Camera Shy (Lessons in Love Book 1)

I wake up to the unmistakable sound of hushed arguing. I’m in bed alone, and the sheets on Avery’s side of the bed are cool to the touch. She’s been up for a while, apparently.

I slept like the dead last night. No doubt it was the comfort of a woman lying next to me. I’m not sure where to go from here. When we leave the hotel and go back home, do we sleep in separate beds? Should we just keep pretending like we don’t know where this is headed?

I know she feels it too. She’s already mine. My woman. My queen. I just need some time to break down whatever walls she’s built up because it’s clear we should be together. Every sign points to the inevitable.

Lennox really likes Avery. She isn’t interested in my impending wealth. This woman knows how to be comfortable but turns on the charm whenever she chooses. She’s intelligent and carries herself gracefully and isn’t remotely intimidated by my dad or the Harvey name. We’re hot together. The sex is glorious because it’s different than what I’ve had. Lessons or not, when I’m with her, it feels like the deepest kind of connection. Like she needs me…

Like I need her too.

Dex was always meant to leave this summer…

And Avery was always meant to fall right into my lap.

Pulling myself out of bed, I head to the walk-in bathroom of this stupidly expensive suite. Why one night in this hotel suit costs nearly two grand is a mystery to me. Although, I suppose if I was planning on living like a real Harvey, I probably wouldn’t blink at the money. But my heart is more Thatcher, my mother’s maiden name, than Harvey. Two grand to me is my mortgage payment, a month’s worth of groceries, and my cell phone payment. Even when she shared my dad’s last name and wealth, Mom raised me to be reasonable. We bought new things only when our old things broke. She always treated our money like a fleeting privilege. Mom once told me that my dad’s wealth was more of a burden than anything. She honestly believed that if Dad was born without a penny to his name, he might’ve had a chance at decency.

But I know better. I’ve seen poor men who are pussy-hungry cheaters that treat their wives and girlfriends no better than Dad treated Mom. He was always doomed. Let’s leave it at that…

Because he’s no longer my problem.

I splash a little water on my face and head out to the living room in just my briefs to see if Avery is really going to keep that stone wall up another day. I know she had a sexy dream about me last night. The way she was mumbling my name between moans and flexing her hips in her sleep, I don’t know what I did to her in her dreams, but I wish I were there so I could’ve taken some notes.

“…because it was fucking stupid, Aves. You almost ruined everything.”

Avery, dressed in the hotel’s robe, is standing at the kitchen island, staring into her phone with her eyes narrowed. She looks ready for war. But before she can say another word, I step into the front lines because I don’t know who the fucker is on the video chat who’s yelling at her, but I’ll be damned if anyone speaks to her that way.

I slide right next to her, forcing myself in front of the camera, not giving a fuck that I’m half naked. The man on the other line is brunette, his face fixed into a scowl.

“Lower your voice when you talk to her,” I snarl at him as I snake my arm around Avery’s waist. “Or you’re going to hear me raise mine.”

“Who the hell are you?” He holds his hand up, offended, like I’m being unreasonable.

“Finn, this is Mason. Mason, this is my…neighbor, Finn,” Avery mumbles, her eyes still narrowed at the screen.

I take my time pressing my lips against Avery’s temple. “You smell nice. I didn’t even hear you shower.” I don’t bother to whisper and I’m enjoying watching Mason’s lips flatten into a hard line. Good. I hope it hurts.

Avery ignores my compliment. She’s clearly too agitated at something else to play the make your ex jealous game. “We’re just talking business.”

“I know,” I assure her. I wouldn’t have interrupted out of petty jealousy. I just didn’t like the way he was speaking to her. “I’ll give you your privacy.”

“No need. We’re done.” Avery nudges me aside playfully with her hip before leaning into the phone that’s propped up against the coffee maker. “Mason, are we good? Like it or not, you know I’m right.”

“Fine,” he huffs. “Just please don’t cut me out of any more decisions.”

Avery gapes as she balls her fists up by her side, out of Mason’s view. “We’ll talk soon,” she says curtly before ending the call abruptly. Her cheeks puff before she blows out a long, frustrated breath. “Something not so nice almost came out of my mouth.”

“Rough morning?” I ask.

Her pursed lips relax into a sweet smile. “Better now. So are sex coaches supposed to get their feathers ruffled when someone raises their voice at their student?”

“Fuck yes,” I deadpan. Mine or not, you’re still mine to protect. “He doesn’t have to like you, but he sure as hell will respect you. And if Mason speaks to you like that again, he better not let me hear about it.”

“Good God,” she mumbles as she runs her hand over my shoulder and down my tatted arm. Her smile turns sly and seductive.

Ah, fuck being a man of my word. I can’t believe we didn’t have sex last night. If she really doesn’t want to do the photo shoot, I’ll let it go.

