Atlantis

ATLAINTIS

JESSICA ROSBERG

This is a work of fiction. Names, placed characters, and events are fictitious in every regard. Any similarities to actual events and persons are purely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement for the use of these terms.

Atlantis. Copyright ©2013 by Jessica Rosberg All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permissions of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Chapter One

             
"That's it. We've got all we need," said the photographer. "Thanks, ladies, you've been great."

             
Sloane blew out a breath and looked toward her sister, Candice, who looked just as exhausted as Sloane felt. This particular swimsuit shoot had been brutal. It was an on-location shoot, meaning they weren't in a studio. The location was the Atlantis Bahamas, which was absolutely beautiful, but the weather had been very uncooperative. What should've taken two days had taken nine. The first three days it had rained non-stop. The following day was wasted because the resort had to clean up the area they were using for the shoot. Finally, on the fifth day, they were able to start shooting. Unfortunately, it was so damn hot, they spent more time in hair and makeup than they did in front of the camera.

             
"Thank God that's over," Candice said as they made their way back to their rooms.

             
"No kidding," Sloane agreed with a nod. "We should tell Mom that we don't want to do the on-location shoots anymore."

             
Candice rolled her eyes. "Yeah, like that'll happen. You know how she is."

             
She was right, Sloane thought. Their mom, and business manager, Geraldine Parker, never listened to them. Mom didn't care what they wanted. All she seemed to care about was the notoriety and the money. When Geraldine had found out that this shoot was going to take a week longer than planned, she was furious, complaining about how she would have to reschedule two other shoots.

             
"I just can't wait to get home," Candice said, interrupting Sloane's thoughts. "I'm so far behind in my classes. Finals are coming up and I really need to study."

             
"Don't forget we've got to attend the opening of that new nightclub, Gyration, when we get home."

             
Candice groaned. Sloane smirked. Even though they were very close, and there was only a two year age difference between them, they were polar opposites. Candice was a good girl who went to college and got good grades; she took her modeling career seriously and worked hard at it. She preferred to spend a quiet evening at home with a boyfriend. Sloane, on the other hand, preferred to have fun and party with her friends. The differences probably had a lot to do with the fact that Candice was the older sister. 

             
Personally, Sloane was really looking forward to the nightclub opening. She'd been traveling for three weeks straight, and she wanted nothing more than to take a night off and hang out with her friends and her boyfriend, Nate. God, how she missed him. She missed the way he looked at her with his deep brown eyes; the way he could light her insides on fire with a simple wink; the way he could steal her breath and make her dizzy with a single kiss. And the orgasms he could give her…she was getting hot just thinking about it. They'd only been dating for less than six months, and with as much as she travelled; it seemed like a lot less. They were still in that honeymoon phase of their relationship where they couldn't get enough of each other. Everything was still new and exciting.

             
They arrived at their rooms and quickly changed out of their swimsuits. Sloane put on the new Chanel dress and Manolo boots she'd bought yesterday. Candice wore Prada from head to toe—it was her favorite.

             
"What I wouldn't give to just put on a pair of flip flops and a Sean John sweat suit," Candice complained.

             
That did sound heavenly. But, unless they were at home, in their rooms, they weren't allowed to wear anything but the most expensive, well known designers. They had an image to uphold, and the paparazzi were always looking for an opportunity to get a bad shot of them. They were like rabid dogs. It was awful!

             
"Excuse me?" There was a soft knock on the door. It was the bellhop. "Your car has arrived to take you to the airstrip."

             
"Thank you," Sloane replied. She looked around the room one last time to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything, which she was known to do. They'd packed their bags this morning before the shoot and had them loaded onto the plane. "Ready?" she asked her sister.

             
"Yes, let's get out of here."

             
The ride to the airstrip was made in silence. It was commonplace for the girls to be lost in their own thoughts after a shoot, especially a difficult one. They boarded their private jet and still didn't speak until they were in the air on their way back to New York. Candice hadn't wasted any time digging out her books and burying her nose in them. She had finals next week and she was stressing out over them.

             
Sloane got out her Blackberry and sent a mass text to her friends letting them know she was headed home and to find out who was going to the grand opening tonight. The idea of spending a night with her friends was enough to put a smile on her face. Next, she sent a text to her boyfriend, Nate telling him that she missed him and couldn't wait to see him. She also invited him to spend the night with her. He responded quickly saying he missed her, too, and that wild horses couldn't keep him out of her bed tonight. She smiled.

             
"Do you ever get tired of this?" Sloane asked, her smile fading.

             
"Get tired of what?" Candice asked, not looking up from her book.

             
"Modeling, traveling, being away from home and our friends?"

             
"I don't know." Candice shrugged. "Sometimes, I guess, but what would we do if we didn't model?"

             
"Yeah, you're right." Sloane's Blackberry dinged to alert her to an incoming text message. It was from Jason, her gay best friend.
After party at my condo. U bring the hotties ;)
Sloane chuckled. Jason always threw the best after parties, and she knew it was going to be an all-nighter.  Perfect! That's exactly what she needed to get out of this funk she was in. Sloane reclined in her seat and closed her eyes. It was a long flight home. She might as well get some sleep.

Chapter Two

             
"Hey! Be careful with those," Candice said giving the doorman a dirty look. Didn't he realize that was expensive Louis Vuitton luggage he was banging around? For such an upscale, expensive apartment building the help wasn't very helpful.

             
"Sorry, miss," he said.

