Kingston and Phoenix have given up…
Kingston
“King” James is THE male supermodel.
He’s at the top of his career, the most sought after in his
business. Money and fame come easy,
women even easier, and yet he has grown bored of his life. His playboy ways have deteriorated his
respect for the opposite sex—not to mention question their sanity. Until he meets her—the stunning, strong,
smart-mouthed, and witty Phoenix. She’s everything he thought never
existed…
Women
are relentless in their pursuit at keeping me around for more than one night. The majority of them are predictable, insane,
self-deprecating hustlers. A casual encounter with me will earn you nothing
more than a satisfied smile and a taxi home.
They know what they’re getting into—I don’t make any assurances at the
possibility of anything more. I may be a
lot of things, but I don’t make promises I don’t keep. They don’t want me. The illusion of me is what they truly
desire. The supermodel. The infamous playboy. The pretty face. Their fifteen minutes of fame. But what about her? Is she like everyone else?
Everyone wants. What about what I want?
Phoenix
Ryan has endured more pain than she will ever admit. Every day is a reminder of that heartache, of
all the agony that poisons her soul. She
will go to any length to appear strong, including convincing herself that she’s
actually living—until she encounters him.
Kingston plows into her life cracking her façade into fragments that she
cannot possibly glue back together again.
No matter how hard she struggles to remain indifferent to him she can’t
stop how her body burns for him. He’s everything she can’t stand—arrogant,
egotistical, and presumptuous.
His mouthwatering scent of primal male invades my
senses. He’s seduction, sex, speed,
adrenaline, and chocolate—just pure deliciousness. The velvety smooth baritone of his voice
captivates my entire body. It’s at this
moment that the realization dawns on me—he’s going to wreck me. What
will be left of me when he inevitably goes?
As
their lives relentlessly cross will they give in? Will they Relinquish?
Prologue
“Hello, and thank you for tuning in
to join us. We have a very special guest
on the show with us tonight, a man that women want to be with, a man that men
want to be like, and a man that has overcome great opposition. Tonight I have the pleasure to say that we
are joined by the male supermodel of our time, Mr. Kingston James. “
Thunderous
applause and catcalls from the audience.
Kingston
smiles and crosses his foot to his other knee revealing his bare ankles between
his charcoal dress slacks and black leather loafers.
“Mr.
James—“
“King”
Kingston interrupts.
“My
apologies. King, thank you for taking
the time to join us this evening.”
“Pleasure,
thank you for having me.”
“It’s
been quite a year for you.”
“Yes,
you could definitely say that.” Kingston
says smiling.
“Let’s
take a moment and look back on the year.
Wading into you work history accomplishments—seventeen magazine covers,
twelve fashion editorials, a billboard in Times Square. Balenciaga, Dolce, Givenchy, Ray-ban,
Barneys, Armani, Guess, Diesel, Calvin Klein, the list goes on and on. How lucky you must feel to have been given
those opportunities to work with such influential designers.”
Clapping and cheering from the
audience.
“Yes,
I am thankful. However, I was not given
anything—I earned every bit of those
opportunities.” Kingston deadpans.
“Well,
no one would argue that statement.” He
says with nervous laughter.
“One
would hope not.” Kingston responds
cheekily.
Apprehensively
shuffling his cue cards, “You started in this business as a young boy, what
made you want to be a model at such a young age?”
“In
the beginning it was just something fun to do on the side, and then when people
starting showing an interest in me it developed into the thought that I could
actually make a living off of doing this.”
“So
earning money was important for you at that time?”
“Of
course. Look, it’s no secret that I was
the son of a young mom with twin boys to raise on her own. Money was tight, and if there was an
opportunity to make honest money that opportunity was pursued, end of.”
“Understandable. So, would you say that a lot of your
childhood was lost by working, and creating such a successful career starting
so early in life?”
“I
would say that everyone’s childhood is remarkably different for various reasons
and whatever outside influences that mold and shape it. Mine was molded by my career and because of
that career I am able to be here with you today.”
“And
how happy we are to have you here.”
“Ohh,
come on now.” Kingston mockingly laughs
while shaking his head from side to side.
“Okay
okay, I won’t try to say that I’d be a little bit happier if you were
Gisele.”
