Rewritten (Unwritten Book 2) (7 page)

“That means a lot to hear you say that. I know I’ve said this a ton of times but I really can’t thank you enough for this opportunity.”

After simple chitchat about photo shoots and the industry as a whole I’m feeling comfortable enough that I ask, “So, how did you get into photography in the first place?”

“Funny story really. My wife and I were high school sweethearts.”

I cut him off, a little surprised, “You’re married?”

He smirks, “Yes, have been for 25 years... So her dream was to be a model so I offered to take photos of her to help build her portfolio. I had no clue what I was doing and this was before the digital world we live in today so I started with just a simple point and shoot camera. Man, those photos were awful. We both knew it. But I loved her and I really wanted to help her follow her dreams so I went to the library, yes, this was even before the Internet,” he laughs, “and I did all the research I could about lighting, aperture, shutter speed, everything. The more I looked into it, the more I really enjoyed what I was reading. I took all my savings and went out to buy a more advanced camera and long story short, here I am today.”

“Wow, that is a cool story. So, your wife, how come she’s not here, in Paris, I mean?”

“She’s at home with our daughter. She’s in college and she came home for the summer so she wanted to spend as much time as she could with her. Have their girl time together.”

“You have a daughter, too?” I laugh in surprise.

“Yeah, I know, I keep my private life pretty separate from the set but yes, she just turned 21. You remind me so much of her. She’s studying film at NYU. This will be her last year. Here,” he pulls out his phone, “I’ll show you her picture.” He swipes on his phone that displays a photo of his wife and daughter as his screen saver.

“Wow, they’re both beautiful. They really look alike.”

“Yeah, Candace, my wife, really wanted Marissa, my daughter, to follow in her foot steps of modeling but she’s never been interested. She’s like you in that way. She wants to be in back of the camera, not in front. I was shocked you agreed to be in the photo shoot with Charlie,” he tilts his eyebrow, and I know he’s remembering how sexy the photo shoot was.

I look down, embarrassed, but not able to hide my smile from the thought. “Well, you didn’t really give me a choice did you?”

“Am I really that bad?” His eyes pull together, searching for forgiveness.

I look at him before timidly answering, “Well, I mean… you can be a little intense at times…”

He looks down, “I’m sorry. I know I can be. My wife tells me all the time that I need to be nicer on set. I just get so focused on what I’m trying to accomplish.”

“It’s ok. You’re an amazing photographer and believe me, the end result makes it all worth it. And don’t worry, it really wasn’t bad, I mean having to take those photos with Charlie.” My cheeks grow flush from the thought.

“Yeah, I bet it wasn’t. I think everyone’s temperature raised a few degrees during that shoot,” his eyes narrow as he responds.

The waiter walks up, handing Alex the bill, taking him out of his trance. He pays the bill and we get up to leave.

“So, how long have you and Charlie been dating?” Alex asks as we walk back to the hotel.

“Actually, not very long. Almost two months I guess you could say.”

Alex laughs, shocked, “Really? He flew halfway around the world to spend two weeks with you after you had just started dating?”

I stop to think, “Funny, I never thought about it that way, but yes, he did. I guess you could say we got serious pretty fast.”

“I’d say so. So, why did he have to go back? Work?”

I frown, “I guess you could say that. He’s, um, in the process of changing jobs.”

“So, he doesn’t have a job?”

I look up, pursing my lips together. “No, I guess right now he doesn’t. But he’ll do fine. He’s not a deadbeat or anything,” I say, trying to stand up for Charlie.

“Hey, he can model for me anytime he wants. I already sold some of his photos.”

“Really?” I jump to him, grabbing his arm.

“Yes. A few companies honed right in on him. He’s got a unique look.”

“Yeah,” I smile fondly. “He really does.”

We enter the elevator together and when we arrive on my floor, Alex stays in the elevator, turning to me, saying, “Well, congratulations again.”

“Thank you and thank you so much for dinner. This was nice.”

His lips tilt up to a semi-smile, “It was. See you tomorrow.”

I
had two more shows to shoot with the rest of the crew before I was able to head home. As I load the plane my stomach starts to do somersaults since I’m not sure if I’m ready to face what awaits me at home. Charlie and I have spoken but not about anything regarding the baby or what he plans on doing.

The only thing I do know is that I don’t want how I feel to influence Charlie’s decision. That is why I haven’t brought it up but yet, neither has he. Now that I’m heading home, there’s no way that either of us can avoid it any longer.

