It brought back all the insecurity he battled, and he questioned again why someone of Eden’s caliber would even give him a second glance.

There were several outtakes of Eden standing with the Eiffel Tower behind her, looking sultry, her hair blowing from a fan that had been set up so it appeared she was outside on a perfect day, the silken mass lifted by the wind and scattering around her.

Even her lines drove Swanny to the brink of insanity. She was in turns playful and full of mischief and then sultry and seductive, inviting her audience to try the product she was endorsing in a husky, throaty-sounding voice. Like she was speaking to a lover.

Like he wanted her to speak to him.

He checked his watch, impatient for today to be over with. He should be a gentleman and at least offer to take her out for dinner, but he couldn’t imagine a more perfect evening than for the two of them to eat in the comfort of their suite. Spending time alone and allowing the evening to take them where it would. Or at least where he hoped.

But as far as he was concerned, Eden was in the driver’s seat. He refused to put any pressure on her. Then again, he wasn’t a flaming hypocrite either. He wanted her badly and from the signals she’d given him, it certainly seemed—however mind-boggling it was—that she wanted him just as badly.

His dick had grown another two inches just from the knowledge that this beautiful, fantastic woman wanted him. That kind of female attention would make any man’s dick larger on principle. He hadn’t considered he had an ego, but he actually found himself puffing out his chest, standing taller, and well, his dick was in perfect agreement with every other part of himself, so it certainly stood to reason that he’d add a few extra inches in his excitement and anticipation of having her laid out like a veritable feast on his bed.

“Earth to Swanny,” Skylar said dryly. “They’re wrapping up. We need to make sure the car is ready so we can hustle Eden out of the building with as little notice as possible.”

Swanny shook himself from his thoughts and then nodded his agreement. “Have Joe and Nathan take the exit. Me, you and Edge will provide cover for Eden so we don’t take any chances with her safety.”

He’d run the soiree by his team when they returned to the hotel, but he planned to make it fast. It would give Eden long enough to shower and get into more comfortable clothing and then the evening would be theirs.

CHAPTER 18

SWANNY hustled Eden into her suite and gruffly told her to get dressed for bed, that he had to speak briefly with his team, but when he got back he’d order room service for the both of them. She gave him a look that told him with more than words she understood his plans for the evening and that even more, she was on board and had no objections. It was all he could do not to resort to a juvenile fist pump and make a first-class ass of himself.

He excused himself to go next door after making sure she locked and dead-bolted the door behind him so that even someone with a key card couldn’t gain access to her room.

He knocked sharply on Edge and Skylar’s door, knowing that Nathan and Joe would be inside waiting, as Swanny had instructed. He wasn’t sure how he’d ended up being lead on this mission. Nathan and Joe were the actual team leaders, but Swanny had pretty much taken over anything to do with Eden’s safety and to his team’s credit, no one argued the point with him nor was there a pissing match over who was in charge.

Edge opened the door and gestured him in to where the others were gathered in the sitting area of the suite.

“So what’s up, Swanny?” Joe queried. “Sky said there were some new developments but that you would explain when we all got back here.”

Swanny shot Skylar a look of gratitude for allowing him to explain the situation even though she’d been party to the conversation between her, Swanny and Eden’s agent.

“We all knew there was going to be a launch party when the shoot wrapped up and that we’d all need appropriate clothing to fit in, but Eden’s agent said that in three nights’ time there would be a soiree including everyone involved with the shoot. Eden will be expected to be there, so we will be too, which means that moves up our timeline to get appropriate evening wear so we don’t embarrass Eden or stick out like sore thumbs.”

The guys grimaced. Only Skylar smiled, seemingly happy with the opportunity to dress up for an evening.

“I thought we could break into teams so we get this done with as quickly as possible. Eden breaks for lunch tomorrow for an hour and a half. Skylar and I can accompany Eden to get us outfitted while the three of you remaining can go get fitted for a tux. I’m of the mind we can wear the same outfit for both nights. It’s not about us anyway. It’ll be Eden’s night to shine and no one’s going to give a fuck what we look like or who we are for that matter.”

Nathan nodded his agreement, but Joe frowned. “Are you sure we should leave Eden with only two of us for protection?”

“Well, I’m thinking if we all go we’ll draw a hell of a lot more attention than if just two of us go. Sky being a woman is helpful because for all anyone knows Eden is just shopping with a girlfriend. A girlfriend who happens to be able to kick the shit out of anyone who’s a threat.”

Skylar smiled warmly at Swanny, thanking him with her expression for his confidence in her.

“Okay, sounds like a plan, but we should at least go to the same place,” Nathan interjected. “Edge, Joe and I can hit the men’s department while you go with Skylar and Eden to get what they need, but then you’ll need to run by to get fitted yourself and all gussied up.”

The amusement in Nathan’s voice and the smirks on Edge’s and Joe’s faces just further irritated Swanny. As far as he was concerned, the conversation was over and he had a beautiful woman waiting for him in her room, and he’d promised her room service.

“I’ll head back over. I’m supposed to order in room service for Eden. I don’t think it’s a good idea for her to be out and about. I’d rather keep her appearance here on the down low as much as possible.”

There were several knowing grins that brought a growl to Swanny’s throat, but he ignored them and headed for the doorway, anxious to get back to Eden.

He knocked on the door and waited, simmering with impatience. Then he heard the sound of the dead bolt being released and the door opened. He was greeted by the sight of Eden wearing sleepwear similar to the lingerie she’d worn the night before. All he could think about was sliding those thin strings down from her shoulders, just enough to bare her breasts.

She opened the door and he recovered enough to walk in and refasten the locks. She threw him a tempting, sultry look over her shoulder and headed for the sofa in the living area of the suite without waiting for him to follow. He quickly pulled himself together and hurried after her.

He disgusted himself. He’d never considered himself to be the caveman type, but Eden brought the primitive alpha male in him roaring to life. He wanted to haul her over his shoulder off to his cave and keep her tied to his bed until he fully sated himself, though he knew that would be impossible.

Because as soon as he’d had her once, had tasted her, touched her, kissed her, had been inside her luscious body, he’d never be fully sated. He’d want more and more until he ended up stifling her, and that was the last thing he wanted.

He didn’t have a lot to offer a woman like her except to spend every moment of making love to her an experience that would hopefully make up for his other faults. This was important. Too important to fuck up. He had to make sure that he took it nice and slow that first time, shower her with pleasure and show her that she was the only woman he even looked at.