by Tessa Teevan
“Bu—”
I cut him off with another poke to the ribs. “No black and yellow! For Christ’s sake, did you even read the script? Trevor plays for the Reds. You can’t be seen around town wearing Pittsburgh colors. Now, go change!” I said to him, shoving him off the elevator when we got to his floor.
He shook his head and chuckled, making a show of rolling his eyes at me. “You sure take this whole sports-rival thing seriously, don’t you?”
I grinned. “We sure do. That’s your first lesson of the day.”
Leo swiped his key then glanced back at me. “Mind waiting out here? I’d ask you in, but…” His gaze went down the hall to where a maid was obviously well aware of who we were. Or well, who he was. A young woman following him into his hotel room was the last bit of gossip he needed someone selling to the tabloids, and I completely understood. And agreed with it.
“Not a bit. And I was going to surprise you, but my aunt Lexi was able to score us some pretty sweet tickets to tonight’s game. So, if you have anything red, white, or black in there, you’d fit right in.”
His face lit up. “You’re taking me to a baseball game?”
I nodded.
“Right on.”
He disappeared into his room, and I settled back against the wall, taking the time to check my phone in hopes I had a text from Tucker.
As usual, he didn’t disappoint.
Tucker: I miss you already. Cancel on the playboy and come play hooky with me.
I grinned and hastily replied.
Me: As amazing as spending the day playing hooky with you sounds, you know I can’t. And you know he’s not a playboy.
He responded in seconds.
Tucker: Tonight. You. Naked. In my bed.
Me: And that’s different than any other night, how?
A minute passed before my phone vibrated again.
Tucker: It’s not. But knowing that’s how your night will end, with my cock buried inside your pussy, makes it easier to know you’re spending the day with another man.
My cheeks flushed and my ladybits tingled and sent impulses to my brain saying, Woman, screw the Hollywood hottie and go get your man.
Me: Point taken. If I weren’t so aroused by the reminder of where I’ll be tonight, I’d kick your ass for acting jealous when you have no reason to be.
Tucker: Aroused? Fuck, that backfired. I’m banging my head against my desk right now.
Me: You should be banging me against your desk right now.
Tucker: Christ, woman. You’re going to be the death of me.
Me: You love it.
Tucker: Oh, Ava. You have no idea.
“Is this better?” Leo asked when he stepped back into the hallway.
Having discarded the travesty that was his original T-shirt, he was now wearing distressed jeans and a black button-up. He was sporting a red cap that hung low on his face and a pair of tennis shoes.
“Perfect!” I exclaimed.
He looked just like a fan taking in a game. You know, not counting the two bodyguards that followed his every move. His aviator glasses hid nearly half of his face. I knew he was trying to disguise himself, and he’d honestly done a pretty decent job at it. I was sure the last thing he wanted was a horde of fans accosting him at the ballpark, which was why I was thankful Lexi had gotten us a box to sit in and arranged for us to enter through an employee entrance.
“All right, Ava Banks. Show me your hometown.”
It was then I realized how much I hadn’t only missed my family or Tucker, but how much I had missed my city, too. “You got it.”
Though I’d been apprehensive, spending the day with Leo had turned out to be a fantastic time. Although he’d wrinkled his nose up at the thought of Cincinnati chili, he’d fallen in love with the delicacy and ended up ordering two more coneys after the first inning. The game was incredible, and we tossed local brews back while watching the Reds continue their hot streak that brought them even closer to having a record-breaking season. After the game ended, Leo marveled at the sight of the Roebling Bridge lit up and dazzling in all of its glory in the cool September air. When he asked if we could walk along the river, I gladly accepted, needing to walk off some of the delicious ballpark food we’d inhaled.
It was unbelievable how easy of a friendship we’d fallen into over the course of the day. Leo was so incredibly normal for someone who’d won two Academy Awards by the time he was twenty-four. His down-to-earth personality made him easy to talk to. We shared experiences in the industry—his much more exciting than mine. We didn’t just talk business, either. He seemed genuinely interested in knowing more about me, asking me question after question, and smiling knowingly when I told him about Tucker and gave him a very abridged version of our story without the sad parts.
