‘Are you thinking sunrise for the shoot?’ she asked, loud enough for Markus to hear her.
He turned from his tripod, a huge grin on his face, and even though he didn’t say anything about her on Maverick’s lap, she could see the gentle teasing and blatant approval in his eyes. ‘We arrive Thursday morning, but I’m thinking most of that day will be spent prepping. Locations, lighting, models, fittings, props. Then Friday we shoot. Start early enough to capture the sunrise, finish after we get the sunset shots. You should come watch.’ He sounded giddy with excitement. ‘It’s going to be a lot of fun.’
Beneath her, Maverick had tensed up. ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea – all those people knowing you’re here.’
Before Nina could reply, Markus said, ‘I’ve got all the signed NDAs back.’
Mav sighed, but Nina heard it and knew that it was more resigned than relieved. Still, when she kept pointedly quiet, he changed the topic. ‘My sister said they’re planning a party for your team Friday night?’
‘Yeah. Figured we could wrap up with a small celebration, since I’m missing my girl’s birthday.’
Maverick looked down at Nina, but he didn’t stop his gentle stroking or pause the porch swing’s motion. ‘It’s your birthday?’
Those blue eyes seared into her, searching. Nina nodded slowly. ‘Wednesday. But I don’t usually celebrate,’ she hurried to say. ‘And this isn’t a big one.’
‘I’m almost afraid to ask …’
‘Thirty-four.’
She felt him relax beneath her, teased him by asking, ‘Were you worried about my age, Mav?’
‘No. It wouldn’t have mattered how much younger you were; this is happening anyway. But I would have guessed there was closer to a decade between us.’
‘It’s our skin regimen,’ Markus offered.
‘It’s working.’
Nina shifted so that she could see his face. ‘How old areyou?’
‘Forty.’
‘Too close in age to be called a sugar daddy,’ Markus teased.
And to Nina’s surprise, Maverick teased back, drawing Nina back into the conversation. ‘We can still role-play that if you want.’
Markus hooted with laughter.
Maverick grinned.
But Nina stunned them both when she finished the conversation with a casual shrug and: ‘I might be into it.’
There was a long pause where they both stared at her. Markus started laughing first – not quietly either. ‘Baby’s back!’ He whooped and pumped both fists in the air.
Maverick’s grin was ridiculously adorable. It spread across his face until a dimple Nina hadn’t known existed popped in his right cheek. Bringing his lips close to her ear, he kissed the side of her head, whispered, ‘You better climb off.’ He shifted.
She could feel him, of course. He was thick and hard beneath her. And even though she felt some anxiety, it was smothered by her lust. Nina didn’t get off as he’d suggested. She settled her weight down on him, deliberately torturing both of them.
Maverick exhaled a winded, ‘Fuck,’ beneath his breath.
Nina might not have been the one to say it, but she shared the sentiment. It was too much. They had been dancing around one another for days, which might not have felt so long had they not been spending every hour together. It was time, and, still, she knew he would wait for her to take that next step. But how?
It would have been simple had she not been staying in his house with his sister and daughter across the hall.
Markus, half focused on shooting the sunrise, half focused on petting Shadow, asked, ‘Maverick, have you watched any of Nina’s films?’
‘Not yet. But I want to. Benji saysDogs of Despairis the one I should start with.’
Nina blushed.
