Chapter 9 #2
His burnt caramel scent soaks into my bones. All I can focus on is where his touch feels like it’s burning through the thin silk fabric of my robe, branding my skin. I wish I’d been more conscious the other night to really soak in the glory that is Beck’s touch.
“Hmm? Oh,” I say, shaking my head and bringing myself back to reality. “I’ve been doing this a long time. You kinda just have to get used to it, or you’ll drive yourself insane.”
“Damn,” he says, unable to hide his wince.
Part of me feels bad for him. He’s Mr. Popular now with his music career blowing up the way it is. He’s going to have companies champing at the bit for a piece of him. He’s probably going to find himself on a lot of sets like this.
“If you don’t have the blessing of an excellent conversation partner,” I say, my lips quirking up in a smile as I wave dramatically down at myself. “I recommend a good audiobook.”
“This way, Mr. Knight,” his makeup artist says, gesturing to the other makeup chair beside me.
He lets out a breath that almost sounds... reluctant?
“Audiobooks, huh?” he asks, settling in his chair. “What kind of audiobooks do you listen to?”
“Oh, a little bit of this, a little bit of that.”
Exclusively romance. But he doesn’t need to know that.
“Come on, you can tell me,” he teases. “I won’t judge.”
“I think finding out what books I listen to is like third date material, Mr. Knight,” I say, fighting the urge to bite my lip and ruin my lipstick.
“Well, then I’ll just have to get on that.” He flashes me a devastating wink that has the two makeup artists glancing at each other.
I don’t blame them.
Beckham Knight is a charmer. A stunningly beautiful charmer.
Once we’re done with our makeup and hair, we move on to wardrobe, where we’re given our own pairs of jeans.
Beckham’s are slung low on his hips, accentuating the slope of his waist. Mine are a little tighter, hugging the curves of my ass. The ass that Gina would put me on some horrible diet to get rid of if having curves weren’t “in” right now.
I’m also given a basic black lace bra to put under a fitted, V-neck white t-shirt.
“Looks like we make a pretty official couple, huh?” I tease, leaning forward so only Beck can hear my whisper. “Matching outfits already.”
“Yeah,” Beck chuckles, his eyes lingering on my body before darting straight to the floor.
I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a little thrill that just ran through me.
The Beckham Knight just checked me out. Teenage girls across the country would riot.
Teenage girls across the country will riot when we go public with our “relationship.”
“Could I actually get a couple shots of us in a mirror or something for a day-in-the-life video I’m working on?” I ask, nervously shifting my weight from side to side. “It’s cool if not.”
“Nah, it’s cool, let’s do it!” he says with a grin. “Do you do this sorta thing often?”
“Days in the life? Yeah, they’re pretty popular these days. Though if it’s got you in it, it’s sure to go crazy.”
I gesture for him to follow me in front of one of the mirrors at the makeup station. I film a clip of us in the mirror, hitting a quick pose.
When I watch it back, my breath catches in my throat. I was so focused on getting the right shot that I didn’t notice the way Beck was looking at me the entire time. His eyes are bright with a warm affection that’s hard to fake.
He’s an excellent actor it seems.
“Thanks,” I say, past the lump in my throat, before offering him a grin. “The internet is gonna go crazy when I post this.”
The two of us make our way out of the dressing room together.
“Beckham, it’s nice to meet you. My name is Stephan,” the photographer says, extending his hand out for Beckham to shake. “I’ll be your photographer for today.”
“Nice to meet you. I’ve never—you know—done this before,” Beck says, tucking his hands into the back pockets of his jeans and rocking back on his heels.
“Nothing to worry about, I’ll make sure to give you directions. Let’s start over there.”
I’m not surprised Stephan doesn’t bother introducing himself to me. That tends to be how things work in Hollywood. The only people who matter in the room are the ones with the most social sway, the most followers on social media, or the ones who those in power want to prey upon.
If anyone in this room were to check all three boxes, it’d be Beck.
Stephan directs us to our first pose. Beck’s hands rest on my waist while I stare up at him, my black hair cascading down my back in a waterfall of expertly curled waves.
“Good. Beckham, soften your left shoulder? Yes, exactly.”
