The Model: A Workplace Romance

by Layne, Harlow

  “Are you sure?”

  “Positive, if you’re good, I’m good.”

  26

  Lexie

  Renovations had already started to expand on the second floor, and everything up there was a disaster, so I had to set up our Christmas tree downstairs. We were about to start using the bedroom set up we used for photo shoots as our own for a short period of time.

  I hadn’t expected Ryder to wake up when I got out of bed. If he hadn’t, this would have gone a lot smoother.

  “Come back to bed,” Ryder yelled from upstairs. I placed the last gift under the tree and then pulled out the lingerie I’d bought for today. When I saw it in the store, I knew I had to buy it. It was designed to wrap around me like a bow, so I could be my sexy as fuck husband’s present.

  “Coming,” I called back as I finagled my way into the strange garment. I was lucky I’d tried it on and watched a video. Otherwise, he’d get tired of waiting, come downstairs, and ruin my surprise.

  Grabbing the tray with chocolate-covered strawberries and flutes filled with orange juice, I made my way upstairs. I’d left the door ajar so Ryder wouldn’t see me as I approached. Pushing the door open with my hip, I walked in to find my husband sprawled out on the bed with the sheets thrown to the floor, completely naked and ready for me—stroking his length until he saw me. All movement stopped as he took me in. I loved the way his gaze raked down my body and made me feel sexy even with my baby bump.

  “Holy fuck, Lexie,” he groaned sexily.

  Setting down the tray on the bedside table, I gave him a little twirl. Ryder’s mouth hung open when I stopped in front of him and held my arms out to my side. “Merry Christmas, dimples.”

  “Merry fucking Christmas, my very sexy Lexie. Come up here and let me unwrap you.” He quirked his finger at me and gave me the come-hither motion.

  “Do you like it?” I asked as I tried to crawl up the bed as sexily as I could. Going by the way his blue eyes darkened, I had a feeling he liked what he saw.

  “I more than like it. Can I wake up every day to this?” More so than usual, his voice was full of gravel. I loved how gritty it got when he was turned on.

  “I think we could work something out.” I straddled his legs, my swollen breasts grazed up his abs to his chest. “Would you like to unwrap me now?”

  Grabbing me by the hips, Ryder flipped me over onto my back. I let out a squeal from the unexpected move. Hovering over me, his lustful gaze followed his hands as they traveled my body reverently.

  Leaning down, he kissed the corner of my mouth before peering up at me. “I love you, you know.”

  “I know. I love you, too.” Every time I told him those three words, it felt amazing. I didn’t know how far gone I was until I thought he was with Lana and never wanted to speak to me again.

  Ryder flashed me his dimples, and I melted on the spot. I wondered if they’d always have that effect on me. They were dangerous, and I’d do almost anything to see them. Cupping his cheeks in my palms, I kissed first the left and then his right dimple.

  Pulling him down until almost all his weight was on me, I luxuriated in the feel of his body on mine. I loved the weight and the feel of his hard muscles against my soft body. “Make love to me.”

  “I’d love nothing more.” Pushing himself up, Ryder slowly undid the bow leaving me bare underneath him. He had no problem figuring out how to get me naked, and I knew he never would. In an ideal world, we’d spend all our time like this. “You are so beautiful. If I had half the talent you do, I’d photograph you and try to capture even a fraction of your beauty. Instead, I’ll try to show you what a knockout you are.”

  Wetness built behind my eyes, and before I could stop them, tears slipped down my cheeks. Ryder was used to my crying. It happened all the time, and he knew because of the cheesy grin I was sure to have on my face, these were tears of happiness.

  Both hands cupped my breasts and lightly kneaded them. When his hot mouth closed around one nipple, my back arched off the bed. One hand fell away for his arm to fold around my back and hold me arched up into him.

  The feel of his hard length against my leg had me desperate to have him inside of me. My hands skimmed his taut back and down his scrumptious ass. I gave each cheek a little squeeze before I moved on to what I really wanted.

