Captured Secret (The Captured Series) (14 page)

He gets a coy smile on his face. “So, you do like it rough? Huh?”

I fall back and laugh out loud. “Is that all you heard from that conversation?”

“Yeah, pretty much.”

We both look toward the door when we hear the elevator going down. I jump up and say, “Ty, sorry I’m so casual today. It was a rough morning. I’ll do better tomorrow.”

His brow scrunches. “What? You look great. You have never worn anything inappropriate. Don’t even sweat that. Emily dressed like she only owns three outfits. The way you dress is perfect.” And there is that word again.
So perfect that he only wants one night with me
. “You really are okay? I felt like a dick from the second I woke up.”

“I’m fine and I’m a big girl, Ty. No worries.” It’s like a fucking roller coaster today. I can’t help but roll my eyes and walk over to the computer to see who we will be seeing in a couple minutes. She is a young model who wants photos for her portfolio.

“I know, but I did everything you hate …except… I meant everything…I…”

Our client walks in all fresh and sporting this great tight ass red dress. Everything is very put together and coordinates to a tee. It’s obvious during introductions she is taken by Ty’s appearance and lays on the sweet southern girl act thick. She is making eye contact and makes sure that she rubs up against him as she walks to the bathroom to change. I show her everything we have to offer. Ty asks me to shut the drapes and we get the lights right where they need to be. I do a light check while she is changing and softly curse him for the couple of pictures he flies off. My favorite is my eyebrow raised and my middle finger in the air. I look like death, and Ms. Perfect is about to come out in swimwear…yes, I said swimwear.

She’s beautiful, all long, dark locks and a body that won’t quit. I hope the amazon height is a turn off to Ty, but really, I don’t really know what turns him on or off. We have never had that conversation.

The shoot is taking a little longer than allotted because I have to pull out a dressing mirror so she can see what she looks like to Ty. He never gets aggravated at her; he just works through the difficulties. She lingers, talking to Ty, which pisses me off because I want to lounge on the couch and wait for the next client. I reset and patiently wait for her exit. Once she leaves, I move on to the iced tea and hand Ty his.

“Holy fucking high maintenance! And, thank you for the tea. Damn, I thought she would never leave. I felt like saying have some faith, sweetheart, I’m going to edit you til you’re perfect,” He leans back in the computer chair. “Stella, I don’t know if I’m going to make it. I feel like shit.”

“You’re gonna make it. We are going to get through this together. We are a team today and you did great with her. I seriously thought she was going to kneel, and blow you right in front of me.” Okay, probably not the best choice of words while we are trying to find some normalcy after last night. He bursts out laughing, and pulls the computer chair that I’m curled in toward him until we collide.

“High five…that was great!” We high five and it’s my job to call and order from the deli. I think we are trying to eat our way to feeling normal again.

Our next session is a super sweet family with older kids. They all have on jeans and white shirts, so we put them against a black backdrop. They are a loving little family. I can’t help but envy all the love you can feel between them all.

The day comes to an end, and we actually start feeling like human beings again, after consuming many waters and Gatorades. Ty’s uploading as I sit next to him and stare at him, thinking what is it about him that makes me sit here and undress him repeatedly with my eyes. He’s all Mr. Artsy and tats and bad boy and muscles. I usually like white button ups and a tie. Seems like I traded ties for Ty. The phone rings, he looks at the display and pushes the speaker.

“What’s up, Jax?”

“What up, brother? I was hoping you wanted to find some ass tonight, since pussy whipped Pierce doesn’t have any interest in being a man anymore.”

“Pierce is pussy whipped, I agree, but he’s still a man, dude. The plus of his situation is that he gets laid all the time.”

“Yeah, by the same chick.”
Is this the sweet Jaxon that I’ve met over and over?

Ty looks uncomfortable at the conversation and says, “Dick, you’re on speaker. Please watch your mouth with Stella sitting right here.”

