ns that had threatened to spill out only moments ago. Finally, I allowe

A full, oiled, and sheened crisp beard framed his strong jaw, drawing attention to the slight smirk resting on his lips. His hair, thick and beaut

k top he wore that clung to him like a lover's caress. It showcased his defined pectorals, the outline of washboard abs clearl

His voice was smooth, almost playf

cus - the name he had just annunciated echoed in my mind like a cruel joke. Each syllable

w... now it felt like a heavy chain wrapped around my throat. But I couldn't show him that. He probably worked for

. That's me. Are you here to

smirk tugged at his lips. It was a devastating kind of smirk,

shing in his eyes. « I'll take you down there, but... are you wa

stion and more like a statement. It lingered in the air, heavy and knowing.

Chase with me, to demand he be present for once. But another, quieter part of me knew the truth - I had been doing

s, forcing myself to

m ready, » I answered, my voic

mine again. His eyelashes flickered up and down, and for a moment, i

gaze, and I couldn't figure out why. It wasn't fear - it wa

offering it like some old-fashioned gentleman. Hesitating

ing me to a photoshoot. It was far from it. But somehow, in the f

es and whispers that had followed me earlier b

son we passed greeted him warmly,

Wrex

t some assistant. I looked over at him again, taking in the confidence in

Wrex

t think about the husband I had just left behind in that room. I didn't think about Chas

d it felt to breathe in some

ed Mr. Wrexler had let go of my arm until I stood the

gleamed under the intense lights that hung like giant moons suspended above. Key ligh

r clothes I could only dream of owning, tables overflowing with glit

t truly pique

d my gaze ca

man holding a state-of-the-art camera. He was talking animatedly with two colleagu

us and control. He looked down at the screen, adjusted settin

ents fluid and confident. Then, as if sensing me, he t

tter echoed loudly i

sshairs of his lens. For a moment,

wide grin, boyish and devas

sing across the space, « we haven't got all day. You s