by Sienna Hart
“Tighter!”
The assistant rushed over and unstrapped the buckles, pulling it tighter until it pressed into my skin. He bucked it again, and the restriction it put on me was beginning to arouse me. I took a deep breath and steadied myself. He cupped my face and smiled.
“Better.”
Before I knew it the camera was clicking away and I began to pose the way I thought I needed to. It didn’t take much time when I fell into the slutty little character I was supposed to be.
Two male models dressed in black leather chaps entered the set and began rubbing my body all over. They posed, kissed my forehead and cheekbones, and worked down my neck. It was for the shots, but the heat of their bodies was intoxicating, and I felt goosebumps rising on my arms. They started at my shoulders then cascaded down my arms. It was getting difficult to stay professional. These guys were gorgeous and smelled amazing. One of them pulled my arms behind me and started twining a heavy rope around them. The rope bit into my skin, like it did before. He pulled tightly and I couldn’t help but push my breasts out, jutting them forward. My nipples stiffened to attention. Gustav turned me around so my back was toward the camera and they both surrounded me, putting their heads on my shoulders and their arms framing my waist. The rope was weaved down my arms, and the photographer took several shots of them admiring their work from over my shoulders.
By the time the full photo shoot was over, I had worn leather bikinis, ropes on every part of my body, large feathers, and sensual see-through lace. I was exhausted but very hyper-sensitive. My body responded to every touch and every breath. I knew a little private time was in my immediate future as soon as I could get someplace private. I was pent up, my blood racing.
Leaving the dressing room, I decided to check my website to see how my fan base was going. The stats had more than tripled and I had thousands of retweets. I was ecstatic.
“You did beautiful, Elise. Chang was right in sending you to me.” He held out his hand and instead of shaking it he pulled me over and took my other hand. “Have a drink with me. We will celebrate.”
“I’d love that.” Even though I was tired as hell, I couldn’t stop smiling. My life was moving so fast and I was merely trying to hang on to it all.
Chapter 8
“So what do you think? Cloister’s or Death?”
“Excuse me?” Gustav’s question made no sense to me, and I was almost too freaked out to ask. He laughed and introduced me to a co-worker behind me.
“Elise, meet Donovan Jones. He is a good friend of mine and long-time colleague.”
I turned and saw a man dressed like one of the Rolling Stones in a long trench coat and tight leather pants. I tripped over myself and fell into him. I really needed to get used to meeting strange people better.
“Whoa. Hold on there.” He helped steady my clumsiness with his big hands. Each finger had a huge ring, and black nail polish covered his fingernails. When I looked into his face, I could see he was quite attractive but dressed very gothic, with eyeliner on his eyes, and hair spiked here and there for a lovely ‘just out of bed’ sort of look.
“Thank you . . . sorry.” I smoothed my blouse out and followed them out the door.
“Death has a band.”
“Excuse me.” I stopped Donovan by pulling on his arm. “Death? We are going to a place called Death?”
He chuckled and turned away from me.
“Yep.” He turned back toward me just enough to peek at my facial expression.
I knew he was trying to be charming, so I couldn’t help but smile. My new friends were so different than anyone I knew but I was beginning to love my new life.
The bar we pulled up in front of was called Death & Company. For a name like that, it really was beautiful. Everything was black and the twinkling lights from the small chandeliers set the mood just perfectly. I heard Donovan chuckle again. I realized my mouth was wide open and I was looking around like a small child in a toy factory for the first time.
“You are so cute.” He pinched my cheek and went toward an empty table.
“This place is . . . gorgeous.” I sat down and marveled at the deep woodwork and different areas of interest. Just as the bar maid brought drinks to the table I noticed a set of very small open rooms with bars along the top. “What is that?” I asked pointing toward them.
“Private booths.” I felt Donovan’s hand on my knee as he leaned toward me. “Wanna check ‘em out?” He raised his eyebrows a few times.
I quickly put my hand on his. I knew he was expecting me to shove him away and blush but I was getting used to playing the game, or so I thought. I pulled his hand in between my legs and leaned in closer to him.
“You need privacy, darling?” I smirked.
He stood up so quickly he almost knocked me over in my chair, and he grabbed a hold of me, picking me up and dipping me in his arms. My head was almost touching the floor. I felt his hand slide up my shirt and cup my breast, his fingers playing over my nipples briefly. He leaned down and kissed me hard, then picked me up and sat me back down.
“No.” He wiped his lower lip and took a big swig of his drink.
Gustav was laughing heartily at my acts of pathetic attempts at being suave. I glared at Donovan as he winked at me. I love the way he acted, but I wasn’t going to let on.
“What is this? I didn’t order yet.” I picked up my glass and smelled the drink. A whiskey filled my nostrils and made me put it right back down again.
“Try it.” I looked at Gustav and took a sip. It was warm going down, and after the whiskey taste flooded my tongue, a fruity flavor took over.
“Mmm. It’s good.” I took another drink.
“Careful now, it will sneak up and bite you.” I smiled and tried taking it slow, but it didn’t take long before I started loosening up and really having a good time.
