Love on Location

by September Roberts

  Meet me in the parking lot at 7:15. B

  The next four hours passed slower than she’d ever thought possible, and checking the time on her phone every few minutes only seemed to make it worse. When filming for the day finally ended, she made sure everything was taken care of in the park, went home and changed, and then got into the bland rental car in the parking lot as discreetly as possible.

  “You’re right on time,” Brian said, pointing to the clock on the dashboard.

  “Where are we going?”

  “I was hoping you might know somewhere quiet we could go.”

  “I know just the place,” she said with a smile before pointing toward the entrance booth and directing him to a small dirt road five miles away. The ruts in the road deepened, forcing him to slow down. When they arrive at an empty parking lot he turned the car off.

  “Is this the place?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “No. Now we hike.”

  “But you’re wearing a skirt. Maybe we should just stay in the car.” It didn’t take a genius to figure out what he wanted.

  “This skirt is longer than my shorts, plus I’m wearing hiking shoes. One can never be too prepared in the desert. Come on. I want to show you something before the sun goes down.” The only way he would get out is if she did first, so that’s what she did.

  They followed the riverbed for a little over a mile before it cut toward a sheer cliff where the wind and water had already begun to etch away the stone at the bottom, forming a proto arch. During storms, water flowed over the edge of the cliff, bringing the river to life. It had been days since the last rain, which meant the sand was still hard and cool, but no water remained on the surface.

  “How do we go up?”

  “We don’t,” she said. “Look.” Behind the branches of a big sage, she uncovered a blackened layer of rock adorned with ancient designs. “Petroglyphs.”

  “Is that a goat?” He tilted his head from side to side.

  “I think so, but I’m not an expert or anything. This one looks like the sun to me,” she said, pointing to a perfect spiral carved into the stone. “Not a lot of people know about this place. There are more over here.”

  Another cluster of rock art was hidden near a crevice in the cliff, which they spent a few minutes admiring before she pulled him into her arms as she backed against an undecorated portion of the rock face.

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “And isolated,” she added, guiding his hand up her skirt.

  He gasped when his fingers brushed against her sex. “No panties? Now who’s being presumptuous?”

  “Me,” she said before kissing him.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Brian groaned as Alex set to work unbuttoning his pants, but he definitely had the advantage because of her preplanning. So, while she struggled to undress him, he pushed a finger inside her and pumped a few times, turning her moan into a scream. He loved that sound more than most things.

  “Please tell me you brought a condom.”

  “Mm-hmm,” she hummed as she dipped her hand inside his jeans. When she freed his cock from the confines of his clothes, his hips lurched. In a few more seconds, she had put the condom on him.

  Frantic with need, he hoisted her up and positioned himself between her legs, tilting his hips until the tip of his dick rubbed against her. With one shuddering breath, she sank down on him.

  Their sighs mingled on their tongues and overflowed, echoing off the wall of stone and seeping into the desert around them. The cool rock leached the heat from his hands as he slammed into her over and over again. When she finally came again, she didn’t hold back. With no one around for miles, she opened her mouth and released a primal cry, taking him over the edge.

  Several minutes were spent kissing and nuzzling, and when he lifted her off, she leaned heavily on the rock and let out a tiny moan.

  “I’ve never met someone so…confident.”

  Alex laughed. “Me? I’m a nervous wreck.”

  He shook his head and kissed along her collarbone. “Not when it comes to your body. The women I know are so self-conscious. Always making sure their hair is perfect, that the light is just right, or they have a flawless outfit.”

  Forcing him to look at her, she said, “How do you know I don’t care about those things?”

  “If you do, you don’t let it stop you from enjoying yourself. You’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever met.”

  As if she didn’t believe him, she blushed and shook her head at the same time. “Whatever. Have you seen the actress you’re working with right now?”

  It was impossible to have a conversation in his current state, so he fumbled with the condom, trying to remove it discreetly. She pulled a fresh tissue from her pocket and handed it to him. “Here, I brought this for you.”

