Perhaps, she simply feared being alone?
Regardless, Ethan had his eye on the burly man in charge of the lighting. He was clearly not the usual person to handle the job, since Landon was having to talk the guy through everything. With him being new, Ethan was in the same boat, but with the way the other man kept looking around, often not paying attention to the instructions he was being given, it made Ethan wonder…could this man be a suspect?
Who was he kidding? At this point, everyone was a suspect.
“Ethan!” Turning, he noted Logan prancing across the clearing and groaned. It was too early for this. “Listen, we’re going to start some of the swimsuit shots today, so—”
“If you’re even thinking of asking me to shave, wax or use any other form of hair removal, the answer is no.” There was no way he would walk around, greased up, like those magazine models he’d seen in the past.
Hell, he still had some pride.
“Um, well, go see Allie in wardrobe and see what she has for you today.” Logan paused, and Ethan knew the man just couldn’t resist. “You really would look fantastic if you let them…”
A low growl sent the little twerp scurrying off with a yelp, and Ethan couldn’t help but smile, mostly because he could feel Lacy behind him.
“What did you do to Logan?” Her sweet voice was like a balm, immediately calming him and soothing his frustration with the photographer. How did she do that?
Ethan turned, fully intending to answer her, and would have if he hadn’t just swallowed his own tongue.
Lacy had apparently already been to the women’s wardrobe tent, because she stood before him in a tiny gold bikini, looking like a bronze goddess with her tan skin and chocolate brown hair hanging over one shoulder. Her full breasts were barely covered by the little triangles of fabric tied together with some sort of thin, floss-like string.
Ethan allowed his eyes to travel leisurely over her trim little belly to the equally small triangle tied at her hips, then down over her killer legs and further to her dainty little feet, one of which was currently tapping out an aggravated rhythm.
“Are you done ogling me yet?” she snapped, though her eyes betrayed her amusement.
“Do you honestly think any man would be able to resist? Hell, Lacy, do you even know how amazing you look right now?” Her blush told him she knew but wasn’t used to having it pointed out so bluntly. “Listen, I’m lucky to be standing at the moment because every male instinct I have is screaming for me to drop to my knees and worship at your feet, but my common sense—or survival instinct—is warning me against doing that.”
“Smart man.”
“In public anyway. In private, I can’t make any promises.” Ethan watched as desire flashed briefly in her eyes, and he smiled. “Take a walk with me.”
“Now? You need to get changed. Our shots are right after Angel and Jose.”
“They just headed out, so that gives us at least thirty minutes. Let’s go.”
Taking her hand in his, Ethan led a sputtering Lacy into the trees surrounding the shoot. Once they were out of sight, he quickly scanned their surroundings with his heightened senses before turning and pulling her sweet body up against his own. Her short breaths fanned over his lips as he moved closer before she finally leaned forward and closed the gap.
Just like every other time, the sparks between them ignited into an inferno. However, this time, with Lacy in a state of near nudity before him, Ethan couldn’t help himself. He had to touch her.
Aware of her exposed, tender skin, he leaned back against a nearby tree and pulled her to him, keeping their bodies flush as he struggled for control. The feel of her full breasts pressed against his chest fired his blood and had his wolf panting in his mind.
“Lacy, I’ve got to touch you,” he breathed against her lips, his knees nearly buckling when she gave him a small nod before pressing her mouth to his once more.
Keeping one arm around her waist, Ethan slowly ran his other hand up her side, his thumb grazing the underside of her breast. A small moan escaped her throat as she arched, seeking more.
She reacted to his touch in such a way that his wolf gave a low growl of approval, which only spurred Ethan on.
When she began kissing him with a little more force, Ethan cupped her breast in his palm, using his thumb and finger to deliver a gentle pinch to her nipple and it immediately hardened.
The sweet scent of her arousal hung in the air now, wreaking havoc on his libido. He wanted to touch her, to feel her against him and explore her body, but now, the urge to see her come for him was almost overwhelming. He wondered what she’d look like. Would she throw back her head in abandon? Was she one of those women who came with a long moan, or was she a little more vocal? He sincerely hoped it was the latter.