Donovan and I hit it off like a couple of school kids, busting on each other and laughing at each other’s jokes. I was telling him about one of my most embarrassing moments when out of the blue he reached over me and picked up my cell phone.
“What . . . what are you doing?”
“Shh.” He clicked it on and punched a few buttons. I tried reaching for it, but he was too quick.
“Donovan.” I glared at him.
“Here, princess.” I took it quickly and looked at it. “Give me a call sometime. You’re a hoot.”
“Oh. Well . . . thank you.”
“Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to get my kicks.” Donovan got up and walked toward the band. They handed him a guitar and he jumped up on stage. They were hot, and Donovan played a couple of songs with them. He was amazing on guitar, and so very sexy.
Gustav loved keeping me company and conversation flowed easily with him. By the end of the night, I could tell the drinks hit me harder than I should have allowed.
“Elise. You are so delightful. Come home with me.” He was leaning into me and playing with my hair. “I am so attracted to you. His finger cascaded down my neck to the neck line of my shirt.
If it were up to my body, I’d have already left with him, but I had to keep it professional. He was my photographer and I didn’t think of this as one of those favors Isabel was talking about.
“As much as I would love to, Gustav, I have to say no.” I cupped his large face and kissed him. “I adore you, but I really can’t.” I could feel that last drink start to take hold, and I knew I had to leave while I still had my wits about me. “I had a great time and I’d love to do this again sometime.”
“Anytime you want. At least let me take you home.” He smiled and escorted me out.
I looked around for Donovan and saw him in the corner still jamming with the band. He looked over at me and waved. Gustav helped me to his car ,and his driver drove me to my apartment.
* * *
I slowly rolled over and squinted at my clock on the table. It was pushing seven o’clock and the sun light coming in my window seemed extra bright that morning. I grunt
ed and covered my head with my covers. My head hurt and my mouth felt like a big cotton ball. I heard my cell phone notify me of a voice mail.
“Ugh. I hate technology.” I lay motionless, feeling a twinge of pain in my head every time my heart beat. Thoughts from the previous night started coming back, and I cringed. I tried remembering what I did and how it all went. I barely remember how I got home but the things I did remember that I had a great time. Another notification on my phone sounded. This time it was telling me I had a text. I pulled my covers down and blindly searched for my phone. First thought was to throw it through the window, but I thought better of it and looked at it. My home screen showed three texts and a voice mail. I sat up and opened it.
The voice mail was from Gustav. I cringed again remembering how he tried to convince me to go home with him. It was going to be awkward seeing him at the next shoot . . . if I even got another shoot. I skipped over the voice mail afraid of what he might say.
The texts were from Donovan. I smiled, remembering fighting him for my phone.
“Hello, sexy maiden. This is me. I expect a return text, or better yet a phone call from you. We’ll paint the town every color you want. Talk to you soon. D.”
The next text was just a phone number and a quick message that said “call me and we’ll do lunch”, but I had no recollection of getting it or talking to anyone else besides Gustav and Donovan . . .
I got up and immediately went to the kitchen. I poured a cup of yesterday’s coffee and used it to pop a few ibuprofens before getting online to investigate the new number in my phone. When I logged on, I went to my emails. There were pages and pages of emails from my Miss Savannah website. I clicked on a few of them. They seemed to be fans subscribing to my pages, my blogs and links to Mr. Chang and Gustav Studios. My jaw dropped open as I scrolled through them all.
“He was right! I’m famous!”
02 - Model of Fame
Chapter 1
“Elise. It . . . Gustav. I . . . ant . . . a . . . go . . .” Pressing the phone into my ear didn’t help me decipher the voice mail that Gustav tried to leave. “. . . all . . . soon.”
I must have picked up my cell and then put it down a half a dozen times. I didn’t know how to respond. I couldn’t remember how I left things with Gustav, and his voicemail was so unclear.
Donovan texted to be sure I had his cell number. I’d had a blast with him at the club. Was he interested in me for more than a drinking buddy? I tried remembering all of last night, but the end of it was pretty fuzzy. I should at least let him know I got his message, but maybe I should wait to see what his true intentions were.
The other text was completely baffling me. Just a simple message with a number. I re-read it over and over, hoping some sort of meaning would miraculously pop out. “Call me and we’ll do lunch.”
I set the phone down and decided on a shower. I could think in there. I finished my coffee and a long twenty-minute shower. Wrapping a towel around myself, I went back into the room and started looking through my emails. I had to learn how to organize them better. Hell, with the money coming in now, I could probably hire someone.
“My own personal assistant.” I smiled. “I like the sound of that.”
“Who are you talking to?” Megan rolled over. “Where did you go last night, anyway? I was starting to get worried.”
“My photographer took me to this club downtown. It was so crazy, Megan. I had an absolute blast.”
“Did you go home with anyone?”
“Eh, not this time.”
“Just be careful.” She rolled back over.
“You wouldn’t believe the number of emails I got.” Megan didn’t respond. “Megan?” I heard light snoring. I knew she didn’t go back to sleep that quickly. I crinkled my nose at her, turned around, and started going through my inbox.
