Shut Up and Model for Me (13 page)

Her smoky eyes widen. “Okay. So let’s act like a couple.”

“Don’t be evasive, then.”

“Don’t lecture me.”

“Jesus, have you been single for so long that you forgot how to act on a date?”

She pulls her lip up in a sneer. “I know how to date, asshole.”

Someone’s a bit sensitive. “Good, because we’re going to have to speed this process up a bit.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

I lean in and press my lips against hers.

Chapter Eleven

Evan

Dallas is kissing me.

Really
kissing me.

Not some sloppy, exhibitionist kiss we might have to do for EPE one day. A real kiss. A chaste, Disney kiss. His lips are soft and warm and I let out a whimper because I can’t help it. I part my lips, hoping he’ll take the hint. But instead he pulls away. “You ready?” he asks huskily.

“Y-yes,” I stutter, realizing my entire body is shaking.

He pushes the door open and steps out, his eyes locked on me the entire time. I grab my clutch and take his hand. He helps me out, his fingers running along my bare back. He has to notice the goose bumps flaring up over my skin. I lean into him as we quicken our pace to catch up with Britain and Andrea. Adam and Delilah join us from Adam’s parked BMW, Delilah looking stunning in a slinky red dress.

“I love this,” I tell her, reaching out and touching the fabric. “I’ve never seen it before.”

“That’s because I went shopping without you,” she says a bit bitterly.

I clap my hand over my mouth. She texted me earlier today when she was at school and asked if I wanted to come shopping with her. I got caught up in work and never responded. “I totally forgot.”`

“Yeah, yeah,” she says as we walk inside.

The restaurant is pretty modern, large parties seated in oval booths at the back. Three people are already sitting at our table. I can safely assume the older man with lighter hair is A.J. He slides from the booth and stands, smiling.

“Welcome, welcome,” he says, extending his hand toward Britain, who leads us. “You must be Britain.”

Britain introduces each of us to Mr. Harrison, and he shakes everyone’s hand.

“I recognize you all from the magazine,” he says as he takes mine, eyes lingering on me for a second too long before he moves to Dallas. “Ah, yes. The two power couples. I’m glad you brought them with you, Britain. Please, all of you take a seat.”

Dallas and I sit at the edge of the booth. A.J. introduces the man and woman with him as his CFO and producer. They smile, but say nothing, tablets in front of them as they type away. They must be A.J.’s note-takers for the evening.

Conversation doesn’t really begin until our water glasses are full and we’ve all ordered. I try the most vegetable-heavy item on the menu, and Dallas whispers, “You would.”

I grin. His fingers find the base of my neck, gently pushing into my skin as he massages my spine. I try my damnedest to not let my eyes flutter shut as he continues his ministrations, attempting to focus on the conversation at hand. I wonder if he intimately touches Tricia like this when they’re having a night out.

Adam and Delilah are pretty good at playing couple too. He has her curtain of auburn hair pulled back, whispering in her ear. Her eyes widen, and she blushes.

Britain and A.J. are conversing on the other side of the table. It’s hard to concentrate on what they’re saying with Dallas touching me the way that he is. Britain slides over a manila folder, and I have to look closely when A.J. opens it to realize what’s inside—prints from the shower shoot, and then beneath them, Delilah’s and Adam’s underwater shoot. My attention is really caught when Andrea begins to explain the story line that she has created for both of the couples, beginning with Adam’s and Delilah’s—two young friends-with-benefits on a sex-in-strange-places mission. And then mine and Dallas’s—Rylan Willow’s deflowering by her young, sexy professor.

Of all people at this table, A.J. points his finger at
me
. “I’m quite intrigued by you, Miss Willow.”

Dallas lowers the hand massaging my neck and rests it on my thigh.

I smile politely. “Is that so?”

He raises his wine glass, and says before taking a sip, “The last issue had me wondering if Britain here was hanging death threats over your head to get you to shoot, you played victim so well.”

In the middle of drinking from his water glass, Dallas chokes. Adam busts up laughing.

“Ah,” A.J. says. “I see what’s going on here. Maybe I should be directing this question towards your gentleman. You and Mr. Whitley seem to be quite friendly even outside the studio. Am I correct that assumption?” His eyes flicker to Dallas.

