by Wendy Louise
Sweet froufrou drinks have never really been my thing, but I’m not about to argue with the tall, dark, handsome specimen in front of me. “Okay,” I state.
“Back in a minute, I’ll bring you one too Liv.” He bends and pecks my sister on the lips before turning towards the bar.
“Liv, he seems adorable. What a sweetheart. He’s so good looking too.” I fan my face to push the point home and my sister giggles.
Yes! She giggles!
Very un-Olivia-like.
She gives me a knowing smile, “I know. He is. I’m starting to really fall for him. I just don’t want anything to go wrong that could upset the movie. If anything happened and we weren’t together I think it would make things really awkward.” This is a very level-headed version of my sister. Usually she jumps in with both feet.
I like this side of her.
“I understand. Better not to fraternise with work colleagues. Bit late for that though now isn’t it? You both seem really taken with one another and I think it’s sweet. I‘ve never seen you smile like that at anyone before. Not even David Grant,” I say with a wink.
David was my sister’s childhood sweetheart. They were together for four years while we were in High School. He adored her, and she adored him adoring her. It was sweet in a weird kind of way.
“Oh please Ava, David was my high school boyfriend, I have so moved past that by now.”
“I know but you were pretty serious with him, and you never looked at him the way you just looked at Ryan. Not once.” I raise my eye brows at Olivia to let her know that I noticed the difference.
She shrugs and looks out over the party. “Well I’m still playing things cool at the moment. I don’t want to jeopardise the relationship or the movie.”
“Well good for you, you’re thinking smart and reaping the benefits of having a gorgeous looking guy on your arm.” This town has obviously made Olivia do some growing up. She has always been street smart, well much more so than me, but she seems even more so now. More responsible, older, more grounded.
Ryan returns with two yellowy-green looking cocktails in martini glasses. I raise mine to my lips and take a sip of the sweet syrupy drink. It’s actually pretty nice and quite refreshing on this warm evening in LA. I don’t want to drink too much tonight. I’m still tired from my flight and my body clock is not running to LA time yet. Too much alcohol would only make that worse so I pace myself with the martini.
“So Ryan, your home is amazing.” I say, trying to make small talk.
“Thanks Ava, I’ve been here for about two years now. I love it. I had the pool and kitchen remodelled when I bought it, but other than that I loved it on sight. It’s my oasis in the middle of busy LA.” He smiles and he really is incredibly handsome. Seeing them side by side, he and my sister make an incredibly attractive couple.
“Hey Ava!”
I turn to see Joshua and Chelsea heading towards me. Chelsea looks so cute in a red baby doll dress and killer red heels. Her blonde hair is curled and is tumbling over her shoulders, bouncing with each step she takes. Joshua looks proud to have her on his arm.
“Ava, come dance with us. Plus we owe you some shots,” Chelsea says in her cute voice.
I down the rest of my martini - so much for taking it slow - and turn to Olivia and Ryan to excuse myself. I head back towards the dance floor with Joshua and Chelsea leading the way. I hope that Ethan is no longer there because I don’t think my legs or my heart could take another dance with him. Avoiding him for the remainder of tonight is my newest mission.
We three head to the centre of the pulsing dance floor and start to move. Grayson’s band is playing a really fast up-tempo song and the crowd are all singing along to it, so it is obviously one of the favourites. Everyone is jumping on their feet and the atmosphere is electric. Grayson’s voice is amazing and he is very sexy on stage. Totally at home in the limelight. He touches the microphone like he is caressing a woman and looks over the crowd with hooded eyes, never missing a beat or a lyric.
I can’t believe that these guys aren’t a household name – they are so good.
Grayson makes eye contact with me as my eyes run over the length of him on that stage, and he gives me a cheeky wink. I feel the blush rising from my neck at being caught gazing at him. I let myself go with the music and start to dance like I would at home, like no one is watching. No doubt the alcohol has helped to lessen my inhibitions. Joshua and Chelsea are beaming at one another and jumping about in the same way as I am. I’m grateful to have made two new friends already.
Grayson announces another song and the crowd all whistle and cheer. He then turns towards the microphone and says, “Hey Everyone, we have a newbie here tonight and I think we need to give her the full Hollywood Awesome Rebel treatment. This is Ava, Olivia Lucas’ sister.”
Oh No!
The crowd all cheer as Grayson gestures towards me, the spotlight following his hand until it bathes me in light, and I feel my face heating up for what feels like the millionth time tonight. I hate being the centre of attention. I just want to curl up in a ball and hide.
“Get on up here Ava,” he calls through the microphone.
I want to kill Grayson right about now.
I fix a smile to my face as I make my way to the stairs beside the stage and slowly climb. Grayson is staring at me with the most adorable grin on his face. He really is sexy. Right now though, I want to punch him.
Hard.
When I reach the stage I don’t look out over the crowd, because that would terrify me. I look straight at Grayson who hands me a tambourine.
“Ever played one of these before? All newcomers to our little circle have to break in the tambourine. Your sister has done it before, now it’s your turn.” He smiles at me, and I feel a little of my fear melt away – that smile could light the night sky.
