sarammlover: Lol, we’ll be seeing more of that for sure. Michael will be having a talk with Courtney. What he tells her and what happens after that, well…
Earth2Mama: True, subtle is not exactly coming through right now. They should talk and they might… maybe… No, Courtney doesn’t deserve this at all.
Eva: Absolutely not! Who doesn’t love a jealous Michael?
keepsmiling7: Well, they made progress after a fashion.
Look forward to later.
We’ll check in with Aaron and the Evans’ soon.
Natalie36: Thanks for reading!
begonia9508: Lol, yes, they do.
Obtuse is a good word here! Things are sure to change. His girlfriend was most certainly far from his thoughts at the moment.
Chances are good Kyle will be getting the occasional dose of junk food while staying with the girls, but he’ll probably be getting his share of good food.
The shoot begins today!
Roswelllostcause: Michael still has to figure some things out where Maria’s concerned. Certainly this event will cause him to question things, but until he understands his own feelings he won’t be able to admit them. Kyle’s stay with the girls should be interesting to say the least.
Alien_Friend: Jealousy is gonna become something Michael’s familiar with before this’s over. He does have some things to figure out and if he ever gets some time to himself maybe he’ll just have to sit down and do some honest soul searching.
There are more dreamer moments to come.
We may just hear what Max thinks about that situation.
kismet: Lol, yeah, he’s definitely noticing Maria now! That could happen… but, wow, can you imagine the argument that would set off?
You and Max have that in common, huh? It’d be funny if Aaron decided to do what your son does and started repeating some of Max’ comments.
We’ll be seeing Mr. Jealousy come out to play before long.
Part 131
Blaze
Max, Liz and Tess stood back, watching the couple and sharing dessert. “I’m afraid my air conditioner isn’t working against the heat those two are generating,” he mumbled, amused.
That earned him a slap from both sides even though the girls agreed with him. “I don’t know why they don’t just go for it,” Tess said as she peeled a flaky pastry apart.
“No one knows.”
“They know,” Liz said quietly. “And until they’re ready to risk everything they can’t go for it.”
Another knock on the front door made them turn around and stare at Graham and five or six others. “Guess it’s show time, huh?”
“Darling, you’re magnificent!” Graham enthused as he swept into the room, his presence immediately filling it. He walked around Maria, humming in appreciation under his breath.
“The boys did good work,” she agreed with a smile while Michael was still working on the final touch.
“Indeed they did. But, without such a beautiful specimen to work with, I dare say their work would’ve surely been in vain.” He winked at her and turned to look at Max. “I would still adore the opportunity to make you the object of one of my sessions.”
“Huh-uh, Michael’s the one for your camera today, not me.” Never!
“Oh, Max, just think how happy you’d make him,” Liz said and giggled when she was introduced to the photographer.
“Don’t encourage him, please.”
“Alas,” Graham sighed regretfully, “my pleas fall on deaf ears.” He placed a hand over his heart. “I would be forever grateful if you could change his mind.”
She laughed at his dramatics. “I’m afraid I’m the reason he won’t change his mind.”
“That and there’s the whole straight thing I’ve got goin’ on,” Max grumbled.
“It’s true.” Liz smiled at the other man as she slipped her arm around her boyfriend’s waist. “He’s incurably straight.”
Graham sighed. “The good ones always are.”
Tess giggled. “You know, we girls tend to say that about gay men as well.”
He turned to look at the blonde with the bouncy curls. “I suppose there are times when it’s true.” He glanced at Max. “Unfortunately the ones we want always seem to be taken, and in this case, unobtainable. But it’s impossible to dislike you all the same, Liz. You do have excellent taste in men. I’ll just get set up and then we’ll get to work.” He smiled and whirled around to turn his attention back to Maria. “You already own this ad, you do know that don’t you, gorgeous?”
“You see, that’s why I love him so much,” she told Michael with a grin and nodded at Graham.
He rolled his eyes. “Like you need anyone to tell you you’re hot.”
“Never hurts to hear it.”
