by Nikki Rayne
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh. But both of us know that a relationship between us would never work.”
“Why not?”
She took a deep sip from her glass of champagne and held the bubbles in her mouth for a few moments as if contemplating her answer. “For a start, you’re the kind of man who needs to protect. It’s inbuilt. I’m an alpha female. You’re an alpha male. That’s an explosive combination. There isn’t a submissive bone in my body. I never back down from anything, and I never give up control.”
“Do you know what I think?”
A smile yanked up the corners of her lips. “Enlighten me, oh wise one.”
“I think you’re full of shit.” My voice sounded raspy like I’d gargled with some old razor blades. “I think you’re waiting for the right man to come along. A man who isn’t afraid to take that control from you, but who’s strong enough to let you be yourself. I also think that for way too long, you’ve had to fight every step of the way for respect. What you need is someone you can relax with. Someone you can let go with. Someone you don’t have to act tough and in-control twenty-four-seven with. Let down your shields, Alex. Let me in.”
Her hands trembled so much that champagne sloshed over the rim. I reached out and took the glass from her hand and set it on the grass beside mine.
“I’m right, aren’t I?”
She snort laughed. “You’re being ridiculous.”
“Am I?” I scooted closer. “Look at me, Alex. Look me in the eye and tell me you don’t dream about someone else taking control for a while.”
Her eyes flickered, and she tried to avert her gaze, but I reached out and cupped her chin, forcing her to look at me.
“Tell me I’m right,” I demanded.
Her shoulders slumped, and she shrugged herself away. “I’m afraid of—”
“Afraid of what,” I pushed.
“Of giving in.” Thick emotion filled her words. “Of falling in love.” She rolled her lips between her teeth, and I saw she was shutting down, but I wouldn’t allow that to happen.
“What’s wrong with falling in love? Love is the greatest feeling in the world.” I ran the edge of my thumb along her forearm, comforting her and encouraging her to open up. “Tell me.”
“I don’t want to get hurt. Simple as that. I’m scared of giving my trust and my heart to someone and then having them trample all over me. I don’t want to ever feel weak or like I don’t matter.” We sat in silence, and I resisted the urge to say something. After a few seconds, Alex cleared her throat. “But it would be nice not to hold it all inside. For once, it would be lovely to be taken care of.”
I took her face between my hands. “Let me be that person. For the rest of today, forget about the outside world and your responsibilities. It’s just you and me in a fairy tale bubble.”
She hesitated for several beats. “This can only be a fling and nothing more. I can’t risk… I just can’t.”
“I won’t hurt you.” I leaned my forehead against hers. Part of me wished she still acted like she couldn’t stand me. That she hadn’t come to the cottage with me. If she’d stayed away, then maybe I would’ve eventually lost interest and moved on. But now, I wasn’t capable of stopping what was about to happen.
“I want you, Brock. I want this, but remember what I said, it’s just a fling. Tell me you understand that.”
“I understand,” I murmured. “Love is the furthest thing from my mind.”
“I’m glad we’re on the same page.”
My self-control snapped. Unable to wait, I ripped the clothes from her body then tore mine off. To show her that nothing about this would be slow and gentle, I inserted a knee between her thighs and spread her wide. Weeks of raw need raged inside of me, demanding escape.
“Touch me everywhere,” Alex whispered. Her back arched, and small whimpering noises came from her throat. “Take full control.”
If that was what she wanted, then that was what I would give. Without waiting, I thrust two fingers inside her slick opening. She gave a quick gasp of shock that turned into a husky groan.
She was so fucking tight.
So fucking wet.
Seeing her like this with her head thrown back, her breasts spilling to the side, and her legs wide and waiting left me teetering on the edge.
“Take me now, Brock. I don’t want to wait any longer.”
“You and me both.”
I needed to possess every inch of her and fast. I slid my fingers from her and curled my palm around the base of my cock.