             
Candice led the way inside and up to her penthouse apartment. She unlocked the door and stepped over the threshold. The unique scents of home filled her nostrils and she momentarily closed her eyes. It felt good to be home. "Just leave those there," she said to the doorman, nodding toward the corner.

             
He placed her luggage where she indicated, and she gave him a generous tip. Once he left, she smiled and walked around her apartment. It seemed like forever since she'd been home. She missed her stuff and her own space. Living out of a suitcase really sucked. Kicking off her shoes, she went to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of wine. She took a sip and trailed her fingers along the black marble countertop as she made her way toward the spacious living room. Plush green Berber carpet cushioned her weary feet.

             
Candice sat down on her couch, which faced floor to ceiling windows overlooking the city skyline. The view at night when the city was lit up was breathtaking. It was the reason she'd rented this particular apartment. For a single woman, a three bedroom two bath apartment was a little too big, but she'd fallen in love with the view and she knew she had to have it.

             
Sloane lived in a penthouse apartment, too, but she lived in a different building two blocks away. They'd contemplated living together, but with as much time as they spent together traveling and modeling, they each needed their own space. Mom hadn't been too happy with the idea of paying rent on two separate apartments, but the girls had held their ground on the point and eventually, Mom gave in. It had been a small victory for them, but a victory nonetheless. Candice finished her wine and set the glass on the coffee table. She wanted nothing more than to catch a few hours of sleep, but she couldn't. The grand opening was in less than two hours. She had to shower and dress. 

*****

              "Hello? Candice? Are you home?"

             
"Yeah, coming!" she shouted. It was Sloane and their friends, Jason, Ella, Shandra, and Liam. Candice went to the foyer and greeted each of them with a hug. It had been so long since she'd seen her friends. Jason and Liam were a couple; Jason was Sloane's best friend; and Shandra was Candice's best friend. Ella was kind of the odd one out. It was great to see them again. "How are you guys?"

             
"Ready to party," Ella said with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. She reached into her purse and pulled out a tiny plastic baggie filled with a white powder like substance: cocaine. "Want some?"

             
Candice rolled her eyes. Ella was such a party girl, into drugs and booze and wild sex with random men. With the way she partied, one would think that she was a Hollywood starlet, when in reality she was a wannabe who surrounded herself with real stars in the hopes that she would get discovered. Candice tolerated her because Sloane seemed to like hanging out with her.

             
"No, you know we don't do that stuff, Ella," Sloane said with a dismissive laugh.

             
"Suit yourself." Ella shrugged.

             
"Where's Nate?" Candice looked around her apartment, not seeing her sister's boyfriend anywhere.

             
"In the car complaining that the car sucks." Sloane laughed again. "C'mon, let's go, I don't want to be late."

             
Candice looped her arm through Shandra's and led the group downstairs. The paparazzi was waiting for them when they arrived, the constant flash of their cameras blinded her as she walked inside. She'd think she'd be used to it by now, but she wasn't, and she wondered if she ever would.

             
Once inside, they were ushered to a private VIP table in the corner. It was a plush red and black leather booth with a high back. An ornate light fixture hung low over the glass table top, giving it a cozy, personal feel despite being in a loud, crowded night club. They had their own personal bartender with a rolling bar filled with the most expensive liquors, wines, and mixers.

             
"I like this place already," Sloane said with a smile as she looked around. No sooner than they got their drinks, a photographer approached. He had the decency to ask if it was okay before he took their picture, which was a rarity among the paparazzi. The group posed for a picture, and then proceeded to drink.

             
"I think this is going to be our new hangout," Ella said. "And I love this music."

             
Candice alternated between dancing and drinking. The night flew by and before she knew it, it was nearing midnight. She found her sister and pulled her aside. "I'm going to head home."

             
Sloane pouted. "What? It's early. Why are you leaving?"

             
"I'm tired," Candice shouted over the music. "And I need to study."

             
"You're such a party pooper," Sloane said, giving Candice a hug. "But I understand. I'm going to stay, though, you don't mind, do you?"

             
"No." Candice shook her head. "Of course not. Have fun. I'll see you at Mom's for brunch tomorrow?"

             
"Yeah. Be safe, sis."

             
Sloane stood and watched until her sister disappeared from sight. Then she weaved her way through the crowd until she found Nate. She slipped her arms around his waist and pulled him close. "Hey," she said, loving the feel of his hard, muscular body beneath her hands.

             
Nate smiled. "Hey yourself." He lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers.

Sloane closed her eyes and melted into his kiss. Three weeks in between kisses, caresses, hugs—it was far too long. She was a twenty two year old woman with needs; needs that Nate was very skilled in fulfilling. "Mmm," she moaned, pulling away from his kiss, but not out of his arms.

"I've missed you," he whispered, nibbling on her earlobe. "What do you say we get out of here?"

"Not yet." She leaned into him to let him know that she liked what he was doing. "I want to stay a little longer."

He groaned. "It's been so long, baby, and who knows when you'll have to leave again. Or how long you'll be gone. I want you all to myself."

"And you will…later, I promise." Sloane ran her hand down his chest and stomach, stopping only once she reached his crotch. She massaged him, eliciting more groans from him.

"You're killing me, Sloane." He pushed his hips toward her, pressing his erection into her hand.

"I'll make it worth your while," she said seductively. Touching him like she was, knowing he was hard, aroused her. For a brief moment she considered leaving with him right now, but she really wanted to stay. Plus, if she had a bit more to drink, the sex would be ten times better. It always was when they drank together.

"I'm going to hold you to that," Nate said.

"I hope you do." She winked, grabbed his hand, and led him onto the dance floor.