Page 34 of Rock Out Together
My smile grows when Cora steps around Stefan, looking him up and down like she is sizing up how difficult it will beto knock him out of her way. Very, if our more unfriendly fans are anything to go by.
“Cora, so nice to finally meet you in person and not on a screen.” Marissa heads toward her like they’re old friends, not someone she only spoke to once. It’s one thing I like about Marissa.
“You too,” Cora greets her.
Hmm, she’s wearing gray linen pants and a white shirt that is tied up in a knot on her navel. Her fire engine red hair is loose around her shoulders, with a curl to it. She’s made an effort to look professional. Or maybe this is how she greets all her clients.
Cora suggests we head to the studio before other tenants arrive. I’ll let her off for not greeting me personally. Gray and Caden exchange one of their twin looks, then both turn to me. One of Gray’s eyebrows is up, Caden is smirking. I ignore them both and turn to follow Cora.
My feet stop and I can’t help but stare. Oh, damn.
On the facing side, she’s all business and professionalism. Turn around and there is one hell of a party going on in the back. The back of her shirt scoops to just above her ass. It’s nice and tight, hugging every curve and contour.
That isn’t what’s got my attention, or the others as they all stare.
There is a tattoo of a Chinese dragon on her back, the kind that looks like a snake, but with a much more feminine touch. It swirls and twists down her spine ending in feathery tendrils, with the whole thing surrounded by delicate leaves and two beautiful pink flowers.
My fingers itch to run down it, tracing the lines, teasing the little ridges of her spine, imagining the softness of her skin. Not the time to think along those lines, especially given my dick is throbbing.
I only have one tattoo. It’s a road map on my chest of my home city. Perry has the most out of all of us and Dru shares his love of being inked. Caden and Gray each have a sleeve, the opposite arm to the other so when they stand side by side and line up their arms, parts of the image meet. Impressive shit on the part of the artist.
There is no time to comment as Stefan ushers us after Cora, and I take a moment to adjust myself. Inside the studio, it’s as I remember. Cora isn’t trying to impress anyone.
“Sorry for rushing you inside, there is only so long we’ve been able to keep the other tenants out of the building.”
“That’s fine, we appreciate it,” Marissa tells her as she takes the place in. She gives me a quick look I can only interpret as she thought it would be more than this, and I shrug in response.
We’ve all gotten too used to the huge, showy song and dance that comes along with being in Velvet Echo. I, for one, am glad we’re taking shit down a notch for this new start. It’s fitting we’re here in an intimate and modest studio.
Things are going to be different without Christopher. He loves everything to do with fame and people flocking around him. He would have looked so far down his nose at Cora.
“What are you scowling at? You picked this place?” Caden says.
“I was thinking how Christopher would react to it.”
He lets out a huff. “Guess this is the perfect place for a new start.”
See, Caden gets me.
“Hey everyone,” Cora draws our attention. “I’m Cora. I’m going to be running the shoot today. This is Anya, she will assist with make-up and wardrobe.”
Damn, I didn’t even notice the other woman in the room. She steps up next to Cora and a faint groan comes from behind me. This little pixie is exactly Grayson’s type.
He happily heads over first to get ready while the others check out the concept Cora has come up with on the white board by her desk.
I lean against the wall and watch her. She talks to everyone, answering questions, making big hand gestures as she explains her vision. She’s passionate about this.
Marissa thinks this is all about a big pay day for Cora. Watching the light in her eyes and the smile on her face as she talks about photography tells me this girl would happily do it for free, for the sheer joy of her craft.
That is incredibly sexy to me. And she’s damn good at it too.
She’s very thorough as she talks to everyone else in the room. And very thoroughly avoiding me. Well, that ends now.
“Hi.” I step in front of her as she is about to turn around, and it makes her stumble to avoid crashing into me. That wasn’t my intention, but it means I get to reach out and steady her. To touch her.
“Do you always sneak up on people?” She lifts her brow and gives me a cheeky look that starts up a heavy drum beat in my chest.
“I was just coming to see if you want to walkmethrough the plan?” I wink.