“Look, about the boudoir shoot—”

“I’m not trying to be difficult,” she interrupts. Swiveling around, she fetches a clean coffee mug from the wire rack. After pouring me a warm cup of coffee and sliding the sugar and cream already on the counter toward me, she continues, “It’s not that I don’t want to do it. Truthfully, I’m intrigued, and if you were just some random guy, I would’ve done it by now.”

“We’ve had sex at least ten times, but you’d be more comfortable getting undressed for a random guy?”

“It’s the pictures. I don’t want you to see them.” Avery pinches her eyes closed like she’s trying to separate herself from her body as she admits whatever is next. “It’s just my thing. I look in the mirror and I’m okay. But I see pictures of myself and I hate them. And I’m worried if you see what I see…you’re going to be disappointed.”

I sigh sharply. “Avery—”

“Ah, stop.” She holds up her palm. “I know what you’re going to say, and I don’t expect you to understand it. Just respect it.” She draws out the word respect, knowing I’m powerless to combat it. If she’s feeling insecure, that’s one thing. If she’s telling me to leave it alone, that’s another.

“So it’s just about me seeing the photos, not about you seeing them?” I ask.

She ducks her head and then lifts her eyes to meet mine, the mug in her hand grazing her lips. “Pretty much.”

“I have an idea.”

Avery cocks her head to the side. “What idea?”

“How about we do the shoot old-school? I have a really good film camera, and I’m still great friends with one of the TAs at UNLV. She has access to the dark room and can develop everything without me seeing it. She’s a random person you’ll never have to meet if you don’t want to. When the pictures are ready, I’ll make sure she seals them up in a box and marks them for your eyes only.”

Avery blinks at me slowly, and I know she’s trying to think of any holes in my master plan. “Old-school, huh?”

“Yeah, I usually shoot with a DSLR and it makes editing easier, but for your peace of mind, I’m happy to whip out my old AE-1.”

“Any more acronyms that I don’t understand you want to throw my way?” she sasses.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

I laugh. “You should know what a teacher’s assistant is. I went to school at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. A DSLR describes a lens, but in layman’s terms it’s just a digital camera, and my AE-1 is the first Canon film camera I ever bought for myself. It still works like a charm.”

“Oh,” she mutters, “well, there you go.”

“Mhm, now, I fixed the problem,” I say, stepping forward and closing the space between us. Taking her mug from her hands, I let out a little moan, then tuck her hair behind her ear, trying to be as seductive as possible. “Now say you’re mine.”

“What?” she croaks then clears throat. “Sorry, what?”

“In the studio, Avery. Say you’re all mine. I promise you’re going to like the photo shoot, and you’re going to love what I do to you after.” I wet my lips as I throw my final Hail Mary. If this doesn’t work, I’m done pushing the issue. I won’t make her do the photo shoot, but the way I’m feeling at the moment, I sure as hell am going to cave and fuck her mercilessly on this kitchen counter.

I wrap my hands around the smallest part of her waist and trace the outward curve of her full hips. I resist clamping down and digging my fingers into her body. How many days has it been now? I went three months without sex and now my eyes go fuzzy when I haven’t had Avery for a few days? Here begins my descent into feelings for a woman, yet again, and dear God, I hope it’s for the last time.

“Okay,” Avery finally answers, pulling me out of my wicked thoughts. “I’m yours… In the studio. The film camera,” she says with a small shrug, “is clever. Good work around. How’s Friday?”

“That’s three days from now.”

“Indeed.” She smirks. “That’s fast calendar math.”

“Smart-ass,” I snark back. “What’s wrong with tonight?”

She presses her hands against my pecs, but she doesn’t push me away. Her hands linger. “Because I have to work—it’s what Mason and I were just arguing about. It’s an emergency.”

“Is everything okay?” My eyes fix on hers. They look a little gray today, like a cloudy green sky.

“Yeah,” she says, exaggerating her nonchalance. “Totally.” She lets out a deep breath before she’s honest with me. “It’s the first time in my career I’m worried that it’s too late. When Mason told me about Legacy Resorts, I thought their rebrand was just focused on bringing in their company more revenue. They aren’t performing at the top of their market, but they certainly aren’t at the bottom. I thought… Well, anyway, it turns out there’s so much more at stake.”

I watch her brows furrow as her forehead wrinkles with concern. I fight the urge to smooth away the worry lines. “Are they fudging their numbers?”

“Oh, no. The board of directors voted and they want to dissolve the company and sell the resorts off in pieces. They have so much potential and are already very competitive. They just want to take the simple, safe path out of this. They’d rather take their cut and sell the properties to the big names. And sometimes it makes sense for a business to do that, but Legacy could be wildly successful. And if they give up now, thousands of people will lose their job.”

