“It’s all up to you,” John said. “If I were you, I’d explore both options until you have the power to turn down jobs you don’t want.”
As much as I wanted to tell Paul to shove it, I knew John had a point—I’d thought as much myself. Would I ever get to the level where I could choose only the most interesting work? I’d dreamed about it my whole life but it still felt impossibly far away, and I wasn’t getting any younger. Models had an expiration date.
“Right here, thanks.”
I climbed out of the Uber and looked up at the condo building. It was so many orders of magnitude nicer than the dirty building I lived in that I felt like Cinderella coming to the ball.
“Hello miss,” said the doorman as I walked up.
“Hi, I’m here to see Stephen Devereux?”
“You must be Liberty, he let us know you were coming. Please, go right in and take the third elevator to the penthouse.”
Jeez, Stephen wasn’t kidding when he said he wanted to come here and enjoy his money.
I’d expected the entrance foyer of the building to be large and overwhelming, but instead it was cozy and intimate. Marble floors, warm oak trim, and modern artwork contributed to a comforting welcome—tastefully applied and expensive but not overdone.
The third elevator was off to the side and it had no button, only a magnetic card reader. It was next to a security desk attended by a young man in a crisp uniform.
“Hi. I’m Liberty, to see Stephen Devereux. The doorman said to take the third elevator?”
He smiled and pressed something hidden in his desk. The elevator door slid open. “Go right in, miss. It will take you straight there.”
Even the elevator is nice. The decor matched the foyer. There were two buttons for floors in the elevator—G and PH.
At the top, the doors didn’t open onto a sterile shared hall like I expected, but instead gave out directly into the apartment. Halls went in three different directions from the entrance space—left, right, and straight ahead.
“Hello?” I called, pitching my voice to carry as I peered down the halls. “Stephen?”
“Coming!” his voice came back. “You got here earlier than I expected.”
He rounded a corner down the hall to the right from what appeared to be the kitchen—the edge of a stove was visible on the far wall. Dressed far more casually than when I’d first met him, the jeans and light sweater he wore suited him well and did nothing to hide the powerful lines of his body.
“Sorry, I don’t like being late,” I said. “I didn’t mean to…”
The words trailed off as Stephen kissed me, putting his arms around my back and pulling me up to him as my mouth opened for his. I swam in the sensation, holding onto reality only enough to make sure I didn’t fall as he enveloped me.
He broke the kiss before I wanted him to, pulling back with a slight smile on his face. “I hope you don’t mind me cutting you off, but I’ve been wanting to do that ever since I stopped kissing you two nights ago.”
That is damn hot.
This time I pulled him to me, my hand on the back of his head as I showed him he wasn’t the only one who wanted more than we’d gotten before.
Hands roamed down each other’s backs, and I lost my breath when he palmed my ass and squeezed gently. When I slipped my hands under his sweater intending to pull it off, he broke the kiss off again and took my hands in his.
“Did you want a tour of the place?” His eyes twinkled as he saw me realize we hadn’t left the entrance yet.
“Oh. Right. Yes, that would be wonderful.” I straightened my dress and gestured him forward. “Lead the way.”
The apartment was enormous. The main living rooms had double high ceilings with huge banks of windows that would let in an abundance of natural light during the day. On the other side of the apartment, the bedrooms and guest rooms and bathrooms had regular ceilings. The reason for the discrepancy became clear when Stephen led me up a staircase in the living room to a small balcony with a patio door.
The patio took up half the roof area, a wide expanse with a small fire pit and seating areas, along with a cleverly designed garden space.
“Wow, Stephen, it’s incredible!”
He looked around and nodded. “Isn’t it? It’s funny, I always knew places like this existed, but I never thought I would live in one. This is still new, having access to such large amounts of money. The world is a different place when you are rich enough to do anything you want.”
