The Model: A Workplace Romance

by Layne, Harlow

  “We have an ambulance coming to check you out,” the other officer said.

  “What just happened?” I choked out the words as I looked up at Tommy.

  He kneeled in front of me with a shaky smile. “Your guess is as good as mine. Who was that guy?”

  Taking in an unsteady breath, I looked around the room. Raine, Nova, Brad, and Annalise were all standing by the door with worried expressions on their faces. “That was my ex, Ben. He’s—”

  For the next hour, I gave my statement to the police and let the EMT’s put ten stitches in the gash along the side of my hand. With everyone shaken up, we rescheduled the shoot for a few days later. Tommy was nice enough to board up my window before he left, and Raine ran out to get us lunch. I had a feeling she thought I was going to crack once I was left alone. Yes, I was shaken up, but I was fine. What puzzled me most was what Ben had been looking for in the first place and why he jumped out the window.

  Had Ben hidden something of his in my things? And if so, what was it?

  6

  Ryder

  Walking along the beach in Oahu, I let out a long yawn. I’d been up since three for a four o’clock photo shoot. The early hour was starting to get to me, but it was my first time in Hawaii, and I wanted to experience the beach before all the tourists took over. There were only a few surfers out in the water and scattered along the sand.

  The water was beautiful with its various shades of blues starting light at the sand to a deep turquoise the further out you looked. Palm trees swayed in the breeze as my hair tickled across my forehead. The warm water lapped at my ankles. It was perfection.

  I’d been walking for a good twenty minutes when I came upon another photo shoot, but what made my steps stutter to a stop was the blue-haired woman behind the camera. How many photographers had blue hair with tattoos decorating their arms? How many were as beautiful as the woman in the distance who hadn’t noticed me yet? It had to be Lexie. Even after almost five months, I still thought about her. At first, I replayed our encounter every night before I went to bed. As exhaustion took over and I passed out in my hotel room, her image only appeared in my subconscious every few days now. It wasn’t normal for me to be hung up on a woman, but I’d never meet anyone like Lexie Keene.

  Now that she was in my sights, I wasn’t going to leave until I at least got to talk to her again. I moved up the beach and sat beneath the shade of a few palm trees as I watched her work. It was obvious, even if you’d never worked with her, that Lexie loved her job. Her smile was wide as she spoke to the surrounding people. She animatedly explained what she wanted with verve. Once she hung her camera around her neck as she walked out into the water. She squeaked as a wave hit her at the waist, drenching her short shorts. Immediately she ran back onto the beach and placed her camera on one of the chairs that were set up. Lexie laughed as she skipped back out to the water and maneuvered the woman onto her knees, bending her back until the tips of her hair hit the water. The shot was hot, but I wished they’d change places. I wanted to see Lexie like that. Maybe I could persuade her to do the pose and let me use her camera to get a picture since I still had my old flip phone, and it took shit pictures.

  I really needed to upgrade my phone. Maybe I could do that while I was here on the island. That way, I could take pictures of every place I went, post on social media like my agent wanted me to, and keep in contact with my family while I was away.

  I sat for another hour, watching Lexie in her element. I desperately wanted to work with her again, and not only because of how our shoot had ended. Although I wouldn’t be opposed to sinking deep inside of her and feeling the heat of her tight cunt around my cock again. A groan slipped from my lips at the thought. Damn, I hoped she didn’t have a boyfriend now.

  When the models came out of the tent with their clothes on, I made my way over. I walked slowly, taking Lexie in as she packed up with her assistant. The muscles in her legs flexed as she moved around the beach with large reflectors in her hands. She threw her head back and laughed at something someone said. Her laugh was breathy and sultry, making my dick twitch in my board shorts.

  Her assistant spotted me and stopped short. The last time we saw each other, she had run out of the room when the sheet slipped as I’d tried to cover Lexie, and she saw me in all my naked glory. It didn’t bother me, especially now. People were constantly seeing me without clothes on as we quickly changed in small spaces, and I saw them as well. It was normal, but I knew not everyone felt the same.

