“I always will.”
She smiles, wraps her arms around me, and kisses my lips lightly.
I love her.
I truly love her.
I may not be ready to say it aloud, but I will. Soon.
She gazes beyond me then, out the windows to the illuminated Boston Harbor, a contemplative look on her face.
“What are you thinking?” I ask.
“How perfect this all is.”
“Can’t argue with you there.”
“Yes, the sex was amazing and perfect, but I mean everything else, too. The way the light from the harbor is shining in here. How it could perfectly capture…”
“What?”
“I want to do a post from here. Standing in front of the window.”
I cock my head slightly. A post here? At my place? My private life is private. I’ve never posted anything from my home. Kay Brown will jump on this.
“You don’t like the idea.”
“I haven’t heard the idea in its entirety, Skye. Go on.”
“My three posts for the first contract were casual, formal, and dramatic. I’ve done the casual and formal. And I’m thinking…this would be perfect for dramatic. You say I have a ‘just-fucked’ look. What if I wrapped myself in a sheet, wore the lip stain, and stood in front of this window? I can adjust the lighting so it will work beautifully. I can’t think of anything more dramatic.”
I edge into a smile. “It’s brilliant.” Kay Brown be damned.
“Will you let me do it, then? Will you?” Her eyes dance.
“I will. You just can’t post that you’re at my place.”
“I wouldn’t do that,” she says. “Our private life is private.”
“Don’t be surprised if the Babbler does some kind of exposé.”
“Good point. I’ll wear a robe instead of a sheet.”
“God, no, Skye. Wear the sheet. You’ll sell so much lip stain that Eugene what’s her name won’t know what hit her.”
She heads into the bathroom with her purse and then emerges with her lips painted Cherry Russet. I watch in amazement as she sets up the shot. She tests different angles with her phone, makes adjustments to the camera. A few minutes later, she hands her phone to me and pushes me to a point on the floor.
“Stand right here. I want a profile shot against the harbor. Make sure you get a good shot of my lips.”
She takes her place at the window, and though I’m mesmerized by her beauty, I instantly know what will make her lips stand out even more.
“Wait,” I say.
“For what?”
“You’ll see.” I walk to my closet and find the box containing the black mask I purchased in New York. Talk about dramatic. “Wear this.”
“A mask?”