by Pamela Ann
What the fuck, Rock? I wanted to growl and chuck something at him. Thanks for nothing.
“Babe, I meant …” Words vanished from my lips as I watched my boyfriend’s face change. I didn’t need to see what was being played, because River’s expression was enough to tell me how effective it was to anger him. His jaw was clamped shut, his undivided attention severely glued to the screen like everyone else in the Ari’s movie theater.
Personally, I hadn’t minded it at all. In fact, truth be told, I quite enjoyed it. It made me feel connected to my old self—that fun-loving girl who combusted with so much potential, with such feral passion within her soul that she had to perform. But even though that revelation left me ecstatic, I didn’t want to place a chip on my relationship, either. I wanted to preserve this solidarity we had. It was just like old times, and I would give anything so long as River and I didn’t revert back to our wretched treatment of each other. Seeing his stony expression, I might’ve just brought it back to Neanderthal era.
Once the longest three-minute clip of my life was over, laser eyes pivoted to me. It was cutting. It flayed me alive. Layer upon layer, it torched me inside out. The magnitude of its heat left me no doubts where his temper lied. It placed me in a very compromising position.
I was sure he wouldn’t have minded had I done it without having Carmen record me. Alas, the video was out there and even if it was taken down, it was all over social media now. There was no stopping it once it began trending on Twitter.
“Well done, Cara,” he coldly stated.
I ignored his hateful glare and let my instincts take over. I grabbed him by the arm and roughly dragged him towards the end of the hall, to the nearest secured room I could find, Ari’s home office. After securing the lock, I spun on my heels and faced the furious man. My heart loudly thumping as I noted the dark glimmer in his eye.
“Let me explain,” I began, but River appeared as if he didn’t give a damn about what they were.
“What’s there to explain? The fucking video said it all!” Raking a hand through his hair, he roughly tugged at it before shaking his head at me, as if he couldn’t understand me at all. “What the fuck were you thinking?”
That was the thing, I hadn’t been thinking.
Biting my lip, I eyed him with trepidation.
His vicious temper was threatening to detonate; I knew it well enough that shit was about to hit the fan. And if I didn’t dampen it down, things could get ugly quick.
“If there’s nothing to explain, then why the hell are you—”
“That was fucking too sexual!” He blew a fuse. “I don’t have to be a genius to figure out that every male outside this door got hard imagining you riding their dicks as you gyrate and shit! Fucking hell, Cara!” he thundered so loudly that it reverberated all over the library.
He unfolded, and I was rendered speechless. Frozen on the spot. My apologies, whatever they were, wouldn’t matter at this point. The damage had been done.
Could men be easily aroused with a dance video? From the limited experience I had, I couldn’t be sure. Apparently, Mister Bombastic here believed so.
He considered me with utmost incredulity. “Why would you put something like that online? What are you trying to achieve here?” His eyes sparked fire, consuming him. “You want more popularity? My jealousy? Because you fucking have it! I’m fucking livid with jealousy. I’m being eaten alive with this bullshit!”
I gasped, a little insulted that he would even consider I would want popularity. That was uncalled for, but I was willing to let it slide.
My temper rose, yet I tried my hardest to calm down. “It was Carmen who uploaded it, but I gave my consent. I wasn’t really thinking, and I’m sorry for upsetting you. Like I said, I wasn’t thinking at all. So please, don’t hurl insults because you’re pissed off. It won’t do us any favor.”
“Upset?” he huffed as he planted his hands on his hips while the tip of his tongue stuck on the bottom of his lip, looking at me with disbelief. “She thinks I’m just upset. Well that’s cute.”
Regretting not telling him in the first place, I strode over to where he was, leaning against the floor to ceiling bookshelves.
He warily regarded me as I reached him.
Placing my hand against his chest, I lifted my face towards his, ready to beg. “Baby, please …” I gave in to my heart’s desire and brought his lips to mine, kissing him with my all. I pressed my body against his, parting my legs over the high slit of my long silk dress as I situated my lace-covered mound against his thick thigh. The kiss silenced us from fighting.
