Full Exposure(18)
Author: Tracy Wolff

She reached for her purse, started to slip her cell into the small evening clutch. She hesitated, her hand frozen in midair over the small phone. He’d called again, twice while she was shopping and then once more as she was doing her makeup. He’d left messages the first two times, spewing obscenities, demanding to know where she was. By the time she’d accidently answered his third call, he had calmed down, had tried to keep his voice seductive and his words sweet. Somehow she’d found that more disturbing than the threats.

Taking a deep breath, Serena turned toward the door without picking up the phone. She didn’t want anything to ruin her night with Kevin, particularly explanations about an obsessed and unknown caller.

With a sigh, she grabbed her wrap and stepped into the sitting area of the suite the Matthias Corporation had booked for Kevin. He was on the balcony, leaning negligently against the iron rails as he watched the boats cruising the bay.

Her n**ples peaked at her first sight of him. He’d been gorgeous in dirty jeans and bare feet and even more beautiful nak*d. But nothing could have prepared her for her first glimpse of his public persona. She’d seen pictures, of course, but they didn’t do justice to him. She wasn’t sure anything could.

His suit was perfectly fitted—black with a barely visible silver pinstripe. Beneath it he wore a silver silk shirt open at the collar. His glorious hair was pulled back into a short ponytail and he’d traded his signature gold hoop for a small diamond stud. Her mouth watered before she could stop it.

Telling herself to get a grip on her out-of-control libido, Serena crossed to the open door and murmured, “I’m ready.”

“Good.” He turned and the look on his face was worth all the damage, and more, that she’d inflicted on her poor, unsuspecting American Express.

Kevin clenched his fists and shoved his hands into his pockets. Tried to turn away, to focus on the ocean view. Anything to keep from grabbing Serena, throwing her on the nearest bed and saying to hell with the museum opening. And to hell with the dedication and gallery opening tomorrow. As good as she looked, there was no way he’d let her out of his bed for the next twenty-four hours. Maybe forty-eight.

Her dress, what there was of it, was red—the same red as her n**ples, he thought, and then regretted it as he felt himself harden uncontrollably. The top tied behind her neck, halter-style, and bared an amazing amount of her beautiful br**sts. He couldn’t stop himself from staring and was rewarded when he saw her n**ples harden beneath the silk. He wanted to kiss her, to put his mouth over the thin fabric and suck those luscious n**ples into his mouth. He wanted to—Kevin cleared his throat, forced his eyes to follow the rest of the dress, though it cost him to look away from her br**sts. Of course, the rest of the dress wasn’t any better. While it fell straight to just above her knees, it was tight enough to mold every delicious curve. Definitely tight enough to give him a heart attack.

Her hair was tousled, wild, like it was after he’d made love to her. Her eyes were dark and mysterious, her lips a slick red that begged to be kissed. Delicate earrings dangled from her lobes, shivering gently with each breath she took. Layers of pearls circled her throat, enhancing its delicate lines. And the thin, ice-pick heels inspired more fantasies than he could give voice to.

“You look—” Amazing, fabulous, sexy as hell. None of the words came out—he was tongue-tied for the first time in his adult life. “Good.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I look … good?”

He licked his suddenly dry lips, reached for her with a hand that had suddenly turned unsteady. “Good enough to eat.”

Serena’s eyes traveled over him, lingering at his broad chest and then at his obvious arousal. “I’m looking forward to it.” A quick grin flitted across her lips before she turned to get her camera bag.

His hands itched to touch her and he waged a hard-fought battle to keep them to himself, but he managed to control himself. Barely. Her excuse for a dress was cut all the way down to the top of her ass, leaving her delectable back completely bare. Her golden skin glistened and his mouth actually watered.

To hell with control. He would spontaneously combust if he didn’t get his hands on her soon. Placing a hand at the small of her back, he was rewarded by her slight shiver, by the humming awareness that swept between them.

She leaned into him, briefly pressed her body against his as she placed her lips next to his ear. “I want you so bad,” she whispered, before turning back to check her equipment.

His whole body tightened, his instincts on red alert as he watched her bend over her camera bag, her glorious ass swinging in rhythm to music only she could hear. He reached for her, determined to feel her body pressed against his, even if only for a minute. Her sudden scream distracted him and he watched in shock as she shoved her camera bag away even as she stumbled backward into his arms.

He caught her, and swept her behind him as he looked for the unseen threat. “What’s the matter?”

She pointed a shaky finger at the bag. “Sc—scorpion.” She took a shuddery breath. “Really big scorpion.”

“What?” he demanded incredulously, his eyes sweeping across the carpet surrounding them.

“There’s a scorpion in my camera bag!”

He settled her on the couch behind him and reached for the bag. “How’d it get there?” he wondered aloud as he stooped to pick up the bag.

“I don’t know, but it’s there.”

He turned the bag over, shaking its contents gently onto the floor. Then watched, in shock, as two cameras and numerous rolls of film fell to the carpet, followed quickly by the hugest, ugliest scorpion he’d ever seen.

“Kevin!”

“I’ve got it.” He brought his shoe down firmly on the poisonous arachnid, not at all concerned that he was squishing it into the expensive carpet.

When he was assured the thing was dead, he picked up her camera case and shook it vigorously before searching every pocket and compartment thoroughly. Serena remained quiet as he searched, her face pale as she studied the squashed scorpion.

“Where was it?” he asked grimly as he crossed back to her.

“In the side compartment.” She shook her head. “I can’t imagine how it got in there.”

“When’s the last time you opened that part of the bag?”