“Maybe
I can give her a call for you, but you do know she’s married now right? With a couple of kids too.” Kingston winks and uncrosses his legs while
slouching further back into his chair.
“Now
you’re going to get me in trouble.” He
says with nervous laughter.
“Wouldn’t
be the first time I was accused of that!”
Kingston smiles.
The crowd breaks out in roaring
laughter.
“I
know! I can read that history on these
cards here in my hand.”
“Well,
don’t believe everything you read.”
Kingston replies stonily.
“Fair
enough, how about we go through some of the examples?”
“Shoot.”
“Notorious
bad boy?” He questions.
“What
does that even mean?” Kingston asks
while laughing. “Obviously I know what
notorious means, but bad boy? I didn’t
break any laws, I’ve never been to jail.
I don’t know, that one just always puzzles me.”
“I
think they are referring to the fact that you don’t apologize for your
lifestyle choices.”
“Why
should I? It’s my life, I’ll do what I
want how I want. It’s not up to anyone
else to tell me how to live my life or make decisions for me.” King retorts.
“That’s
a very confident response, and I agree that it’s your life, but don’t you think
that how you treat others, women for example, are what make the public view you
as a bad boy?”
“And
how do I treat women? Please enlighten
me.” King says as he crosses his leg and
places his elbow on the armrest of his chair resting his head in his hand.
“Well
Mr. –“
“King.”
“Yes—well,
King, it’s been shown repeatedly in tabloids and the press that you have a
different woman on your arm almost every time you’re photographed.”
“And
that means what exactly?” King asks
snidely.
Tugging
on his shirt collar while a bead of sweat rolls from his temple, “I would think
that those would say that parading that many different women around in front of
the cameras through the years would be an example of womanizing ways.”
“Hmm. Define womanizing.” King asks.
“Uh,
let’s see here, womanizing is the act of having numerous relationships with
many women, going from one woman to the next, no real moral dilemma with using
women for sexual reasons.”
“And
what makes you think that I’m having relationships with them, or even sexual
relationships?”
“Well,
you are often photographed and filmed in compromising positions with these
ladies.”
“That
still doesn’t prove that I’m in a relationship, or that we have a sexual
relationship. At least last I checked I
haven’t ever had sex in front of a camera.”
“I’m
not insinuating—“
“Let
me ask you this, what does it say about these women who are so eager to be by
my side if I’m the big bad wolf? What
are they getting out of it if I’m a known user?” Kingston questions.
“I
don’t know, maybe the chance to be with an idolized celebrity? A taste of your life?”
“And
out of those two examples where am I cared for in a fashion that a woman would
feel wronged by my not having a commitment to her? Relationships are built on love and trust,
not imagination and pseudo-fame. So, to
repeat, how am I the person doing wrong?”
Kingston inquires.
“I’m
not saying that you’re doing wrong per say—“
“Bad
boy connotates acting in a manner that is not socially acceptable. I would beg to differ that actions that are
not acceptable are usually deemed wrong.”
Kingston interrupts.
“So
you would say that you are viewed wrongly?”
“I
would say that in order to make a valid statement one would have to actually
educate him or herself on the real situation, not tabloid drama, or perceived
reputations.” King explains.
“Dually
noted, you bring up good points.
However, with that being said, you make no apology about living up to
the bad boy reputation.”
“I
have no desire to try to change people’s ignorant opinions of me, that’s not my
job.”
“And
what is your job?”
“To
live my life, work, and be the person I am.”
King exclaims.
“That
proses the question of who are you?”
“Simply
a man trying to get through the day.”
King responds.
“Lately
‘Your day’ as you describe it isn’t in front of the tabloid gossip, you seem to
have taken a different approach to life.”
“Yes,
I have different priorities now.”
“And
what caused you to have these new priorities?”
Letting
out a laugh Kingston responds, “It’s not what, but who…”
SE Dean
lives in the Midwest with her husband, two small children, and their
bed-hogging dog Harley. She works as a
nurse and is currently striving towards furthering her education. Her love of romance novels lead her to
writing, and she has plans for many more books in the future.
If SE
is not working, studying, or being the super-hero mom (a title given to her by
her oldest child, such a sweetie isn’t he?), you can often find her gulping
down her beloved Starbucks, glued to her kindle reading a saucy book, offering
free sarcastic comments, cheering on her favored basketball team, or watching
movies.
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