Page 60 of Strut

“Jesus Christ, Alec. What happened?”

“Not here.” I scrubbed the tears from my face, grabbed his hand, and pulled him through the door and straight out to hail a cab.

On the ride back to the apartment, he said nothing as I held his hand with a death grip. But his concerned gaze continually flicked my way like I might explode at any moment. He wasn’t far from wrong. Hell, I could barely put two thoughts together, my brain warring between feeling totally fucking violated and panicking that what Darcy had said was true—that I’d just fucked over my entire career.

* * *

The minute we got home, Hunter sat me on the couch, shoved a glass of water in my hands, and then gathered me in his arms. During the cab ride, I’d wondered how the fuck I was going to tell him. In the end, it was easy. Once I started to talk, it poured from me in a word vomit I couldn’t have stopped if I’d tried.

As I talked, I picked at the blanket Hunter had pulled around us and wiped at my face with the Kleenex he kept shoving in my hand. His expression went from shock and disbelief to horrified, then settled on stony-faced rage.

“That fucking bastard.” Hunter shot to his feet, leaving the cool air of the room to whip around me. “He fucking touched you... like that! He assaulted you?” His words bounced like shotgun pellets off the walls.

I screwed my eyes shut and sucked in a stuttering breath, clenching and unclenching my trembling hands. My gaze wandered to the red marks on my wrist where Darcy had held me. The bruising was just starting to show. My throat closed as the memories filled my head. I heard his voice, smelled him on my skin, felt his touch like it was only a minute ago.

“Jesus, didhedo that?”

My gaze shot up to find Hunter staring at my wrist. I tugged the sleeve down over the mark. “He just grabbed me, that’s all. It’s nothing.”

“It’snotnothing. Let me see.” Hunter strode across and took my hand, pushing the cuff back up, his jaw tightening with fury. “I’m going to kill that fucker,” he hissed.

I tugged free and pulled my jersey down to my knuckles. “Just leave it, please?”

Hunter’s mouth fell open. “Leave it? Leave it? No, Alec. We have to report this to the police.”

“Report what?” I scoffed, raising my voice. “That a famous photographer grabbed my dick and tried to kiss me while adjusting my swimsuit during a modelling shoot? I have nothing to back that up and a bruise on my wrist that could be from anything.”

Hunter stared at me like he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. “The man sexually assaulted you, Alec.”

I glared back. “Says who? It’s his word against mine, Hunter. He didn’t fuck me. There’s no semen, no witnesses. And I’m a guy, a male model. You really think they’re gonna believe me? Believe that I couldn’t stop him if I’d wanted to. He won’t be found guilty ofanything, and I’ll lose my career. I’ll be done.” I slumped. “I probably am already.”

“But... fuck.” Hunter dragged his hands down his face as my words sank in because he knew I was right.

“It happened so fast.” I gulped in a breath. “He was a bit creepy with me, even that first time, but I just thought—”

“Oh, shit.” Hunter took a sharp breath and sent me an anguished look. “That’swhy you asked me how well I knew him, wasn’t it?” He slammed his palm against the bedroom door frame and bellowed, “Arrrrrgh! Christ, I wanna hurt something so bad right now, preferablyhim. I fucking knew there was more to it when you asked that.”

I shrugged and drew a cushion over my stomach, feeling sicker by the minute. I tried for a calming breath but my heart continued to bang in my chest. “Marco, another model in the apartment, said he’d heard something about Darcy from a mate, but it was all second-hand and a bit vague. That’s why I never said anything. Besides, we deal with that shit all the time.”

“But you shouldn’t have to!” Hunter started pacing the room again, his eyes locked ahead in a furious glare. “Jesus Christ. What the fuck is wrong with these people? And IknowDarcy. Hell, I’ve done shoots with him. How the fuck did I not knowthatabout him? I’ve heard rumours about a few of mycolleagues—” He winced at the term like it personally offended him. “—but never him.”

I huffed and clutched the cushion tighter. “Well, he’s not exactly going to do ittoyou or in front of you, is he? You have a rep for being a stand-up guy, Hunter. He’d know you wouldn’t tolerate it.” I hesitated, then figured I needed to ask. “Did you ever raise those rumours with any of your other colleagues?”

Hunter froze and dropped his head, flushing red to the roots of his hairline. “No.” He shook his head and some of the fight drained out of him. “And that makes me as bad as they are.”

“No it doesn’t,” I said wearily and sagged back against the couch feeling the adrenaline start to crash. “Most of the guys in the business are decent, like you, but a lot know what’s going on, just like the models do. Darcy isn’t the first photographer to get off ontuckinghis models personally or being inappropriate in any number of ways. And not just photogs, right? Editors, designers, stylists, you name it. I mean, for fuck’s sake, in how many workplaces is it acceptable to have a professional stick his hand down your trousers or up your fucking swimsuit and touch your dick and balls?” I choked on the words and the air rushed out of my lungs as bile surged up the back of my throat.

Hunter was instantly back at my side, his worried brown eyes full of apology. “I’m so sorry, baby.” He pulled me into his arms, and I melted against him as he rocked me slowly. “I went off, and this isn’t about me.” He kissed my head. “This is about you and that fucking arsehole. I want to kill him for what he’s done to—”

“No.” I put my hand over Hunter’s mouth. “Please. I don’t need you to be angry right now. And I don’t want to talk anymore. I just... I think... I don’t know what I want.” I fisted his shirt. “I feel so stupid. How did I let him get his hands on me like that? Why didn’t I walk out the first time he tried? I’m not a small guy, Hunter. I’m not Tim.”

Hunter slid a hand up my jaw and turned me to look at him, anguish carving deep lines on his face. “Alec, I—”

But the words kept coming. “Why does this feel so bad, Hunter? I’ve been screwed in a bathroom stall by a stranger, for fuck’s sake. Darcy didn’t even fuck me, he just... he just...” I couldn’t finish, screwing my eyes shut to stem the panic racing through my veins.

“Oh, hell.” Hunter pulled me down to the couch with him until my head lay on his chest, his arms a tight, comforting embrace. “This isnotyour fault, Alec. You didn’t want what he did to you. You didn’t ask for it. You didn’t agree to it. You hadnosay. He wasn’t a hook-up in a bar that you invited into your space. Darcy assaulted you, baby, end of story. And he’s going to fucking pay for it.” Hunter’s voice cracked and his hold on me tightened. He kissed my head, over and over, rocking me as more tears fell.

When my breathing finally steadied, he tipped my chin up and pressed the softest of kisses to my lips. “Right, no more talking. Wait here while I get the shower going.”

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