  With her eyes trained on me, I watched her mouth move before Lexie turned in what seemed to be in slow motion. The smile that lit her face when she spotted me made my day. Hell, it made my week, maybe even the month. My feet picked up their pace as I made my over to her and didn’t stop until we were toe to toe, and I had my arms wrapped around her in a big hug.

  I wasn’t normally a hugger, but I figured this was better than me laying a kiss on her in front of everyone. And I was over the moon happy to see her, so I held her in my arms for longer than was probably appropriate.

  “I can’t believe you’re here.” My lips brushed her neck, and I felt her shiver, even in the heat. It seemed I still affected her just as much as she did me.

  Pulling back enough to look at me, Lexie beamed up at me and mirrored my same words. “I can’t believe you’re here.” She looked around me for a second. “Are you working?”

  “I am, or was, actually. We’re done for the day. How about you, are you finished?” The hopeful note in my voice was easy to hear, but hell, who was I kidding? I’d almost tackled her the moment we were within inches of each other. She was still in my arms with her hands resting on my biceps.

  “For a few hours, and then we’ll be back down here at sunset. I was going to grab some lunch at one of the food trucks if you want to join me and catch up.”

  Dropping my left arm, I kept my right arm around her waist and started walking. Lexie pulled me to a stop and laughed. “I still have to pack everything up before we go.”

  “Oh, it’s okay. I can get it so you can—” her assistant started.

  “I’ll help. Three sets of hands are better than one.” Plus, that way, I’d get her to myself faster.

  Her assistant giggled but kept quiet as we worked. I kept glancing at Lexie every time I passed by her, and every time she had a serene smile on her face. I liked to think I had something to do with it. Once we had all her equipment gathered, we hauled it up to a van. I guess it wouldn’t make sense to leave it outside for it to be stolen.

  “So, I guess I’ll see you around seven?” her assistant, who I thought was named Raine, asked.

  “Please make sure everyone knows to eat beforehand. We can’t stop just because they’re hungry.” She rolled her eyes as she looked down at her assistant, who had to be four-foot-ten max. She was a tiny but adorable little thing.

  Raine snorted. “I’ll make sure to let Brad and Annalise know.”

  Lexie shook her hand. “If you need anything, give me a call.” Her hand wrapped around my arm. “And don’t let anyone start drinking.”

  Raine’s eyes widened behind her red frames as she squeaked. “Can you text them and tell them?”

  “Since you’re letting me run off and have fun with Ryder, I’ll be the bad guy and send them a text.”

  Raine blushed before she turned and started to walk away.

  I leaned down, inhaled her coconut scent, and whispered in Lexie’s ear. “Is she over seeing my dick?”

  “I don’t think I’m over seeing it.” She bumped her hip into mine and fluttered her eyelashes at me. “I hope I get to see it again.”

  She most definitely didn’t have a boyfriend. “I think that can be arranged.” I winked at her. If we weren’t out in public, I’d have happily stripped us both right there and then.

  “Let’s go get something to eat. I’ve got the perfect place.” She placed her hand on my abs and tapped lightly, her other arm wrapping around my waist. I was shocked she was so t
ouchy-feely with me, but I wasn’t going to complain. When I was with Lexie, it was like being with my best friend even though we barely knew each other. Something seemed to click between us, or at least that was the way I felt. I was going to relish every moment with her while I could.

  Lexie led us down the sidewalk, passing truck after truck for almost a mile before a lone food truck sat in a parking lot with a long line. As we waited, we talked about what we’d been up to, and I was surprised that she’d kept tabs on me.

  “I wanted to call you so many times, but I have this shitty old flip phone without an international plan. Not that I had your number, to begin with.” My cheeks flushed.

  “I would have given you my number if you hadn’t run off before I got back from talking Raine down.” She leaned against my side; her head rested on my bicep. “I have a confession. I wanted to talk to you too, but I didn’t have your number either.”

  “You don’t have to say that just because I did.”

  “I wouldn’t lie to you. I really wanted to talk to you, so I did the next best thing and watched as your career took off.”