“This has been a lovely day, Ava,” he said. “I appreciate your agreeing to do this. Experiencing the magic of the ballpark, the intensity of the game—especially the pitching—is definitely going to make it easier to get into Trevor’s head.”
“It was as fun for me as it was for you. Everyone should experience this city with their very own local tour guide.” I playfully shoulder-checked him. “Ready to leave the hustle and bustle of L.A. and settle down out here in the Midwest?” I teased.
He chuckled. “Not gonna lie. It’s pretty damn tempting. Layla would love it here. She loves the city, but she’s ready to settle down and raise our family far away from Hollywood. So am I.”
Yes, the Hollywood heartthrob Leo Lockwood was spoken for, and even from an outsider’s perspective, it was evident he was wildly in love with his wife. The way his eyes lit up when he spoke of her was endearing, and I couldn’t wait to meet her.
“So, Leo, you’ve learned all about me and my hometown today. Why don’t you tell me more about you and how you became People’s Sexiest Man Alive three years in a row?”
He gave me a wry grin. “You mean you haven’t Wiki’ed me?” he asked, feigning shock.
I laughed. “I wouldn’t have to. My best friend, Tawni, practically has your bio memorized. But I don’t want the Internet facts. If we’re going to be friends, I want to get to know the real Leo Lockwood.”
“Friends? I’d like that.” He smiled with warm, friendly affection. “Well, let’s see. Where to start? I suppose at the beginning. My parents were vacationing in Paris when my mother was nearly six months along with me. They’d recently found out I had the anatomy of the male variety and couldn’t agree on a name. According to my father, they fought like cats and dogs over it. Until, one day, they were standing at the Louvre, admiring some da Vinci painting, when I kicked my mother’s belly profusely. It was a sign, she proclaimed. I would be Leonardo Lockwood, and if my father didn’t like it, he could go through nine months of pregnancy and then labor if he wanted to name the baby.”
I frowned. “Umm, Leo?” I interrupted his story.
He paused, and by the sheepish grin on his face, I could tell he knew he’d been caught.
“That sounds suspiciously similar to Leonardo DiCaprio’s naming story.”
“Damn, you know that one?”
I nodded.
His shoulders shrank. “The truth is I’m actually named after DiCaprio.”
My eyebrows rose. “You are?”
Leo sighed. “Yep. The real story goes a little like this… Mom and Dad have a few drinks and decide to watch Titanic. Mom gets a wee bit upset over Jack’s death. And, by wee, I mean she was nearly hysterical—as my dad tells it. So, to calm her down, he kisses her senseless, and the rest, well, is history.”
I nearly choked on my laughter. “You’re telling me…you were conceived during Titanic?”
He shuddered before hanging his head in shame. “I wish I never knew that story. To this day, I can’t watch it. I can’t admire Kate Winslet’s phenomenal breasts like the rest of the American male population.”
I laughed. “And what would Layla say?” I asked in mock admonishment.
“Layla
would argue that the reason I fell for my spit-fire, redheaded wife was because of Kate Winslet and tell me to get over it.”
“I think I’ll like Layla.”
He grinned. “She’ll like you, too.”
Leo and I fell into easy conversation as we traded stories of our time in the business. His were obviously much more glamorous than mine, but it was nice talking shop. It was like getting to know a coworker and immediately clicking.
When the cab dropped him at the hotel, Leo turned to me and smiled. “Ava Banks, I believe this is going to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship,” he said, giving me a shoulder squeeze.
I smiled in return. “Agreed. And, now, maybe I won’t be so nervous when we start filming.”
