Chapter Eight
The first story arrived three days later. This was connected to Payton and Hunter being together, addressing the question of how far Payton would go to land the job, which he hated reading.
“This isn’t good. You know that,” Daryl said.
They were in his office while the entire shoot was downtown. They had rented out a local restaurant for the romantic scenes. Marcel was there and would be acting opposite Payton. Hunter didn’t like it, but he couldn’t do anything about it.
“It’s the press telling tales.”
“Yeah, and those tales are partly true. Not the part about her screwing you to get a hand up, but you are in a relationship.”
They had surpassed just sex, even though neither of them mentioned it.
“What do you suggest?” Hunter asked, leaning back in his chair. He wanted to call Payton. See how she was feeling. The article had made her sound like a whore, which really bothered him. The article online had links to several kiss-and-tell stories, all of them lies. Those men couldn’t even describe her naked.
“I suggest you be seen. You show that this isn’t some dirty little secret, and that a lot more is going on that her getting the job on her back.” Daryl held his cell phone up. “How about you help your cousin out? The romantic scenes are not working for the shoot, and there’s bitchiness being directed at Payton. Go down there. Offer to stand up, and do the job no one could.”
“I’m not a model.”
“Let Elise guide you. You’ve got feelings for Payton. Let them be seen. Don’t hide them from anyone.”
“You want me to encourage this?” Hunter asked.
“What I want, Hunter, is for you to see that this looks badly on you as well. If, however, it is shown as say … a love story, then it’s not so bad. Come on. Think about it. Rich billionaire falls for rising plus-size model. It’ll be good for her, and for you.” Daryl stood, and made his way toward the door. “I already called Elise. She’s expecting you to arrive.”
“I should fire you.”
“You’ll do that when you know I’m wrong about everything. Right now, you know I’m right. Do as you’re told.”
Hunter laughed, and then made his way downtown toward the restaurant. There was a line of press outside of the building, and he was able to get through. Cameras were flashing, questions fired his way. He didn’t like it, not one bit.
This life was something he never wanted.
Rick was there waiting for him.
“You made it,” he said.
“You saw the headlines?” Hunter asked.
“I saw them. Payton saw them. I apologized to her, and I’m doing the same to you.”
Hunter held his hand up. “I don’t want to hear it. We can handle this.”
“Payton was really upset,” Rick said, making him pause. “Usually she doesn’t care what gets written, but they’ve been pulling other stories, and sounding like a whore was never something she enjoyed.”
Hunter turned to Rick. “I don’t want to hurt her.”
“Unless you have no intention of ever walking away, you’re going to hurt her.” Rick stood before him. “She likes to talk the talk. You’re the first man that has ever gotten this far.”
“What do you mean?”
“She’s had boyfriends in the past. When we were younger, she didn’t trust anyone because she was always bullied by kids. You know the kind of stuff. One guy hurt her, laughed at her, and since then, she struggles to trust easily. Still doesn’t. You’re the first guy she brought back to her place, and made part of her world.”
“She said it was all about sex.”
Rick laughed. “Take a good long look at Payton. She’s a forever kind of girl, and she tries to play in this world. The stuff that has been said to her. She’s ‘really pretty for a fat girl’. ‘Obese women are ruining the world.’ She needed someone strong enough to keep an eye on her.”
“She’s one of the most confident women I know.”
“Yeah, but even confident people constantly get chipped away at. She’s my best friend. I will take care of her.”
“Thank God, you’re here,” Elise said. “You are going to save this shoot. We have like an hour left, and I need to get this right. We have six outfits, and not enough time. Come on.”
Hunter was pulled into the restaurant. The windows were blacked out, and Payton was sitting there. The sadness on her face as she was alone really cut him deep.
Taking a seat in front of her, he took her hand. “Hey, beautiful,” he said.
“Hunter, you’re here.”
“It would seem they need an actual couple to make this romance real, and guess what, I’m right here,” he said.
“The papers—”
“Mean nothing. They’re assholes for printing shit like that. Let’s prove them wrong, shall we?”
The smile that she gave him made him fall just a little harder for her. Tears were glistening in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I can usually handle things a lot better than this.”
“Having a total bitch call you a whore, you can be granted this little stumble, but only here, only between us. Tonight when I take you to my place after we stop by for some food, you can cry on my shoulder, and we can curse all the press. We could stop by an occult shop, and buy a voodoo doll. Stick it with pins.”
She was already laughing, and the tears were gone, fading with every passing minute. This was what he wanted with Payton. To make her laugh, to be the reason she smiled.
