Chapter Fourteen

Lydia had expected Drake to leave her at the bar, while he left to take photos with his family. So she was taken by surprise when suddenly, his warm hand grasped hers and he pulled her up from the stool. "Come on," he said with a mischievous gleam in his eyes.

Kevin turned to her as well, smiling cheerfully. He was the first friendly, Alston family member that she'd met. "I'm so happy you are here Lydia. Madilyn has been dying to meet the lucky new lady in Drake's life. I hope you don't mind, but she's promised her editor friend that she could take a picture of the new couple for her expose."

"Oh... ummm... Okay." Lydia replied sheepishly, not knowing what to say as she stared over at Drake to see if he would be okay with this.

Drake just shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, "If I'm being tortured, I'm taking you hostage with me, Princess."

Kevin snorted, letting out a deep belly laugh, "Seriously though. I can't wait for this wedding shit to be done and over with. I'm looking forward to relaxing with my bride in Turks and Caicos."

"What happened to Cancun?" Drake asked, his brow lifting.

"Oh didn't mother dearest tell you? Apparently we're spending a week in Cancun for the actual wedding, and then we're cruising over to Turks and Caicos."

Drake's smile faltered and a look of dread crossed his face. He hadn't been expecting to be forced to spend so much time with his family. He'd thought he'd maybe have to spend three, maybe four days max with them. This additional cruise hadn't been on the agenda.

Kevin raised an eyebrow in confusion as he saw the expression on Drake's face, but before he could ask any questions, Diane's screeching interrupted them. "What is she doing here!"

The makeup artists and the photographers all stopped what they were doing to look and stare at Diane who was pointing at a flustered looking Lydia. They all waited with bated breath, eager to see what would transpire between Diane and her apparently unwelcome guest.

"Mother," Kevin hissed, walking into the room, and grabbing Diane's arm. "You are causing as scene. I've invited Lydia to attend. And as I recall this is MY engagement shoot, so I can invite whomever I please."

"Kevin," Diane pouted, looking disapprovingly at her younger son, "I expected this nonsense from Drake, but never from you. Think about it my dear boy. This is a family photo shoot. How do you think the press will react?"

Lydia continued to fidget nervously with her hands. She didn't like all the attention that Diane had drawn on her. She would have much rather stayed at the bar, and waited until the photos were done with. "I...I can go wait in the lobby until the photos are done." She suggested meekly, causing Diane's heavy glare, and Kevin's blank stare to settle on her.

"Nonsense." Drake replied ,wrapping his arm around Lydia's waist and pulling her closer to his side, "As my romantic partner and honored plus one, you should be included in these photos. The photoshoot is only the start of the wedding, and you'll be in attendance the entire time. There's no possible way you can hide the entire time from the cameras. I don't see why now should be any different." Drake stated vehemently, as he glared his mother down.

"I just isn't done!" Diane shouted, stamping her foot on the ground. "Gregory," She whined calling to the head of the Alston household, "Do something."

Gregory cleared his throat as he were going to say something, but at that moment, the future bride, Madeline walked into the room, "Thank you so much Kevin for dragging Drake and his girlfriend up here. My bestie is doing a little love story featurette and I promised her I'd get y'all pictured and interviewed. I hope you don't mind, Drakie." She giggled, smiling at her future brother-in-law, knowing full well that under any other circumstances he would mind. Her statement however left no room for Diane to argue that Lydia's presence wouldn't be welcomed.

"For my soon to be pain in the ass sister-in-law, I'd do anything." Drake replied, bowing dramatically for added effect.

"Oh Goodie," Madilyn replied with a snort, quickly raising her hand to cover her mouth and hide the unladylike gesture. Once she recovered she turned her attention to the head photographer, "Then let's begin with some couple photos and then we can move on to sibling shots, parents shots, and finish off with a group photo."

When the photographer nodded her agreement, Madilyn turned her attention back to Drake, "How about you and Lydia go first. That way you guys can interview while the rest of the shots are being taken."

"As you wish, Maddie." Drake smiled grabbing Lydia's hand and walking over to the only photographer holding a camera.

Lydia's heart was racing. This was it. This was surely going to be the moment they were exposed. The jig would be up. Surely the photographer would be able to tell how not in sync they were. Trying to steady her nerves, Lydia decided to try for small talk with Drake, while they followed their photographer to their picture destination. "So is this how it's going to be the entire time? Your mother's dramatics, your father's anger, your broodiness?"

"I don't brood." Drake chuckled, "And that wasn't even the worst of it. You ain't seen nuthin yet, Princess."

Lydia's eyebrows rose. She wasn't sure how their family dynamic could get any worse than what she'd already witnessed. She had wanted to ask how much worse, but the photographer had suddenly stopped.

