London (International Guy Book 7) Read online

  Bo leans back and crosses one foot over his knee. “He will for some of the shoot, but I want to do something a bit hotter. More erotic.”

  My hands start to sweat, and the collar of my dress shirt feels tight. “What do you mean?”

  “I’m going to get Skyler and the model shirtless. See how their chemistry is and take some strategic shots so it can be sexy as fuck.”

  I stand up abruptly, unable to keep my cool. “Now wait a goddamned minute! That was not part of what we discussed.”

  Skyler comes over to me and places her hands on my chest. “I’ve done photo shoots almost completely naked before. This is a book cover; we’re creating an optical illusion, not the real thing.”

  I narrow my gaze over Skyler’s shoulder at Bo.

  He’s smiling like he’s loony tunes. I point an accusing finger at him. “You just like riling me up!”

  “Every chance I get!” He laughs.

  I clench my teeth and work my jaw before cupping Skyler’s hips possessively. “You don’t have to do this. If you don’t like what’s happening . . .”

  “Honey, I think it’s you who doesn’t like what’s happening. Just relax and trust me.” She runs her hand over my heart. “Trust your heart. You know I won’t lead it astray.”

  I close my eyes and breathe slowly for a full minute, counting to ten and back down several times before calm settles over me.

  “I trust you,” I say to my girl, and kiss her lips, sealing my admission with a physical statement. “It’s the ugly bastard I don’t trust.” I grimace over her shoulder while pulling her body against mine, fully locked in my embrace.

  Bo shakes his head and taps his fingers against his glass. “Brother, you make it too damn easy.”

  We show up at nine the next morning so Skyler can get makeup and hair done prior to the shoot at ten. The model hasn’t shown up yet, and after watching Skyler get duded up in a man’s white business shirt, a black tie hanging from her neck as if she’s just taken it off her man, bare tan legs that have been lotioned to the point they seem to shine against the photo lighting, I’m worried there’s still no model.

  “You want to do some solo shots, Sky?” Bo, wearing a dark pair of jeans and his staple white tee, walks up, a camera in his hand. Once in a while he changes the shirt up from white to black and sometimes even to a dark gray or navy.

  She frowns and fluffs her hair in the mirror. “He’s not here yet?”

  I’ve checked my phone a million times when I note that Geneva is on hers across the room. She’s pacing the floor, and she doesn’t look happy.

  “Go ahead and do some solo shots, and I’ll find out what’s going on.”

  Irritation licks at my heels as I make it over to Geneva, who looks like she’s sucking on a lemon. “But we already have Skyler here. There’s no way I can ask her to stay longer and do the shoot again. We have a private photographer and everything.” She runs her hand over her braided hair. Her blue eyes go dark, and her jaw hardens. “Fine. I understand. Thank you for notifying me.”

  “What’s going on?”

  Geneva hangs up her phone and shoves it in the back pocket of her jeans. “He’s not coming.” Her lip trembles, and tears spring to her pretty blue eyes. “After all of this . . .” She lifts her hand to where Skyler is posing, Bo snapping away.

  “Who’s not coming?”

  “Barron, the model who did the first two covers. Stomach flu. Says he can’t risk it. He’s too sick. And in a few days, he has another shoot out of the country.” Geneva’s shoulders slump, and she lets out a shaky breath. “It’s ruined.”

  I glance over at Skyler, who’s straddling a stool, her hands keeping the tails of the shirt covering her privates, but her toned thighs are stretched out wide. Her hair falls into her face and she gives the camera the sultriest fucking look, and the tip of my dick buzzes with the need to get near her. My heart starts pounding, and I realize if this shoot doesn’t happen, the entire plan of making Geneva see the couple come to life is a big, fat bust.

  Until I remember what Geneva said in the bookstore. That she thought I could make a perfect Dean to Skyler’s Simone. Well, I’ve taken photos with my girl before. This is no different.

  “I’ve got an idea. I’ll get it in the works, and you tell me what you think.”

  She sniffs as a tear falls down her cheek. “I’m so sorry, Parker.”

