Limelight (Hollywood Stardust)

by Kim Carmichael

  A low growl escaped her throat and she reached between them, stroking his enflamed erection.

  “Um.” The way she touched him always set him off. He couldn’t get enough of her, her mouth, her hands, her body.

  Once more, he found her lips and their mouths connected.

  Without a word, she braced against his shoulder, raised herself up, and with almost torturous slowness, guided him inside her.

  “Yes.” In need of the pressure, he pushed her down further.

  She pulled back and stared into his eyes, his erection embedded in her, they spoke a silent, erotic language only lovers understood. Her tightness coupled with the slight knowing smile on her face caused him to twitch inside her. The more he had her, the more he craved her, and he was damn well certain he would make up for the years without her.

  Rather than lunging down on him, she ground her hips in a circle, a languishing tease. His entire body became sensitized, and he fought the need to move and allowed her the chance to take the lead.

  “Do you really think I’m more beautiful now?” She arched her back, giving him a full view of her magnificent breasts that she cupped in her palms.

  “You know I do.” Lord help him, was she going to treat him to a private show? The moment she licked her fingertips and touched her nipples, he bucked his hips.

  “You like watching me?” She reached behind her, pulled her hair out of her bun, her blonde locks falling down her back and over her shoulders.

  Overcome with the urge to thrust, he nodded. “Erin.”

  His sharp tone must have told her what he wanted. In one fluid motion, she slid up his shaft and down again. “I love how you feel inside me.”

  Keeping the same rhythm, she repeated her action over and over again. His desire built, but it wasn’t enough to satisfy, only tease.

  She ran her hands over her own body, her face, down her neck and once more over her breasts before making her way to her hips and finally her center. “Feels so good.”

  “This is mine.” He swiped her hand away, rubbing the one spot where she required more attention.

  “All yours.” She leaned back, braced herself on his knees and sped up. As she neared her end, her smooth strokes turned into hard plunges.

  “Don’t forget that.” At last, he took his opportunity to drive up into her, his own release coming on hard and fast. Each time their skin met, the water splashed, but nothing mattered except reaching the crest of the wave. “Come Erin!”

  “I’m there.” She clutched the edge of the tub. “Drew!”

  Under his fingers and through his body, delicious throbs signified once again she’d reached the ultimate pleasure with him. At watching her throw her head back and gasp as her orgasm flooded her and feeling the way her body drew him further inside, he had no choice but to succumb to his own climax.

  Right as she bore down, writhing against him, he gave her a final deep thrust and let go. Perfectly timed pulses radiated through every inch of his body, lasting longer than he expected. “Yes.” Like earlier, he grabbed her hips and kept her pressed down to him as the last few vibrations ebbed away.

  She collapsed against him, laying her head on his shoulder and kissing his neck. “I need you, Drew.”

  “I’m right here.” An undeniable and complete exhaustion coming over him, he embraced her and shut his eyes

  “I don’t want this road trip to end.” Her voice cracked. “I just want to be here with you.”

  Yes, the road trip offered them a definite respite, an oasis away from everything they didn’t want to face. “Well, we still need to go visit the farm, so the trip isn’t over.” He braced himself for this next part. “But we’ll have a lot to do at home. We have the Hollywood Glow line. Also, Logan texted us, they’re casting for the movie and want us there at the end of the week.”

  At first, she didn’t move. When she finally did, she simply held him tighter. “When did you find out?”

  “Before joining you in here.” He combed his fingers through her hair.

  “I’m not Roxy anymore.” The pain dripped out of her mouth with her words. “I ran from her, and when I wanted her back I couldn’t have her.”

  While he didn’t need to relive Charles, he understood her need to keep hold of Roxy. They all ran from their roles in different ways, only to find the road lead right back to them. “I think it’s your duty to choose the best predecessor you can, someone who will do the role justice.”

  “When you saw those students tonight, what did you think?”

  Not sure what her question meant, he shrugged. “I don’t know. They were a group of college students.”

  “Their parents watched us.” A shudder ran through her. “Any one of those girls in the auditorium could play Roxy now.”

  Well, when she put it that way he wondered if he needed to go get them a matching set of rocking chairs. “I’m their professor.” He wrinkled his nose.

  With a laugh, she lifted her head. “What happens when we get home?”

  “We’ll hand over the batons and go live our lives.” In an attempt to tell her how it was going to be, he leaned in and kissed her.

  “I know I have some more roles in me.” Once more, she kissed him and lowered her head.

  He looked up at the ceiling. Though he tried not to doubt her, he couldn’t help questioning his own role when she got a new role and Hollywood crept into their lives.

  HOLLYWOOD STARBURST

  INT. INDIANAPOLIS, IN – INSIDE THE BMW – NIGHT.

  The traffic crawls on the highway. STEVEN hits the steering wheel and then hits William’s shoulder.

  STEVEN

  You know, it figures we would hit traffic when we’re fifteen minutes away from the end of the trip from hell. I would have rather been studying.

