We were set up in the women's bathroom, which was beautifully decorated with a chandelier and circular couch, makeup mirrors, low stools—even a couple of hair straighteners hardwired to the wall. All signs pointed to this being one of the most impressive new clubs in Shadow Grove.
The stylist, a twenty-something woman called Emma, laughed and wrinkled her nose. "You're so funny, MK," she replied, shaking her head. "You look spectacular. Here, these are the shoes." She held out a pair of deadly black-patent-and-clear-acrylic Louboutin's for me to put on, and I scowled.
"You're kidding. This is it?" I indicated to the lingerie she'd dressed me in. It was all black, which I appreciated, but was little more than a corset with a tiny scrap of mesh covering my ass cheeks. Suspenders hooked to lace-top stockings, and with the high heels on... "Come on. This is a joke, right? Ha-ha, tell Archer he won this round."
Emma frowned, looking somewhat hurt. "You don't like it? That's Agent Provocateur... It's made of Chantilly lace."
Ugh, in other words the corset I wore cost more than the Louboutin shoes.
"It's gorgeous," I offered, "but I'm just confused. Why am I in lingerie for an advertising shoot for a club?"
Emma shrugged. "Because it's sexy as hell. Also, this will be a burlesque club when it opens, so ultra sexy was the briefing for the shoot."
I groaned inwardly. Of fucking course the briefing for the shoot was "ultra sexy" because God forbid it was Hazmat or some shit. Well, good luck getting Archer and I to reflect that vibe. Like I’d warned Nicky, I was no model. Nor was I an actress. So maybe she could make do with repulsed and resentful so long as we were both scantily clad?
Fuck. Was Archer going to be in underwear again?
"Come on, put the shoes on. We're already behind schedule," Emma prompted me, and I sighed as I sat down to do as I was told. She offered me a robe, but I waved her off. What was the point when I'd just take it off again? Besides, as much as I’d protested the skimpy outfit, Archer had seen me in a hell of a lot less on several occasions.
Nicky already had Archer set up in the lounge area, and I breathed a small sigh of relief to see he still wore pants. He wore no shirt and the fly was open on his pants, revealing some black underwear beneath, but... at least he wore pants. Small mercies.
He was sitting forward on a velvet armchair, a cut-crystal glass in his hand with amber liquor in it. His forearms rested on his knees as he stared down the camera lens like a fucking pro.
Damn him to hell. As badly as I wanted to sneer and make Zoolander jokes, he really was made for this shit. His myriad of tattoos drew the eye in a dangerous way, and I found myself tracing the black and gray ink far too carefully.
I could see why the owner of the bar wanted him. He was dark, dangerous, and next-level sexy as he took a sip of his drink, his cool blue eyes tracking the camera as Nicky clicked like crazy. She was talking constantly, giving him directions, correcting his face angles, telling him where to look and when to look back, but he was totally unfazed.
Maybe there was hope for him yet... Apparently he could listen to a woman when he needed to.
I took a couple of steps closer, feeling the pencil-thin stilettos sway my hips more than usual, and Archer's gaze snapped up to me from the camera.
Nicky snapped a handful more photos, but he wasn't concentrating anymore. His gaze was laser-focused on me, raking over my whole body from head to toe like he was seeing me for the first time. Or seeing me with new eyes. It was unnerving as hell and made my step wobble slightly.
Suddenly, the intensity of Archer's gaze was all too much, and I cleared my throat to gain Nicky's attention.
"Did you need me somewhere?" I asked her in a tight voice, praying to all the fates she wouldn't decide she needed me in Archer's lap or something.
"Uh-huh, just a sec hon," Nicky replied, still clicking away as Archer leaned forward to place his drink on the table, then sat back against the velvet armchair with his legs still spread and that look still on his face.
"What?" I snapped at him when it became too much for my nerves to