At first, he didn’t respond to my tongue coaxing. But I was past caring and deepened the kiss, anyway. I groaned when my hips began to move, rubbing my heat against his thigh. Consumed by the building heat generated from the friction, as sensation upon delicious sensation possessed me, my movements became frantic as I gyrated on him.
Oh God, I choked back a sob as I heavily panted against his lips, breaking our kiss as my pussy grounded harder into his thigh. “Oh, fuck.”
River made a harsh groan before his lips crushed mine, devouring me whole. I let out a pleasured moan as my hip ardently humped him.
“Don’t try to make light of this…” he snarled between my kisses as he roughly thrusted into the sacred crevice of my thighs, his massive arousal crushed against my clit, making me yelp with pleasure. The contact ignited more juices to seep out of my slit, stimulated beyond reason. This was foreplay at its finest.
“It’s not that serious,” I rasped out as I mindlessly threw my head back, exposing my neck to his fevered kisses.
“It is to me. Now I have to wonder which of the guys I know secretly want you.” His teeth grazed my sensitive spot, right where the neck meets the shoulder, before he sank those sharp bastards into my delicate skin, evoking a muffled cry from me.
“You’re just being all possessive again.”
“You’re mine,” he thundered as he swiftly switched positions, slamming me against the bookshelf. His eyes were crazed as he roughly yanked my thong off, displaying my drenched sex to his unabashed perusal. His jeans dropped to the floor before his jerked his massive cock out, lethal eyes zeroed on my arousal. In a hasty beat, he punishingly entered me. All ten thick inches of him.
I let out a winded sound as it plunged deep into my wet hole. I reached above me, desperately grappling at the shelves as he hammered me into the wall of books. It made a thumping sound with each powerful thrust, shifting the limited and first editions of Ari’s proud collection.
“You’re fucking mine!”
And with that one harsh statement, the man pillaged my pussy with one hard lurid thrust, opening me deeper to accommodate his full length as he upped his momentum. He fucked me with such quick rapid succession, that my sobs and moans only escaped halfway from my lips before another one was evoked out of me.
“I am yours … all yours,” I incoherently mumbled, out of my mind lost from the acute sensation of sweet pain and pleasure, tearing through me. Without a doubt, I was his—unadulterated, unreservedly his.
No man could possess me the way River could when he was bent on something. Angry cock wasn’t to be trifled with.
He grabbed as much hair as he could while he took hold of my hip with his other hand, plundering into my tight slick depths as he furiously drilled, situating deep into my belly when I felt his engorged head expand before bursting his hot seed into me. I screamed into the nook of his neck, body shaking from the wild ride of our lovemaking.
“I don’t like men looking at you like that. It fucks me up each time,” he panted out while making these small, titillating strokes into my pussy, draining the last drops of his release into my hole. “You’re my heart, Cara.”
“As you are mine,” I timidly retorted back, out of energy as my legs shook from being stretched to its limits. Sex with him was always out of this world. “Settle that temper, babe, please. You still have work to do outside.”
H
e sought my lips, kissing me gently, lovingly. “Thank you for giving me your body. I needed this. I needed to possess you.”
This was always the answer he sought. Not particularly the sex, but for his body to probe into my soul, seeking reaffirmation that I was still his. And each time, it granted him the answer he desperately hunted. My body would never lie to him. He knew it from the start.
River was a hot-blooded man and only responded to his baser instincts when felt threatened, hence this impromptu sex in the middle of his party.
All’s well that ends well.
Underwear ripped to shreds, River slid the lace into his pocket while I straightened myself out in the library’s bathroom before emerging. His approving eyes immediately roved over my body possessively.
“Be good, petal,” he murmured before kissing me one last time.
Hand in hand, we rejoined the rest of party. I felt refreshed, elated. Nothing like a good sex to clear one’s sense.
