Page 66 of Stick to the Deal
“She was my photographer. Girl got me naked on the first shoot. There’s no other for me since.”
Waves of tension radiate off the steel arm around me. This is so not the right time for Kenzo to be himself.
“You remember the Time shoot? Then I took some candids at his concert back in July. Kenzo wants to use them for his album cover. Those are the contracts I’ve been talking about,” I try to reassure him.
“Of course.” He’s still stiff, but some of the coldness has warmed. “What brings you here?”
“Just in the neighborhood and thought I’d check it out. I do need to head out to meet my manager, though. Congrats again, Nic. I’ll let you know what the label says.” He walks out the gallery doors to the flashes of paparazzi lights.
The show winds down. Henri stops us on the way to the door to tell us the remaining prints sold and he’ll be in touch very soon.
A smattering of photographers still loiter at the door, snapping our photos and calling for comment. Ever the gentleman, Reginald opens the car door for me before walking around to the other side. The ride is silent, all the warmth of his arrival missing.
I study him, looking for indications of what changed in the last half hour. He stares out his window, but his eyes don’t scan the passing city streets. His jaw is clenched so hard it appears carved from marble. White knuckles clench at his sides.
What happened while he was getting drinks? “Did Daniel call with bad news?”
“What?” He turns to me, brows pinched in confusion. “No.” Shaking his head, he returns to his staring.
If this isn’t about work then… Could he be jealous?
That’s rich. After the Gala and his insipid maybe-ex, now he wants to act the possessive husband? Not if I have something to say about it.
I stew the rest of the short drive. My fury grows as I play out arguments in my mind.
He trails me into the townhouse and up the three flights of stairs until I finally explode.
“You’re unbelievable.” I burst into the bedroom, peeling off layers as I walk.
“You’re mad,” he says baldly.
“Ding ding ding.” I whirl to face him, standing in only my underwear. “Why did you choose tonight of all nights to pull this act? Why did you even come to the show if you were going to pick a fight?”
“You didn’t even tell me about it, you’re sodding husband, but you invited the rock star?”
“One, I didn’t invite Kenzo—he follows me on Instagram. Two, I didn’t tell you because I wasn’t sure you’d want to come. You’ve been very busy lately, and I didn’t know where this fit into the deal.”
He jerks back as if struck. “Fuck the deal. Of course I wanted to come—to be the one beside you, supporting you. Don’t you get it by now?” In three big steps, he closes the distance until we’re practically nose to nose. “You are the most important person in my life. I stopped caring about the contract long ago. Do you genuinely not see it?”
He searches my eyes, looking for some sign. His own reflect longing. His body leans forward, every atom focused on me. The air crackles with electricity.
My knees waiver, but I stand my ground, holding all my hurt and mistrust as a shield. “What about Serena?”
The muscles in his jaw flex and anger flares in his eyes, but I don’t think it’s directed at me. “She’s nothing—she never was. My mother pushed us together as teens and I went along because it was expected. When I caught her bragging to her friends about how she could get me to buy her a car if she wanted, I couldn’t take it anymore and ended things. Even if I’d never met you, I would never be with her.”
My heart leaps at his words. “Does she know that?”
He searches my eyes, his lips spreading into a dark smile. “I practically screamed it in her face last week.”
I lean the short distance between us and kiss him. It has the effect of a match hitting dry kindling. This isn’t a pretty meeting of bodies. This is two starved people reaching for sustenance.
His hands trace the lines of my body until they settle under my thighs, lifting me up. I cling to him, all arms and legs wrapped around him, as he walks me across the room and tosses me on the soft mattress. In moments, his clothes join mineon the floor. Naked, he crawls up the length of the bed, his eyes dark with desire, until he is hovering over me. “No more running after a fight, Nic. Or I’ll just have to chase you.”
I run my hands up his biceps, feeling where the muscles strain to support him. “Is that a threat?”
“It’s a fucking promise.” His mouth descends in a bruising kiss, which I eagerly meet. My nails rake through his thick hair. I’ve missed this, missed him. My back arches off the bed, desperate for more contact with his heated skin.
Balancing on one hand, he snakes the other under my back. Rolling, he turns us until I land on top, straddling him. “Tonight is your night, Princess. Use me for your pleasure however you want. It’s all for you.”
