by Ruby Vincent
I strained to find Landon. He stood in the doorway, wide-eyed and helpless. I was on my own.
The two of them got me into a room with bright overhead lights and tile floors. Wall to wall were racks of dresses, pants, skirts, and tops. Declan broke off and pounced on one of the racks.
“Right here.” Henrietta led me to a vanity with not one, but five different makeup cases. They were each stamped with the initials H.F.C. “Sweetie, it’s safe to say you have my Landon on the hook, but that doesn’t mean you should stop trying.”
I couldn’t reply. She had my chin in a tight hold as she applied the primer.
“Our appearance, like our names, are the few things we own. You must take pride in it.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I got out.
She looked over my shoulder. “Not that one. Get the dress from the spring collection, love. She’s not very chesty. It will give her a lift.”
What. Is. Happening?
“And heels,” she called. “Light brown pumps to match her eye shadow.”
I tugged free. “I can’t walk in pumps.”
Henrietta’s laugh was light and warm. She flicked my nose. “Don’t be silly.”
It was at that point I gave up.
As promised, I walked—stumbled—into the kitchen half an hour later. Declan and Henrietta were on either side of me, holding on to my shoulder as they showed off their newest masterpiece.
Landon rose from the barstool. His mouth hung open as his eyes traced my body. “Wow...”
Henrietta put her lips to my ear. “You’re welcome.”
I flushed hot as she patted my back and turned to leave with Declan. Their work here was done.
Landon visibly shook himself. “Now you see why I wanted to hold off on the introductions. Henrietta and Declan have never met a person they didn’t believe they could improve.” He gently cupped my face and kissed me. “Not that you can be,” he said against my lips. “You’re perfect.”
I smiled. “I don’t know. I’m pretty sure they’ve brought me to my optimal hotness. I will never look as good as I do right now.”
I couldn’t believe it when Declan spun me to face the mirror. It took one look to know that I had been putting on makeup wrong and dressing myself incorrectly for years.
Henrietta enhanced all of my best features and downplayed my worst. My pores were smaller. My lips were fuller and my eyes sparkled beneath dark brown glittering eye shadow.
Declan hadn’t disappointed either. He slipped pumps on my feet with cute, tiny bows decorating the back. To tie it all together, he emerged from the racks carrying a sheer pale-yellow dress with a corset top. It did a great job at solving the “not chesty” problem.
Landon’s grin turned wicked. “I wouldn’t say that. You looked incredible naked in my bed with your legs wrapped around my—”
Someone roughly cleared their throat. We sprang apart like repellant magnets.
“Master Landon,” the chef said. He stepped through the sliding glass door on the other end of the room. “Dinner is waiting for you.”
“Right, yes. Thanks, Gerard.” Landon reached for my hand. “Ready?”
“I’m ready.”
Together we passed through the doors. The second I stepped on the mat Gerard flicked the lights on. I gasped.
String lights illuminated a stone path leading to a lone fixture in the middle of their lawn. It was made up of stone columns and a charming thatched roof, but the true draw lit up Landon’s grin as he led me up the steps.
The fire crackled in the pit, casting its warmth over the spread set around the stone rim. Black couches with red cushions encircled the walls of the space and we sank into them as I took it all in.
“This is amazing,” I said softly.
Landon didn’t bother to leave space between us. He pressed himself against my side and reached for my legs. Draping them over his lap, he then rested his hand on my thigh. Landon swept out the other. “We have cheese truffles, strawberry bruschetta, stuffed jalapenos, little quiches, and mini chocolate cupcakes. This is Gerard’s attempt at keeping it simple.”
I chuckled. “I’d say the man knows what he’s doing. The truffles look delicious.”
“They taste even better. Here.” Landon picked one up and pressed it to my lips. “Try one.”
I didn’t look away from him as I parted my mouth. Landon placed the yummy treat on my tongue. My lips closed over his fingers as he pulled back. Tingles spread through me at his breath catching.
