February (Calendar Girl #2) Read online

  “You’re going to cut up a dead person?” I couldn’t contain the shock in my voice. Who would willingly want to do that? I mean, I know people did do that, and it was part of solving murders and such, but really, my sweet baby sister cutting up dead guys? The thought made the hair on my arms rise.

  “It’s called a cadaver, and it’s part of my course work. Everyone has to do a variety of classes and I picked this one. It’s really interesting. You’d never believe some of the sick stuff people do.”

  She’d be surprised. “I know what psychos do, and I don’t want my baby sis anywhere near that shit. You’re golden, baby. I don’t want you tainted by what the scum of the Earth do.”

  “Momma Mia, you cannot protect me forever. I’m nineteen years old. Besides, you’re only five years older than me.”

  “Didn’t stop me from taking care of you to this point!” I shot back.

  She sighed so long I could almost physically feel the weight of it pressing back down on my chest. “Mia, I don’t know what type of scientist I’m going to be yet…”

  “The kind that cures cancer or develops new pills that can keep me skinny forever! The kind that doesn’t deal in death!” I sat up, my hackles rising. I did not want her surrounded by the ugly in life. We’d had enough of that growing up, and I had worked my damn ass off since she was five to make sure she’d see only light, as bright as I could give her.

  “You know I love you,” she said so softly, using that voice that she knew got to me. “I know you want everything for me, and I…” She paused, and that pause pressed the weight deeper, crushing my heart. “Mia, I have to be able to find my own way. Okay? Promise me you’ll let me figure this out on my own.”

  Figure something out on her own? My baby sis doing something all by herself. Without me to guide her, protect her, save her from getting shit on. I felt like a robot. Does not compute. Does not compute. I shushed my own ridiculous crazy voice aside and tried to be supportive. “I want you happy, Mads,” I choked back the emotion. “Just promise me you’re considering all options.”

  I could tell the moment she turned back into happy-go-lucky Mads. “Oh, I am! I’m also taking a botany class that’s absolutely fascinating!”

  “What’s botany?” God, I felt stupid asking my baby sister what something meant. I’d heard the word before, but I couldn’t place it.

  “Plant science,” she giggled.

  Did she just say plant science? From the study of dead people to plants? “Plants?”

  “Uh huh. It’s actually really cool. We’re studying the relationship of different plants and flowers to their environments. Next, we’re going into horticulture which goes over the cultivation of plants and flowers for food and decoration.”

  Now that sounded really weird but also safe and pretty. Everyone loved plants and flowers and there weren’t murders as part of something like that. “I like the sound of this course,” I admitted.

  “Figured you would. And Mia, there’s this guy that I’m partnered with, and, oh my God, he’s so hot!” she giggled again like the schoolgirl she was. It lifted that weight right off my chest and slammed it into next week.

  Now this, this is the type of talk I could get into. “Oh yeah, tell me everything!”

  And she did. Shared with me how they’ve been flirting for a couple weeks, but he hasn’t gotten up the nerve to ask her out. He was a year older and majoring in the plant sciences. Really liked that. Meant he was a nerdy guy. I suggested she ask him out. She freaked. No way was my sweet, innocent baby sister going to ask a guy out. I was proud of that. Even more proud that, at nineteen, she still had her virginity. A couple times she’d come close, but we talked through it and she decided the guys weren’t worth it. I wanted her to have a special experience and told her so. Not like mine. Drunk off my ass in the back of my high-school sweetheart’s truck. Shortly after, he’d ran off with a cheerleader with bigger boobs and a lower IQ.

  I was honest with my sis and told her my experience. At the time, she was horrified that a guy would do that to me and promised that she’d never make the same mistakes. I figured sharing that shitty time in my life was worth it. If she learned something from it and protected herself, I’d done my job, and I took my job of raising her seriously. She was the best thing I’d ever contributed to in my life, and I was determined, even now, to make sure she succeeded. For the both of us.

