by Marie Carnay
Jessica stared at her mother’s back as she climbed the stairs. Of all the people she’d thought about when the possibility of her and Tate came up, she’d never pegged her mom as a supporter. She’d assumed she’d be equal parts horrified and ashamed. Instead, she was their biggest cheerleader.
She stood up and made her way to the sink, dumping the rest of her coffee down the drain. Was her mother right? Did she spend too much time caring about what strangers thought of her now that she was in the modeling industry? Did it even matter?
She’d already walked away—told Tate goodbye and left before he even woke up. Taking the cowardly way out probably ended any chance she’d have to be with him anyway.
With lead feet, she walked to the door. She needed to go home, get herself together, and move on. Without Tate.
* * *
The beer helped, but only marginally. Tate turned the bottle around on the counter, waiting at the bar for the owner to show up. The guy had nailed it—the club was packed and it wasn’t even ten at night. Apparently, in the club circuit, any publicity was good publicity.
He wished it applied to modeling too. He’d thought all day about how to make it work. How to convince her they could be together despite the risk. Over and over he’d read the article, trying to find a way to marginalize it. To make it irrelevant. But if fitness magazines ended photos shoots over it, he didn’t see an answer.
With a mumbled curse, he spun the bottle again, letting the bottom ridges bounce across the counter.
“You work that bottle any harder and you’ll drill a hole right through the bar.”
Tate looked up to see a woman standing next to him. He nodded and went back to messing with the beer.
“You’re DJ T, right?”
He took a swig of the beer and set it back down. “Uh-huh.”
“You’re one lucky guy, then. Jessica is going to be a star.”
With a frown, he turned to the woman. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Jessica Mallory. I saw the photos in Miami Heat, I just assumed you two were an item.”
“We were. What about her?”
“I’m sorry, you must think I’m crazy. Brandi Jenkins.” She held out her hand and Tate gave it a brief shake. “I do talent search for Totally Fitness magazine. Ms. Mallory had a shoot with us this weekend. Such a shame that didn’t work out. She’d have been a real asset to next month’s issue.”
Tate snorted and rolled his eyes. “Is this some sort of a joke?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Didn’t you cancel the shoot because we were photographed together?”
The woman looked at him like he had three heads. “The shoot was canceled because the photographer got caught in a child pornography sting. It’s all over the news.”
“What?” Tate put down the beer and turned toward the woman.
“Malcolm Donovan. He’s a big time fashion photographer—well, he was anyway. We were thrilled to get him for the shoot—it would have made your girlfriend an instant star. But it turns out he’s a real creep. Convincing young models to pose nude for him and selling the photos to nasty porn outfits all over the world. It’s disgusting.”
“Are you serious?”
“Mm-hmm. As soon as we found out, we terminated the shoot. I called Ms. Mallory and let her know right away.”
Tate’s head spun. If the shoot wasn’t canceled because of the photos, then there was nothing stopping them. “So, let me just make sure I’ve got this straight. You don’t care that we’re together?”
“Why would I?”
Tate swallowed and went for it. He didn’t have anything else to lose. “Because our parents are married—we’re step-siblings.”
The woman paused and looked at him for a minute. “Not what I was expecting. Um…why are you even telling me?”
“I don’t know. Jessica walked out on me this morning. Convinced she’d ruin her career if people found out.”
She bit her lip and raised her eyebrows.
“You think she’s right?”
“That your relationship would hurt her modeling? I don’t see how it would even come up, honestly. But…is there some reason it would?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, did you grow up together?”
“No.”
“Live in the same house?”
“No. We don’t even have the same last name.” Tate took a sip of beer and gave her a half-smile. “You know, we hardly knew each other before your photo shoot. She came to stay with me and…well…things changed.”
“Well, it sounds like you two were strangers, then. And if you’re not really related, then I could care less.” She shook her head and took a sip of her drink. “And I’m sure most people would feel the same way. It’s not like you took advantage of her or something. Not like that photographer. Now that is a major PR nightmare, let me tell you.”
“I can imagine.”
Tate finished his beer and hopped off the stool. He had somewhere to be. “Ms. Jenkins, right? Thank you so much. You…made my night.”
Tate held out his hand and she took it, giving it a brief shake. “You’re welcome. Tell Ms. Mallory that we’re sorry the shoot didn’t work out and that we’ll keep her in mind for future work.”
“I will. I definitely will.” Tate let her hand go and flagged down the bartender. “Tell the boss that something came up. I’ll catch up with him next week.”
Tate wasn’t wasting another second. Jessica’s guilt and fear wasn’t going ruin the best thing that ever happened to him. He was going to get her back. Somehow.
6
Tate paced outside Jessica’s apartment trying to come up with something to say. He’d hopped on the first flight to New York he could find and snagged a cab. But now that he stood outside her apartment door, he didn’t have a clue what to do.
The magazine woman set the record straight—their relationship hadn’t hurt Jessica’s career at all. But what about the future? Did it really change anything? Or would it just delay the inevitable?