Little does Grayson know that when I was at University we used to frequent the on-campus bar on band nights. We would all take turns playing the tambourine with the in-house band. I was pretty good at it too. I definitely have rhythm. I’m not about to reveal that to Grayson though. I take the tambourine from him and give him the dirtiest look I can muster. He breaks out in to a laugh which causes me to grin at him. I can’t stay mad at him when he looks at me like that.
Grayson’s smooth voice takes the microphone. “This one’s just for you Ava,” he says as he points to me. The music kicks in and I recognise that they’re playing a cover of Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars - one of my favourites.
As the beat kicks in, I can’t help but get into it as the crowd all start to jump about again, not paying me too much attention. I start by slapping the tambourine to the beat against my thigh. Grayson smiles at me encouragingly and I start to relax in to the tempo of the song. By half way through I’m alternating between slapping the instrument on my thigh and giving it a shake, before slapping it rhythmically against my palm. I’m having fun and feel like I’m starting to become part of this strange new place that I now inhabit.
By the end of the song I hand the tambourine back to Grayson and thank him. I enjoyed that. I think the buzz of alcohol in my system helped me relax and get through it.
Grayson smiles at me. “You did great Ava; I’ll have to get you back up here again. You’ve got rhythm girl.”
I shake my head at him and smile, before descending the stairs carefully in my high heels and heading back to my new friends on the dance floor.
The tempo of the next song Grayson starts is slow and everyone starts to couple up. Joshua and Chelsea are already in each other’s arms – yes definitely something going on there – so I start to head off to find Liv.
Before I take my second step, strong arms encircle my waist before I can reach the end of the dance floor, and turn me around.
Ethan looks down on me and says, “Stay and dance with me.” His deep voice skitters across my skin, and I know that where he is concerned I am screwed.
Totally.
Comp
letely.
Utterly.
Screwed!
My body is traitorous and I know he can feel my pulse speeding up under his touch.
Ethan hooks his arm around me again and brings me flush against him. Tighter than last time. He’s not being as careful, and the thought both thrills and terrifies me.
I place my arms around his strong back to ground myself, and I can feel his muscles flexing and releasing beneath his shirt as he moves in time to the music. Looking up I find him staring right at me, so intense and so possessive.
He is really beautiful.
He drugs me - with his eyes, and his scent and his body as it moves against mine. I can’t seem to move my focus from his and I’m not sure that I want to. I’m on Ethan overload. I never want it to end.
The music picks up in intensity and Ethan spins me in his arms so my back is flush against his chest. He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me back against him.
Hard.
I’m pinned against him chest to hip and it feels electric. His hands move back down to my hips, skimming my sides before he digs his fingertips in to my flesh causing a flutter of excitement to pulse through me. I can feel his arousal against my lower back and I can’t get enough.
He’s big.
And hard.
And big….
I push my ass back in to him and I feel, rather than hear the gasp, as he attempts to take in air. I love knowing that I have affected him this way.
I feel powerful.
I feel female.
I feel strong.
I feel sexy.
I place my hands over his on my hips and we move together in a deeper rhythm, bending our knees and sweeping our hips. My heart is beating so fast and my pulse feels like hummingbird wings. I know he feels it and I can feel it from him too. I don’t know why I’m not stopping this. He is so out of my league, but I can’t seem to help it.
He bends his head and I can feel his hot breath on my ear. Goosebumps break out across the surface of my skin. “Ava…” he says in a low voice. “Does your challenge still stand? Do you still think I can pull anyone at this party tonight?”
“Yes,” I reply in a breathless whisper, barely able to get the words out of my mouth.
“My pick?” he says with a growl.
I nod.
“Then I pick you,” he says.
My heart stutters.
Stops.
And then kicks in again.
I turn in Ethan’s arms and look up at him. We’re still moving in time to the music, still thrusting our hips to the beat, but I can’t stop staring in to his beautiful deep-blue eyes.
My brain kicks back in and I realise that this is not the way things should go. I can’t do this.
Certainly not with him.
“Ethan, I’m not sure that would be a good….”
His mouth crashes on to mine and his lips start to move, swallowing the words that were about to escape. He caresses my lips with his. I’m kissing Ethan Drake and it feels unlike anything I have ever felt before.
I never felt this with Cole.
I can feel his kiss in my toes, my fingertips, and in other places that have woken up after a few months of neglect.
Ethan continues to work his lips over mine. He tastes of beer and a hint of something else, maybe mint, whatever it is I feel intoxicated.
Drugged.
Addicted.
To him.
His fingers dig in to my hips and my arms encircle his neck, my fingertips tangling in to the hair at his nape, allowing the silky strands to tickle my senses.
His tongue pushes through my lips, seeking entrance and starts to tangle with mine. My breath starts to falter and I feel like I’m getting my air through his mouth. The connection is that close. Ethan tilts his head slightly and the kiss deepens, his tongue rubbing against mine in the very best way.
A low moan escapes his throat and I nearly faint. It is the most erotic sound I’ve ever heard. As our lips work across each other’s, I start to become aware of the fact that the song we were dancing to has stopped. I open my eyes and notice that the dance floor is now empty except for us.
