“Come on,” he slaps my ass and ushers me toward the stairs.” Let’s go get your stuff before I rip that dress off you again.”

***

I am sitting at Luke’s dining room table editing photos. We spent an hour or so gathering my clothes, necessities and my computer, camera and memory cards from my house, then spent another half hour cleaning up our breakfast.

Things would have progressed faster had we not been too busy touching, kissing and stealing glances at each other the whole time.

Suddenly, Katy Perry’s song Teenage Dream makes a whole lot of sense.

I gaze across the brightly lit living space to Luke’s couch, where he’s lounging casually, his bare feet crossed at the ankle, a stack of movie scripts on the ottoman. He’s got one of the scripts open on his lap, and he’s biting his thumbnail as he reads.

Visions of me straddling his lap and throwing the script over the back of the couch make me smile, but I turn back to the image on my computer screen.

I’m editing the photos I took while Luke and I were at the falls the other day. There are about twenty five of them that are my favorites, and I’ll print and frame them, offering them for sale around town.

As I close the file containing the falls photos, I sense Luke get up and head for the kitchen.

“Would you like something to drink?”

“Just some water, thanks.” I smile at him and open the next file of photos to edit.

These will be much more fun.

The couple I photographed yesterday fills my screen. Luke steps behind me and sets my water on the table.

“Wow.”

I look up and grin. “They’re good looking, aren’t they?”

“They are. They need to loosen up a bit.”

I laugh. “The first twenty images get tossed out of every shoot. It takes at least that long for the client to relax.”

I page through about twenty photos and stop.

“See? They don’t even know I’m there anymore.” The blonde woman is in a black barely-there teddy. The dark man is sitting on the bed, legs crossed, and she’s straddling his lap, arms around his neck and fingers in his hair, kissing him.

“Yeah, much better.” He starts to rub my shoulders as he watches me work.

“When did you take these?” he asks.

“Yesterday.” I lean into his hands and moan. He’s amazing with his hands.

“After our fight.” It isn’t a question.

“Yeah. Oh God, don’t stop doing that.”

He kisses my head and I feel him smile. “I prefer hearing those words come out of that sexy mouth of yours when you’re naked.”

I laugh and lean my head back, looking up at him upside down.

“Later. I have to finish these. The client’s already getting a refund, and I want them to have their pictures as soon as possible.”

“Why are they getting a refund? Nat, they’re fantastic.”

“Because it wasn’t my usual fun session. I feel bad.”

“I’m sorry.” He kisses my head again.

“Don’t be. They’ll be happy with the shots, and with getting their money back. Give me an hour.”

“Okay, take your time baby.” He goes back to reading his script, running his hands through his unruly hair, and I can’t help but grin, enjoying our easy camaraderie.

I put the finishing touches on the last sexy photo of my too-good-looking clients and grin in satisfaction. Despite my horrible mood yesterday, I rocked these pictures.

“Okay, come look.”

Luke rises gracefully from the couch and stands behind me again. I page through each finished image, proud of how they turned out.

“They are amazing.” He kisses my cheek gently and I smile wide, glowing in his praise.

“Thank you. I hope they like them.”

“They’d be idiots not to. Are you finished for today?”

“Yep, that’s all of them. I’m all caught up until my session Monday.” I close my computer down and stand up, stretching.

“How is the reading coming?” I ask, gesturing to his stack of scripts.

“Tedious. It’s all been crap so far today.”

“No blockbusters in that pile?” I run my hand down his cheek, unable to keep myself from touching him.

“Definitely not.” He turns and places a kiss in my palm, and I feel my blood start to hum.

“I’m sorry I’ve been a boring companion this afternoon.” I smooth both of my hands up over his shoulders and around his neck, pulling him in close and kiss his chin.

“There is nothing boring about you, baby.” He turns his head, giving me access to his throat and I place chaste kisses down to his collar bone.

“Although, now that we’re both done with work…”

“Yes?” My fingers are in his hair now, pulling his lips down to mine.

“We could do something a little more energetic.”

“What did you have in mind?” I love the way his hands feel against the small of my back as he pulls me closer to him.

“Are you still naked under this dress?”

“I don’t know,” I say sarcastically, and widen my eyes. “Maybe you should check.”

“It’s a tough job, baby.” He gathers the skirt with his fingers, hiking it up around my hips and cups my bare bottom in his hands.

“I love your ass.” He’s nibbling my lips and kneading my butt rhythmically.