He had no idea. But he did know how her body trembled when he touched her and how her cheeks flushed when a blindfold slipped over her eyes. How she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen when he made her come. He’d be an idiot to let her go out of fear.
Screw it. He’d just tell her the truth. Wham-wham-wham. His knuckles struck the door and Tate stepped back to wait.
A few seconds later and the door swung open to an open-mouthed, frowning Jessica. “Tate.”
“Hi, Jess.”
“What are you…how…” She trailed off and brought her fingers to her lips, hiding the open cavern that wouldn’t close.
“Don’t give up on us.”
“But the shoot…I can’t…” She stepped back and gripped the door, readying to swing it shut when Tate strode forward and pressed his weight into it.
“You shouldn’t be here. Go back to Miami, Tate.”
“No. Not until you hear me out.” He pushed his way forward, shoving Jessica and the door back until his torso could fit inside. Walking into her apartment, he dropped his bag and looked around. Simple. Feminine. Everything he’d expect of her.
He made his way to an overstuffed white chair and sat down. The cushions hugged him in their downy grip and he scooted closer to the edge to keep from being smothered.
Jessica shut the door and met him in the living room, standing behind the couch and grabbing onto the back for support. “I’m listening. Talk.”
Tate took a deep breath and ran his hand through his hair. “Your shoot wasn’t stopped because of us. It was the photographer. He got caught taking dirty pictures of underage models.”
“Malcolm Donovan? Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I’m not. I’m telling the truth. Look it up and see.”
He waited while Jessica walked over to her laptop and turned it on. A few minutes later and the audible gasp from behind the screen made him lean back in relief.
Jessica stood up and padded into the living room, sitting on the couch opposite Tate’s chair. “So his arrest is what ended the shoot? Are you sure?”
“Yeah. I ran into the talent search lady. Ms. Jenkins, I think?”
Her eyes widened and she nodded. “She finds all the models for the magazine. How’d you meet her?”
Tate snorted a smile. “She was sitting next to me at Blur’s bar, can you believe it? Introduced herself and we got to talking. It definitely wasn’t the pictures of us that ended the shoot, Jess. It was the photographer.”
She rolled her lips over her teeth, nodding as the info sunk in. “Did you talk to her about me?”
“Yeah.”
“What did she say?”
“She said you have serious potential. That she hopes the magazine uses you again in another shoot.”
“Right. I’m sure she says that about everyone.”
“I don’t think so, Jess. She brought you up first, not me. She really seemed taken by you.”
“Huh.”
Tate rubbed the scabs on the back of his knuckles as he watched Jessica. He hoped she’d be rushing into his arms already. Not sitting a few feet away looking vaguely ill. “So there’s nothing stopping us. They don’t care if we’re together. It won’t hurt your career.”
She rolled her eyes and scoffed out loud. “Yeah right, Tate. As soon as Ms. Jenkins finds out about our family connection, she’ll be rethinking any association with me.”
“She already knows.”
“What!” Her eyes widened and the flash of anger in their dark brown depths didn’t pass Tate by. “How the hell does she know, Tate?”
“Because I told her.”
“Why would you do that? You’ve ruined me!”
“No, I haven’t. She didn’t care. And she said she doubted anyone else would either.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Why would I lie?” Tate scooted forward in the chair until his ass barely touched the cushion. “Jess, I hopped on the first flight out to come see you. To tell you to stop being afraid—that our relationship and your career can coexist. That it isn’t one without the other.”
She looked at him with a mix of doubt and hope. “I don’t know. What happens when people find out?”
“Why do you care so much?”
Tucking her legs up underneath her, she pushed a mass of auburn hair off her face and bit her lip. “My mom asked the same thing.”
It was Tate’s turn to freak out. “Your Mom? You told Wendy about us?”
Jess shrugged and gave him a small smile. “She guessed. I wasn’t about to lie to her face.”
“And she didn’t care?”
“Nope. Said she always thought we’d be perfect for each other.”
“Wow. I can’t imagine my dad being so cool.”
“Yeah, she said she’d work on him.”
Tate took a deep breath through his nose and let it out through his mouth. If she still doubted them with her mom in his corner, he didn’t know how he’d ever change her mind. Maybe he needed to lay it all out on the table.
Stretching his arms out, he laced his fingers together and flexed, cracking his knuckles in a chorus line. “I want you, Jess. You’re the first woman who’s ever gotten me. Who hasn’t been afraid of who I am and what I like.”
“Tate…I…”
“Don’t you remember?” He launched towards her, kneeling in front of the couch as he palmed her bent knees. “How you trembled when I touched you? How your breath came short and fast when I tied the ropes around your body? How you came harder than ever when you couldn’t even see?”
Jess swallowed and gave him a tiny nod.
“We can do that again, Jess. Be that again. I can show you things you’ve never even dreamed of. You just have to give in and trust me. Let me lead you into the dark. I can make you soar.”
* * *
Jess wanted to believe him. She wanted it more than anything. An ache throbbed deep in her core and she struggled to remember why it was wrong. Why they couldn’t be together.