“I’ve seen your work. You’re a natural. Jonathan chose you for a reason. Plus, now that we’re friends, we’ll make sure to have fun on set. Get some sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Before I could respond, he slid out of the cab and shut the door. The entire ride back to my Tucker’s place was a blur. I was lost in my head, elated that Leo and I had an easy chemistry and that he was in a committed relationship. The last thing I needed when trying to work on my relationship with Tucker was the studio trying to create a fake romance between their costars.
The thought instantly gave me pause. Had Tucker also chosen Leo like he’d chosen me? Had it been a calculated decision on his part, knowing I wouldn’t be pushed into a forced relationship, or run the risk of me finding romance on the set?
No, I told myself. Tucker wouldn’t play games like that. But, when I found myself standing in front of his house, seeing the midnight oil burning from his kitchen window, I knew I had to find out.
MY LEG HADN’T STOPPED SHAKING since the moment Ava had taken off to spend the day with Leo Lockwood. The day that had come and gone, turning into night, because as of 11:56, she still wasn’t home. Being jealous was ridiculous. Stupid. And I knew it. But I’m a guy. That’s what we do when our women are out on the town, spending over eight hours with the man who, just two months ago, graced the cover of Men’s Fitness in nothing but a tight pair of jeans, his abs oiled up. Not that he had anything on me and my authentic, construction-formed six-pack, of course.
Sure, I knew that nothing was going to happen. Leo was married to his high school sweetheart who was currently pregnant with their second child. Ava, these days, was committed to me.
The thing was that Leo would always be in her circle. I didn’t know if I would be. And, if it wasn’t Leo, it could be any other guy in the future. The earlier conversation with my brother rushed to the surface and I realized he was right. I had nothing to gain by playing hard to get with Ava. In fact, it was pretty damn stupid. If I wanted her to be mine, I had to let her know. If I was going to stake my claim—and I sure as hell was—I needed to be upfront with her. No games, no illusions. She needed to know how I felt. Since she’d been back and finally sought me out, things had been easy. They’d been amazing. But we’d kept our feelings unspoken. I didn’t want that anymore. She might not have been ready to hear it, but Ava needed to know that nothing had ever changed for me. Nothing ever would.
Fate apparently smiled on me at that moment. Headlights shone through my kitchen window. I’d been at my table all day, working on my next novel—and maybe watching, waiting for Ava to return. I made sure to click save then closed my laptop, more than ready and willing to go get my girl.
I opened the door and immediately got a fist in my face.
“Oh my god, Tucker!” Ava gasped. She placed her hands on my torso and pushed me to the kitchen and down into the chair I’d just recently exited.
“Hello to you, too?” I teased, wiggling my nose to alleviate the burning sensation her unexpected punch had caused.
“I’m so sorry. I was lost in thought, knocking on your door, when I was banging on your face.” Her soft giggles replaced her worried tone.
“That’s funny to you?” I asked, scooping her up in my arms until she was straddling my waist.
Her arms latched around my neck, and she nodded. “Then I guess I should continue letting you bang on my face. After all, I am pretty hungry.” Her eyes gleamed with wicked heat.
I went rock solid instantaneously. “How about you let me eat first…” I said, trailing off when her mouth met mine, swallowing my words.
Ava’s kisses were passionate, hungry—she was definitely into the idea and more than ready for me to pleasure her with my mouth. My free hand ran down the length of her spine and briefly caressed her ass before reaching the hemline of her dress and quickly drawing it over her head.
She whimpered when I broke our contact to toss her dress aside and admire her half naked in my kitchen.
Barefoot in the kitchen?
No fucking way.
Naked’s so much better.
“So fucking gorgeous,” I told her. I circled her waist with my arm and held her close to me, raining kisses along her collarbone and then down until my lips met the swell of her breast. Without a second thought, my hand slid up her back, and with ease, I unclasped her bra, withdrawing so the material fell away and gave me the perfect view of her breasts.
I released her and used my free hand to appreciatively cup each one.
“These are absolutely perfect,” I admired.
As desperate as I was to taste her essence on my tongue, I was now salivating with the need to worship her breasts.
So that’s exactly what I did.
