“Exhausting, how else?”
“From what I’m hearing, you’re getting good reviews from the critics.”
I fought back a grin. Scott Lengel was paying attention to my movie. “Most of them anyway.”
“You can’t please everyone. The reviewer for the New York Post said his favorite part of this film was the credits.”
“Everyone knows that guy is a cantankerous asshole. Does he even like movies?”
A petite Asian woman in a black body con dress hurried up to Scott at that moment. He bent his ear toward her and after she’d whispered something to him, he straightened. “I’m sorry, Riley, but there’s something I have to see to. It was good to see you again. I have to say I was disappointed to hear that filming for the Nancy Wake film would interfere with shooting for Disney, but congratulations on landing that contract. I hope you enjoy your night and the film. If not, don’t tell me,” he chuckled and then swept his wife off after the other woman, leaving me standing there, staring after them. Interfere? Disney? Contract? What the hell was he talking about?
He must have been mistaken. I’d have to find him later and straighten it out.
“How’d it go?” Jayne came scurrying over with James right behind her. “He smiled a lot, that’s a good sign, right? How come you don’t look like it went well?” Jayne’s face fell, her brow pinching with concern.
“I don’t know. He said something that didn’t make sense. I think I need to find Luis.”
Jayne spun around in a circle. “He was around here somewhere . . . I just saw him . . . oh, ex alert, four o’clock.”
“Where?” I looked over my left shoulder.
“Do you even know how to read a clock?” James set his hands on my shoulders and turned me the opposite direction. “Oh, I don’t think he likes me touching you,” James bent his head to whisper in my ear.”
I snorted, but when my eyes landed on Derrick, he had a glass in his hand and an annoyed look on his face. He was staring right at us. Until he saw me look. “He’s probably just pissy because Jennifer went back to Adam. Adam is such an idiot.”
“Looked like jealousy to me.”
I spun around on him. “What would you know about that?” I teased.
“Trust me, I know that look. It’s the way a man looks at a woman who isn’t his, but he wishes was.”
“And you know from . . . experience?” I was digging.
He bent his head close to mine and casually rested one of his large hands on my waist. “I’m not telling you.” His breath tickled my ear. “But your ex is looking again, and I think he wants to take my head off? I’m going to kiss you now.” His mouth scraped across my jaw before brushing my lips. He slid his hand up over the criss-crossy-strappy back of my dress and cupped the base of my head, pressing harder into the kiss for just a moment before he released me.
“You’re getting really good at that,” I murmured slightly breathless. There’d been a few kisses since the kiss in New York.
A chuckle fell from his lips. “I’ve always been good at that. And now he has a reason to be jealous. He is the reason we’re doing this after all, isn’t he?”
No. And it was the little reminders that this was all pretend for him that he made sure to slip in every time that usually put me in a bad mood and led to me doing something stupid later.
I forced a grin. “Derrick who?”
“As cute as the two of you are being right now, I found Luis.” Jayne interrupted. “Also, like six paps caught that little kiss on camera, so definitely expect to see it online.”
“Where’s Luis?”
Jayne pointed him out and I made a beeline for my stepdad. His face broke into a grin when he saw us. “Riley, there you are. I’ve been looking for you.” He nodded at James. “I hope you two are enjoying yourselves, but Riley, I have some big news I need to discuss with you.”
“Does it have anything to do with Disney?” I gritted.
“Who told you? Did the producer call you? I had hoped to be the one to tell you in person. Isn’t it wonderful?”
“I don’t even know what it is. I only know that Scott Lengel thinks I can’t do the Nancy Wake movie because of shooting conflicts. Did you tell him that?”
“I spoke with Scott just a few days ago. You were in Tokyo, and when I tell you about the multi-movie deal I landed you while you were gone, you’ll understand why I had to tell him you were passing on the Nancy Wake role.”
I clenched my jaw, aware that there were people around us, and it would not be a good idea to cause a scene, and gritted out, “How could you do that without even speaking to me?”
