it’s my time to shine whether I feel like it or not.

“Alright, Bella.” I start to step forward, away from the security of the craft service table. “I’ll try and catch up with you after. You’re not going to stay, right?” I ask, starting to untie the robe. “You should go enjoy your afternoon.”

She smirks, glancing over my shoulder for a moment, no doubt locking onto the sexiest man on the beach. “I think I’ll stay just long enough to see Jude’s reaction to that suit.”

I roll my eyes and then narrow them playfully toward her. “Oh God, thanks for the pep talk.”

“Good luck!” she calls as I laugh and shake my head, walking toward Ryan and Jude. Now that she’s drawn my attention back to my suit, I decide to leave the robe on for the time being. They’ll want to talk to me for a few seconds before we start shooting anyway. I don’t feel like having that conversation in my tiny bikini.

As my toes dip into the warm sand, my gaze finally meets Jude’s and he smiles wide, stealing my full attention like a camera flash. I’m left blinking toward his brightness before regaining my composure. I offer him a timid smile, taking in the sight of him in a thin vintage cotton shirt and long khaki pants that are rolled up at the bottom, out of the sand. The clothes aren’t overtly sexy, but he fills them out so well with his dangerous muscles and trim lines. I can tell he’s already acquired a nice tan from standing out in the tropical sun. His blue eyes seem even more striking in contrast to his newly warm complexion, and I can’t seem to avert my eyes even as Ryan begins to give instructions about the shoots.

I nod. Yes, yes, blah, blah, blah… Jude is the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.

“Alright, Charley,” Ryan says, clearing his throat pointedly, and I make an effort to appear as though I’m listening. “I’m not sure how much you saw of Veronica’s shots but yours will be completely different. You’re on the cover. We need a photo that’s going to draw attention and sell magazines. Obviously we won’t display any nudity, but we need these shots to ooze sex appeal…” he pauses, scanning down my legs with such studied intent that I follow his gaze to confirm that my legs are indeed not glowing bright neon or on fire. I fidget awkwardly as he continues. “Although, I don’t think you’ll have any problem with that.”

Is he flirting with me or is that just the way he usually preps models? His assistant’s baffled stare and Jude’s dominant pose point to the first option, but I can’t focus on that right now. He just wants me to feel confident and sexy, that’s all.

“Sounds good,” I nod, trying to relax and get into character even though I know Jude is moments away from forcing Ryan’s gaze away from my legs manually.

His assistant steps forward then and reaches her diminutive hand out. “Let me take your robe for you, Charley,” she offers with a polite smile. She’s so small, maybe five feet on the dot, and I focus on her as I follow her instructions, feeling the hot sun beat down on my newly exposed skin.

The gold necklace slinks across my flesh as I hand over the robe and turn toward Jude. I can’t blame Bella for staying to watch; he’s practically smoldering, and his entire demeanor changes as he glances over my skimpy bathing suit. The Brazilian bottom is composed of a triangle piece that covers the most important real estate and then two thin strings that tie on both sides. They sit right on my hip and I keep fingering the fabric to ensure that they’re tied securely.

The bandeau top is thin; a few measly inches covering my chest with a tight twist in the middle that pulls my boobs up and together. Jude’s eyes nearly sear my flesh as they rake down my body and I instantly want to send a “thank you” card to the designer of this bathing suit. Maybe a fruit basket as well.

“Modest, right?” My lips curl into a private smile as I watch him devour me. Anyone within a ten foot radius could see those blue eyes cloud over in lust. This is more skin than he’s ever seen. That, combined with the realization that he knows what my breasts look like beneath the swimsuit top, makes my cheeks flush and my eyes scan down toward the white sand.