I told myself I’d keep it chill until I decided how far I wanted to go tonight, but it seemed a part of me would never be able to resist teasing Landon Foster.
Landon tossed his head, looking dazed. “The... uh... chocolate....”
I giggled. “I like you flustered.”
“Really? You’re into this?” He laughed almost helplessly. “That’s good because you’ve turned me into a complete mess. I’ve gone from lovesick to jealous freak to raging sex hound.”
“Raging sex hound?”
He grinned. “The last one was more me predicting our future.”
I shoved his chest and he fell against the chair cracking up.
“I’m serious.” Landon pushed himself up on his elbows and peered at me through hooded eyes. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone.” He held out his hand and I took it without hesitation. He drew me on top of him. “Tonight, I want to show you how I feel.”
I opened my mouth. I think it was to ask how, but Landon took his chance to claim my lips. We kissed slow and deep and every reason I walked in with for waiting blew out of my mind. If we “hung out” in his room, I was not walking out a virgin.
It felt like hours later that we broke apart, but more likely it was minutes. Landon sat us both up and put me firmly in his lap. We giggled like we were doing something wrong while we fed each other Gerard’s creations and talked about everything and anything.
“We leave for Europe at the end of the week,” he said. “Declan has a show in Paris and then we’ll spend two weeks dropping in on his stores.”
I ran my thumb along his chin. I never asked but I had a feeling Landon kept a little bit of stubble growing just because I liked it.
“Can I ask why you model for him? I remember orientation and Cameron saying you had other plans besides taking over for your parents.”
Landon sighed. He leaned his head back, directing his gaze to the flickering shadows on the roof. “I wondered when you were going to ask me about that. I haven’t really told anyone what I want to do with my life.”
“Will you tell me?”
“I’ll tell you anything.”
I buried my face in his chest, hiding my smile.
“Henrietta taught me as much about cosmetics as I needed to know to work with Declan and the models when she couldn’t be there,” he began, “but other than that, I don’t know much about her business. Can’t say that about Declan. I was four when he put the first sketchpad in my hands. The plan has always been for me to take his place. He brings me to every show and makes me the face of his campaigns so that it’s clear to everyone—and me—that I’m the future of Declan’s.”
“Does he know you want something else?”
He shrugged. “Declan never asked and I never said. I don’t think it’s occurred to him that I could want something else. I travel, meet gorgeous men and women, and I’m good at fashion design. Declan made sure of that.” Landon lowered his head. I followed his eyes to my bodice. “I designed this dress.”
“You did? Landon, it’s beautiful.”
He made a noise low in his throat. “It’s not what I originally had in mind. The dress I drew was blue and the bodice was covered in sequins.” He ran his fingers over the mound of my breasts. He looked at me as he said, “Right here.”
“Really?” I rasped. “That would have been pretty.”
“I thought so.” Landon’s fingers continued their journey. “I added this little clasp at the back to make it easy to take
off.”
I squeaked when a soft pop was followed by the bodice loosening.
“I loved how the design came out,” he continued like nothing was happening. “But Declan had other ideas and it became this after he got his hands on it. Even though he praises me and shows me off to other people in the industry, he has changed every single design I’ve given him. Even the clothes I design for myself get his final approval.
“I’ve known for a long time that he’ll never truly give up control of the business. If I want to work in fashion, my options are to work under his thumb or become his competitor.”
“There are... no good choices,” I whispered.
“Exactly.”
The flames reflected in his bright green eyes. They pulled me in, mesmerizing me as Landon pushed down the corset. The heat from the fire washed over my bare skin, and yet I shivered as that mischievous finger traced slow circles beneath my bra.
“I’m not destined to be a designer, but working with Declan has shown me what I’m meant to do.” He bent and kissed me until my lungs cried out for air. No one could see us. The couch was high-backed and angled toward the woods. We were nothing but writhing shadows to anyone who peeked through the window.
