by Anita Knight
Hot Set
A Tempt University Steamy Short Romance
Anita Knight
Lunchtime Rendezvous Publishing
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2020 by Anita Knight
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review.
Published by
Lunchtime Rendezvous Publishing
www.anitaknight.com
Contents
1. Grace
2. Gavin
3. Grace
4. Gavin
Fun Stuff
Also by Anita Knight
About the Author
A Note from Anita
Hot Set
“As the lead actress in a highly anticipated student film, you’d think I’d be able to ace a kissing scene with a cute guy. The only problem is, I’ve never been kissed, and the cute guy has been my crush since freshman year.
When Gavin Corrette, AKA the most talented actor at Tempt University and the man of my dreams, finds me avoiding our scene by hiding in my dressing room, I fear I’ve lost my only chance to impress him.
As it turns out, Gavin is more than happy to offer me a few stellar acting tips. But as I lose myself in my character, our rehearsal quickly turns steamy for real.
Is our passionate kiss between Grace and Gavin, or the roles we’re playing?
All I know is, this is going to be one hot set.”
Dear reader, Hot Set is a first-kiss-with-a-star steamy short college romance.
Gavin Corrette is the best acting student at Tempt University, but one kissing scene with Grace has him forgetting how to breathe, let alone his lines. Luckily for him, she’s all for rehearsing, especially when they’re expected to deliver a climax worthy of the big screen.
If you love alpha men, actors, and Hollywood (oh my!), you’re sure to love this passionate, wild ride that blurs the line between reality and make-believe.
This story takes place at Tempt University, where academic tensions run high, and everyone is overdue for a sizzling, lust-fueled fling to get back on track (even the professors).
Welcome to Tempt University!
Yours truly,
Anita
Chapter One
Grace
It’s a beautiful summer’s day out on the country club golf course, the perfect location for the love scene I’m about to star in with my handsome co-star, Gavin Corrette. I should be out there surrounded by fellow creatives and living it up in the spotlight on set, but I can’t bring myself to face any of the crew members. Not after that epic mental breakdown I just had in front of all of them.
I glance out the window again, trying to regain control over my erratic breathing. The sight of the rest of the crew sitting around waiting for me to get my shit together only adds to the stress exploding inside me. Shit.
Shit, shit, shit!
I turn from the window and stare at my reflection in the women’s locker room mirror. I’m supposed to be Veronica Miles, the sassy, boss-ass-bitch heroine of this film, clad in a tight, sexy leather dress with my short blonde hair done up in beautiful curls. Though the clothes fit (rather tightly, might I add), I am so far from boss-ass-bitch that it’s not even funny. My blue eyes are filled to the brim with tears, causing my reflection to waver along with my confidence. As much as I’d love to be as cool as Veronica, I’m just Gracie Campbell, the sweet, shy, actress who only lets loose when she plays someone else on screen.
I blink once, sending tears spilling down my cheeks. Damn it! It took my makeup artist an hour to get my face looking effortlessly beautiful!
I grab a tissue from the counter littered with makeup pallets, hair products, and curling irons and wipe away the tears, mentally wishing I could crawl into a hole and forget my stresses. It’s okay, I keep telling myself. Really. It’s just a kissing scene—no big deal.
But it’s a big fucking deal. The moment the cinematographer starts rolling that damn camera, my heart will stop at the sight of Gavin Corrette, AKA Eric Seville, Veronica’s sexy love interest. I’m expected to deliver a kiss so hot and passionate that the audience will be on the edge of their seats until the real steamy showstopper at the climax of the film. No pun intended.
It seemed like a fabulous role to take on when I first discovered the script. Who wouldn’t want to play someone as amazing as Veronica? And when I found out I was cast alongside Gavin freaking Corrette, it was like all my dreams were coming true. I signed on before I could think twice about any of it. And there was nothing to think twice about, until the director did a rewrite and handed me the new script, revealing not only a sweet peck turned to a French kiss, but a fucking sex scene as the climax of the film! I lost my mind in front of everyone this morning when I got the news and stormed off like a spoiled Hollywood star.
At least now I know I’d fit in with the professionals.
But the truth is that even the temperamental Hollywood professionals know what they’re doing. Professional actors would know how to deliver a convincing kiss even if they’d never kissed anyone in real life. Yes, that’s right. I’m a twenty-two-year-old college student, and I’ve never been kissed. And as soon as I’m back on set and the director yells, “Action!” everyone’s going to know it.
My heart rake spikes again at the thought of screwing up my big scene. I’ve dreamed of kissing Gavin so many times, but none of those dreams featured a crew of fifty people silently watching and judging! Now that it’s my job to kiss him, I feel sick in the stomach when I should be bursting at the seams with excitement.
This is so not like me! I’m not a complainer. I’m a doer. A go-getter. A confident actress! I need a major mentality shift, stat.
