Page 23 of The Burdens We Share
My cheeks flame, “Please,” I beg.
He frowns, “No. Now come out before Nara finds me and harasses me.”
I pity him only slightly. Being the object of Nara’s attention is similar to being raw meat placed in front of a starved lion. “I’m embarrassed,” I whisper.
Dallas looks as if I just made the dumbest statement ever, “You have nothing to be embarrassed about. Now get out.” His tone picks up towards the end and I immediately feel that need to obey him. I don’t know if it’s the tone of voice he uses or if it’s just him, but he makes it impossible for me to disobey his commands.
We both engage in a silent stare-down, Dallas’ intense hazel eyes boring into me until I submit. A minute later, I sigh andopen the door all the way, knowing I’m fighting a losing battle. When he gets a full view of me in this lingerie set, I cringe. His eyes rake over every square inch of me and damn him for having such an unreadable face. I can’t tell if he’s seeing imperfections or if he thinks I look good. Again, why does it matter to me what he thinks?
Dallas
WHEN MY EYES LANDon the little devil in little to no fabric, my cock hardens and my balls go tight. I’ve never seen anything so perfect in my life. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen Ivory’s figure. Those little outfits she wears on stage when she performs or out on a normal day don’t leave much to the imagination, but this? For her stature, she’s incredibly small. She has slim arms and a flat stomach. Her legs are thin too and her breasts are full for her body. I imagine they would fit perfectly in my palms. She has a perky ass and an hourglass figure. And she said she was embarrassed? Does she not realize how many women would kill to have her face, let alone her body?
She avoids my eyes and keeps them trained on the floor, her cheeks that bright pink I’ve grown used to. I love the effect I have on her, the way her body reacts to me. What I don’t particularly like, however, is the way she’s hiding from me. Why was she embarrassed for me to see her? In the past, when I’ve been in her presence she’s never once shown any signs of being insecure or embarrassed. She’s always radiated confidence and comfort in her own skin so I’m not sure why she’s acting like this now.
I’m about to ask when the wraith that is her agent approaches, her overly made-up face scowling at Ivory which only makes my jaw tighten. “What are you doing? Let’s go. Everyone is waiting for you.”
I wait for Ivory to tell her off. The little devil doesn’t letanyone speak to her that way. From my research on her, she has quite the temper and the mouth on her. So I wait for her to say something to Nira or Nara, whatever her name was, but she doesn’t. Instead, she just follows her and submits and I follow after her, appalled. Not much catches me off guard or surprises me, but this? Why isn’t she standing up for herself? I’d have to have a talk with her about this after.
Nara ushers Ivory into a set with a fake bedroom. It’s all decorated in pink, perfect for Ivory, and has satin sheets and pink everything. The photographer appears and immediately roams his eyes over Ivory and I feel my fists balling up at my sides. I want to strangle him and every other man in this room for looking at her. After that, I’d probably strangle all the men that will see these photos. The thought of anyone else’s eyes on her infuriates me, enrages me.
Nothing infuriates me more than the poses they have her doing. They’re sexual in nature and I find it infuriating that she’s okay with this. They’re sexualizing her. If they want to showcase her so badly, why can’t they put her in more clothing and display her impressive capabilities with a guitar? Why does it have to be this?
Selene Stone will be getting a phone call from me later. I’m even going to ask her what Nara’s deal is.
I watch as Ivory smiles in some shots, the way her body relaxes and I realize she’s doing something she clearly loves to do. She isn’t the type of woman who would do something just for the check. She has to enjoy what she’s doing and she is. I watch the entire time, completely captivated by her just like everyone else in the room.
When the shoot finishes about twenty minutes later, she makes her way over to me, but Nara cuts her off and starts talking to her. I watch Ivory’s face and watch as her happiness fades and her eyes turn sad. Whatever Nara is saying to her, it’scrushing her. I can’t hear a single word that’s being said, but I don’t have to. I’d tell Nara off myself if it stopped that look on Ivory’s face.
I storm over to them and Ivory catches sight of me over Nara’s back. As I approach I catch the last sentence Nara speaks, “You aren’t gonna get any more opportunities looking like that.”
“Looking like what?” I interrupt, malice in my voice. Is she seriously insulting Ivory? Nara is either blind or just a straight-up bitch if she actually thinks Ivory looks anything but perfect.
Nara whirls her head at me and it almost looks like she tries to raise her eyebrows, but there must be a disgusting amount of Botox in her face because the muscles don’t move. She smiles when she sees me and waves her hand around like what she just said to Ivory wasn’t a big deal. “Oh, nothing. Ivory and I were just talking about her camera presence.”
I look at Ivory for confirmation, but her eyes are locked on something behind me and she looks like she’s in another place mentally. I don’t fail to notice the defeat in her eyes though. “I think her camera presence was excellent, don’t you?” I ask Nara, condescension in my tone.
She laughs innocently, “I think there’s always room for improvement.”
I don’t smile. “Not when you’re already perfect.”
Ivory snaps out of whatever mental zone she just went into and looks up at me, surprise on her face. Her eyes are glazed over and she just assesses me in awe as if she can’t believe I just called her perfect. I can’t believe I just said that either.
Nara’s eye twitches as she speaks, “That’s very sweet of you.”
I ignore her and focus on Ivory, “Are you all finished?”
She nods.
I step aside and motion for her to make her way to the dressing room. As usual, I follow close behind her until she makes it to the door and enters. I wait outside for her to changeand when she’s done, she steps out in the clothes she was wearing before.
In the car, we still haven’t said a word to each other since our words on the set. All I can think about is Nara’s rude comments and jabs at Ivory. I want to know what she said to her before I stepped in. “What did Nara say to you before I came over?” I ask her, keeping my eyes on the road.
Ivory’s breath catches and she stammers, “Nothing. She was just talking about my camera presence. She said I looked a little tired.”
I know right away it’s a lie. “Are you sure that’s what she said?”
“Mhm,” she answers and I look over to find her playing with a pink strand of her hair in her fingers.
