Caught on Camera (Love Through a Lens, #1)

by Chelsea Curto

To those who worry about where they’re going: Look how far you’ve come. (And to the girlies who love the moment in a romance novel when the guy says fuck it. This one is for you.)

A phantom ache sprouts behind my ribs as I offer my support, and I rub my hand across my chest. The pain pops up from time to time when the people close to me talk about their significant others and the loves of their lives. About

how happy and lucky they are, enduring heartache and sadness until a pivotal moment in history happened: the day they met The One.

It’s jealousy, I think, not of the person but of their situation. Of having someone to come home to every night. Someone to share their day with, the good, the bad, and the mediocre moments in between. The ache has turned more...

Lacey tilts her head back and laughs, and it’s such a bright sound. It might be below freezing outside, but her laugh is warm. Inviting. Sunshine in human form, and one of my favorite noises.

There’s nothing but good bones in his body and a good soul in his chest. I’m lucky to have him in my life.

know it might not mean much, but to me, the panic attacks make you a superhero.” I frown and look over at her. “What do you mean?” “You have the ability to fight off these thoughts of yours, which isn’t easy. You don’t let the negativity win. And if it does win sometimes, that’s okay. That doesn’t make you less. It makes you more. You’re an incredible human learning to juggle the balance between your mental health and being on the field, and I respect you for it. Thank you for sharing part of yourself with me.”

Those same hands touched me, caressed me, like I was something precious. Something to be adored. No man has ever treated me so delicately.

“You two are dating?” Maven asks. She claps her hands together and squeals. “Oh, my god. This makes me so happy.” “Sorry to burst your bubble, kid,” I say. “It’s fake. We don’t like each other like that.” “Why not?” Maven’s smile falls into a frown. “You two are always laughing with each other. I see you look at her when you think no one is watching. Plus, Lacey is so fun and so pretty. You can’t do much better than her.”

“We kissed in front of thousands of people. The video circulated, and if we’re going to be the subject of conversation without even being present for the discussion, we’re going to find some good in this.

Shawn coming to the gala will do tremendous things for our list of sponsors. Going home with him for Christmas means less family strain, and everyone is happy. Actions have consequences. What we did is out in the world now, whether we like it or not, and I’m not letting anyone but us control the narrative.”

There are two sides to Shawn Holmes, and I like that I get to see both of them.

I promise to protect you from what I can control. When you’re with me, you’re going to be safe, alright?”

but tomorrow is a new day. And you know what tomorrow means? Forward. A chance to try again.

I feel exposed. It might be because it’s the middle of the night. It might be because the lights are dim and the sky is

dark. Whatever the reason, it’s like he can see every part of me. The real parts I lock away during the day.

I’m not embarrassed or ashamed. I’ve worked hard to become the woman I am. I’ve made mistakes. I’ve learned lessons and worked on myself. It’s a new milestone for me to let someone see this side of me, though—the side that do...

“Your smile is my favorite smile.”

“That’s not a smile. I look silly.” “That’s a Lacey smile.”

“It’s unique and special. Just like you.”

“I like this picture a lot. Can you send me a copy?” I stare at him, my mouth hitched open and my brain about to explode. “You want a copy? Why?” “I have photos in my wallet of the people I care about. Maggie and Aiden. Maven. My family. I don’t have one of you. This one would be perfect.”

“Talk to me,” I whisper, because I’m desperate to make sure he doesn’t carry these burdens alone. “You don’t have to be perfectly put together around me, Shawn. You can let it out. You’re allowed to be a little broken. I won’t think any less of you.” “Today was horrible. The loss sucks, yeah. But the guys acted like they’ve never played a game of football before in their lives.

Dallas was swinging at people. My quarterback thinks he messed up when it’s my fault we ran the ball instead of kicked. I had to listen to a reporter try and blame the loss on my relationship with you. And to top it all off, I read some of the comments on social media after the game, and they’re all shitty. Saying we should dismantle the team. That I’m overpaid. That you’re a distraction and women have no place in sports.” He exhales, and the sigh tickles my forehead. “It’s a lot.” “What can I do to help?” I ask. “Right now, what can I do?” “Nothing. Being here with you is enough.” He runs his fingers through my hair, and I let out a sigh. “It’s nice to have something to look forward to when I get home. This is exactly where I want to be. Exactly what I need.”

Big deal. Everyone made it on the plane healthy. Everyone made it home in one piece, and the good news is you can start again tomorrow. You can adjust.

He pulls me close—closer to him, so we’re almost fused as one. I smile and close my eyes. Our relationship might be fake, but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else either. Here with him is magic.