  “Don’t be. I’m going to make it all better. At least I hope so.” I head over to where Skyler is shooting and walk right on camera. I tunnel my hand into her hair and tip her chin up and spin her around so that I’m in between her thighs, the camera getting our profiles. “Put your hands on my ass.”

  She does what I say, and I bring my mouth almost to hers, hovering over her lips. She gasps, and the camera goes wild.

  “Now this is what I’m talking about. Skyler. Lift your leg and wrap it around his waist.”

  She does what Bo says, and for a few minutes, we run our hands over one another and touch noses or cheeks. I run my lips down her neck, creating the illusion that I’ve seen on book covers in the past.

  Bo stops flashing his camera. “Take it off, buddy. I want the tie she’s got on around your neck.”

  I remove my suit jacket, and Geneva jumps in the space to grab my coat. “You guys are amazing together. I’ve never seen two people that embodied the characters of Simone and Dean more.” Her joy is palpable and eases my nerves.

  “I’m just glad you’re seeing the characters come to life.”

  Skyler giggles and strips off my dress shirt. “Showtime, honey.” She drags me over to a female attendant, who slathers my bare chest with enough oil to create a nice sheen at the dips of my pecs and six-pack.

  Bo and a male stagehand bring over a chaise longue that’s a deep-red velvet with gold swirls in the wooden trim. It’s regal, royal, and about to get oily from our bodies.

  “Now unbutton your pants. I want a hint of your ass cheek, Park,” Bo calls out, and I do as he says. The second I unbutton them and unzip about an inch, they ride low on my hips.

  “Sky, unbutton the shirt and show us what’s under it,” he commands of my girl.

  I jerk my head to Bo and growl. “Fuck you!”

  “Dude, she’s wearing a black lace bra and panty set that’s meant for the cover. Now stop being an asshole and get on top of your woman.” His tone brooks zero argument, even though I’d be happy to punch him in his ugly mug for suggesting Sky take off her clothes in front of him.

  “Get on top of her,” he hollers, his face hidden behind the camera.

  For a moment, I lift my hand and give him the bird before I flick my gaze to Sky, who has a come-hither grin and is crooking her finger at me. She separates her leg out to the side, and I see a sexy swath of black fabric at her crotch. Her breasts are pushed up and look so bitable I have to calm the beast’s response by thinking of my mother reading stories to the kids at the library.

  “Now that, I can do.” I grin, my gaze all over her beautiful body.

  “Come here, pretty boy, and do your worst!” Sky jokes.

  I go to where she’s maneuvered herself to lie on the chaise, and hover over her curves. I run my hand down her thigh and up to her hip, where I dig my fingers in. She loops her other leg around my lower half and uses her foot to force me down against her. The camera starts to click, but I can’t help kissing my woman. My hearing focuses on nothing but the sound of her breathing and the little mewls that come from her glistening lips as I suck and nibble at each one.

  My girl gets lost in the moment too, running her fingernails down my back, softly, almost a teasing gesture. I groan, and she lifts her head back, following the line of the chaise, arching her body and neck in offering. I run my lips down her neck, forgetting where we are.

  Suddenly it’s just me and Skyler, alone, her body available for the taking. I kiss along every inch of her neck, and cup her ass, bringing her lower half and mine against one another in a beautiful friction we bot
h need.

  “Jesus, Peaches, you smell and taste like heaven.”

  She sighs and shifts her face to the side, her lips opening in a gasp, as I suck at the space just above her breasts.

  “Damn, this shit is gold. Gen, what do you think?” I hear Bo’s question, but it’s muffled, as if it’s in a dream far away.

  Then another voice enters, and it’s all too clear, the bright lights and backdrop coming back, reminding me we’re at a photo shoot. Not within the privacy of one of our homes.

  “Stunning.” I hear Geneva’s voice through the lust swirling like mad in my head. “The two of them were meant to be together.”

  At her words, I cup Skyler’s cheek and bring my face as close to hers as I can get, ignoring the camera clicks, cementing this moment as ours. “I would agree. You were meant for me, Sky. Never again. Never again am I going to be without you. Without this in my life.”

  She wraps her arms around my neck and locks her ankles at my lower back. “And you never have to. I’m not ever going to give you a reason to leave me, and I won’t hurt you. That’s a promise, honey. From me to you.”

