To her delight, he quickened his pace, skidding to a stop just inside the door, a hair's length ahead of the others, and a few feet from her face. In excitement, she threw her arms around his neck, their wet bodies mashing together.
"You won!"
He chuckled softly, unravelling her from him.
"That I did."
"Only because he caught me off to get there," Dean snorted, trying to make it sound light-hearted.
But now that Avaline knew the context, she knew it wasn't.
"I don’t know, I think he got here fair and square," she replied. Dean raised an eyebrow, but Jerrard bumped him.
"C'mon, let's go get ourselves pretty."
They left the other two standing there, and Avaline turned to Daniel.
"Well, their attitude sucks."
He brushed a lock of wet hair out of his eye, shivering a bit.
"Do you have your own trailer?"
"I do not," she replied.
"Well, you're welcome to frequent mine today. It would be wonderful to have some company for a change."
"Sure," she nodded, following his lead. For a brief moment, their hands bumped each other as they walked. He took hers, squeezing it quickly and giving her a smile. With her as a ray of sunshine, perhaps it wouldn't rain forever.
His morning had been harsh, another tabloid report falsified, another rumour spread. He couldn’t pinpoint exactly who in the cast was doing it, but he knew very well it was one of them. The nasty comments and backhanded retorts every morning were getting to be too much to take. He wanted to be an actor, his whole life, and he loved this role more than anything he had ever done.
But gritting his teeth to not curse or take a swing at one of them was almost too much to ask. He already knew that a director on the other side of town had blacklisted him for his ‘behaviour’ on set, which was nothing short of perfect, minus the odd line slip. He understood their hurt and frustration, but his career was about to come crashing down.
***
Avaline was two weeks on set before she took the next step. It was Friday, and everyone was excitedly talking about plans for the weekend. Everyone, she noticed, except Daniel.
"No plans?" she asked him, and he shook his head, giving her a pained smile.
"As you may have noticed, love, I'm a transplant to this side of the world."
"You could come over to mine," she said, excitement lighting up her eyes. "I mean, its not like it's going to be exciting. I have some friends coming over to play board games, that's all."
"Your friends must be so proud of you," he said, his eyes flickering to meet hers. She paused for a moment, and then laughed.
"Daniel, they'll be cool, I promise. They aren't going to be all weird around a genuine celebrity. Except for one," she paused thoughtfully. "Maybe he won't come."
Daniel laughed, placing his hand on hers.
"I'd be delighted."
"Great," she grinned, pulling out her phone to text him the details. "See you at 2 tomorrow."
She didn't miss the raised eyebrows she got from the rest of the cast, but she didn't really care.
On set, that day, he was more open to her, his attention focused on any assistance he could give her. Which she was grateful for, when a writer’s assistance came running out of the writing room at noon, waving new pages.
“Scrap scene 4, we’re doing this one instead.”
“Duh…” Avaline said, taking the pages and looking horrified when she saw that she had pages and pages of new dialogue. Scene 4 was due to film in an hour. She turned to Daniel, who gave her an encouraging smile.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. We spend so much time setting up lights a monkey could memorize lines in between. May I offer you the keys to my trailer so you can work in peace?”
She nodded, taking them gratefully. Without him, she wasn’t quite sure she’d be able to stay afloat on this show.
But more than the offer of a place to work, was the assistance he gave her on camera, staying when it was her close up to feed her lines with the proper emotion, giving her a 100% take every time so that she could always feed off his energy. She had heard of actors who ran whenever it wasn’t their turn, and she was glad her first on screen partner was willing to help. And it didn’t hurt that he made her skin tingle every time he touched her.
***
Avaline's friends were a mixed bunch, and she had known most of them since childhood. Writers, librarians, civil servants, a genuine mix of people who bonded over school time memories. Avaline had been a model for most of her life, and so her own career and celebrity was not that strange to them. They were used to beautiful photos of her, in little clothing, strange get ups and even stranger destinations. But a celebrity that they didn't know seemed to have the same effect as it did on common civilians.
"But he's stunning!" Lily gushed when Avaline told them who would fill the last place at the table. She snorted into her tea.
"So that makes it different? Guys, be cool or I'm going to kick you out."
"He was kick ass in God of Lightening," Riley put in and she rolled her eyes.
"And he's also having a terrible time on the show, kay? So let's be nice and maybe you'll have a real celebrity friend. Because I apparently don't count or something."
"I think it's dumb that they are mean to him," Lily piped up. "I mean, he was the guy they chose, it's not like they kicked the old guy off the show because Daniel came around. I watched, he sucked anyways."
"Try to talk about anything but that," Avaline said. "We spend all week dealing with it."
Just then, a knock came at the door. Everyone gasped, except Avaline who rolled her eyes and went to answer it.
