by Avery Aster
“Wow!” It sparkled. “Paloma, it’s beautiful.” The stone glittered in an emerald cut, flawless, colorless and flanked by two pear-shaped diamonds.
“This ring combines the four Cs best. It’s impeccable and yours. I’ll give it to you at cost, since we’re family. Why should I profit to see my brother happy? And your princess will love it.”
“How much?”
“One million.”
“Such a bargain.” He laughed and offered, “Will you come tonight to meet your future sister-in-law? And watch me ask for her hand in marriage with this treasure you’ve created?”
“I would love to.”
Lights! Models! Guest List!
I’m gonna throw up. Lex stood backstage with Vive, Taddy and Blake. The monitors behind the runway flashed into static fuzz then to a time. It read nine minutes and fifty-nine seconds until the show started. Monitor one captured an audience view, facing the runway’s far end. Screen two was set to film the models as they came down the runway. And the third gave a pan shot, with specific focus on the fashion editors on the left and right sides who sat among the department store buyers, stylists, socialites and celebrities. Lex could see guests taking their seats. Everything was shaping up to be perfect, except for one thing. He hasn’t come.
“Eight minutes!” Birdie shouted as she ran backstage to hug her daughter.
Vive smacked Lex’s hand. “Let go. I need to go take my seat. Debauchery magazine brought their camera crew. We’ll do some footage after the show. How many looks did you and Birdie select?”
Lex had held Vive’s hand for the last few minutes to calm her nerves. Vive swore she wouldn’t talk, and she didn’t. Instead, she helped Lex breathe. “We have forty-two looks. Each model will change three times.”
Blake handed Lex an earpiece. “Slip this in your right ear. I’ll talk you through the whole show and let you know how we’re doing in the front. Remember, we play your vocal recording at the beginning, welcoming the crowd. The second you hear your voice come on, you know to send out the first model.”
“Understood, Blake. Thank you.”
“I’m heading out to work with the lighting guys.” Blake walked off, confident as ever, with Vive.
Taddy came up with her clipboard and said, “Honey, every celebrity but one is checked in, and of course, it’s Britney. But we figured as much. Vogue, Harper’s, Elle, W, Glamour, WWD, Saks, Barneys—everyone’s here. I’m going to sit with my peeps at Marie Claire. Remember, your show runs for twenty minutes. Then this circus picks it up and moves down the hall to the BCBG Max Azria show. This is it, Lex.” Taddy marched out the door with her head high.
Birdie came up behind Lex and put her arms around her. “This is a million times bigger than last season.” Lex looked out at the crowd.
“We have the stage at Lincoln Center.”
“You’re the one who insisted we do so many looks this year.”
“Well…”
“We’re not Christian Dior, Mother.”
“Not yet, my baby, but soon. This attendance is from the rumors Girasoli is acquiring Easton.”
“I thought the same thing.”
“The possible merger has created an unexpected demand in Easton. And your new Milan nightlife created an interest in you,” Birdie teased. “There are four fashion houses here today, offering to outbid your prince.”
“The prince will never be beaten. He hates to lose.”
Birdie turned to face her as Lex tried to hide the sadness she knew her mother could see all too well. “He’ll come for you, baby. It’ll all work out for you both, I’m certain.” Lex hugged her mother one last time as the front house lights went dim and the room became quiet. “Your father would be proud.”
“Thank—” Lex tried to muster her gratitude, but choked on her own words. She closed her eyes and inhaled to secure balance. To excuse herself, she offered, “I’m going to go check the model lineup one last time.” She couldn’t remember if it would be the one hundredth time or one hundred and first time she’d checked her models.
“Okay, bitches! Let’s go,” Blake ordered into the earpiece.
Lex walked up to her first model, Taddy’s reality TV star client. “Neve, you ready?”
“Easton’s dress in my signature color. I love lilac.” Neve winked at Lex in a Marilyn Monroe way, which almost made her laugh.
