Embrace Me (21 page)

I couldn’t think of a place I loved more than being wrapped up in Charlie’s arms.

“
Just think, you’re more than halfway through your assignment here in London,” I muttered, tracing his bare chest with my fingertips.

“
If I had known it would be this difficult being away from you, I never would have accepted.”

“
Charlie, this is your dream job. I would have
made
you go,” I giggled, looking up at him.

“
How could you make me go?” he laughed. “A tiny thing like you.”

“
I would tell Frank to make you go,” I teased.

Charlie looked at me for a moment. “Yeah, alright…I wouldn’t fight with Frank. You win that one,” he chuckled.

“
Frank
is
pretty scary.”

“
Well, he is about eight feet tall and built like a wrestler,” he added.

“
He’s a big teddy bear, really.”

“
I’m sure Frank would love to hear that,” Charlie snorted. “In fact, if he’s still outside our door, maybe I should tell him.”

“
Don’t you dare,” I laughed, pushing him back down onto the bed.

“
How are you going to stop me?” he challenged with a sexy smile on his face. I smirked, kissing him passionately. “You win. I think I’ll stay right here.” With a laugh, Charlie rolled me over in the bed covers.

We stayed in bed the rest of the evening, holding each other and talking. When he eventually fell asleep in my arms, the pain hit again. I knew the biggest secret of his life, and I was keeping it from him. I loved Charlie, so how could I do this to him? It just wasn’t my secret to tell. Rachel had to explain so he could understand the reasons behind the deceit.

“
I’m actually going to get to watch you work?” I asked in disbelief as Charlie opened the car door for me.

“
Why is that so difficult to believe?” he tutted.

“
But this is Sir Straton’s booking, Charlie. It’s top secret. Won’t he be mad?”

“
Stop worrying, Sweetheart. It will be fun.” He smiled wickedly, making my stomach flutter with a mix of nerves and excitement. What had I gotten myself into? Either way, I got to spend the whole day with Charlie.

The studio was an impressive sight. While Charlie set up his camera for Straton’s next muse, I wandered around looking at the stills on the large wall at the back of the studio. I was in awe of some of the people Charlie had photographed. Some faces were people who had really made a difference in this world.

He had even photographed Sir Straton himself, which was an amazing honor. Straton had never had his photo taken before; he didn’t trust anyone behind his lens.

I shuddered as my eyes swept across the few pictures of Megan. She was still as beautiful as ever, smiling at me from behind the photo. How, after everything she had done, she could still be heart-stoppingly beautiful was beyond me, but she was. For the slightest moment, I wondered how she was dealing with losing Maisy. Even though the sisters were often rivals, there was never any doubt that they loved each other.

“
What are you thinking about?” Charlie had snuck up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist.

“
These photos are amazing,” I muttered.

“
Well, they’re nothing compared to who I am photographing today.”

“
Really? Who’s coming?” I questioned, even more excited than before. Would it be a world leader? Or perhaps a Hollywood star?

“
She is amazing, and no doubt the most beautiful woman on this planet.” I turned to look at him as jealousy began to overtake me. “Shannon, you do know it’s you, don’t you?” Charlie chuckled.

“
What?” I replied, completely shocked.

“
Shannon, I am photographing
you
.” I looked at him blankly. Was he serious? Why would Sir Straton want me in his book? “Come on. Liz and Sally are waiting to get you ready.” Charlie pulled me along, still chuckling to himself.

I knew that wicked smile of his from earlier meant he was up to no good. Why hadn’t I listened to myself?

Chapter Fifteen

Once I was ready, the girl reflected back at me in the mirror was barely recognizable. I had never felt more pampered in my life. My dress was a beautiful red satin that cascaded down my body flawlessly, and my hair was pulled into tight ringlets. I ran my hands down the dress in awe and then noticed a single white rose in my hair. The look was timeless; I could have been a beauty from an old 1930’s movie.

“
Shannon,” Charlie stood looking at me in wonderment. “You look…stunning.”

“
Thank you,” I blushed. “I still can’t believe this.”

“
You really had no idea?”

“
Why would Sir Straton want
me
in his book? I haven’t done anything even remotely interesting,” I complained, moving into place in front of the white screen.

Charlie was about to speak when someone called over him. “Miss Downing, how can you think you are not interesting?” I froze as Sir Straton came into my view. I had never spoken to him directly before, and looking at him now, I felt a little uncomfortable. “You lived your whole life not knowing who you were, and then you discover you are the lost heir to Downing International. Can you not see why people relate to you? Why they want to see the person behind the face?” Sir Straton crossed the room, taking the camera from Charlie to peer at me through the lens. “I have to say, Miss Downing, the camera never lies. You are a true beauty.” I blushed, looking down in embarrassment. I hated having my photo taken. Charlie smirked at me as he read the expression on my face. “Here, Charlie.” Straton handed the camera back to him. “I will leave you to it. I think you will know more about Miss Downing than me, having studied her more closely than I have.” Straton patted Charlie on the back. “Keep up the good work, my boy, and thank you, Miss Downing, for agreeing to be part of my life’s work.”

My mouth was still hanging open. “Shan, you can relax now. He’s gone,” Charlie smiled.

“
I just spoke to a legend.”

