Her Woman

Alijah stood with a smile on her face as she thought back to that morning. She had awakened in Kieran’s bed, but she had been by herself. It was the first time she had looked around his bedroom. The furnishings were nice, and she could tell that they were expensive. The bed, as well as his dressers, were done in rich dark wood, with gray marble on the top as well as for the handles on the chest. She had woken up alone, and she had wondered if Kieran had even bothered coming to bed for a moment.

Pushing the covers off her, she’d gone to get out of the bed when something on the nightstand caught her attention. She had picked it up and discovered a note from Kieran informing her that he had to leave early to help Nik and that he would see her later. Beside the letter, she found a small bowl of mixed fruit. It had made Alijah smile to herself. They weren’t flowers, but it was still sweet even though he would deny that being the reason for his actions.

“What do you mean, ‘No one called you?!” Erin’s angry voice brought Alijah out of her reverie.

They had pulled up to the address that one of Erin’s bosses had given her, and from what Alijah could see, there had been some confusion.

“There has to be some mistake. Ford said he spoke with the owner and that they agreed to allow us to do the shoot here.” Erin tried to explain.

“Well, I’m the owner, and I don’t know anyone by the name of Ford. I’m sorry. There must have been some misunderstanding.” The man who had greeted them at the door stated.

“Look, couldn’t you just let us do the shoot here anyway?” Chayse tried. “It won’t take any more than about two hours.”

“I’m sorry, but I have an actual paying group coming in thirty minutes, and they’ve reserved the place until an hour before we open tonight.” With that said, the man backed into the building and closed the door.

Alijah turned to her best friend, and she could see the anger and devastation in her eyes. She was upset right along with her. It was clear that her boss had lied to her, and in Alijah’s eyes, that was just downright shady and unacceptable.

“What am I going to do?” Erin questioned, and Alijah could hear the emotion in her voice. “If I don’t deliver to the magazine as I promised, they will pass me up for the next person in line.”

“It’s okay, Erin. We’ll think of something.” Alijah told her as she began to pace the sidewalk.

“Why would Ford do something like this to you?” Chayse questioned as she began to rub Erin’s back.

The other woman scoffed, and fire entered her eyes as both women watched her realize something. “Because if I fail, he’s next in line. That son of a bitch!” Erin exclaimed, drawing attention from a few onlookers.

“It’s okay, Erin. We’ll find you another place.” Chayse reassured.

“Any place we find today will be last minute, and whether it’s worth having or not, they’ll charge us an arm and a leg.” Erin sighed, defeated.

At that moment, a light bulb went off in Alijah’s head. She looked down at her watch and saw that it was only eleven o’clock. So, they had plenty of time.

“No, it won’t,” she told Erin. “Ladies, back to the car.”

She didn’t give them time to question her as she led the way back to Timothy. Thankfully, they hadn’t gotten any of the equipment out of the trunk. When they were settled in their seats and Timothy was in the driver’s seat, Alijah spoke again.

“Timothy, can you take us to Mirage, please?”

Timothy nodded as they pulled off into traffic. On the ride over, Chayse and Erin asked her what Mirage was, but she only told them they would see. It took about fifteen minutes for them to pull up in front of the building. Both women stared in awe at how beautiful the outside of the building was. Chayse thought that she could make a photoshoot work outside of the building if she had to.

Getting out of the car, Alijah told them both to wait while she went inside for a minute. She made her way through the front door and stepped inside. The lights were dimmed, and she didn’t see the guys anywhere, but their cars were there, and Alijah figured they were upstairs.

Looking around, she found the door that led to the staircase that would lead her upstairs. She took the stairs two at a time and followed the light and the sound of voices to what she discovered was an office. All four men were standing around the desk, looking at something. It was Paetyn who noticed her presence first.

“Alijah?” He stated in a questioning tone, causing the other men to turn to her.

“What are you doing here?” Kieran then asked, “Didn’t you have something you were supposed to do with your friends?”

“That’s why I’m here,” Alijah stated, turning to Nik. “I need your help.”

Nik turned and leaned against his desk to face her. “Okay, beautiful. Tell daddy what’s wrong.” Nik stated with a smirk.

