Hollywood Lights

by Lana Xavier

  Caleb and I had done what we agreed to do. We fought tooth and nail to keep our relationship alive—regardless of the distance between us—and so far, we had managed to do it.

  Even though I had a nasty feeling that the rug was going to be pulled out from under us eventually, I treasured every moment we spent together.

  Like the week I had spent on location in Australia, where Caleb had been shooting his latest movie. He had dedicated every minute of his spare time either showing me around the area or making it well worth the long flight in the privacy of his massive trailer.

  While the country was beautiful, I personally preferred the sight of Caleb’s naked body both above and below me after three long weeks of separation.

  I tilted my chin up and lowered my eyelids, waiting for him to take the bait. When he lowered his head to bring his lips to mine, it felt almost surreal.

  Part of me was convinced that during every one of my absences, the chances of him meeting another girl on set and becoming disinterested in me grew. Candace said I was being crazy, but I couldn’t help it. The more time we spent together, the more unbearable it was to think of losing him. I was aware of how insecure I was being and I did my best to hide it from Caleb, even though I was pretty sure he saw through the facade regardless.

  “Let’s go, sweetheart. Don’t want to be late.”

  I nodded and slid my hand into the crook of his elbow, allowing him to lead me to the small table where my purse and room key sat before we went out in search of Nathan and my sister.

  Unsurprisingly, they were both waiting right outside the door, way too close to not have been eavesdropping. Nathan cleared his throat and stepped back while Candace put on her most innocent smile. Caleb and I rolled our eyes and made our way towards the elevators, the two of them following closely behind.

  When we arrived at the lobby, Nathan frowned. “I thought there was only going to be three of us. I only ordered one car.”

  “That’s alright, I arranged something for Sabrina and myself.”

  With a furrowed brow, I stepped outside and gasped when I saw the waiting limousine. While I was aware of Caleb’s star status, I still had yet to experience much of the perks of his fame.

  We both agreed that after experiencing the less-than-pleasant parts of it, we would stay as far from the spotlight as we possibly could. Which made it even more surprising to me that he was here. Were we really about to walk a red carpet together?

  Since the Marlena scandal, the two of us had managed to sneak around pretty effectively, never once being caught on camera. There were rumors flying around the internet about our continued relationship, but with no evidence to back up the claims, they had been quickly written off.

  “See you guys on the red carpet!” Candace squealed excitedly before pulling me into a huge hug.

  I frowned as I hugged her back, wondering what could have happened to make her behave so oddly. Not that we never hugged, but I really hadn’t done anything to merit this one. It was purposeless.

  When she pulled away and gave Caleb a pointed glance, the alarm bells started ringing and a voice in my head shouted, ‘Collusion!’ But before I could begin to badger them with questions, Caleb was already pulling me towards the waiting limo.

  As soon as I was settled onto the leather seat, I turned my suspicious gaze to my boyfriend.

  “What’s going on?”

  Caleb’s eyes revealed nothing—he wasn’t one of the most well-respected actors for nothing. But I knew that there was something going on that I wasn’t privy to. I was certain of it.

  “I’m taking you to the premiere.”

  My eyes narrowed. “But why? We agreed to stay out of the spotlight.”

  Caleb shrugged and his nervousness cracked his almost-flawless mask of indifference just long enough for me to spot it. Guilt struck me for pushing him, but I just couldn’t understand why he was about to break a rule he had suggested in the first place.

  “I know, but I think it’s time.”

  “Time for what?”

  Caleb angled his body to face mine and regarded me seriously. “Time to show the world you’re mine. Time to stop hiding and sneaking around and just live our lives. Time to really be together. Take your pick.”

  My mouth was opening and closing in surprise, not sure of how to respond to that. But my mind was stuck on one particular part of his speech. “What do you mean by really be together?”

  Caleb turned away, glancing out the window as he said, “You’ll see. Very soon, I promise.”

