Joshua: Male Model Chronicles, #3

By Christi Snow

December is the time for romance, twinkling lights, and roaring fires in the fireplace. It’s also time for the annual Holiday Fantasy Lingerie show. This year, the show has a masculine twist with the introduction of male models who were once soldiers.

Joshua Scott Brown has made quite a name for himself as a male fitness model since he got out of the Air Force. But nothing prepares him for the media circus that occurs after he catches one of the female lingerie models during the live show, preventing her from a ten-foot fall. Now the lingerie company wants to turn that media coverage into holiday profit by pairing him up romantically with the model. Unfortunately, he only has eyes for Autumn Layne, the publicist who keeps pushing him into another woman’s arms.

The third in a series of novels inspired by Shauna Kruse’s photography and her beautiful male models.

The Male Model Chronicles.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christi Snow
• Release date: Nov 18, 2016
• ISBN: 9781540157348

Christi Snow

Bio for Christi Snow As an avid reader her entire life, Christi Snow always dreamed of writing books that brought to others the kind of joy she felt when she read. But...she never did anything about it besides jot down a few ideas and sparse scenes. When her husband retired from the Air Force, Christi decided it was time to chase her dream and she started writing. She hasn’t stopped since. With twenty-two published books in various romance genres, she’s found her passion. Now she spends her days with her laptop writing about sexy, alpha heroes and the loves of their lives. Writing both as Christi Snow and one-half of the writing duo, KB Jacobs, Christi has fulfilled her dream... filling the world with more romance and suspense. Her tagline is... Passion and adventure on the road to Happily Ever After. She loves this adventure and has truly found her tribe!

Book preview

December is the time for romance, twinkling lights, and roaring fires in the fireplace. It’s also time for the annual Holiday Fantasy Lingerie show. This year, the show has a masculine twist with the introduction of male models who were once soldiers.

Joshua Scott Brown has made quite a name for himself as a male fitness model since he got out of the Air Force. But nothing prepares him for the media circus that occurs after he catches one of the female lingerie models during the live show, preventing her from a ten-foot fall. Now the lingerie company wants to turn that media coverage into holiday profit by pairing him up romantically with the model. Unfortunately, he only has eyes for Autumn Layne, the publicist who keeps pushing him into another woman’s arms.

The third in a series of novels inspired by Shauna Kruse’s photography and her beautiful male models.

The Male Model Chronicles.

Published by Christi Snow

Edited by Mia Downing

Cover Design by JBS Graphic Designs (Joshua Scott Brown)

Cover Photo by Kruse Images & Photography (Shauna Kruse)

Cover Model: Joshua Scott Brown

Copyright © 2016 Christina Snow

ISBN (print): 1540365190

ISBN-13 (print): 978-1540365194

––––––––

All rights reserved.

Except for use in a review, no part of this book may be copied, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or by any means, without the express permission of the author.

The e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

www.christi-snow.com

Disclaimer: The Male Model Chronicles, a fictional series, built around the real-life world of Kruse Images & Photography and the gorgeous male models that Shauna Kruse gets to immortalize in her photos. The heroes are real people who also happen to be male models, but every single other thing about the series is fiction. Any similarities are purely fictional.

Table of Contents

Other Books by Christi Snow

Dedication:

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Epilogue

THANK YOU...

Kruse Images & Photography

JSB Graphic Design

About the Author:

Justin...

Lance...

