I brought Stefan’s breakfast along with his glass of orange juice over to the coffee table and set it before him. He closed his laptop and set it aside on the couch and then patted the seat next to him.
I flopped down next to him, trying not to let my disappointment show.
“You’re not pleased, I take it?” Stefan asked as he grabbed his fork and began digging into the pile of eggs.
I pushed an errant strand of hair out of my eyes. I swear, since my pregnancy, my hair volume had increased so much that it drove me absolutely wild. “Well, it’s not that. I always thought you could be a model. I just don’t know how I feel about you modeling in your underwear.”
“I figured you would feel that way,” Stefan said, grabbing his glass of orange juice and taking a gulp. “But you shouldn’t worry. It’s a totally professional environment from everything I've seen, and the pay is pretty good. I looked it up online, and even for an amateur model like me, I could fetch a hundred dollars an hour. I'd only need to get a few sessions to pay for most of our expenses.”
I smiled. “Well, that does sound wonderful.”
Stefan bit into a piece of bacon and then flashed me his killer grin. “I’ve gotta put these good looks to use for something.”
I grew silent, unable to offer much of a response. After a moment, Stefan seemed to notice that I didn’t have a plate of food.
“You’re not going to eat?”
I was feeling a little sick, and just the thought of eating made me feel queasy.
“I’m not hungry,” I replied.
Chapter 32
Stefan
Lights flashed rapidly in my eyes, nearly blinding me as I stood before a large green screen in torn blue-jeans and no shirt on, striking a masculine pose.
“You’re doing beautiful, Stefan,” my photographer, named Jenny, a young woman with chipmunk cheeks and short brown hair, purred as she peered through the lens of her camera. “Absolutely beautiful.” There was a flurry of activity behind her as people scurried about, shouting commands. I was one of several models doing a photo shoot at the same time, and multiple green screens were set up as models were brought in and out for various shoots.
She was one of the first women I’d met when I entered the studio, and I found her to be slightly bossy almost immediately, but I attributed it to the demands of the profession.
After all, photographers were used to issuing orders to get the models to pose in the way that they wanted.
Jenny peered over her camera and motioned at me. “Can you pull down your pants a little and show a little of your underwear?”
I shifted on my feet and did as she asked.
She beamed at me, her eyes seeming to feast on my body. “Good.” More flashes went off.
What am I doing here? I asked myself.
It seemed so surreal. Although I knew I was good-looking, I’d never thought I’d end up modeling because I had dropped out of college to support my pregnant stepsister. But the pay was good, and considering how hard it was to get a good job with only a high school diploma, I wasn’t going to complain.
“Very good, Stefan.” Jenny straightened and motioned at one of her staff members, who went scurrying off to one of the other green screens. “I’m going to bring Cara, a swimwear model, over to take a few pictures with you, okay?”
“Of course,” I said, trying to seem casual by flashing an easygoing smile.
A second later, Jenny’s assistant returned with a tall, curvaceous, dark-haired beauty dressed in a barely-there bikini in tow. I quickly averted my eyes as she made her way toward me.
“Cara, this is Stefan, a new model who is having his first shoot,” she introduced us. “Stefan, this is Cara.”
The beautiful model held out a hand to me and flashed a pretty smile as she appraised my muscular torso. She seemed attracted to me, and her eyes seemed to be silently saying, I don’t know you, but let’s go fuck after this. “Nice to meet you, Stefan.” She had a foreign accent—some type of European. I wasn’t sure.
“Hey,” I said shortly, gripping her hand briefly and letting go.
Jenny gestured at me. “Cara, can you move beside Stefan and do your thing? Give me cool confidence, like you own Stefan.”
I swallowed as Cara moved beside me and did as Jenny commanded. The beginning of anxiety began to grip my stomach. While I was used to keeping my cool in tense situations, I hadn’t been expecting to take pictures with a beautiful foreign model.
It’s totally natural to feel attraction for a beautiful girl, I told myself to assuage my growing anxiety. Still, considering the rant I’d given my dad jut a few weeks before, I still didn’t feel right.
Jenny took a few pictures and gestured again. “Now, can you rest your head against his shoulder?” Cara did as she asked. Jenny began to peer into her camera but stopped short. “Move in a little closer. Good.”
Jenny took a few more shots, all while having us change to various poses together, some involving Cara placing her hands on my abs and grabbing my ass. Each one made me start feeling more uncomfortable than the last, and it was becoming difficult to maintain the poses. “Good, the both of you. Now, Cara, can you place your hands on Stefan’s crotch?”
Cara let out a little giggle and placed her hand on my junk, and I immediately tensed up.
If Bella knew this was happening, she'd be pissed, I thought. And what if this winds up in a magazine and she somehow happens upon this picture?
“Stefan, can you cup Cara’s left breast with your right hand?”
Sweating, I began to reach for Cara’s breast before pulling away.
Jenny pulled back from her camera, noting my apprehension. “Is there a problem?”
“I don't mean any offense,” I said to Cara before turning to Jenny, “but this isn't what I expected. I didn’t sign up for this.”
Jenny frowned. “It was in your contract that you signed.”
