Chapter 1

Michaela emerged from her silver SUV and marveled at the scenery around her. Tall trees, a manicured lawn, the quiet breeze in a quiet neighborhood. It was certainly visually stimulating. The peace quieted her nervous state. And when she looked up, the photographer was standing at the door.

A short, but warm welcomed waved her up the driveway. She clutched her purse then. The brief reports of the man she had heard so much about, played over and over in her thoughts. Some of the girls had told her he was very quiet, but very talented. The numerous models he had photographed had always specifically requested him.

Many of them cried when he declined. He was simply too busy, he would tell them. Lucky is what Michaela felt most as she neared the tall, handsome man; he turned his back to her, entering the studio before she did. His dreads were neatly pulled back and fell between the center of his strong shoulders.

The contrast of his muscles, constricting with his movements and the length of his hair made him look mythical.

"I'm Cody," was the only thing he said as he closed the door behind her. They shook hands. Michaela stopped dead in her tracks once he flashed a smile and a glimpse of his light green eyes. How the hell was that possible, she wondered incredulously. She had never been intimate with an African-American man before, but this one only reminded her body of one thing when she looked at him.

Her body was already calling out to him. She was sure he could hear it, but his eyes revealed nothing. Cody only moved about in silence, getting ready for her shoot. A variety of soft music could be heard from some hidden speaker. Michaela also appreciated the fact that he was a simple music lover.

"They sent a few outfits. They're in the back," he began, "you might want to try them on back there, as well." This time he looked deeply at her. His eyes saying something that she didn't understand. It distracted her that he was so unreadable, but it also intrigued her.

Cody was just a little irritated at the way women threw themselves at him, instead of engaging him in an intriguing dance of foreplay. Though he wasn't sure how long he could dance with this one without wanting to get between those luscious thighs.

She chose to dress in the back. When she came back out, there was a small smile in Cody's eyes. Again, it intrigued her that he had some secret thing about her, entertaining his thoughts, and refused to share it. They took many photos the first part of that morning. Many times Cody came closer to her for a few facial shots, his body heat melding hers.

"We're going to take a break," he said. "There's something I need to check out." He left her there. Puzzled, Michaela watched his tall figure. She checked out the way his ass fit nicely in his jeans. She was jealous of the way his T-shirt hugged his chest, shoulders, and waist.

He was thick, strong, and hard and her body sighed, thoughts of having passionate sex with him teased her, tantalized her. When he came back, a look of displeasure clouded his expression.

"Michaela, your photos are beautiful," he told her when he emerged from the dark room. "But I wouldn't be a fair photographer if I didn't tell you that you wouldn't get the most out of your career if you didn't change something about them."

"What do you mean?" Michaela asked.

"Follow me."

"You see this, it's gorgeous, but there is no passion in your eyes." He told her once they were surrounded in red darkness. "You look timid, uptight, and that is a killer for a model."