by Pamela Ann
“There’s no point in arguing you, is there? See you later girls!” I laughed and cut off the call before they added anymore innuendoes my way.
I washed my face and wiped my make-up off. How did I bring up my dire ride situation to Bass? What if he has other plans? Maybe I could call a taxi to take me—or better yet I could just rent a car somewhere. With a quick application of my lip gloss, I came out of the bathroom.
Upon entering the kitchen, Bass gave me a dazzling smile. “Come sit and talk to me while I cook. Which hotel are you and your friends staying at again? I’ll drive you there myself.”
I strode towards the kitchen island and sat on one of the stools and watched him master the kitchen. “That might be a problem. It seems that they all left already and I’m stuck alone in Los Angeles.”
“No problem. I can take you back to campus.” He shrugged and continued to chop mushrooms like a Michelin chef. Impressive.
“Where did you learn how to cook?”
“I was a chef in one of my movies and I had to train with this five-star chef for three months before shooting.”
“Wow, three months? What movie was it?” I hadn’t seen any of his films except for that first vampire movie. Amber and Cece had told me there were two and another one in the works.
Bass smirked at my innocent question. “How many films of mine have you seen, Emma?” He cracked four eggs in a bowl, peppered them and added a dash of salt, and rapidly scrambled them. His large hands were even nice…
“Knights of Cimmerian.”
“Did you like it?” He lightly inquired as he drizzled olive oil on the heated pan.
“Sure, it was great!” I fibbed.
“What did you like about it?” He pressed on, again.
Shoot.
You’re rock-hard abs and that sexy, crazy, erotically charged sex scene that had gotten me so aroused in the movie theater. I clearly remember how his sculpted, firm ass looked as he made love to the woman in the movie.
”Everything…it was…great.” I bit my lip as I looked at him through my lashes.
He barked out a loud laugh.
And what a…fucking stop it, Emma. I scolded myself as I lusted from afar.
“It’s either you didn’t like it or you weren’t paying attention. So which is which?”
Busted! I suck at lying.
“I wasn’t paying attention. Sorry. When you asked, I didn’t know what to tell you to be honest.”
“Don’t worry babe, I’m not offended.” He winked at me as he prepared our breakfast.
I made toast the bread, coffee, and cut up some fruits.
We ate at the island counter and I noticed how his eyes looked even more spell-binding in the daylight.
After breakfast/brunch, it was past noon when we left his house and drove back to Santa Barbara. His bright blue Lamborghini Gallardo weaved through the traffic. I couldn’t help but look at his hands when he shifted gears. I love men that can drive a stick.
He looked so fucking edible in his aviator shades, wearing a simple white shirt and dark jeans. He looked like every bit of the heartthrob that he was. I’m crushing hard on Bass.
As we got closer to school my stomach nose-dived at the thought of seeing Carter again. Did he hook up with another woman last night? Quite possibly, it didn’t take him long last time to jump in bed with me after his conquest before me. It was what? Two days, three maybe? We had sex on our second date. We almost did it on the first date but we ended up hitting a party with our friends afterwards and we were too drunk to do much else that night.
Carter doesn’t talk about his feelings at all. Instead, he expresses them through his actions, usually during sex. When we fought or he was angry he would take me hard and fast. When he’s happy, he teased me and tickled me and left me begging for him to take me. Yeah, I think I fell hard during his happy phases, sadly.
I still hadn’t read the rest of his messages, but I can’t fathom going over them right now.
I bet he’s just angry that I’m with Bass only a day after I dumped him.
What else would he be so angry about?
“Much unhappiness has come into the world because of bewilderment and things left unsaid.”
- Fyodor Dostoevsky
8
When we exited the freeway and close to my place, I gave Bass directions to my dorm and we got there five minutes later.
H parked and killed the engine. He looked at me silently.
The silence stretched for a good minute before I spoke. Unsure how to take it from here…
“It was nice to meet you, Bass. It really was. I had a great time, bizarre but enjoyable nonetheless.” I grinned at the studious man beside me.
My smile faltered when he didn’t smile back. Why was he so serious all of a sudden? We were fine when we left his house.
“I have this dinner thing on Tuesday night for a film I just signed up for to shoot this summer in Greece. Would you come with me and be my date?”
“Oh, don’t you all discuss work details, though? I don’t want to intrude on that.” Not to mention, I would look like a complete idiot and so out of place.
“You won’t. It’ll be fun. The director is my godfather, actually. So it’s going to be laidback, don’t worry. You’re going to have a blast. Say you’ll go with me?”
“Do people ever tell you no?” I cocked my brow at him. I somehow doubt he ever gets a ‘no’…especially from women.
A lazy gorgeous smile etched on his face as he responded. “Well, there’s this girl…she’s stunning and funny…she has these beautiful blue eyes and golden hair…and she doesn’t seem to be interested in me, not one bit. Well as I, on the other hand, feel compelled to be with her and see more of her.”
I nudged his arm. “Now you’re just being silly, Bass.”
“I’ll pick you up at five, Tuesday afternoon?” He reached up to my face and his thumb and grazed my lip. His eyes darkened as he studied my lips.
