Anaconda: A Sexy Romantic Comedy

by Landish, Lauren

  I’d be able to deliver if I didn’t have you shouting CUT! all the fucking time. I bite back the words that will earn me an even bigger headache. Instead, I scowl at him. “I’m trying my best, Jim. Do have any useful advice for me rather than blowing up every other take?”

  “Yeah. I’d like you to say the lines like you actually cared about Leslie, and not like some high school kid doing Romeo & Juliet. That’d be a good place to fucking start!” Jim snaps.

  He’s right, of course. I’m delivering my lines with the emotion of a cardboard box. But I can’t help it. When I look at Leslie, there’s no connection. She’s pretty, but I just can’t bring myself to say my words with the conviction the script demands.

  Jim looks like he wants to continue his rant, but he stops and takes a deep breath, waving his hands at the crew. “Okay, okay, everyone . . . take ten.” He turns to me and shakes his head, sighing. “I’m sorry for losing my temper, Gavin. I just didn’t expect for us to still be stuck on this scene several hours later. Go get yourself a drink or something, get your head right, and then we can continue.”

  Giving Leslie an apology, I walk off the set, heading into the catering area and grabbing a bottle of Perrier. I down half of it in one swig, resisting the urge to throw the rest of it across the yard as I make my way to my trailer.

  I fucking suck. Reading my lines shouldn’t be this hard.

  I know exactly what the problem is—Brianna. I’ve been waiting long enough. It’s going to end tonight.

  Seeing her this morning made things worse. My pulse speeds up as I remember walking in on her scrubbing the floors on her hands and knees, her ass sticking out behind her seductively. She’s gotten under my skin like no girl has done in years. Without even trying. And now, I’m going to make things worse by having her in my bed.

  I sit down in the chair, relaxing and undoing my belt and fly to relieve the pressure on my balls from the tight jeans they’re having me wear when the door flies open.

  “You just keep getting worse,” Miranda says, storming into the room like a tornado, dressed in her red jumpsuit. Scowling, she stops right in front of me, slapping her hand down on the granite countertop and leaning on it. “I don’t exactly expect Leonardo DiCaprio from you, but could you at least try? Or are you just hungover from drinking too much?”

  “You know I don’t drink like that,” I growl, opening my eyes and leaving my fly open. “I’m just having a rough afternoon.”

  “It seems to be becoming a habit,” Miranda says, jabbing a long, manicured fingernail at me. “Jim just told me that the shooting is behind schedule!”

  I know I pay her to do this, but I’m fed up with her badgering. “I’m doing my best, Miranda. Maybe you should be her love interest if you think you could do better. They can start calling this shit Rug Munch Wars.”

  I shouldn’t have said that. But shit, I’m not making myself look like a fool on purpose here. I am trying.

  Miranda’s lip quivers and I can see she wants to say more, but she also can see the look on my face. This isn’t funny Gavin, or the Gavin who likes to flirt, or the Gavin who can get grumpy. She sees that I’m serious. Instead, she just shakes her head. “Well, try to get it together and nail your next scenes.”

  “I’ll do that!” I yell after her, leaning back and letting my nuts relax again. I gotta talk to the wardrobe guys. This country boy wearing tight jeans stuff has to go. My character’s supposed to be an auto mechanic. Maybe they can get me a set of dirty coveralls.

  I sigh, looking at the ceiling. Brianna. Just a few hours, and you’ll be mine. And it can’t come fast enough.

  I chuckle at the double meaning then frown as another thought goes through my head. She looked so innocent, and inside, I feel bad about maybe taking that innocence.

  Just fucking her to clear my head would be like spray painting the Mona Lisa.

  But I’m Gavin Adams, and there’s no way I could be thinking of . . .

  It’s just a fling, something to get my head right.

  Isn’t it?

  Chapter 9

  Brianna

  Oh, my God. I hardly recognize myself.

  I gaze at my reflection in the mirror as I run my hands over the sleek red dress, turning myself to the side to see how it hugs my curves. The dress seems to bring out the best in my figure and I wouldn’t have worn it had Mindy not talked me into it. Or talked me into going up to Gavin’s room tonight.

