Love on Location

by September Roberts

  Someone thrust a beer into his hand and clinked against his bottle. “Cheers.”

  “Cheers,” he echoed but didn’t drink because he’d had enough. Enough noise, enough partying, enough of everything. All he wanted was Alex.

  From the doorway, he watched the hall and nodded and laughed along with the rowdy banter. It seemed to never end and his cheeks hurt from holding a fake smile in place.

  Nate mouthed the word asshole as he walked by with two women.

  Brian leaned against the doorjamb, determined not to beat the shit out of him. Bullies like Nate would lose interest if he didn’t react, so that’s what he did. Standing there and smiling at him worked like a charm. Nate skulked into the room after flipping him off.

  After waiting for almost an hour, the door to the stairs opened. A flash of silky brown hair made his heart pound.

  “Hey, hold this, will you?” he said to Travis.

  Travis nodded but didn’t pay much attention to him.

  Brian walked out of the room and down the hall. He had one night to show Alex exactly how he felt about her.

  ****

  Alex kept her head down when she entered the lobby, passed the elevators, and followed the signs that read, IN CASE OF FIRE USE STAIRS.

  That’s what she wanted. The stairs.

  The heavy door clicked behind her and the concrete walls echoed every breath and footfall. Each noise layering on top of the other until it sounded like an army surrounded her. When she stopped and held her breath, the noise stopped with her. Only a few more steps and she would be on the second floor. Brian’s floor.

  Once she opened the door, all she could see was people roaming the corridor, talking loudly as they crossed from one room to another. The textured walls and plush carpet partially muffled the noisy conversations spilling into the hall. Wait. Was that why he invited her, so she could go to a party with him?

  No. That couldn’t be it. Blaze probably loved a good party, but not Brian. And that’s who had invited her. After taking a deep breath and hiding behind her hair, she made her way toward room 212. Keeping her back to the gathering down the hall, she knocked softly. No one answered. “Brian?” she whispered as she knocked again.

  “Yes?” he answered right behind her.

  When her initial shock subsided, she relaxed into his arms, which he wound around her as he inserted his keycard into the slot. The light flashed green and beeped twice and then they were inside the room. “You scared me,” she said.

  Instead of answering, he kissed the side of her neck and cupped her breasts.

  “Are you going back to the party?” she asked, hoping he wasn’t.

  “No,” he said against her skin. “I was waiting for you.”

  “Oh. It’s just us?” she clarified.

  “Just us,” he repeated.

  For one last night. With the tension gone from her body, she could focus on his mouth. Unlike every moment before, he took his time, moving slowly over every inch of her exposed skin. When she turned in his hands to face him, his mouth latched onto hers, sucking on her lips and grazing them with his teeth.

  In an attempt to speed things up, she tugged at the hem of his shirt, but he wasn’t having it. Winding his fingers through hers, he stilled her movements.

  “We have all night. There’s no rush,” he said, kissing her again.

  Resigned to let him take the lead, she sighed when he pushed her against the wall and kissed his way from her mouth to the opening in her brown button-up shirt. He slid the top button out of position and kissed her, and then the second, third, fourth, and fifth, his tongue and lips moving languidly across the top of her breasts. Anticipation built and her pulse quickened. She knew the pleasure waiting for her and postponing it drove her insane.

  Just as slowly, he pushed her shirt off her shoulders and then kissed the length of her arms. Following her ribs to her spine, he slid his fingers across her skin where they teamed up to unhook her bra. When the material relaxed against her body, he pulled it off and caressed her breasts until her nipples hardened. His mouth joined a moment later, rolling the rigid buds with his talented tongue.

  Arching her body toward him, she moaned and leaned her head against the wall. The things he was doing with his mouth were almost enough to do her in, and then he stroked her through her pants. When she came, her legs wobbled and her breathing became erratic.

  Next, he fell to his knees and set to work on the button holding her pants closed, kissing along her waistband, and peeling her pants off. Only stopping to untie her hiking shoes, he lifted her leg over his shoulder. She dug her fingers into his hair and held onto him.

  The remnants of her first orgasm still lingered as he kissed her slit. When his warm, wet tongue slid across her slick folds, another vibration shot through her body. Acutely aware of the presence of people in the room next to them, she held her breath and tried to remain silent. But when he started alternately thrusting his tongue inside her and flicking her clit, she moaned.

  Cupping her ass and holding her in place, he moved his tongue and lips, bringing her to the brink again. A strangled cry forced its way out of her closed mouth as she fell down the chasm of orgasmic ecstasy. Once her breathing evened out, he carried her to the bed.