Graham watched the two of them as he directed the setup of his equipment. The sexual tension was off the charts and the photo shoot would benefit greatly from it. He rubbed his hands together in anticipation, debating the best way to direct them during the shoot. They were natural with each other and it would show through in the photos. He wanted to push the envelope a bit, really spice up the atmosphere, and they would be perfect.
“The makeup’s ready.” One of his assistants gestured to a small area where he had set up a mirror, some really bright lights, and a chair.
“No sitting,” Max shook his head, “she needs to stand for at least another half hour for it to dry out.”
“Your wish is our command,” the photographer said and snapped his fingers. “William can work in any position; we’ll just make a few adjustments.”
“I sure as hell hope they’re not planning to put any makeup on me,” Michael muttered.
“Just a bit,” Graham said and patted his shoulder. “Don’t you worry, with your rugged good looks, it’s a formality. We want your raw sexuality to come through the photos, to just draw in everyone who gazes upon this ad.” He sighed and smiled in satisfaction as he nodded. “And they will, trust me.”
Michael swallowed. He could just imagine how much his girlfriend would love that. But more importantly: How was he going to survive the shoot itself?
Max was listening to the conversation bouncing around the room and he shook his head. “At this rate no one’s gonna even notice the damn tat,” he grumbled. “That was kinda the point of the ad.”
Graham squeezed his shoulder. “Those who like tats will look at it; the others will just think your shop’s the hottest place in the city. And it seems Mr. Guerin has piercings too, we’ll work that in.”
“That’s true,” Tess said and reached over to ruffle his hair just because she knew it drove him crazy. “And we all know sex sells.”
“Stop it,” Max muttered and slapped her hand away.
“Alright,” Michael placed the airbrush set on the counter, relieved that the work was done. He looked at the woman’s body in front of him. “I think we’re done,” he muttered.
Were they, Maria wondered.
Graham shouldered him out of the way and took her hands in his, lifting them up as he eyed his subject. The outfit they had chosen was perfect, enhancing her form, and between it and the artwork, hinted at the treasures hidden beneath. It would certainly make people wonder, he mused.
“You like?” Tess asked as she moved to stand next to him with a smirk on her face.
“Perfection,” the photographer smirked.
“So what’re you gonna do? Just take pictures of them?”
“Oh, no,” he scoffed, “the best pictures are those that you feel, that you see in your minds’ eye. When you have subjects such as these, the pictures will naturally reveal themselves. And speaking of natural,” he motioned to Michael, “you’ll need to remove your shirt.”
He sighed and decided to not comment on that. With his right hand he grabbed the material of his shirt at the back of his neck and pulled it over his head with one smooth move.
“My, you are large, aren’t you?” Graham moved around him, nodding in approval as his photographer’s eye scanned over his subject. “Yes, you’re perfect. No hair on the back or shoulders...” he made a face, “an incredible turn-off.”
Michael shifted under the guy’s scrutiny and kept his gaze straight forward.
“Yes, yes, a perfect line of hair below the navel.” He reached out and grabbed the sides of Michael’s jeans and tugged on them.
“Hey! What’re you doin’?”
The photographer frowned at him for a moment before realizing that Michael wasn’t one of his models and therefore not used to his behavior. “Pardon me, please,” he apologized. “We’ll want them to drop a bit at the waist.”
Fuck, he knew why he’d never want to be a model. “I can do that on my own,” he muttered and opened his belt to close it again a little less tightly.
Maria followed his move with her eyes and swallowed now that Graham was so pointing out all of his advantages.
“Very well.” He turned and motioned for one of his assistants. “Carrie, get with Max and let’s turn that air back.”
“We have the spritzers, boss.”
“No, no, I want natural! Spritzing water on some models is believable, but I want the real thing here. Just the right amount of perspiration is incredibly sexy.” He frowned as a thought occurred to him and he turned to Max. “The paint won’t run if she perspires, will it?”
“No, once it’s dry we’re good.”
“Wonderful!” He clapped his hands and motioned for his assistant to move. “Go, by the time they begin to perspire the paint will be dry enough to handle it.” He turned to look at Michael. “Would you be averse to doing some shots in just your boxers?”