“You guys good?” Phoenix asked before nodding towards where River was being detained by someone who seemed pressed to know more about his album.
“You know how he is …” I gave a knowing smile. “I think it’s safe to say we’re okay now.”
“Sorry. I wouldn’t have given him the heads-up if I’d known he’d react like that. Didn’t think it a big deal.”
I shrugged. “It’s not really, but River can get very … crazy sometimes.”
“I’ve known River—heck, I’ve seen him date a bunch of chicks—but he’s never been fucked up over anyone. He’s so chill. Didn’t give a shit if some chick threatened to leave him because he wouldn’t give them what they want. But with you … he’s this multi-talented stalker that won’t take no for an answer. Don’t mind me being blunt, but damn, he’s all-in with you, Cara.”
“Just to put it to rest; I’m just as crazy for him.”
He was my heart. Forever.
Chapter Eight
“I heard you’re quite the supportive girlfriend these days,” Ari murmured out of the blue, joining me as I casually sipped my drink while I watched River across the living room, entertaining guests.
We had just recently emerged from the library fifteen minutes ago, and just when my blood pressure began to temper and decline, here came Ari, threatening to pester that fragile stability. He reminded me of Paul Giamatti from Straight Outta Compton. The greasy hair, the glasses, and that foul creepy attitude matched with Ari’s less than vibrant persona.
Diverting my eyes from across the room to the simpering manager, I gave him a leveled look, not backing down from his scathing temperament.
I wasn’t going to let him intimidate me like I was some girl without a backbone like he did years ago. No, that time was long gone. If he expected me to cower from his foreboding brashness and arrogance, then he could think again.
Matching his unwavering cold stare, I felt my heartbeat’s steady rhythm, clearly not unsettled by his presence. “I am supportive, always have been, always will be.”
His eyes turned to slits as he studied me closely, marginally dubious. “Well, I hope you’d be just as supportive when he goes on tour. Because he will. It’s expected of him. So, try not to throw your little tantrums when he’s under a lot of pressure. You owe it to him after all that money you made him forfeit.”
Frozen on the spot, I stared at Ari Braun, the very same man who basically gave the nail to secure my coffin in the early days of River being here in Hollywood. He saw me as an inconvenience to River’s stardom, and he had wasted no time to get rid of me. He successfully achieved it, but much to his chagrin, River wasn’t ready to close the chapter on me. So here we were, two years on, facing similar battles, leaving the same distinctive distasteful mark on the people he deemed dispensable.
“Does he know you’re such an asshole?”
The man nonchalantly shrugged before flickering a blasé stare. “Of course he does, or he wouldn’t be where he is now without me navigating his career to new unimaginable heights.”
My eyes sparked pure disdain. “You don’t own him,” I loathingly remarked, detesting the fact that this vile, greedy creature pulled the strings to River’s success.
“Nor do you, so don’t get in my way. You’ve caused enough setbacks as it is.” He threw me one last glance. “Good, now you know where we both stand. Enjoy the rest of the evening.”
Like I could enjoy the party after a tense, combative talk with him. I wanted to quip a smartass retort, but I was so caught up in my hatred of the man that my brain lagged from the hostile argument.
Exposing Ari’s horrid attitude to River wouldn’t help the cause. I had tried to reason with River about Ari ages ago, and we had ended up having a row about control issues. So, for the time being, I was going to let bygones be bygones.
For the rest of the evening, I enjoyed the close company of my friends and acted like the supportive girlfriend. I knew stakes were much higher this time around. The snakes gathered, biding for the right time to break us apart. I knew Ari was just one of many who would benefit having me out of the picture. Willa, Hailey, and his management team were quite high on the list.
Amidst all that, I continued to graciously smile as if to putatively give them a big fuck you. This was all a game, one I could beat them if I played my cards close to my heart, and not be so easily disheartened by other people’s selfish objectives. This was between River and I. The rest was just noise. And that was all there was to it.
From that night on, our lives had shifted to hectic to mad chaos.