I straighten my shoulders and stare myself down in the mirror, rapidly forming a new perspective in my head. I clear my throat and say, straight to my face, “I’m so glad I get to accomplish this milestone of a scene with Gavin Corrette.” Hmm, I actually feel much better thinking of it that way. With Gavin as my scene partner, the best screen acting student at Tempt University, and a crew of master’s filmmakers, there’s basically no way this movie won’t make it into festivals worldwide. I’ll be that much closer to my dream of becoming a big-screen, full-time actress. Plus, once I get the kissing over with, I get to simulate sex with Gavin Corette.
Oh, and there we go again. The anxious stomach butterflies are back. It’s time to get my shit together. I take a deep, slow breath and hold it for three seconds before I let out all my doubtful thoughts. When I stare myself down in the mirror this time, I try to convince myself to forget about my emotions and realize that this is just business. Focus on one scene at a time—first, the kiss, and then the sex. A set of goosebumps spreads from my neck to my toes at the reminder of a sex scene with Gavin. No! Focus, Grace.
“You call yourself an actress,” I say to my reflection. “Well, act like it, damn it!” So what if I’ve never kissed anyone? I can sure as hell act like I have. I glance around the messy countertop in front of me in search of something to practice with. But hot curling irons and lipstick tubes aren’t exactly ideal. With no other options, I raise my fist, a crazy idea formulating in my stressed-out brain.
I’m going to practice kissing on my hand.
Yeah, that should work. Right? I mean, why else would it be in all those coming-of-age movies?
I press my lips against my own hand and immediately recoil. Uck, this is so stupid! I’m such a weirdo. I shake my head at myself.
“
Just pretend it’s Gavin.” I do as my reflection says, imagining Gavin’s short, dirty blonde hair and those intense green eyes that could melt me on the spot. Before I know it, I’ve lost myself in a beautiful daydream where I’m making out with the guy I’ve been crushing on since our first class together freshman year.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
I jump, smearing my lipstick all over my face and hand. Crap!
“Occupado!” I shout, scrubbing my hand under the faucet of hot water. The lipstick isn’t coming off.
“Grace?” Gavin’s worried voice seeps through under the locked door. Uh oh. I do not want him to see me like this. I wipe as much of the running mascara from my face as I can and head for the door. I unlock it and pull it open just slightly, so he can’t see me, but I can see him.
In a forcefully cheery voice, I say, “What’s up?” Cringe.
“I was looking for you for ten minutes before the director told me you were rehearsing.” His deep voice reverberates through my bones, shaking my guard down. I let out a sigh, unable to resist his magnetic pull on me, and open the door the rest of the way. Gavin takes in my puffy eyes and red nose and says, “What scene are you rehearsing? We don’t do the crying fight scene until Thursday.”
I let out an overwhelmed huff, not wanting to explain my ridiculous situation to him. Instead, I trudge over to the pink loveseat against the tiled wall, as if ignoring him will make all my problems go away. But that’s not what happens.
Gavin steps into the women’s locker room, observing the stacks of Tupperware containers filled with costumes, props, and hair appliances that line the walls and litter the floors. It’s funny to think I have all these wardrobe changes on hand when the outfit he wears for most of the film is the simplest of all. I glance at him, appreciating his perfectly fitted jeans and white cotton V-neck that reveals just a hint of chest hair. His blond waves are gelled up in an “I woke up like this” fashion that makes my stomach flip and my breath catch in my throat. Just like when he’s on screen, Gavin makes everything seem simple and easy.
He closes the door behind him and makes his way through the maze of clothing racks and sits down next to me. It’s quiet for a moment until he clears his throat and gives me an expectant look. I roll my eyes at myself and turn to face him.
“I wasn’t rehearsing the fight scene,” I say, my voice dangerously close to breaking. “I was just, um…” I stifle another burst of tears with a sniffle.
Gavin furrows his brows. He takes my hands in his and asks, “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” I try my hardest to make it sound determined, but my damn shaky voice betrays me. And I call myself an actress. That thought alone breaks the remaining strength within me, and a waterfall of salty tears flows from my eyes.
Gavin gingerly pets my back with his warm, manly hands. “It’s okay, you can tell me. Please tell me what’s wrong.”
God, he’s sweet. I feel terrible acting so foolish in front of him! This co-star role was supposed to be my golden opportunity to impress him. I purse my lips and raise a hand to wipe the tears from my eyes.
“What’s that?” Gavin points to the lipstick stain on the back of my hand.
I quickly cover the mark with my thumb. “Oh, that. Um… I really don’t want to say.”
He looks between my lips and my hand. Then he narrows his eyes. “Were you kissing your hand?”
So much for impressing him. I let out a frustrated groan and throw my hands in the air. “Yes! I was kissing my hand.” There. I said it.
“Why?” he asks, humor sparkling in his eyes.
Great. Gavin is totally laughing at me. “I’m so pathetic!” I cry out, and another round of tears flows from my eyes.
“Hey, hey. Grace, we’re partners. I’m here for you.” He rubs my back, his deep voice low and soothing. Even though he’s only acting like my boyfriend on this set, every interaction we have feels sincere. Gavin makes it feel like we’ve been together forever. It’s like he really cares for me. “You can tell me anything,” he adds, and I believe him.
“Alright, you asked… I’ve never been kissed.” It comes out almost as a whisper.