I took my time, paying each breast equal attention. I gently kneaded them while my lips sucked and my tongue laved at each nipple until she was writhing at my touch.
As much as I wanted to pleasure Ava right then and there, I wasn’t risking having Tanner walk in. So I scooped her up and carried her to my room. I set her on her feet then took my place on the bed, lying flat on my back, keeping my boxers on.
“Come here, Ava,” I said, crooking my finger and beckoning her.
I didn’t have to ask twice. But, when she joined me on the bed, her hands went straight for my cock.
“No, baby.”
“What…what do you want me to do?” she asked.
I gripped her hips, lifting her so she was straddling my neck. “Hands on the headboard,” I ordered, and she complied without hesitation. I grinned up at her. “Now, all you gotta do it sit on my face.”
She squirmed, but all it took was one long stroke of my tongue for her to relax. Hell, that was nearly enough for me to come in my boxers.
Soft moans and sighs filled the silence as I took my time getting my fill of her. It wasn’t long before Ava became an active participant, no longer just sitting on my face, but riding the fuck out of it.
As much as I wanted to sink my fingers into her warmth, I used my hands to grip her ass, guiding her movements as she became wild, wanton, frenzied each time I nibbled on her sensitive clit.
“Oh my god. Tucker,” she panted, taking a hand off the headboard and sinking it into my hair. “Don’t stop. Don’t ever stop.”
I’d have told her there’s no way in hell that’d ever happen, but my mouth was full.
Instead, I answered with my actions. I licked. I sucked. I fucking devoured Ava until she was writhing with pleasure, the evidence of her arousal dripping down my chin.
One final bite on her clit was all it took to send her barreling over the orgasmic edge into complete, contented bliss.
She flopped onto the bed beside me. “God, Tucker. That was… It was unbelievable.”
I rolled to my side and propped myself up on one arm, using my free hand to caress her puckered nipples. “Any time you need a face bang, baby, all you hafta do is take a seat. You don’t even have to knock,” I teased. “I’m your guy.”
She giggled and shoved my shoulder before leaning in to kiss me. “You’ll always be my guy.”
God, I could only pray that she meant it.
Hours and several orgasms later, Ava was resting her head on my chest. We’d eventually m
ade our way to the shower then back to bed, where a different type of banging had commenced. It was a cliché, but sex with Ava got more incredible every single time I sank into her. We were learning each other’s bodies and our own, and doing it together was amazing. I could explore every inch of her skin for hours and still never get enough. I loved that I’d waited for her. I loved it even more that she’d waited for me. It was proof positive that we were meant to be together. That our souls were bound, just like our hearts, and neither time nor distance would ever have a fighting chance to break our bond. She was the missing piece to my puzzle, and every time I nestled inside her, I was whole. There was no denying she had been made for me and I for her.
“Tucker?” she asked, her soft voice breaking through the darkness of my room.
“Yeah, babe?”
Her fingers toyed with a small tuft of my chest hair, her delicate nails tickling my skin. “Did you choose Leo on purpose?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean…because he’s married? You didn’t have to worry about any competition?”
I sat up and brought her with me, repositioning her until we were facing each other. Thankful Jeremy always loved giving away As Seen on TV gag gifts, I clapped twice and the room illuminated with light. She wasn’t looking at me. Her lower lip was sucked between her teeth, giving her apprehension away. I reached into her lap and grabbed her hands.
“No.”
Her gazed lifted to mine, her eyes round and wide. “No?”
I smiled softly. “He was Jonathan’s idea and I had no reason to deny him. Plus, I don’t exactly keep up with pop culture. I didn’t know he was even married when he was cast.”
She hesitated, not seeming sold on my denial even if it was true. “You wouldn’t have to worry. I just want you to know that. He could be this generation’s George Clooney and you wouldn’t have to worry.”
“Not even Clooney?” I teased.
“No, Tucker.” She inhaled a sharp breath. “The thing is… I don’t want anyone else. I know you want this to be fun and not serious, but the truth is—”