“Thank you for being in my show. It means the world to me.” She smiled and watched America’s biggest television star leave for the runway.
Lex’s voice played over the sound system:
It’s time to let go and unwind
Let your mind surprise you
Let your body take you
Enjoy the Sunset
Hope you’ll stay with us ’til dawn
The music’s tempo increased.
Cameras flashed as Lex chewed the nails off her right hand.
“Stop biting.” Birdie grabbed her hands as they watched Neve go down the runway on the monitors.
The Saks buyer smiled.
“Second model, please, Lex. Keep up,” Blake bitched over the earpiece.
She tapped the next model on the shoulder.
Overwhelmed with glee, Birdie sang, “We’re a hit! Look at Rihanna’s face. She loves the dress. Lex, look at the audience’s faces. They love us! They love you!”
The sunset theme became hypnotic, and the backdrop glowed warm orange in spiraling amber hues. The air kissed vanilla essences. Taddy had hired a scent machine company to pump the aroma into the room before guests arrived, claiming in her lighthearted way it would make everyone happy and help sell clothing. The music jammed with an atmospheric invigorating quality.
The next eighteen minutes passed as mere seconds. Lex couldn’t believe the end came near.
A model changed into outfit number forty-two, a chiffon bodice and tulle skirt. “My darling, this is the best show ever. Better than Milano, better than Paris. Grazie for including me.” Jemma squeezed her hand and straightened her gown’s shoulder straps.
“You helped me and Birdie with sewing everything. Thank you. I wish—”
Jemma covered Lex’s mouth with her palm. “Shush, don’t say it. Focus on good things. I’ll do one full walk and come back and get you.”
“I’m taking a quick bow mid-stage, period.”
“No, my darling, you’re going to do the whole catwalk. You’re wearing one of my dresses. Per favore.”
“It’s my show, Jemma.” Her friend gave her a pout. “Okay, okay. I’ll walk the whole way out. See you in two minutes.”
“Grazie, darling.” Jemma strutted away. At age thirty-four, she gave the other models, all in their early twenties, a better face.
The audience clapped as Jemma finished her walk and Lex stepped out onto the runway.
She could see hands, feet, but no faces as the spotlight beamed down on her. Lex put her hand up to wave then took a bow. Jemma, the last model, came up and grabbed her arm. “Walk with me. Work it, work it, work it!” Jemma giggled. The other models came out and around for one final walk.
As they strutted down the runway behind the other models, Jemma slowed down.
About four feet from the edge, Jemma dropped her hand and let Lex walk the final stretch alone. The houselights came up…
This isn’t in the program.
Lex’s eyes caught a sparkle. The brilliance blinded her as the crystal bounced off the lights. She sidestepped from the reflection then caught his face. Masi?
Massimo lowered himself to one knee. He took command on the runway—such a showman. Lex realized the sparkling reflection came from an engagement ring. The rock glimmered, the largest stone she’d ever seen.
The music cut off as silence filled the room.
“My bella, my Lex Easton!” Massimo announced. “You ran away from me once.”
“I didn’t run. I flew.” Lex grabbed his free hand while he stayed kneeling.
He lowered his voice. “I would give this up—H
ouse of Tittoni, Girasoli Garments, Isola di Girasoli, my Milano life—anything and everything. I’ll be faithful, and I’ll be yours—forever.” Massimo’s eyes glistened in happiness. “Please, let me prove this to you, my principessa.”
“Oh, Masi,” she cried. Lex realized Massimo wouldn’t need to give anything up to be with her. He was as perfect as ever the way he was. To Hell with what people thought. She wasn’t going to be tabloid-phobic any longer.
“Sì, bella. Will you marry me? Will you be my wife?” he asked in his loud baritone voice.
“Yes, yes, I’ll marry you,” Lex answered wholeheartedly, “and Masi, we’ll find a balance to make this work.”
Massimo stood, still holding her hand, and he placed the sparkling jewelry on her ring finger. It fit. He kissed her as she melted in his arms to the point they forgot the hundreds of onlookers.