Alex spread her legs wider, inviting me in. I traced the flared dripping head up and down her folds. To tease her, I tapped the tip around her swollen clit. The sweet, gasping sounds coming from her were music to my ears.
Positioning myself, I eased inside, studying her face, loving the way her pupils dilated the deeper I went.
Desire flushed Alex’s cheeks, her chest, her nipples. Everything about this felt right. Everything about this felt like we were supposed to be together.
In an effort to calm the fuck down, I stilled, but she moaned and writhed impatiently. She was as frustrated as I was.
To show me what she wanted, she wrapped her legs around my hips and dug her heels into my ass.
I thrust hard and without care, disappearing inside her. Dizziness engulfed me, and the world swam in front of my eyes. I pushed deeper still, burying my dick to the hilt.
Her inner muscles clamped down like a velvet-covered vice contracting around me. Every muscle in my body tensed, and it took all the control I possessed not to slam into her, not to take my own pleasure without care for hers.
Her fingernails bit into my biceps so hard they would leave crescent-shaped marks, but I didn’t care. Alex could scratch and mark me all she wanted.
Needing more, I curled my hands beneath her ass and lifted her until she straddled me. I slammed her up and down, up and down. Startled, gasping breaths whooshed out, and her face contorted in beautiful concentration.
“Do you like when I fuck you hard?”
“God, yes. Harder.”
I dreamed of seeing her lose control like this, but I never imagined it would feel this intense or that I would feel so desperate.
If she wanted hard, I would give her hard. I flipped her over until she was on her hands and knees in front of me, and when she was positioned the way I wanted, I slammed into her.
I gathered her hair in a ponytail and yanked her head back until she cried out my name. My palm came down on her ass, leaving my handprint behind. She rammed back. Again and again and again, I smacked her ass.
She brought a hand between her thighs and frantically massaged her clit. Reaching around, I placed my hand on top of hers, adding to the pressure, to her pleasure. I drove into her, showing no mercy.
There were no other sounds in the garden except for the sweet noise of skin slapping skin—no birds, no wind rustling through the trees.
Her back bowed, and shudders rippled down her spine. From the way she moved and from the way her channel tightened, she was seconds away. Her release would be a powerful one.
The movements of her fingers became jerky, unfocused. Her moans feral and husky.
I removed my hand from between her legs, and on instinct, tapped the tip of my thumb against the rosette of her ass.
That was all it took to send her over.
She spasmed around me, shaking, and screaming my name. The strength of her climax sent me over the edge along with her, and my cum shot into her depths.
Finally, Alex had shown who she was.
Finally, Alex was mine.
I wanted more.
I wanted it all.
I wanted everything.
Chapter 8 - Alex
Three months later…
The past few months had been a whirlwind of traveling and nights filled with crazy, breathless sex.
After leaving Ireland, we relocated to Switzerland, then traveled to India, and for the last few weeks, New
York.
Brock and I shared our deepest secrets, all of our hopes and dreams. I told him about my mother and my loveless upbringing, and he told me about growing up in a trailer. There had been tough times financially, but his parents did all they could to make his childhood a happy one and had always supported his dreams.
The L-word was something I tried not to think about. As much as I wanted to fight my feelings, I’d fallen hard, but every day, I chanted, “This is just a fling. This is just a fling.”
At night, either I snuck into his room, or he snuck into mine. If anyone suspected we were together, they said nothing, but I occasionally noticed raised eyebrows whenever people saw us together.
All professionalism had flown out of the window. I was no longer Brock’s babysitter, but I wasn’t his girlfriend either. I didn’t consider myself his fuck buddy. If I had to describe myself as anything, I was a friend with benefits—lots of sweaty, noisy, orgasm-filled benefits.
Not once since our time at the cottage had Brock stepped out of line or questioned what I asked him to do for work. I couldn’t say I’d tamed him—someone like Brock could never and would never be tamed. Besides, his rough edges and unpredictability left him irresistible.
