ModelMisbehavior Read online

  Model Misbehavior

  An erotic novella by

  Stephanie Williams and LaVerne Thompson

  This is an explicit and erotic novel

  intended for the enjoyment

  of adult readers. Please keep

  out of the hands of children.

  www.Phaze.com

  Model Misbehavior

  Copyright © 2011 by Stephanie Williams and LaVerne Thompson

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  Edited by Zena Gainer

  Cover Art © 2011 by Niki Browning

  First Edition August 2011

  ISBN-13: 978-1-60659-627-2

  Published by:

  Phaze Books

  An imprint of Mundania Press LLC

  6457 Glenway Ave., #109

  Cincinnati, OH 45211

  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, Mundania Press LLC, 6457 Glenway Avenue, #109, Cincinnati, Ohio 45211, [email protected].

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

  No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without permission from Mundania Press LLC. Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights and livelihood is appreciated.

  Chapter One

  “You have to the count of ten to get the fuck out of my bed and out of my house!”

  TJ ignored the couple scrambling to grab the covers as he rounded his King size bed—his roommate’s tiny ass bed matched his tiny ass dick—to the night table. He yanked open the drawer and took out the red velvet box holding what represented, until a minute ago, a new life with the woman he loved.

  Not anymore.

  TJ ripped the box open and pulled out the six-carat diamond engagement ring, holding it up. “This isn’t worth shit now.”

  Kelly gasped. TJ almost shoved it down her throat.

  He’d wanted to surprise her. Instead, he stood there with egg on his face. TJ threw it against the wall, hoping against hope it would shatter, just like his dreams. “And you...” He glared down at his personal Brutus.

  Bad enough the woman he thought understood him, his profession — his soul mate, the one he laughed with — had cheated on him, but with his best friend, roommate, and PR man? Damn! He and Lawrence grew up together.

  “Hey TJ, it’s not what it...”

  Before Lawrence could form the rest of the words, TJ grabbed him by the throat, yanked him out the bed, and held him against the wall with one hand. “Don’t...even...go there,” he barked out before shoving him to the middle of the room. “You both have five minutes, and the only thing I want to see is the back of your asses heading out the door.”

  TJ got the hell out of the bedroom and made his way to the living room, frantically searching the drawer of his coffee table for a pack of cigarettes. He slammed it shut when he remembered he quit smoking four months ago. All for her, wanting to be healthy for Kelly and whatever children they might eventually have. He wanted to be the sensitive, considerate guy, for her. The perfect lover, the provider, everything—for her.

  Not anymore. She proved women were not to be trusted. He decided right then and there to go back to being the old TJ. The one that did what he wanted, answered to no one, and was happy.

  He whirled around when he heard someone coming up behind him.

  “Look, TJ...”

  “Don’t Lawrence. I don’t want to hear it. There’s nothing you can say. I’ll send your things to your office in the morning—if I want to touch them. Find another place to stay. And find yourself another client. You’re fired!”

  Like a whipped dog, Lawrence held his head down as he walked toward the door. Then Kelly made her appearance. She stood there staring at him.

  TJ could barely stand to look at her. Her clothes looked like she’d jammed them on and her long red hair hung in messy crimson curls about her head. She looked sexy as sin, like she’d been doing exactly what he caught her doing. It pissed him off all over again. “I know you’re not looking for forgiveness,” TJ stated bitterly.

  “No, I was just wondering if you knew how it felt?”

  TJ cocked his head.

  “What?”

  “Don’t act dumb.” She had the nerve to stand there, hand on her hip, acting indignant.

  “What the hell are you talking about?” He was getting more aggravated by the minute. Kelly standing there was not helping the situation and now she wanted to get into some deep discussion with him?

  Her nostrils flared and she narrowed her eyes. “All those women you’ve had and still having. I just happen to be a keeper, for now. Oh, and nice touch with the ring.”

  “What the...?”

  Kelly walked past, almost bumping into him. “Come on Larry.” She took Larry’s arm and they left.

  What the hell just happened? She turned the argument back on him. Ain’t that a bitch! He had a right to kick out the people he loved most who betrayed him. It still hurt. With their leaving, the wind got knocked out of his sails.

  And what the hell was Kelly talking about? What other women? He never looked at another female, even during a session. He would be the first to admit being the number one male cover model in the United States, and perhaps the world, featured on no less than fourteen hundred covers, countless calendars and websites, gave him his choice of women.

  But not once had he ever slept with one of the models he’d worked with. Even though he had scores of beautiful women at his disposal, the professional in him had never allowed him to take advantage of the situation.

  Everyone slept around. It was one of those “known” secrets in the industry. Some even hooked up on a more permanent basis. TJ wouldn’t cross that line. He’d seen too many relationships turn ugly and ultimately compromise a lot of photos.

