“Actually, I was calling because Ms. Teeg would like to offer you the job.”
My heart caught in my chest as I thought about what Solo just said and the possibilities this opportunity could give me.
“Are you serious?” I asked, with more excitement in my voice than I should have let on.
“Yes,” Solo chuckled, making my heart soar. “There are a couple of provisions, though.”
“Lay them on me,” I said, as I leaned against the wall of the hospital, not believing my good fortune.
“You will have to live in the Teeg house…”
“Done.”
“Okay, hold off for a second until I finish everything.”
“Sorry, I’m just…” I exhaled, trying to calm my racing heart. “You don’t understand how much you just made my day. I really needed this phone call,” I added somberly.
There was a short silence on the phone before Solo cleared her throat and continued, “Zia wants you to sign a contact with her exclusively; all Teeg models must sign the contract. Signing the contract gives her exclusive rights to do whatever she wants to your body to fit her style.”
“Meaning…”
“You’re already signed up to have tattoo and hair consultations, and a strict diet and exercise plan is being written up for you.”
“Wow, okay.”
The thought of someone having complete control over my physical appearance was slightly terrifying, since I wasn’t the kind of guy who put too much effort into my day to day style. To hand all rights of my appearance over to someone who was buried in the fashion industry was intimidating.
“You will also have to have a name change.”
A laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it. “I’m sorry, but what’s wrong with my name?”
“I don’t think anything is wrong with it. I like the name Adam,” Solo confessed, before clearing her throat again and morphing back into her professional pants. “All Teeg models are supposed to have interesting, panty melting names.”
“Panty melting, huh? Well, I guess I can go for that,” I said hesitantly. It seemed like there was a lot that I was going to have to compromise on in order to obtain this job.
Solo let out a deep breath and I heard her shuffle around while the soft click of a door rang through the phone, indicating that she wanted some privacy for what she was going to say next.
“Adam, I’m going to be honest with you. Zia is asking a lot of you, and for only a thousand dollar signing bonus.”
“A thousand dollars?” I nearly squeaked out. In the modeling world, a thousand dollar signing bonus was apparently chump change, according to Solo’s tone of voice, but to me, that was almost two payments for my mom’s care.
“Yes, which isn’t much, Adam. I don’t want to see you sign your life away for something so small. You don’t seem like the kind of guy who would be a model or want to be one.”
“You’re right about that,” I confessed. I didn’t think I would fit in, that I would be able to keep up with the other guys or with Zia’s demands.
Would my mom be okay with me giving up my body to hopefully keep her in the hospital long enough so she could find a new heart? I didn’t think she would be happy with me. She sure as hell wasn’t happy with me dropping out of school.
“You don’t have to take it,” Solo spoke through the phone. Her voice was comforting, and it sounded almost like she didn’t want me to take it. Maybe she felt more for me than I thought, and if I took the job, I knew there was no chance she would give me the time of day, but I wasn’t looking for a girl, I was looking for a solution.
My Aunt Sarah popped out of the hospital room and had a big smile on her face. “Your mom is awake, Adam.”
My heart surged through my chest from the hopeful look on my Aunt Sarah’s face, and at that moment, I knew what I had to do.
“I’ll take the job, Solo. Tell me what I need to do and I’ll be there.”
A disappointed sigh came through the phone as Solo said, “Meet me at the studio at five. I’ll run through the paperwork with you.”
“See you then,” I hung up and pocketed my phone after turning it on silent.
Solo may be disappointed in me, but right now, I couldn’t worry about her. I had a sick mom in a hospital bed who needed me, and I would do anything to save her.
Chapter Four
Solo
“Then let him walk off set,” Zia yelled behind her back as she walked up to my desk and placed her hands down on the white wood surface. Her eyes blazed up at me as she took a deep breath. “Can you please dock Gunner’s pay for today? He will be going home early.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said, as I started to type away on my computer.