Daniel stood in the condo hallway, looking different than she was used to seeing him. He had on the typical celebrity sunglasses, but he was clad in loose jeans and a grey tee-shirt, his hair still wet from out of the shower and his jaw freshly shaven. Makeup free and in modern clothes, it made her smile at how... normal he looked.
But then, she looked the same. Bare feet and grey sweat pants complimented her black tank top and pony tail hair. She was also makeup free, her face fresh and looking years younger than the normal glamazon she was made up to be.
"Hey, come in," she smiled, holding open the door with one arm. Her other reached out and wrapped around him and he returned the hug with a happy sigh. He smelled freshly of soap and aftershave, and she inhaled deeply.
"Mmm. Not set smell."
"Ha," he pulled back, presenting her with a bag. "I wasn't sure what to bring so I just brought..."
"Everything?" She looked into the bag, raising an eyebrow. There was chips and dip, fruit salad, regular salad, and much more. "Come in, you goofball."
She led him through the hallway, to the living room where her friends were sitting.
"So, guys, this is Daniel. Daniel, this is Lily, Riley, Cole, Michael and Sarah."
"A pleasure," he shook hands all around, although everyone noticed he was a bit awkward about it. When Avaline went to the kitchen for plates and cups, he followed her back and forth, until she turned, laughing.
"They aren't going to bite you," she said, and he smiled, taking the cups from her.
"Is it too much to believe that an actor can be shy?"
She paused, and then gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
"No. But you're OK here, you're safe."
She exited the kitchen, letting him choose when to follow. When he finally emerged, he looked much more relaxed than before.
The first game that Avaline brought out was a fan favourite, Dice Capades, a game that had them doing everything from complex math equations to charades, depending on what section of the board they moved through. When it came her turn, she picked up a card and then grinned.
“OK, everyone close your eyes.”
“Nooo,” groaned the rest, knowing what was coming. Turning to the person on her right, which was Daniel, as the card instructed, she showed him what she had pic
ked.
Act out a scene from a movie. If they guess, 10 points to both of you, and 5 to the guesser.
He raised an eyebrow, and she leaned her lips to his, whispering quietly her suggestion.
Laughing, he rose, holding his hand out to her. She stood up, pushing back her chair and beckoning the others to look. Taking a deep breath, she backed up, and then, to everyone’s surprise, took a flying leap into Daniel’s arms. He lifted her over his head.
“DIRTY DANCING!” called Lily, and the rest of the team groaned. Daniel’s muscles rippled as he slowly put her down. “Now, why didn’t you do God of Lightening?” she asked. Daniel laughed.
“Because the acting in that movie was shit.”
Laughter erupted around the table as they settled back down. Avaline squeezed his hand, winking. It seemed he was getting along fine with the rest of them. He seemed to be loosening up as well, his words flowing easier and his jokes coming with speed. Avaline sighed, watching him. If only he could be like this on set. But then, if only the others could be this kind to him on set, perhaps things would be different. He never got the chance to show off his personality like this, not with nasty comments baiting him at every opportunity.
"You can stay, if you want," Avaline said to Daniel, as he bid goodbye to the company.
"I don't want to impose," he replied and she shrugged.
"I was just going to order a pizza and watch a movie. If you have somewhere else to be though..."
"I most certainly do not," he assured her, reaching for his phone. "Allow me to at least pay for dinner, Avaline, you've been too kind already."
"Oh, if the paparazzi could see us now," she teased him, cleaning up the table while Daniel made the order.
When the pizza arrived, they curled up on the sofa, Avaline paging through Netflix.
"You used to do a lot of action, eh?" she inquired, as many of his movies popped up. "What happened? Got boring?"
"Uh--" he picked up another slice of pizza. "Yes. But I also fell from a set and broke my leg in 6 places. Never quite worked the same since."
"I'm sorry," her face fell in sympathy. He waved his hand.
"No, it was a blessing in disguise. I was looking for an out anyways, I prefer to play characters with a longer run."
"Like now, with TV," she continued to click.
"Or even theatre would be lovely. But this is fine. Stop," he leaned foreword, squinting. "Is that your face I see?"
"It is," she clicked on the thumbnail of the film. "I didn't have a single line in it, or more than 2 scenes. But they skanked me up and had me do a fashion show that ended in a pole dance and suddenly I'm a big star," she grinned at him and he raised an eyebrow.
"Are you alright with doing nudity in films, then?"
"Um... I don't know yet," she spoke after thinking a moment, taking the question as professional.
"Are you?"
"I have," he said as she came to sit on the couch beside him, Netflix forgotten. "But I haven't found it particularly wonderful for my career. It's of course, up to you my dear, but I would advise steering clear of it if you could."