By the grace of God, the waiter walks by. I motion for her to lean close. “Double vodka tonic, stat,” I whisper, returning my attention to A.J.

“You don’t have to direct your queries toward Dallas.” I manage a stiff grin. “I’m perfectly capable of answering.”

Britain’s eyes widen. It’s like she has a stunningly accurate Evan Snark Meter inside her brain.

A.J. raises an eyebrow. “Yes, Rylan?”

“I’ve perfected a naïve virgin expression simply because I can be whoever you want me to be. I’m a model, Mr. Harrison, not a captive virgin. I’m sure you understand. Dallas here does.”

I feel Dallas stiffen next to me. I keep my eyes hooded and locked on A.J.

A.J. chuckles. “Very well then, Miss Willow.”

My drink arrives. I down half of it in one gulp. “And as for Dallas,” I begin, my own hand resting on the inside of his thigh. “A lady never reveals her battle strategy for bedding a gentleman.”

Delilah gasps, and Britain shoots me a thumbs-up beneath the table.

“Your wit is seducing me,” says A.J. with a wink. “Very well. I’ll just have to add that factor in when I’m considering acquiring the magazine.”

^^^^

Two double vodka tonics later, I really can’t follow the conversation at all. Dallas’s hand has, over the course of the evening, crawled higher and higher up my thigh, and that along with the alcohol has left me in no mood for concentrating on the serious business talk. The only fact I bring away from the table, other than the food here being fucking amazing, is that this storyline series between me and Dallas and Delilah and Adam will last five issues, and by that time, Mr. Harrison will have an answer for us one way or another.

We stand to leave. “I really look forward to seeing how these
stories
play out,” he says, winking at me again.

Does he know that’s creepy? Because it’s totally creepy. Or maybe that’s just my buzzed brain talking.

I have to cling to Dallas for dear life just to make it out to the parking lot. Vodka and stilettos really don’t mix well at all. He even asks me how many I’ve had.

“Oh, for the love of God,” I respond. “I’m not that drunk. You try taking shots and walking in these shoes and see how well you do.”

He chuckles deeply, sending a shiver racing up my spine. “Alright, alright.”

As we pile into Britain’s car, I catch her babbling about setting up the rest of the series. “…We haven’t even printed the second issue yet, so you guys are way ahead of schedule. Let’s keep it that way. We still have the pool shoot and the shower shoot to use, and of course the last shoot will be bedding Rylan, so we’re just missing one.” She starts the engine, but then quickly shuts the car off again.

“What is it?” Andrea asks.

“Here,” Britain says, turning back to Dallas and me with a huge grin on her face. “We’ll do the shoot here.”

“Here?”
I cry.

“Yup,” she responds. “Here. Andrea, grab my camera case. It’s in the back.”

“But…” I try to think up a good enough excuse as Andrea gets out of the car and opens the back. “We don’t have a story.”

“Rylan and her professor are at a department mixer. He seduces her in the back of his car upon leaving. Bam. Story. Go.”

“That works!” Andrea yells.

“But my hair and makeup… it’s not done right. It’s not typical Rylan.”

“What is your deal, dude? You need to relax about this whole people-recognizing-you thing.”

Dallas puts his arm around my shoulder as Andrea returns with the case. I look into his concerned gaze. “You don’t want to do this right now.”

“It’s not that,” I say meekly. “I’m just… caught off guard. I need a few moments to—you know—get in character.”

“Let me help,” he says throatily, lowering his head. His lips catch my neck, and I release a gasp.

“Yes, please get her in the mood so we can shoot this thing before a security guard comes around,” I hear Britain say. “That would be awkward.” She directs Andrea to hold up the mobile lighting at a certain angle.

Dallas’s tongue darts out and swipes at my throat. The crook of his finger finds my jaw, and he forces me to look those stunning eyes, rendering me utterly useless.

“What do you want me to do to her?” he asks Britain without freeing me from his grip.

“Slide your hand beneath her dress so it looks like you’re fingering her. And kiss her.”