My flight is set to land at three in the afternoon and Charlie is picking me up. When I think about seeing him, all my worries melt away. I try to think just about him. His face. His kiss. His touch. Not about anything else.

As I walk through the airport to where Charlie is waiting, a huge smile comes over my face and I start to run past the security gate. I catch a glimpse of Charlie sitting down holding one single red rose looking down at his phone.

He doesn’t notice me since I ran in front of everyone so I’m the only person coming down the escalator.

I quietly walk up to him and see that he’s flipping through his phone, looking at pictures of me with a big grin on his face and every question I had about us flies out of my mind. I have no doubt that he’s the one. He loves me. That’s all I need to remember.

“Fancy meeting you here. Are you waiting for someone by chance?” I say hitting his knee with mine and standing so close I can smell his shampoo. God, that sexy, manly scent almost brings me to my knees.

Charlie looks up, brimming from ear to ear, “Allison!” He jumps up wrapping his arms around me.

“Hey baby,” I laugh. “It’s so good to see you.”

He wraps his fingers through my hair and kisses me long and hard before we both sigh, “Mmmm…” at the same time.

“It’s so good to see you,” Charlie whispers, looking into my eyes. “My place or yours?”

I smirk, giving him a coquettish smile, “Which place is closer?”

“The hotel across the street,” Charlie teases raising one eyebrow.

I hit his stomach laughing, “Your place. I’m not sure how quiet I can be and my sister may be home.”

Charlie laughs, “Yeah, I sense screaming in your near future.”

“Promise?”

Charlie gives me a sensuous look as we walk to pick up my bags and head for his car.

Charlie starts the car with his phone connected to the stereo and cued up to play Unwritten Law
Love Love Love
. He places his hand on my knee as the song begins. Leaning over, I give him a sweet kiss as we pull out of the parking lot.

The drive feels like it takes forever. His hand keeps inching up my thigh and I laugh, having to move it back down to the safe zone. It’s a damn good thing I’m wearing jeans or I know his fingers would have no problem finding their way home before we actually make it home.

As we walk into his apartment I notice three picture frames sitting throughout his place displaying pictures of me alone, or the two of us together. I can’t help but smile as I place my purse down on the breakfast bar.

Charlie walks up, putting his hands on my hips from behind, pulling me closer whispering, “God, I missed you,” before he turns and kisses me passionately.

I slip my arms around his neck and straight into his hair as we walk to his bedroom with our lips locked on one another.

Charlie pulls away, looking at me silently. There is no need to say anything. I can see everything that needs to be said with the dark passion that has taken over his beautiful blue eyes.

He walks to his dresser to press play on his iPod and an orchestra starts to play through the speakers.

I tilt my head, questioning his choice in music.

His lips form his cocky half smile as he holds up his pointer finger twirling it around as he whispers, “It’s Beethoven
Symphony No.3 Eroica
. Trust me. Turn around.”

I do as I’m told and he walks up to me from behind, lifting my shirt over my head, then wrapping his arms around my bare stomach and kissing the back of my neck. He starts to sway to the sounds of the violins playing, caressing my body, before leaning down to remove my jeans and panties.

I’m still, frozen to his touch, yearning for him more, getting lost in the intense sounds coming through the iPod.

After taking off his pants and top, he kisses up my leg, turning me around, hugging me tightly and swaying to the music again. We stand wrapped in each other, both naked with not a care in the world.

He slowly turns me around and picks me up, wrapping my legs around him and kisses me softly before running his lips down my neck and walking to the bed.

As he lays me down I instantly arch my back up in need for him, missing his body against mine. I open my legs, thinking he’s going to push himself inside but he doesn’t.

Instead he slides down, caressing every inch of my body, kissing softly, taking my desire for him higher and even more ravenous.

His touch gets lighter and lighter, to the point where he is barely touching me but still running his lips and fingers over my body, sending an intense sensation straight to in between my legs. I can literally feel every millimeter inside my body that is vacant, the same place that is yearning for him to push inside and fill beyond its capacity.

It’s delicious torture and my breathing intensifies as I grab his body, pulling him onto me.

He positions himself over me but doesn’t enter inside.

Instead, he licks my neck as I arch my entire body up to him, grabbing his ass trying to pull him into me.

He resists again and I respond by moaning, “I need you inside me.”

“I want you in every way. I want it so bad but I want to wait until I can’t take it one second longer,” he replies while kissing me more, moving from my lips down to my breast, which removes him from in between my legs leaving me with an even bigger emptiness that needs to be filled.