Page 99 of Claimed At First Sight

Heat creeps into my cheeks. “You do?”

“Absolutely. You’re gorgeous, for starters. But it’s more than that. You’ve got presence. The camera loves that.”

Nobody has ever complimented me like that before.

People have called me pretty and beautiful. Lately, suitable wife material more times than I’d like. But no one has ever looked at me and seen… me.

I clear my throat.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to pay you. My family might have money, but I don’t have access to any of it.”

Rory waves the concern away.

“That’s okay. Like I told you, I’m still building my portfolio. If you’re happy for me to use some of the photos when I talk to future clients, we have a deal.”

I consider that for all of two seconds.

“Sounds fair.”

Rory’s grin widens.

“Perfect.”

Excitement stirs in my stomach. For once, it has nothing to do with a certain self-appointed ruler of the universe.

“So,” she says, rubbing her hands together, “since you successfully escaped your security and can do whatever you want, what do you say we do the photo session now?”

Hmm, I have a feeling today’s little adventure isn’t likely to be repeated anytime soon. I’ll be back to being escorted everywhere.

But not yet.

“Okay, let’s do it.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Mialina

“Who do you want to be?” Rory calls out from behind a curtain partition near the back of the studio. I hear hangers rattling a second later.

Who do I want to be?

I frown. What does she mean?

“I’ve got a few outfits you can try. Different vibes depending on what you want,” she says when I join her.

Vibes.

There’s a new concept.

My fingers drift across a rack filled with lace, silk, and satin. A deep plum leather corset catches my eye. I stare at it.

Less than two days ago, I was in Sicily, confined by who I’d been raised to become.

Now I’m standing above a tattoo studio in Chicago after ditching my security team, riding through the city on the back of a motorcycle, and agreeing to take boudoir photographs with a girl I met yesterday.

Is this who I am when nobody is telling me who to be?

I want to discover it.