Stephen’s eyes were glowing in the moonlight as he looked around at his residence. He had a wonder to him I’d never seen in the wealthy bankers I served drinks to all day—it was endearing. I grabbed his hand and stepped close to him. “Try not to lose that feeling. I’ve seen a lot of jaded rich people in this city.”
We shared another kiss, tamer this time, as Stephen took his time in exploring my mouth.
“Are you ready to take the photos?” he asked. “That is why you’re here, after all.”
I smiled. It was easy to forget plans when I was wrapped up in Stephen and enjoying his presence. He was easy to talk to.
“Let’s do it.”
I touched up my makeup in the bathroom, taking the time to make sure every detail was perfect. These photos would be every agency’s first look at me—the mediocre quality of my current head shots might be the reason I wasn’t getting any favorable responses to my inquiries.
Stephen had set up a studio area with lighting and backdrops. A long, stylish couch sat crossways in the area for something to pose on.
“Let’s start with the head shots and get those out of the way before we move on to the shots Denise wanted for her collection.” Stephen moved around setting up his equipment. “We’ll see if we can’t have a little fun with that.”
The head shots took only twenty minutes and a few poses. I’d worn my favorite dress that gave me the most confidence to wear—I knew it made me look my best. I caught Stephen’s eyes dropping to my cleavage more than once, and it made me hot and want to fidget.
“Are you ready for the real shoot?” Stephen asked. “I want to warn you—Denise only has one collection she needs shots for, and it’s… a little revealing. If that makes you too uncomfortable to model for me, that’s okay, I understand.”
I laughed. It couldn’t be much more revealing than the dress I was wearing. “I’m sure it will be fine, Stephen. I’m a grown woman.”
“You sure are,” he said, eyes trailing down to the curve of my hips. “Follow me, I’ll show you the bedroom where the clothes are hung up and ready to go.”
He left me in a spare bedroom and told me to pick something out of the closet and come out when I was ready.
My mouth dropped when I opened the door.
I pulled out a hanger. These weren’t scandalous dresses—they were sets of lingerie! Heels in different colors lined up along the closet floor.
Doubt filled me as I stood there with a wisp of lace in my hands. I trusted Stephen and loved the way we got along, but here he was setting me up to wear lingerie for him the second time we’d seen each other.
Is this over the top though? Last time I was upset I hadn’t invited him up to spend the night, why wouldn’t I want to model lingerie for him?
My body, primed from the make out sessions and flirting with Stephen, grew flush at the thought of posing in lingerie for him. I wanted to see the look on his face when I pushed him to his limits, drawing him under my spell. Besides, I’d be wearing lingerie and bikinis in shoots all the time if I made it big—no sense in being prudish in front of the camera while I still had something to prove.
I looked through the collection to get a feel for what the options were. Some were simple bra and panty sets while others were more involved. One appeared to be a bodysuit with wide swathes of fabric cut out, exposing an erotically large amount of skin while still covering the essentials and tantalizing with lace and ribbons.
I settled on a stunning red number with straps conne
cting the panties to the bra, crisscrossing each other several times in an interesting pattern. There was a cute pair of candy red heels to wear with it. It took a long time to figure out how to put it on properly. Once I succeeded, I spun around in front of a convenient body length mirror and checked myself out.
Now that is a sexy piece of clothing. I can barely resist touching myself—I can’t wait to see the look on Stephen’s face.
A robe hung in the closet, and I almost grabbed it to wear over top for the walk to the studio, but that would dampen the effect on Stephen.
Buoyed by confidence from the exotic clothing, my pace settled into a sexy strut as I walked out into the big open studio space. Wearing sexy clothes and hot heels always filled me with power, and the sound of the heels striking the floor in a steady staccato echoed through the big apartment.
Stephen stood to the side looking down at the camera in his hand. He glanced over as I walked up. “Okay, ready for…”
His mouth dropped as I continued my walk, placing each step and rolling my hips as I went, my brunette hair falling in a sheet that waved from side to side.
