Chapter 10 #2
“Perfect!” Anton’s voice made us jump, our bodies parting like they’d never touched as the assistants moved back in to arrange us into more poses.
I looked up at August when instructed, touched him when I was told to, but when his eyes found my lips I held my breath. I needed a break if I was going to survive all of this close contact with the guy I’d had the hottest non-sex with ever.
Thankfully, Anton called for us to change outfits and I must have looked too relieved because August frowned as I walked back to the dressing room.
“If this is making you uncomfortable, we don’t have to do this.”
The words doused me in ice water, sending me rigid as I studiously avoided August’s eyes. “I’m not uncomfortable.”
“Could have fooled me.” The growl in his voice sent me over the edge and I whirled to face him, poking him in the chest with one finger.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I hissed and his brows rose in surprise before his eyes widened and a smile played around his mouth.
“Oh,” he said softly, biting his bottom lip. “I see.”
I threw my hands in the air, stalking away from him to grab the next outfit Kaci had laid out for me. “I’m only human, August, and I have eyes. You know I find you attractive. I’m just trying to be respectful—”
“Don’t be.” His eyes burned as he shrugged out of the heavy suede jacket and lifted his henley over his head. I gulped, watching the muscles ripple beneath his skin as he threw the top down onto the abandoned styling chair. “It’s hardly a chore to have a beautiful woman touching me.”
He made no move to cover himself and I could feel my heart beating in my throat, vibrating.
When I stayed still, he bit his lip against his smile and reached for the jersey he’d been given to wear.
It was green and featured the number eleven.
I’d never found football jerseys attractive until I saw August standing there, looking handsomely disheveled in his.
August’s stylist called to us from behind the curtain and I quickly pulled off the jeans and tank top I’d been wearing, replacing it with a short sequined pink dress and letting the stylist know he could come in.
Kaci followed, turning my natural make-up look into something a little more stage appropriate, with bold lips and a lot of glitter.
It should have felt infantilizing, being dressed in baby pink and sparkles like a kid going to a princess party, but the hungry look on August’s face made me feel anything but. Instead, I felt the way I’d always wished I could on-stage — powerful, sexy, desired.
Anton wanted to play on the contrast of our careers, pitting us against each other with me in my sequins and August in his jersey.
“Let’s get some individual shots now,” Anton called and waved over one of his assistants who scurried away and returned with a football and a guitar.
But, to my surprise, the football was handed to me.
“Sienna, I want you to pose with the ball now please. Good. Drop your arms and hold the ball low — that’s perfect. ”
I followed his instructions, feeling a little ridiculous to be parading around with the ball as if I knew what to do with it. But then it was August’s turn, and I got to sit back and watch as they handed him a guitar.
If I’d thought August was hot before, it was nothing compared to seeing him sitting on a stool with a guitar in his hands. He looked soulful, like a crooner, with his head angled towards the floor and the guitar resting against his legs as Anton called out instructions.
Then August picked it up, cradling the instrument like it was a newborn as he slung an arm over the top and positioned his fingers in a perfect D Major chord on the strings. He strummed experimentally before slipping to an E Major and then a G.
Louise had finally wandered over and was at my side, snickering as she tapped under my chin and I shut my mouth.
There was something about playing an instrument that could make okay-looking guys become smoke shows.
Maybe it was the confidence. But when you took someone like August, who was already far too attractive for his own good, and put a guitar in his hands? I was a puddle on the floor.
He looked up and caught me staring, raising his eyebrows tauntingly as he smirked.
“You didn’t know he could play?” Anton asked and I shook my head, lost for words and feeling dizzy when August opened his mouth and began to sing.
“Love her like a—”
Louise choked next to me, now looking just as shocked. “Is he singing Miranda Lambert?”
My hand fell on her arm as I gripped it. “Yeah,” I breathed, “I think he is.”
“Go and join him!”
I was already shaking my head before Louise finished speaking, but Anton also seemed to love the idea. So I was gently shoved forward and another stool was brought out next to August while his rough voice smoothed the sweet lyrics of No Man’s Land.
It was one of my favorite songs, and I fell into the harmony easily as August reached the chorus again, our voices soaring together, arcing and swooping into a blend that made the hairs on my arms rise.
He finished the song, strumming idly while I watched him, admiring the way his long fingers moved against the strings.
“I didn’t know you could play,” I murmured when he was done, and his reply was equally hushed, like speaking any louder would disrupt the peace we’d cultivated in the room.
“I can’t really, I just know the basics. I’m sure I’m not as good as you.”
I chuckled but didn’t argue the fact. “That song is one of my favorites.”
There was a gleam in his eye I couldn’t place as he said, “Is it?” The nonchalance a little too innocent.
My eyes narrowed but I chose to let it go as Anton called a wrap.
We thanked him and Sasha, shaking their hands and receiving assurances that we could look through the photos for approval before any went to print.
The whole thing had been a whirlwind, simultaneously feeling like no time had passed and like we’d been caught in the moment for eons.
We moved back into the dressing rooms and I opted to leave my make-up on, knowing I could remove it a lot easier with the use of a sink and running water. I did put my regular clothes back on, though, relieved to get out of the uncomfortable dress and heels.
“So what you said earlier,” I began and August looked up, curious. “You said you’d done shoots before.”
“Shirtless shoots,” he corrected and then shrugged. “Yeah.”
“What was it for?”
He chuckled and my face flamed. “Nude team calendar for charity.”
I worked hard to swallow. “Right. Cool.”
“Plus the usual, Men’s Health, and all of that.”
I was still stuck on nude calendar but I nodded like I was taking in what he was saying.
“You can probably find it online,” he said matter-of-fact, and then he grinned when I inhaled sharply. “Something to help you sleep,” he teased and I forced a laugh, even as I knew exactly what I was going to be looking up when I got home.