  When my fingers brushed against his silky member, it twitched. Ryder sucked my other nipple into his mouth, and wetness soaked my legs. I didn’t want any more foreplay. I wanted to get to the main event. As his teeth grazed my aching peak, my fingers wrapped around his straining erection. He let go with a pop and moaned. I knew he was aching for me as much I was for him. I only stroked him once before I placed him at my entrance. I couldn’t wait any longer. I was desperate for him. To feel his body move against mine, the way he stretched me as he entered me, how with each stroke he claimed me over and over again.

  His hips pushed forward, and he was home. I wrapped my arms and legs around him, wanting to be as close to him as possible. Resting on his forearms, Ryder’s eyes locked with mine as he slowly pulled out and then surged forward. Slowly out and then as if he couldn’t stay away, he’d slam back into me. I loved the way our bodies were plastered against the other. The way we stuck together.

  Steadily I was building, but I needed more. As if he could read my mind, Ryder dipped down and licked along the seam of my mouth before his tongue pushed forward. True to his word, the kiss showed me how beautiful Ryder thought I was. It was sensual, hot, and wet as our tongues danced together. Tasting, and telling each other how much we loved and cherished being with each other.

  “I’m so close,” I panted against his lush lips.

  Dipping down, Ryder started to kiss and nip along the column of my neck as he picked up his pace. Gone was the slow. His hips thrust in a bruising rhythm, edging us closer and closer to the breaking point. My nails dug into his back. With one brush of his thumb on my clit, euphoria shot out of every pore of my body.

  “Fucking hell, Lexie, you feel so good. Milk my cock with that sweet pussy of yours.” He groaned, burying his head in the crook of my neck as he stilled inside of me.

  My hands rubbed up and down his muscular back. Feeling each muscle contract and relax as I touched him had me turned on again. If I thought sex was good before I was pregnant, it was out of this world now. I couldn’t get enough of the man on top of me, and luckily, he felt the same way about me.

  Letting his body go slack against mine for only a second, Ryder slid off to the side and took me with him. His long body enveloped mine in a loving embrace as I held him back the same way. We lay silent as we tried to catch our breaths. My body shuddered with residual tingles.

  “That was the best Christmas present I’ve ever received.” His large hand skimmed down my back and cupped one butt cheek.

  “I had a feeling you’d like it.”

  “If you can’t tell I more than liked it, I did something wrong.” He rubbed his nose along mine.

  Ryder had thoroughly worn me out, so much so I could barely keep my eyes open. “You did everything right. So right, I need a nap.” I nuzzled into his warm chest and let out a yawn. “Will you take one with me?”

  Normally, I was on the go since I had something to work on, but I loved being able to laze in bed with my man. Sometimes we’d talk for hours, we watched movies, or he showed me how skillful he was with all the parts of his body for hours on end. It didn’t matter what we did, I loved having him here with me.

  “Sounds like the perfect plan. Maybe later we can take a drive and go to the beach. Watch the sunset.”

  How did he always know how to make every situation better?

  “Perfect.” Just like him.

  * * *

  A couple of hours later, I woke up with half my body on top of Ryder. He had one hand resting on my back, and the other was holding a book as he read. After placing a kiss on the camera tattoo he’d gotten on his bicep, I stretched out beside him with every curve of my body aga
inst his.

  Ryder put down the book he was reading as soon as I got settled.

  “Did you sleep long?”

  He gave a half shoulder shrug. “My mom sent me a text, which woke me up, and I couldn’t fall back to sleep after that.”

  And he stayed by my side the entire time. Damn, he really was the best.

  Leaning up on my elbow, my fingertip traced along the ridges of Ryder’s body. “I wish your mom would have reconsidered coming here for the holidays. I hate that she’s all alone.”

  “Me too, but she knew that our place isn’t exactly hospitable right now, and I think she wanted us to enjoy our first Christmas together with just the two of us.”