“Tate…I…”
“Let me remind you. Let me show you all that you’d be giving up. After tonight…If you still want to walk away…I won’t stop you.”
His fingers danced over her bare legs, tracing circles across her thighs and sending shivers up her pale skin. “No. Tate, I can’t. If we go down that road…I’m afraid I won’t be able to say no. Not ever again.”
“That’s what I’m counting on.”
He raised up on his knees and slid his hands on either side of her hips, inching closer and closer, until she could see the flecks of green in his blue eyes and the freckle just above his cheek. His lips brushed against hers and she moaned in a breath of air and longing.
“Stop being afraid, Jessica. Stop running away from what you want. What you need.”
“What about other people? The press?”
“You mean tabloids? Ignore them.” He reached out and traced a path over her cheek—his fingertips sparking against her skin. She burned.
“Tell me you want me.”
“I want you.”
“Tell me you need me.”
“I need you.”
“Tell me you want me to fuck you all night long.”
Oh god. “Tate…”
“One blindfold, one set of ties, and you’ll be bound, helpless, and completely mine.”
Jessica moaned out loud and Tate dove in, capturing her mouth with his and raking his tongue across her lips. He was right. She’d never want another man the way she wanted him. She’d never need another man’s touch, his firm hands tying her down, taking control. Owning her.
He unlocked the secret part of her—the part that longed to escape its cage and fly free. How could she ever deny him? Ever walk away from the freedom he gave her?
His lips moved against hers and she moaned into his mouth. How could she ever give him up?
As Tate’s hands snaked up her body, a distant ringing filtered into her brain. Huh? What is that?
She pulled back, breaking their kiss as the music picked up and she placed it. Her cell phone. She squirmed in his grip, struggling to get up and answer it.
“Let it go.”
“No. It could be important.”
She jumped up, clambering off the couch and out of his embrace. She answered the call and put the phone up to her ear.
“Hello?”
“Ms. Mallory?”
“Y-yes?”
“Have I caught you at a bad time?”
Jess looked over at Tate and shook her head, putting a smile on to soothe her voice. “No, not at all.”
“Good. This is Ms. Jenkins from Total Fitness, how are you this evening?”
“Ms. Jenkins, so good to hear from you. I’m fine. And you?”
“Just fine. First off, I wanted to apologize again for canceling the shoot this weekend, I know how much you were looking forward to appearing in the February issue.”
“Oh, that’s okay. I understand.”
“So I assume your boyfriend filled you in on why the shoot was shut down?”
“My…boyfriend? You mean Tate?”
“Is that his name? Funny, I only ever thought of him by his stage name, DJ T. He mixes a mean beat, you know.”
Jessica tried not to drop the phone. “I’ll let him know you think so. Um…what can I do for you Ms. Jenkins?”
“Well, I’m calling to see if you can fill in at the last minute for another model. Seems she’s come down with the mumps.”
“Oh! Wow. I would love to.”
“Great. So the shoot’s in Miami again, like most of our shoots. But with a new photographer of course. So terrible what’s come out about Malcolm.”
“Yes. I read about that. It’s…scary.”
“Yes. And terrible timing. So can you do it? Next week, a few days. Swimsuits this time—it’s for our bikini bootcamp special.”
“That sounds wonderful. Thank you so much
for the opportunity.”
“No problem, dear. Like I told DJ—I mean Tate—you’ll be a star in this business, you just have to give it some time.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. My assistant will get with you to finalize all the details, okay?”
“Perfect.”
Jessica finished the phone call in a daze. The head of talent search for a major magazine thought she would be a star. Turning her phone off, she glanced at Tate.
“You said it was Ms. Jenkins you spoke to, right?”
“Yeah.”
“And you told her we are step-siblings?”
“Yeah.”
“And she was okay with it?”
“Mmm-hmm. Why?”
Jessica blinked herself into reality and grinned like a crazy person. “Because she just offered me a new shoot—the bikini bootcamp spread for the magazine. Apparently the model they had in mind has mumps.”
“Wow. Congratulations, Jessica. That’s amazing.”
“It is, isn’t it? Well, not the mumps part, but still.”
She set her phone down and turned back to Tate. “I don’t even understand it. Stuff like that never happens—photo shoots are arranged through a system with casting calls and polaroids and a ton of staff.”
“Well, she did say she wanted to work with you again. And I’d just spoken to her—you were fresh in her mind. A lucky coincidence.”
“I guess you’re right. I just can’t believe it.” She shook her head and gave him a smile. “So…”
“So what?”
“Care to pick up where we left off?”
Tate chuckled and held out his hand. “I’d love to. Come here.”
Jessica walked toward him and placed her hand in his. As her fingers slipped over his, Tate looked up at her with eyes full of love and heat and she wanted to stare forever.
“So are you giving in just for tonight? Or is this more?”
“More. I want to see where this goes—where we go—together. If Total Fitness doesn’t care about our relationship, then there must be other places that won’t either. And I can’t shut the door on what we have. Tate, I’ve never been so…satisfied as I am when I’m with you.” She chuckled and shook her head. “I think you’ve ruined me for any other man.”