“
I speak to him all the time, and don’t let
him
hear you say that. His head is big enough as it is. Did you know he is having lunch with the queen tomorrow?
The Queen
.”

“
Wow.” I wondered if I would ever have lunch with the Queen. I knew my mother had met her on a few occasions, but it just all seemed too surreal to me.

“
Right. Let’s get on with this so I can take you to lunch after.”

“
Lunch?” I beamed.

“
Yes, but I have to get some shots first.”

“
Charlie, you know I hate having my photo taken,” I moped.

“
You shouldn’t. Do you realize how beautiful you are?” He strolled towards me, lifting my chin up to press his lips against mine. “No picture will compare to yours in this book now.”

“
You are so biased,” I smiled.

“
Maybe I am, but I don’t care.”

While Charlie snapped away, arranging me in one pose after another, I was taken aback by how sensual the experience was. Feeling his eyes on me as he studied the best position was extremely sexual, and before I knew it, my body was yearning to be touched. I had to hold it back, of course, because he was working. I couldn’t take advantage of that.

I tried to count to ten as he walked over to me again, moving a single stray hair from my face. My whole body was burning. I could feel the heat smoldering in the pit of my stomach.

“
You look a little flustered, Sweetheart. Are you alright?” Charlie asked, looking down at me.

“
It’s just a little hot in here,” I lied, fanning myself.

“
We’re almost done now, and then we can go for lunch.” I swallowed hard as I looked into his blue-green eyes. Lunch was the farthest thing from my mind at that moment as I began to drown in my love for him.

We were alone in the studio. All the make-up artists and stylists had left before Straton turned up, and as Charlie took his last shot, my desire was really starting to fight through my barriers.

“
Can you help me out of this dress?” I asked as he began to pack his things away. He looked up at me with a smile, making my heart hammer embarrassingly loud. As he stood behind me and slowly began to undo the back of my dress, my breathing became erratic.

“
God, you are so beautiful,” Charlie muttered, planting kisses down my neck as my dress slowly fell to the floor. I leaned back towards him, feeling the ecstasy of his hands roaming over my body.

“
Charlie, we need to stop before I lose control,” I muttered.

“
I’ve already lost control,” he replied, spinning me around to face him as his lips crashed fiercely against mine.

My whole body clung to his as he pushed me back against the far wall.

“
Should we be doing this? What if someone comes in?” I muttered, not really caring if anyone did walk in on us.

“
It’s your own fault for looking so beautiful. I’ve had to control myself for the last four hours. I can’t hold it back any longer,” he almost roared with passion. I sighed, becoming lost in him. We both had the same desire for each other, and I hoped that would never change.

Charlie helped me into my own clothes after we regained control an hour later. I wouldn’t have known if anyone had walked in on us, anyway. I was so overtaken by the untainted passion. Charlie had totally consumed me.

I went to remove the white rose from my hair when he caught my hand.

“
No, leave it in,” Charlie smiled as I looked at him in confusion. “It was my idea about the white rose. Straton wanted you all in red, including a red rose in your hair, but I managed to persuade him otherwise.”

“
Why would it matter what color rose I wore?”

“
It’s silly, really. I wanted a piece of me in the photo with you.” Now I was really confused. “Men
will
fall in love with you, Shannon, just by a single glimpse of these photos. I’ll be able to cope with that by knowing the true meaning behind this flower.” Charlie touched the single white rose before kissing me softly on the lips. I was still confused, though. “The red rose is more about passion, whereas the white rose is a symbol of a pure love—a love that will never die.”

“
Charlie, you don’t have to worry about…”

“
I know, Shan. I trust you with my entire life. I just have a hard time coping when I know the lengths some men will go to try and take you from me,” he smirked, interrupting me.

“
You are amazing, did you know that?” I whispered, kissing his lips. “I am so in love with you.”

“
Good,” he smiled, crashing his lips passionately against mine. His hands began to roam over my body again.

“
I don’t think you should count out the red rose either, Charlie. We do seem to have a lot of passion between us, too,” I giggled against his lips.

“
I would have to agree. Perhaps we are a white rose with a flush of red on the petals.” His smirk was full of lust as he pushed me back forcefully against the wall.

Being away from him for four weeks wasn’t so bad if this was how we made up for it. Charlie was right about
our
rose color. We were, without a doubt, a pure love doused in passion.

It was difficult having to leave Charlie behind at the airport. My mother was already on her way with Rachel to Germany for a meeting with the board of directors, so it was just Frank and me as we boarded the private plane.

“
Missing him already, Miss Downing?” Frank commented as he pulled out his newspaper.

“
Is it that easy to tell?” I smiled weakly, taking a seat next to him.

“
You are always more relaxed when you are near Mr. Collins.”

“
I know. He just has that effect on me.” I sighed, remembering our time in his studio a few hours ago. Charlie never did get to take me to lunch.

“
I won’t ask,” Frank teased, going back to his paper. I laughed to myself before nestling into the seat. My eyes became heavy as we drifted back to Texas.

“
Shannon, you have post,” Grace called from the living room.

I skipped down the stairs, pulling my messy long brown hair into a tight bun. “What sort of post?” I questioned, taking the steps two at a time.

“
Your favorite sort,” Grace giggled, standing with a bouquet of fresh white ros
es. “You have a letter, too.”