  It was definitely not a satisfying answer and while I intended to press him about it, our arrival in a queue of other cars and limousines stopped the line of questioning before it even began. Nerves started rattling through me—the memories of the last time I was in the press all too fresh in my mind.

  Sensing my discomfort immediately, Caleb took my hands in his.

  “It’s going to be fine, Sabrina. I promise.”

  “For you maybe. After the initial blowup, no one even batted an eyelash at your exploits, but they’re still referring to me as a homewrecking whore.”

  Caleb shook his head. “Don’t think like that, baby. I don’t give a fuck what they say and you shouldn’t either.” He paused, staring past my shoulder thoughtfully for a long moment before something clicked in his eyes. “When you write a book, do you read your reviews?”

  I scoffed and shook my head. “Hell no.”

  “Why not?”

  The pieces of the point he was trying to make clicked together as I slowly said, “Because while it’s nice to get good reviews, it’s impossible to please everyone. And no matter how good the praise, the bad reviews are always the ones that stick.”

  Caleb nodded, his expression smug as he watched me figure it out. “Exactly. So stop reading it—stop caring about the bad reviews. The only thing that matters is you and me, baby.”

  I smiled as it finally started to make sense. He had figured out the perfect way of explaining it in a way I’d understand and I couldn’t argue with the logic because it was also my own.

  To stop caring about the negative things people said, I just had to stop looking for them. For the first time in my life, I felt like it would actually be an easy thing to do. And it was all thanks to him.

  “I love you so much,” I said with a content sigh.

  “I know,” he said cockily, leaning over to press a quick kiss to my lips. “I love you, too.”

  The limousine started creeping forward, signaling we were getting closer to the spot where we would get out and face the public together. Even though he had convinced me to stop caring, I still had butterflies fluttering around in my stomach.

  “Come here, baby,” Caleb said, drawing my attention away from the window. “Lets calm your nerves a little, hmm?”

  He bit down on his lower lip in an attempt to stifle his mischievous grin, but I knew better. I scowled and batted at his hands as they reached for my hips, shaking my head.

  “Caleb, no. I’m not facing the cameras with post-orgasm face.”

  He pouted. “Come on, Sabrina. It’ll help, I promise.”

  My eyes went to his lap and I saw his semi-hard length hidden beneath the slacks of his suit. I smirked and jerked my chin in the direction of his crotch.

  “Looks to me like you’re the one who needs the tension release.”

  Caleb growled and gripped my hips tightly, pulling me on his lap before I could manage to slither away.

  “I’m only hard because I’m thinking about licking that lovely pussy of yours. My offer has nothing to do with my own needs.”

  I felt my face flush as undeniable desire swept through my body and right down to my core. My growl of protest was cut short as he shifted himself beneath me, angling so his cock was pressing against my ass in a way that made me moan.

  “Although I wouldn’t decline some release if you offered it.”

  Brought back to reality by the sound of his voice, I shook my head and managed to
wiggle my way out of his arms. Once I was sitting beside him again, I ran my hands over my dress and smoothed out any wrinkles that might have appeared.

  “Later, I promise.”

  “I will be taking you up on that,” he growled as he grabbed my wrists to stop me from continuing my nervous habit.

  “I’m counting on it.”

  He grinned and the car inched forward again. I jumped when a loud buzz sounded in the back of the limo and watched as Caleb pressed a button on the console beside him that made the window in the front slide down.

  “We’re next in line, sir.”

  “Thank you,” Caleb replied before sliding the glass up again. “You ready?”

  I shook my head. “Hell no. But I don’t have much of a choice, now do I?”

  His eyes softened and he lovingly caressed my cheek, forcing me to look at him as he said, “Remember—it’s just you and me.”

  I nodded and felt some of the nerves fade away as I continued to stare into his eyes. We stayed locked like that for a long moment, right up until the car moved and stopped again and the sound of the driver’s door slamming shut hit my ears.

