Chapter 40

Wade

Oiled up to within an inch of my life, I walk down the corridor in the direction of the set.

I've done photoshoots before, but nothing like this. For starters, I'm in nothing but a pair of Calvin Klein boxers and jeans, which is a sharp contrast to the amount of hockey gear I usually wear. Also, the studio is huge, and busy with lots of people rushing around. In addition, I'm feeling nervous. It's a huge brand, and if they like me, then it could be another great income stream for me.

Barefoot, shoulders back, I walk on to set, hoping that no one notices that my heart is practically pounding out of my chest.

Positioned in front of the camera, wearing low hip-hugging jeans with a pair of black panties peeking out along the top that match the pair of boxers I have on, Kali is naked from the waist up, looking back over her shoulder at the camera. With her jet-black hair flowing down her back like a waterfall of licorice, she looks beautiful, and I have to pinch myself because I can't believe she's mine.

Or that she wants to be with me.

She's the best thing that's ever walked into my life. I never want her to leave.

Quiet on the flight here, I thought she changed her mind about us, but the way she made love to me last night touched me in ways I never thought possible, and I know I'm in love with her.

It wasn't sex; it was sensual and slow, every move deliberate, she rocked my soul. The closeness was more than sharing our bodies; it was our minds and hearts sewing themselves together as if becoming one. It was a life altering moment. One I will never forget.

Hypnotized by her, I watch on as she moves without the photographer telling her what to do. Frame after frame, she nails each pose. When we arrived, her photographer friend persuaded her to do some shots of us together for her social media, which Kali agreed to and vanished to hair and makeup.

Although she doesn't need it, she's perfect just the way she is.

"You can see why she's the best, right?" Leon appears by my side, which has me ruffled because Kali is practically naked, and I know he likes her. He's made that very clear.

"You're late."

"I'm here now. Fucking hell, she's beautiful."

If he wasn't my agent, I would punch him. Dickhead.

Dressed in an expensive suit today, Armani, by the looks of it, because these are the types of things I notice now. Leon looks every inch a sports agent. Handsome devil too.

"Where did you get that?" I point to the enameled hockey pin on his lapel.

Leon looks down at the shiny gold pin on his collar. "Got it when I played for the Eagles one year. All of us did. Marcus gave them to us."

"How long have you had it?" Confusion overwhelms me, but something deep in my brain starts firing like a small firecracker that's ready to go off.

"I think I got it when I was about twenty-two."

I calculate that in my head. With around twelve years between Leon and me, I would have been about ten, which works with what I'm thinking. It looks exactly like the hockey pin the man who visited my mom always wore. Fucking hell, what does it all mean? Something in my gut tells me that man is definitely linked to me in some way, and I want to know more as what feels like a ball in the back of my throat threatens to choke me.

"Was it just an Eagles thing?" I suddenly feel hot all over.

"Yeah, every player got one and Marcus always wore one too."

"Right." The wheels started spinning faster in my brain.

Surely not? No way.

That's impossible.

I ignore my ridiculous thoughts about Marcus being my dad, although, thinking about it, he sure as hell looks a lot like the man from my dreams.

I park those thoughts for now and clear my throat and focus my attention back to Kali. My goddess.

Kali turns her head in the opposite direction, hand on top of her head which is tilted back slightly, making the light cast a perfect shadow along her jaw, she peeks through the gap between her bent arm and shoulder and does something with her face that makes her look like the icon she is.

Staring down the lens of the camera, she's a work of art.

Face serious until she sees me and smiles, calling me over. "Get in here. We were just having a bit of fun." She waves at Leon. "Hey, you."

"Kali."

I walk up behind her and whisper in her ear, "You look beautiful," then move to stand in front of her.

My back to the wall, and her back to the camera, she informs me she's excited about doing some photos together.

"Was that always the plan?"

"Nope. You were here when Sophie asked. I'm only doing a couple with you."

"Do you miss this?" I wouldn't blame her if she did. It's exciting.

"A little. Most days, not at all."

"Keep your eyes high, Collins," Leon shouts over, making Kali roll her eyes.

If only he knew I've seen her tits already, and every day, because we can't get enough of each other. Her rosy pink nipples have become my addiction.