As the sound of Stephan’s camera clicks, I can’t help but feel the heavy weight of eyes on my back.
When Beck and I are directed to shift poses, my breath catches in my throat when I catch Eli’s heavy gaze on the two of us. His expression is unreadable, but he’s definitely not happy.
“Okay, Andromeda, put your chest to his back. Beckham, slide your hand in her front pocket. Just like that.”
Click, click, click.
“This is... definitely something,” Beck murmurs, his hands flexing against my hip and pulling me further into his body.
The comment has my face splitting in a grin.
“Oh yes! That’s gold right there, hold that pose!”
Click, click, click.
“This part is always the part I find overstimulating nowadays,” I whisper between shots.
“Really?”
“Yeah, there’s nothing like being told to hold an uncomfortable pose that’s working out muscles you never knew existed. I don’t mean to scare you. This’ll probably be a walk in the park for you because—well—you’re a guy.”
“Oh? And what does me being a guy have to do with it?”
“They’re not going to ask you to do any backbends on set,” I say, letting out a huff of laughter.
Beck’s brows raise, and he bites back a grin.
“Okay Andromeda, the waistband of the jeans is getting lost. Let’s clean things up a bit more,” Stephan calls.
Beck’s grin falters as his brows draw down in confusion.
I stiffen, glancing at Stephan over my shoulder. I tug the hem of the white-shirt up, baring my midriff.
“Like this?”
“Not quite, I think it’s the top in general. Let’s try it without.”
A sense of unease prickles at the back of my neck, but I still tug off the t-shirt, handing it to a waiting assistant, leaving me in just my bra.
“Are you sure?” Beck murmurs, reaching out and tugging me closer towards him so my front is pressed against his.
“It’s fine,” I whisper back.
Stephan takes a few more shots of us standing before we shift to the part of the set with a sage green velvet couch.
“Okay Andromeda, I want you straddling Beckham. Arms around his neck.”
Oh, I definitely feel eyes burning into the back of my head now. I don’t even need to look over my shoulder again to know that Elijah is probably shooting one of his death glares at me.
“Sorry, I should’ve warned you photoshoots can sometimes get pretty touchy-feely,” I murmur into Beck’s neck as the camera goes off.
“Who am I to complain? I’ve got a gorgeous omega in my lap right now,” Beck whispers in return.
I jerk my face back to meet his gaze, needing to see if he’s teasing me right now.
He actually looks serious.
My lower belly flutters.
He thinks I’m gorgeous?
“Okay, this isn’t quite working,” Stephan calls again. “The straps are catching the light. It’s pulling focus.”
This time, I don’t temper my reaction.
“What?” I shoot back.
“It’s fine, Andromeda. This is an intimate couple’s shoot, remember? Where’s the intimacy?”
The scoff that leaves me is definitely audible enough for him to hear, but he ignores it.
Beck’s eyes are wide and confused. He almost looks a little horrified.
This is certainly a hell of an introduction to a shoot, that’s for sure.
“We’re burning daylight, Andromeda. I need you to meet me halfway,” Stephan calls.
And of course, meeting him halfway means just giving him what he wants.
God, I don’t know if I can do this in front of Beck. Let alone with Beck’s not-quite-boyfriend in the room, glaring at me.
But right when I open my mouth to protest again, I catch Stuart’s gaze. He just raises a single brow expectantly, almost like he’s disappointed in me for causing a scene.
Even with Beck’s warm hands at my waist, I feel helpless.
“Fine,” I mutter before reaching back and unclipping my bra.
It goes flying in Stephan’s general direction, my one act of defiance before I settle in Beck’s lap, my arms crossed over my chest to try to maintain some of my modesty.
Normally for shoots where I’ve gone topless in the past, I’d be given some sort of nipple covers.
Not today.
“Okay, give me a bit of a back arch, Andromeda, one arm draped around Beck’s shoulder,” Stephan calls.
“Sorry,” I mumble, unable to meet Beck’s gaze. I fight the flush of embarrassment that’s probably making its way to my ears.
Beck looks shocked, maybe even a little panicked.
Click, click, click.
“Smile guys! Remember to give the vibes you can’t get enough of each other.”