Selena didn't know how much Ross Vasiliev was willing to pay her for the photo shoot. Last she checked, nude photos were worth hundreds. Now that she was going to do even more photo shoots with this guy, she wondered how much she would earn by the end of all this.

Agreeing to participate in more photo shoots with this guy wasn't difficult at all... not when the photographer was Ross. Somehow, she found herself curious about this man and willed herself to do whatever it took to get to know him. Of course, for now she was merely physically attracted to him. For sure, they had some common interests but she was sure there was more.

There was just something about those grey eyes — the way they'd darken when he saw her photos and the way they'd light up when he shared with her his dreams — that made her instantly agree to whatever he'd ask for.

Never knew I was the submissive type, she thought dryly.

The two of them had decided to travel to Phuket for the next photoshoot. Ross had mentioned it'd be quieter there and therefore Selena's privacy wouldn't be impeded.

Selena was about to ask why they hadn't gone to somewhere quieter if he had that idea; somewhere like his house... but she decided not to because that question didn't seem very appropriate, especially when she had some tingly feeling with regards to this unfamiliar man.

The resort in Phuket they patronised was more than stunning. It looked like a hut, its white walls decorated with intricate Thai paintings. The hotel was situated near the beach and the view they were provided with was majestic. Selena walked into her hotel room and gasped at the sight. She didn't know she was this close to the beach. She immediately opened the full-sized window and gazed at the deep blue hues of the ocean. Tropical trees surrounded the beach and few people were seen strolling around the island. Indeed, as Ross had said, this place was perfect for her nude photoshoot—it had a peaceful ambience and it was comfortably quiet.

If only I came here with my non-existent boyfriend, she thought as she appreciated the sight before her in awe.

Selena had visited Phuket a couple of times during her modelling career. She just didn't come here alone with a man. Usually there would be a group of them helping out with the photoshoot, and now that she was going to be shot by Ross alone, she couldn't help feeling like a bundle of nerves. However, excitement was simultaneously filling her veins; she was expectant of something.

Selena and Ross had agreed that today would be a rest day and that tomorrow they would do the shoot instead. His reason was that he'd expected them to be exhausted after the long plane ride. Selena begged to differ. She always loved adventures and travelling would never be tiresome.

It was barely evening; there was so much she could do. She changed into her cream-coloured bikini and immediately headed out of the hotel to the beach.

If anything, Selena loved the way the waves danced around in the same rhythm over and over and the sounds they made. It seemed to calm her down and soothe all her pain and worries. The beach was her favourite location of all time, for she could somehow feel like herself again and momentarily forget about everything else in the world.

She placed her pinkish beach mat on the sand and plopped herself down on it. She wore her sunglasses and just as she was about to close her eyes, a large figure appeared before her. Ross' face was blocking her view as he stared down at her. The side of his lips curved upwards, his grey eyes bright and alive.

Selena allowed her eyes to roam downwards. After all, she had her sunglasses on and there was no way he'd catch her checking him out.

She was right to think that he would look ten times hotter without his clothes on. She had no idea why he always wore loose clothes whenever at work, hiding his assets when he could've shown them off. His ripped chest muscles seemed to contract a little and those toned abs of his were fairly visible... yummy. Selena could practically feel a tiny drip of saliva trickling down her mouth as she stared at the masterpiece before her. Also, his navy blue board shorts were very very distracting—hanging on his lower body loosely, showing the obvious lines that made her want to look further inwards...

Ross didn't realise the woman before him was checking him out, for he was instinctively doing the same. It's a sin for someone to look this beautiful, he thought to himself as his eyes travelled from her face to her neck, then to her body. The tiny cream bikini she was wearing barely covered half her ginormous breasts— heck, it was as if she deliberately wore this to seduce him—and the fair skin of hers illuminated under the evening sunlight, making her glow. Her bikini bottom seemed to be even sexier than the top; the ribbons holding the panty together were really slim and the panty practically managed to cover her most private part. A little movement could well undress it...

Ross stood up straight. "Mind if I joined you?" He asked, shrugging his shoulders while showing her his bag of beach-related stuff.

Selena's dark blue eyes never left his tanned body. "Sure." She could feel her heart starting to pound faster.

Ross set up his own beach mat beside her then lay down as well.

The silence between them felt more than awkward thus Selena decided to put on some sunscreen to distract herself. She felt his strong gaze on her but she didn't know how to react, so she just continued spreading the oil around her. However, she couldn't reach her back as much as she tried to. She decided to give up applying the lotion.

"Need help with that?" The question that Selena wished would pop up came. Ross had volunteered to help her! She couldn't control her excitement.

She pursed her lips and nodded, trying her best to look unbothered as she flipped her body around after handing him the lotion, her back facing him.

Selena felt something wet against her back, almost instantly being replaced by a pair of warm hands. Soon, she felt the big hands caressing her back, roaming slowly from the top to the bottom. She closed her eyes involuntarily, fully immersing in the soft touch of Ross'. It was an indirect— or rather, quite direct— touch but it had already sent jolts of electricity from where he'd touched to her most intimate part. Goosebumps erupted on her skin from the slightest touch of his and she tried to avoid moaning, although her breaths were obviously becoming heavy.

Then, just as she had wanted, Ross' hands travelled further downwards, and suddenly she was thankful she wore a micro G-string today. Out of the blue, Selena felt a pair of hands cupping her globe fullness, warmth radiating from them. She gasped, both out of shock and satisfaction.

This gasp caused Ross to jolt. He almost immediately removed his hands from her butt. "I'm sorry," his voice was hoarse and remorseful.

Selena was back facing him, so he didn't get to catch the crimson on her cheeks. For some reason, she'd enjoyed the way his big hands touched her, and she didn't really want him to let go. She felt her G-string getting damped so she flipped her body over such that she could have a clear view of the beach again, adjusting her sunglasses. "I-i-it's fine." She could only whimper.

Selena then decided to initiate the conversation before things get more heated between them.

"So, um. Have you ever considered being a model?" She asked, out of pure curiosity, her eyes glued to the waters. Then she frowned, realising she sounded like she was praising his looks. Which she was, but she didn't really want him to think so.

She could imagine him smirking. "I was one, actually... before I got interested in photography and decided that's what I really want."

Holy crap, a model turned photographer... so hot. "That's cool." Cool? Really, Lena? That's all you can come up with?

"When did you stop modelling?" She continued while looking towards him. When she realised he had been gazing at her the whole time, her heart started hammering again.

Ross looked away. "Five years ago. Probably even before you started work."

Selena rolled her eyes. "That might not necessarily be true. I'm not that young, Mr. Vasiliev."

This caught his attention. His grey eyes swept towards her. "Really?"

"Yeah," she folded her arms. Somehow she wanted him to think she was a mature adult. "I'm twenty-four this year, though my baby face betrayed me."

His eyes lit up, his lips tugged slightly upwards. "You're not underage, then?"

"Hell no," Selena laughed, "man, I don't know if I should be honoured that you think I look like a kid."

Suddenly she caught something in his eyes— fiery? Need? Desire?— but it disappeared within a split second, and she was convinced it was just her hallucination.

Ross averted his gaze from her and grew silent, not bothering to reply her, clearly thinking about something.

•••