Shut Up and Model for Me (17 page)

^^^^

The first thing I wonder when I wake is that maybe I dreamt everything. I sit up and put on my glasses, sliding out of bed and trudging to the hall. The bathroom is vacant.

Did Dallas leave to get his stuff already?

Did he change his mind?

Did he realize he made a mistake leaving Tricia?

And then I smell something delicious from downstairs, which is very strange, considering I don’t think Britain or Delilah have cooked a day in their lives. I make my way down to the kitchen and see Dallas by the stove, flipping a pancake in a skillet. He sees me and grins. “Sleeping Beauty’s finally arrived.”

“Ha, ha. What are you making?”

“Maple, oat, and carob chip pancakes, recipe courtesy of your mom.”

“
My
mom? You’ve been talking to my mom?”

“I didn’t tell you?” He slides the pancake onto a stack of cooked ones. “She asked for my phone number back at her place and has been texting me ever since.”

I groan. “I’m going to
kill
her.”

“She just wanted to get to know her daughter’s boyfriend better. And now she has reason to.” He leans forward and kisses me.

“About damn time,” Britain says from the stairs, and I crinkle my nose. “I hope you made me food too, lover boy.” She slides into an island stool. “Not only do you have to convince mom that you’re worthy, but roommates are just as important, considering now we’re going to have to see your ugly face around these parts.”

Dallas narrows his eyes and turns off the stove. “You’ve been seeing my ugly face around here for the past two months.”

“Missing the point,” Britain says, and yawns.

“Well, luckily for you, I made enough for both you and Delilah. Delilah!” he yells.

“Yay, rabbit food!” Delilah cheers from somewhere upstairs, and I snort.

But it doesn’t matter if the pancakes are rabbit food or not. They melt in my mouth. “Where the hell did you learn to cook like this?” I ask as I dig into my third one.

“Just because we’ve dry humped a bunch doesn’t mean you know everything about me,” Dallas says, and Britain chokes on her orange juice.

“So, what are you guys going to do for the rest of the semester now?” Delilah asks. “I mean, if people see you together, they’ll figure out who Evan is.”

I clear my throat. “I… uhh… I think I’m giving up the frump disguise.”

Delilah’s jaw drops and Dallas’s eyes brighten.

“Every girl should lavish in the fame of being a porn star once in her life.”

Dallas

Evan looks amazing.

Today, both of her personas are melded together. Her makeup is light but existent, and her dark hair falls in soft waves past her shoulders. She wears a modest t-shirt and not-so-modest miniskirt.

She’s said nothing on the way to school. I’m hitching a ride with her because my car’s still in the shop.

I wonder if she’s nervous.

“You look amazing,” I offer.

“Dallas,” she says my name weakly. “Do you think this is safe?”

“What do you mean?”

She pulls into a parking spot. “I mean, the entire campus has seen me naked. I feel—I don’t know—vulnerable.”

I lean toward her. “If anyone lays a finger on you, I’ll rip them in half. You know that, right?”

Her shoulders relax, and she smirks. “You big manly man, you.”

We get out of the car and I wrap my arm around her as we walk toward the science building. “First of all, you are kind of a terrifying person, so I’m pretty sure there aren’t many idiots who’d be willing to start something once you unleash that side of you.”

“Very funny.”

“Second of all, I’d bet that we’re both playing this out of proportion, and no one’s even going to recognize you today. I mean, this campus is huge. Not everyone can be familiar with the magazine.”

I’m wrong. So, so wrong.

Classes get out as we walk through the hall of the science building. Heads turn. Students cup their hands around their mouths as they whisper frantically to their friends. Her stage name bounces back and forth across the walls like a pin ball. “Holy shit, is that Rylan Willow?”

“I knew it,” someone hisses. It’s Brad, sporting two nasty black eyes. “I fucking knew it. Can’t fool me.”

To my surprise, Evan flashes him a huge smile. And then she lifts her hand and flips him off.

A group of boys near us chortle with laugher.

“See, this isn’t so bad.” I tell her.

“No, it’s not.”

A group of girls part their lips in surprise as they pass us. One even waves at Evan. She waves back.

“Actually, it’s kind of fun,” she says.