She shrugged. “Yesterday? The day before? I keep extra rolls of film in there, so I’m constantly digging through it.”

“Well, I’d love to know where you picked it up,” he commented. “There aren’t any scorpions in the bayou, so it had to be somewhere here or in one of the airports.”

“I don’t know.” She shook her head again as she began to put her equipment back into the case. “It’s barely been out of my sight.”

He retrieved a few Kleenexes and picked up the bug’s remnants as Serena secured her cameras. When she was finished, she picked up her purse and wrap again before asking, “Shall we go?”

“Absolutely.” He opened the door with a frown, his gaze still focused on where he’d killed the scorpion. “It could have stung you.”

“It was just a random thing, Kevin,” she murmured, her hand soft and trembly on his arm. “Right?”

“Yeah, sure.” But he couldn’t get the image of Serena—poisoned and dying—out of his head.

She seemed to sense his preoccupation and pulled him around until they were standing stomach to stomach, her arms resting lightly around his waist. “Don’t let it ruin the night.”

He pulled his gaze back to hers with effort. “I wasn’t planning to.”

“Good.” She licked her lips and winked before gliding through the door. “ ’Cuz I’ve got big plans.”

His eyes narrowed. He didn’t know what game she was playing, but two could play it, even if he didn’t know all the rules. “I can’t wait.” He followed her, closing the door behind them and double checking to make sure the latch had caught. He couldn’t help grinning as he watched her h*ps sway as she strolled down the hall.

“Have I mentioned how much I love those shoes on you?”

She glanced over her shoulder, her eyes wide and wicked and more than a little bit aroused. “What’s not to love?”

He inclined his head with a grin. That was a sentiment he could definitely get behind.

One of the hotel’s limos stood waiting at the curb when they got downstairs and he helped Serena into it, before settling next to her. “Balboa Park—Museum of Art,” he told the driver.

“Actually, the Museum of Photographic Arts,” Serena corrected him. “I have a friend who’s on exhibit right now. That’s why I wanted to leave early—to see Glenn’s work.”

Jealousy clawed at him, but Kevin beat it down mercilessly. What the hell was wrong with him that the mere mention of another guy’s name had his stomach tying itself in knots? “You didn’t tell me.”

She shook her head. “No. I wanted it to be a surprise.”

“What kind of surprise?”

“You’ll see.” Her smile was mysterious, enchanting. And when she slid her small hand into his much larger one, his gut relaxed. It didn’t matter how many people Serena had in her past. She was with him now.

“Are you nervous?” she asked.

“About your surprise?” His eyebrows rose inquiringly.

“No.” Her mouth twisted impatiently. “About the opening tonight! I’d be a nervous wreck. My own permanent place in a major, world-famous art museum. I can’t imagine.”

He laughed, though the words were eerily reminiscent of ones Deb had spoken to him years before. “It’s not such a big deal.”

“It’s a very big deal. Maybe not to you, Mr. Big Shot Sculptor, but to the rest of us mere mortals it’s really exciting.”

He shrugged, shifting uneasily in his seat. “I guess. It’s just always been about the work, you know?”

“Your vision.” She smiled into his eyes.

“I know it sounds corny.”

“No. You’re right. It is all about what you see. But, Kevin, what you see and how you see it is so extraordinary.”

“Serena—”

“No. I know you don’t want to hear it, but I need to say it. I was impressed, hugely impressed, with your work long before I met you. It’s a big part of the reason I took this assignment. But now, having seen you work, I’m awed. Your talent, what you can create, awes me.” She squeezed his hand as her eyes gazed steadily into his. “Really.”

He swallowed past the sudden lump in his throat, nodded because he didn’t know what to say. “Thanks.”

She nodded back. “Not that you aren’t an incredible pain in the ass when you’re working.”

He grinned. “That goes without saying.”

“Oh no. No, it doesn’t. It is however, a sentiment that bears repeating.”

He gave a fake smile. “Ha-ha, aren’t you funny?”

“It’s a gift.” She winked at him before leaning over and resting her cheek on his chest.

Wrapping his arms around her, he pressed her as close as possible. He loved this new, relaxed Serena, with her easy smiles and loving gestures. She still had moments of darkness, times when she was so far away he despaired of ever reaching her again. Not that he blamed her—if he’d had her life, he doubted that he would have half her courage or grace.

He snorted silently. Who was he kidding? Even with his relatively normal life, he was no match for her kindness and composure. A curious tightness started in his chest as he held her against him, a tightness that told him more than he wanted to know about his feelings for her.

He was oddly disappointed when the limo glided to a stop a few minutes later, as close as the driver could get them to the Museum of Photographic Arts.

The driver came around to help them out and Serena listened as Kevin and he debated where and when to meet. As she waited, she studied the Spanish architecture that was so much a part of Balboa Park. Most of the museums were two- or three-story stucco buildings with tile roofs. Flowers and trees abounded, as did sunshine, and Serena drew a deep breath of the cool, clean air into her lungs. The bayou might be Kevin’s all-time favorite place, but she loved San Diego, had always promised herself that when her photos really caught on she would buy a place here and spend half the year. Not that she didn’t like Louisiana, but the peace and tranquillity that permeated most of San Diego really appealed to her. Maybe because she’d had so little peace in her own life.

She continued contemplating the building as she took a few deep breaths. Excitement thrummed through her as she thought of what the next hour would bring. Not just a look at her good friend’s truly wonderful photos, which was exciting enough on its own. But also something more … stimulating. She looked at Kevin through her lashes as he escorted her past the little coffee stand doing a brisk business and into the building.