Guarding His Heart

The urge to keep the flirtation going was an insistent poke in his back, but he was in a room full of people, naked, and for a reason. He’d have time to pursue the spark he had with Jasmine later.

He hadn’t thought about what he wanted to get from this shoot. He’d been asked to pose naked and he’d agreed. He knew a part of the invitation was because his team had won the championship two years in a row. Despite his slipup, he’d been a key component to this year’s playoff win, and bets were circulating about whether or not he’d retire. Rumors he didn’t want to confirm no matter how close they were to the truth. He was thirty-six years old. Ancient in professional sports. The time had come for plan B.

Whatever the hell that was.

“I want you to show my athleticism,” he said. “I’m old compared to the other guys on my team. Show that my age doesn’t mean I’ve lost something.” That his body wasn’t breaking down.

Her brown eyes narrowed slightly. She nodded slowly. He got the sneaking suspicion she could see into him and had read his thoughts. His fears. Or, maybe, he just liked the way she looked at him.

“I think I can do that.” She reached with her left hand and scratched the back of her shoulder.

The white shirt lifted with the movement. He caught a flash of a ring in her belly button against smooth caramel skin. He sucked in a breath, his ab muscles tightening. Jasmine didn’t seem to notice how he stilled at the flash of her belly ring. She’d turned away and rummaged through her bag.

Just like that, he was hooked. The need to discover what else was pierced tempted him like a hunt for the treasures of the universe. He wanted to take his time uncovering all of her secrets. Did tattoos accompany her piercings? His arms, chest and back were plastered with body art, each one significant to him in some way. He had no problems with women doing the same, but he liked that Jasmine hadn’t covered all of her sexy brown skin. That would make discovering what, if any, spots she’d decorated even more fun.

She turned with another camera gadget in her hand and faced him. “So, Kevin, are you ready to get naked for me?”

Considering he was there specifically to be photographed naked and she was a photographer, the words shouldn’t have sent heat shooting through his veins with the force of a charging bull. Coming from her full lips, in her silky voice, with that spark of hidden wildness in her eye, not only was heat charging full steam, but another area rose to half-mast.

Smiling, Kevin unhooked his towel and let it drop to the floor. “Any damn time.”

Jasmine didn’t blush or frown. She boldly looked over his body. Her gaze paused below his waistline. The flash of appreciation that lit her eye made him want to crow like a rooster. Forced thoughts of the drills coach ran them through in practice was the only thing keeping him from getting a full-on erection. His pride wouldn’t let him show her just how much her look made his pulse race.

Her dark eyes met his and she cocked a brow. “Let’s do this.”

* * *

Jasmine had photographed tons of half-and completely naked people in her career. Some of the most beautiful women, the hottest men and captivating celebrities. It was almost impossible to have a career as a fashion photographer and not encounter beautiful, naked people. But never before had she had such a hard time focusing on capturing the scene instead of how utterly incredible the subject looked naked.

She’d appreciated a nice body before. Even accepted an offer or two from people she’d photographed with a no-strings, no-commitment caveat.

As long as there was little chance of messy drama during or afterward. She wasn’t currently looking for anything long-term or even casual. She had other goals at the moment. But her brain was barely letting her separate the job of photographing Kevin from her primal appreciation of his body.

Her woman parts were attracted to everything about him. The man was a work of art. Long lean muscles and tan skin decorated with beautifully drawn tattoos. At first glance, his intense gaze and large muscular body were intimidating. But then his lips cracked a come-here-and-get-all-of-this smile accompanied by a twinkle in his eye that promised hours of I-shouldn’t-have-done-that-but-damn-he-was-good memories.

Only by the grace of God did she survive the photo shoot without drooling down her chest. She had a lot going on right now. She’d finally gotten Angelo to agree to let her exhibit at his gallery at the end of the year. Which meant she actually had an end result after telling the fashion world she was no longer going to photograph beautiful people for a lot of money and instead follow more artistic pursuits.

