Ample Delights (25 page)

Maybe he was reluctant to say he was dating her for the very reason the reporter had suggested.

“Terrah? You’ve got that look on your face.”

“What look?”

“The one that tells me you’re upset.”

“I’m fine. I’ve gotta go to makeup.”

“Your makeup is already done.”

Terrah gave her sister the ‘Don’t make me hurt you’ look, which made Audrey laugh. “Look, I just need a moment before this whole thing gets started.”

“I know. Go. I’ll be in the studio, silently cheering you on when the photo shoot begins.”

“Okay.”

Terrah gave her sister a hug before walking away, determined not to let what Nick had said—or hadn’t said—in the video she’d viewed bother her. She needed to concentrate on the shoot and that meant clearing her head. The last thing she wanted was for her disappointment to be captured on film.

Terrah exhaled as she walked toward the room where her belongings were, and paused when she saw Jocelyn with her back turned to her. The slim model was dressed similarly to Terrah, except her sparkly bra was green. She was digging into her bag, talking on the phone, completely unaware of Terrah’s presence.

“I know. Of course, he doesn’t want to admit he’s dating her. Did you see those horrid photos of her?”

Anger surged within Terrah as she watched Jocelyn laugh and toss back her straight blonde tresses.

“I expected things to end when I had that photographer leak those photos of them in Hawaii—” Jocelyn turned around and her eyes widened as she saw Terrah. “Umm…I need to call you back,” she said into the phone, before ending the call.

“
You
”—Terrah walked up to Jocelyn, who took a step back—“
you
were behind those photos in Hawaii?”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Jocelyn snorted. “I don’t know what you heard—”

“Don’t you try it!” Jocelyn flinched as Terrah wagged her finger at her. “I heard exactly what you said. What I don’t understand is why you would waste time causing drama for Nick and me. Are you
that
jealous? Or is that you just can’t deal with rejection?”

“Jealous?” Jocelyn gave a brittle laugh. “Oh,
please
. Nick may want to sleep with you, but that’s
all
he wants you for. He won’t even admit that you’re his girlfriend.”

Her caustic words cut deep as Terrah shook her head. “Were you even really pregnant, Jocelyn? I bet that was just a publicity stunt, too.”

The model’s face turned bright red. “How dare you?”

“What is going on in here?”

Both women turned to see Nick standing in the doorway, looking sexy as hell—shirtless, wearing only a pair of fitted Rogue Jeans. The tight, low-rise styled denim hugged and emphasised his sculpted torso, especially with his hands on his narrow hips. Terrah’s eyes lifted from Nick’s jeans to his face.

“I just overheard Jocelyn telling someone on the phone—
she
was behind those photos taken of us in Hawaii.”

Nick’s narrowed gaze shifted from Terrah’s to Jocelyn’s, and the scowl on his face only magnified the chiselled beauty of his face.

“Is that true, Jocelyn?” Nick asked, coming to stand beside Terrah.

“Terrah eavesdropped on my conversation.” Jocelyn straightened her back. “End of story.”

“I don’t think it is, but it doesn’t matter.”

Terrah looked up at Nick as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

“Excuse me, guys…”

They all looked at the production assistant staring at them from the doorway.

“You’re all needed on set. The photo shoot is about to begin.”

“Great,” Jocelyn said as she stormed past them.

Nick moved in front of Terrah as she lifted her face to his. Her brown eyes sparkled with anger as she shook her head.

“That female is unbelievable.”

“Don’t let Jocelyn mess this up for you.”

He thought Terrah was gorgeous without much makeup, but now, with it artfully applied by another makeup artist, she was stunning in another way. Her beautifully expressive eyes had been highlighted with the perfect amounts of eyeliner and mascara, making the anger evident in their chocolate depths even more striking.

“I can’t believe her. I can’t—”

Nick bent his head and brushed his lips against Terrah’s. “Forget about Jocelyn…the leaked photos…everything.”

“I just saw a video of you with those reporters in California yesterday,” Terrah said, moving away from him.

Nick shook his head. “Relentless.”