“Why wouldn’t they just go work for the new resort?”

Avery removes her hands from my body and reaches for her coffee mug. “That’s not how big acquisitions tend to go. In my experience, usually only twenty percent get to keep their jobs and usually that twenty percent takes a major pay cut.”

I watch her eyes dart back and forth. She’s not being evasive. Her mind is just elsewhere. She said she had to work…clearly, she’s already working. I’m slowly learning that Avery’s biggest asset as a brand strategist is that big, beautiful brain. “You seem nervous.”

“I’m not nervous. I’m just… I’m used to telling business owners and CEOs how to connect with their consumer base. I’ve never had to convince a board of directors that their company is worthy. It’s hard to get people to see something that’s so obvious when they are dead set on a misguided narrative.”

I raise my brows at her. “The irony.”

She gestures up and down her body with her free hand. “Don’t even. It’s not the same thing.”

“It is. You are obviously beautiful and sexy and amazing in every way, but you refuse to acknowledge it. So what would work for you? What would get you to see yourself correctly?”

She grins at me as her cheeks fill with the lightest shade of pink. “Apparently, a very persistent boudoir photographer who bribes me with sex.”

My laugh comes out like a roar. “Keep thinking, sweetheart. I don’t think you can use that tactic on Legacy Resorts.”

“Well, it won’t be what I resort to first, that’s for sure. Especially if I want to take the job they offered.” She pumps her eyebrows back at me.

“What?” Tired of standing, I grab Avery’s hand and guide us to the couch. She sits right next to me and tucks in her knees carefully, still holding her mug full of coffee.

“That feels so good to say out loud. Technically, I’m not supposed to say anything, but it’s been eating away at me. That’s what Mason and I were arguing about.”

“They don’t want to offer Mason a job?”

She scrunches her lips. “SEO specialists aren’t exactly hard to come by. Their offer is for me and me alone—only if I can convince the board of directors to keep the company intact. Mason made up some story about how the CMO was a misogynist pig, but I think he suspected they were interested in bringing me on board, which is why he tried to keep a buffer between us. I might’ve gone behind his back and reached out anyway, which is why he’s so furious at me.”

“Fuck him,” I mumble. “How’s the offer?”

“Phenomenal. A seven-figure salary, perks, great benefits.”

“So, is that a promotion?”

She must hear the skepticism in my tone. “Yes. Why?

“Well, aren’t you your own boss right now?”

“Ah,” she exhales. “Indeed, I am. But most of my job is laying out a plan, providing instruction, and then moving on, letting the company execute my vision. Mason does more of the website and traffic maintenance, so he gets to create longer-term relationships with clients. I’ve always been a little jealous of that. For once, I think it’d be pretty great to have one dedicated project and see it through. To stick around to help the company shift and pivot when things get tricky again.”

I smile as I tuck my hands behind my head. When I can postpone no longer, I ask her the main question on my mind. “Where is the job?”

“There’d be some travel, but it’s wherever I want. They’ll even pay for relocation if I request it.”

Legacy Resorts and I seem to have the same agenda. Step one, offer Avery everything she deserves. Step two, take her away from her piece of shit ex. I squeeze her knee, unable to play it cool. This is just too perfect for it not to be meant to be.

“So it’s a done deal. Work your charm, save the company, secure the job, and hey, if you’re looking for a fresh start, I think Las Vegas looks really good on you.”

Her smile is half-baked at best and for a while, she doesn’t say a word. Her eyes turn down as a heaviness falls over the room. Our bodies are touching, but I can feel the distance she just put between us.

“It’s not that simple.”

“Mason?” I ask.

She nods solemnly. “If the roles were reversed and he abandoned me and the business, it’d be unforgivable. I don’t want to be in a relationship with him, but that doesn’t mean I don’t still…” She trails off, raising her shoulders and then dropping them.

“Still what?”

“Respect what we built together. There was a point in time when we only had each other. When one of us doubted, the other believed. We both logged twelve-hour days, no weekends for years, trying to build something out of nothing. The funny thing is it’s harder to let go of our business relationship than our actual relationship.” Avery exhales sharply and I watch her entire body tense. “Look, I already know what you’re going to say.”

“What am I going to say?”

Her tone grows mocking. “He’s an ass. Here’s your chance for revenge. He doesn’t deserve you. If he were in your shoes, he’d—”

I hold up my hand to stop her. “I was going to say, I think it’s very impressive how loyal and considerate you are.” I tap the tip of her nose affectionately. “Whatever decision you make is the right one. And if you hate it, it’s never too late to make a change.” She seems startled by my response, so I ask, “What?”

“Nothing,” she mutters, yet her lips barely move and her words come out as more of a whisper as her eyes widen. “Nothing at all.”

“What?” I ask again. “Tell me.”