“Shit! Stella, I’m sorry. Everyone is talking about going to The Wall Street. I was thinking that we could do the whole friend thing. Then Ty, you and I could go off and do the whole wingman thing.” I tense at the thought of Ty finding a woman tonight and being buried deep inside her within twenty-four hours of us having sex.

“Let’s start with the whole friend thing. Cool?” Ty sounds like he’s trying to play both sides here.

“Stella, are you still single after Jason last night? I thought he was going to do you right at the dart board.” He laughs at his own statement.

“What? I didn’t do anything with him at the bar. Why would you say that?”

“I said he was gonna do you! Listen better!” He laughs it up. “Hey, Stella, if Ty doesn’t want to be my wingman, you can. We’ll find an angle to get a chick for me, then we can work at getting a dude for you to fornicate with. We’ll end that one year dry spell. How’s that sound?”

I turn fifty shades of red. Ty does too, but it doesn’t look like it’s from embarrassment.

“We will be there at seven, Jaxon!” Ty hits the button and hangs up.
Was he mad that Jax wants to get me a hookup?

Ty pulls my chair over like earlier, to collide with him and asks, “Do you want to go meet them in a bit?”

My head is leaning against the leather chair as I reply softly, “Yeah, I’ll go for a drink. I think that’s the only way to feel normal. I should get up. I need some makeup, I’m looking rough today.”

“No, don’t get up yet. Let’s relax and you can get up in a minute. And Stel, you could never look rough. I think what you are seeing in the mirror is that you’re tired. You’re working your ass off seven days a week. Give yourself a break, okay?” We relax for a bit and I finally move to the bathroom and freshen up. I really don’t care at this moment. The man I want to impress saw me all day looking worse for wear. I don’t think reapplying powder and mascara is going to have him throwing himself at me and begging for another romp from behind.

Ty’s been sweet today and we felt very normal together. I’ve caught him staring at my face and shape several times, and I’m sure he has caught the same from me. I don’t think I’m as good at hiding it. The innocent touches are like electricity, but I’m not going to complain. I wonder what is in that head of his. He gives me little glimpses of who he is, but I know that there is a lot behind those sultry, blue eyes.

Ty and I walk to The Wall Street together. I wish I had more balls to ask him how we are going to play this. At this point, I have not told anyone about last night. I’m obviously too chicken shit to ask him if he has either. I pull a typical Stella and just go with it, and will just follow his lead. On the walk over, Ty tucks me under his arm and squeezes me tight.

The Wall Street is starting to fill up on this early Saturday evening. We all laugh when we sit down and Pierce says we are like the movie Groundhog Day. We just repeat the same shit with the same people day in and day out. I thought the walk over was an indication of how the night was going to go. I thought that we would be explaining to our friends that we did have sex and we are just playing it by ear. How can one be so wrong? We walk in together, yet, he sat at the opposite end of Zoey and me. Pierce and Ty do the whole male bonding thing and now I am very sure that this is between us and no one else. My drink totally perks me up. I’m a firm believer in drinking to rid yourself of a hangover.

“I felt like shit all day dude.” This comes from Jaxon.

“Are you really bitching, Jaxon when Stella and I worked all day?”

“Yeah. I am.” We laugh and order some appetizers and a couple drinks, even though I am beat.

Jaxon comes over with two women, maybe all of twenty-one years old. Of course, the shorthaired brunette has no problem latching her eyes onto Ty and grinning as if she’s the grand prize winner. They giggle at everything the boys say. When Ty’s allotted girl pulls him to the bar and places her hands all over his chest, and touches his hair, I throw in the towel. I’ve fucked him and never touched his hair or chest. I know I sound like a total brat when it comes to seeing him with chicks, but I just don’t like it or want to watch it. It’s obvious it was a one night stand between us, but deep down…it hurts. I’d be lying to myself if I tried to make it more than it is. I throw some cash down and tell Zoey that I’m exhausted. I tell all who are at the table bye, and those who aren’t will not miss my presence.