  Her words made a warmth start deep in my gut and travel to the center of my chest. I pressed her deeper into my side. “That means more to me than you’ll ever know.”

  I let the heat from her body sink deep into mine. Until this moment, I hadn’t realized how much I needed real human contact. For someone to genuinely care about me. “Would you like to go with me to get a new phone? I think it’s time I upgraded, and that way, we can stay in contact after this.” I wasn’t sure how long she was going to be here, but I only had two more days. It wasn’t enough time, but I’d make the most of it.

  Tilting her head up to look up at me, she smiled. “I’d love to be able to talk to you after this, and I’d be happy to go with you to pick out a new phone.”

  I loved how happy she always seemed and the way she looked up at me as if she saw the man I was. She didn’t only see the physique I worked incredibly hard for or my looks.

  “Oh my God,” Lexie turned fully toward me, her blue eyes bright, and cupped my cheeks. “How have I just now noticed you have dimples? I didn’t think you could be more perfect.” The last came out as a grumble.

  A silent laugh built up in my chest. “You think I’m perfect?”

  “Oh please, like you don’t know.” She swatted my chest. “But it is good to see you don’t have an ego as big as your cock.”

  I choked on my laughter as all eyes turned toward us.

  “What?” She motioned to me like she was Vanna White revealing a new letter. “Like you’d expect anything less with a body and a face like this.”

  “Is that all I am? A pretty face with a nice body?” I understood the attraction, but I wanted her to like me for more than my face and body.

  Stepping up to me, Lexie draped her arms around my neck with a soft smile gracing her pretty pink lips. Leaning up on her tippy toes, her mouth brushed against mine. “You’re so much more than your looks.”

  I groaned, pressing her flush to my body. I wanted nothing more than to be alone with her and to strip her bare. “Maybe we should skip lunch and head to my room.” Her stomach growled at that moment, making us both laugh. “Okay, first food and then—”

  “We can go back to my bungalow. It’s up the road, on the beach, and we’ll have plenty of privacy.”

  “Perfect.”

  Pulling her back to my front, I wrapped my arms around her as we waited in line. With Lexie, I didn’t mind the wait. We talked and got to know each other better. It felt right to have her in my arms, and when we walked hand in hand to her bungalow after picking up a new phone, it was even better.

  7

  Lexie

  Stumbling into the little house with Ryder attached to me like an octopus, I was surprised we’d made it inside with all our clothes on. Pushing me up against the door, he grabbed my leg to wrap around his hip. Our mouths crashed together. All teeth, tongues, and passion as we got swept up in each other.

  Breaking our kiss, Ryder fell to his knees, pulling at the button of my jean shorts, and quickly had them down to my feet in a matter of seconds. His large hands gripped my hips and opened me wide.

  His eyes darkened into stormy pools of lust. “I love this.” He flicked his tongue on the ring I had through my hood. “It’s so fucking hot. All of your piercings are. I’ve thought about them so many times over these last several months.” He groaned, threw one leg over his shoulder, and dove between my legs.

  Ryder sucked and flicked the ring until I collapsed against the wall. Only then did he pull back, with his arms around me to keep me from falling, and brought me down to the floor. The cold tile was a shock to my overheated skin, and my body arched up into his hard frame.

  His brows pulled together, and I wanted to kiss the wrinkle away.

  “It’s just a little cold. Nothing you can’t fix in a—”

  “Shit, I’m sorry.” Sweeping me up as if I weighed little more than a feather, Ryder looked around the little bungalow. It was small but nice. Not that I needed much. Looking right and then left, he spotted the bedroom and the big plush bed. He strode into the room as if he was on a mission, yet he laid me down gently before he desperately pulled off my tank top and bikini.

  Crooking my finger for him to join me, Ryder pushed his shorts off and kicked them away before he crawled between my legs. Kissing up my stomach, he licked a path from between my breasts, up to my neck, and behind my ear. “God, you’re fucking beautiful.”

