Surviving (Surrender 2)

“Okay, do what I tell you.”

Jewel puts me on the floor in the middle with my back facing the camera and positions two guys on each side. They face forward and cross their arms. Then she comes to me and removes the short robe. I throw my head back over my shoulder so my hair hits the floor so you can’t see my bra. She takes several shots and then wants to move us.

Her assistant comes to give me the robe, and I throw it on quickly and stand up. She repositions them, and I step back in directly in front of Declan. I start to remove my robe again, and he grabs my hands.

“No fucking way.”

“Dec, listen to me. I’m going to be pressed up against you. I’ll take my bra off, and they will place my hands and arms where they need to be. No one will see anything. She’s not going to shoot a side angle on me. This may not even look right, but it may be ‘the shot.’”

He stares at me with heat in his eyes and then turns to the other guys. “Turn your heads and do not fucking look around until I tell you to.”

They groan, but I know it’s more for Declan’s benefit. The assistant removes my robe and places my face in Declan’s neck and his hands on my ass. He is instructed to look directly at the camera with his chin on my shoulders. When we have it right, Jewel tells everyone to look back at the camera and starts shooting pictures.

When we are done, she tells everyone to leave but Declan and me and puts us in different positions but careful to always keep me covered.

After another half hour, we are done. Declan comes with me to the dressing room and doesn’t leave my side until we walk out. No one is around, so I stop him and yank him towards me. I lift up to kiss him softly but he grips my neck and attacks my mouth.

“Sparkle, not sure I like the stunts you pulled today, but you were sexy as sin.” He whispers against my lips.

I try to pull back to speak, but he whispers again. “One thing I learned today is that every time you wax for the rest of your life, I’m gonna kiss every inch of it. That shit hurts.”

I giggle against him but the butterflies in my stomach like the sound of it.

Chapter 46

Couples Shower

Sunday I wake up to the smell of coffee and the radio blaring in the living room. Declan is dancing around the kitchen making breakfast, and I watch him from the doorway. He sees me and pours my mug of coffee.

“What are you so happy for?” I smile at him.

“The countdown is on. Three weeks from today we will be married and on our way to– Ha! I almost told you”

“Please tell me, Dec! I really need to know what to pack, and it’s my honeymoon too!”

“Nope. But I can help you pack, I promise.”

“Okay buddy, but if I don’t have the right stuff, you’re going shopping with me.”

“I promise. Now hurry up and finish your coffee. I want the proper amount of time to shower together. Then I’ll drop you off at your parents.”

“What are you doing today?”

“Heading to the store and then my dad’s coming here to meet me before the big party tonight.”

“What party?”

“Once you girls are done, your parents invited everyone for a couple’s shower. Before you get mad, I was instructed not to tell you until this morning. Your mom didn’t want you to say no.”

“Declan, this is crazy. We are already asking our friends to travel to Florida for our wedding, we can’t expect gifts and parties too!”

“Who says? Why can’t we enjoy the same things that other couples do? Who cares if our friends buy us a blender or shit? You’re not missing out on all this because you are marrying a rock star. You deserve it. Hell, I deserve it, and I don’t give a shit.”

“Did you just refer to yourself as a rock star?”

He raises his eyebrows and spins around with his arms out to his side like a fighter. “Take it in baby, you’re marrying a rock star!” he jokes.

“You are such an idiot! Come here and kiss me good morning.”