Eastern Lights (Compass 2)

On the flip side, his bad jokes turned me on, too. Just watching the way his mouth moved when he spoke, how sometimes he’d bite down on the corner of his lip when he was trying to recall a punchline. Sexy.

And when he cooked? Holy crap. He turned me on when he made eggs. I was hot and bothered when he burned toast.

His laughter, his frowns, his goofy smirks. Everything about him pulled me in, and I didn’t know if once it was time for me to move on, I’d be able to let go. The more he existed in my world, the more I craved for him to stay. The more I hoped he’d notice me as more than his roommate, more than his friend.

“You sure this looks okay?” Connor asked as we stood inside an old warehouse for his photo shoot for Passion. He was dressed in a designer forest green velvet suit that fit him in all the right places. His hair was gelled back, and he had a makeup team touching up his face as I stood nearby watching.

The whole crew around us was setting up for his photo shoot with one of the top photographers in the industry, Jean Paxon. She’d shot for the royal family in the past, so having her at our shoot felt extraordinary.

“You look amazing,” I told him as I held his coffee and my tea in my hands. “Besides, there will be outfit changes and whatnot. You’re in the best hands, and remember, you’re already a pro at this kind of stuff with your TikTok.”

“Uh, this is kind of more advanced than some silly social media app. They have like fifty lights set up! Plus, this magazine is going to be in stores. The last thing I need is to end up taking crappy pictures because of my ugly face.”

I rolled my eyes. “You don’t have an ugly face, Connor.”

“You think I’m pretty, Red?” he said in a whiny, annoying voice.

“No. You’re hideous. Your nose is crooked, your lips aren’t full, and your eyes are too far apart—but we can fix all of that in editing. I just need you to get a somewhat decent shot so I don’t lose my job. Now here, take the coffee and stop whining.”

He smirked and nudged me in the arm. “Aw, I think you’re kinda pretty, too.”

What a dork.

“Also, I like your lipstick. Red on red. That’s a good color on you.”

My cheeks flushed.

I hated that I loved when he complimented me. It only made me secretly want him more.

If he felt any kind of nerves about the photo shoot, I couldn’t tell at all. The moment he was given direction from Jean, Connor fell right in line. His skill at looking professional yet sexy as hell was impressive. He also came off as soft and approachable in some of the laughing photos he took. I loved the stills of him laughing the most because they captured his heart.

When it came time for the shirtless photographs, which Jean insisted on taking, my cheeks heated up instantly.

“Holy shit,” a crew member muttered beside me as she stared at Connor’s rock-hard body. “I can only imagine what’s hidden in those pants.”

Thor’s hammer, ma’am.

Thor’s hammer rested inside those pants, and it had powerful force behind it.

Did you know if you looked up the word Connor on Urban Dictionary, you’d find the second definition to say it stood for a huge penis? I couldn’t make that up if I wanted to, and from my own personal observation, it seemed Connor’s name was very fitting for his…assets.

Sometimes, my internet searches took me to odd places.

“Is he seeing someone?” she asked. “I might have to shoot my shot.”

The hairs stood straight up on my body as she said those words. “Uh, yeah, he’s seeing someone,” I lied.

Yup, that’s right, I lied.

I lied because the idea of any woman shooting her shot with my guy—err, my roommate—made a rage begin to rumble inside me. Who did this woman think she was talking about shooting her shot? Talking about his privates? Had she no shame in drooling over a grown man who was simply trying to do his job?

He’s not a piece of meat, lady! He’s a human being! Have some respect.

Also, did she not pick up on my context clues? I’d been throwing them out all day. I wore red lipstick because I’d hoped Connor would notice—which he did. My blouse wasn’t buttoned all the way to the top. Actually, two buttons were undone, thankyouverymuch. Also, my calves were on full display looking amazing in the four-inch heels I’d end up regretting later that night due to foot pain.

For goodness sake! Did she not notice I was on the verge of physically humping his leg on set? I was seconds away from throwing my bra at his face. My red bra. Red!