Page 160 of Between the Blue
“That’s all you want?”
My brows raise at his choice of words, and I stare at him for a moment before taking a step back. I look him over, and I think he looks great.
Of course he does.
But there’s something I’m dying to see.
And since he seems to be giving me free reign for the first time in the course of our professional relationship, I decide to go for it.
I roll the lipstick up once more, raising it to my lips and gliding it on. I pressed my lips together, not breaking Ben’s eye contact as I do so. Something feels so intimate about it, but I force myself not to think about it. Or at least I try.
I step closer to him once more, taking one look over my shoulder to make sure no one is looking, and then I place my hands on Ben’s shoulders.
I rise up on my tiptoes, then place two kisses on the right side of his face– one on his cheekbone and the other just to the side of his mouth.
I hesitate for only a second, just long enough to take a breath, and then I pull away.
That’s when I realize Ben rested his hand on my lower back at some point.
I don't let it slow me down as I move backwards, going straight for the tripod, not looking at Ben again until it’s through the lens of my camera.
I start taking pictures right away, and he seems to catch on, adjusting his tie and posing in the subtle way he only ever does. I don’t wait for a smile, because I know it’s not coming.
I pull back from the camera, my gaze dropping immediately to the screen as I click through the pictures.
Ben silently moves away from the backdrop, coming to stand behind me.
I can feel him looking over my shoulder, but I keep my focus on the pictures.
“Good?” he asks.
I nod, stepping to the side so he can get a better view. He leans down, examining the photo.
“All you wanted?” I ask him.
I watch his head turn in my peripheral vision, and I feel his eyes on my face. I force myself to wait a few seconds before I give in to the urge to meet his gaze. But, the moment I do, the sound of the door echoes through the hallway and cameras begin going off once more.
Ben and I both turn to see Sutty and Buck approaching.
“Valentine’s Day photo op?” Luke asks, a layer of added excitement to his voice that I know is for my benefit.
“Yep,” I nod, motioning to the props and accessories on the table. “Take your pick.”
Luke goes straight over to look at the options, but Rhett stays still for a moment, his gaze flicking between Ben and me. He presses his lips together, his brows raising.
“What?” I question him.
His eyes fall down to my mouth and then back to Ben’s lipstick covered face. “You giving those out to everybody, or…?”
I feel my face instantly flush.
“No– She didn’t– ” Ben stammers suddenly, clearing his throat. “She isn’t—”
“Sure am,” I chime in. In a spur of panic, I skip forward, grabbing Rhett by the face, bringing him down to my level, and planting a kiss right on his cheek.
I release him, stepping back over to the camera. “You’re up,” I tell him, motioning towards the backdrop.
I don’t know at what point he leaves, but once I finish taking Rhett’s photos, Ben isn’t standing behind me anymore.
