Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 77887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Right?
“Should we try it now?” Emerson bounced on his toes and gave me an eager, hopeful expression. “Just to make sure we can work well together?”
Giving the rest of the studio a searching glance, he smiled back at me. “Everyone else seems to have left for the day, so even if it’s awkward, we don’t have to worry about it.”
“Would you be comfortable with that?” When he gave me a blank expression and cocked his head, I tried again. “It just being the two of us, I mean?”
“Oh.” The impression he gave was that it hadn’t even occurred to him. “Roman said you weren’t a cannibal.”
There’d clearly been a conversation I’d missed somewhere along the way, but I nodded like it was perfectly reasonable. “He’s correct.”
Emerson clapped his hands together and gave me a beaming smile. “Perfect. What do I get to wear?”
That was a very good question.
With nothing planned, I decided to let Emerson choose. “Do you want to try on a more masculine style that goes with dress pants or something more feminine?”
He bounced from foot to foot before hurrying back over to the whiteboard. “Which ones?”
“The black and purple one on the end, and the white and pink one on the other side.” I waited to see what he’d say as he scurried back and forth studying both.
I wasn’t sure what he was thinking until he started muttering to himself. “Oh, this is so hard. Do I want to be the sea witch or Cinderella?”
Basically yes.
I loved that he’d figured out the sea witch take so quickly. Most people hadn’t realized right away that the men’s concepts had fairy tale connections too.
“I’m Cinderella today.” He swirled around as he made his announcement, ready to jump right in. “Where is my dress?”
Taking his request seriously and not letting myself laugh, I nodded toward a door in the back of the room. “There are a few things we need to go over first.”
Nodding, he straightened like a little soldier doll and looked very serious. “Yes, Sir.”
Ignoring how my body wanted to react to that one word, I stayed on task. “This first time is just practice. So you will let me know if you’re uncomfortable in any way, physically or emotionally. Is that clear?”
One of the original models had a panic attack just as we’d started to tighten the damned thing, and it’d made me a bit paranoid.
Blinking at me, Emerson’s mind seemed to whirl. “You said it wouldn’t hurt?”
For some reason that came out sounding disappointed, but before I could figure out a way to respond, he blinked and lit up like a light bulb. “Oh, because some people don’t like being tied up? I don’t understand why, but Eli said it’s a real phobia.”
Clearly, that was not going to be an issue for Emerson.
“Yes, some people find being…restrained difficult.” Was there a better way to have said that?
Trying to ignore his innuendos was fucking distracting.
“I don’t.” He gave me a beaming smile before shifting into a more serious expression and peeking over at the door I’d pointed to. “I also don’t mind being naked or hard or being spanked, because sometimes a nightie just needs pink cheeks to make it look right.”
And now I was the one blinking.
“Thank you for making that clear.” Was that a good start? “I’m glad you can communicate what you are comfortable with, but we’ll do our best today to keep it low-key and simple.”
Somehow, this had to be Roman’s fault.
I was a professional.
I was a professional.
Pushing the image of his pink ass out of my head—because I could recall that image clearly—I straightened and focused on the task at hand.
Making sure the shoot wouldn’t give him the impression I was a creep.
“Remember, we’re discussing any problems and I need you to be honest.” Heading toward the back room where the finished corsets were kept, I smiled when Emerson started bouncing along beside me.
“Yay. I’m going to be Cinderella.” He nearly giggled as he rubbed his hands together. “Ian is going to be so jealous.”
“Ian?” The name wasn’t familiar, so I knew it wasn’t a model Roman had wanted me to consider for the job.
“My friend.” Emerson’s eyes widened as we walked into what would be his dressing area. “He’s a little and he loves playing and books and things like that.”
Ah.
What was I supposed to say to that, though?
“I’m glad you can make him jealous.” Hopefully, things would go well enough that he’d have something to brag about.
Something professional to brag about.
Fuck.
“Oh, there it is.” He skipped over, looking so innocent I knew he was playing it up as he put his hands behind his back again. “No touching.”
That was right…no touching.
I was a professional.
“You’re going to have to touch to put them on.” I was aiming for charming, but he peeked over his shoulder and gave me a sweet pout.