I stopped a few feet from him and placed my hands on my hands, striking a pose with one foot forward.
“Does this one work?”
His camera hung around his neck, forgotten. “I’d say it does. You look magnificent, Liberty.”
I turned around, sticking my ass out a little. “What about the back? I couldn’t get a good look for myself, I’m not sure if it looks right.”
I looked back over my shoulder with the most sultry look I could muster.
This is fun. I should tease men like this more often!
Stephen’s eyes burned a hole in my backside. “Careful, Liberty. I only have so much control.”
I slapped my ass gently to make it bounce around. “Maybe I’m trying to see if I can break your control.”
Before he could do anything, I ran to the couch and jumped on it.
“Now, how do you want me?”
He shook his head slowly, mouth widening into a grin. “You’re something, you know that Liberty? How about you lie on your stomach like that. Keep your legs in the air and cross your ankles.”
The camera snapped repeatedly as Stephen walked around me. He directed me to change positions often, and I set my body in the most sultry pose I could manage, playing with Stephen and the camera as much as I could.
“Yes, excellent, Liberty. Just like that. Put your hand on your side and tilt your head a little. Little more… perfect.”
Showing my body off was getting me hot. I wanted more. Needed more.
Stephen had me on my back, one knee in the air and the other leg straight as I reclined back and let my hair fall like a curtain off the edge of the couch. He came in close to take a few pictures from a foot away. There was a definite bulge in his pants, and the sight of it snapped something within me.
“Stephen, I want you.”
I didn’t want for a response, grabbing his arm and pulling him close.
He didn’t bother answering me.
He set aside the camera in an instant, and then Stephen was on top of me, pressing my body into the soft cushions of the sofa as his mouth claimed mine.
His body ran along my full length, his clothing contrasted with my near nakedness. His knee pushed my legs apart, and his groin came into contact with mine through the layers of clothes. He ground against me, and I wrapped my legs around him to draw him closer.
I moaned into his mouth at the sensation as my hands worked underneath his sweater and shirt to lift the annoying fabric separating us. He broke our kiss long enough to shrug it off, tossing it to the side before pressing the hot skin of his chest against my lace-covered breasts. The wide expanse of his bare chest was as impressive as I’d imagined.
He lowered his mouth to my neck, making me gasp. “Oh, fuck yes, Stephen.” My hands gripped his hair as I held him there. His lips and tongue on my skin felt incredible—hot and wet and wanting.
Strong hands wrapped around my back and pulled me up off the couch. Stephen sat back on the sofa with me in his lap. I ran my hands down his well-built chest and abs, taking in his fit body as I straddled him.
The change in position had freed Stephen’s hands from the duty of keeping him upright, and he took full advantage. Within seconds my bra disappeared, freeing my breasts from their lace prison and exposing them to his eyes.
“I’ve wanted to see these from the night we met,” he said as his fingers traced up my ribs and circled the perky globes, large for my small frame.
“You can do more than see them,” I shot back as I ground myself against him.
He groaned and brought his mouth to my right nipple, gently squeezing the flesh and caressing it as he sucked on the sensitive skin. The stimulation sent a burst of pleasure through me and fed the hunger growing within me. After Stephen finished laving the other aureola with the same attention I pushed him back against the couch.
“Stay there,” I told him as I shifted off his lap, sliding down his body until my knees were on the floor by his feet.
I opened his jeans, but before I pulled them down I put my face near his lap and looked up at him, teasing him with how close I came to his manhood. I pulled the denim slowly down his legs, unwrapping my present.
“No underwear, huh?” I asked him with a smile. “Less work for me.”
I wrapped my hand around his erect shaft and hefted it, feeling its weight. It was impressive but not scary in size. Perfect.
I tested it with my tongue, watching his face as I flicked up the ultra smooth skin to the tip. Stephen’s eyes rolled back as I sucked on the end of his cock, swirling my tongue around the head. His breathing grew heavy, which encouraged me in my quest as I took him deeper and deeper into my mouth.