On our way to the hotel in the SUV, his head flopped back against the headrest. We’d been on set for eighteen punishing hours, and the need for sleep weighed heavily on our bones. Between takes, he’d grabbed a few cat naps. More than once, he’d asked me to go back to the R.V. with him, but I’d declined. He needed to rest.
Ford Linder had vanished, and no one knew where he’d gone. Noah and Anton had told the cast and crew not to worry, that they were on top of it. His disappearance meant the script had to be rewritten overnight, and that meant more work for Brock.
He reached out and placed a hand on my knee. “Ready to tuck me in?”
I shook my head. “You’re going to your room. I’m going to mine. You have another long day coming.”
“Spoilsport.” The movie star sounded dog-tired. “When this is over, we’re going to go back to the cottage in Wicklow, and we’re never leaving.”
I smiled softly. “As delightful as that sounds, I have a business to run in London. Why don’t you come back with me for a while? I could show you all of my favorite places.”
“Maybe.”
My heart deflated, and I couldn’t help but feel sad at his lack of enthusiasm. I had hoped he would have said yes. I hadn’t been expecting maybe.
His reply told me that after this movie wrapped, my time with him would officially be over. That was what I’d wanted, wasn’t it? Neither of us had discussed what would happen when the movie wrapped, but since we’d agreed what we had was just a fling, we would go our separate ways.
Back at the hotel, Brock walked me to my room and pressed a fleeting kiss against my forehead. “Are you sure I can’t persuade you to let me into your room?” He kissed one cheek, followed by the other before moving to my lips. “We could have some nice lazy sex before falling asleep.”
I drew in a shuddering sigh. “You’re the worst. If Noah knew what was going on between us, he would fire me in a heartbeat.” I laced my fingers between Brock’s and opened the door. “Sleep and nothing else.”
He walked me backward. “Sleep is overrated.”
Lazily, we undressed each other. Our hands drifted over each other’s bodies. Sighs puffed from our lips.
Deep blue and purple bruises from the past few days decorated Brock’s body in patches.
“Are you sore?” I asked, brushing my fingers around a bruise covering his ribcage.
“I’ll live.”
“I promise I’ll be gentle.” I pressed my hands against his chest and eased him onto the mattress. “Stay right there.”
“Believe me, baby, I don’t have the energy to go anywhere.”
I rummaged around my toiletries in the bathroom and grabbed the oil I used to moisturize my skin after showering. When I went back into the bedroom, Brock’s lips were slightly open, and his chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm.
“Are you sleeping?” I whispered.
“No,” came his murmured reply. “I was waiting for you.”
“Just relax and enjoy every single second.”
I spritzed some oil onto my hand and rubbed my palms together. Starting at his chest, I used long, light strokes all over his stiff muscles.
“Your hands feel like heaven. If I’d known you could massage, I’d have had you do this every day.”
“Then it wouldn’t be special.” I worked my way up and down his limbs, paying special attention to his biceps and legs. “Turn around. I want to rub your back and bum.”
He flipped around, and I admired the view. I spritzed more oil over my palms and worked up and down, kneading, rolling, and wringing his overworked muscles. I positioned myself by his thighs while I kneaded his bum, thoroughly enjoying every second.
An appreciative groan tumbled from his lips.
“You like that?”
“Who would have thought having your ass massaged could feel this good?”
I continued to massage and knead, loving how pliant his body became under my touch.
He flipped back over. My eyes wandered down to his erection, and I grinned. “Don’t move. Let me do all the work.” He wasn’t the only one turned on. Massaging him had left me soaked and throbbing.
“What kind of lazy, selfish jerk would that make me?”
“A tired one.” I feathered my fingertips around his nipples and down the center of his body to the flared head of his cock. “Let me do this for you.”
“I’m all yours.” When Brock relaxed against the mattress, a surge of pure power and excitement rippled through me.