He didn’t want to at all, but how much of a pussy would they think he was if he refused while Maria was almost naked? “I’m good,” he said and was thankful he had decided to wear tight black ones today. Now, just don’t get it up again, he told himself.
Graham nodded. “Perfect! I couldn’t have asked for better models for this project!”
Tess moved around Maria to eye the entire paint job. “Sexy as hell. You satisfied with your look?”
She looked down at herself but before she could say anything Max took her hand and pulled her around the counter, turning her so that she was facing a full-length mirror. Her breath caught in her throat and she could only stare.
“The word you’re lookin’ for is yes,” he said with a grin.
She grinned. “Not bad, boys.”
“You had these two workin’ on you all day?” one of Graham’s assistants asked. She tossed her red hair over her shoulder and winked at Maria. “You’re one lucky girl.”
“I know I am,” she agreed.
The woman winked and went back to the lighting equipment she was setting up. Some girls just had all the luck, she thought.
“You okay?” Tess asked her when everyone else was busy with other stuff.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” Maria dared to look at her. “Why? Don’t I look fine?”
“I don’t know... a little off maybe?”
She messed with her hair for a minute. “Why would I be off?” Did her voice sound high-pitched or did it only sound that way to her own ears?
Tess’ eyes narrowed. “I think the two of us need to take a bathroom break.”
“I had one a while ago.” Tess would know before they’d been in there for two minutes!
“Um-hmm, just more proof you’re hiding something.” Her gaze shifted to Michael and then back to her. “Okay, later then.”
“Why do you just assume I’m hiding something?” Maria hissed.
“Because you’re so easy to read.”
“Yeah, and what do you think you’re reading, smarty pants?”
“Not sure, but I’ll figure it out.”
The annoying thing was she was right. Maria just rolled her eyes and turned back to the mirror. “Well, you just keep trying to figure out your imaginary problem.”
Tess chuckled. “You’re such a bad liar, Maria. But we have all night. I’ll figure it out eventually.”
She waved her friend away and tried to reassure herself that there was no way Tess could figure it out.
*****
Alex went over the stack of mail he had gotten out of his box earlier and at least half of it was just advertisement crap, which landed right in the trash can next to him. He was almost finished sorting the important stuff from the garbage when a thin white envelope caught his attention. It didn’t have anything on it but four large letters written on the front: ALEX.
Immediately, his heartbeat started to pick up its pace. Was Richard contacting him directly now? Would it be a warning to stay away from Isabel? He shook his head and glanced at the door briefly before his fingers tore the glued edge open.
“What the…” he muttered when he held a simple list of phone numbers in his hand and only then did he realize what it was and he was able to breathe in relief. The phone list, of course! The hacker from college had told him he would deliver Kennedy’s personal cell list by the end of the week.
His gaze swept over it again and his attention was caught by two numbers highlighted by different colors. As he scanned the list he noticed that they appeared on several different days and times. At the bottom of the paper there was a broad stroke of the colors as well. Next to the red one was the name: Arnold Westbury, and behind it in brackets (he was in the pics). And next to the yellow stroke was a name that made Alex’ blood run cold: Richard Matthews.
*****
Graham stood back, his arms crossed over his chest and his expression thoughtful as he stared at his models. They were both photogenic and there was no denying the heat they radiated, but something about the shot just wasn’t working for him. He wanted raw sexuality – and he had no shortage of it to work with, but so far the shots weren’t translating that the way he wanted them to.
He sighed and shook his head. He needed a roaring fire and he was barely getting the flame from the tip of a match. It was there, it just needed to be stoked, and to do that he was going to need to loosen them up. Michael was so tense he looked ready to snap and that wasn’t helping. He paused to glance over the cameras lined up on the counter behind him, finally deciding on the one loaded with actual film. Digital was nice, but sometimes it paid to do it old school.
Max finally approached him after nearly 15 minutes of silence. “Is uh, is there a problem?” he asked as he scratched the back of his head.
“I need the room.”
“Excuse me?”
“The room,” Graham said and motioned to the area around him, “I need it cleared of extra bodies.” He turned to look at Max, thinking once again what a shame it was he was so straight. “Relaxed subjects translate better on film. You want this advertisement to come off sexy and for me to achieve that result I need them to loosen up.”