  WILLIAM

  So now after over three hours you decide you’re talking?

  STEVEN

  I didn’t have anything to say until right now.

  WILLIAM

  You mean with finding out Roxy is playing both of us down to the point where she couldn’t look us in the eye. So, you had nothing to say until we hit traffic a few minutes from home?

  WILLIAM hits Steven’s shoulder

  WILLIAM

  You are the biggest asshole.

  STEVEN lifts his chin.

  STEVEN

  Hey, spread your legs there.

  WILLIAM sneers at Steven.

  STEVEN

  (Leans over to William.)

  So it’s about time you got rid of your pussy and grew a set.

  WILLIAM

  You know, at least she was going to go to you. I was the one running after her.

  STEVEN shrugs.

  STEVEN

  Just another way of running after her without saying it.

  They both glance at each other.

  WILLIAM shifts in his seat.

  WILLIAM

  I guess we both saw something different in her.

  STEVEN

  I think what matters is at the end, we saw the same thing.

  WILLIAM holds his hand out.

  WILLIAM

  Well, we’ve been friends since third grade.

  STEVEN pauses and then shakes his hand.

  STEVEN

  So since you are the sensitive one of the two of us, now what do we do?

  WILLIAM purses his lips.

  WILLIAM

  We are assholes.

  STEVEN

  Then we were perfect for her.

  WILLIAM

  I think sometimes you have to know when to drive away.

  STEVEN

  Well, this time we did it together.

  WILLIAM

  I think I’d rather fight you for her than know what I know.

  STEVEN

  Yeah, it’s better when they’re princesses.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  ERIN OPENED HER EYES, wondering who in the world put a heavy electric blanket on them, and turned it up to swelter. Thoug
h she didn't need to, she glanced at the clock, 5:00 on the dot and way too early to be in a hot box. Before heating Drew up, she decided to cool things down in here and went to get out of bed, touching Drew's arm to shimmy out from under it without waking him.

  She turned over at discovering the source of the heat. "Drew?"

  Nothing. He didn't move, didn't react.

  Before deciding on her next course of action, she pressed her palm to his forehead and then to hers. With her being overheated she had to make sure, and remembering something from one of her movie roles, she pressed her lips to him. Sure enough, her lips proved to be a more accurate gauge. Heat coursed through him and with her heart racing, she jumped out of the bed and headed for the bathroom.

  After rinsing a washcloth in cold water she dashed back to Drew. He still lay on his side and she swore his breathing sounded raspy. “Drew?”

  He let out a moan when she managed to turn him onto his back. “Erin?”

  “Are you all right?” She gently placed the cool cloth on his forehead and pressed the back of her hand to his cheek. “You’re burning up.”

  As he swallowed, he winced. “Erin.”

  “Let me get you some aspirin.” Once more she jumped up, this time dumping her toiletry bag out until she found the sought after medicine and grabbed a bottle of water on her rush back to Drew. She doled out two tablets. “Just take this.”

  Pain flashed across his face as he sat up and downed the medicine. “Give me a little bit, I’ll take care of you.” He moaned, sunk back down in the pillow and closed his eyes. “We have to get on the road.”

  “Try to rest.” She brushed his bangs to one side. No matter what, he wanted to take care of her. For a few minutes she watched him. After the cool washcloth and the aspirin, she used up everything she knew about taking care of someone that didn’t involve sex. She bit her nail. Honestly, she didn’t know anything about taking care of anyone or anything, and she was pretty sure she just gave Drew her hangover remedy. Luckily, it happened to work for fever as well.

  If this were the other way around, no doubt Drew would have something more up his sleeve. Already he was back to sleep. Even if he woke up with enough time for them to get on the road, by the looks of things, there wasn’t a chance he could sit in a car or do a meeting.

  The responsibility to take care of him fell on her and she stood. All this time she still knew he held back from her, kept his heart at bay, but maybe if she could prove she could take care of him in times of sickness, he would let her all the way in. Yes, she could do this.

  First things first, she needed to provide sustenance. Her mind instantly went to orange juice and toast. Careful not to wake Drew, she went into the bathroom to use the phone. She lifted the receiver, looked in the mirror and narrowed her eyes. Her whole life she stayed in hotels and knew the quality of their toast and juice.

  Under her watch, Drew would not have juice from a carton, and he would not take a bite of soggy lukewarm toast. With her plan in place, she pointed at her image and dialed room service.

  “Room service how can I help you?” A pleasant sounding woman answered.

  “Hello, this is Erin Holland.” She stood up straighter.

  “I was told you were at the hotel.” The woman let out a little giggle. “Ms. Holland, what can I do for you?”

  “I need something extremely specific and if you produce it for me in the next thirty minutes, I promise that before I leave the hotel I’ll autograph something special just for you.”

  “Ms. Holland, I will have whatever you need. I’m waiting.”

