He lifted up a finger. “I’ve got an idea. What if we drown out the sound?”
I tilted my head. “How so?”
“Music, of course. What do you like?”
I shrugged. “Most everything, but I’m really into Lana Del Rey right now.”
“She’s awesome. Why don’t you go get your hair and makeup done while I set up and get some music on? I need to choose the first outfit and props to see what we’re working with.”
Without any preamble, I closed the space between us and wrapped my arms around his neck. I lifted up onto my toes so I could whisper against his ear while hugging him. “Thank you. For making me feel safe. For giving me a private space. For understanding my issues…”
He wrapped his arms around my body, bringing me flush against his hard frame. I relaxed into his return hug.
“When I say it’s my pleasure, I really mean it, Addy. There’s something about you. About your beauty. About your body. About your entire package that calls to me, unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. I have to capture your beauty on film. It feels…important somehow.”
I trembled in his hold, not because I was afraid, but because the things he said turned my insides to mush and my body to nothing but liquid desire.
I wanted him.
Badly.
“We’re going to break all the rules about models and photographers getting mixed up with one another, aren’t we?” I whispered against his thick, manly neck where I scented a light cologne mixed with a heady, earthy musk that had to be all Killian.
“I sure as hell hope so.” He ran his hand up my back and cupped my cheek, his thumb tracing my bottom lip in a feather-light caress. His gaze seared straight through to the heart of me.
I thought he might kiss me. Wished for it even. I wanted him to lean forward and just do it, even if this was only the second time we’d seen one another. Even if this was a job and it was unprofessional. All those excuses ran out the window when this man had his hands on me. The simple touch of his palm to my cheek and his thumb to my lip made butterflies take flight in my stomach and my blood heat.
Which is also when we heard a crashing sound. He jerked back and spun around, his hands going up into the air. “Nein!” he roared suddenly.
I looked around him and saw an enormous, stunning, black and tan Rottweiler barreling my way. I got down on my haunches and opened my arms. “Hi, baby!” I cried out with excitement. I loved dogs.
“Nein, bleib!” No. Stay. Killian commanded the dog in German, but the dog saw me crouch and he was on a path for maximum contact.
“Come here, sweet baby!” I countered and the dog plowed into me, taking me down to my booty. His face was level with mine and he licked and gave me kisses as I hugged, petted, and fluffed his luxurious coat. Unlike other Rottweilers I’d seen before, this one had a tail which I found fascinating. “Oh, you’re a pretty boy, aren’t you?” I cooed and kissed at his monster-sized head. He licked me all over, then ducked his massive dome and head-butted my chest.
“Brutus! Hier. Fuss!” Come. Heel. Killian spoke in rapid-fire German once again.
Brutus whined but went over to his dad’s leg and sat right by his feet panting, his tail still wagging.
I got up off the floor and wiped at my clothing and pushed my hair out of my face. “You have an awesome dog!” I gushed happily. “Does he fetch? My sister’s dog Amber loves to play fetch and tug of war.” I shrugged. “I’m the best auntie because I could play with a dog all day long and be happy as a clam.”
Killian just stared at me silently, his brow furrowed, almost pained.
“What?”
“You just stared down the face of a killing machine and turned him into a playful puppy in a matter of seconds,” he said flatly.
I tilted my head and frowned, then pointed at that dog. “He’s sweet as pie.”
Killian shook his head. “No. He isn’t. You should have seen how long it took to introduce your friend Cameron and I’m still a little nervous to have him out of the laundry room until that guy leaves.”
“No way. Really?”
He petted the top of his dog’s head. “More surprises with you.”
“How so?”
“Sweetheart, my dog is dangerous. He’s a trained protector. He will bite first and protect me to the death. And you crouched down and opened your arms like a lamb left to a pack of hungry wolves. You seriously have zero self-protective instincts. We’re going to have to work on this, baby. This is not good news.”
I pouted. “I can’t help it if dogs love me. I’m like the dog whisperer guy. I have never met a dog that didn’t like me. It’s a gift.”
He shook his head. “We’ll see about that. Brutus, hier.” He snapped come in German, then led the dog toward the laundry room. Every couple feet he slowed, glancing back at me sadly, tail between his legs. Poor baby. I felt his sadness.
“Can’t he hang out with us?” I pushed. “He’s sad now. That makes me sad.” I gave him my best pitiful look.
Killian ran his hands through his glorious hair in what I gathered was a heaping dose of frustration. Man, I wanted to run my hands through that hair, preferably while kissing him.
“After your friend finishes, then maybe,” he compromised.
Still, I pouted. I really wanted to hang out with the dog.
“That ‘maybe’ is going to turn into a no…” he warned.
“Ugh, fine. Spoilsport. Bye, baby boy! See you soon, honey.” I cooed at the sweet dog.
Brutus wagged his tail and I grinned. “See? He loves me.”
“I’m beginning to see a trend,” he said softly.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I fired back.
He just laughed and led his dog back to his stupid laundry room cage for the time being. “We’ve got work to do.” He pointed to the bathroom door where I figured Cameron was eavesdropping and had already seen and heard the entire conversation.
“Fine, but during breaktime I get to play with Brutus!” I stated flippantly, flip-flopping my way toward my beauty team of one. Blessing was right. These shoes did make a lot of noise, especially on hardwood floors.
“We’ll see about that,” he stated in a way that made it sound like I wouldn’t be getting my way.
“Yes, we will!” I yelled again, not one to easily bow out of a challenge.
CHAPTER FIVE
“Stop fretting! You look fan-tabulous!” Cameron ran his fingers which were covered with pomade through the curls he’d put in my hair to make them look more natural. I had a ridiculous mane of hair and I was grateful for it, but if you wanted it to look a certain way, it took a load of product and a lot of finagling. Which is why I left it down, in a ponytail, or a messy bun most of the time.
He fluffed both sides and shoved two portions in front to fall over my shoulders and caress the sides of my cheeks. Killian had hung the first item he chose to photograph on the door handle earlier for me to grab. It was an emerald green teddy and matching panty number that made my eyes pop. What I loved most about this piece Blessing designed was that it would look incredible on every woman. Most of her designs were like that. Victoria’s Secret would weep at the beauty she created, and I secretly hoped they’d see these designs blasted across the globe and choose to hire my sister to design an upcoming line.