Straddling him, I grabbed the base of his dick and lowered myself down until we both moaned. Sliding onto him would always be the most delicious sensation in the world, and the feel of him opening me up would forever feel like our first time together.
His eyes blazed, filled with desire. I braced my hands on either side of his stomach, and with punishing slowness, I lifted up and down, up and down. My body’s need to come urged me to ride him faster and harder, but as difficult as it was to ignore my instincts, I kept the rhythm smooth and steady.
I grabbed my breasts and flicked the edge of my thumbs across my nipples. Brock’s dick twitched inside me. From everything we’d experienced together over the past few weeks, I knew he liked seeing me touch and pleasure myself. If he wanted a show, I would give him one.
With a wicked smile, I lifted a breast to my mouth and swirled my tongue over the distended bud.
“I’m going to fucking lose it if you’re not careful. I don’t want to come yet.” His deep, husky voice sent ripples through me.
“Let’s see how long you can hold on.” I cupped both breasts in my hands and lifted them to my lips. His eyes zeroed in on my actions. I took one nipple and then the other into my mouth, sucking greedily.
“Fuck. You’re killing me.”
Reaching up, he death-gripped my hips. I lowered my hands and placed them on his. “Nuh-uh. Let me be in complete control.” I grinned, feeling as sexy as hell. “You’re my submissive, and you have to do everything I ask. Give up control, Brock. Let me do this.” Leaning down, I pinned his hands to the mattress. “Stay still, or I won’t allow you to come.”
“Yes, ma’am.” His wicked smile sent my heart racing.
I sat up and reached between my folds, and while locking eyes with him, spread myself wide and flicked my clit back and forth. My climax drew closer. My muscles tensed, and powerful waves rolled over me until I couldn’t hold on.
My orgasm crashed through me, shaking me to the core. My inner muscles clamped down, and I called out his name, riding him until my spasms lessened.
Breathlessly, I flopped forward, but I still had more to give and more to do. I still wasn’t going to give him the power. I pressed my lips to his and kissed him. Tongues lashing, Teeth clashing.
“Alex,” Brock groaned.
My hips moved back and forth. His breathing picked up speed and became harsh and raspy.
The base of his cock hit off my clit, and at the same time, we lost it, his shaft throbbing, his hot cum pulsing inside of me.
How was I ever going to walk away from him?
This wasn’t just a fling.
It was more.
It was everything.
Chapter 9 - Brock
I lifted a cold beer to my lips and took a deep pull. From my seat at the bar, I watched Alex chat with the other cast and crew members. Principal photography ended a few days ago, and for all intents and purposes, we’d wrapped. We were now partying to celebrate, but I didn’t feel much like celebrating anything.
I’d never met anyone like her in my life, and I never would again, but something held me back from telling her how I felt. From telling her that my life would feel incomplete if she wasn’t by my side and in my bed. What if she rejected me? What if she laughed in my face? What if she told me I meant nothing? What if she humiliated me like Isabella?
I wanted to spend forever with Alex, but every chance she got, she reminded me that once filming wrapped, what we had was over, that we were just a fling. She would go back to her life, and I would go back to mine. That wasn’t what I wanted.
She was now deep in conversation with Noah. She was probably filling him in on my behavior, but I didn’t doubt she’d sent him daily updates.
Every now and again, they both glanced in my direction. A grimace covered Alex’s face, and she shook her head a lot. Whatever Noah had said pissed her off.
With my beer dangling between my fingers, I strode in their direction. Before I reached them, Jemma stopped me in my tracks. “Looks like you’re going to have another hit on your hands. No thanks to Ford’s vanishing act.” She ran the tip of her tongue around her blood-red lips; A move I’m sure she considered sexy and alluring. On any other woman, it would have been. On her, it screamed of desperation. “What do you say we go somewhere and celebrate one on one?”
I kept my focus on Alex and Noah. “I’m not interested.”
Jemma followed my line of sight and snorted. “Your girlfriend is ready to move on to the next job and the next dick.”