“I’m just really used to my friends—well, friend—telling me what decision to make. It’s refreshing to hear you say you think I’ll make the right choice.”

“Well, I do. Truly.” Her eyes lock on mine and her lips part slightly. The urge to slide my tongue between them almost overcomes me. I stand up, leaving her.

“Where are you going?” She holds out her hand, but I’m a few inches out of reach.

“If I sit here with you a moment longer, I’m going to fuck you silly, and I need to keep it together until Friday.”

She pats the couch with both hands and pouts like a child. “I already agreed to the photo shoot.”

I smirk at her. “I realize, but I don’t know if you’re actually going to follow through.”

She narrows her eyes, her seafoam green pupils turning to slits. “So you don’t trust me.”

“Oh, I trust that you’re a lot smarter than me, and I only have one bargaining chip. I’m holding onto it.” I wink at her before running my finger over my chin. “And another lesson for you, Queen. Say no every now and then. Just because you can. Make him wait. Make him work for it. It’ll make a man fucking feral for you.”

Her clipped smile turns into a grin. I turn toward the bedroom but whip back around when I see Avery biting her lower lip in my peripherals.

“Something on your mind, Avery?” I ask in a teasing tone.

“What’s the kinkiest thing you’ve ever done?”

Three women at once. “Nothing crazy.”

“I’m serious.”

“I’m not as experienced as you’re probably thinking,” I say with a grimace. I’m probably far more experienced.

“You’ve still had way more sex than me.” She blinks at me, the look on her face not exactly cautious, definitely not innocent…it’s…

What is that? Curiosity? “Go ahead and ask me for whatever it is you want to try. I’m pretty confident I’m going to say yes.”

“I had this dream last night and you were…” She trails off and gently holds her hands to her throat. I let out a controlled breath, begging my cock to stay under control because I can’t hide an erection in my thin briefs. “Did you use to do that with your ex?”

“Yes. But what did I tell you about compar—”

“Did she like it? Did you?” Avery interrupts, her curiosity at its peak.

Deep inhale. Long exhale. “Yes, and yes.”

“In my dream, it was really intense…in a good way.” She clears her throat, trying to fake a bravado. “I want to know how it actually feels. Do you know how to do that without hurting me?”

I nod slowly. “Definitely.”

“Okay, then, if you’re okay with it, I’d like to try that…among some other stuff.” Now her eyes hit the floor, like her brave request exhausted her and she wants to crawl back into her cave of shame.

Nuh-uh. I won’t let her. I take two strides and plant myself back on the couch. I can’t seem to control my hands. Laying her backward first, I hover over with my knees planted, one between her thighs, one braced against the back of the couch. She’s pinned underneath me, completely at my mercy.

I fight the urge to squeeze her full breasts and roll her nipple between my thumb and forefinger. I can clearly see she’s not wearing her bra, and I just want to open her robe and lay my dick between her perfect tits. But I’m trying to prove a point at the moment.

I settle for brushing her hair away from her chest and watching her ragged breathing as her chest moves up and down rapidly.

“What other stuff?” I watch her eyes dart back and forth between mine. “Ask.”

She shakes her head back and forth. “I don’t know anything else specifically,” she admits. She looks overwhelmed, so I take the lead.

“I take it you want me to choke you and pull your hair? You want me to boss you around, pin you down, spank your ass, and make you scream when you come?”

Avery blinks at me slowly, like she’s absorbing and debating. Eventually, she nods.

“When you tell me you can’t take any more”—I lean in close to her ear—“you want me to get deeper.”

She nods again.

“You want me to show no mercy and take that pussy down, while I praise you for how wet and tight you are, don’t you?”

She closes her eyes. “I never thought I’d like it when a man talks to me like this. But I like it. I really like it. You’ve turned me into someone I don’t recognize, Finn.”

I trace her lips with my fingertips. “It’s because it’s me, Avery. You trust me.”

“Yes, I do,” she agrees.

“Because you know I’m going to fuck you hard, then hold you all night after. I promise. I just want to make you feel good. None of the bullshit. You deserve better than you’ve had.”

Her cheeks turn pink as her smile spreads. I love watching her melt under my affection. This is a sexy game at the moment, so it seems a little out of place to tell her that I know she wants my heart and I’m ready to hand it over. All she has to do is ask.

“Friday then,” she murmurs.

“Friday then,” I parrot as I climb off her and grab her by the hands to pull her upright. Once she’s seated, I turn back to the bedroom, needing the shower now. My cock is as hard as steel. Even still, I pause at the door and catch her gaze from across the room. “Avery?”

“Yeah?” She’s a little breathless.

“I can’t wait to teach you what I like in the bedroom.”

She quirks her eyebrow, fierce determination painting her face. “I can’t wait to learn.”