Page 53 of Broken Melody
“Alright, everyone,” someone yells and I turn to see a tall man with a camera around his neck clapping his hands to get our attention. “My name is Garrett and I’m the lead photographer. I’ve received instructions from Rick and I have a clear vision of what he’s expecting from today’s shoot. Does anyone have any questions?” He looks around the room and everyone is staring back at him remaining silent. “Great then let’s get this show on the road! Sailor and Maddox, we’ll start with the two of you.”
As I walk to Garrett, Maddox meets me half way rubbing his hands together, “You ready for this?”
“Not really.”
“What’s wrong?” he asks likely hearing something off in my tone of voice and taking my hand and holding it in his. He’s really good at keeping up appearances that’s for sure.
“I’ve never done this before. I feel nervous. And rather ridiculous.”
“There’s nothing to be nervous about, I promise. They’ll likely take pictures of the two of us first, next they’ll add in the guys, then do individual ones with each of us. Since the magazine is announcing the new album and your addition to the group, they likely want all kinds of photos because they’ll do a whole feature on their website, then follow it up in the magazine with a full spread. They wanted to interview all of us too, but Rick shut it down and for this one, only basic information will be given because they want to maintain the mystery for a bit.”
“Oh, I hadn’t heard that,” I tell him wondering why I always feel like I’m the last to know. Not that it really makes a difference I guess. That’s something I can discuss later with Jace, I mentally note.
“Jace was just telling us while you were eating something. We weren’t purposefully leaving you out or anything,” he smiles kindly and I find myself returning it. I love that he automatically knew what I was feeling and thinking without my needing to say a word. Maybe it’s because he would have felt the same way.
“Maddox and Sailor, lovely to meet you both. I’d like to begin our session with photos of the two of you please, the group’s marvelous lead singers that are also involved romantically from what I understand.”
Maddox simply smiles but doesn’t comment other than to say, “Just tell us where you’d like us.”
“We have several different back drops we’re using for the shoot. For now, I’d like to start with the simple white wall. Follow me.”
Garrett leads us to a different part of the huge warehouse. We walk around a corner and find several backdrops. One has strings of lights hanging from the ceiling against a black backdrop. Another is a brick wall. A plain white wall is the third, and the fourth is a large backdrop that has the band’s name and all of the instruments and microphones in place.
Maddox moves to the white wall as we’re told and I awkwardly stand next to him waiting for instruction. “My understanding is that they would like some sexy photos of the two of you. I suggest you simply do your thing and pretend I’m not here.”
I look at Maddox and raise my brows at his comment of doing our thing. Maddox simply grins and pulls me into his arms. Immediately, I begin to hear the shutter click and I feel uncomfortable. Maddox’s arms are wrapped around me, so I put mine around his neck, but it doesn’t feel natural by any means.
“Relax, Sailor,” Garrett instructs. “Don’t look so stiff.”
“I’m trying not to,” I mumble under my breath. Maddox pushes my hair over my shoulder and puts his head close to mine. Our lips are so close they’re almost touching. The small space feels crowded, I see people milling about watching the shoot, but not Nixon, Rocco and Henley funnily enough. Perhaps they’ve done enough of these things to last a lifetime. Closing my eyes, trying to block everyone else out, I tell myself to get into this. “I’m struggling,” I say. And Maddox drops his arms from me. For a moment I think I’ve made him angry and I’m afraid to open my eyes.
“Can you give us a minute?” Maddox asks the photographer and I open my eyes to find him looking softly at me.
“Of course,” Garrett says to Maddox before yelling, “Everyone out. Let’s take five.”
“Just relax,” he tells me while I look at the ground feeling annoyed with myself. “It’s just me,” he says and I almost laugh as if that’s supposed to make me feel better. “Let’s just have fun with this, okay? They want us to do a photo shoot like this because as we know, sex sells. Our music will do the rest but at least this will get them to pay attention.”
“I understand that, and I agreed to it. I just can’t loosen up.”
He looks around, I’m guessing making sure everyone has left. Then he moves to me, takes my chin in his hand, and moves his head closer to mine. “Sailor, look at me.” I do, but not exactly at his eyes. He has a very nice chin. Of course, it’s difficult to see with his beard and all, but he keeps it very well maintained and I love the way- “Sailor,” he interrupts my thoughts. “Look in my eyes.” Reluctantly I do so. My dark eyes meet his green ones and he simply holds my gaze, not looking away. His eyes are soft and intense at the same time. They hold kindness, yet at the same time, I see heat in them. For me. And it makes my toes curl in my shoes. He makes me feel butterflies, yes, but like always I also feel something deeper, something more – at least to me. And in this moment of discomfort, it’s everything. I feel safe.
“Maddox,” I whisper, “I see you. I really see you,” I tell him and I wonder how long its been since anyone has bothered to look at him. Everyone just sees the surface: the actions, the words he says, behaviors that get called into question, and I understand that, it’s easy to do. But I wonder if anyone has bothered to really look deeper?
He smiles, and it’s beautiful. “I see you too,” he says and I think he really does.
My body loosens, and his arms wrap around my waist once more. This time, when he moves toward me, I lift up on my toes and find his lips first. I kiss him with everything I have. I don’t pay attention to the reasons that I shouldn’t be doing this, I just let myself feel. I let myself want. I let myself need.
His mouth moves smoothly over mine. A groan emits from him and my pulse races, my body becomes light and liquid. Nothing exists except the two of us. Until a throat clears and Maddox and I pull apart.
“I take it you are uh, ready?” Garrett asks.
Maddox looks at me, lifting his eyebrows, a silent question. I nod. “We’re ready.”
Garrett yells, “Makeup!” and I have to refrain from laughing when my red lipstick is removed from Maddox’s face.
This time when Maddox takes me in his arms and the shutter starts clicking, I don’t care. I tune everything out but Maddox. I let myself get lost in him. He smirks at me, and I smirk back. He runs his nose along my jaw line and I close my eyes and lean my head back for more. He turns me so my back is against his stomach, and I look out at the camera blankly, while I feel his chin on my head. His hand slides up my thigh, I lean my head back to lay on his shoulder. He twists me around and shoves his fingers into my hair while holding my gaze.
I’ve never been so turned on in my life. This shoot feels like nothing but foreplay. When he suddenly lifts me and places me against the white wall, I look over his shoulder, my nails dig into his back, and he watches me. I can feel his hardness pressed against me and I thank god that I’m not the only one feeling the effects of this shoot.