"Something to consider," she grinned as she curled her legs up under her. "There's a big difference in doing it just because, and then doing it because the story needs it, like a sex scene."
"Mmm," he growled pleasantly, low in his throat. "We have a sex scene next week."
"Do we?” She quirked an eyebrow, surprised and delighted. Her hand travelled to his, which rested in his lap, and his eyes glanced below her neck line, just for a moment.
"We do. Its supposed to be after a drunken night of passion. I've read bits of it, it's very..."
"Raunchy?" she asked, squeezing his hand, and he nodded. Her foot travelled to touch his leg, and she moved a little closer. "Well, that's what you do when you're a pretty young female actor."
"You do yourself a disservice, Avaline," he whispered, his hand going to her face. "You are much better than most of the dolts we have on the show."
"What do you think happens between our characters?" she asked. "They seem like they are on the verge of a relationship, but not."
"Hmm," he stroked hair away from her face and his thumb trailed down her cheekbones, touching her soft lips. "I don't know. It could go either way."
Avaline drew in, then, having had enough of games. She wasn't forceful about it, but it was clear he was just as eager as she was. Their kiss was soft, nipping each others lips as if it were disallowed, and drawing back just as contact had been made.
She drew back after several moments, a devilish grin on her face as she stood up. He opened his mouth to protest, but quickly closed it as she pulled off her pants, revealing lacy red underwear and legs that went on forever. She pulled her shirt over her head, and let down her hair, and suddenly in front of him, he saw the model, the goddess that she once was, with her toned body and high breasts.
“You are beautiful,” he whispered as she drew near, swaying her hips in the way only a woman could. She crawled back onto him, her breasts rubbing against him, and it was too much for him.
He pushed her back onto the couch, shedding his pants and with a groan, unsheathing his manhood. His fingers traced the line of her panties, and then slipped underneath, delighted to feel her wetness. She groaned, pushing against his hand.
“Daniel, don’t play games,” she said, and he grinned, pulling her underwear down over her smooth legs. She arched her hips, searching for the pleasure, and he was happy to oblige. Teasing her with the tip, he found himself almost unable to control the feelings that were running through his body. With a groan, he plunged inside her, the thrusts rapid and hard as the pleasure built.
“Oh God-” he looked straight into her eyes. “I’m not going to last. Oh God.”
“So don’t,” she replied, meeting his thrusts, her breath coming in gasps. “I need it. I need it hard, and you cumming will make me cum.”
“Well, in that case my dear…” he thrust harder twice more, and then with a groan, spilled his seed into her. She cried out, her walls clenching around his cock, and milking him for every drop.
Finally, they fell off each other, exhausted. He wrapped an arm around her, drawing her closer as they tried to catch their breath.
In the dying sunlight, her eyes catching fire, she was absolutely stunning. But it was more than the physical. Daniel had been an actor most of his life, and he had spent a lot of time around beautiful women, even women as beautiful as Avaline. It was that kind smile that she gave him the first day they met; the courage it took once she knew the truth to continue to stand by him, even when her career was still new. She knew what she wanted, and she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. It was quite a feat for one so new and young, and yet here she was, lying beside him.
“So, was that rehearsal for next week’s scene then?” she asked, with a cheeky grin and he groaned, squeezing her tighter.
“I’m going to die. Absolutely die trying to control myself on camera next to your ravishing frame.”
“You could always not,” she shot back and he chuckled.
“I don’t think we’re making that kind of TV, love, that’s another channel. And you have to pay for it at night.”
She giggled, rolling over so that she was touching every part of him.
“Well, it’ll be fun at least.”
“For once,” he muttered and she furrowed her brow.
“Why are they so nasty to you? It’s not your fault Terence couldn’t do his job.”
“The circumstances in which it happened didn’t help,” Daniel said, and she looked up to meet his eyes.
“How?”
“I knew Terence was going to be replaced when I auditioned, obviously. And I thought everyone knew. Terence, however, didn’t.”
“What?” Her jaw fell open and she stared at him, confused. “What happened?”
“My first day on set, I was all excited, every line memorized, everything to perfection. I wasn’t even supposed to be act
ing yet, I had come back 2 weeks early after I broke my leg. But there I was, ready to break into American Film. And there is Terence, standing on set, in the exact same costume, lines prepped, and we have a face off.”
“Oh my God,” she covered her mouth. “That’s horrible. What did you do?”
He shrugged, idly playing with her hair. “What exactly could I do? I tried to apologize to him. I thought it was a scummy move, but there was nothing I could do. Contracts were signed, and I needed another job. My only transferable skills were action movies.”
The Ultimate Erotic Short Story Collection 19: 11 Steamingly Hot Erotica Books For Women Page 8