Why doesn’t he just kiss me already? He keeps staring at them all the time.
Oh, hell yeah, I knew. My skin would prickle every time he did—that’s how I knew. His gaze was that powerful, it affected me even if I wasn’t looking or paying attention.
“Bass…”
He looked at me, his eyes unreadable. “Did you love that guy you were with, Em?”
My throat ran dry. “Unfortunately, yes.”
“I knew you did. I just needed confirmation. Thank you for your honesty.” Alright…then.
He got out of the car and opened the door for me. I cleared my throat as I stared at him—the sun was glowing behind him, almost blinding me. “Bass, I think you’re great. But I don’t think I’m what you’re looking for. Everything’s complicated with me right now.”
He held my chin and it forced me to look deep into his eyes—powerful in their passion, acute in their force.
It reached something inside me.
“Aren’t we starting out as friends as we agreed upon? Don’t worry, Em.” Bass gently kissed my forehead. “Be ready by five come Tuesday afternoon. I’ll see you then.” With that parting, he slid back inside his car, gunned the engine and raced out into traffic.
I was standing on the pavement, rendered speechless.
What a man…
With my purse in hand, I strode toward my building and into my dorm. Thoughts of the night spent with Bass raced through my mind. The sunrise…each time I see them now—it will forever bring me back to my memory of the night I spent with Bass.
I was about to unlock my room when the door was yanked open by an angry looking Carter.
What was he doing here? Probably to see Lindsey, they were siblings after all.
”Uh…hello," I said lamely and started to walk towards my bedroom.
Carter jumped out of nowhere.
“Is that all you have to say? A fucking hello?!” He screeched.
In my sleep deprived state, it annoyed the hell out of me. What a drama queen! I tho
ught lamely. I could not be bombarded by him right now when I’m a bit tizzy.
I turned around to face him and folded my arms across my chest. “What do you want Carter?”
Carter pulled me inside my room and loudly shut the door. He shoved me up against the wall and placed his hands on each side of my head, caging me in. His ever signature pissed off move. “What I want is for you to explain what the hell you’re doing? The entire school knows about your little getaway and your little stint with that actor dude.”
So, what? Who cares about the entire school? I had fun and that’s all that mattered.
“That’s none of your business, Carter, and certainly not the entire campus’s either. I could care less about what they think. Now, will you please move? I need to rest. I’m exhausted.”
It was too late to realize that that was the wrong thing to say. It set off something in Carter.
He looked downright murderous.
“You’re exhausted? From what, Em?” Carter’s voice had gone low and deadly.
I swallowed as I studied him. He looked deadly.
His eyes were so dark and dangerous. Have I pushed his buttons too far? No matter how angry he was, I knew for a fact that he would never ever hit me.
“I said. That’s. None. Of. Your. Business. Got it?” I spat the words back at him. If he was angry, I was angrier.
How dare he march in here and act like this?
“Don’t do this to me, Em…this is driving me insane!” He grounded out, wretchedly.
I wasn’t expecting that.
Never from him.
I felt a spring of hope…maybe…just maybe…
“I thought we were done?” I asked, watching him with uncertainty, gauging his thoughts.
He closed his eyes and whispered, “I know. But I can’t stomach the thought of you with another guy. I just can’t. I’m going crazy here, Emma.”
Oh fuck, I feel torn. Did he have a change of heart?
Oh, fuck it! It’s now or never.
Emboldened, I went for the kill.
“Do you love me?” I throatily asked.
His eyes instantly opened with my damning question, searching and pensive.
“I told you I don’t do love, Em,” Carter responded with distaste.
His words gutted me all the same. What was I thinking? He wouldn’t just change after a few days.
“Then there’s no point of you being here, now is there Carter?”
His dark eyes penetrated mine and my heart stopped when he spoke. “Are you in love with me, Em? Is that what this is all about?” His hand cupped my cheek. The sudden contact of him, almost undid me.
For some odd reason, I wanted to cry. I love him so much, it’s crazy. I feel crazy for wanting him to love me—even just a small fraction of what I felt for him.
But alas, it was not meant to be.
“I don’t.” It was the greatest lie of all but I wouldn’t back down knowing he didn’t feel the same way about me.
“You don’t sound convincing to me because if that’s the reason why you broke it off, then I don’t mind that as long as you’re with me again.” He emphasized. How embarrassing is that?
He doesn’t mind that I love him, does he? Well, great. Good for him because I fucking mind! I minded that he doesn’t feel shit about me.
Romantic, is it not?
“Well, that’s your problem. Now, will you please get out of my room? I haven’t slept much last night and I need some sleep.”
“Em, is it true? Did you spend the night with him?” His voice sounded pained again.
Was it pain, really? Or is it his bruised ego because I ended on our blasted sexual relationship?
The question was a double entendre and I didn’t know which answer to give him.
Did I spend the night with Bass? Yeah, I did.
But did I have sex with him? That’s a definite no.
“He took me back to his home. We spent the night together if that’s what you want to know.” I pressed my lips together as I watched all kinds of emotions run through his eyes…his face. I wanted to reach out to him, but I didn’t.