  How can you look lovingly into someone’s eyes after having a huge brawl the night before? He personally took a stand against that type of behavior, until he met Kelly. She appeared to be different from the rest. So different, he broke his number one rule.

  Kelly seemed smart, together, possessing a twisted sense of humor like him. Falling for her came naturally. She didn’t get caught up in the whole model thing. Just another day at the office, and the men she worked with were her co-workers. The lines some of those guys used to get her attention didn’t seem to impress her. He’d liked that about her.

  So what the hell happened?

  Lawrence. TJ didn’t think he could ever wrap his head around that betrayal. The bastard knew he was about to pop the question in a few days. Damn! Lawrence went with him to pick out the ring!

  TJ threw himself in his favorite chair and leaned his head back, staring into space. This didn’t make sense. Or did it? He should have stuck with his principles. He broke
his golden rule—don’t hunt in the place you work in—and look what happened.

  Never again.

  He wanted to get Lawrence’s crap out of his house as soon as possible. As he got up to go into his bedroom, the phone rang. TJ changed direction to grab the cordless on the coffee table.

  “What?” he barked into the receiver.

  “Whoa! We get out on the wrong side of the bed today?”

  TJ winced at the mere mention of the word bed. “Hello, Jameson.” His agent. Even though it seemed like an inappropriate time to talk shop, he welcomed the call. “What’s up?”

  “Got a plum assignment for you. You know Heather Bare?”

  “Know her? She’s the number one erotica author. I’ve been trying to get on her covers for years. Don’t tell me...”

  “Pack your bags. You’re going to do a three-cover shoot and possibly a trailer. She’s doing a series with the same characters. She personally asked for you and Gina Jonston.”

  “I love working with her. This is great man. You don’t know how much this means, especially now.”

  “Hey, I told you. I have your back. Now hurry and get your ass here. Heather hates to wait.”

  “I’m already on the plane.” TJ hung up, ran to the bedroom, grabbed his suitcase, and started throwing in clothes. He would sort them out once he got to New York. Lawrence could take care of his own shit.

  Heather Bare. Her stuff burned the bookshelves. Given a choice, he wasn’t into reading romance novels, but he did it because it helped him get into character and made his covers more realistic. He secretly read Heather’s work, hoping and wishing he could represent one of her heroes.

  Her books scorched his hands at times, and he’d read every porno mag out there. But her writing took erotica to a different level. While her critics accused her of writing porn with a thread of a plot, they were actually character driven stories. She had kick ass heroines and alpha males beyond any woman’s dreams.

  He wanted to represent those heroes. He’d finally got his chance.

  ****

  “Tina, where are the strawberries?” Gina’s voice was muffled like she’d stuck her head in the refrigerator.

  “Why?” Tina came in the kitchen and she was right. Half her sister’s body was in the fridge.

  “I want them with my coconut ice cream.” Gina stood and turned to face her mirror image.

  “You know that combo is no good for you,” Tina chastised.

  “Ah, I got medication for that now. It’s on my dresser,” she said smugly.

  “Man, what you’ll do for some junk food.”

  “Strawberries and coconuts are fruit,” Gina protested.

  “Yeah, okay.” Tina shook her head, smirking.

  Gina looked back inside the fridge. “Ah, pay dirt.”

  “So what do you have planned for the rest of the month?” Tina asked, watching her sister rummage. “Want to take a cruise? I’m dying to be at sea for some reason.” She took a seat on the couch in the living room and grabbed the remote for the television.

  “This month? Don’t you have a runway show?” Gina hollered from the kitchen.

  Tina Bradley—model de jour. Hot on the runways and talk of the town. She was tall, elegant and exotic. Not just a face and a body to hang clothes on. Her walk and style told a story as she strutted the catwalks of the world.

  Same could be said for Gina, the number one female cover model. Quite a feat for an African-American. But no matter what sub-genre in the romance industry—historical, regency, contemporary, sci-fi even—they all called Gina. She fit the bill: caramel colored skin, wavy shoulder length brown hair with red highlights, statuesque, and curvy. The same height as her runway model sister, they looked almost identical, with Gina being slightly fuller. The differences in their features were minimal, and only those very close to them could tell them apart. Their personality, however, made the task easier.

  Gina bragged about being a social butterfly, able to fit in and be comfortable in any situation. Five minutes with a bartender and she knew his life’s story. Gina became everyone’s good friend. Tina, for all her bravado on the runways, took the shy and reserved route. She sat back, watched, and listened instead of asking the questions. She allowed few people to get close to her. Go figure.

  Gina joined her on the couch with her bowl of strawberries and coconut ice cream. “Yummy. Now, what’s this about cruising?”

  “I thought I told you. I have a whole month off. Whoo-Hoo!” Tina pumped her fist in the air.