  I still can’t believe I’m doing this.

  Gavin invited me to his room as if he knew I would just come running to him because he’s a celebrity.

  It annoys me.

  I’m not easy. I don’t do hookups. And I don’t do one-night stands.

  So why did I let Mindy talk me into this again?

  Deep down, I know why, even if I don’t want to admit it. Since seeing him, I’ve felt this pull to him, and the size of his dick is just part of the issues at hand. The way he looks at me, even some subtle undertone to his voice pulls at me, and I can’t get him off my mind.

  One way or another, yes or no, I have to know.

  The door to the break room opens and in strolls Mindy, her eyes widening in shock when she sees me. “Holy shit, baby got back! I do damn good work!”

  “More like baby got fat,” I mutter as I rub my hands over my hips and ass. I’ve been here for nearly thirty minutes, trying to work up the nerve to wear this thing. I’ve even added a gold necklace, sparkling fake diamond earrings, and a bracelet that Mindy brought me along with the dress for good measure. I’m nervous that it might be a bit too much, though. She had gotten it for me on break, gleefully getting my ‘supplies’ while I did the rest of my work. I hope she didn’t go buy the dress. There’s no way I could fit her clothes. I have to admit, though—she outdid herself, but I feel like I’m playing dress-up. I’m just not used to dressing like this. “You think I’ve overdone it?”

  “Overdone what?” Mindy asks, coming closer to inspect my curves. She’s still dressed in heels, white shirt, black apron and skirt, and she looks unusually fresh-faced for this time of day. She’s loving this. “You look smokin’, girl!”

  I roll my eyes. “Please. This makes my ass look huge! I barely fit this!” I complain.

  Mindy places her hands on her hips and gives me the look while saying, “Are you serious? Big is in! He’s gonna love it.”

  I huff out a laugh, feeling butterflies in my stomach. “Yeah, love it right up until it starts jiggling like Jell-O.”

  “Just look at Kim Kardashian and what it’s done for her,” Mindy points out.

  I groan. “Oh, Jesus, and that’s supposed to make me feel better about myself?”

  Mindy laughs, slapping me on the arm. “Oh, shut up. You know what I mean.”

  “It’s the truth,” I say.

  Mindy waves away my anxiety. “Well, you need to stop worrying. If I were a guy, I’d bone you.”

  I laugh incredulously. Mindy seriously has no limits. “Will you stop?”

  She chuckles evilly. “Seriously. I would.” She shakes her head. “You look hot as hell, Bri.”

  I want to deny her compliment, but I have to admit I look better than I have in a long time. I don’t normally get this made up, just a little for work. I don’t have the time or the reason to.

  The sound of footsteps in the hallway pulls my eyes away from the mirror and my stomach tightens with panic. Nobody should be down here. The evening shift went on at least an hour ago, and the afternoon shift’s all gone home.

  Mindy pokes her head out, and then she looks back at me with wide eyes. “Shit! It’s Vandenburgh! Hide!”

  “Where?” I ask, panicking. I really don’t want to explain that I’m about to go up to a guest’s room all dolled up, even if it is none of his damn business. I wouldn’t even have time to catch my breath before I’d get my pink slip.

  Thinking quickly, Mindy rushes over and opens the broom closet, motioning for me to jump in.

  I arch an eyebrow,
knowing it’s dusty as hell in there, along with a few slimy surprises. And knowing the stuff I’ve seen swept up off the floors, I’m not anxious to get in there with this dress.

  “Get your badonkadonk ass in there!” she growls, grabbing me by the arm, shoving me inside, and closing the door. It doesn’t close all the way, leaving a small crack I can peek through.

  A moment later, the break room door opens and I hear Vandenburgh’s voice. “What are you still doing here, Miss Parker? You should’ve been home by now.”

  “Forgot my phone here in the break room. Came back to pick it up,” Mindy lies, patting her pocket. Through the crack in the door, I can see her trying very hard to maintain her neutral expression. “Luckily, it was still here!” she adds for good measure.