  He stood between her legs and lifted the hem of his T-shirt, exposing his rippling muscles. In slow, even movements, he kicked his shoes off and then unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans. It was impossible to look away. The hollow just below his defined hipbone came into view as he tugged his pants off his ass. The material of his boxer briefs was stretched to the limit and soon joined the pile of clothes on the floor as he finished undressing, freeing his hard-on and revealing his powerful legs. Her breath caught in her throat.

  And then he started touching himself, his large hand encircling his cock, moving from the base to the tip, collecting the pre-cum and coating his length with it. Alex’s hips lifted each time the head of his dick appeared. She could almost feel him pushing inside her. Almost.

  “Please,” she begged, unable to wait any longer as the wanting drove her crazy.

  “What?” he asked, giving her a cocky smile and caressing the inside of her thigh with his free hand. The next time he thrust into his hand, he pushed a finger between her folds in the same unhurried rhythm he used to pleasure himself.

  “Yes,” she said between gasps for air. Before she could come again, he pulled away from her, retrieved a condom, and took his sweet time putting it on.

  “Please, more,” she begged.

  “Tell me what you want,” he said, dick in hand.

  “You. I want you.” More than anything. More than ever before. Wanting him consumed her.

  He kneeled on the bed between her legs, nudging them farther apart, positioning the head of his dick against her opening. “I want you, too,” he said before pushing inside.

  Alex pulled a pillow over her face, muffling the moan he forced out of her. Brian pulled it out of her hands and hovered over her.

  “They’ll hear us,” she whispered, trying to concentrate on speaking while he thrust into her again.

  “Let them. I want to hear you come,” he said as he put his hand between their bodies and rubbed her clit.

  Fighting the desire to vocalize her pleasure was a battle she would lose. “I can’t. We already got caught once tonight.”

  As a solution, he put his mouth over hers, swallowing her words and her next moan. They separated to breathe, but then their lips locked again. Each cry spurred him on, making him slam into her harder and faster. The veins in her neck bulged when she came, her body arching while his hips vibrated and his cock swelled inside her.

  Panting and slick with sweat, they held each other until breathing became easier. When he pulled out of her, her body trembled and so did his. After a quick trip to the bathroom, he returned to the bed and spooned her. The heat of his breath caressed the nape of her neck. “I’m going to miss you,” he murmured against her skin.

  She did
n’t respond because she couldn’t. Not without crying, so she snuggled against his arm and closed her eyes.

  ****

  Alex jerked awake at the sound of banging. The sun hadn’t come up yet. What time was it? Six.

  “Wake up,” someone shouted from the other side of the door.

  Brian groaned and tightened his grip around Alex’s waist.

  Bang, bang, bang.

  “Go away,” Brian shouted.

  “Wake up, asshole.”

  “Fuck off, Nate,” Brian replied, finally sitting up.

  Nate mumbled something and then his footsteps retreated.

  “What time are you flying out?” she asked.

  “We need to be at the plane by seven.” Falling back into bed, he groaned. “Why is it morning already?”

  Alex rubbed the sleep from her eyes and made a quick trip to the bathroom to splash water on her face. “I should go,” she said, picking up her clothes from the floor and trying to get dressed. It wasn’t easy because her limbs hadn’t woken fully.

  “You should come back to bed,” he said, tugging on her waistband and dragging her toward him.

  It didn’t take much to pull away from him. Enough was enough. It was time to say goodbye. “I shouldn’t have stayed. You need to go.” She focused on her shirt, one button after another.

  “But—” he whined.

  “You’re going to be late if you don’t get your lazy ass out of bed.” After slipping her feet into her shoes, she bent over him in bed. With her face buried in the crook of his neck, she inhaled deeply, savoring the scent of his skin still tinged with sleep. Allowing herself one final kiss on his cheek, she whispered, “I have to go.”

  When she pulled away, he tried to hold her again. She couldn’t make him late.

  The words goodbye didn’t come. It wasn’t really goodbye, was it? All the times he had invited her to come see him had to mean something. That was the only thing that kept her moving. Knowing she would see him again. When she got home, she would find out how much it would cost to fly to California.

  “Alexis,” he called after her.

  But it was too late; she was already at the door, opening it to the bustle of crewmembers filling the hallway with luggage. Hiding behind a curtain of hair, she ran for the stairway and pushed the heavy door open. Alone, she slumped onto the stairs and numbly tied her shoes. Once she reached the main floor, she filed outside with a crowd of people and then headed toward her car, fumbling with her keys before getting inside.

