Inked in the Steel City Series(15)

But they weren’t. So she let Karen boss her around, obeying when she urged her to twist and turn against Eric, posing at various angles that showed off each of their tattoos, all of the poses keeping them entangled in new – and for Mina – exciting ways. It was clear that Karen’s vision for the photos was a sexy one – one that made Mina and Eric look like a couple. If Mina had known from the beginning that Karen had intended to direct Eric to move his hands all over her body, she probably never would have mustered up the courage to get up out of the computer desk chair.



“Eric, put your hand under her chin. And Mina, look up at him. Try for a soft expression.”



Eric gazed down at Mina with a questioning look in his eyes. Clearly, he understood much better than Karen did that the instructions were embarrassing her. Mina nodded her consent and melted inside, going way beyond soft as Eric pressed his fingers lightly beneath her chin. “I have no idea what a ‘soft expression’ is,” Mina said, glancing at Karen for a split second before returning her attention to Eric.



“You’re doing it perfectly.” Karen snapped away, as if afraid that the moment would pass and she’d be left without photographic evidence.



Mina was more grateful than ever for the heavy makeup. Continuing to meet Eric’s gaze for the sake of the pose was a blessing and a curse at the same time. On one hand it felt surprisingly natural, and on the other hand, that fact was worrying in and of itself. It shouldn’t have felt natural to stand there pressed against Eric with only a thin layer of silk between them. She could feel his heart beating and he could probably feel hers too. It should have been intensely awkward, and while it was somewhat uncomfortable, Mina suspected that it wouldn’t have felt nearly as much so if Karen hadn’t been there. If they weren’t being photographed, if it were just the two of them…



“Crazy idea…” Karen said, and Mina realized that she’d stopped taking pictures. “But do you two think you could look like you’re about to kiss?” As if she sensed Mina’s sudden spike of alarm, she hurried to elaborate. “I mean, your lips don’t have to touch or anything. If you could just part them a little and lean a bit closer… It would be the best photo of the session. I just know it.” Her tone was half-pleading by the time she finished.



Eric didn’t give Mina a chance to respond. Instead, he leaned closer, his breath heating her lips as he exhaled slowly. She could smell the pleasant sharpness of mint on his breath, as if he’d foreseen Karen’s shameless demands and prepared. Her lips tingled, her mouth moistening in automatic response to his closeness. Karen made a victorious sound, and then Mina forgot all about her as Eric kissed her.



All the bones in her body seemed to melt as the embrace Karen had instructed Eric to wrap Mina in became firm and real, nothing like the imitation of passion that had preceded it. He tasted as fresh and sweet as he smelled, and Mina lost her breath in a rush as he pulled her tighter against him, slipping just a hint of his tongue past her lips. She yielded to him, her heart hammering against his chest. He lifted his hand from her shoulder, tracing the curve of her neck with his fingertips and burying it in her hair.



“Oh. My. God.” Click. Click. Click.



Mina became aware of the world again and regretted it as Eric pulled slowly away, gently breaking the seal of their kiss.



“You guys!” Click. “That was incredible!”



One last rush of Eric’s breath against her lips and the magic was over, the bond of intimacy between them dispelled by Karen’s presence. “Take a look at this, Mina!”



Karen extended her camera, flashing the screen in Mina’s direction – which was also Eric’s, seeing as how they were still entwined. It was a good thing too, because Mina had all but forgotten her silk and it had slipped, the ends hanging loosely at her sides. It was sandwiched between her and Eric’s bodies, their closeness the only thing holding it up. She silently implored some higher power to not let him move as she scrambled for a hold on the material, and as she shifted almost imperceptibly, she realized that there was a reason why he was holding so still – he was hard.



Karen was oblivious, and Mina could only hope that she’d stay that way. Even after she managed to get ahold of the rebellious silk, she didn’t try to escape his grasp. The fact that she’d just had her first kiss in ages in front of her best friend and on camera was embarrassing enough. She could at least spare Eric – and herself – the awkwardness of Karen realizing that the kiss hadn’t been play-acted solely for the benefit of her photographic vision.