"This location is perfect!" The photographer stated, turning toward them, "And it's just lovely to meet you, Mr. Alston. I'm Josephine. Josie for short. I'll be your personal photographer throughout the wedding. Please let me know if there is anything," She paused steeping closer to Drake, her eyes roaming the length of his body, "anything at all, that I can help you with."

Lydia couldn't help but roll her eyes. Women just unabashedly threw theirselves at Drake, and he didn't seem to notice nor care. When Lydia realized Drake wasn't going to acknowledge Josie's transgressions, she decided to take it upon herself to intervene. She reached her hand out, taking Josie's offered one. "Nice to meet you, Josie. I'm Lydia, Drake's partner. I am simply so excited for you to photograph US today," She replied her voice raising an octave higher as she emphasized the word us. "And of course, if we need any assistance, any at all, we will gladly reach out. But I'm sure that I can take care of almost, if not all, of Drake's needs myself. He might even say that I'm a handful." She smirked, narrowing her eyes at the photographer.

A spark of irritation flickered across Josie's face, but when she saw that Drake wasn't going to correct Lydia and was beaming at her instead, she decided to brush it off. "Of course, Lydia. My pleasure." She responded back with a smile that actually met her eyes this time, "Now, if you and Drake just want to stand by that fountain over there, I think it'll make the perfect backsplash for the photos."

Drake who had apparently not gone deaf, took Lydia's hand in his once again, and led her over to the fountain. He gently guided her to stand with her back against the edge of the fountain, and he positioned himself at an angle in front of her. He grabbed her face and leaned in, putting his lips against her ear, "Easy there tiger." He whispered, his lips softly grazing the sensitive skin of her ear, causing shivers to run down her body.

Lydia's cheeks went pink as she heard the clicking noise of the camera capturing photos. "Perfect!" Josephine shouted over the roar of the fountain, "Yes! I love it. You two are naturals. Just continue as you are. I don't want these photos looking staged. The rawer the photo the better in my opinion."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Lydia smirked, turning her body inward more so she was facing Drake directly. Drake's hands automatically found their way to her hips, as if he couldn't bear the thought of not touching her.

"Pull her a bit closer, Drake!" Josephine instructed, dropping all forms of formality as she zoned into her job as a photographer.

Drake pulled Lydia to him, their noses almost touching. Lydia's hands instinctually snaked their way around Drake's neck.

"My family isn't going to scare you away... are they?" Drake asked, his blue-ish grey eyes displaying his worry.

"Never," Lydia stated firmly. She had never been one to take shit from bullies and that was exactly what Diane was, a grade A bitch...err bully.

Drake's fingers gently brushed against Lydia's cheek, tilting her head upwards to meet his gaze. The worry lines on his forehead disappeared, replaced by a hunger that radiated through his intense stare. He was starving for her, and she could feel it in every fiber of her being as he leaned in even closer.

"Good," he whispered.

Lydia bit her lip. Her desire for him burning through her body.

"PERFECT! FUCKING PERFECT!" Josephine cried breaking them both from the trance. "These photos of fucking hot as hell. You're both fully clothed and I still feel like I need to take an ice bath just to cool myself down. Every women in the country will be envious of you, Lydia."

Lydia let out a nervous laugh, unsure if she wanted to be the object of envy for other women. It meant drawing attention to herself, which was something she didn't really want. How would she be able to blend in on her other escort jobs if every woman knew who she? As if he knew her thoughts were spiraling, Drake squeezed Lydia's arms, grounding her.

"Alright. I just need a couple of y'all facing the camera, and then we are good to go." Josie stated and then proceeded to show them which positions to stand in and where the best lighting would be. She quickly snapped the last few photos she needed and then she dismissed them.

As they reentered the building, where the rest of the wedding party was gathered, Madeline appeared before them. "The writer is just over there," She smiled pointing to the south side of the building, where a brunette woman sat at a small table, in front of an open laptop. "She's just dying to hear your story, Drake. Everyone wants to know how and where you found Lydia."

"Are you sure you want us to interview?" Lydia asked, twirling a strand of her hair, "I mean, shouldn't this spread be about you and Kevin? We are celebrating your engagement after all."

"A story about Kevin and I simply cannot be told without Drake." Madilyn replied, before shoving Lydia in the direction of the reporter.

Her response made Lydia wonder why Drake hadn't mentioned being an integral part of his brother's relationship with his fiancé, but Lydia figured she'd ask him about it at a later date, right now she needed to find a way to stall the interview. "Err.. What about the group photo and the sibling shoot?" She questioned, turning back to Madilyn.

"That can wait until after the interview is over." Madilyn replied, before glancing down at her watch, "And speaking of photos, I've got to run off to get my pictures taken with the soon-to-be-in-laws.

"Come on Darling," Drake said grabbing Lydia's wrist, and pulling her away from Madilyn and in the direction of the reporter, "This will be fun."