by JS Taylor
“No,” I say, trying to sound shocked.
I notice that Ben doesn’t add that it was a mental illness.
“I think that was the reason why my brother…” Ben stops, as if remembering himself. “Well, that’s a boring story,” he adds.
He takes another swig of his drink, and his eyes glitter dangerously. “Why don’t you tell me about you?” he asks, settling his gaze on my face.
“Um, well, you know. Not much to tell,” I falter. “Except, that I’m worried about newspaper coverage when the movie is out,” I add, desperately floundering to bring the conversation back to something useful. “I’m scared they might say bad things about me. Can actresses ever avoid that?”
I’m blatantly fishing now, and Ben frowns and glances at me suspiciously.
“I guess it might not be possible to avoid bad publicity,” I add with what I hope is a disarming smile.
Ben smiles back.
“I think it’s possible,” he says. “Just keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” He gives a hard laugh. “Be nice to the underpaid people on set,” he adds. “They’re the ones who’ll take a pay-off to spread dirt.”
“Good advice,” I reply.
My mind ramps through the people he might mean. The hair and make-up girls? David, the props handler? None of these positions can command top salaries. But I can’t bring myself to think any of these people would be capable of leaking to the press.
In fact, Ben is the only person who seems capable of that kind of malice.
Can I ask Ben about him and Camilla? I sip my drink, framing how I might bring the subject up, when I suddenly hear Lorna’s voice.
“Issy?” She sounds shocked.
I turn to see my friend’s beautiful face mired in confusion. And I feel a blush rising up. What should I tell her? She knows I don’t like Ben.
But Ben, clearly accomplished in these kind of situations, knows instantly what to do.
“Hello there gorgeous,” he says, sliding off his stool and planting a kiss on Lorna’s cheek. “I bumped into Issy in the lobby, so I persuaded her to come try out a drink I thought you might like.”
Wow. He really is shameless. But at least Ben’s aptitude from lying has spared me any suspicion from Lorna. After all, I can hardly tell her I went for a drink with Ben to try and discover if he was leaking to the press.
Lorna melts towards Ben, and her face lights up.
“Wow, really?” she says. “That’s good of you, Issy. I know you don’t like cocktails.”
Her eyes rest on the pink concoction on the table.
“Is that the drink?” She points.
“Um. Yeah,” I say. “It’s much too sweet for you though,” I add, pulling it hastily towards me.
“Isabella.”
I start to hear James’s voice. And even though I can’t see his face, I can tell he’s not happy.
I turn, trying to fight the guilt which is inching onto my expression.
But once I see his face, my bravery evaporates.
James looks really mad.
Every muscle in his body looks tense. He gives Ben a tight nod, his head barely moving.
I set my features stubbornly. I can talk to who I like, after all.
“Hello, Ben,” says James.
Ben gives him a lazy smile. “Berkeley. I trust you saw the papers?”
The self-satisfaction in Ben’s tone is infuriating.
“I did.”
“Looks as though that reporter really took you apart,” says Ben, his eyes flicking to Lorna to include her in his snide assessment.
Lorna is looking back and forth between me and James, clearly uncertain of what to make of it all.
James gives Ben a smile which doesn’t reach his eyes.
“Part of being a director involves taking responsibility for your actions,” he replies. “It’s not something you’d know a great deal about.”
Ben flinches, as if he’s been struck, and the smile slides from his face.
So James does have some kind of hold over him… But what?
Ben reaches his arm out to Lorna and pulls her closer to his side, as though seeking out comfort.
“Isabella, I need to talk to you,” says James. His tone is deadly serious.
“Ok.”
“Now.”
And without waiting for an answer, he turns and walks out of the lobby bar.
I turn to Ben and Lorna, trying to play down the severity of James’s behaviour.
“I guess I’ll catch you later,” I say weakly. And then I turn and walk after James, pushing down the urge to run and catch him up.
Chapter 23
James is pacing the lobby when I find him. And my immediate anxiety turns to annoyance.
“Hey,” I say, approaching him. When he doesn’t look up straight away, I grab his arm. “Hey!”
James’s green eyes drill into mine, and a little of my courage falters.
“You embarrassed me in there,” I say. “You made me feel like an idiot, walking off and making me follow.”
His face softens, a little.
“Don’t do that again,” I add, keeping my voice low. “I mean it. We may have a…” I search for the word, “an agreement in the bedroom, but that doesn’t work in real life, ok? I am not your goddamned submissive.”
I’m keeping my voice quiet, so no one else in the lobby can hear us. But the rage in my tone burns through.
To my amazement, James’s stern expression vanishes, and he breaks into a loud warm laugh.
“Come with me,” he says, taking my arm and pulling me into a private part of the lobby.
“Don’t laugh at me,” I hiss, furious with him as he pulls me along.
He stops laughing and lets my arm drop. We’re in a secluded area now, an empty off-shoot of the lobby with a few sofas where no one can see us.
“I’m sorry,” he says, his green eyes lighting softly on mine. “I didn’t mean to laugh at you. I couldn’t help it. The idea of your being submissive to me. It’s too ridiculous for words.”
