Thank God for Porn Hub.
Eleven
Stella
Regret pounds through my skull when I wake up.
Humiliation is riding at its side, pointing and laughing at me.
I embarrassingly offered myself up to Hudson, and he rejected me.
Insanity convinced me that us sharing a drink meant he wanted to screw me.
It’s been so long since I’ve put myself out there like that to someone. It’ll never happen again after his rejection. Not only is it a smack to my ego, but it’s also a slap to my senses for thinking it’s okay to get involved with my bodyguard.
I want to be angry with him but can’t.
Hudson did the right thing.
At least one of our brains was working last night.
I notice mascara streaks on my pillow. I cried last night and forgot to take off my makeup. Here come the wrinkles to go along with my mortification.
I go into the bathroom, wipe the mascara from my face, and shower. The steam helps cleanse my pores of the extra alcohol and minimizes my hangover. I run my fingers through the thick strands of my wet hair when I get out, wrap them in a tight bun, and start my walk of shame into the kitchen. Hudson is sitting at the table drinking coffee with a laptop open in front of him.
I don’t look in his direction while heading straight to the coffee maker and jump when he speaks.
“Morning. How are you feeling?”
“Like I was living it up riding rollercoasters all night,” I mutter.
Maybe I can act like I don’t remember last night. I gear up for the perfect, ‘I did what?’ look.
I’m an actress. I got this.
I pull out a mug from the cabinet with the hotel’s logo, and my hands are trembling when I pour coffee inside it. I look around the room while taking small sips, not sure what to do.
He gets straight to the point. “About last night.”
“What about last night?” I ask.
“I can tell by your face that you know exactly what I’m talking about.”
I frown. “God, even bringing it up makes my head hurt. Can we not do this right now … or say, maybe never?”
“Not talking about it will only make it more awkward.”
“Fine, but you’re going first.”
He tips his finger toward the seat across from him. “Sit down.”
“Seriously? You’re going to make this all weird and personal?”
“You standing there looking uncomfortable as fuck is making it weird.”
“Who decided you were the boss man all of a sudden,” I complain but do as told.
He sits back in his chair and clears his throat. “First things first. I hope you don’t feel like I rejected you last night.”
I scoff. “Too late for that.”
“You’re beautiful, and you have to know I’m attracted to you.”
I raise a brow. News to me.
If this is his attempt to keep our relationship professional, it’s not working. His admission makes me only want him more.
“You were drunk, and we’re both lonely. I should’ve never allowed it to go that far.”
“Speak for yourself. I’m not lonely.”
He gives me a look that causes me to slam my mouth shut.
He can read me like a damn script.
I perk up in my chair and settle my hands on the table. “I don’t like where this conversation is going. It was a drunken mishap. Let’s forget about it and move on.”
“Fine with me. I only wanted to clear the air.”
I swipe my hands together. “Consider it cleared.” I pick up my phone. “Do you want anything from room service?” I forgot to order my breakfast last night. Willow usually does that for me, but I sent her a text telling her I’d have everything taken care of.
“Whatever you order is fine with me.”
I order our food and start to answer emails and texts while he stays occupied with his computer. I open a message from Willow giving me an update on Brett’s condition. His recovery isn’t promising, and she’s not sure how long she’ll be gone.
My stomach drops at the resignation letter attached to the email. I message her back, insisting she take as much time off as she needs and her job will be waiting for her when she’s ready to come back. Hudson allows room service in, and the sweet aroma of pastries and pancakes fills the room and causes my stomach to growl.
Hudson takes a bite of pancakes and groans. “Damn, this shit is good. I’ve missed food like this.”
I nod, even though I haven’t touched my food. A question is eating at me. A question that’s none of my business.
“How long has it been since you’ve been with a woman?” I ask.
Hudson nearly chokes on his food but doesn’t hesitate to answer. “A little over nine months.”
“You didn’t screw someone the second you got home?”
“I was more interested in seeing my family than getting my dick wet. Not to mention, had I screwed someone, that news would’ve been all over our small town, given my situation with Cameron.”
“I thought my drought was sad.”
“Not a drought, Hollywood. It’s lack of opportunity.”
Lack of opportunity? There was opportunity with me last night.
“What are you going on?”
“Two months,” I admit.
He grins and shakes his head. “Amateur.”
Lord, give me courage for what I’m about to say and help a girl out if you can.
“Can I ask you something and you promise to take me seriously?”
He cocks his head to the side. “Sure.”
“I know only thirty minutes ago, you said you want to keep our relationship professional …”
“I did.”
“But what will throwing a little sex hurt?” I sound like a horny teenage boy who’s the only one in gym class who hasn’t had his cock sucked.
His voice deepens. “Bad idea.”
“Why not have some fun? Haven’t you ever had a one-night stand?”
His gaze closes in on me. “I’ve only been with one woman.”
I nearly drop my coffee. Hudson continues to shock me.
What do they feed these guys in Iowa?