Gavin stares back at me. “That’s it?”
I gawk at him. “What do you mean, ‘that’s it?’ I’m twenty-two years old, and I’m supposed to kiss you like some kind of sexy pro, yet my lips have never been touched. And you say, ‘that’s it’?”
He shakes his head. “No, I mean, I just. The way you were acting, I thought—”
“That’s the thing!” I squeal, unable to contain my explosion of worrisome thoughts any longer. “I’m not acting. I’m such a terrible actress, I can’t even pretend to know how to kiss. I’m so embarrassed!” Gavin reaches forward and wipes my tears away with his thumb, cupping my face in his hands. It feels so genuine and thoughtful until I look in his eyes to find him smirking.
“Stop laughing at me,” I say, wiggling out of his hand.
“I’m not.” But the glimmer in his eye says differently.
“What are you thinking?” I ask. “I don’t like how quiet you’re being.”
Gavin takes a moment to look at me, probably wishing he hadn’t signed on to this project, as now he has to deal with my emotional antics. “I’m thinking that you’re a great actress, and you can’t stay here all day, avoiding the scene.”
A moment of silence passes between us as I take in what he just said. Gavin thinks I’m a great actress.
“Did you hear me, Gracie?” he asks, pulling me out of my thoughts, and my heart does a little dance when he says, Gracie.
I clear my throat and sit up straight. “Yeah, you’re right. Of course, I can’t just avoid the scene.” But then a thought occurs to me. I turn to Gavin with a newfound hope as I say, “Unless they rewrite it.”
“They’re not going to rewrite the scene,” he chuckles. “The script works much better with the kiss, and you know it.”
I press my lips together. He’s right. These are master’s students in Tempt University’s legendary film program, I can’t throw away an opportunity like this. But I can’t botch it either. “So, what do you suppose I do?”
Just then, Gavin leans into my personal bubble and plants a soft, sweet kiss on my lips. A simple, slow, tender peck. Lips on lips.
Oh my god, my lips are on Gavin’s lips!
A thousand thoughts race through my brain at a million miles per second until Gavin pulls away. I press a hand to my mouth, eyes wide.
Gavin flashes me a beautiful white smile, worthy of the big screen, and I can’t even form words at the sexy sight.
“Not bad, Grace. This time try to loosen up a little.”
He goes in for another kiss before I can even register the situation. He places his warm hands on my mostly bare shoulders, gently moving them down from their nervous perch by my ears. He smells like sandalwood and lavender, and it sends the room spinning. His hot, heavy hands on my skin and his soft lips on mine puts my heart into overdrive. Everything around us melts away, and all I know for sure is that my skin is on fire where he’s touching me.
Gavin pulls away from me just slightly and whispers against my lips, “Close your eyes.”
Oh, I hadn’t realized they’d been open. I do as he says, and instantly it feels as if I’m floating in thin air. A moment later, Gavin slips his tongue between my lips. The sensation is entirely foreign and turns me to stone. I sit there, frozen in curiosity as he explores my mouth with his. Then he laughs and pulls away.
“You okay?” There’s humor in Gavin’s voice, probably because of the wild look in my eyes.
“Yeah, I’m great,” I say. I’m more than great. I’m in a dreamlike state of wonder, and briefly considering the possibility that this is all in my head.
“Care to join me?” That glint of humor tugs the corner of his mouth into a grin, and then I realize what he means. You can’t really call it a kiss if only one person is doing all the work.
“What do I do?” I shift in my seat,
aware of how awkward I’m being about the whole thing. Gavin is so smooth, so suave, so cool. He’s just like his character, Eric. He probably doesn’t even have to act.
“Just like with any part, let yourself fall into it,” Gavin says. “Surrender to the moment. Lose yourself in it.”
“You’re right.” I close my eyes and mentally reprimand myself for not thinking of that sooner. “It’s not me kissing you. It’s Veronica.” Genius.
“Exactly,” he says, his voice sounding a little downcast. “You’re just rehearsing, that’s all. It doesn’t mean anything.”
“Okay.” I nod in agreement, but deep down, I know this will always mean something more to me. It’s my first kiss. And it’s with Gavin, the only guy to make me feel like a middle schooler with a crush. The familiar sensation of anxiety creeps up my spine, but I bite my inner cheek and tell it to screw off. This is my job, damn it. I’m going to get into Veronica’s character and let her take control. Has Veronica kissed a guy before? Hell yeah. She’s kissed tons of guys, and slept with them, too. This is nothing new to Veronica. And damn it, she’s going to enjoy herself.
I open my eyes with newfound confidence, determined to give Gavin a kiss he’ll never forget.
Chapter Two
Gavin
Grace closes her eyes and adjusts her posture. As she silently takes a deep breath, I don’t even try to hide my amused smirk at how adorably sexy she is. Her breasts look fucking delectable in that tight-ass dress she’s wearing, and all that crying did wonders to accentuate the redness of her supple lips and the glassiness of her beautiful blue eyes. She purses her lips and takes a deep breath, silently getting into character. Grace has always been so serious about her craft.