  After my call with Maddy, I felt a lot better. Knowing she was doing so well in school, had found a hot, nerdy guy to flirt with, and the bills were all paid at home gave me a real sense of peace. I knew then more than ever that taking this job with Millie’s escort service was the right decision. Maddy had some extra cash in the bank, food in the fridge, and I was up-to-date on my payment to Blaine. I finished up my shower in a damn good mood then heard my phone ping while I was ringing out my wet hair. I hopped over to the toilet seat, sat my towel-clad fanny on it, then grabbed my phone and stared at the screen.

  From: Wes Channing

  To: Mia Saunders

  How’s Seattle?

  Seeing Wes’s name made my heart pound and butterflies take up flight in my stomach. I didn’t know how this was going to play out with Wes. He’d said we’d stay friends through the year, so I imagined this was his attempt at following through. I thought for a few minutes about how I wanted to respond. Guilt that I’d been with Alec scratched at the surface of my subconscious, but I pushed it aside. I had to treat Wes like a friend and vice versa. Yes, there are some deep feelings there. Yes, I’d love to be sitting with him right now, but that’s not the way my life is. It’s not how my life is going to be for another ten and a half months.

  From: Mia Saunders

  To: Wes Channing

  Wet. Did you know it rains just about every day here?

  There, that should work. Something platonic. Friend-like. I read and re-read the simple reply then sent it. While I was blow drying my hair, I heard the phone ping again.

  From: Wes Channing

  To: Mia Saunders

  Everybody knows that. On average it rains the same amount of days that it’s sunny. Okay, checked weatherunderground. You’ll get some sun in a few days. Of course, you could always come to Malibu. Sun is high and the pool is warm.

  Leave it to Wes to attempt to get me to come back. I wondered if it was always going to be like this between us. Easy, joking, yet with a level of serious desire hovering just under the surface.

  From: Mia Saunders

  To: Wes Channing

  Excuse me, Mr. Weather Man. And thanks for the update. Malibu in January was nice. Maybe I’ll plan a trip there next January. ;)

  I added the smiling wink to help lighten the response. It was what we discussed, but I couldn’t really make that promise. The better part of the year was still ahead of us and who knew where we’d end up.

  From: Wes Channing

  To: Mia Saunders

  Then I’ll look forward to your visit. Stay dry, sweetheart.

  I didn’t reply. Couldn’t. Wes was everything I’d ever wanted in a man and more, but he wasn’t mine. Maybe one day, but not now. It felt good texting with him. Reminded me of something to look forward to at year’s end. I rarely had anything to look forward to. For now though, I had a sexy artist guy who was filling up my present with good times and something to remember. Of course, with Wes, I’d never forget.

  ***

  When six o’clock hit, I made my way down to the loft per Alec’s instructions. I hadn’t seen him all day, which was a first. It was good to have that time alone. For most of two weeks, I’d been on top of him, figuratively and literally. That last thought made me smile. Once I arrived at the loft, I could see Alec’s form moving around at the opposite corner of the room from where we’d been working. He was behind his camera moving in a half moon shape taking pictures of a man standing ten feet away from him in front of a white background. A very naked, well-endowed man. Holy shit. I mean, it wasn’t like I’d never seen a man before, but th
is guy was young, probably my age, largely muscled, with his cock standing straight up.

  Attempting to make as little noise as possible on my crutches, I came up to the side. Every so often the man would close his eyes, place a hand around his erection and give it a few tugs. He licked his lips and leaned into it. The camera clicked like crazy and Alec called out soft encouragements.

  “Oui, like that.”

  “Arch more; pretend you’re putting on a show for your lady.”

  “That’s it, release your hand and place both behind your head,” was the last command.

  I felt like a voyeur watching this man tend to himself while Alec captured the image. It felt racy and laced in sex. Two things that made the room sweltering hot and had wetness pooling between my thighs.

  “Fini,” Alec declared with the last shot. He gripped a robe near one of the lights and handed it to the model. The model put the robe on and looked at the images Alec showed lifting up his camera to him. “These will not be in the photograph. I will paint them, oui? You agree to them?”

  The man nodded. “You do good work. At first I thought it was going to be like porn, but this is nothing like that.”