  “Thanks,” he mumbled, keeping his back to her. When he turned around, his pants were zipped and buttoned. “And yes, I have seen her.”

  “Well?”

  “Jennifer is fake. Everything about her.”

  “Maybe it’s just an act, like you. You’re like Jekyll and Hyde.” Carefully tucking her skirt under her, she sat on the ground and stretched her legs out across the cool sand.

  When he sat down next to her, he shrugged and said, “I don’t know, maybe it is. I’m not interested in finding out. She’s too nice. They all are. Sugary sweet and full of flattery.”

  “Is that why you like me? Because I’m abrasive?” The lines around her eyes became visible when she laughed.

  He picked up her hand and pressed their palms together as he laced his fingers through hers. “I like you because you don’t have any preconceived ideas about who I’m supposed to be, so I can be myself.” That was only one of his favorite things about her. “Plus, you’re really smart and dynamite in the sack.” Getting to be himself was a bonus.

  “Or against a rock,” she added, laughing again.

  “Either way.”

  The shadows from the cliff stretched farther and farther with each passing minute.

  “I didn’t bring a flashlight. We should go before we get stuck here in the dark.”

  “It wouldn’t be so bad, would it?” he asked, sucking one of her fingers into his mouth.

  “I don’t know. How comfortable are you with scorpions?”

  That did it. He moved so fast she had to run to catch up.

  “Damn, you’re twitchy,” she teased.

  “Shut it,” he retorted.

  When she caught up to him, she was still snickering. “Do you want to come over for dinner? I have no idea what you like, but I have eggs.”

  The invitation made him smile because it meant she wanted him around, with or without sex. “I guess I could stay a little longer, but I really do need to go back tonight.” It was tempting to tell her about Nate and the car but didn’t want her to have to worry about that, too.

  “I know.”

  Knowing he would have to leave made every second together matter. “What do you want for dinner?” he asked after a few minutes into their drive toward the park.

  “Scrambled eggs are pretty much the only thing I can cook. Sorry.”

  He laughed. “No one’s perfect.”

  When they got back to her house, he looked around her kitchen, opened every cupboard, snooped in her fridge, and went through her drawers. College students had better stocked kitchens than hers, which made him want to laugh. “Why don’t you let me cook?” he asked.

  “You cook?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  With an eyebrow raised in disbelief, she pulled the apron off the side of the fridge and put it over his head, tying it behind his back. “Be my guest, world’s greatest cook.”

  “I’m not so sure I can live up to that. Let me know after dinner, okay?”

  ****

  Koko rested her head in Alex’s lap while Brian danced around the kitchen. While he cooked, she set the table and opened two beers. Within a half hour, he pulled a pan out of the
oven and announced dinner was ready. It had been years since anyone had cooked for her.

  “I’m impressed,” she said. “What is this? An omelet?”

  “Frittata. Similar though.”

  When she took her first bite, she sighed. “I’m really impressed. Just one more thing to add to the list.”

  “List of what?” he inquired, offering a chunk of eggs and cheese to Koko.

  “All the stuff you’re good at—you’re a good cook, you love dogs, you’re handsome, funny, easy to talk to, and very generous with orgasms.”

  He smiled around the bite of food he was chewing.

  “Where did you learn to cook?”

  “My mom. She didn’t want to send me off to college without knowing the basics.”

  Alex snorted. “The only thing my mom worried about was getting me out of the house. We fought like mad. Still do. We’ve never been close,” she confided. “I miss my dad, though.”

  “But you’re not going home to see them this weekend?”

  “No. It’s been a few years, but I don’t want to. My mom keeps pressuring me to be there for every holiday: Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays, you name it. She has no idea how hard it is for me. My brothers are both moochers and my mom can’t see it. She always has an excuse for why they don’t have jobs, but she never recognizes the work I do. I’m busting my ass to make something of myself and she thinks I’m camping.” The muscles in her shoulders tensed.