“Rylan,” some guy that I’ve never seen before in my life calls. “Nice to see you out and about today.”

“Jesus,” I mutter. “You’re like a unicorn or something.”

Evan ignores me, flashing the stranger a smile. “I have some errands to run—transcripts to request. Professors to meet.”

“They order special services from you or something?” he winks at me.

My hands clench automatically. Several others have stopped to listen, and she has an audience now. They’ve all seen her on the page, but this is probably the first time they’ve ever heard her speak.

And, as I should have guessed it, she handles herself like a fucking champ.

Evan laughs and flips back her hair. “Of course not, silly. I’m here to tell them the news. I just got into Harvard.”

As the group chews up the fact that their beloved pin-up girl is going to Harvard, her phone rings. She pulls it out of her pocket and presses it to her ear. “Hello?”

She listens for a bit, and then her eyes widen. She glances at me.

“Dallas,” she whispers excitedly. I can hear Britain’s frantic voice on the other end.

“What is it?”

“We did it. EPE is going national.”

DARK FRAME

Chapter One

Evan

I was a diva for thinking that my life would dramatically change when I came out of the gigantic closet-o-porn.

Surprisingly, much is the same, other than the fact that I get to dress like a real live person and wear a bit of lip gloss and mascara when I go to class. And there’s also the whole every-person-glancing-at-my-tits-real-quick-when-they-pass-me-in-the-halls deal, but I got used to that fast, maybe because more girls are willing to openly gawk than boys.

It’s a bit empowering, to say the least.

But most importantly, Dallas isn’t distracting me to the point of my grades dropping. Especially now, with my last massive final looming right over my shoulders. I’m so close to a summer of freedom that I can taste it—and it tastes a hell of a lot like an ice-cold IPA and a hot dog piled high with mayonnaise and grilled onions.

That’s the other thing… I haven’t exactly told Britain that I’m quitting EPE.

I mean, she automatically figured that I was giving my spot up as lead model, considering I’m moving across the country. But she still thinks I’ll be game for shooting during breaks and summer for the newly-national
East Park Exposed
. I mean, what kind of idiot would give up that fame?

But the thing is—I never wanted fame. I wanted money. And a seasonal EPE model—even if the magazine is national—will make nothing.

Does that make me superficial? I don’t know—it
is
porn.

^^^^^

When I get home from the last day of school before my final, I throw my purse on the couch and call for Britain and Delilah. I don’t get an answer so I know they must still be on campus. Perfect—a few hours of total quiet is exactly what I need to get this studying out of the way.

I make my way upstairs and hear the shower turn on. Glancing into my room, I spot the t-shirt and jeans thrown onto my bed before walking to the bathroom and opening the door. Steam wafts across my face, and I pull back the shower curtain to a very naked Dallas pushing back his wet, shaggy hair and blinking at me. He isn’t surprised—that much is obvious. A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth as he attempts to feign innocence.

I raise my eyebrow and try to force myself to remain calm, but it’s impossible to do so with all of that hot water dripping down his hard, perfectly cut chest—and abs—and everything else. Keeping my expression straight, I say, “What happened to packing?”

He cocks his head and smiles. “Fuck packing. I get my girlfriend for only a few more days. I’ll wear leaves if I have to.”

I huff. “Damn you.”

He reaches out and toys with the button on my shirt with his wet hand. “That was a rude response.”

“I need you gone today,” I plead. “You are the biggest distraction known to mankind and I need to ace this final. You
know
I do.”

He lowers his head just a bit, his blue eyes begging me. “Evan Cosette. What is your current GPA?”

I cross my arms over my chest and jut my chin. “You know what it is.”

“For the sake of my point…”

“Four-point-oh, okay?”

“And what was the lowest grade you’ve gotten on a bio test this year?”

“Eighty-nine-point-five. Almost a B plus!”

He plucks the fabric overlay from my button, shirt falling apart to reveal cleavage.

“I think you can sacrifice a half-hour of studying to take a shower with me.”

Another button bites the dust.

“I hate you so much, Dallas Whitley.”

I’m undressed in a matter of seconds. Dallas whips the shower curtain back and pulls me into the tub. His hands find my ass to hold me up as I wrap my legs around his waist. He growls lowly. I feel him grow hard against my leg as he pushes me up to the tile of the shower wall.