  “No it is not,” he agreed softly then clapped the model on the shoulder. “You ready for the female?” he asked, and I looked around. My shoe scratched against the concrete and both men’s gazes focused on me.

  I lifted a hand and waved. “Hey,” I offered lamely. Good thing it was dark in this corner or they’d see the blush I could feel creeping up my neck and cheeks.

  “Mia, come here. Meet Aiden. He’s going to pose with you, ma jolie,” Alec’s words hit me like a pail of ice-cold water.

  “Um, what?”

  Alec came over to me and led me to Aiden. We shook hands.

  “Nice to meet you, Mia. I look forward to working with you tonight,” he said sweetly. Okay, sweet, muscled, and hotter than hell? The universe is a sick, twisted bitch. Now I understood why they characterized it as a vindictive woman. Any god that could create Aiden, Alec, and Wes—three perfect incarnations of male forms, all coming into my life within weeks of each other—was an expert at cruel and unusual punishment.

  I grumbled a greeting than turned to Alec. “What do you mean? I’m going to pose with him?”

  “Forbidden Love, chèrie. I’m going to take stills of you both making love on the canvas.”

  The words making love crashed into me and my head jerked back. “Explain…fast,” I warned speaking through a clenched jaw.

  “Oh, non, you will not be faire l'amour,” he rushed to say. “Making real love, non. It will be staged for the camera.” He cupped my face in both hands. “Maintenant, tu comprends? You understand now?”

  “No, not even a little bit. More details before I high-tail it out of here, Frenchie,” I said using the tone he was now intimately familiar with after almost two weeks together.

  Alec pinched his lips together and placed his hands on his hips. Aiden moved over into a chair and sat down away from us. I appreciated the gesture of trying to give us some space.

  “Mon amour, I need to have the two of you, bare, holding onto one another like lovers. Then when I have enough, I shall paint it.” He moved closer, “Of course, that is after I make love to you.” His nose came close and he slid it alongside mine sending prickles of excitement to tingle and taunt my senses. “It will be my most inspiring piece yet. You and this man, who is very male, deep in the throes of passion.” He leaned forward and kissed me briefly, licking just my bottom lip before pulling away. Frenchie used his kiss to talk me into something without needing to talk me into it. Bastard hot French guy.

  I huffed and pushed my hair back from my eyes. “You said bare, as in naked, or did I miss that?”

  “Oui, you know I need to see the body in order to paint it. Besides, no woman has a more beautiful body than yours.” His eyes scanned my jeans and tight camisole. I hadn’t bothered to wear a bra knowing I was going to be at least naked on top today, and with the way his gaze was running up and down my body, my nipples were beading tight, clearly visible. His hands stroked the side of my ribs, and his fingers brushed over the erect peaks. “I see you like this idea very much.”

  I pressed close into his body, thankful that my back was to Aiden. “I like the idea of being with you, but this guy, I don’t know,” I said honestly. It was hard enough baring my body to Alec for his art, but to be naked and rolling around with another naked guy pretending to make love to him? Seemed really forced, unlike the other pictures we’d done that were just Alec and me.

  He watched me and waited for me to work through his request. His tawny eyes were kind, no pressure. And it wasn’t like I had to have sex with the man. Just pretend to. I looked over at Aiden. His knees were bobbing up and down while he glanced at us then away quickly. “Fine, I’ll try. For you.” I wanted him to know this was not something I waited my entire life to do. It was outside my comfort zone, more so than being naked in front of him. I was doing it because I trusted his vision.

  “Okay, Mia, you go over there and remove your clothes. Aiden, your robe.” Alec was all business once more. Aiden stood and removed his robe. His gorgeous, naked body was on full display. Even soft, he was impressive. He’d make some woman very happy with what he was packing. I giggled looking at him but not seeing him.

  Aiden frowned. “Something wrong?” He looked down his naked body and placed a hand tentatively over his dick.

  I knew my eyes turned into giant saucers as it dawned on me what he thought I was giggling at. “Oh my goodness, no! You’ve got a great dick...I mean...um...I wasn’t laughing at your size. Ugggh.” I groaned and lifted my head to the ceiling. Fuck Mia. Now you’ve gone and made Adonis question his manhood. “Why can’t I ever be normal?” I blew out a huge breath, my lips puffing out like a fish. Aiden chuckled.