My stomach told me I should probably get some food, so I wrapped up the email I was reading and looked at the clock. It was pushing lunch time. I got lost in what I was doing and didn’t even realize that Megan had gotten up and left. I shrugged it off and went to the kitchenette. The fridge was almost bare, and the cupboards matched it well.
“Damn.” I got dressed and grabbed my bag.
On my way out I decided to answer the texts. I sent a simple text to Donovan, simply saying ‘received ’. The other one, I wasn’t sure how to handle. I waited until I got to a little cafe down the street and grabbed a sandwich and a bottle of water. Making myself cozy at a corner table, I called the number and only had to wait a couple of rings.
“Masters Enterprises. How may I help you?”
“Hello. I received a text recently from this number, and I’m not sure who left it.”
There was a long series of connections and reconnections as I was passed along a string of assistants. Finally, a breathless voice answered my query.
“Yes, miss, that would be from Mr. Masters, our CEO.”
“CEO?”
“Yes. What did the text say?”
“It just said call me and we’ll do lunch. Do you know what it is regarding?”
“I want to apologize for Mr. Masters. He usually leaves a business card as well. He is looking to meet with you.” I looked at my bag and started rummaging through it.
“What . . . what kind of business?”
“Would you like me to set something up with you?”
Not a real answer. I hesitated, not knowing how to handle this. Maybe if I left the restaurant up to her, I could get an idea. I found a business card in my bag and I pulled it out.
Masters Enterprises, Inc.
James S. Masters, CEO
I must have met him, but why didn’t I remember? What kind of impression did I leave with him?
“Hello?”
“I’m sorry, yes, please.”
“Mr. Masters has a one o’clock Thursday afternoon open.”
“That’s fine.”
“I will make reservations at The Carlyle at 35 E. 76th.”
“I will see him then. Thank you.”
“Have a good day.”
I took a deep breath and looked at the card, wondering just what kind of a luncheon this was going to be.
I got back to the apartment and spent the rest of the day going through the rest of my emails.
I printed off a handful of them and set them aside just as Megan walked through the door.
“You’re still at the computer? Well, at least you got dressed.”
“FYI, I’ve been out and got some lunch. But I have so many emails . . . just trying to get through them all.”
Megan walked over and picked up my prints.
“What are these?” She sifted through them, not caring that she was being completely nosey. “They look like invitations for photo shoots.”
“They are.” I smiled. Megan put them back down and scoffed.
“Who did you sleep with to get all of that?”
“I . . . didn’t sleep with anyone.” I stopped and turned around to face her. “You don’t have to be so bitter. Just because I’m getting noticed faster than you are doesn’t mean you have to be nasty.”
“Darlin’ . . .” she sashayed back over to my chair, leaning down in my face, “I ain’t got nothin’ to worry about, but even so, I’m not here to judge.” She raised her eyebrow and kissed the air directly in front of me.
* * *
I lightly shoved her backwards.
“Oh yeah? I got a pillow that says I’ve got everything you have and then some!!”
She landed on the mattress and burst into the giggles. She jumped back up and nailed me with a pillow. I landed on her bed and pulled her down on top of me. We rolled off the bed onto the floor, and as soon as I got the chance I rolled her over and pinned her down until she stopped fighting me. We were both out of breath.
“Oh, what?” I wasn’t giving her the benefit of the doubt. She shook her head and looked away. “What’s your problem? I’m not letting you up until you talk to me. I thought we w
ere just having fun.”
“It’s just that . . . I look at your pictures and I see you getting so close with some of the models.” I rolled off her when I saw an actual tear fall from her eye. “Whenever I tried getting close to you, you always pushed me away.” She sat up and leaned against her bed.
“Wait, what? So you are jealous?” I felt like an asshole. “I . . . It’s hard for me. I’m not gay, Megan, and when you approach me with the hopes I’ll respond to you that way I don’t know how to act. My initial reaction is to push you away.” I put my head down. “When I’m doing the photo shoots, they’re hard for me, too. I pretend I’m someone else, and it seems to work. But it’s like . . . it’s this part inside me. I am playing. It’s like a game. I didn’t mean to sound so insensitive earlier, but in my defense, I didn’t know how you truly felt about me . . . and you were kind of being a bitch first.”
“I know. I just . . .” she bit her lower lip and stopped her thought.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
I hesitated, contemplating my next thought.
“Would you . . . teach me?” I couldn’t believe the words were coming out of my mouth. I was actually going to let her kiss me the way she wanted to kiss me. Part of me wanted her to retract the offer, but when she looked at me and smiled, I swallowed hard and took a deep breath.
Chapter 2
I couldn’t tell if everything was moving in slow motion or if Megan was actually moving that slowly. It made me think about every action that happened between us. She still had a tear in her eye. As she blinked, her long eyelashes fluttered and the tear escaped and ran down her cheek. She slowly crawled toward me with a sleepy seduction in her eyes.
She slid her hand up under my chin and around my neck, under my hair. I was so nervous, but I tried putting myself in a different place much like I did during my photo shoots. I took a long, slow, breath in and out as she seemed to study my face.