  I kiss her hard, and things start to get a little wild, the two of us forgetting once more where we are and who’s watching.

  Bo clears his throat as I grind against Skyler’s center and she moans. “Um, dude and dudette, you’re at a photo shoot. There are six other people watching you two make out. Wanna dial it back a little so we can get the pictures we need for the cover?”

  Skyler bursts into laughter, and I follow right along with her. I maneuver back away from my girl and sit back on my haunches. A little space to breathe and let the beast relax is a good idea. I glance over my shoulder. “What’s next?”

  Bo tips his head. “Actually, I want you to kneel on the floor in front of Skyler. Sky, I want you to place your legs around his waist and back. Cuddle him to your chest, but don’t plaster him or it will make his face contort. I want you to close your eyes and nuzzle his hair.”

  Skyler and I do what he asks, and the camera clicks away. Skyler runs her fingers through my hair, and I sigh against her chest, enjoying the feeling of my woman soothing the fire inside of me. It may be banked, but it’s still there, swirling inside, waiting for her to pour on the kerosene and toss the match, rebuilding the flames to an inferno once more. I can wait. Bide my time until we’re alone tonight. Right now, it’s all about the experience, riding this adventure until it’s over. Enjoying each moment as it comes, appreciating any time where I’ve got my hands on my girl.

  “All right, now I want to get a little frisky and push the edge of decency. You two with me, or am I going to have to cheese it up?” Bo’s expression is one of challenge.

  “What do you got in mind?” I fire off.

  “Remove your pants; Sky, remove the shirt. It’s all about the underwear now.”

  Skyler stands and drops her shirt. I bite my tongue but follow my woman, standing up and pushing off my pants, letting them pool at my ankles.

  Challenge accepted.

  He should know by now that I’d follow my woman anywhere. Especially looking like a goddess in black lace.

  “We need some oil over here!” Bo calls out. “Also, wardrobe, I want Skyler in black thigh highs and black stilettos. If you have a pair with red soles, even better. Simone would rock the Louboutins for sure. Bring those sexy stilts out here stat.”

  I shake my head and put my hands to my waist. Skyler goes off set, and Bo lifts his camera, taking solo shots.

  “Move your hands around, bro,” he instructs. After he shows me a few movements he desires, I make them my own, moving more naturally.

  “Flex your muscles, Park.”

  I do as he asks but can’t help laughing as I do. “You are enjoying this too much.”

  Bo grins behind the camera. “What can I say? You’re a good-looking guy, and these pics will drive the ladies in the romance community wild. I was thinking it would be good to shake them up, get them huffing and puffing over Dean. Geneva reads the responses, and whammo, sexy scene ideas pop onto the page.”

  I lift my hand back behind my neck and glance off to the side. The camera clicks.

  “Not a bad idea.”

  He snickers. “I know because I had it.”

  I roll my eyes and then smirk. He walks up until he’s only two feet in front of me and clicks away. “You know, bro . . .” He pulls the camera away and checks the screen. “If this International Guy thing doesn’t work out for you, you could always pick up a late career in modeling. These are damn good. If I swung that way, I’d totally do you. Look at your body in this photo. Man, it looks sick.” He levels the display so I can get a gander at what he sees.

  Surprisingly the pictures are damn good. Even in my underwear I don’t feel like I look out of shape or old. My abdominals look like cut blocks of cement. My pecs are two large squares to match but not bulky. My shoulders, though, are the best. I didn’t realize how much the regular gym visits were doing for my shoulders. They are massive, sinewy muscle and bone, and with a little sheen and the right light, they are definitely picture worthy. For a moment, I let the pride in what I’ve accomplished in my physical form blanket over my senses. Bo’s captured my best features in some great angles, which proves it’s true what they say: lighting is everything.

  Skyler comes strutting out in a totally different lingerie set. It’s red-and-black lace complete with garters and snaps at the silk stockings. Her feet are in the tallest pair of stilettos I’ve ever seen her wear.

  She walks over to me and puts her hands on my chest. “Do you like?”