“It’s Disney, Riley. They’ve optioned a best-selling series and they want you to bring the heroine to life.”
“But what if it’s not what I want?”
“There are six books in this series? Can’t you see the potential in that? We’ve been in discussions the past week and I think we’ve got the contract hammered out. It should be ready for you to sign tomorrow.”
“I can’t believe you did all that without discussing any of it with me.”
“I didn’t think I needed to. This is an incredible opportunity. I wanted it to be a surprise. I thought you would see how amazing this is.” Was he seriously irritated with me right now?
“You knew how bad I wanted the Nancy Wake part.”
He scoffed and waved his hand through the air. “That wasn’t right for you, Riley. When will you listen to me? I know what’s best for your career, and I’m telling you, Disney is the way to go with this one. Besides, I heard tonight that Camille Rogan accepted the Nancy Wake part, so put that behind you, and try to be excited. Now, I think it’s about time we all got inside.” Someone else pulled Luis’ attention away and he strutted off.
I couldn’t believe him.
Yes, I could. This was such a Luis thing to do.
“Are you breathing?” James asked softly. “You look like you’re about to pass out or explode.”
“Get me out of here.”
He didn’t question it or hesitate. He grabbed my hand, twined his fingers in mine, and steered us away from everyone. A black SUV was waiting. Jayne slid in next to me and James climbed up front with the driver.
“I’m so sorry, Riley,” Jayne whispered.
I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t. If I opened my mouth I would start yelling or crying. I stared out the window, fists clenched in my lap.
“It is Disney,” she said carefully. “How cool is it that they want you?”
I turned my head to face her, expression uncaring.
“I know. I’m just trying to be positive.”
I went back to staring out the window. Fuck positive right now.
The SUV dropped the three of us at my place. Jayne hugged me and told me again how sorry she was, before climbing in her little Prius and driving off.
I went straight to my bedroom, slamming the door behind me. I kicked off my heels and tore the dress over my head and threw it. I wrenched open drawers on my dresser, yanking out a pair of shorts and a sports bra. I stripped out of my thong and bra, trading them for the workout clothes.
I stormed into hall and then stopped short.
James was propped against the wall, arms folded across his chest. He eyed me.
“I need to hit something,” I choked out.
“Then let’s go.” He pushed off the wall and led the way down the hall.
My home gym didn’t look the same as it did when James first showed up. Thanks to him, it was now equipped with everything I needed to let off some of this steam. I pulled my hair back and caught the gloves he threw at me.
“Start with the heavy bag.”
Pretty soon the room echoed with the sounds of my fists beating on the bag.
Thwack. Thwack.
Onetwo. Onetwothree.
Jab, jab.
Jab, jab, cross.
Jab, hook, cross.
Knee.
Right cross, left cross, right cross.
Kne
e, knee.
My brain was barking out combos, spurring me on.
Faster. Harder. Use your hips. Don’t quit. Go until you can’t feel your arms and keep going. The voice in my head wasn’t mine though. It was James’. I could hear him pushing me harder, even though wherever he was in the room, he was silent.
Sweat dripped down my brow, the muscles in my arms were crying. With every swing it felt like weights had been added to my arms.
Fuck.
Fuck.
FUCK.
Every strike drew another mental curse at my own body’s weakness, until it was nothing but my anger pumping the adrenaline through my body that allowed me to keep going.
FUCK YOU!
I pummeled my fists into the bag, until suddenly James was there, grabbing the bag. “Enough.”
I slammed my fist into the bag one more time, letting out a frustrated cry.
I gripped the bag and let my head fall forward against it, my chest heaving as I sucked in air.
Strong arms wrapped around me and gently pried me away.
I let go and my arms fell to my sides. My chest rose and fell in rapid succession.
“Feel better?” He murmured in my ear.
I shook my head.
“Slow down your breathing,” he said softly.
