Page 3 of Breaking the Habit

“Shorts,” Travis said as he started roaming the studio, checking out the art on the walls. Cobra and Lex flopped into arm chairs near the front windows, where occasional pedestrians walked by.

“We can still do progressive if you like,” Levi said with a wink while his zipper hissed open. “And see if it progresses to something more.”

Riley flattened her lips, focusing on her camera’s settings. Anything but this guy, who grew cockier and more arrogant by the second. He was a client, though—she couldn’t give him a piece of her mind like she wanted.

So she’d say nothing.

“That was a joke,” Levi clarified, shoving his track pants down.

Riley glanced at him—big mistake. Half-naked, the man was even more irresistible. His muscles bulged with restrained force, broad shoulders marked by a strong collarbone.

And Lord in heaven above,his skin.A constellation of light brown freckles cascaded across the tops of his shoulders, sprinkling across the expanse of his back. Riley shifted, sucking in a quiet breath. Levi looked up at her as he tossed the pants aside, a heartbreaker grin crossing his face.

“You like the skin polka dots?”

She was obsessed with them. But he couldn’t know that. “They’ll look good on film, that’s for sure.”

“So you do talk.”

His observation made her clench her teeth. Maybe she was being too standoffish. Maybe she’d been hurt enough times by men that now she couldn’t even treat a total stranger with respect. Maybe she needed to loosen the hell up.

“Just focusing on my work.” She offered a small smile, simultaneously annoyed and turned on by this cocky, funny guy.Ha ha, skin polka dots. So funny I forgot to laugh.She needed the BITTER AF shirtimmediately.“I’m going to change out the backdrop real quick. I think we should get in some earthier tones for you.”

“It’s because of my Greek heritage, right?” He swiped a hand through his tresses again, which caused a whole litany of muscles to ripple and shudder across his abs and down his sides. Her nostrils flared as she forced herself not to screw up the backdrop. “My olive skin tone probably looks great on camera.”

“Well, it is olive, so there’s that,” she said, not wanting to give him a fraction of a compliment. He knew how hot he was—he certainly didn’t needhervalidation.

He rested his hands on his hips, then ran his fingers through his locks again. She shot him a look. “You better stop touching your hair, or else your olive skin tone won’t be the only thing on camera.”

“What do you mean?”

She jerked her chin toward him. “All that dandruff you’re shaking loose.”

Cobra snorted from across the studio, and Lex said “Ooooh, burn.”

“I don’t havedandruff,” Levi said, stepping closer. “I have charm and amazing traps. Or haven’t you noticed?” He turned a bit and flexed, that shit-eating grin sparking more lust—and more annoyance.

It was hardnotto notice. But she’d never tell him that.

Besides, the fire her comment stoked inside him played very well with the camera. She snapped a few shots of his aggressive puppy stance, then lowered the camera.

“These are coming out pretty good.” She sent him her bestI’m-a-cool-girlsmile. The type that said she didn’t give a damn about his body or his flirting.

“Obviously.” Levi smirked, pointing at his abs.

She sighed, looking up at the ceiling. Sure, he had a point. But why did he have to be so blatant about it?

“I was kidding,” Levi said again. “I meant obviously because you’re taking the pictures. You’re a professional.”

“Yeah. I’m sure.” Riley clucked her tongue, bringing the camera back up to her face. God forbid she ever need to see this man outside of a professional context. They’d probably end up fist fighting, or worse—fucking. She didn’t need either of those in her life.

“He’s not as big of a dick as he sounds.” Travis piped up from the other side of the studio, where he inspected a three-panel set of photographs from a shoot she’d done in India.

“Thanks for the ringing endorsement.” Levi grimaced with a thumbs-up.

“I have no opinion,” Riley said, lining up another shot. The camera clicked a few times as she captured Levi’s gaze wandering across the studio. Every damn thing the man did played well with the lens. Her heart needed to ignore it as much as her career needed to capitalize on it. “I’m just a photographer.”

“I need a photographer in my life,” Levi said, propping his hands on his hips. Riley bit her tongue against a snarky response. “I need someone to do a nude shoot for me.”

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