  “It’s okay. I get you.” His lips quirked and he walked over to the white sheet covering a padded surface and sat down in the center.

  “Honestly, Aiden, I was thinking about how hot you are and how you’d make some woman very happy.” I opened my jeans and pushed them down my legs.

  He grinned. “No complaints from my girlfriend.” Then he winked and all of a sudden it was okay. He had a girlfriend. Just knowing that he was here to pose and had a girlfriend at home made me feel so much better. It shouldn’t, seeing as I was going to be rolling around naked with the guy, but it did.

  “Completely naked, ma jolie,” Alec said while climbing up the ladder above the space. I yanked my camisole over my head and my boobs bounced free, the nipples pulling into tight knots once more, only this time at the chill. “There’s a heater there, so when you get on the padding with Aiden you will feel warm.”

  With a deep breath, I pushed down my panties and hopped over to the mat. My ankle was almost healed, but it smarted when I put too much pressure on it. I wanted to be careful with it to make sure it completely healed before I tried putting my full weight on it. Once I hit the mat, I crawled shyly over to Aiden.

  “Don’t worry. You’ve got a smokin’ hot body yourself. You ready for me to touch you?”

  I licked my lips and stared up into the bright lights above. I could barely see the outline of Alec’s form. Fear crawled along my skin making gooseflesh bump at the surface.

  “Um, I guess,” I said not really meaning it at all.

  “Lie back, Mia. Aiden, put your arm under her neck so she’s resting her head on it. Place that right hand around her body and hold her back.” Aiden got close and leaned onto his side. I looked down and could see his dick had hardened. I gulped and bit my lip trying to shake off the creepy crawly feelings I had seeing his excitement. I knew it was natural for a man to get hard when seeing a naked woman, but still, I didn’t like it. At all.

  Alec continued spouting orders. “Pull her thigh up and over yours to hide your manhood.” Aiden followed direction and gripped me by the knee and pulled my leg over his. That’s when his dick nestled against my pelvi
s, and I cringed.

  “Mia,” Alec snapped. “Pretend you’re holding the man you love. Look into his eyes.” I ground my teeth and looked up. Aiden’s eyes were a chocolate brown. Kind, yet filled with the exact thing I didn’t want to see. Lust. I bit my lip and held my hands loosely at his waist. His hand slid up my thigh then curved around the cheek of my ass. I stiffened. The camera clicked several times. Aiden’s breath seemed incredibly loud in the space between our faces.

  “Mia, you’re not pretending,” Alec warned. “Lift your neck. Now Aiden, kiss along the column slowly while I capture it. Dig your fingers into her flesh. He did, and I followed direction. As Aiden pressed his length harder into me, I could feel a tiny bit of moisture touch my skin. Swallowing hard, I started counting in my head hoping to God Alec would get his shot and this would be over soon.

  Alec clomped down the ladder. “This is not working. Pas bon. Not good.” He brought a hand to his temples and paced. “Two beautiful bodies entwined should be magnifique, oui?” He was talking to himself. I pulled away and crossed my hands over my chest to wait it out. Alec’s eyes came to mine. Aiden touched my shoulder, but, when he did, I flinched. Alec’s gaze caught it. He saw everything.

  “Aiden, you may go.” He walked forward and handed him the robe.

  “But what about the shoot? I need the money from this job,” he said worrying his bottom lip with his teeth.

  “You will be paid. You’ve done well. My vision is specific. The first piece will be painted.” Aiden’s eyes lit up.

  “Really?”

  Alec gave him a small smile and clapped him on the shoulder. “Really. Now go. I must work now with my muse.”

  Aiden headed to the bathroom to change. Alec handed me his personal robe, which made me smile wide. I pulled it on and sat cross-legged on the padding. He came and sat next to me.

  “You did not like this shoot.” No shit Sherlock. I sat there quietly waiting for him to come to whatever conclusions he wanted to.