"Everyone's seen my boobs, Leon," she calls back. "Okay, so put your thumb in my belt loop and drag it down a bit to see the name of the brand along the waistband of my panties." She takes my hand and positions it exactly where she wants it. "You look hotter than hell, Wade."

Her praise boosts my confidence and calms my nerves. "Yeah?"

Her voice so quiet no one will hear her, she follows it up with, "I'd very much like to dip my tongue into those divots of your abs."

"Later," I promise, making her smile.

"Can't wait." Then she's directing me to move into position. "If I place my head here"—She tilts her head up and lengthens her spine—"then you put your hand on my jaw, and slightly on my neck." They covered the remnants of her bruising with makeup. "Move your fingers closer to my ear and your mouth closer to mine." I do everything she asks. "Closer."

I press my naked torso to hers, flattening her tits against me as she pushes her thumb into the loop of my jeans, mimicking my position but on the opposite side.

"Take a slight sidestep to your right, widen your stance, so we can see the top of your boxers." Which I do, while Kali bends her leg ever so slightly, making her hip pop.

Wrapping her other arm around my back, she looks straight into my eyes. "Relax your jaw, chin up an inch. Drop your shoulders just a little for me. And breathe." Smiling up at me, I feel my body melting into hers. "Now look at me like I'm all you see. The one you can't live without and need more than oxygen."

Hot all over, my heart speeds up inside my chest, banging against my ribcage faster than an Olympic runner. I won't need to fake any of what she just said. It's exactly how I feel about her.

"Beautiful. Hold it," Sophie, the photographer, calls out and follows up with a loud click. Kali knows Sophie. Model turned photographer, they worked together in the past, and I get the sense with Kali directing me today, this will be an easy shoot for her.

I move my mouth closer to hers and stare at her with intensity, desperate to kiss her and show everyone she's mine.

She blinks and I blink back as the camera clicks away in the background, Sophie's voice muffled as the room falls away like we are the only two people here. The focus of the camera on us, with mine only on her.

She's all I see.

And I see myself with her.

Forever.

"I love you, Wade." Her words are my undoing, no longer caring who is in the room, I crash my lips to hers.

A mixture of comments swirl together from people on set as I push my tongue through the seam of her lips, our tongues touch, tasting and licking each other. Nothing has ever felt this good.

"Woah."

"So hot."

"Keep kissing. Just like that."

"That's the shot."

"What the fuck, Collins?" Leon shouts, making us both disconnect as we burst into laughter.

"I love you." It feels so good to say it out loud. I kiss her lips again. "I'm so deeply in love with you." I never want to stop telling her.

"I want one of those photos to announce we're officially a couple, Sophie," Kali tells her looking straight at me.

"Oh my God, you two are going to get me fired." Leon flings his hands in the air.

"I pay you, not Marcus."

He holds his hands to his chest, looking like he's about to have a heart attack. "Oh, thank fuck for that." His eyes bug out as if a disastrous thought drops into his mind. "But if you get fired for having a relationship with Kali, you won't have any money to pay my fee."

Fuck, good point. Marcus was the only thing preventing us from announcing our relationship. Well, that and the age difference thing, which I don't give a shit about anymore. Let the press print what they want about us. And then there's my contract and if I lose that Kali might lose hers too.

Kali's features are soft and happy as she says, "Marcus already knows."

I choke. "What? When? How?"

"I spoke to him. He was cool about it all," she says casually. "Yesterday."

"And you didn't think to tell me?"

"I was waiting for the right moment."

"You telling me you love me was it?"

"Yes."

"You love me?"

"With all my heart and soul, Wade Collins. I love you. Your job is safe, as is mine."

"You're the best thing to ever happen to me."

"Ready to go official?"

"I was born ready." I was made for her, as she is for me.

Later, once we left the set, we announced our relationship. Having never being one for social media before, I couldn"t wait to announce us to the world. Which we did, using a black and white close up photo of us kissing from the photoshoot. The most unexpected thing happened after; an outpouring of comments full of love and excitement is what followed next… mostly. But I didn't care about the negative ones. I can handle anything with her by my side.