Alijah leveled him with a glare as Kieran threw him a look that could kill. Then, a smirk of her own slid into place on her lips as she decided to shut him down.

“Fine, I will,” Alijah stated, turning to Kieran. “Erin’s boss set her up, and the place she was supposed to do her photoshoot wasn’t a place where she could. We have to find her somewhere else to get it done, or they’re going to pass over her for the magazine cover, and her asshole of a boss will get the spread.” As she finished, she could hear Cruz chuckling lowly.

“I guess we know what Kieran is in the bedroom,” Paetyn murmured.

“And that’s why you need my help?” Nik questioned. “You want to do it here?”

“Yes, please. This means so much to Erin.”

Nik shrugged. “I don’t see why not. We don’t open until nine tonight. Just be done by then.”

Alijah surged across the room, wrapping her arms around Nik before leaning on her tiptoes and kissing his cheek. She was so excited about being able to save Erin’s magazine spread for her that she hadn’t noticed that Nik’s hands were caressing her waist until Kieran pulled her away from him. Nik’s face housed a toothy grin, and Alijah rolled her eyes at him.

“Oh, one more favor,” Alijah stated. “If I can get one of you to show me where the light switches are downstairs and help us bring in the equipment, that would be great. Then we’ll stay out of your hair.”

“I’ll help you,” Paetyn spoke up. “I left some papers we need in my car.

Alijah nodded and was about to walk off when Kieran turned her around. He pulled her to him and kissed her, instantly possessing and claiming her lips. His hands snaked down her back to her ass, and he squeezed firmly, causing her to gasp. He pulled back, and his hazel orbs were locked onto her green one. He leaned in once more and gave her several pecks before releasing her altogether.

“Did you get that message, Nik?” Paetyn asked with a smirk in his friend’s direction as he waited at the door.

“Loud and fucking clear,” Nik responded as he went back around his desk. “I get it. She’s yours.” He then stated, directing his sentence at Kieran.

Alijah glared at them. “No, I’m mine,” she informed before following Paetyn out of the door.

Both women had looked around the space. It was beautiful and one hundred times better than the tiny jazz club would have been. As Paetyn set done the last of their equipment for them, he flashed them a smile before going back upstairs with the others.

“That man is fine,” Chayse stated after she was sure he was out of earshot. Alijah and Erin both nodded in agreement.

“Yes, and he’s really sweet too,” Alijah told them.

Over the next twenty minutes, Chayse scoped out the club to decide where she wanted to do the photoshoot exactly. She was impressed by the way it was divided. Half of it was distinctly club, the other half a lounge. She figured it would be best to do the pictures in several different areas. She had chosen three outfits for Alijah and two for Erin. Alijah watched her cousin, knowing that this was her method.

Once Chayse had chosen the three spots she wanted to shoot, Alijah helped her play with the lighting for them. When Chayse told her she was satisfied, she left them and went over to get dressed in her first outfit. She was a bit nervous as to what Chayse had chosen for her. She knew her cousin had a great eye, but she still worried. Alijah’s tattoos were done in places that couldn’t be seen when she was wearing regular clothing. That alone let her know that she would be wearing something a bit...risqué.

She watched as Chayse pulled out the first thing she would be wearing. It was a white turtle neck style halter top and a pair of white boy shorts. It wasn’t too bad.

“The white will look good against your skin and make the colors of your tattoos pop. Go change, and then I’ll do your makeup,” she stated while Alijah watched her dig around and pull out an outfit for Erin.

Walking off to the bathroom, Alijah changed and fluffed up her curly mane. Though she knew Chayse would do so as well. When she walked back out, Chayse had her different camera’s set out on the table. As well as her makeup kit and a small traveling vanity set.

Alijah sat down and allowed Chayse to do her makeup. It looked as if she had put Erin’s hair into a cute up-do while she had been changing. With her hair up, it showcased the tattoo on the back of her neck.

