by Jemma Jones
While Chloe and Jae-Jae had flourished in New York, Annie had wilted. Annie felt like a fish out of water and Jae-Jae and Chloe bonded over New York life. At first Jae-Jae went through boyfriends the way a person with a cold goes through tissues. But Jae-Jae had settled down and had been with the same boyfriend since their trio had gone separate ways. Jae-Jae lovingly referred to his boyfriend, Alec, as his sugar daddy. Alec was twenty years older than Jae-Jae and rich as hell. He owned three exclusive art galleries in Soho, as well as a few other ones in New York.
“What are you doing? Laying around your lovely penthouse eating bon-bons?” Chloe teased.
Jae-Jae laughed. “I’m actually knee-deep in fabric. I miss you! I need your advice for my new blouses!”
Chloe pouted. “I wish I could come help you! But today was my first day on the new play and I promised Ben we would have dinner tonight.”
“I’m such a bad friend! How was your first day? If I wasn’t so busy with my head up my ass, I would have remembered!”
“It was great, really. Actually, I have an awesome part. I haven’t told Ben yet, but I’m going to get to kiss whatever famous person they get to sign on!”
“Jealous!” Jae-Jae cried out. “You better text me the minute you know, so I can come stalk you at the theatre. I so hope its Matthew McConaughey!”
“Mmm, me too!” Chloe paused, “But I heard he doesn’t wear deodorant!”
“Who cares? If you look like that, you can get away without wearing deodorant! I’m sure he smells delish!”
Chloe shook her head. “Heading down to the subway now so I’m going to lose you.”
“Ugg! That place is dreadful! You should take cabs,” Jae-Jae said disdainfully.
“Well we can’t all have our own successful clothing line and live with wealthy millionaires,” Chloe chided. “And you were perfectly content riding the subway with me back in our early days.”
“Yes, but that was before I knew how to truly live,” Jae-Jae explained patiently.
“You’re ridiculous,” Chloe laughed, “Bye!” she said happily before she jumped on a train that was just ready to leave.
***
A few hours later, Chloe had whipped up some chicken, broccoli and pasta and she was waiting for Ben to come home. She decided to dress up a bit, and she put on Ben’s favorite dress; a skimpy black one that showed a lot of her back. Chloe thought she was subconsciously trying to butter him up for when she told him she would be making out with whoever was cast in the show.
“Damn, baby!” Ben exclaimed, as he walked in the door. His eyes roved appreciatively up and down her body and he dropped his satchel, moving towards her.
“Why are you wearing this?” he murmured, pushing her up against the stove and nuzzling against her neck.
“Just knew it was something you liked,” she said airily, hoping that Ben wouldn’t see through her.
“It is definitely something I like,” he said, his voice low and gruff. “Are you dessert?” he growled seductively.
Chloe wriggled out from under him. “I can be,” she said just as seductively, sauntering across the tiny kitchen as she laid out their napkins.
Ben sat across from her at the table, barely paying attention to his food as he ate. “Why do you look so damn hot tonight?” he asked.
Chloe just shrugged.
As they neared the end of their dinner, and Chloe had chatted about her cast mates, she tried to be as nonchalant as possible.
“So, my part is pretty interesting,” she said vaguely.
“How so?”
“Well, I have history with another character in the show. We’re ex-lovers.”
“I hope you don’t rekindle that love,” Ben said darkly.
Chloe laughed nervously. “Not exactly.”
Ben placed his fork down and gave her a pointed look.
Chloe gulped. “So, my character has a bit of an affair with the professor.”
Ben stared at her blankly. “The professor? As in the celebrity? The famous, older celebrity?”
Wordlessly, Chloe nodded.
“Well, that’s just great,” Ben said sarcastically. “Haven’t you lucked out? Not only were you cast in your first show, but now you get to make out with some celebrity in front of loads of people every night.”
“Ben!”
He pushed back his chair and jumped up, pacing the small kitchen.
“You know how I hate that, Chlo! Why can’t you be a teacher or something?”
