Chapter 6 #2
Kai’s arm slides around my waist, not my shoulders. His hand settles on my hip. He draws me into his side until there’s no space left to pretend I’m unaffected. The solid heat of him at my flank turns my thoughts soft.
“Like this?” His voice drops low, meant for me, not the audience.
“Good start,” Hazel says, snapping a photo. “Carter, get in there.”
Carter steps in close behind me, all broad chest, his presence filling the air at my back. His hand finds my other hip, fingers spreading like he’s claiming a right to the shape of me, and suddenly I’m held between them. Framed. Pinned in the sweetest way.
I’m breathless.
“How’s this?” Carter asks, his mouth near my ear, his breath warm where my skin is already too sensitive.
“Perfect,” Hazel chirps, snapping another shot. “Now let’s try something more… intimate.”
“Intimate?” My voice comes out rougher than I want.
“Trust me,” she says, grinning behind the camera. “Kai, put your hand on her stomach. Carter, lean in like you’re about to tell her a secret.”
They do it without hesitation.
Kai’s palm presses flat to my belly, warm through my shirt, steadying me and undoing me in the same breath. Carter leans closer, the brush of him almost a touch, almost a kiss, and the not quite is what makes my knees threaten treason.
“You smell incredible,” Carter murmurs, so soft it feels like he’s speaking directly into my bloodstream.
I inhale, then forget what I meant to do with the air.
“Good,” Hazel calls. “Now Kai, turn her toward you. Carter, stay close behind her.”
Kai’s hands guide me, slow and deliberate, until I’m facing him.
His gaze locks on mine, pale gray and intent, like he’s taking count of every reaction I’m failing to hide.
Carter stays right there, chest to my back, crowding my space in a way that makes me feel sheltered and owned at the same time.
Kai’s thumb strokes my hip. “You’re blushing.”
“Just feeling hot,” I answer.
Carter’s quiet laugh ghosts my ear. “You are.”
Kai’s smile turns sharp, satisfied. “We should do this more often.”
“Keep talking like that and I’ll step on your foot,” I assure him out loud.
“Promises, promises.”
Hazel snaps photo after photo as we cycle through poses—Kai dipping me slightly while Carter steadies my shoulders, both of them leaning in like they’re about to kiss my cheeks, Carter lifting me off the ground while Kai pretends to be jealous.
Each position presses me closer to one or both of them, and by the time Hazel calls for a break, I’m flushed and breathless and my heart is doing things it absolutely should not be doing.
“That’s perfect,” Hazel announces. “Don, Connor, that’s the energy we need. Make every fan feel like the most important person in the world.”
The guys nod, looking slightly intimidated.
“All right.” Hazel checks her phone. “We’re about to open. June, help me with something in back.”
I follow her behind the backdrop, still overheated, still trying to pretend I’m normal. The second we’re out of sight, Hazel grabs my arm.
I huff out a laugh. “What now? You want to take another hundred photos? Maybe keep going until my face freezes like this?”
Hazel’s grin goes bright. “Oh my God. June,” she whispers, urgent. “June.”
“What?” I say, glancing toward the front like someone might be listening.
“You were glowing out there,” she says. “I’ve never seen you like that.”
I shake my head. “We were just posing.”
She leans closer, eyes sparkling. “And you can’t tell me you didn’t feel it.”
My cheeks heat again. “I felt you being extra.”
Hazel gasps, delighted. “Me?”
“You did that on purpose,” I accuse, jabbing a finger at her. “You kept moving them closer. ‘Hands here, hips there, lean in.’ Like you were directing some… porno.”
Hazel’s laugh is quiet but wicked. “And?”
“And,” I mutter, “it was unnecessary.”
“Mmm.” She squeezes my arm like she’s proud of herself. “My strategy worked.”
I glare at her. “Hazel.”
“I’m serious,” she says, still buzzing. “You were glowing. You didn’t even realize. You were smiling like you forgot how to brace for impact. And they were gone for you. The way they looked at you? That wasn’t camera focus. That was want.” She tilts her head, studying me. “And you liked it.”
My throat goes tight. “They’re Alphas, Hazel.”
“So? Who cares?”
I care, I want to say. But I can’t explain why without revealing secrets I’ve kept for seven years from everyone.
“They’re only here for two or three weeks,” I say instead. “Then they’re gone.”
“So make the most of it.” She squeezes my arm again. “Any woman would kill to have men look at her like that. Like you’re the sun and they’ve been living in darkness. Don’t overthink it.”