  “Yeah, sure. I’d better not find out you were milking overtime like your lazy friend Brianna,” Vandenburgh grumbles. “If either of you think that your student status means I’ll continue to tolerate your attitudes or performance, you’re sorely mistaken.”

  I can see the frustration play across Mindy’s face. “Mr. Vandenburgh, Brianna is a good worker—”

  He cuts her off, making me clench my teeth. He’s such an officious prick. “Miss Sayles is holding onto her position purely by my goodwill. If you don’t want to join her on the unemployment line soon, I suggest you stop talking and go home.”

  He turns and leaves, and a moment later, Mindy opens the door to the closet, her eyes sparkling in anger. “Can you believe that son of a hoe?”

  “Whatever,” I reply, touched that she tried to defend me but not wanting to get into a bitchfest about our jerk of a boss. If I started in about Vandenburgh and all his stupid bullshit, I’d be here all night. And right now, I have other things to worry about. “Mindy, I don’t—”

  I’m interrupted by a beep from my cell, and I glance at the clock. Shit. “It’s eight o’clock.”

  Mindy makes a face, gesturing toward the doorway. She seems almost as anxious as I am, practically trembling with excitement. “Then why aren’t you hauling ass for the elevator?”

  Because I’m not sure I want to do this.

  Anxiety twists my stomach. “I don’t know if I can do this.”

  Mindy plants her hands firmly on my shoulders and starts pulling me toward the door. “Oh no, missy. You’re not pulling this wishy-washy mess with me.”

  “Hey!” I protest. “I didn’t even get to make sure that my breath smelled good!”

  “It smells like roses!” Mindy says with a laugh before growing serious. “Seriously, just go. You need this, and who knows what might happen? You’re selling yourself short if you don’t learn to have fun every now and then. Live a little.”

  Before I can offer more protests, she shoves me out the door with an enigmatic smile, and I make my way slowly to the employee elevator. Inside, I push the button for the sixth floor, my heart pounding so hard I feel it in my neck.

  I try to combat my anxiety by holding onto Mindy’s words of encouragement. Everything is going to be okay, I tell myself. Mindy thought I looked good. There’s no reason to worry.

  It does little to help.

  Ding.

  I step out on the top floor, feeling dizzy with anxiety. I almost stop and turn around, but I eventually make it to Gavin’s door.

  My breathing ragged, I raise my hand to knock and then freeze, looking down at my dress.

  Jesus, look at me. Gavin’s going to think I’m literally here just to sleep with him.

  But aren’t I? I mean, I might as well have written Fuck me, Gavin on my panties, I’m so dolled up. What sort of schoolgirl fantasy am I having to even think that Gavin could want me for more than a hard schtupping and that I’m here for the same reason.

  Is this the sort of person I want to be?

  “I can’t do this,” I mutter, feeling weak in the knees as my self-confidence plunges to near-zero.

  I begin to turn away, but before I can take a step, the door to Gavin’s suite swings open.

  Fuck me.

  My breath stills in my lungs at the sight of him. Hair slicked and parted to the side, he’s got on black pants and a white dress shirt that’s unbuttoned halfway down, his normal attire, it seems. I can see the smooth, hard skin of his chest and a hint of his rock-hard abs.

  Desire courses through my stomach as the smell of his masculine cologne hits my nose and he grins at me. A cocky grin that says, I knew you were coming. I should slap him, tell him that he’s an arrogant prick and I’ve changed my mind.

  I should, but I don’t.

  I can’t.

  Still grinning, Gavin holds out a hand to me and says in a deep voice that makes me want to drop to my knees, “I’ve been expecting you.”

  Chapter 10

  Gavin

  I’m having a hard time keeping myself under control as Brianna walks into the room ahead of me, her hips swaying with each seductive step. My eyes on her ass, my dick hardens in my pants to the point of being strangled as it screams to be let out. Fuck. I don’t even think she knows what she does to me.

  I bite my lower lip, lust gripping my loins.

  Those legs.

  That ass.

