Page 13 of Advantage Love

Luke.

My body heats just thinking about him, about this past month of dirty words and professional touches that feel anything but professional. Living together has become an exquisite form of torture as I hear him move around his room at night, passing him in the hallway fresh from the shower, pretending I don't notice how his eyes follow me.

"Focus," I tell myself. "It's just another photoshoot."

Then I walk into the studio and see Luke waiting and I know this is anything but normal. He's wearing snug jeans and a tight white Henley, the fabric emphasizing every muscle. His eyes roam over me and I smile as I see them darken as they take in my outfit.

"You're late," he tells me as he moves to my side.

"But it’s worth it, isn’t it?" I strike a pose, enjoying how his gaze lingers.

Before he can respond, the photographer swoops in. She is a stylish woman in her forties who introduces herself as Marina.

"The chemistry between you two is incredible," she gushes, positioning us on the set. "We want to capture that spark, the tension, the passion, the story of you."

"We know the story," Luke says dryly. His hand finds my waist, turning me to face him. "Trust me."

The first few shots are standard tennis poses, side by side, holding tennis balls. Yawn. This is pretty boring. Then it ramps up as Marina wants more intimate shots.

"Luke, stand behind her," she directs. "Like you're teaching her form."

His body aligns with mine, one hand on my hip, the other sliding down my arm to adjust my grip on the racquet. His breath fans against my neck, and memories of Miami flood back and how those hands had felt elsewhere, how his mouth felt there too.

"Perfect!" Marina calls. "Now look at each other like you're about to kiss."

I turn in his arms, racquet forgotten. His eyes are stormy as they meet mine, full of barely contained heat.

"Selling it for the cameras?" I ask.

His thumb traces my bottom lip. "Does this feel fake to you?"

The camera clicks rapidly as we stare at each other. Luke's free hand splays across my lower back, pulling me closer.

"Beautiful!" Marina circles us. "Now, Avery, put your hands on his chest. Luke, tangle your fingers in her hair."

We follow her instructions, but it stops feeling like a performance. My hands slide up his chest, feeling his heart race beneath my palms. His fingers thread through my hair, tugging gently.

"Remember our deal," I breathe, even as I arch into him.

"One more month." His voice is strained. "No sex until it’s done, but we never said we couldn't play."

Heat pools in my belly. "Play?"

Instead of answering, he dips me backward, one strong arm supporting my weight. The move is pure dance floor romance, but there's nothing romantic about the way his body presses against mine., as I feel his arousal hard against my hip.

"Trust me," he murmurs, and then his mouth is on my neck, just below my ear. The camera keeps clicking as he trails kisses down my throat, each one sending electricity through my body.

"Luke." It comes out somewhere between warning and plea.

He pulls back enough to meet my eyes, and the naked want there steals my breath. "I’ll stop for now, but when we are alone, I’m doing this again. Naked."

Yes!!!!

"Incredible!" Marina's voice breaks the spell. "That's exactly what we needed.”

Luke straightens us slowly, but keeps me close. "Did you hear me Avery." He asks as he kisses the shell of my ear, his hand playing with the hem of my dress. “You. Spread out naked for me.”

My legs feel shaky. I'm a mess of frustrated energy.

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