Chayse didn’t put much makeup on her. Enough to make her eyes shine and her lips look kissable. When she finished, she began fluffing her hair out slightly. Separating some of the curls as Erin came from changing. She was wearing dark, ripped jeans with a mint-colored bra and a dark, distressed vest that was left open. Alijah thought about asking why Erin wasn’t half-naked but contributed to the fact that all of Erin’s tattoos were housed on her upper body. Her back, stomach, arms, one above her breast, and the one on the back of her neck.

When Chayse got done fluffing her hair, she moved aside so that she could do Erin’s makeup. Once she was done, they followed Chayse over to the bar since that was where she decided they would start.

“So, what type of idea have you come up with, Chayse? What do you want us to do?” Alijah questioned, leaning against the bar.

“Well, I want you to act like you’re in love. For the next couple of hours, you are her woman. I want it to be sexy, spicy.” Chayse informed them.

Alijah rolled her eyes. She was not surprised, but it didn’t bother her any. It wasn’t the first time she would do a photoshoot that looked intimate with Erin. The first time was when Chayse was breaking out and needed diversified pictures for her portfolio.

“Let’s get started,” Chayse stated.

They had been taking pictures for about fifteen minutes when Chayse sighed, lowering her camera. It was too quiet. She liked to have music going in the background when she was doing a session.

“Ali, do you know where the sound system is and how to work it?” Chayse questioned.

“No,” she stated, hopping down from the barstool she had been seated on. “But I’ll go ask Nik really quick.”

Alijah took off for the office and made her way up the stairs. She walked into the office to find the men standing around the desk once again.

“Hey, Nik.” She called, gaining his attention. “Where’s the sound system for the club, and how do you work it?”

All the men turned to look at her.

“Well damn,” Nik stated. While Paetyn let out a low whistle, Cruz seemed to apprise her from head to toe. And the look in Kieran’s eyes, she was all too familiar with it.

“Well?” She asked when Nik didn’t speak.

She watched him as he reached into one of his drawers and pulled out a remote before holding it out to her. She walked over and grabbed it as he began to talk.

“Just hit the power button. This remote controls the whole sound system. It’s fairly easy.”

“Thanks. Sorry for interrupting.” She turned to leave, but Kieran grabbed her by her arm and pulled her to him. Immediately both of her hands went to his chest. “No,” she stated, pushing him back. He pulled her back to him. “Kieran, I’m serious. Chayse will kill me if she has to redo my makeup before the next setup.”

Alijah could see that he wanted to ignore her, so she leveled him with a glare. He took hold of her chin with a sigh and kissed her forehead before leaning in and whispering in her ear.

“Keep this. I like it.”

Alijah simply stepped away from him as she made her way out of the office and back downstairs. It didn’t take them a moment to get the music on and turned down to a level where they could hear it but still hear Chayse instructing them.

“Okay, Erin. Stand in front of Ali while she’s on the stool so we can get some pictures of the tattoos on your stomach. Good.” Chayse then stated as Alijah situated her legs on either side of Erin. “Ali, hook your right leg over her hip, put your left arm under hers, hook it onto her shoulder, and lay your chin on her right shoulder.”

Alijah followed all of her cousin’s directions, and Chayse began to snap several pictures of them in that position. She walked around them, taking the pictures from different angles.

“Alright, Erin, turn towards Ali, and Ali, you wrap your legs around her waist.” She paused for a minute to let them get into position. “Now, put her hands on her thighs, Erin.” When that was done, she continued. “Ali, reach over with your right hand and pull up the back of her vest to expose her tattoos.” When that was done, she spoke again. “Now throw your head back, and Erin, you place your lips close to the back of her jaw, below her ear.”

Alijah did as her cousin asked and, once again, heard camera clicks going off. After that position, they took pictures in a few more before Chayse had them change into their next outfit. Alijah and Erin walked into the bathroom and changed carefully to not mess up their hair. They weren’t sure if Chayse planned on doing it differently.

When they came out this time, Alijah was dressed in a black halter top that fastened around the neck and had no back. It was loose in the front as well, and if she moved wrong, her girls would say peek-a-boo. She had on a pair of dark denim distressed short shorts. Erin had on a shirt identical to Alijah’s. The difference was that hers was red. She had on a pair of black ripped skinny jeans as well.