  “I love your mom.” Seeing her and Ryder together made me long for the mother I’d never had, but Catherine had taken me under her wing and treated me like a daughter. Better than my dad had ever treated me when he was in my life.

  “Come here.” His voice was like a caress to my soul. I moved into him until I was wrapped snuggly in his arms with one of his legs between mine. It was unnatural for us to lay any other way when we were together. “She loves you too, you know.”

  I swallowed down the emotion. I wasn’t used to having people care for me the way they did. “I’ve never had that kind of acceptance before. Not until I met you and now your mom. It feels good to be loved.” The emotions that built up in me were too much. I’d been deprived of them all my life, and maybe that was why I’d always been with men who treated me badly. I never thought I was worthy.

  Cupping the side of my face, Ryder’s thumb caressed my cheek before he leaned up and kissed me breathless. Rolling on top of me, our mouths broke apart with a sigh as he entered me. Ryder’s lips brushed against mine with every word he vowed. “I’m going to make up for all those years you felt alone. Not a day will go by that you will doubt my love for you.”

  And for the rest of the day, he proved to me how much we were meant to be together.

  27

  Lexie

  4 Months Later

  “I miss you, and that beautiful belly of yours,” my husband said sadly through the phone.

  “We miss you too. I’m counting down the days until you get home.” I tried to hold the tears back until we got off the phone.

  “Only two more days and then I’ll have you in my arms again.”

  Some days, I couldn’t get over how incredibly sweet he was and that he was mine forever.

  “You’re staying off your feet, aren’t you?” he asked, knowing I’d had a photo shoot earlier in the day.

  “Yes,” I sighed. “I did my shoot earlier on the rolling stool. It was quite entertaining when Raine had to push me around.”

  Ryder’s low chuckle trickled down the line. “I wish I could have seen that, but I seriously can’t wait for us both to have some time off.” I couldn’t wait to have him all to myself for a few months. “By the way, you were right about Lars. He’s great.”

  “I’m glad you like him. I think he’s the best photographer in New York, and he knows how to get what he wants.”

  “The same as someone else I know, and for the record, I’d much rather work with you.”

  “I love working with you too, but don’t let Lars here you say that.” Too bad that wasn’t possible. I’d settle for my husband to stay in the states instead of working all over the world.

  “I hate to say it…”

  “But you’ve got to go.” I hated how little time we had to talk, but I loved that he called me any chance he got.

  “Yeah, sorry, I just wanted to hear your voice.”

  I couldn’t stop the cheesy grin from spreading across my face. I loved that my man had no problem expressing how he felt. “Hey, never say sorry for wanting to talk to me.”

  “Why is this trip so much harder than the others?” I hated how sad he sounded and wanted to reach through the phone and hug him.

  “Because I’m as big as a whale with ankles so swollen they resemble softballs.” It was true, though. This trip was unbearable, but I understood why Ryder felt the need to work. We were in total nesting mode, and he wanted to do his part.

  “I hate that I had to leave you, but please don’t have our baby before I get back.”

  “I’ll see what I can do. I love you, dimples.” Once the baby was here, I wasn’t about to let my sexy husband out of my sight. If he had to go out of town for work, we’d go with him. Luckily, he had taken my advice and found a new agent that took his wants and needs into account. She’d found Ryder a few choice jobs that had put him on the radar even more.

  “I love you, sexy Lexie.”

  I wasn’t sure how he still found me sexy when I couldn’t even see my own feet, but remarkably he did. With my pregnancy hormones, I found him even more undeniable than ever.

  He made a kissing sound before he sighed. “I’ll call you tonight. Bye, baby.”

  Before I could say goodbye, the line was dead. I wanted to cry, but I didn’t have time for that. I needed to go through all the photos I’d taken earlier before Ryder got home. I wanted to spend as much time with him as I could before our daughter was born, and our time was limited. Soon we’d be sleep deprived with poopy diapers all over the place. At least the apartment was finished. I wasn’t sure if I could handle it if the place was torn apart any longer. We ended up having to live downstairs for two months, so I wasn’t breathing in all the dust and fumes.