“Don’t touch my damn paycheck,” Gunner said, as he came charging into the open office space with a towel barely wrapped around his waist. He turned to Zia and said, “You can’t expect for me to get it up when you keep the room at frigid levels. Get some heat lamps on set and we might have a different story. Look at my fucking nipples, they’re harder than marbles.”
“At least something is hard,” Zia countered, while looking at Gunner’s face with her arms crossed.
Zia could be a complete bitch, but I admired her ability to put the strong alpha males that she had to deal with every day in their place. She didn’t take crap from any of them, and not just because Teeg Model Management was her business, but it was because she knew what she wanted, when she wanted it, and she wouldn’t take crap from anyone.
Gunner tossed his hands in the air and turned to walk away. “Have it your way, Zia. Good luck finding a model with the same dick size as me. I have no problem walking off to another modeling agency.”
Pinching her nose, Zia shook her head and said, “You’re under contract, Gunner. Stop being a drama queen, sit on the damn chaise lounge, look out the window, and get your dick happy, because I need an erect shot.”
After working for Teeg Model Management for two years, I found the phrase “I need an erect shot” didn’t even faze me anymore. When I first started, I would turn a dangerous shade of red, but by now, I have seen enough of Gunner’s cock to know what to expect. It was old news to me.
“Maybe get me some good material,” Gunner shot back, as he walked toward Zia. “You can’t possibly believe I can get it up with halitosis Heather breathing down my damn neck every two seconds, checking my lighting.”
“She does not have halitosis,” Zia countered. “She just…likes to eat onions and tuna a lot.”
“Exactly. Fucking cat food. Why can’t Solo come spot me. Now that is something I can get up to,” Gunner nodded toward me, while biting down on his lips.
“Solo has to contract a new model in today, so you can stop being a priss and do your damn job.”
“Can you at least get Heather out of there and turn up the heat…and maybe take your shirt off?”
Exasperated, Zia stormed off toward the set and started demanding the staff to turn up the heat and for Heather to get everyone coffee. And, to my surprise, she undid her shirt; it wasn’t the first time, but she only did it when she was tired and wanted to get home.
Gunner turned to me and wiggled his eyebrows, “Works every time. Best damn tits in California at my staring pleasure.”
“You’re pathetic,” I responded, while shaking my head at Gunner.
He whipped his towel off, showing me every last inch of his nakedness, and then grabbed his junk. Men.
“This could be yours, Solo, if you just gave in to your feelings toward me.”
I pushed the lid of my computer down and looked up at Gunner, while placing my fist under my chin and looking him up and down.
“Gunner, if I gave into my feelings toward you, you would have your dick shoved down your throat and your fingers shoved up your ass with your balls dangling from your neck like a gobbling turkey.”
He leaned forward and said, “Fuck, I knew you were spicy.”
“Gunner!” Zia called out, ma
king him retreat, but not without licking his lips at me one last time.
Dick head.
“Okay, how do I look?” Nolly said, as she walked up beside me wearing three inch heels and a dress that barely hit mid-thigh.
“Like a slut. Nolly, where did you get that dress?”
“Barb let me borrow it.”
“Barb is borderline child size. Why did you think you could wear her clothes?”
“Because I can,” Nolly replied, while spinning around. “I just can’t lift my arms or bend over.” She leaned in and said, “I’m not wearing any underwear.”
I pulled my knit sock hat over my eyes and said, “Nolly, what have I told you about giving men the wrong impression?”
Nolly lifted my hat off my head and said, “Solo, this is Blaze, the man of my dreams. I want him to get the wrong impression. I want him to skip dinner altogether and take me back to his place. Hell, I want him to take me in the back of his car, anywhere.”
“He’s a player, Nolly. It’s written all over his face. Can’t you just drop the models and go for someone else, maybe a lawyer or even a doctor?”
“Just because you’re not into models doesn’t mean I’m not into them. I know what I’m doing, Solo. Blaze won’t break my heart.”