I hold my breath as I wait for him to position me. He pushes me against the corner of the car door and the seat. “Spread your legs,” he murmurs. I follow his orders, his hand slipping up the inside of my thigh. The alcohol pulsing through my veins heightens every sensation. I’m not expecting him to go as far as to swipe his thumb along the crotch of my panties, so when I tense, he smirks and bends forward, lips brushing against my ear.

“I can already tell how wet you are,” he whispers.

A strangled whimper escapes my throat. Is Britain directing us? I hear nothing over my own thrumming pulse and Dallas’s hot breath.

“Forget about Britain,” he urges me secretly, pushing my panties to the side. “Forget she’s here. Pretend it’s just you and me, Evan. Pretend this is real.”

He drags his fingers all the way up my slit until his thumb finds my clit. He rubs in slow circles, capturing my gasp with his mouth. I part my lips for him, and this time, he accepts greedily, tongue flicking across my lower lip and delving to meet my own. He increases the pressure of his hand until I’m mewing softly into his mouth, my entire body on fire.

I don’t know if Britain’s instructing him, but I feel his free hand dance along the collar of my dress. He pulls the left sleeve all the way down until my breast is exposed. Cupping it, he roughly pinches my nipple, a powerful wave of ecstasy ripping through my body. I buck against his lower hand. A dark chuckle bubbles from his throat, and he pulls away from my mouth just long enough to whisper, “Patient,” before kissing me deeply again. He thrusts two of his fingers into my pussy, increasing the speed of his thumb against my clit.

Pressure begins to build deep inside of me. I murmur
please
over and over against his lips, and it isn’t until I’m on the brink of my release do I realize that I’m going to orgasm for the first time in front of a camera.

For the first time because of a boy.

Dallas

When Evan comes, she hides it well. I only notice because I can feel it—her tight, wet pussy clenching around my fingers, the way she shudders and quietly whispers
“Fuck”
against my lips.

She comes down from her high quickly, eyes widening, as if she’s suddenly growing aware of what just happened.

What I just did to her.

“Holy shit,” Britain breathes. “That was… intense. And now I’m really hot and bothered.”

I keep my eyes on Evan as I remove my hand from her, wiping it on the inside of her thigh. If we were alone—if this were real—I’d lick her off my fingers.

But it’s not real. And I was only supposed to simulate fingering her, because I have a girlfriend.

What the fuck have I done?

Evan sits up, her entire body still shaking. She tucks a wild strand of hair behind her ear and straightens out her dress.

I made her come.

Evan told me that she’s never gotten off during sex. And if she wasn’t lying, then I’m the first to do so. And I wasn’t even fucking her. Her clothes were still on.

“We should go,” I tell Britain.

“You got it, lover boy.” Britain puts the cap back on her lens and hands the camera to Andrea, who continues to gape at Evan and me. “You want me to drop you off at home?”

“Please,” I say, staring out the window and trying to control my breathing. Britain pulls out of the parking spot and turns onto the highway.

Trish doesn’t care
.

The fact that I have to keep reminding myself of this isn’t making the situation any better. I’m losing control. Every second I spend with Evan drags me closer to the edge of falling for her.

Yeah right, you fucking idiot. You’ve already fallen for her
.

I glance over at Evan. She legs are crossed as she stares out the window, body completely still. I can’t help but wonder what she’s thinking about. If this is just a job to her—if coming at the hand of her coworker is only another day at work. Or if any part of her feels the same way about me as I do about her.

It doesn’t matter what she feels. You have a
girlfriend
.

I have to get away from Evan. Now.

Andrea’s phone rings, and she picks up. “Evan, it’s Delilah. She wants to go dancing. Want to come?”

“If there will be a bar,” Evan says dryly, “count me in.”

Britain scoffs. “We’re close to home. What about your persona?”

“What about it?” Evan keeps her eyes glued to the window.

Britain says nothing in response.

“Dallas?” Andrea asks.

“Got homework,” I answer briefly. Truth is, I don’t have any homework. Truth is, I want nothing more than to grind up against Evan on a dark dance floor.

She is poison. She will ruin me.

Britain pulls up to my complex. “Thanks for everything Dallas. One more shoot and you’ll have the rest of the summer off. Should have your first paycheck tomorrow by the way, if you want to stop by the studio.”

“Thanks.” I open the door and look toward Evan. Her head is still turned away as she stares out the window.

She says nothing.