For her.
3
_____
Tara
Hundreds of people were staring at me, but for once I didn’t even care. The handsome, striking, powerful man kissed me with a heat that made my heart jerk awkwardly in my chest.
It didn?
??t feel like it was just for the cameras.
My thighs quivered, but he held me tightly and securely in those thick arms. His massive body holding mine so gently made every part of me melt into his embrace.
When Jared finally stood me back on my feet, the screams around us made my ears ring. As I stared up into his eyes, his cocky grin made me giggle. “Now that was a bouquet toss,” he chuckled.
He took my arm again, escorting me up to the top of the runway. Then he turned me back to the cameras for one more pose, with his arm possessively around my waist.
I realized with a start that we probably made a good-looking bride and groom. His dark suit was perfectly formal for a wedding day, and I was certainly a blushing bride.
My feet were beginning to scream in pain as Jared led me to the backstage area, while the student designers all ran out to take a bow.
“Thank you,” Jessie said to me as she rushed by. “That was amazing.”
Jared didn’t release me, leading me to a chair in the corner. “I could feel you limping,” he said, his deep voice soft with concern. “Let’s get you out of those shoes.”
Lifting my skirt up to my mid calves, he gently slipped off my shoes, setting them aside, and I let out an appreciative groan.
His strong thumbs running up the arch of my soles made me gasp. It was a bit strange having him caress me so sweetly since we’d known each other less than half an hour, but then again, we’d already kissed. Even though that was obviously just for the show, maybe we’d bonded a little. I certainly wanted more. I wondered if he did, too.
“There are many kinds of torture in this world,” he said quietly. “Tight shoes are surprisingly high on the list.”
“Thank you,” I said, sighing with relief. “Those were really starting to hurt.”
“Where are your own shoes?”
“It’s all right,” I said standing up. “I have to go change anyway. I can’t let this dress wrinkle.”
Jared stood, looking around the staging area that had now turned into the after-party. There was already a lineup for the minuscule washroom in the far corner, and nowhere else for me to change.
I knew that professional models were used to being semi-naked in public when the situation demanded it, but the thought of it made my flesh crawl.
Jared’s midnight blue eyes darted around as if he were scanning the space. “Grab your clothes and meet me backstage,” he said, giving my hand a squeeze as he left.
Slowly making my way through the crowd, I found my clothing and purse where I had stashed them in a cubby, along with the special padded hanger and bag for the wedding dress.
By the time I made it backstage, the area had been deserted by everyone else. Jared ushered me into an alcove that he had created by somehow clipping the curtains up and together into a little tent.
“Wow, thank you,” I said.
As I set my things down on the chair he had found, I remembered that I couldn’t escape this dress on my own. “I’m sorry to have to ask…” I said, turning to look back at Jared over my shoulder.
He examined the row of tiny buttons down my back, stepping closer. “Of course.”
Jared followed me into the alcove, as I swept the skirt out of the way so he could stand directly behind me. My entire body tingled again from being so close to him, but then his fingertips skimmed between my shoulder blades. Heat rushed through me as my stomach tightened from his touch. Having his attention directed on me was an unnerving thrill.
“Sorry if I’m slow,” he said, his breath warming the back of my neck. “My chunky fingers are going to need a minute.”