Is he mocking me? My thoughts flash back to various bedroom scenarios. There’s no doubt that part of me readily submits to him.
“What do you mean?” I ask suspiciously.
“I mean that I totally agree with you,” he says, his eyes still alight with amusement. “We might have a ‘bedroom agreement’, as you term it. But outside of that, you are the least submissive girl I know.”
Oh. My rage simmers down a bit.
James puts his hands on my shoulders.
“But aside from your dreadful temper,” he says, “and the fact you won’t do as you’re told and stay away from Ben Gracey, you are perfectly behaved.”
I can’t resist him now. I’m smiling too.
“I guess I don’t feel like your submissive,” I admit grudgingly.
“Good, because that is a role I never saw you in.”
James sighs. “I just wish you would take my advice and stay away from Ben. He’s bad news. And he seems to suck people into trouble when they hang out with him.”
My mouth twists.
“Ben showed me the headline,” I say gently. “I know what you did.”
James stays silent.
“I know you let that reporter bad mouth you,” I press, “so he’d drop the story on us.”
Pain washes into James’s face. I reach forward and stroke his cheek.
“I hate that you had to do that,” I say, staring into his eyes. “But I love that you did it for me.”
“I’d do anything for you,” he says.
A surge of joy floods through me. I smile. “Thank you.”
“I’m sorry you had to see that headline,” adds James. “I was hoping, since we were in Spain, I would be able to hide it from you.”
“You don’t need to hide things from me James.” I sigh. “I know you want to protect me. But if this is going to work, you need to see me as a partner.”
James looks confused.
“Give me time, Issy,” says James. It sounds as though the words are coming with effort. “These feelings are all very new for me.”
For me too. Oh James.
“So the divorce was announced?” I ask warily.
“Yes.” James sighs. “Days ago. I explained it all, Issy. You knew it would be happening. I assumed you wouldn’t want an hourly account.”
Damn straight. I don’t want to hear a single thing about his divorce.
“No. You’re right. I didn’t,” I say.
I frown, remembering how I felt when I saw the newspaper.
“This is hard, James,” I admit. “It’s hard to deal with. I hate that you had to let a reporter bad mouth you.”
“I know,” says James softly. He pushes a lock of hair out of my face. “I don’t like it any more than you do. But I’m pleased that things are in motion now.”
He draws his thumb along my jaw. “We’re not out of danger yet,” he says. “But once the stories switch to Madison’s new romance, we should be ok.”
“But what about the leak?” I insist. “We don’t know who it is.”
“Is that why you were talking to Ben?” James asks.
“Yes,” I admit. “I thought I could get some information.”
“I know what you were doing.” James’s voice has turned to angry again. He sighs, and takes his hands off my shoulders, running them through his hair.
“I know what you were doing,” he repeats softly. “But there’s really no need, Issy. I told you, I’m handling this press leak business.”
He must notice the pain in my face as he says this. Because he takes me by the shoulders again, drawing me closer.
“You say you want us to be partners,” he says. “Which means I should confide in you more.”
I nod, and he sighs. “Then I’ll try, Issy. But it’s not easy. I’m an old-fashioned man, and I used to doing things my own way.”
He’s silent for a moment, and I say nothing, waiting for him to speak.
“I’ve had a report,” he says, “from my press people. It’s helped clarify things a little. Whoever is making the leaks had established a relationship with the press weeks back.”
“What does that mean?” I ask.
“It means it was someone associated with the movie before the stalker business,” says James slowly. “Which means we can rule out the extra security I brought in after the stalker problem.”
He’s speaking carefully, and I get a sense that he’s still not telling me everything.
One step at a time, Issy. Be grateful he’s telling you something, at least.
“So it was someone who is part of the existing crew,” I say, trying to make sense of it.
“Or cast,” says James. “I can’t rule that out.” Although I can tell from his face that he’s not seriously thinking that Callum would be suspect. And we’ve already worked out that Natalie can’t be behind it.
“Believe me,” adds James, “we’ll find out who it is.”
His expression is so sincere, that I find all my doubts vanishing.
“Ok,” I say, trying for a smile.
James nods and breathes out in relief.
“I don’t want you worrying about it,” he says. “In any case, I’ve got something planned for tonight which I want you to enjoy.”
Oh?
I love James’s surprise nights out.
“Where are we going?” I ask, feeling the excitement begin to build.
“Later, we’ll be going out to a very special restaurant,” says James.
“And now?”
“Now, we’re going up to my hotel room.”
Chapter 24
I’m half expecting James to transform into dominant mode as he shuts the hotel room door. But as he leads me into his hotel suite, his face is soft.
“I’ve been thinking about what I wanted to do to you all day,” he admits, taking both my hands and pulling me towards him.
“Mainly, I’ve been thinking about this.” His hand reaches up to cup my chin, and at his touch, I feel myself lifted up, as though I were floating.
Then he leans forward and takes my mouth in a beautiful, gentle kiss. His lips move on mine, and the slow rhythm is intoxicating.