“I think Rick would like to join in with you. He liked Francine, and now he thinks he’ll never find a woman who will accept what he does.”
Hunter looked toward Elise, who was talking with Rick. “I don’t know. He’s probably looking too far away from home.”
She followed his gaze. “Elise?”
“Those two are getting on well. We could work something out. After all the work is done, and we’re free and clear. Set it up as a date.”
“I can’t believe we’re conspiring. You with your friend, and me with mine. Well, yours is family.”
“Elise won’t mind. Ever since she was a kid she has been designing clothes. I doubt she’s even gone on a date.” He kissed her hand, and smiled at her. “How has everything been?”
“It has been hard. Marcel won’t talk to me, and I can see that he’s not sure of my motives. Britney is fine. She has said that the press always gets the story wrong. Everyone else has just been ignoring me. Antonio hasn’t though, nor Elise and Rick. Without them I would have quit.”
“You don’t strike me as a quitter.”
“Being called a whore is the final straw for me.”
He didn’t get to say anything else as they were set up to shoot. Hunter was pulled away to get changed, and he liked the feel of the suit that he’d been asked to wear. Entering the main restaurant, he took a seat, and Antonio started shouting out instructions. Payton was lapping it up, and saw that he didn’t like being told what to do.
Once there were enough shots of one dress, they moved onto the next. Each one stationed at different points around the restaurant. There was one leaning against the bar, chatting, enjoying each other’s company. Another of him up close, holding her cheek as she smiled at him.
He felt part of her world, and wondered what other men thought. As far as he was concerned, he was fucking lucky seeing as he’d be the one to take her home at night. Once the set was finished, and they were done, he waited for Payton to finish changing and he stood outside of the restaurant just as Marcel was leaving.
“Don’t come back tomorrow,” Hunter said.
“Excuse me?”
“You want to treat my woman with disrespect, that’s fine. You won’t be doing it on my watch.”
“I’m contracted for this shoot. You can’t take it away, or change it. I’ll sue.”
“In the small writing, it says that if for any reason at all that a shoot has to be changed or failed through lack of professional behavior, the contract is null and void. Today, I had to take your place. You are free to go.” The other model came out, not Britney but the other one. For some reason he thought her name was Claire. “Your contract has also been terminated.”
“We will sue and go to the press about this.”
“Do so. I hope you do. You will not work in this town again,” he said. No one hurt his woman. He would protect her, even if she didn’t think she needed it herself.
****
Over the next two weeks headlines kept appearing randomly. Some of them were about her and Hunter. Others were about her past lovers, and then of course it was leaked that she had been approached to star in a porn. Only the story was completely different. In order to become famous, the press claimed that she had been going into porn.
“This is all bullshit,” she said, sitting in Hunter’s bed. It was a Saturday morning, and Elise wanted the weekend to finish preparing for the lingerie shot. The moment that was done, production in the boutiques that Hunter owned had already begun. They were doing a large press event. Instead of doing the whole catwalk. They were opening one massive department store, where people had been invited to look, give their opinions and also win goodie bags.
Hunter had wanted to go the catwalk route, but Elise being her eclectic self, told him no.
“Which part?” he asked, dropping down beside her and offering a piece of orange.
“All of it. I can’t believe they brought up Bethany. She should have stayed out of it. Look at this as Marcel and Claire have both sold their story.” She had read in the paper how she and Hunter would leave for several minutes and come back all ruffled. Their stories were utter bullshit.
“Yeah, Marcel and Claire will be giving a very big apology I bet in the next three weeks.”
“Why?”
“Once I read the story, I got their files from Image Counts. I also rang their latest work. Told them Image Counts will no longer manage them, and gave them a long list of concerns. As far as they are concerned, they have been blacklisted in the industry.”
“You’re serious.”
“A lot of people my look like they want their lives advertised for the entire world to see, but it’s not the case. They like their privacy. Claire and Marcel brought personal business into the press. Who would trust them? Other models, photographers, agents, you name it wouldn’t want to work with them. No one wants their dirty laundry hung out to dry, no matter how many lies it is.”
She sighed. “What do we do?”
“I’ve been speaking to Rick about this, and of course Daryl. We think what would be best is giving a press conference, but one that only has reporters who are handpicked. Those I trust, and know will get the story straight.”
“Why do I feel like you’re about to give a big giant but?” She tucked some hair behind her ear. Nothing could be as bad as everything she had read over the past couple of weeks. She had told Britney the truth, and the other model had told her to not panic. The world was full of assholes. Still, she didn’t like living in the world where everyone was.