“What?” She felt angry tears well up in her eyes. “A teacher?” she spluttered. “You knew exactly who I was the day you met me! Now, you suddenly decide you want me to have some stuffy career?”
Ben looked embarrassed. “That’s not what I meant.”
“That’s exactly what you meant! A nice, safe career where I don’t get to kiss other people!”
“Well, yes! When you put it that way!”
“You’re being ridiculous! It’s acting! It’s pretending! I’m getting paid to do it!”
Ben stormed into the living room. “So who is this mystery professor?”
“I don’t know,” she said honestly.
“You must have some idea,” he said snidely. Chloe knew he was going to be upset, but she hadn’t expected this much anger.
“Well, they mentioned John Stamos and Robert Downey, Jr.”
“John Fucking Stamos? Are you kidding me?”
Chloe nodded. Ben knew she had a huge crush on Uncle Jesse from Full House.
“Unfuckingbelievable.”
“I can’t believe you!” Chloe yelled, feeling her anger get the better of her. “This is my first real job! I’ve made it on Broadway and you’re ruining this for me! I can’t control what parts I get! It’s not like I’m doing nudity! It’s just some kissing.”
She ran from the room before Ben could see her cry. She flung herself on the bed, crying quietly, trying to understand why Ben was ruining this happy moment for her.
“Chlo?”
Chloe hadn’t heard Ben enter the room.
“Chlo?” he repeated, “I’m really sorry. You’re right. I’m being a complete dick. I’m sorry. I just get so nuts when I think of other guys getting to kiss you.”
Chloe sniffed but didn’t say anything.
“I just love you so much. I don’t want to share you.”
Chloe sat up. “You’re not sharing me. I’m your fiancée.”
Ben nodded. “I can’t stand the thought of someone else touching you. Whether or not the feelings are real or pretend.”
Chloe rolled her eyes and turned away.
Ben sat on the bed and moved towards her.
“Chloe,” he pleaded, his voice husky. “Let’s makeup.”
Chloe felt a small smile; she and Ben always had great makeup sex.
“I don’t know,” she said sullenly, wanting to make him work for it.
“Chloe,” he pleaded desperately, “I need to have you. Especially after being a douche. Not to mention seeing you in this dress.”
“Fine,” she assented, giving him a coy glance as she slid up the bed away from him.
“You’re making me work for it,” he realized, clearly aroused. He crawled across the bed, climbing on top of Chloe and pinning her down.
“Oh!” Chloe gasped, as Ben held her in place, his tongue tracing the delicate curve of her neck.
Chloe writhed beneath him, feeling her heart quicken as the blood pumped in her veins. Hungrily, Ben shoved her dress up her thighs and he moaned softly when he saw her mesh thong. He reached down with one of his hands and tugged the material down her thighs.
“Since the moment I’ve set eyes on you tonight, I can’t stop thinking about tasting you.”
Chloe groaned as she felt Ben’s hot mouth on her delicate skin. Ben’s hands grabbed at her ass, squeezing her flesh and making her feel his need for her. With each stroke of his tongue, Chloe felt herself climb higher and just as she was about to lose control, Ben pulled back.
“Of course,” she crooned, as Ben lay down on his back and sighed. Chloe crawled on top of him, and took his ready cock into her mouth. Ben groaned loudly as she encased him, and Chloe slid up and down his length, just as he liked.
“Oh, Chloe baby. It feels so good,” he groaned, as he reached down and rubbed his balls.
Chloe pulled her long hair to the side as she began to move quickly up and down his shaft, running her teeth along his ridges. She felt Ben tangle his hands in her hair and lightly pull her down to him. He released her just a bit, and Chloe came back to his swollen tip, licking and sucking at the pink skin.
“You’re going to make me cum!” he growled, yanking her off him.
Sitting up, Ben moved towards Chloe, tugging her dress straps down.
“I don’t want anyone else touching you,” he murmured kissing down her collarbone.
“I’m in a play, not a porno,” she emphasized.
“Not funny.”