  “Hey,” Raine came to stand in front of me on the couch. “What do you say we go get a late lunch and then you can work? It will make you feel better.”

  Looking down at my swollen belly, I had no desire to move. I groaned while wiggling one swollen foot in the air. “Why don’t you go pick us up something? Maybe tacos?”

  “Are you sure you don’t want to get out?”

  “I’m more than sure. It’s a feat to get out of the car right now.” I placed my hands on my stomach. “Maybe I’ll get some work done in the meantime.”

  “How many more days until your hubby comes home?” She smiled down at me.

  “Two very long days.” It would probably seem like a week.

  Her hands went to her hips. “And then you’re going on maternity leave, right?”

  Leaning back, I put my feet up on the ottoman. “I don’t think I have the energy to do more jobs, and I’m not willing to kill your back by having you pushing me around.”

  She laughed her tinkly laugh. “That was not in the job description.”

  “I know. You’re going above and beyond. I want you to remember that if you have any questions, you can call me. I’ll let offers dictate when we get back to work.”

  “But nothing too soon. You deserve a break and time to spend with Ryder and then your baby.”

  “I can’t believe this is my life now. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d have a good guy with a baby on the way.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. Did you think you’d always have shitty guys?”

  I shrugged because I thought I’d probably end up alone, and I was fine with that. I’d rather be alone than with a man who treated me like shit or cheated on me.

  “You’re being crazy with your pregnancy brain. Maybe food will help. I’m going to go get those tacos that you love, and then we’ll get down to work and finish season five of Friends.”

  “Sounds good.” Raine had never watched Friends, and when I found out, we started watching it while working. It had slowed down our productivity some, but it was worth it to witness her falling in love with the characters as much as I had when it was on the air.

  “Do you need anything before I go?”

  I shook my head. I should probably drink some more water, but I didn’t want to have to get up and pee ten times while she was gone.

  “Cool. I’ll be back in thirty. Call me if you need anything.”

  Pulling my laptop onto my legs, I loaded the photos from that day’s photo shoot. I needed to get the proofs ready for my client and had about two hundred pictures to pic
k through and touch up.

  The baby kicked, causing my laptop to move a little, and an intense craving for ice cream came over me. “Hey Raine,” I called out, hoping to catch her before she left.

  “Yeah?” she yelled. It sounded like she was by the front door.

  “Can you pick me up some pistachio ice cream while you’re out?”

  I heard her laugh before she answered. “Sure, text me if you need anything else.”

  “Thank you,” I called back. She really was the best. I didn’t know what I’d do without her.

  Slipping my headphones on, I turned on Halsey to listen to while I worked through the pictures. First, I needed to pick my favorites and which ones I thought the client would want. I was on the third picture when movement caught my eye. Either I was slow, or Raine was fast. It felt like no time at all had passed since she’d left, and I knew she had to hit a certain store to pick me up my ice cream. Luckily, it was on the way from where she was picking up lunch.

  “I can’t believe you’re back already.”

  When she didn’t answer, I assumed she was putting away the ice cream so it wouldn’t melt, but as seconds ticked by, I started to think maybe I’d just imagined seeing something. Raine would have answered me.

  I fumbled around my body, trying to find my phone. It was always somewhere close, but now with my big belly, I could never find it, and that annoyed the shit out of me. Giving up, I hit the phone locator on my watch, only for it to beep behind me. I had no idea how it got there, but that always seemed to be the case. I decided to send Raine a quick text.

  Lexie: How’s it going?

  Raine: At the grocery store now.

  This pregnancy caused a lot of things, but hallucinations weren’t one of them. Maybe I had been working myself too hard to get everything done before Ryder got home. Still, something didn’t feel right. Taking my headphones off so I could be more aware, I went back to my picture. The model had been difficult to work with, but she ended up producing some of the best pictures I’d taken this year. Besides Ryder’s, of course. He was film gold.