“But, before I do and organize that, I need to know if you’re all in. If this is all just sex, or if you want something more.”
She had been thinking about their relationship for some time now. She didn’t know what to say, or how best to say anything. When he wasn’t busy at work, or helping out with the shoot, they were together. Rick had even gotten used to him, and when they were at a restaurant would always order for Hunter’s arrival.
“It’s not just sex. It never has been.”
“Then why say it was?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. It just seemed right. You’re a businessman. A multi-millionaire or billionaire. I’m just me. I’ve only ever been me. The model, the plus-size model.” She moved from sitting on the bed, to straddling his lap. Sinking her fingers into his hair, she smiled down at him. “I never expected us to have sex.”
“The moment I saw your ass I knew.”
“My ass won the job.”
“When you’re on set, I’m going to be there watching, and I’m going to be thinking about all the wicked things I could do with this ass.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. Once Elise is done, I wanted to ask you something. First tell me, are we dating or not?”
She pressed her lips to his. “Yes, we’re dating, Mr. Reynolds.”
He grabbed her ass and pulled her down on his rock-hard cock. He pressed against her core, rocking back and forth. The tip of his dick bumped her clit as it slid through her slit. She closed her eyes, moaning, and arching her chest up, listening to his own groan.
“You’re teasing me on purpose.”
“Of course I am. I’ve got to tease you some way, and this is all I’ve got.” She ran her hand down his chest, and gripped his cock. He was already slick from her heat.
“I want you to meet my parents.”
She paused. “What?”
“Next week. I’ve told my mom I’m bringing a girl home. I want you to meet them.”
“What if I said it was only sex?” she asked.
“You can act all hard and tough. You and I both know you’re not. You’re not a first-class bitch, never will be, no matter how hard you try.”
She licked her lips, feeling quite … stunned. All in a good way. “No one has ever wanted me to meet their parents before.”
“Like I’ve said before. They’re all assholes, and I don’t care what anyone else thinks. This has never been about them. I told you. From the moment I first saw this ass, I wanted you, and that hasn’t changed.”
She was also aware he wanted to fuck, and told her often how he was going to drive his cock in her ass, and have her begging for more. Each time he stroked her, or said something like it, her arousal was piqued.
Hunter grabbed her, and in a few quick movements, had her on her knees as he slammed his cock deep inside her. She cried out his name, holding onto the sheet as he ran his hands all over her ass, spreading her cheeks.
“I wish you could see how sexy you look. Your pussy looks so good taking my dick. You’re all nice and wet. You love my cock, don’t you, baby?”
“Yes.”
“Good, because I love giving it to you.” He pulled out only to slam back inside again. He did this several times, riding her pussy hard. She turned her head so that she could watch him, and he was looking down at where they were joined.
He slapped her ass, making her yelp. She pushed back against him, needing him to go harder, deeper. Sliding a hand between her thighs, she began to stroke her clit.
“I’m going to fuck this pretty ass,” he said, running his fingers over her ass. Every time he stroked her anus she felt the pleasure throughout, going straight to her clit.
She gasped as he slowly began to push a single finger inside her, going past her tight ring of muscles.
At first, it was painful. Not a scary kind of pain, but a little uncomfortable. His cock continued to thrust inside her, stretching her. She didn’t stop touching her clit either, and the pain morphed into pleasure.
His finger went past her muscles, and she began to rock that inside her as well. He was getting her accustomed to his finger before adding a second one.
“Do you like that, babe?” he asked.
“Yes. Please. Don’t stop.” She was so close. Pinching her clit, she bit her lip and then soothed out the pain with a gentle caress. She loved being filled by Hunter. His scent, his strength, all of it aroused her.
She was falling in love with the man that she had believed could only be sex. Pushing those thoughts aside like she did all of her others, she focused on his cock. As her orgasm drew near, Hunter let go, pounding inside her so the sounds of slapping flesh echoed in the air.
When she finally came, she screamed his name as he growled hers. They came together in a tidal wave of release. His cock pulsed as he filled her up, and her clit seemed to hum as her orgasm flooded her. They collapsed together with Hunter on top of her, squashing her.
“Your ass is going to be the death of me,” he said, kissing her neck. He nibbled on her neck, sucking on her pulse. Her body was so sensitive, and that touch seemed to send aftershocks straight to her pussy.
“You better wash your fingers,” she said.
He burst out laughing, and even that turned her on.
She was doomed.