The crowd cheered, the music returned, and the paparazzi flashbulbs illuminated the couple.
In Massimo’s embrace, she couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across her face as the models laughed and surrounded them both in a group hug. One woman, who resembled Massimo, came up to the runway.
“Lex, this is my sister, Paloma. Paloma, this is my fiancée, Lex.”
“It’s an honor to meet you. I’m getting a sister-in-law.” She shook her hand.
“You’re getting us, too!” Jemma, Taddy, Vive and Blake cheered.
“I’ll be out in one sec. Let me finish drying my hair,” Lex said from her bathroom.
“Bella, I’m proud of you!” Massimo shouted, naked, from the bed. Stretched out and owning the place, his cock hard—as always—he smiled up at her. “Come here.” He motioned her over.
“I’m not playing one of your games tonight,” she said as she dropped the towel on the floor and walked over. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. He looks delicious and he’s mine. All mine.
“I want you to ride me.” He held on to his cock, jutting it out.
She came up on the bed and straddled him as he rested against the pillows. “Where’s your condom?”
He shook his head in response. “I tested a few weeks ago and am clean. What about you?”
“I took a physical last month. I am, as well. But I’m not on the pill, Masi.”
“Buono, I don’t want you to be.”
“Masi, I don’t want to be knocked-up for the wedding.” She hovered over him, holding on to his broad shoulders for balance.
He toyed with her, pushing her body down onto his cock. “Bella, don’t argue with me. We’re engaged. We can get married tomorrow.”
“No! We are having a big, traditional wedding. My mom made me swear tonight she’d get to coordinate the ceremony for me. Preggers with me, Mom never experienced a big white dress party.” Lex went up on her knees and hovered over him.
“I want to be inside you. Right now.”
“You’d better pull out.” His length rested at her entry.
Massimo pressed his thumb against her throbbing clit and began massaging it, teasing her. “This belongs to me now, bella. And I want to fill you with my bambinos.” He grabbed her by the hips hard and lowered her onto his cock. “Yeah, bella.”
“We haven’t even discussed how big you want our family to be. One baby is enough for me.” Her walls clenched tight as her skin prickled in anticipation. She felt she’d orgasm right then. She’d waited three days to have him, her entire lifetime to be with him.
He thrust upward and pulled her down at the same time. “I want a dozen.” His heavy eyelids flashed up with determination.
“Two. I could do two kids.” She came up, pulling herself higher as his tip rested against her folds.
“Six bambinos,” he pleaded and held her hips down from getting up again. “Pull my cock out one more time and I will flip you over and get rough with you.” He tapped her ass. “Is that what you want?”
Yes, Masi. Always. “Three babies, then my tubes are tied.” She ground against him. “Say three, Masi. Three is better than the one I agreed to before.” Lex went to sit back up.
“Three it is. Three little bambinos.” He thrust underneath once, then twice. “Go slow, per favore.” He thickened inside her. “My principessa, squeeze me tight. Bella, squeeze it. Make me come for you.”
“I love you, Masi,” she cried as a pleasure wave ripped through her.
He reached for her wrists, held them behind her back and bounced her on his cock into a rhythm, getting her body over his. “I love you more, bella.” He pounded harder and harder under her.
She ached inside for him as she came, riding up higher, coming down on him harder. His eyes flickered with intensity. “Where’s your big boy smile?”
“You’re addictive.” Massimo held her hands behind her back while he thrust up higher, harder, giving her the smile she searched for.
Lex fell forward onto his chest as he made love to her. She kissed his neck, hearing his voice grow louder. “Masi, come inside me.”
“Your words are going to make me come.” He grabbed her hands tighter and pounded.
She moaned in ecstasy and held on to him as the orgasm crashed over her. She leaned in close, his chest hair wonderful against her sensitive nipples.
He pumped once then howled in her ear, sucking on her earlobe for a second before returning his attention to her breasts. He spoke to her as his lips touched hers and he filled her with his hot seed. “We’re going to have a lifetime together. Forever. Me and my Manhattanite.”
