Page 49 of Strut

“In the words of someone who’s coming to mean a lot to me, stop overthinking.” Hunter opened his eyes, rolled onto his back, and stretched like a cat. A sexy, thick-stubbled cat.

I rolled on top of him, revelling in the soft rub of the hair on his chest, and demanded a kiss, morning breath be damned. He was hot-skinned, sleep-mussed, and my heart tripped over its own stumbling feet at the feel of him under me, his arms around my waist.

“Mmm. The very best way to wake up.” He took me in another kiss, this one slower, deep and languid, like we had all the time in the world.

“Well, not theverybest way.” I wriggled my hips so our dicks pressed together, and he groaned. “I can think of something better.” I slid down his body and took his cock in my mouth while he gently held my head. I worked him in long, leisurely sucks that built slowly, drawing out the pleasure until he finally arched and spilled into my mouth with a soft grunt, followed by a deep, satisfied hum.

“Come here.” He pulled me up and onto my side, and plunged his tongue into my mouth, over and over, while he jacked me off until I spurted into his fist and collapsed against his chest like a bag of jelly.

“Fuck. Me.” I flung my arm to the side and fell onto my back, almost expiring with heat.

“Nope. I’m done.” Hunter wiped his hand on the sheet and cuddled into me.

“No, you’re too hot.” I shoved him away.

“It’s been said before.” He rolled back into me. “It’s a burden. What can I say?”

“Idiot.” I laughed and pulled his arm over me. “Oh, shit, it’s Saturday.”

“The world is clearly about to end. Let’s sleep through it.” He closed his eyes and nestled down.

I threw his arm off me and stretched for my phone. “I can’t. This is important.”

He snaked his hand back around my waist and kissed my shoulder. “So is this.”

I grinned and let him pull me back against his burning chest while I scrolled through my phone and he looked over my shoulder.

“This had better be good,” he grumbled, giving a wide yawn. “When do you have to be at Blast Off? I wrangled a pass fromHarper’s, as long as I take a few photos for them, but the media are kicked out after the fashion show, so I can’t stay.”

“Holy shit. That’s like finding the golden ticket. You did that just to watch me?”

“Of course, I did. You’re up first, right? Strutting your stuff?”

I grinned at the corny phrase. “Yeah. First, fourth, and tenth. Makeup and hair is at two. And we don’t get to stay either, although there’s always a party organised by one of the labels if you wanted to go. I think it’sVoguethis year.”

“If the choice is them or you in bed, I choose you.” He put his chin back on my shoulder. “So, what are we searching for?”

I popped a kiss on the end of his nose. “Weare searching for Miles Broadhurst’s piece today.”

“The fashion columnist?”

“That’s the one.” I kept scrolling. “He did an interview piece on up-and-coming male models and interviewed Tim. Tim said it was running today.”

“Let me see.” Hunter rolled me onto my back and rested his head on the pillow as I kept searching.

“Here it is.” I clicked the link and began reading. It didn’t take long. “Shit.”

Hunter looked up at me with concern in his eyes. “Not what you were expecting?”

“Not even close. It’s all about José.” Anger coiled in my belly.

Hunter frowned. “But Tim’s name is there, so that’s a good thing, right?”

“But that’s all that gets said about him. No photos, no background, nothing about what he’s done. And Cage’s name is filed at the very end of the article like an afterthought. Fuck.” I chewed my lower lip thinking about Tim reading this. He was going to be devastated. I tried to explain it to Hunter. “Tim said it was going to be an exposé piece about modelling in the Big Apple from the perspective of a young model trying to make it here. And Tim thought he was that model.”

Hunter took my hand. “Then Miles clearly changed his mind. That’s always a risk with journalists, right?”

I didn’t answer and it didn’t take long for Hunter to twig.

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