  Caleb straightened himself on the seat while we waited for the back door to open. When it did, he grabbed my hand and gave me a reassuring squeeze before he stepped out of the car.

  Even though I was still shielded inside the car, I could hear the shouts coming from outside as Caleb stood to full height and reached his hand back inside for me. I did my best to tune it out, focusing solely on the lifeline he was offering me. I took a deep breath and reached for his hand, letting him help me out of the car.

  Once I was beside him, he didn’t tuck my hand in his elbow like I expected. No, he intertwined our fingers together, giving me a sense of closeness and strength as we began to trek up towards Nathan and Candace and pointedly ignored the photographers snapping our pictures.

  “The official event photos happen on the red carpet, the ones hanging around the cars are paparazzi,” Caleb whispered to me.

  Knowing that these people were paparazzi was all I needed to steel my face and not look at them, even though they were so loud it was hard to ignore. We approached the large tent that served as the waiting area for the entrance of the red carpet and waited for our cue.

  I was grateful Caleb was here and knew what to do. I tried to look around and figure it out myself, but I was pretty lost. Candace and Nathan were already being escorted out with a small group of other members of the production company, but it seemed like we were being held back for the time being.

  It didn’t take me long to figure out that it was Caleb’s star status that kept us in line. When we walked, we would be on the red carpet alone.

  Which meant every single camera would be pointed at us.

  Fear started to make me shake. I wasn’t fond of the limelight—never had been—and just the thought of what we were about to endure was making me nauseated.

  A nicely dressed man carrying a clipboard and a walkie-talkie approached us and said, “When the carpet clears, you’re good to go, Mr. Bradshaw.”

  Caleb nodded and I could feel my heartbeat speeding up and breathing was becoming more and more difficult. Now on the verge of hyperventilating, Caleb turned to me with concern in his eyes.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Y-Yeah. Just freaking out a little.”

  “We can go. Just say the word and I’ll call the car back,” Caleb offered, crouching down to stare into my eyes and show me that he was serious.

  I wanted to do it. I wanted to leave and never have to do anything like this again. But that would mean shutting out something that was a big part of Caleb’s life and I knew it was unfair of me.

  Also, I wrote the screenplay. Caleb was the star. We had every reason to do this.

  “I’m fine. I’ll be fine. Just...”

  “Just what?” he demanded, searching my eyes for answers. “Anything you need, baby. Just say the word.”

  “Just tell me it’ll be alright again.”

  Caleb’s face softened and he laughed lightly. “The first time you do this is the worst, but after it’s over, I promise that you’ll realize it wasn’t as bad as you thought it would be. It’ll be fine.”

  “Just you and me?”

  He nodded and raised our joined hands to his lips, pressing a sweet kiss to my knuckles. “Just you and me, baby.”

  “Bradshaw, you’re clear to walk!”

  “Come on,” he beckoned as he lowered our hands and tugged me to the exit of the tent. “Let’s get this over with.”

  The moment we stepped out and the press caught wind of who was walking next, the noise from the crowd was nearly deafening. I was caught off guard by just how blinding the flashing lights were, but Caleb glued himself to my side, guiding me easily up the carpet and not once letting me stumble or fall.

  Once we reached the middle, Caleb stopped moving and we turned towards the massive crowd.

  Or at least I assumed it was massive. It was really hard to say considering I couldn’t see a damn thing besides flashing lights.

  The screams grew louder when Caleb let go of my hand and wrapped his arm around my back, letting his hand rest possessively on my hip. There was no mistaking that this touch was one of a lover—not of a friend or family member.

  He was sending a message. He was telling the entire world that I was his. Candace was right—me thinking that he would get bored and move on was ridiculous because I was his and he was mine.

  Suddenly, the lights stopped bothering me. I turned to face him even though Nathan’s voice in the back of my head reminded me that I wasn’t supposed to. ‘Stay facing the crowd’, he had instructed Candace and I the previous day.