Other Books by Christi Snow

Other Books by Christi Snow

Through the Veil Series

(Paranmormal Dystopian Romance)

Through the Veil (Book #1)

Allied in Flight (Book #2)

Rejecting Destiny (Book #3)

When the Mission Ends Series

(Contemporary Romantic Suspense)

Operation: Endgame (Book #1)

Operation: Endeavor (Book #2)

Before the Mission Begins (Novella #2.5)

Operation: Endurance (Book #3)

When Love Intrudes (Book #4)

Men of Snowcroft Series

(Contemporary m/m Romantic Suspense)

Snowcroft Lost  (Book #1)

Snowcroft Safehouse  (Book #2)

Intertwined Hearts (Book #3...mmf...coming soon)

Foxtrot Team Novels

(Contemporary Romantic Suspense)

The Shadow of Mudflap

The Martin Ranch Series

(Contemporary Romantic Suspense)

Right By Your Side (Book #1)

Male Model Chronicles

(Contemporary Romance)

Justin (Book #1)

Lance (Book #2)

Joshua (Book #3)

Found Series

(Contemporary m/m romance)

Found at the Library  (Book #1)

Found at the Bookstore (Book #2...coming soon)

Dedication:

To all the models

who provide wonderful inspiration

every single day.

Chapter One

He was one lucky bastard.

As Joshua Scott Brown walked into the dressing room area behind the stage, he tried not to look as overwhelmed as he felt. Jesus. There were half naked, gorgeous women everywhere.

Half-dressed models...check.

Utter chaos...check.

Anyone who looked like they were in charge...negative.

Joshua had no idea where he needed to be for this rehearsal, and he didn’t see any of the other guys, either. His instructions had been to report backstage. This was backstage, but there didn’t appear to be anyone in control of the chaos.

He glanced down at his phone to see if there was any other information in the email to help. Nada.

A man rushed by him with a rack of tiny garments flying behind him. Women chattered and hollered at one another across the big, open space. Makeup and hair techs appeared harried as they tried to get the models to sit or stand still at each of the makeup tables set randomly throughout the space. There were no screens or privacy of any sort as the models changed and were fitted.

Okay, time for plan B. One of these models had to know where he was supposed to go. He approached one who smiled and was holding an animated conversation with the fitter standing beside her. She whipped off her bra, and he froze.

Oh, good God.

Those were nipples.

Right there.

Not that he had a problem with nipples as a general rule. But shit, give a guy some warning. He veered to the right and searched faces for anyone who might be helpful, making sure to keep his eyes at shoulder level or above.

There in the corner, a girl gave him a shy smile as someone screwed around with her hair. Finally, a friendly face. But as he got closer...wow.  Underneath all that makeup, this girl couldn’t be more than fourteen or fifteen. Was it legal to have her parading around in underwear? Wasn’t she too young to even have breasts?

And how pathetic that she was the only one who noticed him.

Suck it up, Joshua.

He was starting to sound like one of the high school kids on his football team.

Hey, sorry to bother you, he said to the young girl. But do you have any idea where I’m supposed to go?

She stared at him, her smile wavering a little bit as she shrugged. No English. Her accent was thick, something European maybe. It was hard to tell.

The male hairdresser rolled his eyes but then cast a long, interest-filled gaze across Joshua’s bare chest. Suddenly, Joshua felt the need to wrap his arms around his naked skin.

The hairdresser smirked as if he could read Joshua’s mind but then gave him a disapproving headshake. You won’t get anywhere with this one, dude. She’s underage and has a momma bear hovering. You’re just lucky right now that momma is off in search of coffee, so you might want to scamper away before you get clawed.

No, no, no. I’m not trying to hit on her. Jesus. I just don’t know where to go.

Who are you? The hairdresser looked him up and down again like he was trying to decide if Joshua was something he’d scraped off the bottom of his shoe or something he wanted to lick like a lollipop.

My name is Joshua Scott Brown. I’m supposed to walk the runway with the models as an escort.

Oh yeah...one of the military dudes, right?

Joshua nodded.

You need to find Autumn Layne. She’s handling the military guys, but good luck with that. He scanned the room full of Amazons. She never, ever stays in one place, and it’s utter chaos back here today. Maybe try back by the makeup area. He waved a hand toward the opposite corner of the room.