  “I wish she could see how amazing you are,” he said, caressing her arm.

  It became difficult to swallow as emotion overcame her. “Why are you so nice to me?”

  “Because you deserve it.”

  ****

  “Well? Did I live up to your expectations?” Brian asked as he cleaned up the kitchen.

  “Yes. And then some. Now stop cleaning,” Alex said as she tried to take the sponge out of his hand.

  He stopped her. “Please let me. Nate is always cleaning up after me.”

  “What’s up with him? Are you friends?”

  “No. My agent hired him.”

  “So that’s his job? To clean up after you?”

  Brian looked away. How could he admit the truth to her? What would she think? “You could say that.”

  “I don’t think I would mind. I’ve always hated cleaning. My mother thinks a woman’s job is in the home. Cooking, cleaning, making crafts. I guess I fail as a woman. My brothers never had to lift a finger because they lack the proper parts. She tried to force me into that role from the time I was little. I rebelled.”

  “Naturally.”

  “I studied science.” She covered her mouth and gasped in mock horror. “Learned how to tie knots, fix cars, you know, guy stuff. Anything that would drive her nuts.”

  “And your dad?”

  “He filled the man of the house role, whether he wanted to or not. I feel sorry for him. I know what it’s like to want one thing and be expected to do another. Secretly, I think he’s proud of me.”

  “For following your dreams?” he asked as he rinsed the last fork and put it in the dish drainer before turning to face her.

  With her hands clenched into fists, she said, “No. For defying her.”

  He touched the side of her face. “You’re brave.”

  “A lot of good it’s done me. You heard her the other day. She’s awful. If I turn my phone off, she starts calling the office. Last year when my phone died, Maggie got the pleasure of handling her calls. She’s a good friend.” Alex leaned against his chest and sighed. “Enough about my mother. Tell me something about you.”

  “If only I had your strength.” If he had her strength, it would be so easy to stand up to Nate and everyone else who treated him like a child. “I know what it’s like, except the whole world expects me to be this person I’m not. Wouldn’t it be amazing? To be able to tell them to go fuck themselves so I could live happily ever after.”

  “You probably wouldn’t have much of a career after,” she said with a laugh.

  “True, but it might be worth it.” The clock on the wall reminded him how late it was and he knew he would have to go soon before he got too tired.

  “Can you stay a little longer?” She looked up at him with those pleading chocolaty eyes and he couldn’t resist.

  “It’s not like anyone’s expecting me, I just don’t want to raise suspicions. Plus, I’m tired.”

  “Sit with me?” Guiding him into the front room, she led him to the couch. “You look tense. Let me rub your shoulders.”

  “I didn’t get enough sleep.”

  “I can’t imagine why, what with waking up in the middle of the night, driving an hour, then turning around and working all day.” She patted the spot next to her. “Come on.”

  “Okay, but only for a minute.”

  “Take your shirt off,” she demanded.

  “Why?” Not the he cared, it just seemed like an odd request.

  “I want to see you half naked again. Just kidding, it helps if I can see your muscle groups.”

  Who was he to argue with that kind of logic?

  After wiggling her body behind him, she rubbed her hands together and got to work. “Damn, you’re really tight.” She worked her fingertips into his aching muscles and swept one knot after another down and away from his neck. “You need a proper massage.” A shiver went through his body.

  Words wouldn’t form in his mushy brain. Everything she did hurt and felt good all at the same time. “How are you so good at this?” he finally managed to say.

  “I studied human anatomy. The key is to know the direction of the muscles. Like this one.” With her hands on either side of his spine below his shoulder blades, she pushed out. “It runs along your ribs. But there are muscles deeper that run the length of your spine.” To demonstrate, she walked her fingers down his back. “You’re the perfect model. I can see everything. This one is still really bad though.” Perched on the back of the couch, she put all of her weight on a knot in his shoulder.