I sucked in a deep breath and slowly exhaled. I did that over and over and each breath was steadier than the last, until I was no longer shaking. He spun me around unstrapped each of my gloves and tugged them off, tossing them to the floor.
Suddenly my body felt utterly drained. The adrenaline was fading, and my legs felt shaky under me. He walked over to the cooler and retrieved a water for me.
I sucked it down in large gulps.
“Turn around,” he gestured with his finger for me to spin. “Give me your shoulders.”
I dropped the bottle to the floor and turned.
His fingers dug into my shoulder muscles and my head rolled forward on a groan.
“Your hits are getting stronger,” he commented as he worked the tension out of my shoulders and neck.
I let out some sort of grunt in response.
“Your form fell apart when your anger took over, but it also pushed you harder. It’s good that you used it. Keep using it. Let it out in here, but I also think you need to let Luis have a bit of it.”
I chuckled dryly. “You want me to hit him?” The idea did have its appeal.
“No, I don’t want you to hit him, but he did what he did because you let him run your career.”
“It’s his job,” I replied bitterly.
“Is it? Or is it his job to help you get roles you actually want?”
I sighed. “More massaging less talking.”
His hands stilled on my shoulder. “You know I’m right. You need to take control.” His mouth was so close to my ear. His warm breath fluttered across my cheek. “It’s not his life, it’s yours. Don’t let him stop you from getting what you want.”
Suddenly, what I wanted had nothing to do with a part in a movie. I spun around, and his hands fell away from my shoulders. We were chest to chest now, and I had to crane my neck to meet his eyes. “What if I can’t have what I want?”
Dark eyes full of awareness held mine. His chest brushed mine when he drew in a shallow breath and let it out. “When has that ever stopped you?”
Oh God. Was this happening?
His thumb brushed across my bottom lip.
Yes. Yes it was.
I hooked my fingers in his belt loops and raised myself on my tippy toes to press the lightest kiss on the underside of his jaw. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and I could see his pulse throb.
With one tug, he freed my ponytail and then buried his hand in my hair, tugging sharply on my scalp. He held my head locked in place. For several breaths we stayed that way and then he dropped his mouth to my neck, lips parting against my skin.
I melted into him and he lazily kissed a trail from the crook of my neck, along my throat and collarbone to the other side, tugging on my hair to move my head. I glided my hand up his chest and curled my fingers in his shirt, fisting it tightly.
He nipped at my neck and I sucked in a heady breath. Sucking and biting my skin, he worked his way up to my jaw and then crushed his mouth to mine. My lips parted eagerly and welcomed the intrusion of his tongue tangling with mine.
I snaked my hand under his shirt and over the ridges of his abdomen, resting it right over his sternum, feeing the rise and fall of his chest as our mouths moved together. I kissed him hungrily, greedily. I needed this kiss like it was oxygen and I’d been slowly suffocating for too long.
I slipped my hand down to his waistband and fumbled with the button of his jeans.
“Woah,” he murmured against my lips and then tore his mouth from mine, stepping back so fast I nearly lost my balance and stumbled forward.
“What’s the matter?”
He blew out a loud breath and dragged his hand through his hair, tipping his gaze to the mat. “Shit.”
My face flamed. Is that not where this was going? “James?”
He slowly lifted his head and I could see all I needed to in his eyes. Pain sliced through me.
His lips parted and then snapped shut again.
“Just don’t. Don’t say it.” I shook my head. I was such an idiot. A bitter laugh forced its way out. “I can’t believe I thought for a second you actually wanted the same thing I do.” I turned and stepped off the mat. I made it two steps before he grabbed my arm and spun me around like a doll.
He squeezed my wrist. “That’s just it, I don’t even know what it is you want.”
“You, you idiot. I thought that was obvious.” I wrenched my arm free.
“For how long, Riley? Tonight? A week? A month? What is this to you? Because there’s so much pretend when it comes to you that I’m having a hard time figuring out what’s real and what’s not? So, tell me something real.”