  “Sorry about my outfit,” Brianna says softly, pulling my gaze away from her voluptuous body. “I didn’t know if you’d like it or not.”

  If I didn’t know better, I’d swear she’s lying. She has to know how much she turns me on in that thing. But her voice sounds sincere, and I remind myself Brianna’s innocence is one of the things I love.

  “I think I like it just as much as your maid uniform, and about a thousand times better than the jumpsuit,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady.

  Brianna blushes fiercely, causing my cock to strain against my pants even more. I swear it’s going to bust out if this keeps up. “Thank you,” she says sweetly. “Mindy is the one who forced me to wear it, actually.”

  Thank you, Mindy.

  I lead her over to the white couch in the living area of the suite, sensing her nervousness that only serves to enhance my desire. She seems so sweet. So innocent in her mannerisms. But dressed up in that sexy red dress . . . there’s nothing innocent about what it makes me want to do to her.

  I struggle to put a lid on my desire as I help her settle onto the couch and she looks around the room, her lips parting in surprise.

  “Wow,” she breathes. She takes in the candles that I’ve lit around the room and the other little touches I’ve done, like the smooth classical music I have playing in the background. Nothing loud, just enough to ease the mood. “I’ve cleaned this room a hundred times. I don’t think I’ve ever imagined it like this. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome,” I tell her, grinning, pleased by her reaction. I’ve taken great pains to set things up perfectly, giving us a breathtaking view of the surrounding area.

  “Wine?” I ask, gesturing to the two glasses and the red wine bottle I’ve set out, along with the thick white candles. “It’s supposed to be the best in town.”

  At my offer, she bites her lower lip, her eyes wide and dark. I know what she’s thinking. That she shouldn’t be here. That I’m just some player who’s going to fuck her raw and then leave. But it doesn’t have to be that way. We both can have a good time, even if it’s only for one night.

  But what if it’s not? A voice in my head asks.

  For some reason, having Brianna for one night doesn’t seem like it’s going to be enough. Though it should. I’m only here for a week and then I’m gone. She knows that, and you can’t have a meaningful relationship in that amount of time.

  I push my troubled thoughts away, deciding the best thing I can do right now is make her comfortable.

  “Come on,” I urge. “Have a glass. You’ve earned it. You work hard and need to relax.”

  She nervously fidgets with her fingers for a moment before letting out a soft sigh. “Okay,” she breathes. “You’re right. I do deserve some relaxation with all the crap I have to put up with.”


  You’d deserve it just for how gorgeous you are.

  I grin at her. “I promise, you’ll enjoy this.”

  I pour the wine, the dark red nearly the same tone as her dress as it gurgles into the glasses before I pass it to her, raising a toast. “To relaxation and less crap to deal with.”

  She smiles, and I feel my desire and the troubling little other thing in my head both react to it. “To less crap.”

  We clink glasses, and I take a sip, savoring the rich tones and dark flavors. I’m going to have to get a few bottles of this for home. It’s pretty damn good. But that’s probably because of whom I’m sharing it with. Brianna looks enraptured as she sips her wine before sighing deeply. “Thank you. I didn’t know if I would have the time to make it up here, so I’m glad I came now.”

  The two candles give her face a warm glow as she takes a sip, and I’m once again impressed with how incredibly beautiful she is.

  “I’m glad you found the time too,” I tell her with an easy smile, sitting next to her but giving her enough space where she doesn’t feel crowded. I could tell she liked it when I pushed up on her before, but this is different. The couch is just right. There’s enough space that we could touch, but we don’t have to.

  “And your dress . . . you’re truly stunning,” I add. I love that she made the effort to dress up for me. It shows that she cares about what I think, if nothing else.

  A blush shading her cheeks, Brianna sets her glass down, fiddling with the bracelet on her wrist. “Are you just playing with me?”

  I shake my head. “No, ma’am.” My cock most certainly doesn’t think so. “You’re gorgeous.”

  She drops her head to hide her furious blushing, her eyelashes fluttering. Judging by her reaction, she obviously isn’t aware of how gorgeous she is, which is a shame.