Ben moved his mouth past her collarbone and over the delicate skin of her breasts. Chloe rolled her head back in pleasure, wrapping her hands around Ben’s thick thighs. Ben trailed his tongue down her breast and flicked at her nipple.
“More,” Chloe gasped as Ben sucked on her nipple, taking her whole breast into his mouth as his other hand squeezed her breast. He went back and forth between her breasts, driving Chloe wild. Her desire was almost too much, and she reached down between her legs, rubbing her swollen nub to help to alleviate her desire; she knew she needed to come.
“No, no,” Ben whispered, “No touching yourself.”
“Ben, please,” she whimpered.
“No, I want you to come while we’re fucking.”
“I need to come now!”
Ben slid his hand down her body and ran his fingers between her outer lips.
“Oh, baby, you are so wet,” he groaned, pulling his hand back and licking his fingers.
Sometimes Ben was so damn hot.
He reached down and began stroking himself. “You want me to give you what you want?” he asked softly.
“Yes!”
“How bad do you want it?”
“Ben!”
“How bad?”
“I’m desperate!”
“Argh!”
Ben shoved her back down and in one swift movement, pushed himself deep inside her.
Chloe cried out, arching her back as she felt Ben move deep within her. Ben slid back out, making sure that Chloe felt all of him, as he possessed her again before slowly dragging himself out once more.
Chloe rocked her hips to Ben, rising to meet every thrust. The bed squeaked and the headboard angrily knocked against the wall.
Chloe didn’t care.
Ben pounded into her with an almost animalistic urgency. It was as if he was trying to remind Chloe that she was his.
“Ben!” Chloe gasped as the headboard banged loudly. Usually it made a slight noise, but this time it was hammering against the wall.
Ben only grunted, continuing to drive into her. Chloe couldn’t think any more of the neighbors and she slid her hand down to her clit, rubbing herself. Ben was too busy pounding into her that he didn’t notice her touching herself. Chloe felt herself climb higher and higher, she was on the brink - and then she was falling.
“Argh!” she cried out as she shook violently under Ben, her insides clenching around him.
Ben cried out loudly, slamming into her one final time, before he twitched and quickly pulled out, spurting his hot semen all over her belly. Even though Chloe was on birth control, Ben never came inside of her; he was too afraid of the off chance of getting pregnant.
After they both had stilled, they lay together on the bed, a tangled mass of limbs.
Chloe absolutely loved having sex with Ben, and she enjoyed it, but for some reason this time she felt that something was slightly amiss.
“You’re amazing,” Ben whispered, spooning her naked body.
“You’re not mad?” she couldn’t help asking, knowing she sounded pathetic. This was her career; she had nothing to apologize for.
“I don’t like it, but no, I’m not mad.”
Chloe relaxed. She snuggled back into Ben and fell asleep, feeling grateful for everything she had.
***
The next two weeks flew by and Chloe found herself getting into character. The group was really getting along and the storylines were starting to blossom. It was hard having Edward stand in as the professor, and the actors were desperate for their last cast mate to join the production.
One morning, Jae-Jae had offered to meet Chloe for an early coffee before rehearsal. She had rushed out of the apartment, kissing Ben quickly as she dashed towards the subway.
Twenty minutes later she burst into the tiny Starbucks and saw Jae-Jae waiting for her, shimming between the two seats he was saving. His face lit up when he saw her and he reached out to hug Chloe.
Jae-Jae, who was formerly known as Jeffrey Jackson, had adopted his nickname when he moved to New York. He refused to spell it JJ, arguing that two initials were much too masculine.
“You look great!” Jae-Jae gushed, checking out Chloe’s harem pants and spaghetti tank top.
“Not as great as you,” Chloe argued. Jae-Jae was dressed in tight lime green jeans and a black military jacket that was cut into rags and somehow sewed back together. He was wearing black Converse, and his shaggy blonde hair hung to his shoulders. Jae-Jae had a great face, with bright blue eyes and a straight nose. Chloe always wondered why he hadn’t gone into modeling.
