The Wedding Issue

Chapter Eight - The Forbidden Fruit

My heart was thundering in my chest. I wasn't sure if I was breathing, perspiring or stopped inhaling and exhaling all together and was feeling incredibly cold. There was an indomitable static in the air. I could almost hear the blood rushing through my veins. Our stares locked for an achingly long time – god how mesmerizing her eyes were! I knew that asking her out front that I wanted to take pictures of her was rude, downright creepy and totally inappropriate.

But I didn't care.

It was an opportunity too valuable to miss. It was a risk I was only too eager to take. It could cost me this gig, my fiancée and the gallery.

But I did not give a damn.

I knew what I wanted and this was it. I wanted her. I wanted to be able to be around her in every way possible. I wanted her to become the masterpiece of the gallery show. I wanted to walk over to her, pull her from her chair, press her body against the warm window glass and plant small, wet kisses along her neck until I reached her lips. I'd pull her hands above her head as I devour her sweet, succulent lips. She would moan against my kisses and I'd trace her arms till I reached the first button on her silk shirt and started undressing her.

'You want to take pictures of me?', she asked in that euphonious voice of hers.

The racy thoughts in my head were way too hard for me to control. I had to lean forward so that she wouldn't notice the little guy waking up beneath my pants.

'I have a gallery show at the end of the month, and the theme for my pictures is "Women on Top", and you, Miss Genevieve, could just as well be my masterpiece', I explained ever so bluntly.

I couldn't quite understand her expression. Was she shocked or downright pissed? Her face was way too frozen; she was used to not showing her emotions. My eyes couldn't help but fall onto the button I so badly wanted to rip.

'Will people be buying these pictures?', she asked after a painful moment of silence.

'They'll be bidding on them.'

She seemed to be analyzing my request. It wasn't every day that someone asks to take pictures of you and sell it to the public. She would be completely insane if she agreed to it. But she had to say yes. It would crush me if she didn't accept. Just the thought of me following her around with a camera has awoken all of the creative instincts in me.

'How will that even work? Do you want me to pose for you?', she asked, shyly.

I thought so many things about Genevieve, but being shy was not one of them. I liked that. She didn't seem bitchy or bossy like how Madison portrayed her to be. She actually seemed to be very sweet and kind. Or was it just my untamed crush that is making her seem that way?

'Not at all, I'll just take random pictures of you while you're working. You won't even notice I'm there', I explained.

Whatever emotion she was feeling, she hid very carefully. She leaned back into her chair and crossed her arms. My heart sank. She was resisting my proposal.

'Can you give me time until this afternoon to think about it?', she finally said.

I sighed sadly.

'Take all the time you need', I mumbled, feeling defeated.

'Is there anything else you'd like to ask?', she added.

'You were quite clear about everything', I said as I got on my feet.

'Thank you for your time Mr. Rhodes', she said out of politeness.