We were past that.
His eyes, the way he looked at me, sliced me in two. There was so much hatred there, I felt pained and wretched.
He punched the wall next to me so hard and growled like a maniac. I was surprised that the wall didn’t have a hole in it. His knuckles, from what I could see, were cut open and bleeding, but it didn’t seem to faze him.
“Goodbye, Emma,” Carter whispered and immediately marched out of my room.
My life.
What a stupid mess this was.
I guess this is really goodbye for us.
It was the conclusion, the ending.
But why wasn’t I crying? The night we officially broke it off, I felt every single pain that wracked through my body. But now, I didn’t feel any of that. Sure there was still pain, but not as intense or numbing. It was bearable.
Heavy on my heart but bearable.
It took me a good five minutes before I was able to move. I stripped off my clothing and jumped into bed in my underwear.
I just wanted to hide inside my comforter and curl up.
I dozed off a few minutes after my head hit the pillow.
“Sometimes you need a second chance, because time wasn’t ready for the first time.”
- Author Unknown
9
I barely made it to my Literature class the next day. I slept so soundly that I didn’t even hear my loud alarm clock. Once I realized the time when I did wake up, I didn’t even want to get out of bed.
Lazy bones.
For one thing, I knew the rumor mill was spreading about Bass and me. Second, I knew Carter would be around campus and from our heated encounter yesterday, I honestly did not want to see him so soon.
After an hour discussion on Leo Tolstoy, the class was dismissed. As I got up to gather my belongings, two girls stopped in front of me.
“Is it true? That you’re the mystery woman?”
I’m a what?
“I beg your pardon?” I questioned, looking wholly baffled at the two enthusiastic women.
“You’re Bass Cole’s mystery woman. You’re all over the gossip blogs and gossip magazines.” No. Fucking. Way.
“Sorry, I have to go and be somewhere,” I excused myself and left them whispering to each other.
Bass hadn’t tried to contact me since yesterday when he dropped me off. I admit was a little worried about that.
I was at the coffee shop enjoying my macchiato when Trista and Amber walked over to my table. Trista slapped a magazine down as they both sat across from me, each with a mile wide grin on their faces.
My eyes immediately darted to it. ‘Who is Bass Cole’s Mystery Woman’ it said in bold blue lettering. It was a picture of us leaving the club, Bass’s arm clutched on my hip as he guided me towards the SUV. The other picture, on the other hand, was something else entirely. The picture was taken through the gates of his home and it showed him opening the car door for me—I was dressed in the same clothes from the club picture—and as I looked up to his face, I was smiling and looking rather…well, happy. It looked like we had a great night fucking each other’s brains out.
Pictures could really be deceiving. But it seemed like his fans were going on an online rampage trying to figure out who I was from what little I read in the article.
“This IS bad,” I muttered, freaking the hell out.
I wasn’t worried about my parents because they barely had time to watch the news let alone read a gossip magazine. But still, how was this going to affect me–what were people going to think of me?
“You think? This is awesome babe! You’re like Bass Cole’s girlfriend!”
“I am not! Stop saying that. People might hear you,” I hissed at her as I looked around the coffee shop.
I warned her off but she was grinning like she won the lottery.
“Oh, shut up! This is gr
eat! You should enjoy it! I mean—you should really enjoy Bass Cole…I would happily sell my grandmother if I could spend a night with him in my arms…what I wouldn’t give to be with him for one night…” She trailed off, day dreaming her wits out.
Even if I wanted to ‘enjoy Bass and all his glorified scrumptious body’, the man wouldn’t even dare kiss me knowing the kind of emotional rut I was in.
“It’s not like that with us—Trust me. I admitted that I had just broken up with Carter and stuff. So, that put him off a bit, I think.”
Trista’s eyes bulged out. “Fooor real? Emma! You’re crazy! What woman would say shit like that when you’re out with the hottest shit in Hollywood?” Trista looked stressed out as she looked at me.
I couldn’t stop the bubble of laughter that threatened to crack.
Her expression was just too hilarious.
“So, did he like dump you already? He’s quite known for his one-night stands! I guess it’s a good thing that he did dump you…it’s not like you need another Carter in your life, you know? Yeah, Emma, you’re better off without Bass.” Trista looked like she was trying to convince herself more than me.
Poor thing, she was so invested I felt bad seeing her this way.
“Actually, I am seeing him for dinner tomorrow. He signed on a movie and some of the cast members are going to be there as well. Get to know each other and whatnot.”
She jumped out of her seat and lunged at me with a big hug. Her shrieking caused some of the people to look at us to see what the ruckus was all about. I did say she was always damn cheery, didn’t I?
“Trista Stevens, did you forget to take your anti-psychotic pill again?” That question made Trista laugh so hard she started to tear.
“This is why I love you Amber. Your twisted sense of humor never fails to entertain my boring life.” Both of them were the best of friends, they even had the same twisted sense of humor.
“Love you too, Tris.” Amber blew Trista a kiss when she rounded the table.
“O.M.G. Is that you doll?” Amber gasped at the magazine as she frantically went over the pages, seeking the article about me and Bass.