Blindfold

“Oh really?” He raised an eyebrow. His gaze ran over my body. “That dress is amazing, but I think I have more self-control than that.”

“It's not the dress,” I said softly. “It's what's under it.”

“And what's that?”

I took a step towards the gallery door, then looked over my shoulder at him. “Nothing.”

“Fuck.”

I chuckled and walked through the double doors into the large, airy space where the exhibit was showing off the city's newest talent.

An arm slid around my waist, pulling me back against a hard body. “That was naughty.” Cade's voice was rough. “I should punish you.”

“I'll hold you to that later,” I replied. “For right now, let's just enjoy the show.” Cade made a sound that was suspiciously like a growl and my stomach twisted. I twisted out of his embrace, knowing I wouldn't be able to control myself much longer unless I moved. I reached over and took his hand. I threaded my fingers through his. “Show me my photos.”

It had taken me weeks to convince Cade to talk to his art gallery owner friend about perhaps taking on a couple portraits. When he'd shown his friend his work, the response had been even better than I'd hoped. Cade had gotten his own show.

It had taken him almost two months to convince me to pose again. I had no problem posing for Cade. The idea of him photographing me in erotic positions or while we were making love turned me on, but I hadn't been sure I was ready for others to see me like that. But, Cade had been very persuasive and the evidence of that was being displayed at the back of the gallery.

The front was all paintings since those could be seen through the front windows, but once we made our rounds and greeted those admiring the work there, we stepped around a divide and I saw myself from all angles.

The photographs were all black and white, though highlights of color had been applied in various places. In some, the elaborate mask covering my face had been given back its rich red velvet. In others, the crimson lingerie. The only things that were never colored were my hair and eyes. While plenty of women had dark brown hair, my eye color was unique enough to identify me. Somehow, I doubted my school would appreciate the artistic value of one of their teachers posing half-naked. And then, of course, there were the ones where Cade and I were making love. He always took full shots and then cropped down to the elegant lines and curves he wanted to show. Never obscene, but definitely erotic.

He'd titled the series “The Claiming of Her,” though he assured me that, in his mind, I was the one doing the claiming. I wasn't sure who was more nervous about their first reveal to the public, him or me. Sure, it was my body, but when it came to art, that was a matter of soul.

Still, my skin flushed as I saw on the walls what I'd only seen before in Cade's studio. I reached up with my free hand to self-consciously pat down the up-do I'd managed to wrangle my curls into. I'd started letting my hair grow out again just before I'd done the photoshoot and it was now long enough now to pull back. I'd originally started growing it because Cade had asked if I would, but I had to admit that it helping to disguise me from the woman in the pictures was an additional benefit.

“Relax,” he murmured as he squeezed my hand.

I didn't get a chance to respond as Alejandro, the gallery's owner, approached. He was a handsome older gentleman, probably in his mid-sixties, thought I was too polite to ask. He'd also made no bones about the fact that he found both Cade and I extremely attractive. I'd almost been put off by his open comments when we'd first met, but it hadn't taken long for him to put me at ease, and the flirting was just part of the usual banter now.

“Bree, darling!” He kissed both my cheeks, letting his hands linger on my shoulders until Cade glared at him. “Cade, darling!” He repeated the embrace. “Have you decided to allow me to paint you?”

Cade rolled his eyes and I laughed. From the moment we'd met, Alejandro had been trying to convince Cade and I to pose nude for him, a process that they both informed me would result in the three of us sleeping together. We'd declined and he'd respected our decision, but he still liked to tease us with it every once in a while.

“Looks like a great turn out,” I said as I looked around, trying not to think about what all of the people around me were looking at.

“It is,” Alejandro said, his dark eyes sparkling. “Everyone has been practically breathless with anticipation over this exhibit.”

“Only because you promised them the most sensual pieces they'd seen in years,” Cade countered.

My blush deepened and I hoped Alejandro would mistake it for anything other than what it was. Judging by the way his eyes widened ever so slightly, my wish hadn't been answered. He knew. To my surprise, however, he didn't say anything about it, but continued on as if he hadn't just figured out who Cade's model was.

“I did,” he admitted. “And these are. Everyone admired your paintings and I've already had offers on three separate pieces.”

“Really?” Cade sounded completely caught off guard.

Alejandro smiled. “I told you that you're quite good.”

“See,” I said. “It's not just me who thinks it.” I wrapped my arm around his waist and he put his arm around my shoulders. I leaned against him, enjoying the solid warmth of his body.

“As for these,” Alejandro continued, gesturing to the pictures all around us. “I've been hearing words like 'alluring,' 'seductive' and even 'captivating' being thrown around.” His eyes sparkled. “And more than one person wondering just who these amazing models could be.”

Cade stiffened slightly. He'd just realized that Alejandro had figured it out.

“I tell them that the anonymity is what makes them so wonderfully mysterious.”

My boyfriend relaxed. “Thank you.”

Alejandro made a dismissive gesture. “Now, there is someone I need for you to meet. Please come with me.”

Cade and I followed Alejandro across the space, weaving between the small groups that were forming at each of the photographs. I kept my chin up and a smile on my face, willing myself not to blush as I heard men and women alike complimenting my body.

“Daniel Rickman.” Alejandro stopped next to a short, stocky man with an expensively tailored suit and rings that were too ostentatious to be anything but real. The man turned towards us. “I'd like you to meet the artist, Cade Shepard, and his girlfriend, Aubree Gamble.”

“Mr. Rickman,” Cade said as he shook the other man's hand.

“Daniel, please.” He smiled and then turned to me. “Miss Gamble.”

“Bree,” I said. His handshake was firm, not too clingy but also not too abrupt. This was a man who spent a lot of time shaking hands.

“Daniel is an art dealer,” Alejandro explained. “Actually, he's the premiere art dealer for the entire east coast, and one of the most well-known dealers in the entire country.”

I expected some sort of false modesty from Daniel, but he didn't say a word, just accepted the compliment like a fact and moved on.

“I've been looking for an exciting new piece to display,” he said. “And I think this is it.” He pointed to the picture in front of us.

Of all the ones Cade had submitted, this was probably the most risqué. The full series of shots had been of me on my hands and knees, coming while he pulled a string of small metal balls out of my ass. He'd managed to find one where my arm covered my nipple, though the curve of my breast was fully visible. He'd then cropped it so that it showed my face half-turned towards him, pleasure contorting my features, the side of my naked body back to my hip, stopping just before revealing what he'd been doing. What really had completed the shot, however, had been the metal balls lying across my hip, just visible enough that people could guess why I looked like I was enjoying myself. I still remembered how nervous he'd been asking me if he could use the picture in the show. It was the one I'd been the most anxious about too, though now I was glad I'd agreed.