  My mouth waters at the sight, and I run my fingertips over the cups covering her breasts until she gasps. Then I move my featherlight touch down her rib cage, snagging the lace with the slight calluses on my fingers, until I reach the satiny parts. I move my hands over her hips and around to her ass, pressing her body fully against mine. I’m getting used to the camera, which likes to go off when we’re not expecting it.

  I grip the cheeks of her ass, and Bo leans down to ass level, and I grind my teeth hard, the sound extra loud in my eardrums. Bo’s camera focuses on her ass and my hands.

  “Dig in, bro.”

  I close my eyes and try to forget he’s there and imagine I’m just copping a hefty feel of my girl’s backside.

  “Fuck yeah! This is going to be tits,” Bo says.

  “Tits?” I grunt, irritation flooding the word.

  “You know, there’s nothing better than a sweet pair of tits. So yeah, tits. As in the pictures are going to be freaking astounding and hot as hell. Now turn your girl around, put your hands over her private areas so nothing peekaboos, and let’s get a little dirty.”

  “You up for this?” I whisper into her hairline as I cup my girl’s sex possessively.

  Sky gasps and leans back against my body. “As long as you hold me up. These shoes hurt like a mother, and I can barely keep my stance in them.”

  Laughter fills both of us, and we take erotic photos chuckling like idiots. “God, I love you.” I kiss her cheek, and she wraps her own hands over the parts on her body I’m holding, making Bo whoop and holler with pure joy.

  “I love you too. Thanks for holding me up.”

  I tighten my hold, and she bites down on her lip, a whispered moan leaving her mouth.

  “Any time, Peaches. Any fucking time.” I kiss the spot on her body where her shoulder and neck meet . . . my spot if there ever was one.

  “Fucking awesome!” Bo breathes out in awe. The geek in him is coming out full tilt, and there’s not a lot we can do except go with it. Usually when that happens, magic follows. And right now, holding my woman seductively while almost naked, her body encased in satin and lace and fuckhot shoes, I can’t complain.

  9

  I wake with my head buzzing as though a thousand angry hornets have taken flight in my dome. Except the rest of me is heavy, weighed down by something warm and soft. I try to blink through the darkness of t
he room, not recognizing the space, but the body halfway covering mine is very familiar. Skyler’s peaches-and-cream scent is all over me, as is she. Flashes of last night come back to my mind in a swirl of Technicolor.

  Doing shots with Bo, Skyler, and Geneva.

  Geneva making us all a homemade dinner.

  A game of drunken charades.

  More booze consumed.

  Skyler’s lips on mine as I push her form against the hallway staircase.

  Barely making our way into a dark room that smelled of fresh linens.

  Skyler down on her knees with me pressed up against the door, her mouth sucking deep.

  Me on my knees at the edge of the bed, Skyler’s thighs split wide over my shoulders, ankles pressing into my back.

  My girl riding me hard, facing me.

  Me riding Skyler, facing her.

  The headboard pounding against the wall, making my teeth rattle until we both come together in a final burst of energy and collapse.

  Damn, as the flashes coalesce, the beast comes to life, wanting in on the action again. Skyler’s thigh moves up, rubbing against my not-so-little friend. I groan and stretch, working on the tension in my body. Jesus, I feel like I ran a marathon last night and then someone smacked me upside the head with a baseball bat a few times for shits and giggles.

  Skyler sighs against my chest, air puffing out of her mouth prettily as her eyes flutter open. She winces, and her hand flies up to her head.

  I run my hand up her thigh to her ass and goose her until she laughs, but the laughter quickly turns into a pained moan as she flops to her back. I roll over and cuddle next to her, the naked pink tip of her breast nudging my nose. Inhaling her scent soothes me, and I attempt to slip back into dreamland, wrapped around my girl, but she’s not succumbing to the new arrangement.

  Her hands run through my hair, and she wiggles her body away from me. “Honey, I have to pee so bad.” The words are pained, which hits my brain, but letting her go is delayed, my hands sluggish due to the little men with jackhammers digging into my mind. Eventually I let her go, and she rolls to the side, her head in her hand before she stands shakily. “What the hell did we drink last night?”