“I always overthink it.”
“I know. That’s why I’m here to tell you to stop.” She releases me. “Now get out there and take some photos. And try not to murder any of the fangirls who throw themselves at your men.” She’s already walking away, flipping the OPEN sign on the booth.
A line forms immediately.
It’s insane, a snaking queue of women clutching tickets and checking their reflections in phone screens.
Some are dressed like they’re going to a club, clearly hoping to catch attention.
Others are more casual, just excited for a fun photo.
All of them are staring at Kai and Carter like they’re made of gold and wishes.
“Welcome to our reality,” I mutter, positioning myself behind the camera.
Kai catches my eye and grins. “Don’t worry, doll. I only have eyes for one woman tonight.”
“Save the charm for the paying customers.”
“The charm is infinite. There’s plenty to go around.”
Hazel directs the first group forward, three college-age girls who look like they might actually faint, and I focus on my job. Take the photos. Capture the moment. Don’t think about how Kai’s arm wraps around the first girl’s waist the same way it wrapped around mine.
Except it’s not the same. I can see that now. With the fans, he’s polished. Professional. The smile reaches his eyes but there’s a distance there, a performance.
With me, there was no distance at all.
The next hour passes in a blur of poses and flashes with the four cowboys and strangers pressing themselves against them like they’re claiming territory. Some are subtle about it. Most aren’t.
One woman—blonde, poured into a revealing dress—actually tries to slide her hand down Carter’s chest toward his belt buckle. He catches her wrist smoothly, redirecting it to his shoulder, but she just laughs and presses closer.
Something hot and sharp twists in my chest. My jaw is tight, and there’s a possessive growl building in my throat that has no business being there.
During a brief lull between groups, Carter slips away from his position and appears at my side.
“You okay?” His voice is low, private.
“Fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Because you’ve been gripping that camera like you want to strangle it for the last twenty minutes.” His gaze searches my face. “You’re jealous.”
“Am not—”
He chuckles and moves back to his position, leaving me flushed and flustered and way too aware of my own heartbeat.
Kai catches my eye from across the booth. He’s supposed to be smiling for the camera with a pair of women who are practically climbing him, but he’s looking at me. Through me. Into me.
I see you, his expression says. Only you.
Finally—finally—Hazel calls the last group forward, and then it’s over. The crowd disperses, the booth empties, and I can actually breathe.
“You were amazing,” Hazel says, bouncing over. “These shots are incredible. But I’ve got to run. I have a date.”
“Oh?” I grab her arm. “Since when? With who?”
“Since this morning. And I’ll tell you everything tomorrow, promise.” She’s already backing away, phone in hand. “Love you, bye!”
And she’s gone.
I’m left standing with Don and Connor, who immediately start packing up the signs around the booth.
“Well.” Kai strolls over, hands in his pockets like he has all the time in the world. “Looks like you’re free.”
I force my face into something neutral, even though my body is still remembering where his hands were earlier. “I should probably head home.”
“Or,” Carter says, sliding in beside Kai like he belongs there, “you could stay. Enjoy the fair. Let us return the favor for being such a good sport tonight.”
My stomach tightens, not from nerves exactly, but from the way his voice lands low, right under my ribs. “What favor?”
Kai’s grin turns sharp and delighted. “I may have put our names down for something.”
I narrow my eyes, because the sparkle in his gaze is never innocent. “What exactly?”
“The Cowboy Carry race. You and me.” He tips his chin toward the main area where people are gathering. “It’ll be fun.”
“A piggyback race.” I stare at him.
“I knew you’d say no if I asked.” He shrugs like it’s the most reasonable thing in the world. “This way, it’s already done. No backing out.”
I should be annoyed and tell him that signing me up for something physical without checking is presumptuous at best. But Kai is staring at me like he already knows I’m going to cave, like he’s watching my willpower wobble. Carter is close enough that it’s hard to concentrate.
I lift my chin, trying to drag control back where it belongs, reminding myself that I did enjoy the photo shoot with them, their company. Then I cave… “One race.”
Kai’s brows lift, pleased. “Done.”
“Then I go home.” I shift my weight, forcing myself to focus on the noise around us instead of the warmth at my sides.
“Just give me two minutes,” I tell them.
“I need to take this stuff to the office and lock it up before someone walks off with these expensive lenses.” Before either of them can argue, I duck away and into the staff area, past the guard there.
Then I slip into the tiny office by the lockers and tuck my gear away, snapping the lock closed.