Wild For You: Forever Wild #5 by Magan Vernon, Marked Hearts Page A

bar.” He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “Just look at me and pretend that I’m the only one here.”
    “Holy shit , that’s hot!” Pam yelled.
    I blinked and looked over my shoulder at her. “What? I didn’t do anything.”
    The photographer was right next to her clicking away. “That’s good. Keep at that. Now, Wes, keep your eyes on her, but Valerie you look away and bite your lip.”
    I did as I was told, feeling absolutely ridiculous.
    “That’s it!” The photographer kept clicking. “Now, Wes, you move your lips to her neck and Valerie close your eyes, tilting your head back ever so slightly.”
    I tried not to laugh at the ridiculousness of it all and kept my eyes closed, feeling his warm lips against my skin and his smooth skin brush against my collarbone. It really was enough to make me wish that we were the only ones in the room.
    “Good, good. Let’s do another one of you two looking at each other. Embrace,” the photographer commanded.
    I opened my eyes and turned toward Wes. I wasn’t exactly sure what I should’ve done with my hands, but I just figured I’d do what felt natural. I put my right hand on his shoulder and wrapped my left hand behind his neck. He put both arms low on my waist, his fingers tiptoeing on my tailbone.
    “Does this feel natural at all to you?” I whispered.
    “It’d feel more natural if I was kissing you.”
    “Then kiss her!” Pam yelled .
    Wes smiled, a slight laugh escaping as he exhaled. “I guess we should give her what she wants?”
    “Yeah.” I licked my lips.
    He lifted one hand to the nape of my neck , slightly dipping my head back as he leaned in. His lips teased mine, hovering not even a whisper away. The photographer kept clicking while he held my gaze. Then he closed his eyes ever so slowly as his lips finally met mine. It wasn’t like it was the first time kissing me or touching me, but when I closed my eyes and tasted him it was as if a chorus of church bells and fireworks went off at the same time. There was something incredibly amazing in that moment with him and I did completely forget we were in front of a group of people until I heard a loud, throat-clearing huff.
    I jumped back and turned to see Pam standing there staring at me while the photographer and author studied pictures on the camera.
    Finally the author looked up with the first smile I’d seen on her face all day. “I think my main character just became a blonde vixen.”

A Few Hours Later
     
    Leaving the publicity firm I started at was bittersweet. On the one hand, they gave me my start in all things PR; on the other hand, a bunch of chauvinistic dudes ran the place and two of my best friends were leaving, so I wasn’t too upset when I decided to leave with them and join their new PR firm.
    After the photoshoot Wes said he would come by the office with me to get the last of my things. Once I put in my two weeks, I still had two weeks of work with pay, but basically all of my stuff was farmed out to other employees so there wasn’t much point in me going in anymore. I could have gone in by myself, but I had Wes with me after the shoot and figured it was better to bring him with me than to tell him to just stand outside. I wasn’t going to hide him anymore. Husband by mistake or not, I was in this for as long as he had me.
    When we stepped out of the cab in front of my building I immediately grabbed his hand. After standing with him and getting pictures of us making out in front of the camera, it just felt like the right thing to do. If us making out was going to be on a book cover , then I could show a little hand holding in the office.
    Wes looked down at our intertwined hands as soon as I grabbed his. “Are you sure about this, darlin’?”
    I nodded as his eyes met mine. “Definitely. Now come on. I could use your muscle to gather up my stuff.”
    “Maybe that’ll help me get some new personal training clients too, if I just walk out carrying heavy