The look on Terrah’s face bothered him as she crossed her arms over her chest.

“What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you believe I paid Jocelyn to have an abortion.”

Terrah averted her gaze from his. “No, I don’t.”

“Okay, good, but why do I get the feeling something is bothering you?”

“Why didn’t you tell them we were dating when they asked?” Terrah asked, lifting her chin to meet his eyes.

“I never talk about my personal life in public.”

“Is that the only reason?”

Nick frowned, not liking the doubtful tone in Terrah’s voice. “What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?”

“Since we’ve been dating, I haven’t met a single one of your friends or family.”

“Okay. I just met your sister today. We barely have enough time for one another and, when I do have time to be with you, I just want to be with
you
…no one else. I thought you felt the same way.”

Nick ran the tip of his finger down Terrah’s nose as she sighed.

“I do.”

He could see she still wasn’t satisfied with his answer. “Terrah, what did Jocelyn say to you to make you look at me like that?”

Nick watched her shrug, sensing more had been said between the two women than Terrah wanted to admit to him.

“Nothing. Forget it.”

“No, I want to know. You don’t think I’d have a problem telling the world you’re mine?”

The tiny shrug she gave him made him want to whisk her off set and show her how wrong she was for thinking he had any problem staking his claim where she was concerned.

Terrah stepped forward and he took her back into his arms. “I don’t care
who
knows how I feel about you.” He took her lips again in a deeper, hungrier kiss. “Let’s go take some of the hottest pictures this industry—
Jocelyn
—has ever seen.”

They both grinned. The playful light in her eyes had returned.

“Now tell me, are you ready to do this with me?”

He cupped her chin in his hand as he held her gaze. His gaze swept over her naturally curly hair, which had been straightened, and he touched a strand lying across her chest.

“Yes.”

“Good. I wish I didn’t have to share you right now. You look so sexy. But I prefer your hair curly.”

“You do?”

“Yes.”

“That’s good, because I can’t deal with how long it takes to get this kind of hairstyle.”

Nick frowned. “How long does it take to do a ponytail?”

Terrah laughed. “Don’t ask.”

“Can I take it down later?”

“You can try.”

“I will.”

He squeezed her hip with one hand and Terrah giggled as he laced his fingers with hers. They walked out of the room towards the studio and his gaze swept over her luscious body.

“Babe, you are wearing those jeans to perfection.”

“Really?”

Terrah slid her hand from his and twirled around in her red heels for him.

“Oh, yeah. Show me your model walk.”

Nick smiled as Terrah amplified the sway of her hips and walked in front of him. The curve of her rounded ass in the dark denim was something to see. He mentally talked himself out of a hard-on as he stared appreciatively at her small waist, showcased by the red belt around her naked torso. He was willing to bet her nipples were hard beneath the fabric of the beautifully beaded red bra that made her full breasts look even more tempting. Her outfit was designed to make a man conjure up a thousand and one lustful acts.

“Well?” Terrah turned to him as they reached the studio door. “What do you think of my walk?”

“I”—he placed his hands on her waist and yanked her forward—“think it’s taking all my willpower not to drag you off this set, cart you off to my place and put you back in my bed.”

“Are you going to be able to focus on the job?” Terrah teased.

“I guess there’s only one way to find out.” He took her hand and led them into the studio, where there was a flurry of activity going on. “Here we go.”

“Oh, good…” Darien, the photographer for the shoot, zeroed in on them. “You’re both finally here.” He beckoned them over towards Jocelyn, who was already standing beneath the bright lights. “I want you”—he gestured to Terrah—“to stand in the middle with your arms crossed and your body slightly turned away from Nick, but look at him.”

Nick watched Terrah follow his instructions and tried not to smile. He could tell she was nervous, but she was doing her best not to show it.

“That’s it—now, Nick, you’re on one knee in front of her. Jocelyn, put your hand on Nick’s shoulder and lean in to him. Show how much you want him with your face. Great, are you guys ready?”

“No.” Nick cleared his throat. “Not just yet.”

A rush of excitement quickened his heartbeat as Darien nodded at him with a small smile.