Alijah found Chayse over by the vanity table and made her way over. She fluffed her hair again and then added a dark liner and shadow to her eyes and a bold red lipstick to her lips. Then she gave Erin the same eye makeup, but her lipstick was more of a matte red.

Alijah made her way over to the couches in VIP where Chayse had directed them, preparing for the next section of the shoot.

Kieran followed his friends down the stairs and almost ran directly into Nik when he stopped abruptly. His first instinct was to hit him upside the head; however, he noticed that Cruz and Paetyn had also stopped. As he followed their eyes, he understood why. There was Alijah, one of her legs thrown over one of the armchairs and Erin’s shoulder in VIP as Erin’s fingers ghosted along her thighs.

“Am I the only one hard right now?” Nik questioned, causing Cruz to slap him in the back of the head and Kieran to push him to get them all moving again.

They made their way over to the bar. Three of them took seats as Nik made his way around it. It was almost one o’clock. Too early for them to be drinking, but as the saying went, it was five o’clock somewhere.

Kieran watched the photoshoot as he listened to Nik rummage around behind the bar. He could honestly say that he was getting turned on watching the two women pose so seductively together. He was a man, after all. He watched as Alijah straddled Erin in the chair, throwing her head back, as he was sure Chayse commanded, in ecstasy.

“Kieran, you know, a good friend would have told us that her friends were delightful to look at as well,” Nik stated as he placed four drinks on the bar before joining the other men.

“You have eyes. So, you’re perfectly capable of seeing that for yourself.” Kieran responded, picking up his glass.

“True, and my eyes are enjoying what they see very much,” Nik stated, drinking from his glass. “I have a question for you, Kieran. How serious are you about, Alijah?”

Kieran rolled his eyes. Somehow, he knew Nik’s question would have something to do with Alijah. “She slept with me last night,” he responded, taking a drink from his glass.

“We all know you’re sleeping together,” Nik responded blandly. “That’s not answering my question.”

Kieran leveled Nik with a glare. “I was referring to the fact that she slept in my bed last night, and that’s all we did. Sleep.”

All three men turned to look at him. Kieran wasn’t known to have women in his bed and not sleep with them. If he allowed you in his bed, then he was going to have sex with you. If there was going to be no sex involved, there was no reason for him to allow you into his personal space.

“I would say he’s pretty serious, Nik,” Paetyn stated.

“Which means you should stop ogling her.” Cruz threw in.

For the next hour or so, Kieran watched, along with his friends, the rest of the photoshoot. He would have to admit that the whole thing was provocative, but he could see the idea behind it. Kieran figured Chayse indeed was good at what she was doing. He was interested in seeing the end result once she cleaned the photographs up.

When they were all done with the shoot, the men went over and began helping them pack up. Alijah introduced her cousin and friend to the two men they hadn’t met yet.

“So, you’re both from Florida?” Paetyn questioned as he helped move the equipment over to the door.

“Yes,” Chayse responded.

“We came to town to do this photoshoot and celebrate And’s birthday,” Erin added. The three men looked at her quizzically. “Alijah,” she then stated.

“It’s your birthday?” Nik asked.

“Well, Sunday, but yes,” Alijah informed

“We’re celebrating tomorrow, though.” Erin threw out.

“Big plans?” Paetyn questioned.

“Dinner and maybe going to a club,” Erin replied. “You guys should come with us. It’ll be fun.”

“We don’t want to intrude on your plans,” Cruz responded.

“Nonsense. I’m sure it will make it that much more fun.” Erin stated, eyeing Paetyn.

“If Alijah doesn’t mind,” Paetyn responded.

“Of course not,” Alijah told him. “The more, the merrier.”

As the conversation drifted off, Kieran grabbed the equipment at the door and began carrying it out and loading it into his car. There was no need to call Timothy back since they were headed in the same direction. Once, he had everything loaded; he waited for the women to finish their conversation with his friends before they all said their goodbyes.

As they headed back to the condo, Kieran could hardly keep his eyes off Alijah. She was still wearing one of the outfits she had modeled in, and he was having a hell of a time concentrating on the road. He couldn’t wait to get her alone to take it off of her.