He smirked. “It’s Guerin, right? He’s got a little stage fright goin’ on? Little performance anxiety?”
“Sweetheart, not everyone is comfortable in front of the camera.” His gaze dropped to the camera as he made a couple of adjustments. “The camera sees things that people don’t want to be seen.” His thumb stroked over the piece of equipment slowly as he spoke. “The right picture can reveal a truth that people may not be ready to face.” He looked up and smiled. “Or it could simply be that he doesn’t enjoy acting like a trained monkey.”
“So, clear the room so you can turn up the heat over there?”
Graham’s lips turned up in a mischievous smile. “Sexy and smart.” He shook his head. “It’s a shame you don’t want to be photographed.”
Max chuckled quietly. “Not really, Graham, because then the truth in those photos might break your heart.”
The other man chuckled at the words. “Is the air conditioning still on?”
“Just at a bare minimum.”
“Switch it off.”
“Seriously?” Max pulled his already sweaty tee shirt from his upper body.
Graham just smiled as he watched his models. Heat and sweat had a tendency of making things uncomfortable and it put people on edge. Control the situation just right and the results could be explosive. “I’m serious.”
“Alright. But don’t complain about the stinky air later,” he said and turned to walk off to the back.
“I’ve worked in much worse conditions, sweetheart. Now go,” he waved him off, “turn that air off and then make yourselves scarce.” He clapped his hands to call everyone’s attention to him. “William, Shaun, Patrice... I don’t need you right now, go with them.”
The workers glanced at each other in confusion but did as they were told, leaving the main couple alone in the center of the room.
“This’s just great,” Michael muttered. “What’s this nut-job got in mind now?”
“Not sure,” Maria muttered. “And it’s freaking hot.”
“Yeah, tell me about it.” It was kinda hard to ignore the fact that her skin was glistening under the lights that were only increasing the heat in the room that felt smaller with each passing minute. And the sweat creeping down his chest and back was making him irritable.
“This won’t wipe off from sweat, right?” She glanced down at her body.
“It hasn’t yet, has it?”
“Don’t be grumpy,” Graham chastised cheerfully. He turned to find Ciera and snapped his fingers when he spotted her. “I think he needs something.” He took a step back, rubbing his chin thoughtfully as he eyed the couple critically. “He needs...” He frowned suddenly. “You’re a firefighter?”
“EMT,” he grumbled.
“Hmm...”
“Got it, boss,” Ciera said and located the piece she was looking for in the large case of accessories she carried everywhere.
“Oh, yes, that’s perfect,” he said as he accepted the rugged necklace with a sterling silver pendant hanging from the chain. “St. Michael, how appropriate. He’s the patron saint of police officers and EMTs.” He handed it to Maria and motioned to the grouchy man behind her. “If you’ll do the honors please.”
She frowned at the necklace. “Huh?”
“Put it on him please.”
“Okay,” she frowned again but then turned to Michael and stood on her tiptoes to lift it over his head
Graham snapped his fingers and without a moment of hesitation Bree jumped up and grabbed his camera, placing it in his hand and quickly moving out of his way.
“That’s it,” he murmured when he saw the slight relaxing of Michael’s taut features as he reached out to steady her.
Maria’s gaze wandered to the pendant when it rested on his bare chest and had a closer look at it.
The photographer shifted to a new angle, crouching down to capture their expressions. He needed to get them used to the camera, more Michael than Maria since she had done this before.
Fucking great, Michael thought when his gaze swept over her body while she was standing in front of him. The reaction he suddenly got from his body was annoying because she had gone from being best friend material to dirty fantasy material in an hour or so.
“Lean into him,” Graham instructed. “Right hand on his chest... that’s it...”
Maria did as he said although her heart was beating up into her throat and she was pretty sure Michael could tell. His chest felt strong under her touch and it didn’t matter how often she had touched it before, it felt like the first time.
“Perfect.” He slowly moved around, snapping pictures constantly. “Michael, let’s see those big hands please. Start at her waist.”