  “So are you.” My hands roamed over his smooth skin and over the three blue star tattoos that ran up his side. One’s that he hadn’t had before.

  “You mentioned that in front of a long line of people,” he chuckled. His cheeks were pink, and I wasn’t sure if it was from embarrassment or the fact that he’d started to rub his length through my folds. It felt amazing, but it was nothing compared to how it would feel once he was inside of me. He flashed me a grin. “Will you still like me when my looks go?”

  “I have a feeling I’ll like you for a very long time.” My reply came out quiet. I wasn’t sure if it was wise to confess how much I liked him. “Speaking of age, how old are you?” I groaned as Ryder plunged deep inside of me. The base of his cock rubbed against my clit.

  “Twenty,” he grunted against my pebbled nipple.

  My body stilled with this new knowledge. I wanted to push him off me and run far away, but he swiveled his hips and pleasure shot through me. He sucked me into his mouth and laved me with his tongue before letting go with a pop.

  His Caribbean blue eyes met mine. “Where'd you go?”

  “You're just a baby.”

  “Does this feel like I'm a baby?” He punctuated the word ‘baby’ with a hard thrust of his hips. His hand skated down between my breasts, over my stomach until his thumb found my clit. He rubbed with slow strikes making heat shoot through my body. “Stay with me, sexy Lexie.”

  “Keep doing that, and I'll follow you around the world, kneeling at your feet.”

  A cocky grin spread across his gorgeous face. “I like the sound of that.”

  My hands gripped his trim hips and met his thrust with my own. “Less talking and more moving.”

  “I don’t remember you being so bossy, but I kind of like it.” Dipping down, he took my mouth in a blistering kiss that left me breathless. Ryder may have been young, but he was passionate and a good person. Something I’d been missing from my life for a long time.

  Swinging my leg up onto his shoulder, Ryder’s hands went to my hips, angling me just right before he started to drive into me at a brutal pace. Taking a nipple into his mouth, he bit down, causing pleasure to shoot straight to my core. His tongue swirled around my stiff peak and I let out a breathy moan. Cupping the back of his head, I pressed him further into my chest as I tried to match his wild thrusts. Moving to my other breast, he showed it the same attention, and when he bit down, my core clenched around him.

  “Ryde
r,” I moaned his name. The tips of my fingers dug into the flesh of his muscular shoulders.

  One hand slipped around to my front and found my over-sensitized bundle of nerves and made slow circles. My back arched off the bed until the hard points of my breasts brushed against his firm chest, and I exploded.

  I didn’t think it was possible, but Ryder’s pace picked up as he chased his own release. My arms wrapped around his back, pulling him closer until his face was buried in my neck. Pumping one last time, Ryder stilled inside of me as he let out the most exotic moan I’d ever heard in my life. I was instantly addicted and wanted to pleasure him any way I could so that I could hear that sound from him again and again.

  Kissing my pulse point, Ryder rested his forehead to the side of my face. His heavy pants swept over my blissed-out face. Lifting up only to fall down on the bed, Ryder took me with him. I was half sprawled out on top of him with his arms wrapped around me as if he was afraid to let me go. I could feel his length against my leg that was still half hard. Closing my eyes, I took in his pine scent. I’d forgotten how good he smelled. It was stronger now that he was a sweaty mess.

  Ryder ran his fingers through my messy blue hair as I traced the ridges in his abs absentmindedly. “What made you decide to color your hair blue?”

  While we had been apart, I’d forgotten how amazing his voice was. It was all deep and gravely. Like sex on a stick, and I wanted to listen to it forever.

  “I colored it pink one year for breast cancer awareness month, and I liked it, so I kept trying different colors until I found the one I liked best. Blue has won for the last five years. What made you get these stars?” I ran my finger over the three blue stars that hadn’t been there several months ago.

  “I’ve always thought about getting a tattoo, and some of the guys were going to get tattoos when we were in Spain, so I went with them. It was the third country I’d been to in as many months, and I was already booked up for most of the year. I knew then that I was going to make it as a model or at least for the time being.”