He released me and I ducked my head.
Don’t lose all sense, Zela. This isn’t going to happen here.
“I want to run nonprofits for kids who weren’t as lucky as me. I’ve modeled with three people who were kicked out after they came out to their parents. They’re successful now, but so many others are living a different story. I want to open homes and provide services.” His voice rose with his excitement. “I can start in Evergreen, but eventually it’ll grow.”
I pulled back and smiled into his eyes. “You’re amazing, Landon. You’re an Elite student with talent dripping from your fingers, but all you want to do is help others.”
A rosy tinge touched his cheeks. “It’s not a big deal.”
“It is.” I grasped his chin and placed a light peck on his lips. “It is a big deal.”
“You think I can do it?”
“I know you can.” I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and pressed my forehead to his. “But how did Cameron know your plans?”
“He must have heard it from his father.” Landon dropped a kiss on the tip of my nose. “He advises half the nonprofits in town. I asked him for advice on setting one up and getting funding.” His lips brushed over mine to kiss my chin.
“Dominick Dupre works for nonprofits?” I drew slightly back. “Why would he—”
Landon came after me. I yelped when I suddenly found myself on my back.
“Can’t be bothered to care right now.” He pressed his face to my neck and hummed low in his chest. “I love our talks. They always end like this.”
I flushed. That was true enough. Every time Landon and I were alone clothes started coming off.
Landon pushed the hem of the dress over my knees and let it fall to my waist. The kiss he gave me made my toes curl in my heels.
“We should go,” he said in between dropping kisses on my lips, cheek, and chin.
I nodded vigorously. “Yes,” I breathed. “We should definitely do that.”
Landon let me up and I fumbled to do up my dress. We were both a mess. His eyes were glazed and his lips swollen. Seeing him so drunk on me made warmth pool in my core.
“I can’t wait,” he said.
Three words and that warmth transformed into wetness that soaked my panties. I couldn’t wait to do this either.
I made a half-hearted attempt to fix my hair and then grabbed his hand. “Let’s go.”
“Whoa,” he cried.
I dragged him out of the gazebo, down the path, and burst through the sliding glass doors. Gerard looked up from washing the dishes.
“Hold up,” Landon said, chuckling. “I have to show you the way.”
He put his arm around my waist. We walked out of the kitchen at a more reasonable pace, waving to Gerard on the way out.
My excitement built as we climbed the stairs. Topping the landing revealed another hallway of model photographs and closed doors. There was no way to know what was on the other side but I was disappointed one after the other when the doors we passed weren’t Landon’s.
We stopped before the final room at the end of the hall. I gripped the knob before he had a chance and flung it open. Rushing inside, my smile vanished in a heartbeat.
“What is this?” I cried.
“What do you mean?”
Landon walked in front of me and spread out his arms. “It’s our bowling alley. Don’t you like it?”
Did I like it? This room was as amazing as the rest of the house. Two bowling lanes took up one side of the room and before them was a large, comfy couch and a wet bar. The other side boasted a row of arcade games and two big-screen televisions.
I liked it a lot, but that did not matter.
“Landon.” I planted my hands on my hips. “Now is not the time for bowling.”
He cocked his head. “But I told you I was going to teach you how to bowl.”
“I thought we were going to your room so you could teach me how to do something else.”
His expression didn’t change as he drew closer and backed me into the door. “Is that what you thought?”
My heart picked up speed again. Landon gripped my ass and lifted me so I could wrap my legs around his waist.
“Yes,” I breathed. I closed my eyes. “Let’s go.”
“We can’t go,” he whispered. “Not until we do something about this bowling thing. I can’t sleep with a girl that doesn’t know how.”
My eyes bugged. I snapped to Landon’s face and finally caught his grin. “What the— Are you messing with me?!”
“Yep,” he said, popping the p. The look he was giving me could only be described as devilishly wicked. “Consider it payback for the shit you pulled with Moon.”