“Baby,” I murmur as his tongue glides across my jaw. The stubble on his face electrifies my slick skin and suddenly I don’t give a flying fuck if I study at all for my final.

His mouth continues to travel south, teeth clamping around my nipple. I cry out and lace my fingers through his hair, grinding my hips against his.

“I need you now,” I breathe.

He lifts his head, his eyes finding mine. Water drips from his chin and he’s absolutely the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

“I have no idea what I’m going to do without you for seven whole months.” His fingers clench around my thighs.

I open my mouth to respond, but he’s too quick. He silences me by biting down on my lower lip, and as his teeth drag across the sensitive flesh, he thrusts into me with one swift motion.

I’m entirely caught off guard, screaming into his shoulder.

His fingernails dig into my ass as he picks up his pace, ramming into me over and over. I love it when he has his way with me, when the sex is wild and reckless and completely unstaged. It solidifies the fact that we’re alone and only doing this for ourselves.

“Hold on,” he breathes, and lets me down. He pulls the shower head from the wall.

My heart hammers dangerously in my chest, and I bite the corner of my lip. I know what he wants to do.

We maneuver around a bit until he’s lying on the floor of the bathtub, the shower head in his hand. I kneel over him, my knees on either side of his hips, and slowly sink down onto his cock, reveling in the way he fills me. I love how helpless he looks when I grind myself against him. I’m convinced I have all of the power until he shifts the shower head, the jet blasting my clit.

I scream at the pressure. Nothing in the universe has ever felt this fucking blissful. My eyes flutter open for a second to rest on his deviant smile. I bounce quickly on top of him, desperate for release, the stream brushing back and forth against my clit.

“Come for me, Evan,” he orders.

It’s too much. My fingernails sink into his shoulders and I shudder my orgasm. He presses the shower head even tighter against me, holding my lower back and refusing to let me escape the mind-blowing pleasure. It’s not until his body grows rigid and he finally comes does he release me from my prison of ecstasy. I collapse on top of him.

“Holy fucking shit,” I breathe.

He wraps his arms around me and chuckles darkly. “How about a good orgasm to kick off your study session?”

^^^^^

Four hours later, I’m cross-legged in my pjs on top of my bed, a handful of flashcards in one hand and an unwrapped Snickers bar in the other. Dallas enters our room with an extra-huge cup of tea for me.

“You’re sure taking this anti-diet thing seriously, aren’t you?” he says, nodding to the candy.

“Hey, fuck you,” I reply, taking the tea.

“You’re welcome.”

“And keep quiet about that. Britain still doesn’t know.”

Dallas sits on the bed and raises his eyebrows. “Seriously, Evan? You need to tell her. She’s your best friend and if you tell her your reasoning, she’s going to agree with you.”

“Listen,
bro
, Britain is
my
best friend. I know her better than anyone. She’s not going to be pissed that I don’t want to model anymore. She’s going to be pissed that we aren’t collaborating. Britain and I are a total team.”

Dallas shrugs. “So continue helping her with choosing images.”

I scowl at him. “Stop thinking of everything, will you?”

He grins and pushes away my books, wrapping his arms around me. “That’s enough studying for tonight.”

“But—”

“I’m serious, Evan. You’re going to get an A, so chill the fuck out, okay? Jesus, I’ve never seen anyone so addicted to studying before.” He pulls me down onto the pillows. “No, wait—I’ve never seen someone so addicted to studying and so disgustingly beautiful.”

“Uhh… thanks?”

“I mean, I’ve had to kick those nerds out of the bio computer lab before. They definitely get a bigger hard on for studying than you.”

“Doubtful,” I say dryly. Then an idea comes to mind. “Mmm… studying. Just thinking about it.” I accentuate my breathing for the act and my eyes flutter shut. I bite my lower lip, my fingers caressing my neck and trailing downward. “Yeah…” I cup my breasts and let my hands fall to my navel. “Studying,” I pant. “Yes. Oh, God.” When I slide my hand beneath the waistband of my yoga pants, I open one eye to spy on Dallas. His mouth is wide open in sheer shock.