  But I couldn’t help myself, I had to see Caleb’s face.

  Sensing the movement at his side, Caleb turned to look at me at the exact same time. When his face lit up in a genuine smile, I felt my lips stretch to match his.

  He was right. The only thing that mattered was the two of us.

  I melted against his side, sighing happily when I felt his hand rubbing soothing circles on my hip. God only knew what kind of pictures we were giving the cameras, but I somehow knew that they would be good. There was no way they wouldn’t have captured the genuine love we felt for each other.

  “We’re done, baby,” Caleb whispered as he reached for my hand again.

  The photographers were still shouting to Caleb as he led me off the carpet, bypassing all the TV show and internet reporters who were demanding an interview or a quote. While I was grateful not to have to deal with that part of the walk, it surprised me that he seemed so against it.

  We entered the theater and were immediately swarmed by two men in suits. I instantly realized that they weren’t fellow attendees of the premiere, but some kind of security or maybe even bodyguards.

  “This way, Mr. Bradshaw.”

  “Caleb? What’s going on?” I asked as he followed the men out of the main room of the theater and into an abandoned hallway, guiding me along with him by the small of my back.

  When he didn’t answer me, both my confusion and worry started to grow. But before I could voice either of them, we were walking through an open door that led back outside.

  I frowned at the sight of the limousine and Caleb’s driver holding open the door for us.

  “We’re not going to watch the movie?”

  “Anne gave me a copy so we can watch it privately.”

  “What about the after parties? Isn’t that your favorite part of all this?” I asked, half joking and half not.

  “Not anymore. This is going to be so much more memorable.”

  I was intrigued and wanted to harass him to fill me in on what kind of memorable things we he had planned, but the stubborn look on his face as he waited for me to get in the car told me that he would shut down any line of questioning I had. With a resigned sigh, I slid back into the car.

  Caleb was settling in beside me when I remembered the look he an
d Candace shared before we parted ways earlier.

  I turned my accusing gaze to him and hissed, “I knew it!”

  Panic flashed across his features before he swiftly reeled it in.

  “Knew what?”

  “I knew you and Candace were up to something! Tell me.”

  Caleb gave me a relieved smile but shook his head. “No.”

  “The suspense is killing me, Caleb.”

  “It’s a short ride. You’ll live.”

  With that, his face blanked and I knew that trying to pry information out of him would be akin to arguing with a brick wall. I huffed and crossed my arms over my chest, sitting back in my seat and watching him out of the corner of my eye.

  The second I turned away from him, he started to fidget. It was an odd sight to see and I was willing to bet that if I turned back, he’d immediately hide his furrowed brow and thoughtful expression. I didn’t know what the hell was going on, but I was dying to find out.

  Instead of keeping my attention riveted on the way his fingers nervously drummed his thigh, I turned to the window and looked outside. Within minutes, I saw signs for a private airfield and felt my eyes bulge when I realized his surprise involved a plane.

  But my stuff is back at the hotel, I thought with a frown, then rolled my eyes when I remembered my sister’s obvious involvement. Dammit, Candace.

  The driver drove towards the airport, looping us around until we pulled up to a closed gate. I could just barely see a guard as he approached the driver’s window and the two men exchanged a few words before the gate slowly started to raise and we drove through.

  I spied a jet from the window and somehow instinctively knew it was for us. Excitement started to make me giddy and I bounced up and down a little in the seat, wondering where we were going.

  I turned to Caleb to try pressing him again and the smile melted off my face when I saw him frowning down at his clasped hands, obviously deep in thought. When the car slowed to a stop, he looked up and out the window before turning to me.

  “Come on,” he said as he reached for me again.

  I didn’t say a word as I slid out of the car and allowed him to tightly hold my hand on the way towards the jet. My concern grew with every step, completely overshadowing any curiosity I had.