  Erin smiled, not only at her image, but her good little soldier. “I need an electric juicer, two pounds of fresh, organic oranges, a toaster, your best wheat bread and all the condiments that toast requires, as well as some coffee and a banana.” Of course, she could use the toaster she and Drew bought together, but it was all wrapped up in the car and it felt like they should use it at home. Well, his home.

  When the woman didn’t respond, Erin tapped her foot, but forced herself to smile before she spoke. Everyone could hear a smile. “Are you still there?”

  “Yes, Ms. Holland, and I’ll produce everything that you need. I was taking notes. I apologize for the delay.”

  “Well?”

  “Set your timer. I’ll be there in thirty minutes with everything.”

  Erin could practically see the woman salute. “What’s your first name?”

  “Martha.”

  “I’ll see you then, Martha. Don’t knock. I’ll open the door in a half hour. Go.” With conviction, she hung up the phone and again glanced in the mirror. Along with nourishment, Drew must have something beautiful to look at. That would surely be healing.

  While she could take hours getting ready, she also had the uncanny knack to look nothing if not presentable in exactly twenty-five minutes. She didn’t spend her life on a set for nothing. Every makeup and wardrobe person came with their own set of tips and in record time, she cleaned up, did her hair and makeup then tiptoed out and put on a pair of black leggings and one of Drew’s white shirts she tied at the waist. The white was a nursing color for sure.

  Before answering the door, she found one of her 8x10 glossies in her luggage, signed her name, added Martha’s name in huge letters, and right at the thirty minute mark opened the door.

  Sure enough, sometimes star power worked for good. An older round lady in a hotel uniform silently clapped. “You are Erin Holland.”

  “And you must be Martha.” She held out the photo.

  “I brought everything, including some organic honey too.” Martha wheeled the room service cart into the main room of the suite and took the present. “I can’t thank you enough.”

  “Right back at you.” Erin checked over the contents of the cart, signed the receipt and nodded. “Here’s one more signature for you.”

  Martha clutched the little folder the receipt came in to her chest. “It was an honor.”

  In a need to give the lady the full show, Erin bowed. “Thank you.” She motioned toward the door, and Martha backed out closing the door behind her.

  Before starting in, she tiptoed back to the bedroom and peeked in on her patient. He’d moved to his side, his arm outstretched as if he were looking for her. Though she longed to crawl in bed beside him, she had a mission. A mission of health, so with her head held high, she spun on her heel and returned to the main room. She proceeded to set up her workstation, starting with pouring herself a cup of coffee and taking a quick sip of the brew that wasn’t nearly as good as the French press Drew dispensed in the morning.

  A brief inventory told her she indeed received everything she requested. She plugged in the citrus juicer, assessed all its parts and components, and put a glass by the spout and sighed. Seemed to her that a juicer should be built that held the juice, it would be easy to forget the glass especially if one wasn’t a morning person. Maybe she and Drew could invent something like that. Juicing was definitely part of nutraceuticals.

  Since they didn’t provide her with a cutting board, she moved the basket of oranges off a plate, selected a fruit and a knife and proceeded to slice the orange along the equator. The two halves fell apart and she smiled at having cut the orange the correct way.

  She sipped her coffee once more and took another fruit. With a bit more flourish, she sliced through the skin, her skin, not orange skin. “Oh!” She dropped the knife and gazed down at the gash along the side of her hand, right over the scar she gave herself the last time she saw Drew after she told him no one would ever believe they could be together.

  Her career had hit a high. The cancellation of the sequel allowed her to take the role she wanted in an edgy suspense film where she played the young ingénue who the hero has to save and ended up falling in love with her. At last, Roxy was memory.

  Finished with a day of filming on her latest movie, she had driven to Brian’s office to review a couple of offers and go to dinner at that new restaurant at the west end of
Sunset. All the paparazzi gathered there and she would pretend she didn’t like her photograph taken. Maybe she would call Rye and have him tag along. Until the end of time they would be linked through their contract with Logan, they might as well make the most of it.

  Not wanting to run into some second rate wannabe star, she let herself in the back of Brian’s office. As she snuck past the file room and the screening room, she unfastened the top three buttons of her shirt and messed up her hair, giving her a little bit of the just got out of a bed and ready to get back in it look Brian loved, and tiptoed toward his office.

  No sooner had she put her hand on the doorknob then she heard him. Even muffled through the door she knew the voice like she knew her name.

  No, not Brian.

  Drew.

  Her stomach bottomed out and suddenly all the air left her lungs. Since that horrible night, she had seen him only when absolutely necessary for the Hollywood Stardust premiere. Though she tried to talk to him each and every time, he only held his hand up and walked away from her.

  Well, now she had him cornered and on her turf and she flung the door open.

  “Erin!” Brian jumped up out of the chair from behind his desk.

  Drew spun toward her.

  “You’re early.” Brian’s voice came out low as if he were trying to tell her a secret when he had been the one keeping it all along. How many times had she asked him to get Drew for her? She would deal with him later. All Brian did was cite the damn contract with Logan and Ryder stating she wouldn’t go to any lengths to contact Drew. Well, no one could account for chance meetings.