“You’re lying.”
He shakes his head. “I started dating Cameron in middle school and never touched anyone but her. Your proposition sounds nice, but I’m a selfish guy. I’ve never had to separate commitment and sex, and I’m not sure if I’d be okay touching you one night and then watching you suck face with Eli the next day.”
“What if you can separate it? Why not try?”
“Dump the phony boyfriend and maybe I’ll broaden my horizons.”
With that, he stands up, grabs his mug, and leaves the room.
“This shit fucking blows,” Eli says, plopping down in the seat next to me after boarding the plane. We’re headed to London for the next premiere.
“What blows?” I ask.
I don’t know Eli that well, which is weird considering I’ve made out with him on screen and there are rumors we’re screwing off screen. He reminds me of my ex—nice guy but also a playboy eager to cross every Victoria’s Secret model off on his screw list.
Since agreeing to be his fake girlfriend, my life has been nothing but chaos. We’ve received backlash from not only fans but also mutual friends. Knox and Eli had been friends, and they saw that as a broken vow of bros before hoes. It’s ridiculous, considering Knox gives two shits about who I’m sleeping with.
“Fake dating,” Eli answers. “It’s putting a damper on my sex life.”
I roll my eyes. “Gee, thanks. I’m having the time of my life.”
He chuckles. “It’s not you. It’s me.”
I place my hand over my heart. “Tragic. I’m so heartbroken. Now, go tell Tillie about our breakup. I’m as ready to end this deal as you.”
He smirks. “Or we can try a different route?”
“We kill Tillie?”
<
br /> “I’m too pretty for prison, sweetheart.” He shoots me a confident grin. “I was thinking more along the lines of us actually dating.”
I smack him upside the head. “Not happening. Everyone knows your dating record is worse than Charlie Sheen’s.”
“Whoa, a little overboard there. I don’t mean us dating-dating.”
“That’s what it sounds like.”
“Consider it more as colleagues with benefits.”
I cringe. “You’ve lost your damn mind.”
“Have I? Think about it. Neither of us is getting laid. Why not take advantage of the crappy situation we’re in? I’ve had blue balls for months.”
I don’t believe he’s been abstaining from sex. “Not happening.” I’ve already had one Hollywood bad boy break my heart—putting myself at risk again would be stupid.
“Why not? Everyone already thinks we’re screwing, might as well make the best of it.”
“How about this—you are more than welcome to have fun with other people behind closed doors. Don’t make me look like an idiot allowing her boyfriend to cheat. As long as it’s on the down low, I don’t care what or who you do.”
“Risk a picture or story being leaked? I won’t ruin my career for a one-night fling.”
I nod in agreement. “I won’t tell if you don’t.”
He raises a brow. “Is that what you’re doing? Sneaking around behind closed doors?”
“Uh, no.”
He snorts. “Yeah right.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“I’m saying if I was your bodyguard, you’d be more than happy to accept my sex offer.”
Am I that obvious?
I put on my best innocent face. “What?”
He throws his head back and laughs. “Don’t try to bullshit me. You’ve been giving him bedroom eyes all morning. Deny it all you want, but there’s something going on between you two.”
“You’re wrong.”
“If you haven’t fucked yet, it’ll happen. All I’m asking is you make sure no cameras or witnesses are around. I won’t be humiliated either.” He scowls. “I’ve kept my dick in my pants and held up my end of the deal. Do the same.”
He gets up to leave, but I stop him before he moves into the aisle.
“I can’t,” I say.
He looks down at me in confusion.
“I can’t keep my dick in my pants, considering I don’t have one.”
“Fucking attitude,” he grumbles. “I’ll clarify, keep dicks out of you.”
I squint my eyes. “Only dicks?”
“Jesus Christ, what else do you put inside of yourself?”
I shrug.
Messing with him is fun.
“Maybe you’re not the prude I thought you were.”
“The hell?”
He hunches when I shove my elbow into his stomach.
“You think I’m a prude in the bedroom?”
“Obviously. You aren’t interested in fucking me.”
I grimace. “Check your ego, amigo. Me not wanting to screw you doesn’t make me a prude.”
“I’m beginning to see that, violent one.” He pats my head. “My offer still stands. Let me know if you change your mind.”
I let out a long sigh.
Hudson made it clear he’ll only touch me if I ditch Eli.
Is a fling with him worth my career?
Twelve
Hudson
“Hey! You! Bodyguard guy!”
I turn to find the hag who’d given Stella shit last night marching toward me. Stella and Eli boarded the jet a few minutes ago while I stayed in the car and took a call from Dallas.
I contemplate answering her but finally do. “Yeah?”
Her hands rest on her hips as she narrows her eyes at me, and she taps her heel against the ground. She appears as if she’s readying to lecture a child.
That child being me.
Not fucking happening.
“Let me give you some words of advice,” she snarls. “You seem to be confused about how this industry works and the respect you need to give to keep your job.”
I could give two shits about keeping this job.