“You want real?” I took an angry step toward him. “My name is Ava Riley Farnsworth, and before this life I was just a farm girl who couldn’t wait to grow up, and dreamed of winning first place at the national goat show, and getting a job at Disneyland, because I couldn’t imagine anything cooler than that, and now I just wish I could go back to when life was that simple,” I snapped.
His expression was blank for a second before he said, “National goat show?”
I huffed out a breath through my nose, “Exhibition goats. Like dog shows, but for goats.”
His eyebrows shot into his hairline. “And you did that?”
“Well, I never went to nationals. I did win first place at the county fair with Daisy though, but then a wolf got into her pen and killed her. I was twelve and devastated and quit goat shows after that.”
“Right. Goat shows,” he said it like he wasn’t entirely sure I wasn’t screwing with him. And then I noticed his lips twitching.
“Don’t laugh. It’s not funny.”
“You’re right, Daisy getting eaten by wolves isn’t funny, but the fact that I’m just learning there are goat shows kind of is.”
I grinned. “It’s a real thing. Very prestigious. You can look it up.”
“That’s okay. I’d rather use my imagination.”
I smacked his chest. “If Daisy hadn’t gotten eaten, I might have gone on to nationals. I could have been a goat farmer. My goats could have been the best.”
“And which Princess were you going to be at Disneyland? Cinderella?”
“For your information, I wanted to be Aladdin.”
“Aladdin?” he laughed.
“I was twelve and Aladdin had a magic carpet and a genie. He had the best adventures.”
“I’d rather picture you in The Little Mermaid costume.”
“Hah! You wi—" I didn’t get to finish. He shocked the hell out me by bending down, banding one arm around my back, and capturing my mouth with his. He squeezed me tight and kissed me like he meant it. Hard and demanding.
I
wound my arms around his neck and dug my fingers in to his hair, wishing there was more of it to grab hold of. He walked me backward until I hit the wall by the cooler. He slid his hands down my spandex covered ass and grabbed the backs of my thighs. He lifted and I wrapped my legs around him. He wasn’t going anywhere now.
My heart drummed wildly against its cage, our chests heaved together, our mouths locked in their own embrace, sucking, biting, taking, giving. It was a delicious push and pull, and I just wanted more. More, more, more! I was a greedy bitch, clawing at his scalp and back like I was dying to crawl inside of him.
Then he was carrying me back to the middle of the room and lowering me to the mat, finally fulfilling every fantasy I’d had of him doing this exact thing every time we sparred. His body covered mine. He had too many clothes on and I had so little. His denim covered hips rocked into mine and my eyes just about rolled into the back of my head. I shoved his shirt up to his chest just to feel his skin on mine.
He ripped his mouth away. “Bed. We need a bed.”
“No. Here is fine.” I tried to tug his face back down to mine.
“I want you in a bed.” He pushed himself up and then tugged me to my feet and back into his arms. Kissing and grabbing and groping, we crashed our way down the hall, slamming into walls, until we reached my bedroom.
He scooped me up by my waist and tossed me on the bed. He reached behind his head and peeled his shirt off. It hit the floor, and then his hands went to his jeans. The button was still popped, but I sat up to watch him tug the zipper down and strip out of those as well. Then he was standing before me in nothing but a pair of dark grey boxer briefs.
Sweet mercy, this was happening. Maybe it wasn’t an appropriate time to be praying to God. I doubt he wanted credit for this, but I still felt like I should be thanking Him. Profusely. And I would, by worshipping this beautiful, beautiful man He created—no, sculpted—like He was Michelangelo and this creation was a gift just for me.
The mattress dipped beside my hip when he pressed one knee down, then the other. He gave my shoulders a shove, and I was falling backward, and he was following me down and we both crashed into the mattress. Our legs dangled of the edge of the bed. We clumsily tried to fix that, scooting, and rolling, grabbing at each other as we shifted until both of us were on the bed properly and he was nestled in the cradle of my thighs.
A Taste of Pink (Shades Book 4) Page 13