“That feels amazing,” he said, eyes rolled back. He made sexy groaning sounds as I continued and twitched when I did something he liked.
His hips moved up and down in sync with my motions, and I could tell he was getting close. I sped up my efforts, trying to bring him to the point of no return.
“Hey,” Stephen said as he grabbed me by my shoulders and lifted. “I don’t want to come just yet.”
He leaned forward, and we kissed deeply, tongues sparring as our passions rose even further. Blowing Stephen had gotten me worked up, soaking the classy designer panties.
Stephen picked me up in his strong arms and laid me back on the sofa, taking my place kneeling on the floor. Tingles on my skin followed his fingertips as they flitted along my thighs, tracing a path to my panty-clad pussy but veering away before they got there.
He bit the side of my calf, the unexpected shock making me giggle. “Wow. I don’t know if anyone’s ever done that before, that felt weird.”
Stephen held my eyes as he slowly bit me again, this time sending a pulse through my nerves and straight to my core. I couldn’t help but kick my leg a little in response, but he held onto the limb as though he expected it.
He took his time exploring my feet and legs, making his way to my inner thighs before starting back at my toes.
It was difficult to focus through the maelstrom of pent-up energy and arousal waiting to be released. Stephen continued to tease me, taunt me as he touched me everywhere but where I wanted him to the most. When he kissed the crease where my thigh met my hip, I buried my hands in his hair and tried to force his head against me.
“Uh uh, not yet,” he said. He grabbed my hands and held them by the wrists, preventing me from doing anything. He pinned them to the couch above my head and kissed me deeply. “You aren’t ready yet.”
“You could have fooled me,” I said, frustrated but so turned on. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this ready.”
Stephen let go of my hands but stared at me, and I knew what that look meant. I kept my hands where they were as if bound.
With a light touch, he slid the expensive designer lace down my legs and off. He settled down between my thighs once more,
licking and nipping my skin so close I could feel his breath across my wet pussy.
“Please, Stephen. I need to feel your mouth on me. I want it so bad. Please.” I begged, trying to get him to succumb to my words and give me what I needed.
The look he gave me from between my legs was pure devil. “That’s all I wanted, to hear you beg me for it.”
His mouth closed on my hot flesh, and my eyes rolled back into my head from the pleasure he created in me. With long, slow licks up the length of my slit, he stirred the passions inside of me to the point of overflowing. I’d been on the edge, teased for so long I was ready to blow almost instantly.
“Oh, God, yes, Stephen. Don’t stop that, keep going.” A moan morphed into a scream as he kept up the pressure. My hips bucked against him as my muscles spasmed from the wave that swamped me.
He stayed where he was while I came down from the climax, tongue gentle against my sensitive clit. Once I’d finished, he leaned over to his discarded jeans and pulled out a foil packet.
I watched him put the condom on in a daze, floating in the pleasant aftermath of my orgasm and eager to continue. Tremors still took my body here and there, making my legs shake while Stephen lined himself up with my entrance.
He pushed into me, taking it slow and easy as he waited for me to adjust to his size. It felt incredible, the slow slide of his hard tool deep within me. Soon his hips came to rest against my own as he seated himself to the hilt.
“Fuck,” I breathed. His lips found mine, forming another connection between us. Our bodies pressed together, joining as fully as possible as he moved his hips, withdrawing almost all the way before sinking back inside.
We built a rhythm. I moved my hips in time with his thrusts, welcoming him in every time. The sweet friction of our bodies created sparks of pleasure and threatened to send me into another blistering climax.
Just before I got there, Stephen withdrew. Before I could get disappointed, he picked me up and set me on my feet beside the couch. Our mouths met in a deep and passionate kiss that ended when he turned me toward the sofa.
Steal: A Bad Boy Romance Page 17