I flash her a cold smile. “I’m not trying to make a mark in this industry and sure as fuck don’t need any advice from you. Appreciate your concern though.”
“How about this. Let me give you some tips on how to stay on my good side.”
I smirk. “I don’t want to be on your good side. I quite enjoy being on the opposite.”
Her face pinches. She’s used to barking demands and having people bow down to her. No doubt she’ll try to convince Stella to fire my ass. “You should be.”
I move in, not close enough to be intimidating, but enough to convince her I’m not one to fuck with. “Being on your good side is at the bottom of my give a shit list.”
Her eyes widen.
“And while we’re sharing wisdom, I have a tip for you.”
She clears her throat. “What’s that?”
“Get laid and stop making everyone’s lives miserable.” I gesture to the plane. “You denied Stella to visit her best friend whose boyfriend is on life support. Have some compassion, grow a heart, be a good fucking human being.”
She looks me up and down with disgust clear on her face. “Sorry, but I don’t take advice from nobodies.”
“Newsflash, you’re also a nobody. You bully people and make sure contracts are fulfilled, but you’re not the star.” I grin. “Welcome to the club. Now, I believe we have a flight to catch.”
I leave without another word and board the plane. Josh and Eli are deep in conversation, and I take the seat next to Stella, which results in her peering at me in surprise.
I stretch my legs out in front of me. “How many of these things do we have to go to?”
There are only so many premieres you can have before the movie is old news, right?
“Only one more to go,” she answers, moving her neck from side to side like it’s sore. “It’s a short promo tour. My guess is they weren’t sure how long Eli and I could fake being a couple.”
I lower my voice and tilt my head toward Eli. “What’s the plan with lover boy? How long do you have to participate in this dating scheme?”
The conversation I had with her this morning is haunting me. I hate feeling this pull toward her and the fact I can’t stop thinking about her.
She rolls her eyes. “I thought we were done talking about it?”
I hold up my hands. “I’m not trying to be a dick, I swear.”
“That’s a first.”
“It’s a valid question for someone who’s involved.”
“We have to attend all interviews and award shows together. There’s a set date in the contract. I think we have eight months left.”
“What if you decide you want out?”
“It will be a breach of contract, and they can sue me for more money than I made off the movie. Tillie will do everything in her power to destroy my career and reputation.”
“Sounds like you signed a deal with the devil.”
She shrugs. “It won’t be that bad when we get back in LA. Eli is working on a movie being shot in a different state, so we won’t have to fake it as much. My show is over, so I’ll be auditioning for new roles. My life will be boring.”
I nudge my foot against hers. “Hey, I like to think I’m a good time.”
“Wrong. I tried to get you to be a good time, but you declined.”
I bump my knee against hers next. “Fucking isn’t the only way to have fun.”
“Prove it then,” she mutters.
Her challenging me only heightens my attraction, and I’m never one to back down from a challenge.
Thirteen
Stella
I was never one of those kids who sat in front of the TV and dreamed of being on it one day. When teachers asked me what I wanted to be when I got older, it was never famous. Show business was more of my mother’s dream th
at she never achieved, so she decided to live vicariously through me.
I hated doing commercials for toys and fast food restaurants. She once forced me to be in an ad for toilet paper. Instead, I wanted to be on the playground or at a sleepover with my friends, not attend every casting call in LA looking for a girl my age. The small roles changed when I turned fifteen and landed my first major gig on the pilot of a new show.
I loved my character, my cast mates, and the production crew on the show. My mom didn’t have to drag me out of bed and force me to go to work every day. It became my passion and what made me realize that maybe it was what I wanted to do with my life.
Unfortunately, we wrapped up our last season of the show a few months ago. Only so much time can pass before the kids get too old to live with their parents and storylines run out. The series ended with me finding the man of my dreams who also happened to be the head of the witching department at a prestigious school.
Too bad my life is the complete opposite.
Maybe that’s why I liked it so much.
The show cancellation has me looking for the next role to fall in love with. I thought Sadie, the role I played in the movie with Eli, was it when I read the script. I was wrong. I see that now as I watch the movie for the sixth time that my heart wasn’t in it.
We’re at another screening, and I’m sure a migraine will hit me from smelling Eli’s expensive cologne all night. I subtly look back at Hudson in the row behind us and wish I could replace Eli with him. I also wish I didn’t want that.
Under no circumstances can I fall for my bodyguard.
That’s so cliché.
So Heidi Klum after she divorced Seal.
I don’t know of one celebrity–bodyguard romance that’s worked out.
Why did Hudson have to slide into that open position?
He’s loyal. Upfront. Real. Qualities you don’t find much in men who are as attractive as he is. Or maybe that’s only in Hollywood. I should broaden my horizons.
Tillie will kill me. Eli will kill me. Dallas will probably kill me when things don’t work out between his brother and me. I also don’t see Hudson taking this job long term or staying in California. I can’t give up my career and move to Cornfield Timbuktu.
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