  “Great. Let me check my calendar and see if I have anything planned.” Gina reached for her Day-Timer and her cell rang. She quickly took it out of her pocket. “Hello.” She put the cell down on the couch and turned on the speaker so she could have her hands free to eat and listen at the same time.

  “Hello, darling.”

  “Hey, Sherri.”

  Gina turned to Tina and shrugged her shoulders. Which meant the cruise thing might be on hold. “What’s going on?”

  “Got something for you, but I’m not sure if you want it.”

  “Go ahead. Shoot.” Gina got her pen and Day Timer ready to write.

  “Well, it’s a cover, a three series...Nah! You wouldn’t be interested.”

  “Sherri!” Gina shrieked. “Are you messing with me? What cover model in her right mind wouldn’t be interested in a multi-book deal?”

  Sherri confirmed it with a little impish giggle. “Okay, you know Heather Bare, right?”

  “Are you kidding? I have all her books, just for research purposes of course.”

  Tina spotted the latest book Gina had of Heathers, cover up on the floor. Her books were not for the faint of heart.

  “Yeah right. Well, she asked about you. Wanted to know if you’re...”

  “I’ll do it!”

  Tina had to laugh at her sister’s enthusiasm.

  Sherri broke out in laughter, too. “Please, take your time and think about it.”

  “Don’t think so, this is fantastic. Do you know how long I’ve been waiting to be on one of her covers?”

  “Forever and a day, like every other cover model. Well, you got it. Be at the studio apartment tomorrow at seven in the morning. After the covers, they might do a trailer, too. Unclear about that now but you should be busy for the rest of this week and into the next. Good thing you live here in New York. Saves the packing and flying.”

  “Amen. See you then and thanks.”

  “Don’t mention it.”

  Gina disconnected and jumped up, doing a little dance. “Yippie!”

  “Good news I take it,” Tina smiled.

  “You heard. Yeah. Three cover deal with a major romance writer,” Gina said, slapping Tina on the knees for emphasis.

  “Congrats. You’ve been wanting those series covers.”

  “Yep. Let me call Jillian. We were supposed to go out tonight, but I need to be at the shoot early tomorrow morning. I’m sorry sis, but this might take a while. Sherri said about two weeks, so cruising is probably out.”

  “No apologies. I’ll figure out something to occupy my time.”

  “Maybe we can do a few days toward the end of your month off,” Gina offered.

  “We’ll see.”

  While Gina made her call, Tina went to the kitchen. “I think I’ll celebrate with you and splurge on some strawberries and coconut ice cream.”

  “Cool.’

  Tina rejoined her on the couch with her bowl as Gina got off the telephone. They both scooped a nice size portion of ice cream. “To your series covers,” Tina said and they clinked spoons.

  “Thanks, sis.”

  Chapter Two

  “Aarrgh! Tina! Come here, quick!”

  Her sister’s scream had Tina rushing into Gina’s bedroom, almost tripping over her own feet. “What? What? Yikes!” Tina stopped dead in her tracks. “Girl, you look like you have marbles under your skin. My goodness, what happened?”

  “The strawberries and coconuts!”


  “But you had medi— Wait! Did you take it before you ate?” Tina stared at the bumps on her sister’s face. Sometimes people exaggerated about having a bump here and there, but these were massive and angry looking.

  Gina stood there looking in the mirror. She glanced down at the bottle sitting next to her jewelry box. “Oh no, I totally forgot. I got so excited about the shoot today, I forgot. My big chance.” She put her hands to her face and began to cry.

  Tina walked over to her and put her arms around Gina. “It’s okay. There’ll be other covers. You’re the best. Right now we need to worry about this.”

  “I don’t want to disappoint Sherri or—”

  “Shhh. I’ll call Sherri for you and let her know what happened. I’m sure she’ll understand.” Tina searched for Gina’s cell phone.

  “I so don’t want to disappoint her. And the author, she requested me and...”

  “Gina, one thing at a time.” Tina sat Gina down on the edge of the bed. “Can you take those pills after your breakout?”

  “Yeah, but it will take at least two days before it clears up.”

  “Don’t worry about that. Maybe they can postpone the shoot for a couple of days.” Tina left the room and went to the kitchen for water. When she came back, she found Gina in tears again.

  “We’ll get through this. Here.” Tina handed her the glass and grabbed her medicine. “It says take two every six hours for three days or until skin condition is clear.”

  “They can’t postpone the shoot. They’d just use someone else.” Gina threw up her hands. She took the pills and drank the water. Tina couldn’t see her bumps now. She focused on the distressed look on Gina’s face. That’s when she got an idea.

  “Gina.”

  “Yeah.” She sniffed.

  “Um, I’m not doing anything for a month, and we’ve helped each other before. So I’m thinking maybe I could substitute, at least for the first shoot. Maybe by then your face would have cleared up. That way they wouldn’t have to get anyone else.”