The safest bet for his piece of mind and his libido was to stick Mitch or Liam on her close protection detail, but he was fucked if he was going to let them see her like this. Granted they could go buy the magazine when it came out, but he didn’t need to know about that.
The next hour was spent watching as the photographer yelled poses at her, sometimes moving to drape her body in just the way he wanted it. The poses were provocative and sexy, and he could see it was damn hard work, harder than he’d realised, and Callie was a God damn professional the entire time.
Towards the end of the shoot the photographer had Pierce, who much to his annoyance was utterly professional, strip his swim shorts off and wear a tiny piece of fabric that covered his junk. The shot made it look like he was naked once he stood behind Callie, with her body the only thing covering his dick. Her arm was up, and around his neck, her head turned as if they were going to kiss. His hands wrapped possessively around her hips.
It was a fucking powerful image and he hated it. Never in his life had he wanted to take up modelling but right then the desire to swap places with that man was a clawing need.
Reid heard the photographer sigh. “This isn’t working. Pierce, you need to look at her like you want to rip her clothes off.”
Reid snorted.
“Difficult for me considering she has the wrong equipment, darling,” Pierce retorted.
Callie walked forward and peered at the digital images, frowning. “I see what you mean.”
Just then the photog turned and pinned Reid with a stare that made his balls want to shrivel up. Give him a raving lunatic with a gun, and he was calm, give him a halo jump at night—still calm. The photographer walking towards him with intent? No thank you.
“You. I see the way you look at her. Come here.”
Reid had no choice but to pony up and walk towards him or look like he was scared, which was never going to happen.
“Take off your shirt and do that same pose with Callie. I need Pierce to see it.”
“I’m not a model.”
“I know that, although with that jawline and the body I suspect you have under there, you should be.”
“Please, Reid. I just need Pierce to see what we need from him.”
“Yeah, please take off your clothes, Reid, the hunky bodyguard,” Pierce purred.
Reid looked at them all as if they had lost their minds, he had no intention of putting himself that close to Callie. But then she looked at him with that pleading, cute as fuck look he noticed she did when she wanted something, and he felt himself giving in. “Fine, but these never see the light of day.”
“Scouts honour,” Callie replied with a smile.
Reid shook his head and pulled his shirt over his head, tossing it on the floor.
“Oh, my,” Pierce sighed as he watched Reid walk to where he and Callie had been standing.
“What now?”
Callie smiled, and he scowled at her. She was enjoying his discomfort too much. “Stand behind me and put your hands on my hips.”
Reid did that keeping some distance between them. Callie backed up until her entire back was flush to his front, before lifting her arm and wrapping it around his neck as if she was pulling him down for a kiss.
Reid could feel the silky heat of her soft skin against his chest, and it was better than he’d imagined it would be. The curve of her ass pressed against his dick that was already hard from the feel of her, and her eyes went wide and her lips parted as she looked into his eyes.
Their faces were inches apart, and he could feel the tickle of her breath on his face, see the desire darken her green eyes to a moss green flecked with amber in the middle. Her full pouty lips, covered in some kind of gloss, made him want to take a bite, to taste the sweetness he knew he’d find there.
He felt his hands grip her hips tighter, pulling her closer, feeling the soft flesh give at his touch as his head moved closer until their lips were almost touching and he could see the beating pulse in her neck, feel her desire for him.
He couldn’t remember ever being this attracted to a woman. He wanted to spend hours fucking her, exploring her body with his hands and mouth. Watching her face as she climaxed from his fingers, mouth, and cock.
“Oh my God, that’s perfect.” The clicking of the camera lens brought him out of his lust induced fog, and he pushed away, putting a hefty distance between him and Callie as he grabbed his shirt.
“If you want me, I’ll be on the phone outside.”
He strode for the door, ignoring the chatter behind him. He needed fresh air before he did something stupid like act on his need for the woman he’d known less than twenty-four hours and who was already turning his neat life upside down.
Reid didn’t go far, just paced outside the room trying to get his body back under control. A timely call from Clay lit up his phone.
He answered on the second ring, hoping his guilt wasn’t noticeable to his buddy through the phone. “Hey, Clay.”
“Reid, how is everything? Is Callie okay?”
“Callie is fine, but a little heads up that she was Calista Lundholm would’ve been nice.”
“Yeah, I forgot to mention that. My bad.”
“Yeah, like ever. How come you never told me she’s done so well for herself?”
“Callie doesn’t like me making anything of it and to be honest, it never came up.”
“Well, I’m here with Mitch and Liam. We’re going over her security, who I fired this morning by the way. The little prick didn’t give a shit about her, only her money. I’ll find someone new. I have some contacts.”
“Fuck. Thanks, Reid.”
“Don’t thank me yet, it gets worse. Callie has a stalker, and he’s escalating. I don’t know if it’s quick or if it’s been going on for a while. I think it’s been a while.”
“Shit, what did Callie say?”
“She has no idea; she’s had a few things happen but nothing that was a red flag to her.”
“Things like what?”
“Notes, flowers, things going missing or misplaced on set. Nothing at home though, thank God. I have Liam and Mitch going over the CCTV for a lead and I’m going through her list of contacts but so far there’s nothing obvious. I need to look into a few people, though.”
“Okay, keep me posted. Is your boss good with this?”
“He will be, I’m sure. He’s my next call.”
“Thanks, Reid. Give Callie a hug for me but keep it PG so I don’t have to castrate you.”
Reid snorted to hide the choking feeling of guilt. “Good copy.” He signed off and ran his fingers through his hair.
“Coffee?” Sophia asked and handed Reid a cup which he took.
“Thanks.” The coffee was excellent and black, just how he liked it.
“Is she going to be able to honour her commitments?”
He eyed the woman next to him. She looked like she was worried, but he could see that underneath the concern was a cutthroat businesswoman wanting money and prestige. “Maybe.”
“Maybe isn’t an answer. Callie needs to honour these bookings, or they’ll find someone new. There’s always someone ready to step in and fill the shoes of the older models.”
“Older models? Callie is what? Twenty-five?”