Page 55 of Strut

Rhys howled with laughter. “Asurprisedate?Flowers?” he spluttered. “Man, this just gets better and better. Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?”

“Shut up,” I groused and turned an accusing glare on Alec. “And it might be a very short date at this rate.”

Alec pouted and batted his lashes. “Sorry.” He looked anything but.

Rhys was now making peculiar sounds and holding his sides, and Beck wasn’t much better.

“Yeah, yeah, laugh it up,” I grumbled. “I’m going now. If you feel like calling again, don’t.”

I ended the call with the two of them still laughing.

“And as for you.” I slid close to Alec and kissed him. “You’re lucky I like you.”

“I am lucky.” Alec straddled my lap and his towel dropped to the floor. “Now, let’s try that again with a lot more feeling, ineverysense of the word.”

* * *

We were only ten minutes late to the restaurant, which was a miracle after a protracted make-out session and mutual hand jobs, but we made it, even if I had to forgo showing Alec the images I’d been working on. They could wait. Alec had no work that weekend other than his bar shift on Saturday, which meant we had all the time in the world. It also meant he felt free to break his carb-portion rules and moaned all the way through his fettuccini marinara like it was the answer to world hunger, while I gleefully demolished my shrimp and lobster ravioli with cream and limoncello sauce. We shared a bottle of Montepulciano to wash it all down and then turned down dessert in exchange for gelato after our walking tour.

I hadn’t been able to take my eyes off him all evening. Gleaming blond hair, product-free and still a little messy from my fingers as we’d kissed before leaving the apartment. Glossed lips with a little liner at the corner of his eyes making that deep-blue gaze pop like magic. And a simple black Henley over snug, faded blue jeans and a chunky black belt that highlighted the silver Stefan Hamilton buckle Rhys had given him.

Not a pretentious label in sight and he looked like a million dollars. I wasn’t the only one in the restaurant that noticed, but I was the only one he had eyes for and that meant everything. And when I told him my plans for the evening, he practically bounced in his seat and my stupid heart soared.

We were waiting for the bill when his phone buzzed with a text. He glanced at the screen and frowned. “It’s Darcy.” He read the text and looked up. “Berlini want another test shoot before they make a decision.”

I couldn’t stop my grin. “That’s great news, Alec. So why the frown? It means they aren’t just handing it to Ray Oliver. You’re in the running. It’s not uncommon to want another look. There’s a lot of money involved in these campaigns, and I’ve called plenty of models back for a second shoot.”

He stared at the text, then gave a quick smile. “You’re right. I don’t know why it surprised me.”

“When is it?”

“Next Friday at three.” He showed me the address on West 56thStreet and I recognised it.

“That’s Darcy’s studio,” I explained, and Alec’s frown was back. I leaned across the table and kissed him. “Smile, baby. This is exciting.”

He finally grinned, “It is, isn’t it? It really is.”

* * *

Alec

There were only eight of us on the chilly two-hour walking tour that covered legends and murders and ghosts and lots of eerie and macabre stories surrounding Greenwich Village and its surrounds. We held gloved hands all the way, a stiff, cool breeze sweeping through the narrow streets, and I loved every second of it.

I caught Hunter watching me more than once with a look of fond amusement on his face as I bombarded the guide with eager questions. It reminded me I was twelve years younger, something I rarely thought about. I considered the age difference for all of two seconds, realised I didn’t give a fuck, and let it go.

After the tour we bought gelato and made our way back to Hunter’s apartment. I’d no sooner shut the front door when Hunter pulled me close and slid his mouth over mine for a hard and fast kiss. “You wanna fool around, gorgeous?” He waggled his eyebrows, making me laugh.

“I’ll need more than that poor excuse for a kiss.” I laughed, pulling him back against me. “Kiss me like you mean it, mister.”

Hunter’s mouth curved up in a slow sexy smile. “My pleasure.” And then he did exactly what I asked, owning my mouth for a way more satisfying exploration, storming my senses, and leaving zero room for anything else.

And when I thought he was done, he deepened the kiss further, pressing me back against the front door as our tongues and teeth collided, his body surging against mine, our hard cocks rubbing together, every scrap of blood in my body flying south. Hunter did nothing half-hearted, and I was so fucking there for whatever he had in mind, although if we didn’t slow, I wouldn’t make it past the front door. I pushed him off me, gasping for breath.

“I’m gonna cream my jeans right here and now if you keep that up. Come on.” I grabbed his hand, intending to drag him into the bedroom when my gaze landed on the screensaver on his laptop. “Hunter, what the hell?” I rushed to the table where a photo of me poking out my tongue and flipping him off stared back at me.

“Yeah, I think that one captures your best side.” Hunter wrapped an arm around my waist. “It’s one of my favourites.”

I laughed. “It would be.”

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