“Want me to tell you about the coaching contract?” Lacey sighs like hearing these numbers is a chore, and it makes me grin even wider. She truly does not give a shit about how much I’m worth, and I love that about her. “You might as well.”

know her heart, though. It wouldn’t matter if I had ten dollars or ten million dollars to my name. She’d still give me shit, and that makes her one of the good ones. Someone I always want in my corner.

“Oh, here we go. What’s interesting?” “There’s no press around. Your family isn’t here, and neither is our boss. You don’t have a reason to pretend like you two are dating, and yet you can’t stop looking at her. It’s okay to like her, Shawn.”

don’t—we’re having fun. As friends,” I add, and his smirk doesn’t go away. “We don’t like each other.” “Are you sure about that?” “Of course I’m sure. Yeah, we’ve been spending more time together, but hanging out doesn’t mean we’re falling in love. She’s… it’s nice to be around someone so down to earth, you know? Someone who calls me out on my shit and isn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe with me. It’s refreshing, honestly.

Spending time with him has been nice. He’s thoughtful and considerate, and if I were looking to date someone, he’s exactly the kind of guy it would be.

I thread our fingers together and lead him toward the ice. A bolt of awareness hits me when he squeezes my hand tight. I don’t think letting go of Shawn in a few weeks is going to be as easy as I thought it was.

“So it wasn’t to piss me off? To see how I’d react?” I put my hands on either side of her head and cage her

“A way to get me to remind you that you’re mine?” “Am I yours?” she asks. She reaches out and grabs my shirt, her gaze meeting mine. “I’m not sure that I am.”

“You make it impossible to stay away,” I say. “So don’t,” she says, and the challenge hangs heavy in the air between us. “Fuck it,” I ground out, then I bend down and crash my mouth against hers.

This is a slippery slope we’ve stumbled down, and it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have kissed her again. I shouldn’t have let her see how easily she affects me, but it’s too late now. I got a taste, but now I want the whole fucking thing.

“I want you to fuck me,” I blurt out, and Shawn nearly drops his glass. His eyes widen and his mouth opens like he’s about to interrupt me, but don’t let him. “A one-time thing, to get this attraction to each other out of our systems. I know you were affected by our seven minutes in heaven. I was too. If we just do it once, it’ll scratch that itch.

“Shawn,” I say, and I tremble against him. “Last chance to back out, Lacey,” he says. He kisses my ear, and his fingers tap against the inside of my thigh. “Because once you tell me yes, I’m going to make sure no man is ever good enough for you again.”

I want to ruin her, but I can’t ruin my best friend. She’s too good. But if I only get her once, I’m going to make sure she won’t forget me anytime soon. I’m going to claim her, so

every time someone else is inside her, she’ll be thinking of me.

“Did you like playing with yourself and thinking it was me?” “I know you’d be better.” Her smile is wicked and her eyes flicker with mischief. “You’d take such good care of me.” “Of course I would.”

“I told you I take care of what’s mine, Lacey, and you’re mine.”

“Please don’t stop,” Lacey whimpers. “I need it.” “A toy isn’t going to cut it anymore, is it? You’re going to be dreaming about me when you play with yourself from now on, wishing you had my fingers to fuck. My tongue to lick up your mess.”

“You, Shawn. I need you.” She needs me.

The way he talked to me and praised me lit a fuse inside of me, and now he’s carrying me down the hall. Kissing me softly and slowly. Savoring me like he said he would, and this is the most beautiful I’ve ever felt. The most adored and wanted. It’s intimate and soft, a different side to the man who whispered filth in my ears a few minutes ago.

“Don’t do that,” he says, and he pulls his shirt over his head. “Don’t hide, Lacey girl. Not from me.” The endearment lodges itself between my breasts. Behind my ribs, dangerously close to my heart, because I’m his girl.

“I’ll never hide from you,” I say. I hold out my hand and he takes it. He kisses the tip of each one of my fingers, and he rests my palm over his heart. “You’re the only person I want to be myself around.”

“You’re the only person I want to be myself around, too,” he says, and there’s a shift in the air. This is more tender than out in the living room. Soft. Romantic, almost, if a one-night stand could be considered such a thing.

“Going to fuck you raw,” he says through a strangled exhale. “Really make you mine.”

“Do you want me?” I ask him, and in the dead of night there’s no one around to hear his answer. No one to see the way he kisses me and pulls me close. Up here, it’s just us, nothing but the light of the moon, the stars in the sky, and our naked bodies as we reach for each other.

“You know the answer to that,” he