The glowing reviews of River’s unreleased tracks amplified to new heights. His fans began to anticipate it. And for the incoming weeks, River had barely any time to himself as he prepared to release his first album. Brown Eyes had stayed number one for three weeks straight, surging into the charts with such a speedy rate that even I was impressed at his power to garner such a large base of followers. I travelled with him for TV show appearances, radio interviews, and magazine shoots. And when that day finally arrived, I was beyond proud of him, and I quickly burned out from the maddening pace he was living.
However, River’s stamina was impressive, like a fully charged energizer bunny. He just kept on going, flying across the country, promoting his music. So on the days I couldn’t accompany him, I begrudgingly let him bring Willa. The woman seemed to not get on my nerves as much as she used to, much to River’s relief. He desperately wanted us to get on. Though I remained reserved and incredulous, I wasn’t as severe as I was before.
Amidst the insanity, I got the biggest call of my life.
Addison, bless her, announced that I was set to audition for the biggest role of my life. My manager didn’t even ask if I wanted to do it; she basically signed me up, knowing that this would be a game changer for me. Someone was interested if I could hold a candle in being the lead in a movie, but it was being all hush-hush until I was one hundred percent on board. All she could divulge was that it was going to be a Martin Lombardo film.
He loved risqué movies, and it downright went straight to the nitty-gritty of the story. He didn’t shy away from sex, violence, or death. He was somewhat of a legend, and if Lombardo wanted you in a film, no decent human being could decline such esteemed summons.
This could very well be the summoning that could welcome me to a new frontier.
Chapter Nine
As per our usual Sunday ritual, I spent it with my closest friends. Kells, Anton, and I were brunching at Catch in Weho when I decided to disclose the latest news. The biggest one to date. Well, it was a major deal, and I couldn’t gush all about to myself; I had to share the marvelous news to my friends.
Both seemed to be high in spirits as they chatted about the latest Hollywood scandal.
Enjoying champagne and eggs benedict, I glanced at my friends relishing their meals before I placed my drink back on the table and cleared my throat, aiming to get their attention.
“I got a call from Addison last night,” I began, bright eye
s and all. “It’s for this huge movie apparently, and the lead female dropped out due to medical reasons and they want me to audition for it the day after tomorrow. It’s for a Lombardo film.” I waited to tell them the last bit so I could savor their reaction. And just as I was after Addison’s call, both of my friends stilled for a moment before their faces broke into ecstatic squeals and grins. Their eyes danced as they enthusiastically congratulated me.
“My gosh! That’s fucking amazing, Cara! Are you going to take it?” Kells asked. “Or you already did? Please tell me you did!” Emerald eyes sparked with intensity as she eagerly waited for my response.
But before I could satisfy her query, Anton was ready to give his two cents.
“Of course she is going to take it! Her stardom will skyrocket like crazy. This is the boost you’ve been waiting for, babe. Turning this down could cripple your career.”
Too many less than known actors have declined roles that turned out to be massively successful. I surely didn’t want to be a part of that list. No, I was much more sensible than that. Besides, I was all for good challenging roles.
“Yeah, I can’t miss out on this. Even if I don’t get it, I have to give it a try at least.” My mind had already made a decision. “Although I do worry. There’ll be a few sex scenes where I have to bare my breasts …”
Anton’s eyes bulged out. “Oh, shit! You’re not going to tell him. No wonder you have the look on you, one that says I’m going to get in trouble but Imma fucking do it, anyway. You go get that stardom, baby girl,” he wryly stated with wicked zest.
Anything bad, you could always count on Anton to back you up. It was one of the greatest things about having him in my life. Kells made a curt nod as if understanding how dire this subject could potentially be if I did manage to snag the role. River would be beyond displeased.
“This is your life, Cara. No one else can write your story. If you don’t follow your dreams now, you might not get a second chance of rewriting it. Like I said, you gotta grab ’em while it’s ripe for the picking. You don’t have the luxury of passing major roles when you’re still building your portfolio.”