Across the room, a makeup artist inches toward me with a powder puff.
“Don’t,” I snap.
She stops mid-step.
I don’t look at her. My eyes are glued to the photographer now leaning in to adjust Jessica’s posture.
He places a hand on her waist.
And I hear something crack. Probably his bones in my imagination.
“Hands off.” My voice booms across the studio.
The photographer startles, blinking up at me while Jessica shoots me a confused look.
I step forward, enough to make the photographer back off.
“I’m just posing her for the shot.” He straightens with raised hands.
“You’re touching,” I say, eyes dropping to where his fingers brushed her waist. “Her.”
Jessica’s eyes widen in half shock, half something else.
“Captain,” the photographer says carefully, “I think now’s the time to tell you…” He gestures to himself. “I’m gay.”
The room is silent apart from Jessica’s tiny giggle.
I blink once, almost laugh too, but manage to keep it in.
“And I’m Dom,” I deadpan. “So unless you’re blind and stupid on top of being chatty, you should understand one thing. Don’t put your hands on my woman.”
A ripple shoots through the room.
“What the hell are you— I’m so, so sorry,” Jessica starts apologizing to the photographer, but he simply throws his hands up, laughing.
“No, no. I get it,” he nods. “No touching.”
He turns to Jessica and winks before whispering, “Lucky you.”
I stare him down until he backs up a full three feet.
Jessica looks up at me, and I see it all in her eyes. She liked hearing the sound of that, and for some reason I’m not examining, I fucking loved saying it.
“Okay! Couple shots,” the photographer chirps. “Let’s get you two together.”
I exhale through my nose. I’m already on edge.
Jessica’s photo session nearly killed me.
My solo shots were somewhat of a disaster, with the photographer reminding me not to scowl before each one. And now we’re doing joint photos.
Jessica walks toward me with her little ass swaying confidently.
My pulse spikes, and I will myself to keep my eyes on her face.
“Sit,” the photographer says, pointing to a chair angled toward the backdrop.
I sit slowly and look at him.