Joshua headed in what felt like the right direction, but who the fuck knew? This place needed signs hanging from the ceiling like a grocery store. Makeup here. Bras here. Panties here. Clueless dudes here. Never had he ever thought he would feel so uncomfortable seeing so many scantily clad, female bodies. What had he gotten himself into here?

When Shauna Kruse had called him to let him know that one of her contacts in the Dallas-Fort Worth area needed models with military backgrounds for the Holiday Fantasy Lingerie Show put on by Pandora’s Fantasy, he had jumped at the opportunity. Hell, this was every guy’s wet dream, but the reality of it overwhelmed him. While it was a huge opportunity...damn, there was a lot of naked skin back here. They’d told him to arrive in jeans and combat boots only, and he felt overdressed.

A small, middle-aged, balding, be-speckled man wearing a headset rushed up to him and grabbed his arm. Joshua? he asked with a squint.

Joshua nodded.

The little man turned, pulling Joshua behind him like a recalcitrant child. I found him, he said into the tiny microphone at his mouth. We’re headed your way. Start putting them into their pairings. He’ll be there in fifteen seconds.

Sorry... Joshua began to apologize for getting lost, even if he really had no idea how he was supposed to know where to go. They entered through a hidden doorway, and the man shushed him.

Around twenty men dressed the same as him—no shirt, well-worn jeans, and combat boots—surrounded a redheaded woman. She stood above the group, so she must have been standing on some sort of pedestal. Black-framed glasses perched on her nose, and she wore a headset like the man who’d brought him in. Her deep, dusky voice rang out over the guys who stood quietly, listening to her.

Her skin appeared translucent because it was so pale, but that probably had something to do with the vibrant red of her hair. Shoulder length and choppy, the shockingly bright color couldn’t be natural. Her lips were dusty pale pink and completely natural with maybe just a hint of some sort of lip-gloss. As he watched her speak, the tip of her tongue caressed the front of her white teeth...teasing him. He had to hold in a groan.

For the first time today, Joshua had an issue with an erection, something that made no sense after the gauntlet of sexy, half-dressed models he’d just walked through. Wow, she was fantastic. Did she have a boyfriend, or would she be open for applicants? He pondered the idea and liked it. A lot.

But she was talking, and it was probably information he needed. Maybe he should pay attention.

***

Autumn Layne stood within inches of twenty of the most perfect, masculine chests known to creation and tried to remember her job. It probably wasn’t to reach out and touch, and she had to ball her hand into a fist to keep from doing exactly that. She glanced down at her iPad. Assignments. Right. 

She cleared her throat and fidgeted on top of the box someone had placed there so the escorts could all see her. At five foot eight, she wasn’t exactly short, but not a single one of these guys was less than six foot tall—a requirement for them to have even gotten the job in the first place so they didn’t look dwarfed by the statuesque lingerie models—and most of them were several inches taller than that.

Okay, guys, she hollered. This is the moment you’ve been waiting for. I have your model assignments right here. She shook a bag that held the specially made dog tags before reaching in and removing one. First up, we have Monique."

Referring to her assignments list, she located the name of the guy partnered with her. Where’s.... She squinted at her iPad. Could that be someone’s real name? Where’s Bodie?

She looked up to find a blond, surfer dude rushing over to her, overjoyed with his assignment.

I got Monique? he gasped in surprise, his wide grin showing off deep dimples. Dude, that’s so righteous. He reached forward and snatched the tags out of her hand and then began to exchange high fives with the guys around him.

Autumn raised an eyebrow. Had they pulled this guy straight out of a cheesy eighties surfer movie? He hadn’t even been alive then. One of the themes for the Lingerie Extravaganza was beach party, so she was pretty sure he’d been hired specifically for that set. But he still had to function and get through the other three themes. It would be interesting to see how the director harnessed him in those.

But that was not the part of the show she had to worry about. Thank God.

She pulled another tag. Bianca. This model was listed right at the top, so her list search didn’t take long. Joshua, come on up.