Chloe ordered a non-fat Frappucino and sat down.
“So I think we’re going to find out who the star is today,” she said excitedly.
Jae-Jae clapped his hands together. “Matthew! Matthew! Matthew!” he chanted.
“I hope its John Stamos,” she said dreamily.
Jae-Jae made a face. “Uncle Jesse? He’s such a has-been. He’s been doing all those lame yogurt commercials lately. What the eff?”
Chloe loved how Jae-Jae refused to cuss and instead pronounced only the beginning letters of the words. He commonly referred to Alec’s ex-lover as “the wretched B” instead of bitch.
“Well I don’t think it would be Matthew McConaughey. Didn’t he just have another baby?” she asked, taking a big sip of her drink.
“Well, I don’t think he actually had the baby, but yes, I believe his wife did.”
Chloe narrowed her eyes. “Smart ass.”
“Well, I’m dying with anticipation,” he said overdramatically. “I want you to text me the second you know.”
“Will do.”
Chloe noticed that Jae-Jae looked particularly chipper this morning and high in spirits. She narrowed her eyes again. “Did you and Alec… you know?”
she asked.
“If you mean screw like a pair of rabbits in heat, then yes we did,” he said cheerfully, smiling a wide satisfied smile.
Chloe shook her head ruefully. “You are too much,” she paused, taking in how happy her friend looked. “How is Alec?”
Chloe had always liked Alec, even though Ben wasn’t crazy about him. He was originally from Russia, and still had a slight accent, which Chloe loved. Ben couldn’t understand how Jae-Jae could be attracted to someone twenty years older, but Chloe was a firm believer that love had no age. Alec was dashing and handsome and he treated Jae-Jae like gold. She was happy Jae-Jae had found him.
“Did you know Annie’s pregnant again?” Jae-Jae asked, sipping his drink.
Chloe slammed her cup down. “No!”
Jae-Jae shrugged. “I thought you would have known.”
“She doesn’t tell me much anymore,” Chloe said, a slight note of resentment in her voice. The friends hadn’t left on the b
est of terms and Annie had seemed to throw herself back into her old suburban life after leaving New York. She began dating one of their old high school classmates immediately, and married him quickly. Chloe had been in the wedding, but she felt like she had been asked out of obligation and not because Annie had wanted her there.
Annie was pregnant within four months of her wedding date, and her daughter was only five or six months old.
“Barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen,” Jae-Jae sang.
Chloe was still shocked over Annie’s quickly expanding family. She glanced at her watch.
“Shit! I’ve got five minutes!”
She hopped up and kissed Jae-Jae on the cheek. “Let’s do dinner soon. I miss Alec!”
“You’re sweet. I would say I miss Ben, but I don’t.”
Chloe swatted him. She knew that Jae-Jae was only half-joking. Jae-Jae had never come out and said he didn’t like Ben, but he had alluded to the fact that he didn’t think she and Ben were right for each other. Jae-Jae, not so surprisingly, thought Ben was too jealous.
“Love you!” Chloe called out as she left.
Jae-Jae blew her a kiss.
Chloe dashed the two blocks to the studio, desperate for word on who the star was. This was also their last day before moving to the Booth; on Monday morning they would be in their actual rehearsal space. Over the past two weeks, the tech crew had been busy at work building the set.
Chloe burst into the space to find five other expectant faces. Ni gave a discreet shake of the head to let Chloe know that she hadn’t missed the announcement yet. Edward was all but bouncing on his heels, he seemed so excited.
“So,” Edward began dramatically, “Now that we’re all here,” he said, giving Chloe a pointed look, “I am beyond thrilled over who we have been able to sign.”
Chloe took a seat at the table between Luc and Ni.
“As I mentioned before we had been in talks with John Stamos and Robert Downey, Jr, neither of which worked out.”
Jenny sighed loudly.
“Don’t get upset yet!” Edward cried. “Turns out there was someone interested that I hadn’t even considered!” He paused theatrically, waiting for the others to say something but everyone remained quiet.