When I didn’t offer a rebuttal, she gestured at Cara. “It's not a big deal. It's just a picture. Now, will you please perform the pose?”
Cara placed a reassuring arm on my shoulder, rubbing it gently. “It’s okay, handsome boy,” she purred in her heavy accent. “I'll guide you.” Smiling, she took my hand and placed it on her breast.
Desire roiled through me and I quickly snatched my hand away. Cara looked like she’d been struck by my rejection, but I didn’t care.
“I can’t do this.”
Several of the studio hands stopped what they were doing to stare at me, and Jenny scowled.
“Either do as you’re told and take the photo with Cara, or leave.”
Without saying a word, I walked over and gathered up my clothes that I’d taken off for the shoot and walked out.
“What happened?” Bella asked as I walked back into our apartment during mid-afternoon. “Did everything go well?”
She was perched on the couch, dressed in tiny shorts and a cut-off top, browsing my laptop. Each day, it seemed Bella put on a few more pounds. I didn’t mind it, though. I actually liked seeing Bella, who’d been thin all her life, with a little more meat on her bones.
I walked over and sat down next to her, tossing my extra clothes along the arm of the couch. “I walked out of the photo shoot.”
Surprise etched across Bella’s features as she placed the laptop on the coffee table and repositioned herself to face me. “What? Why?”
My eyes were drawn to Bella’s top. She wasn’t wearing a bra, and her hard nipples pressed against the flimsy material.
My first instinct was to make up some BS, but then I thought better of it. I quickly told Bella what happened, leaving out only the ‘fuck me’ eyes the model gave me. I did the right thing. No need to go bragging about it.
“I left because I didn’t want you to get pissed if you ever happened upon those photos. I want to do right by you.”
Bella bit her lip, but I saw appreciation flash in her eyes. “You didn’t have to do that just for me, Stefan. I would
've been annoyed, but I would have understood.”
Sure you would have, I thought. But you deserve better than having to.
“It’s okay. I’ll just find another gig.”
Hopefully.
It sucked because the pay would've been good for us, but Bella seemed to already be suffering from self-esteem issues, and I didn’t want to further exacerbate the problem.
“Well, maybe I can try to help by getting a job,” Bella suggested.
I shook my head. I’d rather go down to the plasma center and get money out of my damn veins than have Bella go through that stress. “No, I already told you that I’ll take care of everything.”
“But—” Bella began to protest as my cell ringtone went off.
I raised a finger to silence her as I dug it out of my back pocket and checked it. I half-expected to see a call from Dad or Evelyn, or even the modeling company, but the words on the screen shocked me.
Call from James Carter.
What’s he calling for? I wondered. The last time I had talked to my old coach at South State, he’d been pissed at me for causing so much trouble by beating up my teammate. He got even more pissed when I was subsequently forced from the school because of my actions, leaving the lacrosse team without their All-Star player.
“Coach Carter?” I answered.
“Stefan, my boy!” Carter greeted enthusiastically. “How good to hear your voice again. How have you been doing?”
I glanced at Bella, who was staring at me with an inquisitive expression. “I’m doing well.”
“Good, good. How’s things going at North State?”
I paused. “Uh . . . I’m no longer enrolled there, actually.”
“Well that’s just wonderful news!”
What the hell?
I reared back and looked at the cell with surprise, as if I was looking him in the face, before bringing it back to my ear.
“Listen, Stefan. I talked to Jared Stroing’s parents and cleared everything up. They are fine with you returning to South State as long as you and Jared promise to get along. I have secured a sports scholarship for you so you can attend the next semester free of charge. All you have to do is show back up.”
I sat there in dumbstruck silence, unable to believe what I was hearing.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for you, Stefan. I’m talking about something that could lead to a professional career.” Coach Carter continued. “You were one of the best athletes I have ever seen, and I never stopped believing in you.”
I swallowed deeply. Coach Carter had just re-ignited my dream of being an All-Star athlete. Besides Bella, it had always been one of the driving forces in my life. Heck, since I’d been back at home, I found that I missed playing sports immensely.
“Um, that’s wonderful, Coach Carter,” I said dumbly.
“Wonderful?” Carter asked incredulously. “It’s fucking fantastic!” He chuckled. “So what do you say, huh? Come back and lead these kids to greatness.”
I wanted so badly to accept Coach Carter’s offer, but I had a baby on the way and Bella to think about. There was no way I could return to school and sports and take care of Bella at the same time, at least not right now.
“Uh, I'm going to have to get back to you on that, Coach,” I said.
There was a short pause over the line. “All right, Stefan.” He sounded slightly disappointed. “But I want to remind you that an offer like this isn’t going to last long. I’ll be expecting an answer back from you soon.”
“Who was that?” Bella asked as soon as I was off the phone.
The expression on her face caused a heavy feeling in my chest and I fucking hated it. “It was my old coach back at South State, Coach Carter.”
“What did he want?”
I let out a sigh, knowing I should probably keep my mouth shut on the offer, but I knew that Bella wouldn’t stop until she knew what was said. “He was offering me a scholarship to return to South State to resume my position as captain of the lacrosse team.”
