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Happy ending.
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PRETEND YOU MINE The nude portrait
"Huh! My mother can't see this, and that's a really good thing", I inwardly talked to myself as i stood, staring at one of the pictures on the wall. My mother would freak out when she sees it. This photograph was shot by my best friend Benny and tonight it is going to be sold in his show. I told him I'd be here and I know how important it is for him. It's important for me too. I only want the best for my friend, just like he does for me. In the past three years Benny has been right there to console me, drink with me, commiserate with me, and even to help me pay my rent upon occasion by giving me work. Well, that is all fine but the main problem is the picture I'm staring at right now. And it's a picture of my nude body.Posing as a nude model isn't something I dreamed of doing for my life's work or anything, but it is a way to make some extra money in between student loans. And lately I'd been getting offers from other photographers. Benny said to be prepared for more interest too,
PRETEND YOU MINE Exhaustion and sleep
"Brynne Bennett," I finally said my name.He let go of my hand. "And now we know each other," he said, pointing first at me and then to himself, "Brynne, Ethan." He motioned with his head toward his Rover. "Now will you let me take you home?" I swallowed again. "Why do you care so much?" "Because I don't want anything to happen to you? Because those heels look lovely at the end of your legs but will be hell to walk in? Because it's dangerous for a woman to walk alone at night in the city?" His eyes flicked over me. "Especially one that looks like you." That mouth of his turned up just slightly on the one side again. "So many reasons, Miss Bennett.""What if you're not safe?" He raised an eyebrow at me. "I still don't know you or anything about you, or if Ethan Blackstone is your real name." Did he just give me a look?"You have a point in that. And it's one I can rectify easily." He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a driver's license with the name Ethan James Blackstone
PRETEND YOU MINE Modelling
Someone smelled very good as they touched me. I could smell the spice and feel the weight of a hand on my shoulder. But the fear rose up anyway. The blast of terror that brought me screaming into consciousness arrived right on schedule. I knew what it was, but still the panic ruled me. I should know. The feeling had been with me for years now."Brynne, wake up."That voice. Who was it? I opened my eyes and faced into the blue intensity of Ethan Blackstone not more than six inches away. I pushed back into the seat to make more distance between me and that gorgeous face. I remembered now. He bought my picture tonight. And took me home,"Shit! I'm sorry I-I fell asleep?" I fiddled for the door handle, but I didn't know this car. I scrambled blindly to get out to get away. Ethan's hand shot over and covered mine, stilling it with a firm touch. "Easy. You're safe, everything's fine. You just drifted off is all.""Okay... sorry." I panted some deep breaths, looked out the window, and then b
PRETEND YOU MINE Unknown call
"Hey, Rory." I gave him my best smile as he let me through. I stayed focused and sharp during my work. The painting was a stunner, one of Mallerton's early works, entitled simply Lady Percival. An absolutely compelling woman with nearly black hair, a blue dress to match her eyes, a book in her hand and the most magnificent figure a female could ever hope to have took up most of the canvas. She wasn't so much a beauty as expressive, I very much wished I knew her story. The painting had suffered some heat damage during a fire in the sixties and never been touched since. Lady Percival needed a dose of tender loving care, and I would be the lucky one to give it to her.I was just about to go for a break when my phone went off. Unknown caller? It struck me odd. I didn't give my number out, and the Lorenzo Agency who represented my modeling had strict disclosure rules."Hello?""Brynne Bennett." The sexy cadence of a British voice washed over me.It was him. Ethan Blackstone. How, I have no
PRETEND YOU MINE So commanding and dominant
Benny's beautiful brown skin looked marvelous against the pale yellow shirt draped onto his muscled frame. Confidence poured out of Benny in every aspect of his life. Totally optimistic. I wish I could be more like him. I was giving it my best shot, but let's just say my best shot at it sucked."So this Ethan bloke is trying to get all up in you, huh? I saw how he watched you, Brynne. He never stopped looking," Ben muttered, "not that I blame him." Benny's always been sweet like this. My go-to guy when I need a shoulder. He's nosy, though. I'd tried all night to keep the conversation focused on his photography and gallery show, but he kept steering the talk back to Ethan."Yeah, well he has a way of getting the upper hand, and I don't like it, Ben." I dipped my French fry that I refuse to call a chip into some ranch dressing and popped it in my mouth. "And thanks for making an honest woman of me tonight." I ate another fry. "I told Ethan I had plans, which was a total lie until you ca
PRETEND YOU MINE Taken charge
I sent the text to Ethan as Marco looked through the images. I'd worked with Marco one other time and I liked him a lot. Based in Milan, he liked classic poses reminiscent of the thirties and forties. "You are magnificent in these, bella," Marco told me with that beautiful Italian purr. "The camera is your friend."/ "It was nice. Thank you, Marco."I still had to get ready and headed for the dressing room. I tried not to fuss over my appearance, but Ethan was so damned handsome. I was just... më. I knew I had a decent figure. I kept it that way, and my body was my livelihood at the moment, so I took care of myself. And I'd had plenty of attention from boys growing up. Too much attention. But I wasn't beautiful. I had long, straight, light brown hair, nothing special. My eyes were probably the most unique thing about me. The color was odd-sort of a mixture of brown, gray, blue and green. I'd never known what to put on my driver's license back home. I went with brown.I opened my bag an
PRETEND YOU MINE Collect nudes
Vauxmoor's Bar & Grill was trendy but not boisterous to the point where we had to shout to talk. I mostly just enjoyed my view anyway. Seated over his plate of steak, Ethan was the picture of polite English gentleman. One supremely hot English gentleman. Gone was the heat and promise of sweaty sex we'd shared at the elevators. He'd turned that off just as quickly as he'd turned me on."How did an American find herself at university so far from home?"I picked at my steak salad and went for a sip of cider instead. "I ..... .. I struggled for a bit after high school", I closed my eyes for a moment after responding. "I was a mess actually, for a lot of reasons." Taking a breath to calm the nervousness that appeared whenever I had to answer this question, I said, "But with some help to focus my attentions, I discovered an interest in art. I applied to come here and by some miracle got accepted at U of L. And my parents were so thrilled to see me motivated they sent me off with hearty bles
PRETEND YOU MINE Touch me
"Don't be, Brynne. I try to avoid my hand to get off, especially if there are other, more lovely, options."His fingers tugged on my chin. I felt my body heat up as I let him lift my face. Whoa... breathe, Brynne, breathe."Like you." He whispered the rest. "I want the real thing. I want you underneath me. I want to get off with you?" His blue eyes never left mine. He did not let go of my chin either. He held me firm and made me acknowledge his words. "Why, Ethan?"His thumb flicked out and brushed my jaw. "Why does anyone want any- thing? It's just how I react to you." His eyes rolled over me and got that smoky look in them. "Come home with me. Be with me tonight, Brynne. Let me show you.""Okay." My heart pounded so hard I was sure he could hear it. And just like that I agreed to something I knew would be life changing. For me, it would be. The instant the word left my lips I witnessed Ethan close his eyes for just the briefest flicker. And then it was all a flurry of activity and p
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