I just nodded my head, not wanting to play this same old game with Nolly again. I would let her have her fun, and because I love her, I would be there when Blaze devastated her and broke her heart, because from the look of his casting picture, he was in the business of breaking hearts. I knew them all too well.
“Have a good night,” Nolly called out. “Don’t wait up for me.”
“Keep your legs crossed,” I shouted back, garnering some looks from interns who were sorting G-strings. They were nosy little pukes who were only good for coffee and sorting.
“That’s it,” I heard Zia call out, as she flashed the camera. “More light to the left.”
Light cascaded over Gunner’s abs, defining them into little mini islands, but that was not what everyone in the studio was staring at. Nope, it was his massive penis standing at attention, as if it had a mind of its own. Even though I hated to admit it, Gunner had, by far, the biggest dick I’ve ever seen and at times, I couldn’t help but stare. It was beautiful. That was why Zia used him so much for erotic single shots.
“Lean back, just like that,” Zia said.
“Show me some nipple,” Gunner called out, making Zia stop. She stood up from her camera and looked around at everyone.
“Robert, please stay for lighting; everyone else, you’re dismissed.” Everyone quickly got out of the room and left the studio, knowing that they would have to come in early tomorrow morning to clear out and set up for the next photo shoot. When Zia wanted her privacy, she got it.
Once everyone was gone, Zia shook her head and said, “Solo, make sure no one comes in here.” She turned to Gunner and said, “You have one minute to give me your best shot.”
“Two, I need a good look.”
“You’re pushing your luck tonight, Gunner.”
“Come on, baby. Just give me what I want.”
With one smooth pop of her front clasp, her bra fell to the floor and she kicked it to the side. Her back was turned toward me but I knew Gunner was blessed with a full sight. Zia was a real life Barbie; she was gorgeous.
“Ahh, fuck. That’s what I’m talking about,” Gunner groaned, as his hand went to his dick and he started stroking himself harder. The pleasure glowing from Gunner was exactly what Zia wanted, because she started bouncing around him, taking pictures like a crazed woman. I had to admit it…it was an incredibly erotic scene to take in. Gunner moaned as his hand continued to pump his hard cock.
Zia set her camera down for a second, walked up to him and ran her hand up his leg. Gunner’s head flew back and his mouth dropped open. Zia quickly picked up her camera and started taking more pictures, as her hand wandered back and forth over his body. It wasn’t uncommon for her to get involved in the photo shoot. She would only do it if she really wanted a shot, but when she did, the men loved it, and she was able to capture some of the most beautifully erotic pictures I’ve ever seen.
The interaction between Zia and her models was what made her so popular. She was able to expose such vulnerability in all the models because she was a beacon to them, a trophy to win, and when she gave a little piece of herself over to them, they lost their damn minds.
Gunner’s chest heaved as Zia came behind him and leaned over so her breasts were hovering over his head, skimming his lips. The angle of the camera was the perfect shot of Gunner’s abs and erection, with his big hand gripping his cock with all its might. The pictures Zia was taking kept flashing over the computer screen set up by my desk, and I couldn’t help but admire Zia’s artistic abilities.
“Wow…that is one giant dick.”
I flew out of my seat and covered my racing heart as I looked up into Adam’s turquoise eyes.
“We got it,” Zia called out, while accepting a robe from Robert. “See you tomorrow.”
With that, she took off, with a turned-on Gunner following close behind her. I never knew what happened after the photo shoots, and I didn’t want to know. It was better that way.
“Are you going to say hi?” Adam asked, as he stood in front of my desk.
“I’m sorry, you just caught me off guard.”
“I could see that.” He rubbed the back of his neck as he looked over at the studio. “That was interesting.”
“That’s what you’re getting yourself into,” I said, as I grabbed my iPad out of my desk, my camera, and Adam’s paperwork. “Let’s go out to the garden.”