I saw the fear flash in Bella’s eyes immediately. “Oh that’s great, Stefan,” she said without any emotion. She eyed me closely. “What are you going to tell him?”
I laughed nervously. “Is that a joke or what? Of course I’m going to tell him no.”
Silence filled the room as Bella studied me.
Her scrutiny made me feel uncomfortable, and I kept talking to fill the void. “I have you and the baby to worry about. I can't accept the offer, not right now.”
“You should do it,” Bella said suddenly.
I stared at her. ‘Huh?”
She looked away from me. “You should do it,” she said, her voice sounding weak. “Don’t worry about me and the baby. I’ll find a way on my own.”
“What are you talking about, Bella? I can’t just leave you alone to fend for yourself.”
Bella turned back to me and I could see tears streaming down her cheeks. “But this is your life-long dream we’re talking about here.”
“My life-long dream was to be with you.”
I thought my words would bring her solace, but Bella turned back away. I reached out to grab her, but she pushed my hands aside and wiped at her tears.
“I ruined you,” she said quietly.
I felt like I’d just been punched in my stomach. “What?”
“I ruined your life when I got pregnant. This was my nightmare, Stefan. In my dream, you were there right at the end, and you said that I ruined you and your future. It broke my heart. Now, it's all coming true.”
“Bella, I had no idea. You didn’t ruin anything. We both wanted this, remember?”
Bella shook her head, refusing to look at me. “We don’t know what we really wanted. We weren’t even thinking. That’s why I’m pregnant in the first place.”
I grabbed ahold of Bella, overpowering her resistance, and turned her to face me. “Listen. I need you. We need each other. I could never leave you. Never.” I kissed her hard on the lips, pressing her into me. When I broke it off, she was breathless and I saw a spark in her eye.
I let go of her and stood up from the couch, feeling my pulse begin to race. I had to do something to release the pent-up frustration and make us both forget about our current situation.
“I know just what you need.”
I walked over to the stereo I had brought from home and turned it on. Loud music filled our apartment.
I walked back over, pulling off my shirt as I went, and pulled Bella on her feet. Then I pulled her into my arms and began devouring her neck.
Chapter 33
Bella
“Don’t you think our new neighbors are going to complain about the loud music?” I asked breathlessly as Stefan smothered my neck with passionate kisses.
Stefan pulled back and grinned at me. “I’d rather them complain about loud music than the sounds of us making love.”
He resumed kissing me all over my neck, hot, burning kisses that made my flesh sizzle with electricity. Breathless, I gave in to his assault.
He seemed to be trying to assure me through his passion that he would never leave me. I wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe that he was going to love me and our baby forever.
I gave in, and I wrapped my arms around his neck as he ran a hand up the side of my body to my breast and squeezed my nipple through the flimsy fabric of my cut-off top so hard that I gasped.
Then his tongue was entering my mouth as he fondled me, and he swirled it around mine like a twisting nether, devouring all I had to give.
The next thing I knew, he was ripping my shirt off, exposing my breasts and erect nipples. Down below, I could feel his bulge pressing up against my stomach, and desire burned through my abdomen.
Hungrily, I unbuttoned his jeans and pulled them down his chiseled ass cheeks until they rested around his thighs. His hard dick was suddenly pressed against my stomach, and I could feel it pulsating against my skin.
Grunting, Stefan removed my shorts and tossed them
aside onto the floor before grabbing my ass cheeks into the palms of his hands and hefting me up and then slowly setting me down on his cock.
I gasped as he held me aloft and entered me at the same time.
That’s when he began pounding me with unforgiving thrusts that had my ass slapping up against his chiseled thighs.
A startled scream pierced the loud music. For a moment, I thought Stefan had just pinched something, or maybe a couch spring was poking him in the ass.
But when I saw the look of absolute horror on his face, I knew something was wrong. Terribly wrong.
Astonished, I lost control of my arms around his neck and tumbled out of his lap and onto the floor as I turned around to see my mother, Terry, and my grandmother, Emma, standing in the doorway, their faces white with shock.
Hastily, I grabbed a couch cushion to cover myself, feeling idiotic even as I did so.
Terry was the first one to regain his ability to speak. “What in the holy fuck is going on here?” he roared, his face red with rage. He was literally shaking from head to toe as he stomped into our living room.
While Stefan tried to stuff his cock back into his pants, I saw my shorts and grabbed them, along with the rag of a tank top that Stefan had torn off. It had seemed hot at the time, but I kinda wished he hadn’t done it now.
Meanwhile, Mom was staring at me with a look that nearly froze my heart.
“It was you two,” she said, her voice barely audible over the loud music. “It was you screwing Bella in that video.”
Terry did a double-take, and then realization dawned on his face as well as he put the pieces together.
“Explain yourself!” Terry yelled at Stefan, as I stood by, my arms across my chest, my head hung in shame.
My grandmother, who I still couldn’t believe was here—just what the hell was she doing here, anyway?—looked the calmest out of everyone as she strolled over to the stereo and shut the music off.
Beside me, Stefan clenched his jaw. I could sense that he was going to be defiant about this to the end, no matter what it cost us.
Alpha's Baby: A Secret Baby Romance Page 19