Walking back to Ty’s, I get a text.

Ty: Why’d you leave?

I’m so not answering that.

Ty: Hello? You better text me when you get inside your car.

I don’t and when I get home, I make a quick ritual of getting ready for bed. My head hits the pillow and I shoot Zoey the ‘I got home safe’ text. Tomorrow is early rising.

T
HE
ALERT
OF
A
TEXT
MESSAGE
pulls me out of my deep sleep. It’s Sunday, and we have an early morning shoot with Jason Day and his band. I reach out of my cocoon of warmth for the phone and see the text is from Ty, and he’s barking out orders early. Today, he proclaims, is his day to provide coffee and breakfast. The text says to get moving and let him know when I’m ready to walk out. We are going to meet at the ultimate comfort food restaurant called, Shirley’s. My tummy growls just thinking about bacon and eggs in my very near future.

I shower, shave all my necessary parts, and blow out my hair. My makeup is a little heavier today, because at some point, I am putting on a dress. We are heading over to The Ellis’ after Jason’s session. Ty explained that they are neighbors of his Nan’s, and they are paying him an ass load of money for a wedding he’s shooting in Clearwater Beach. The urgency for the pre-wedding pictures is that the bride’s great-grandmother is in town. She’s very elderly, so they worry she won’t make it to the wedding.

I look like a super model today compared to the strung out scummer I was trying to imitate yesterday. Once dressed, I text Ty that I’m on my way. It’s going to be a hot morning, and we are shooting the band on Ty’s roof. So, I’m rocking my New York Football Giant V-neck t-shirt, and short, cut-off jeans shorts.

Ty watches every step I take as I walk to the restaurant. I get the typical, hey you, and he lets me in on our plans for today, which includes zipping through Jason’s session. Before we head over to The Ellis’. My breakfast is delicious and we are stuffed.

I try not to glower at him, thinking about how he kept his distance from me last night. I’m trying not to read too much into it. However, it’s become obvious that he would like to keep what happened on Friday night between us and us alone. I can understand. I don’t want our friends asking a million questions, especially the ones I do not have answers to. Maybe I want to glower, because, for me, I’m proud of Ty. I would claim him for a night or for so much more. These are the times that I know nothing will come of us. If I remember that, I can deal with everything that is Ty much better. It hurts, but I will do what I always do and push on.

At the studio, we huff it to the roof with all the equipment. Two different stations are set up. One is for the band’s group photo and another for individual shots. Just as we get in the studio and start to cool off, Jason and his band walk in. Jason looks great in his black jeans, black boots, and a simple grey, V-neck t-shirt. My eyes are drawn to his arms, both covered in tattoos. There are so many that one bleeds into another. I feel compelled to look at every detail. He whistles when he sees me and holds out his arms for a hug. I’m swept out of my obsession with his tats and go over to have him wrap his arms around my waist. He plants a soft lingering kiss on my cheek. “Damn girl, you look great today. You’re all kinds of sexy in those short shorts.” He looks over at Ty. “Dude, how do you get any work done with an assistant this freaking hot?” I make him release me and I return to Ty’s side.

“It’s rough, my man. She’s perfect, but I own this business. I can’t be known for drooling on my assistant instead of taking care of my clients.” There’s that word again. He said I was perfect many times Friday night. My heart warms as Ty looks down at me and his lips turn up into a smile. We get introductions over, and I don’t really need to ask what type of music this band plays. It’s metal, no doubt.

We head up to the roof and I stand back and watch the minds work for what type of look they want. Ty, Jason, and I, walk to the far end of the building where Ty leans down and gets in his bag. I’m about to lean down and help when Jason asks, “So, what’s up, girly? I gave you my number and you didn’t call me yesterday or last night,” He looks at me like he’s sad.
Really?

“We worked all day yesterday, and to be honest that was all the energy I had. The hangover kicked my ass all day,” I try diversion.