I pull back abruptly and suck in the vital air that my lungs need to function. I need to switch my brain back on.
Ethan takes a step back too and runs his hand through his sexy hair. The effect only making it look more dishevelled and model-like. It looks like he’s been running his fingers through it over and over and suddenly I want to be the one doing that.
I glance around the edge of the dance floor quickly and my eyes meet Olivia’s. She is looking at me with a cheeky grin and both eye brows high. Great, I didn’t need an audience for that kiss and now she has seen it all. My sister will never let me live this down.
I turn back towards Ethan and he is staring at me with those eyes again. He looks confused, sexy, and is breathing as heavily as I am.
“What the hell was that Ava?”
“You kissed me Ethan, so you tell me,” I shoot back at him. I can’t think straight right now, so sassy seems to be the attitude that makes an appearance.
“Wow,” he says as he steps closer towards me, wrapping his arms back around me.
My sentiments exactly!
I need to stop this now.
My body is not listening to anything I’m saying and I can’t let myself be that close to him again. I won’t be one of his girls and I don’t want a relationship with Ethan Drake. He’s way out of my league.
This has to stop now.
Dammit.
Why did I drink so much? This has to be blamed on alcohol!
“Sorry. That shouldn’t have happened. I’m really tired, I need to go home.”
I pull back from the circle of his arms and spin around to head off the dance floor to grab my things and call a cab. I need to get out of here.
Now!
Great! 24 hours in my new home and already I’ve broken every rule I set!
Way to go Ava!
I make my way outside, trying to put distance between myself and Ethan, and all the while I keep wondering how I’m going to stay away from him now that I’ve had a taste.
Like I said - I’m screwed!
Meet Madeline Rose
I don’t know what happened last night but I’ve never had such an extreme reaction to just a kiss before. I would’ve laid Ava out on the dance floor and taken her right there if she’d let me. Yet, I’m glad she’s not like that. I just don’t know why she ran out of there so fast. I know she felt it too, I could feel the speed of her pulse beneath my fingertips, I could hear her breathing, and it was as laboured as mine.
She was gorgeous and sweet and sexy and intoxicating…
There’s something about her that I can’t get out of my system. Maybe I just need to take her and get it over with. Fuck her out of my system.
Even thinking like that seems wrong. Thinking of her in such a way doesn’t sit well with me. She’s not just one of those girls. She’s not just a conquest. I don’t think I could ever get enough of her if I was lucky enough to go there with her.
Should that be my plan though – seduce her, take her and get it done? Fuck, I don’t know if that would even work.
She’s under my skin in the worst way.
I’m striding through the hall at the Studio, determined to see her again. I don’t know why she ran off last night but I’m not letting her off the hook that easily. I’m addicted and I need my fix.
Now.
As I round the corner I see her perched on the long leather sofa in Olivia’s dressing room. She’s dressed in faded skinny jeans and a pink blouse that shows off her generous tits, with that dark hair tumbling around her shoulders. Her feet are tucked up underneath her, and she is typing furiously on her lap top as Olivia talks to her from the make-up chair.
She is really beautiful.
She doesn’t have the same flashy features as her sister, but somehow I think she is much more attractive than her. She is natur
al and sweet and everything is in proportion, except for those lush lips that look like they’ve been stung by a bee.
She must sense that I’m standing in the doorway, because her gaze moves from what she’s doing and turns towards me. I give her my best smile and try to put her at ease. She smiles back shyly before looking back to her screen, pushing a piece of hair behind her ear.
“Mornin’ Ladies,” I grin, slathering on the charm.
Olivia gives me a knowing smile through the mirror and responds. Ava looks at me again through the veil of her hair with a smile and greets me too. I don’t want her to feel shy with me. I want her to be comfortable so that I can find out more about her and explore my theory. I really think sleeping with her will help to get her out of my system.
Maybe.
Probably not!
Fuck!
It’s always worked for me before. It’s like the moment I fuck a woman, I’ve satisfied my craving. I know that makes me an asshole, but it is what it is.
“What time are you expected on set Ethan?” Olivia asks me.
“Not til ten. You?”
“I’m doing a couple of solo scenes this morning so I’m down for eight thirty,” she responds as she slathers white cream all over her face and neck.
I check my watch and see that it is only eight o’clock. “Olivia would you mind if I steal Ava from you for half an hour?”
Olivia gives Ava a look through the mirror and says, “No, that’s fine Ethan, steal away.” I see the two sisters exchange a glance. Not sure what the meaning is behind it but they both look concerned. Not good. I don’t want Olivia warning Ava off me, or interfering. I know she is like a mother hen when it comes to her younger sister. I try to appease them. “Don’t worry Liv; I’ll bring her back in one piece. I’m just taking her to breakfast.”
Ava’s eyebrows shoot up and her eyes go wide. They are the most expressive eyes I have ever seen. Right now she looks surprised, confused and if I’m being honest, a little uneasy. She rises from the sofa and puts her wedged sandals on her feet, fastening each strap over her slim ankles. Every part of her is perfection. She grabs her purse and walks past me without a glance.