My mouth literally fell open. It had to be comical, so I didn’t blame him for laughing. “You have got to be kidding me. You think now is the time for your revenge? I’m your girlfriend. I don’t tease you anymore.”
Bright green pools darkened. “Every time you walk into a room wearing fucking clothes when you shouldn’t be, you’re teasing me.”
“Oh?” A smirk spread across my lips. “Well, then you know I can play this game as good as you.”
I didn’t give him any warning before slipping through his jeans and wrapping my fingers around his length.
He sucked in a sharp breath. His nails dug hard into my thighs, but I only felt a rush of triumph. I drove him just as crazy as he drove me.
I whispered in his ear as I stroked. “Are you sure you want to play this game with me?”
“H-holy fuck, Zela,” he groaned. Landon’s breath was hot on my neck. “I don’t... want to play this game, but I do want to play another one.” He tugged my hand out of his pants. “Strip bowling.”
“That sounds like fun.”
Landon put me back on my feet and kissed me. “Best part is the winner’s prize.” Suggestion heavily laced his voice. I didn’t have to ask what the prize was.
“How do we play?”
Landon took my hand and led me over to the lanes. “It’s simple. If I get a strike, you take off something. If you get a strike, I do it.”
I looked from the ball to the pins. “But aren’t strikes hard to get?”
“For some people.” Landon picked up a ball. Holding it up to his face, he winked over the swirly green surface. “Not for me.”
Thus began the most unevenly matched game I ever played in my life, and I went to Breakbattle Academy. Twenty-five minutes later, I was down to nothing but my bra and panties while Landon had only removed his jacket and one shoe.
“You hustled me,” I deadpanned.
“I did not!” His innocent act might have been more believable if he wasn’t eyeing me like a popsicle on a hot day. “I never said I wasn’t good.”
He rescued his
ball, stepped up to the line, and sent it rolling for the pins. I knew before it connected what it was going to be.
Landon whooped at his sixth strike in a row. “So very, very good.” He turned on me. His hunger was like a living thing within his gaze. “I’ll have that bra.”
I unhooked the clasp and gave it to him as requested.
He leaned his head back, speaking to the ceiling. “I love this game.”
I used his distraction to snatch my bra back. He gaped at me as I put it on.
“That’s cheating,” he cried.
I laughed. “You’re cheating. At least teach me how to play. Then you’ll save your chance to get my bra off again.”
“When you offer those terms...”
We giggled as we got my ball and stepped up to the lane. Who knew first dates could be this fun?
I got in position and ball held before my nose. Landon pressed himself against my back. “The trick,” he said softly, “isn’t to aim for the middle arrow. You want the second one from the right.” He nipped my ear. “Think you can do it?”
I nodded rather than speak. Landon was rocking my ass back onto his hard-on and it was making speech difficult.
I drew my arm back and suddenly his hand was there. He clasped my wrist and gently guided me as I shot the ball. That same hand spun me around before the ball reached the arrows.
We stumbled back, mouths attacking each other as we tore at our clothes. I got his hoodie over his head and flung it over my shoulder.
“My room,” he got out. My bra followed his hoodie. “Second door on the left.”
I slipped out of his arms. Skipping backwards, I flashed him a grin. “Race you there.”
He dove for me. Shrieking, I raced out of the room in nothing but my panties. I tried to be quiet darting down the hall, but Landon didn’t.
A growl behind me made all my hairs stand on end. “I am going to fuck the shit out of you.”
I didn’t know what other girls wanted to hear before their first time, but that had to be it. I loved this side of Landon. He was all colored contacts, pressed uniforms, and polished shoes in public, but when we were alone, he was wild.
I found his door and threw it open. I skidded to a stop just after the threshold. I pictured Landon’s bedroom a few times, but none of them came close to this. It was massive. So big we could probably fit the cafeteria in here. That wasn’t as shocking as Landon, Landon, Landon everywhere I looked.