This novel wouldn’t be possible without the TLC from following people:
Brenda, for taking me to my first RWA Nationals Conference and much, much more! You are the best BFF. Kate Hewitt, Massimo’s millionaire point of view wouldn’t be the same without you. Dee Davis, your writing classes at NYU got me going. JT Ellison, for showing me “fashion” can be its own character.
My peeps who championed this story from the beginning: Julie, this book is as much yours as mine. Michele, for being my magic. Marisa Corvisiero, at Corvisiero Literary Agency, for having my Aster. Manuel, for the heroine’s day perspective. Courtney Howell and Courtney Parker, for your grammar expertise. Thank you, Kristin and Becky at Hot Tree Editing for making me shine. And to my family and friends who championed this novel: Julie, Bailee, Sara, Kelly, Shari, Edward, Pat, Hector, Lynn, Michele, Holly, Nackie and Shane…love you, always.
New York Times bestselling author Avery Aster pens The Manhattanites, a contemporary erotic romance series of full-length, stand-alone novels, and the naughty new adult prequel companion series The Undergrad Years.
As a resident of New York City and a graduate from New York University, Avery gives readers an inside look at the city’s glitzy nightlife, socialite sexcapades and tall tales of the über-rich and ultra-famous.
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in The Undergrad Years series
Love, Lex
Yours Truly, Taddy
XO, Blake
Always & Forever, Vive
in The Manhattanites series
Unscrupulous
Undressed
Unsaid
Unconventional
Unique
Uncensored
Table of Contents
Author's Note
Prologue: Fuck You, Vive Farnworth
Chapter One: Green Acres Is The Place To Be
Chapter Two: Make Her Squirt, Then Eat It Again
Chapter Three: Group Therapy From Hell
Chapter Four: You Say Tomato, I Say Tomorrow
Chapter Five: Freaky-D
eaky
Chapter Six: Pretty As Fuck
Chapter Seven: Poppy White, At Your Service
Chapter Eight: Redemption
Epilogue: Back to Manhattan
About Avery Aster
Connect With Avery
Also By Avery Aster
Bonus Novel - Undressed
Cast of Characters
Part One: For the Love of Fashion
Prologue: Screw the Masi Salami Dildo Fantasy
Chapter One: Holy Coco Chanel
Chapter Two: Donkey Booty al Dente
Chapter Three: Divine Secrets of a Fashionista
Chapter Four: Adrenaline Junkie’s Temple of Doom
Chapter Five: Thank you, God, Gianni Versace and Alexander McQueen
Chapter Six: Sweet Tiramisu Melts in Your Mouth
Chapter Seven: To Hell with Thelma & Louise, Gimme a Fuck-It Bucket
Part Two: When Candy Isn’t Enough
Chapter Eight: Beam Me the Ménage à Trois Up, Scotty
Chapter Nine: Vajayjay Factor via Valentino
Chapter Ten: Giuseppe Verdi's Woman is Fickle
Chapter Eleven: Footloose & Bellini Smashed
Chapter Twelve: A Hung Morning for a Hangover
Chapter Thirteen: Deconstructing Massimo, Snip Snip
Chapter Fourteen: Blake Morgan’s Gay Mafia Know-How
Chapter Fifteen: One Part Deep Throat, Three Parts Horse Sense
Part Three: Panties Comin’ Off
Chapter Sixteen: Undress Me
Chapter Seventeen: Going Down in Tabitha Simmons Chandelier Stilettos
Chapter Eighteen: Lovergasmic
Chapter Nineteen: OMFG!
Chapter Twenty: Arrivederci, Milano
Chapter Twenty-One: Superwoman Taddy Brill
Chapter Twenty-Two: Meet Me at Sunset
Chapter Twenty-Three: How You Doin’
Chapter Twenty-Four: Lights! Models! Guest List!
Acknowledgments
