Chapter 2
Preston
Killing Eli wasn’t an option, but it sounded good at the moment.
Maybe I’d have felt a little less homicidal if Casey would’ve actually looked at me so I could’ve at least tried to guess what he was thinking. Vague comments about Lane looking pretty and the way he’d completely ignored Eli’s comments about what I’d like to see him in didn’t help me either.
Eli giggled as Lane sighed, looking guilty. “I have to go help Wilder with something. He’s been texting like crazy about a form that his boss dumped on him that’s due to the city by Monday and he’s booked all day tomorrow.”
Casey sat there quietly for a moment. “Oh.”
Lord. What was he thinking?
Seeing him at the shoot had been completely unexpected, so I’d been awkward from the get-go. Eli’s teasing grin as I’d walked in had said he was up to something, but I hadn’t realized what it was until I’d gotten farther into the room.
Casey was beautiful.
Wide-eyed with a faint blush on his face, his gaze had been glued to the models. His curiosity had given me ample time to watch him as he’d taken everything in. Unfortunately, finding it fascinating didn’t always indicate true interest. I was no closer to figuring out who he really was and what he wanted than when we’d first met, and I wasn’t sure what to do about it.
I hadn’t wanted to back him into a corner or make him uncomfortable in any way, so I’d tried to take things slow. Slow had turned into absurd, though, as I realized how shy he was. Shy didn’t always mean sub, and with no way of knowing if he was interested in me, I’d backed off.
It looked like Eli had gotten tired of watching my idiotic behavior.
Roman needed to spank him and find that damned cock cage again.
Eli nearly purred as he heard Lane’s comment. “Preston will take you out to dinner. I’m sure you two have countless…fascinatingthings to talk about.” I got a wicked grin from Eli. “Like all the pretty things you saw today.”
I was going to kill him.
Casey still seemed frozen in place, but eventually, he took a deep breath and looked up at me, those wide eyes filled with questions. “I think I could use a drink?”
Eli started giggling again, and before I could answer, he butted in. “I’m sure he’d be glad to help get you all liquored up. Of course, he’d have to escort you home and make sure you made it to bed safely.”
Casey blushed and sent a pleading look over to Lane. Without giving Lane a chance to respond, I looked over at Roman. “Come get your brat before I kill him.”
Roman sighed, setting his camera down before striding across the room. “Brat, I can’t leave you alone for thirty seconds.”
Not cowed in the least, Eli posed sexily and gave Casey a wink. “Think he’ll spank me for being bad?”
Casey’s mouth fell open, but he shrugged. His instinctive shyness was clearly at odds with Eli’s insanity. He watched, fascinated, as Roman reached down and hauled Eli off his lap, giving the brat a quick smack that made Eli purr. “I was only being helpful. Casey thought we looked sexy.”
Then he glanced back at Casey as he leaned into Roman’s embrace. “Didn’t you?”
Casey nodded, looking somewhat stunned at Roman’s rough handling of Eli.
Eli’s smile turned brilliant. “See.” He gave Roman a teasing pout. “Casey doesn’t have anyone to take him to dinner. Lane had to back out. I told Preston he needed to take Casey out. He was promised food, so it’s only fair.”
Roman shrugged then glanced between Casey and me. “Have fun. I’m taking the brat home as soon as I get some clothes on him.” Then he gave Eli a stern look before turning his gaze back to Preston. “We might need to adjust the next shoot. I have a feeling Eli’s ass will not be looking pale and virginal.”
Casey licked his lips temptingly as he stared at the insanity.
“That’s fine. We’ve got the puppy shoot coming up, so we can adjust things if we need to.” Working around Eli’s ass had become routine.
Casey’s mouth fell open, but he didn’t seem horrified—just very surprised.
Was it the casual reference to the spanking or something else? Hell, we were going to land in the middle of a sexual harassment lawsuit if we weren’t careful.
Roman nodded as he started dragging Eli away, palming Eli’s ass under the see-through nightgown. Eli waved and winked at Casey. “You should come see the puppies sometime. They’re so cute.”