Why not bring him to full hardness, he thought in frustration but did as he was asked. His lips parted for a deeper breath when his palms came in contact with her sweaty skin.
“There we go.” His left hand shot out, accepting the camera Bree had brought over to replace the one he was using just as he neared the end of the roll of film. He nodded his thanks and continued, the exchange occurring flawlessly. “Slide them down... slowly... slowly...”
“Who had me committed to doin’ porn?” he muttered quietly and lowered his hands, clenching them when they reached the curves along her ass.
“Oh, honey, we’re not doing anything so tasteless,” Graham said, clicking his tongue in disapproval.
That actually brought a smirk out and he was glad to see her features relaxing as well.
Maria knew they needed to improve a bit so the photos wouldn’t look so forced in the end. She wrapped her hand around the pendant and pulled on it slightly while she bit her bottom lip.
“Nudity can be very sensual if shot correctly,” he went on, smiling when he noticed the easing in Maria. She knew how to work a shot, knew how to help others relax, and it was one of the reasons he enjoyed working with her. She made it easy even when it wasn’t.
This was awkward, she thought as she looked into Michael’s eyes and didn’t know what exactly she saw there. “No worries. I won’t hold it against you if you grab a little tighter,” she whispered.
“This’s makin’ a lotta things tight,” he muttered.
Graham chuckled under his breath. “It’s a natural reaction, just go with the flow. Now quit growling like a wounded bear and focus all of your senses on this gorgeous creature in your arms.”
Maria glanced down at him briefly, noticing the slight bulge that was sure to be the reason for his stiffness. Her gaze went back to his face and she winked with a smirk.
“Not funny,” he hissed.
The photographer moved in, careful not to get closer than Michael was comfortable with. “Just a fact of life. How could you possibly be so close to a beautiful woman and not react?”
“I’d be offended,” Maria whispered into his ear.
So would Court, he thought but kept it to himself.
“Maria, lean into him, chest to chest as you gaze up at him... eye contact is important.”
“Alright,” she told herself and prepared for the heat she was going to feel as soon as their skin touched.
Michael’s jaw clenched and his eyes darkened even further when her breasts made contact with his chest.
Graham switched angles again, making sure to get Michael’s arms in the shot, the corded muscles standing out prominently.
Do something, idiot, Michael thought. He felt stupid not moving at all so after an unending battle he reached up to tangle one hand in her hair.
“Beautiful,” the photographer murmured quietly. Now they were on the right track. If nothing interrupted or disturbed them they would unknowingly direct the rest of the shoot instinctively.
“Look at them,” Tess said, amused from the end of the room.
“Yeah. The way the world should be,” Max agreed.
“Graham keeps them going like this and they could be,” Liz mused.
The photographer took shots from different sides, satisfied with a few of them. If only he could get them to kiss. “Okay, I want that look on your faces that you get when you’re just about to kiss.” He grinned to himself.
“I’ve never looked at myself when I’m about to kiss a girl,” Michael said, stalling because at the moment he could easily picture himself doing more than just kissing her.
“Just imagining it will help,” Graham encourage.
He wasn’t convinced his imagination was going to do them any good because it was taking off in directions it’d never been allowed to go. At least as far as Maria was concerned. His gaze traveled over her face, her skin flushed and damp from the heat, and when his eyes lowered to her lips he found himself wondering what would happen if he did more than just think about it. How would she taste? Would her lips be as soft as they looked?
“That’s exactly what I wanted,” Graham muttered.
Maria looked up at Michael, her eyes focused on his lips. Gosh, she really didn’t need to pretend that she wanted him to kiss her with those fucking perfect lips!
“You know it’s gotta be hard for the guy to stand there, that close, and just THINK about kissing her,” Max mumbled.
Liz chuckled. “No doubt.”
He glanced down at her where she stood next to him. “We’d never make it.”
“Graham wouldn’t be able to publish any pictures of us, that’s for sure.”
“Michael for sure looks like he’s about to go for it any second,” Tess said and sipped on a Coke. Something definitely looked different and she wondered if it was just the current situation or if her earlier instincts had been right and Maria was hiding something from her.