“Nick, do you have something to say?”

“Indeed, I do.”

Terrah noted the conspiratorial grin that passed between the two men before she looked down at Nick.

What the hell was going on?

Her heart began to pound as Nick reached up and took her hand.

“Terrah, I’m not waiting another minute…another
second
to tell you…”

“To tell me what, Nick?”

Her voice wobbled. She felt hot and shaky as her body reacted to the searing intensity of Nick’s gaze, before he glanced down and stuck his other hand into his jeans pocket.

Blue-green eyes locked with hers.

“To tell you…”

Terrah couldn’t breathe as he pulled out his hand.

“I love you.”

“Oh, my God, Nick,” Terrah gasped.

Tears filled her eyes as she stared at the exquisite diamond ring resting in the palm of his hand. She barely registered the camera flashes going off around them, Jocelyn’s dark curse as she walked away while Nick lifted the ring up to her.

“I love you, Terrah. I want you in every way imaginable, and I want the world to know it.”

“Nick…I… You… This is
crazy
!”

“Not half as crazy as I am about you.”

Terrah tried to blink back tears, overwhelmed with joy. “I love you, too.”

Nick flashed her the sexy smile that had captured her attention months ago. “Will you marry me, Terrah Bryant?”

“Yes!”

Terrah heard her sister squeal with delight in the background when Nick lifted her hand. She furiously blinked back tears in an effort to save her makeup as he slid the engagement ring onto her finger.

“There.”

Nick swept her up into his arms and Terrah laughed.

“You are officially off limits,” Nick whispered into her ear. More camera flashes went off around them. “I needed to do this before everyone on this planet sees how hot you are.”

“It’s beautiful,” Terrah said, twisting her hand in the light. The diamond solitaire caught the bright lights in the studio and sparkled brilliantly.

“For a beautiful woman.”

A tear managed to escape and slip down her cheek as the photographer cleared his throat.

“Uhh… I’m getting some great shots here, but do you two need a moment before we officially begin?”

“We don’t need more time.”

“We don’t?” Nick asked, and Terrah shook her head.

“I’m ready. Let’s do this.” She looked from the glittering diamond to the man she loved.

Darien grinned. “Okay, but you do need a touch-up.” He turned away from them. “Somebody get Jocelyn back in here, and Terrah needs makeup.”

“Was Darien in on this?” Terrah asked, still stunned by the past five minutes.

“Yes. I’d talked to him about proposing to you before your run-in with Jocelyn. I’m glad I decided to do this here. I don’t want you to think for a moment I’m not damn proud you’re my woman.” Nick brushed his thumb over her wet cheeks. “I want you to know that I think you look gorgeous, tear tracks and all.”

Terrah grinned. “You’re biased.”

“Mmm…I don’t think so.”

He kissed her softly, with so much passion that Terrah’s bones melted as his hunger for her translated through every fibre of her being.

“We need to get this photo shoot over with
now
,” Nick said when he broke their kiss. “I want you to wear that bra and nothing else when we are finally alone.”

Terrah lightly scratched her fingernails down his chest. “What’s the rush? We’ve got ample time to be together.”

Nick pressed his erection against her. “Yes, we do. And I’ve got
ample
delights in store for you later.”

Terrah smiled. “Promise?”

“
I
am a man of my word,” Nick said as he kissed the side of her neck.

“Yes, you are.” Terrah exhaled in his arms, overjoyed and excited about her future. Their future together.

 She was ready to model. Ready to see where love took her next.

Also available from Total-E-Bound Publishing:

Hearts and Diamonds

Nichelle Gregory

Excerpt

Chapter One

“Are you almost finished with your count, Tess?” Nia asked as she locked the sapphire and diamond display case.

“Just counted my last ring, how ‘bout you?” Tess tucked a brunette strand of hair behind her ear and grabbed the bottle of glass cleaner.

“Almost.” Nia glanced down at the platinum gold diamond rings gleaming under the spotlights. “I saved the best for last.” She stared at the sparkling stones, which seemed to twinkle along to the merry beat of the holiday music playing overhead in surround sound.