Page 41 of Hail Marry
“Looks like you’re the one who needs a safe word,” I say as he spins me around.
“I’m fine,” he says.
Jasper lets his camera rest against his hip and runs up to us. “Okay, I’m going to get some closer shots. More focus on your faces and emotions. More intimate.”
I feel Luca’s gaze flick to me, but I ignore it.
Intimate is fine. A nice close-up on Luca’s brooding face is exactly what Zach had in mind, I’m sure.
Jasper unscrews the lens from his camera and switches it out for a different one as he talks us through the look he’s going for.
“I want you all wrapped up in each other. Forget about me completely and just…be together. Victoria, think of all the things you most love about Luca, and Luca, think of everything you love about her. Okay? Easiest assignment you’ve ever had.”
Luca and I look at each other, and I take a step toward him.All wrapped up in each other. What does that even mean?
Based on how Luca’s holding himself, it means we should act like rusty robots. He’s more tense than ever. And I get it. But I can’t allow it.
“Come on,” I say, trying to seem nonchalant as I approach him. “You heard Jasper. Forget him. Forget the camera.” I hesitate, then put my hands on his chest. It’s a very fine chest. “See? Camera officially forgotten. Easy.”
The camera clicks, and his gaze darts that direction. “I can’t.”
I sigh. “Yeah, me neither. But you can pretend to. Just think about alllll the things you love about me.”
Shockingly, that doesn’t work. The clicks have stopped, and Jasper’s obviously waiting for the magic between us to appear.
“Let’s go in for a kiss,” Jasper says, “but pause right before.”
Luca is now frozen. He’ll be a fascinating statue for future generations to admire unless drastic measures are taken.
“Lucas Callahan,” I say firmly, even though that’s not his real name, “if you humiliate me by looking miserable in these promo shots, so help me…”
Something shifts in his eyes, like my words have hit home. He needs all the motivation he can get to sell this right now, and I think I know what might help.
“Ryan is probably going to see these pictures,” I say, “and if you’re looking like you’d rather be cleaning barnacles off the pier there than holding me? I will never forgive you. For just two minutes, pretend to be attracted to me.”
Luca’s gaze fixes on me, his brow pulling together. His gaze explores my face, and his eyes grow darker.
My pulse races at the sudden change as his hands come up on either side of my face.
I’m the rigid one now. My breathing has stopped altogether, but my heart batters my ribs.
Luca’s face gets closer to mine, and his gaze slips to my lips.
I try to breathe, but his cologne fills my lungs and my head.
His lids slowly veil his eyes, and I close mine. I slide my hands up his chest and wrap them around his neck. I can feel how close his lips are.
His nose brushes mine, and one of his hands drops from my cheek. I wait to see where it makes contact next and feel it slide from my shoulder down to my elbow. His fingertips press into the skin of my arm, an invitation to come closer to him.
My body obeys like it’s just been waiting for him to ask. My stomach presses against his, and the slightest hint of contact on my lips has them tingling. I can’t be sure I didn’t imagine it. Imagined or not, my mouth searches for his.
Forget pausing right before. I want the real thing.
Luca’s hand drops from my arm, and he steps back.
My eyelids flutter open, and I look at him.
He stares at me, his expression unreadable, his chest rising and falling.