This guy had been standing in the back, so it took a moment for him to work through the bodies. She started sorting through the next assignment when he got to her. Without looking up, she thrust the dog tag toward him, ready to call out her next set of names.

But instead of taking the tag, he grabbed hold of her hand. Tingles rushed up her arm, and she glanced up in alarm to meet the most gorgeous, chocolate-brown eyes. Rich. Decadent. She suddenly felt like she’d been dipped into the most luscious, sinful, melted pool of dark chocolate. Her breath caught.

You know I already have a set of these, right? His voice sounded deep, hypnotic, but what he said didn’t make any sense.

Wh...what? She took a deep breath and tried to regain control here. Her heart rate kicked up.

Good grief. Was she having a heart attack? Why was her arm continuing to tingle where he held her?

The dog tags, he said with a wink and a nod at the metal clasped in both their hands. I can wear my own.

Oh, yeah. No. She shook her head, both to reiterate her point and to get her brain to function again. These were made especially for the show.

He examined the engraving and scowled for a moment before looking at her with a raised eyebrow.

She winced internally. Yeah, that wouldn’t go over so well with some guys. Each dog tag was specially made for its model. For Joshua, that meant his said, Property of Bianca.

Listen, she leaned into him. There’s a reason for it. A lot of people record the live broadcast of the show. From what I understand, the real dog tags have personal information on them that someone could zoom in on and see. We’re doing this to protect you. Besides, have you seen Bianca? Most guys would be thrilled to wear something that said they belonged to her. Don’t make too big a thing of this.

Right, he said slowly and then finally let go of her hand.

She felt the loss immediately, but the tingles subsided so that was a good thing, right? At least she wasn’t in imminent danger of keeling over dead in the middle of all these gorgeous men. Talk about an embarrassing epitaph. Death by testosterone.

She shook off the disconcerting exchange and refocused on her job...getting all the military guys assigned to their models so they could go through the afternoon run-through of the show. They only had two more days before the live show, and that wasn’t much time to get these guys up to speed. Everything had to go perfectly for this show. Madeline had put her in charge and she counted on her for the company. If Autumn managed to pull this off, maybe Madeline would take promoting her seriously.

***

Joshua followed yet another intern down a dark, cluttered hallway filled with miscellaneous props as she led him to his model, Bianca. They’d spent the last hour listening to the drone of how this would work for the next two days.

He glared down at the dog tags on his chest. He wondered if they came with a leash, too. Never had he felt they fit their name more than they did at this little dog and pony show. What he had been thinking by accepting this gig? He could be in the field house right now, shooting the shit with the guys while they focused on their off-season weight training.

He took a deep breath. Most guys would kill to be in his place working with supermodels for the next two days. It was a once in a lifetime chance. He just needed to relax and try to enjoy the experience. What was it they said? Don’t sweat the small stuff. The dog tags hanging on his chest were definitely one of the little things he should just let roll off his back.  

They came to a door, and Joshua tilted his head. He hadn’t really been paying that close of attention, but he thought all the models were out in the huge bowl of chaos that he’d already traipsed through a couple of times. But this door said Bianca Phillips on the outside of it. He wondered how she garnered her own private dressing room.

The intern knocked.

Come in, floated through the door.

The intern opened it, and Joshua looked inside.

Oh, hell. Now he understood. Standing before him was her. He may not have known her name, but hot damn, he knew that face and body...and had jacked off to her image more than a few times.

Heat suffused his face. Hell, every single straight guy in America had probably done the same. She’d been on the swimsuit cover four years, and she was the face of Pandora’s Fantasy. She was the reason most guys bought the expensive lingerie. They wanted their girls to look just like her in those tiny little scraps of lace.

Right now, her long black hair cascaded down the back of her short, silky robe in the signature lavender color of Pandora’s Fantasy. He met those crystal blue, clear eyes in the mirror, and she smiled at him. But she was talking to someone