He followed in silence while I led him out to the garden and tried to ignore the heat coming off of him that was doing funny things to my lady hormones. Why this man affected me so much was beyond me. Was it really because he liked Star Wars? God, that would make me so beyond pathetic.
The garden had twinkle lights already turned on, but they weren’t quite visible yet with daylight still peeking through the canopy of trees overhanging the garden. Luckily, the sun was about to set for the crisp fall night.
Not wanting to catch a chill, I turned on one of the tall heat lamps and then sat down on the outdoor love seat, thinking Adam would sit in one of the chairs so we could go over the paperwork. But instead, he sat right next to me, turning up the heat between us with just his proximity.
“You seem agitated today,” he said, while shifting his jeans as he sat down.
“Long day,” I lied, as I tried not to think about how close Adam was and how he smelled like fucking sex on a stick and how hot he looked in the tight storm trooper shirt he was wearing.
“Aren’t you going to compliment my shirt?” he asked, noting my perusal of his shirt. Yes, I was staring at his shirt, not his chest, nope, not his bulging muscles at all.
I looked at his hopeful eyes and melted a little.
“Do you float to the dark side, Adam?”
“Doesn’t everybody, just a little?” he said, while looking at me through his eyelashes, those long damn eyelashes.
I took a deep breath and said, “I guess we do, don’t we?”
We sat there for a second, just taking each other in. This was so stupid, it was as if we’d never seen each other before or had never seen the opposite sex before. He was just a guy with a pretty face and a love for a cinematic masterpiece…with an entirely too hot of a body.
“Listen, Solo, I wanted to talk to you…”
“Let’s get down to business,” I interrupted him, not wanting to hear what he had to say, because with the way he was looking at me, with those soulful eyes and that lonesome dimple, I knew he was going to say something that was going to mess with my mind, and I didn’t need that complication. Adam was with Teeg Models now, which meant he was completely off limits.
“Here is your contract,” I handed it over to him as I started flipping through my iPad. You need to sign pages, three, six, and eight, and i
nitial on two and four. There are sticky notes in there for you to take a look at. I’m going to need to know your banking information for direct deposit and your current address. After we sign everything and run through some test shots, I’ll get you the keys to your new dwelling and take you over there.”
“Hey, slow down for a second,” Adam said, grabbing my arm, searing his touch into my skin. “Did I do something wrong? I feel like you’re being cold toward me.”
“Adam, I’m just doing my job,” I replied with a sigh.
His eyes searched mine, and when he realized I wasn’t going to crack, that I had already erected my wall, he somberly nodded and leaned back into the couch as he meticulously went through his contract, reading every single line of it. It was rare to see someone read a contract so intently, especially when it came to the models. They usually just wanted the money and the house, but not Adam, he was different. There was something about him that was genuine, but also dark, like he had been through too much for someone so young.
While he was reading through the nine page contract, I started playing Mahjong Tiles on my iPad to keep myself busy. My dads taught me the game when I was young and I had been addicted ever since. I used to play on the computer, but now that the touch screen had become the be-all and end-all of electronics, it upped the fun factor of Mahjong on the iPad. For some reason, pressing my finger against the screen to eliminate matching tiles was so much more thrilling than using a mouse.
“I prefer the cat layout over the dragon; I find it more challenging,” Adam said, right next to my ear as he looked over my shoulder. “Ooh, Spring and Summer,” he reached over and eliminated two tiles by reaching around my body and touching my iPad. His chest pressed against my back, and I could feel my body wanting to melt into his, just to test out how it might feel to be held by him.
My head turned toward his and I said, “You play Mahjong Tiles?”
“Hell yeah. You’re looking at the reigning champ in my family. I Mahjong like no one’s business.”
Our noses were practically touching, we were so close, too close. His breath tickled my skin and his eyes bored holes into mine as those long lashes of his fluttered up and down.