I frown. “Did I let himwhat?”
His tongue prods his cheek, as if this conversation he initiated is pissing him off. “Did you let him do it.”
“Are you actually asking me if I let him haveanal?”
He sighs. “Apparently I’ve turned into you.”
I’m equal parts dumbfounded and pleased by this turn of events, and something warms inside me. “You really have. I’m putting this on TikTok.” I open my phone and pretend to type. “Theo Porter, middle-aged British male, just asked a virtualstranger—”
“To whom he’s married…and I’m not middle-aged—”
“—if she let a weird lawyer have anal.” I glance up from my phone and back down again. “Ah. Your mom just liked my post.”
“With a handle like @cumslut69, I’d assume she would,” he drawls, but there’s no humor in his voice. “And I don’t think you should allow one strange lawyer to put you off all men but Brian.”
“Italian Tinder it is,” I pronounce.
He narrows his eyes as he opens the door to the building. “I imagine it’s just called Tinder here too, and that’s in no way what I was suggesting.”
Since we’re now inside, and have five flights of stairs to trudge up, I don’t bother to ask what he was suggesting in lieu of Italian Tinder. I doubt it would have been fun anyway.
I’m winded by the time we finally enter the flat, where the crew are setting up inside the open doors, with the sea just past them.
“Wow,” Theo says.
“For a cheap bastard, you sure splashed out for this part of the—” My gaze meets Caden’s and the final word escapes me. I’d actually allowed myself to hope he was off on Leo’s yacht this week. I loathe the way he is looking me over right now…as if he’s already had me and plans to do it again.
Lars says something to Katrina and then turns to us. “Hey guys, we’ve decided to film a little out of order, because the harbor is clear and we can currently see all the way to Capri. You’ve got to take your shots when you get them. Anyhow, right now we’re going to do your ‘first morning in Sorrento’ scene. It really isn’t a big deal, just a way to introduce you to the viewer and make you seem like any other couple.”
“So are we just, like, drinking coffee or something?” I ask.
Lars and Paula glance at each other and laugh quietly. It’s that laugh that puts me on high alert.
“Not exactly,” Lars says. “But let’s start small. Bex, I need you in a robe so it looks like you’ve just woken up.”
I stiffen. I’m hardly modest, but the robe he nods toward, hanging off the back of the bathroom door, is basically just a slip of semi-sheer silk that will barely cover my ass.
Swallowing, I go into the bathroom to change. I remove everything but my panties and emerge feeling naked. I mustlookpretty naked too, given the horror on Theo’s face and the smug grin on Caden’s. I cross my arms over my chest as I walk across the room.
“Ready, Bex?” Lars asks. “This couldn’t be easier. You’re justgoing to stand on the balcony appreciating the view, and after a minute, Theo will come up behind you.”
Theo frowns. “I just walk up behind her? That’s it?”
Lars hitches his shoulder. “Well, you’d walk up behind her the way you would if she were your wife.” He laughs. “Which sheis.You know…wrap your arms around her or something.”
Theo and I glance in each other’s direction, but I’m no longer entirely able to meet his eye. We’ve already kissed and held hands and now we’re embracing while I wear next to nothing. By tomorrow Lars will have us in bed, trying out anal beads on each other.
I walk out to the balcony and lean over the rail as instructed. The trees sway in the breeze, the air is sweet, the temperature that just-right mix of not too hot and not too cool. It’s pretty easy to appear fascinated by the view because—aside from that tiny hint of Capri in the distance—there is nothing but the deep blue waters of the Bay of Naples, the cliffs on the other side of the peninsula.
I’d enjoy it more if the breeze didn’t keep blowing my robe up, however.
After far too long by myself, Lars calls to Theo. I turn as my husband ambles out, shoving his hands in his pockets. “I just hug her?”
“Take off the shirt first,” Lars says. “Remember, you are theoretically alone with your new wife. We want the viewer to feel almost as if this is their own private moment, as if you aren’t even aware the cameras are here and they are simply hiding in the closet watching the two of you.”
I turn a little more to get a better view of Theo, scowling as he reaches behind him and tugs his shirt overhead and…damn.
Seriously.
