Chapter 16

Chapter Sixteen

J udd studied the last few shots, pleased with the results of the day's shoot. Though he loved photographing wildlife in their natural habitat, there was something equally as satisfying working with humans.

If he was totally honest, he'd missed the contact with other people during his travels.

Particularly one person.

He grinned as Abby packed up the last of the clothes, sent him a saucy wave, and sauntered around the pool's edge, aiming one last sexy shimmy his way before disappearing from view.

He hadn't slept a wink last night—or in the early hours of this morning—when he finally made it back to his room. Images of Abby—her seductive smile, the noises she made as he thrust inside her, how soft and pliant and welcoming she'd been in his arms—had replayed across his mind over and over.

She'd made him feel incredible. Then the guilt had set in.

He wasn't playing fair. He hadn't told her the whole truth.

Would she forgive him once she knew everything?

Closing the shutter over the camera lens, he wondered if she'd do the same once he told her the truth: effectively blot out their friendship despite the many years they'd shared together, despite everything they'd been through.

He never should've taken the risk. He should've told her everything before they got physical. However, he'd lost his mind once his libido went into overdrive and started doing all his thinking for him.

He wanted her with a fierceness that scared him and now he'd had a taste, he couldn't get enough. He'd barely been able to concentrate on work today, with her flirty floral skirt swishing about her thighs every time she moved, her white camisole top outlining her breasts to perfection, resurrecting recent memories of how they felt, how they tasted…

No woman had got under his skin like this, ever. He'd had a few liaisons over the years, but those women knew the score; he rarely settled in a country for longer than a few months before moving on to the next job and it suited him.

But Abby was different, and despite every intention to keep this thing between them light-hearted, he knew by sticking around in Sydney permanently after this shoot he'd changed the rules of the game.

"Your cheerfulness is disgusting." Tom hoisted most of the equipment onto his broad shoulders and held out his free hand for more.

"Tough." Judd grinned and handed over a camera while zipping up the last bag.

"I liked it better when you were a grumpy workaholic."

"Why?"

"Because then I could lord it over you about all the fun I was having. It's hell when you're strutting around with a smug grin."

Judd hoisted a bag onto his shoulder, wondering when he'd last felt this carefree. Tom was right. He was usually so focussed on his work, so cut off from people, he probably never appeared genuinely happy. Which explained why he couldn't keep a goofy grin off his face today considering happy didn't come close to describing how Abby made him feel.

"I can't help it if I'm a chick magnet."

Tom guffawed and hoisted a few more bags, as if the heavy camera equipment draped over his shoulders weighed less than a kilo. "If I hadn't helped you with girl trouble before, you'd have no clue with Abby now."

"Helped me?" Judd chuckled, remembering the few times Tom had helped him. "Let's see. The first time you helped me in Venezuela, I ended up with the village chief chasing me through the jungle. The second time in Botswana, I almost ended up being a tribe's main course, and the third time, the mayor of Little Rock wanted a public hanging for ‘ruining his daughter's reputation', end of quote. So, pardon me if I don't give you any credit."

Tom grinned. "Okay, so maybe those other times didn't quite work out as I planned. But look at you now. From where I'm standing, looks like things are hotting up between you two, you lucky dog."

The big guy had a point. All Judd could think about was getting Abby alone…and naked…all the time.

Tom snorted. "By that dummy look on your face, I rest my case. These tropical breezes have sent you troppo. Not that I blame you. Abby's quite a girl."

"You said it."

He fell into step beside Tom, his mind already on the remainder of the day and the many ways he'd like to spend it with Abby.

"You ever thought of doing the wedding thing for real one day?" Tom asked.

Fear made Judd's heart stall for a second. He wasn't the marrying type and had a feeling Abby would love to do the whole white dress and flowers thing for real one day. And now they'd moved beyond friendship, she might expect more from this thing they shared than he was willing to give.

"Butt out. And stop being so damn nosy. You're really starting to piss me off."

Tom chuckled as he walked away.

So the big guy liked to ask the hard questions? Didn't mean Judd had to answer them.

Besides, he had better things to do, starting with finding his best buddy and coercing her into spending some quality one on one time with him.