Page 25 of Love Me Gently

“What?”

“I enjoy seeing you like this.”

Unease slid through me. The robe on the floor called to me, and yet I couldn’t move. Robert was still sitting in the chair, knees spread, lounging back like he always did when we talked, but he’d never looked at me like this…or placed his hand on his belt, slid it further down.

He rubbed his hand down the zipper, and I gulped. The hard impression beneath the fabric of gray dress pants was impossible to miss and I yanked my gaze away.

No.He didn’t mean to do this. He couldn’t.

I shook my head. “Robert.”

“You’re beautiful, prettier than any girl I’ve ever photographed. Let me look at you without the lens in the way for a moment.”

A strange heat warmed my ears and my face, and yet I still didn’t move. Was this any different than being naked and photographed? It felt like it, and yet he hadn’t moved toward me. Didn’t touch me.

But it had to be wrong. Right? I was too paralyzed to cover myself, especially more so when he spoke.

“Would you like to hear the good news I wanted to share with you?”

“Yeah.” I cleared my throat. “Yes. Please.” I’d listen to anything if it took my attention off his hand. Off that bulge beneath his pants. Off the way he played with his belt buckle until it opened.

“I’ve heard from an agent interested in representing you.”

“What?” I forgot about my nakedness for a moment and jumped to sitting. “Who? From where?”

Robert smiled at me. That same friendly smile he always gave me, and he laughed. “Steven Cormack.”

“What?” Steven Cormack represented some of the largest models in the world. At least his agency did. But he was always mentioned. I’d never dreamed of anything so incredible. I had to have heard him wrong. “Are you serious?”

“I am.” His gaze dropped and settled on my breasts and went further down. Remembering I was naked, I crossed my legs and draped an arm over my breasts. The robe was too far to reach for, and I eyed it before he continued. “I spoke with him today. He’d like to meet you next week.”

His gaze rose again and all of it had happened so quickly I wondered if I imagined it. He’d never looked at me with such interest before. Still, I grabbed the robe and wrapped it around me.

This time, he didn’t stop me. “This is. Wow.”

I couldn’t wrap my head around it. All the unease vanished, and a new rush of excitement suffused my every breath. “I don’t know what to say. Thank you.”

“You don’t have to say anything,” Robert said. His hands moved. The metal clink of something jangled, and I tightened the grip on the robe. “But you can thank me.”

I forced my eyes to stay looking at his face. The excitement chilled in my veins.

His tone was clear. His movements more so as his body shifted.

“I don’t want to,” I said, my chin wobbling and tears already blurring my vision. “This isn’t…this isn’t what I want…”

Visions, horrible visions splattered into my brain on what exactly he wanted from me. Sex? Was he going to rape me? God. How could I have been so stupid to think he was nice to me? All those touches. All the brushes of his hand over my breasts. The soft smiles.

“Robert—” I said, trying again, but what could I say?

I was naked in front of a man who was older than me, much larger and stronger.

I’d willingly placed myself in this situation.

I’d ignored the warning flares. The touches and looks and kisses.

The room turned to ice. Fear pummeled my body as he spoke.

“You want to meet Steven, don’t you? All I’m asking for is a little gratitude in helping you get there. Is that so wrong?”

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