Despite the skepticism her announcement had received, she was excited. She’d made her money and built her career. She’d earned the right to do what she wanted. Kevin, though very pretty and tempting, was not part of the way she needed to spend her last few nights in New York.

“Was it as good for you as it was for me?”

Kevin’s voice caressed her body like a warm ocean breeze. She could almost forgive him for such a cheesy line. Almost.

She stopped packing her camera to look up at him. She was tall at five foot nine. In her black boots, she brushed six feet, but she still had to tilt her head back to meet his eyes. And there went her pulse, accelerating from the eye contact. He’d wrapped the towel back around his waist, but his incredible chest and forearms were bare. Despite the cold room, heat radiated off him in waves. That, or her body temperature rose in his presence.

“Do you really think you’re the first person who’s tried that line with me?” She leaned back against the table and rested her hands on the top.

“I don’t care who’s tried it in the past. I want to know if it’s working for me today.”

His confidence was a turn-on. She was drawn to sexy, confident men. Discovering whether the confidence was warranted or just overcompensation was fun to figure out. She had a feeling Kevin’s was warranted.

“Working for you in what way?” she asked.

“Is it increasing the likelihood I’ll be able to see you again?”

She tilted her head to the side. “How is photographing you today supposed to make me want to see you again?”

He shifted his weight and rubbed his hands together. The movement made the towel dip lower. Her gaze dipped before she could stop herself. When she met his eyes again, he lifted a brow.

Yeah, you look good and yeah, I know it.

“You were behind the camera,” Kevin said. “That’s very impersonal. I thought you’d want a more up close experience.”

Seriously? Was that all it took for this man to get a woman in his bed? She didn’t doubt it. Hell, her body was responding, her nipples hardening and heat building in the apex of her thighs just from the promise in his eyes. The man was the embodiment of dangerous sex appeal with those dark eyes, tattoos, muscles and good looks. A combination that had caused women to make regrettable decisions since the beginning of time.

“Oh, no need. My camera has a zoom lens, you see. I’ve already got an up close and personal view of everything I wanted to see.”

His smile scattered her thoughts for a second. “And you’re not interested in seeing more?”

She was definitely interested in seeing more. If she didn’t have plans for tonight, and she didn’t have to start packing to leave New York, and she had a little more time to feel him out and decide if he was worthy of getting in her bed, she would have said yes.

Not going to bed with Kevin was good for other reasons. Guys like Kevin had the pesky potential to become more than just a fling if she wasn’t careful. Guys like him got in her blood, her head and before long, had her thinking she was in love right when he was ready to move on.

“I’m sure it would be fun, Kevin, but I’m going have to say no, thank you.” She didn’t smile with her letdown but kept her voice casual. Kevin seemed flirty and laid-back, but she’d witnessed how volatile some guys could be when faced with rejection or how others would view an accompanying smile as an excuse to keep hounding.

He raised a brow. “You sure?”

She took a deep breath and gave him one last once-over. Yeah, Kevin would definitely be fun, but she didn’t have time for that kind of detour. “I’m sure.”

He placed a hand over his heart and stepped back. “You break my heart, Jasmine, but I won’t push.”

Score more points for him not behaving like an idiot. “I appreciate that.”

“I’m in town for a few days. You change your mind, give me a call.”

If only she were in town a few days. “I don’t have your number.”

The man miraculously pulled a pen from his towel. The towel shifted dangerously low, so low she could see the dusting of hair below his waist. Magically it held in place.

“You have an ink pen in your towel?”

He chuckled and stepped close. “Always be ready.” He took her hand in his. His was large and warm but surprisingly gentle.

Heat zipped up her arm and through her chest, right down to her toes. There was a hint of cologne combined with an underlying peppery spice that heated her even more. He turned her hand palm up, uncapped the pen with his mouth and wrote a number on her wrist.

The movement of the pen tickled. The heat of his fingers branded her. Her pulse fluttered and her breathing stuttered in her chest.

His eyes lifted to hers. Desire and a dare flickering in their depths. He lifted her arm higher, blew on the ink. Goose bumps rose all over her body. Her sex tingled and her nipples tightened.