  He groaned.

  “Am I hurting you?” The massage stopped and then she craned her head over his shoulder to look at his face.

  “No. Yes. It hurts so good. Please don’t stop.” No one had ever given him a deep tissue massage before and it was worth every bit of pain. Eventually, his eyes got heavier and heavier until he couldn’t keep them open anymore.

  “Hey, Brian?” Alex said, kissing down his neck. “Wake up.”

  He inhaled and straightened his back. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

  “It’s okay. It means you enjoyed it, right?”

  “You’re amazing. I feel great.” The tight muscle at the base of his neck didn’t hurt, even when he stretched from side to side.

  “Glad I could help. Are you too tired to drive back?”

  Was she inviting him to stay? What would Nate say? It wouldn’t be pretty if he found out. “I’ll be fine. I should go before it gets any later. Thank you for another amazing night.”

  “Thank you,” she echoed and held onto him tightly in the doorway, which only made leaving harder.

  “See you in the morning,” he said before kissing her one last time and ducking out into the cool night. Inside the rental car, he thought about how happy it made him feel that she didn’t want him to leave. He smiled and put the key in the ignition.

  When he got back to the hotel he couldn’t park the car in the same spot. Someone else had taken it. “Great,” he grumbled. Nate would definitely notice.

  ****

  Brian’s heart raced as he struggled to pull himself out of a dream. No. Not a dream. A nightmare. Nate was telling him he was a fake. That if people knew what he really was, he’d be nothing. No one. The sheets clung to his clammy skin, suffocating him.

  A shower helped rinse off the residue of fear, but as he got dressed for a run he realized it wasn’t fear. It was anger at feeling like he had to sneak around and lie to Nate about the car. Nate would notice no matter what he did, so he d
ecided to plan for his night with Alex and go to the grocery store in town.

  Instead of shopping for one, like he would do at home, he bought enough for two. As he walked past the toy aisle, something caught his eye. A little stuffed raven sat in a basket with other birds, waiting to go home with a bird enthusiast. He knew one of those. It made a little mechanical croak when he squeezed its chest. Next, he picked out a toy for Koko since she would need something to go with her pumpkin treats.

  With his hat covering part of his face, he paid for his groceries and drove back up to the hotel just in time to watch the cast and crew get on the vans for the day. Nate had his back to them and was scanning the hills above the hotel.

  “Looking for me?” Brian asked from the driver’s seat through the cracked window.

  Nate frowned and turned to face him. “What the fuck are you doing in there?”

  “I’m taking it from now on. I can’t stand the bumpy, crowded rides every day.”

  “Who do you think you are?” Nate lunged for the door handle, but Brian had thought ahead and locked all of them.

  “I’m Blaze Fucking Johnson, and you work for me in case you forgot. I’ve been using it for days. It would be a shame if Alan found out you suck at your job.”

  “How did you get the keys?” Nate asked.

  “It’s not my fault if you leave your room open because you’re in such a rush to get laid,” Brian lied. “I wanted to see if you changed your mind about dinner the other night. How much is Alan paying you?”

  “I didn’t… That’s not…”

  “You better get to your ride, unless you’d rather stay here all day?” He nodded toward the last van. “I won’t mind.”

  “Fuck you,” Nate spat.

  “No thanks. They’re leaving,” he said.

  Nate growled and sprinted for the van. Brian followed behind them, lagging so he wouldn’t have to see Nate’s face through the back window. When Alan hired Nate to watch over him, Brian didn’t have any say in the process. Nate had power, but so did Brian. He knew how much Nate liked his job; he just had to play it right. If he didn’t, Nate could ruin everything.

  When he drove through the entrance gate he nodded at the ranger on duty and parked next to the vans in the overflow parking lot. The second he stepped out, Nate got in his face again, ruining any chance Brian had of looking for Alex.