Page 34 of Enchanted

I swallowed hard as he started to massage the oil into his chest. His indecently taut, muscled chest. “That’s…wow. I’m flattered, but I have a boyfriend.”

Rami’s smirk dimmed but didn’t disappear. “That’s okay. I can behave.”

My gaze caught on his fingers, slowly circling his nipple. “Can you?”

“I’m just doing as you asked,” he said innocently, his other hand now joining in on the action. “Got to make sure I’m well covered.”

My lips twitched. “Anyone ever told you that you’re a bit of a flirt?”

He gave a deep, booming laugh as his hands finally dropped away from his chest. “Yeah, I’ve heard that a time or two. Seriously though, I won’t cross any lines.”

“Good.” I glanced back at the house briefly. Could I trust Rami? My gut said yes, but listening to my gut in the past had led me halfway across the world away from almost everyone I knew and loved. “Can I tell you something? You’ll have to keep it to yourself.”

All humour immediately disappeared from his face. “Of course. I’m a vault.”

I chewed on my lip for a second before exhaling slowly. “It’s important that this goes well for me. I really need this job…and anything that might come from it. You get what I’m saying?”

“I do.” Rami nodded. “You don’t need to worry though. Sam’s already impressed.”

“He hasn’t seen the finished images yet.”

“He doesn’t need to. He’s an excellent judge of character. Besides, your previous work speaks volumes. If these photos turn out even close to that then you can count on him as a client for life.”

I fiddled with the strap on my camera. “He, uh, he showed you those?”

“He did. You’re a very talented man, Ethan.”

If I could stop blushing at every word out of his mouth, I’d be grateful. God only knew what Rami thought of me. “Thank you. That’s very kind of you to say.”

“It’s very honest of me,” he said with a disarming grin. “I don’t say anything unless I mean it.”

I didn’t know what to do with that. Praise wasn’t something I was used to, especially not lately. Unless you counted the nurses telling me I was doing well at sitting still while they stuck me with needles.

Thankfully, Rami seemed to sense my discomfort. “Are you ready to get going again?”

“Yep,” I said, snapping back into professional mode. “Can I get you on the chaise longue?”

The item of furniture I’d requested apparently hadn’t been hard for Sam to source. He’d told me in our email exchange that they had, and I quote, ‘several I could choose from in the house.’

Looking back, I really should’ve been more prepared for the sheer luxury I’d walked into.

Rami got comfortable, and I noted the dappled light filtered through the leafy canopy above us. It would make for beautiful shots. Plus, the shade was needed now that the sun had finally made an appearance.

It was weird feeling hot again. Another sensation I’d not experienced in a while. Not unless I had a fever, anyway. It was odd how learning that I wasn’t dying made me aware of how little I’d actually been living.

Well, no more. I was going to embrace life fully. Starting with making this the best damned shoot I’d ever had so Sam would hire me again.

“Can you shift slightly to the left?” I asked Rami. I could see the image in my mind perfectly, but to my frustration, the frame wasn’t presenting itself.

Rami did as I asked. “This work?”

“No.” I sighed. “Sorry, this is all me. I can’t quite get you where I need you.”

His lips twisted into a smirk. “I promise you can put me wherever you like. I’m very biddable.”

I laughed, clicking a couple of shots just to capture his mischievousness. “You said something similar about knowing how to behave.”

His tongue darted out over his lower lip. “I can do anything with the right motivation.”