All thoughts of press coverage and Madison vanish. All I can think about is him and this moment.
Then James breaks away, keeping his eyes fixed softly on my face.
“I love you,” he says simply.
“I love you too.”
We look into each other’s eyes for a long moment. And then he kisses me again.
Mmmmm. I sink into him, warm and drugged, by the kiss. Then I feel his hand slide along the length of my body, and other feelings begin to pulse.
“I’ve been thinking all day,” says James, “how you didn’t get the attention you deserved backstage.”
I didn’t? From what I remember, it was pretty damn hot.
“I thought it was time I gave you some romance,” he adds.
I give him a half-smile, still hazy from his kiss. “I didn’t know you were the romantic kind,” I reply.
“Well, perhaps not traditional romantic,” agrees James. He kisses my mouth, then stoops and sweeps me up into his arms so I’m held like a storybook heroine.
James locks his eyes on mine. “But I’m going to give you the best orgasm of your life.”
“That sounds pretty good,” I say, feeling light and love-drunk in his arms.
“Mmmm,” he says. “I’m looking forward to hearing you come.”
I feel a blush heat my cheeks.
“Oh Issy,” says James, “are you embarrassed? Don’t be. I promise you, in a few moments, you won’t be thinking of anything but how much pleasure I’m giving you.”
He lays me down on the bed and stands, removing his T-shirt.
“You are so beautiful,” he says. And then he kneels at the edge of the bed and lifts my foot, easing off my shoe. He runs a finger gently from my bare ankle right along the inside of my leg.
I feel myself quiver at the light touch.
James leans over and eases off my other shoe. Then he places it neatly beside the first. Everything he does now feels measured and deliciously premeditated.
He moves to the end of the bed and kneels up on it. Then his hand returns to my ankle, and this time my sensitised skin leaps at the contact.
Carefully, he raises my foot and plants a soft kiss on the inside of my ankle.
“Mmmm,” I murmur. Even this slight contact feels incredible.
He moves a little upwards and kisses slowly up the inside of my leg.
I feel myself sinking into the bed as my body relaxes. And then I contract in electric pulses of arousal as his mouth moves higher, towards my inside thigh.
“Lift up your arms,” he whispers.
As I raise my hands above my head, he slides my dress up, unhooking it at the back, and pulling it over my head.
Now I’m wearing nothing but my underwear.
He drops the dress onto the floor and returns to his tantalising path of kisses, tracking up inside my left thigh.
“I’m going to make every inch of your skin come alive,” he says, keeping the contact with my leg. “And when I finally make you come, you’re going to explode.”
Already, there are white waves of passion gliding up and down my legs, following where James’s mouth has been.
As he reaches the joining of my thighs, I’m crying out for his lips to make contact.
But instead, he sweeps over my panties with the very lightest of touches.
“Aaaaaah,” I moan. The effect is electric. How can he do so much to me with such little contact?
James lifts my other ankle and repeats the sensual line of kisses along my calf and then up my inner thigh.
This time, my whole body is already sensitised, and the effect is s
o arousing, it’s almost torturous.
Now he reaches my panties and kisses softly where they meet the skin.
“James,” I gasp.
“Shhh.”
He runs a finger under the edge of my panties and sweeps a thumb lightly from between my legs to the base of my stomach.
Then he moves his mouth and plants a warm path of kisses, following where his thumb has just been.
“I can already feel how wet you are,” he murmurs. “I hope you’re ready for this, Issy.”
I feel almost powerless to respond. The growing sensations in my body are already so strong.
James reaches a hand under my back and unhooks my bra, and then he’s gliding it off my shoulders, his fingers caressing me.
Now he slides his thumbs under my breasts and traces the line of them underneath.
“Mmmmm.” My body is on fire for him.
He moves his mouth downwards, this time stroking a path with his tongue. The sudden change of contact is like a lightning bolt of lust, striking my whole body at once.
I feel my back arch off the bed, and his hands grasp my waist, pinning me back down.
His lips have reached the top of my panties now, and he begins inching them down with his fingers. Every part of my body begins pulsing for him as he lifts my legs and drops my panties into the floor.
Gently, he spreads my legs, and as the cool air creates a new sensation on my wetness, I hear myself cry out.
Then he’s blowing warm air onto me, and it’s exquisite. I don’t want him to stop. But then his tongue is there, and I feel myself transported to another dimension of pleasure.
“Aaaaaah!” I feel myself pull up off the bed again, and James’s strong hands return to my hips, pinning me back down.
His mouth never breaks contact between my legs, and the waving warmth of his tongue is pure ecstasy.
“Oh my God,” I murmur. “That is incredible.”
James lifts his mouth away just fractionally. “Oh Issy,” he grins, his breath hot against me, “I’ve hardly got started.”
His mouth moves back between my legs, and I gasp. He varies the movements of his tongue, creating a barrage of incredible sensations and wracking my entire lower body with throbbing pleasure.
Then he stands, and I open my eyes wider to see him standing over me.