  But she couldn’t leave. Not yet. She had to see him one last time. From where she was parked, she got a glimpse of everyone who exited the lobby heading toward the Red Rock Rental vans that lined the front curb. One by one, the vans pulled away filled with passengers, just not the one she wanted to see.

  Brian’s voice carried out into the still morning air even through her closed windows. And then she saw him, arguing with Nate.

  “Why do you care who I fuck?” Blaze came to the surface.

  “It’s my job,” Nate shouted. “Why? Why her?”

  Alex slumped down in her seat while Nate and Blaze approached the rental car parked close to her. The trunk slammed shut.

  “Because it was convenient. Is that what you want to hear? That I have needs, and she was willing? That I wanted—” The rest got cut off as he got into the rental, followed immediately by Nate.

  His words tore into her heart. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she watched the white car pull away, taking with it her hopes and dreams.

  On the way back to Twisted Juniper, she had to pull over, unable to see through the tears. She had believed it all: every smile, every line, and every lie. But his final words erased everything. Convenient. That’s all it was. He was slumming with her, just like Nate had said.

  The sun finally arrived and illuminated her pathetic life. It should be raining. The sky should reflect how she felt, but it didn’t. Bright puffy clouds dotted the horizon mocking her pain.

  And it only got worse from there.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “Just let it go,” Brian shouted, his voice deafening inside the cramped car. They were almost to the airport. All he had to do was stay calm for a few more minutes. The barrage of questions from Nate over the last half hour had pushed him to his breaking point.

  “It’s not that easy,” Nate replied.

  “Yes, it is. What Alex and I have isn’t anyone’s business but ours.”

  Nate chuckled. “It’s clear you didn’t think this through, so let me explain it to you: a ranger offered sexual favors so she could get a raise.”

  Heat licked at Brian’s neck. “That’s not how it was.”

  “Wasn’t it? Everyone knew she needed you on her side. What better way? She took advantage of you. Can’t you see that?”

  “That’s not how it was,” he repeated and tightened his hands into fists.

  “Beyond that, your reputation is at stake. Everyone will question your motivation since they know hers.” Nate pulled into the parking lot at the tiny airport and turned the car off.

  “No one knows. I haven’t seen a single camera this entire time.”

  A smug smile slid onto Nate’s face. “Except mine,” he said and then got out of the car.

  Brian followed. “What does that mean?” Most of the cast and crew stood nearby waiting to board the plane that waited at the end of the runway. The private jet that would take him home hadn’t arrived yet. This was the part where Alex showed up in his fantasy, running toward him and flying away with him so they wouldn’t have to say goodbye, but she didn’t come.

  Nate’s hand stilled as he pulled his bag out of the trunk. “Consider it payback for being such an asshole.”

  “What did you do?”

  Nate turned and faced Brian. “I showed the world who you really are. A pathetic man being led around by his dick by a manipulative, basic bitch. Your fans are going to be so disappointed when they see the picture.”

  Brian could take insults all day long, but he couldn’t listen to Nate question and insult Alex for a second more. He pulled his fist back and aimed at Nate’s mouth. Pain shot through his hand and up his arm as he made contact. Nate cried out and blood gushed out of his nose. “You’re a piece of shit,” Brian spat.

  Someone in the gathering crowd gasped. Brian looked away for only a second, but it was a second too long. Nate hit him hard on his temple. Stars shot across his vision for a few seconds and then he focused enough to retaliate. Just as Nate pulled back for another punch, Brian dodged and grazed the side of Nate’s ribs followed by an uppercut that made Nate’s teeth clatter.

  Before Brian could land another blow, someone pulled him away. He yanked out of the hold and turned to face whoever was restraining him.

  “What’s going on?” Travis asked.

  “I need to warn her,” he replied as he pulled his phone out of his pocket, but before he could unlock it to text Alex, Nate knocked it out of his hand and sent it falling toward the asphalt.

  “There.” Nate spat blood onto the ruined phone and then stomped on the screen with the heel of his shoe. “We’re even.”

  Brian lunged at him, but Travis held him back again.

  “It’s not worth it. He’s not worth it,” Travis said behind him. “Let it go.”

  Rage coursed through his veins, making his heart hammer while he dug his fingers into the palms of his clenched fists.

  “Walk with me,” Travis said.

  Brian exhaled and nodded.

  “Don’t let him get to you. That’s what he wants.” Travis looked over his shoulder.

  “I can’t sit with him for two hours. I can’t do it.”

  Travis patted his back. “Take my flight and I’ll take yours. I’ll make sure he doesn’t get out of line.”

  “Thanks, man. I owe you one.” Brian stretched his neck from side to side, trying to get the ringing in his ear to stop. His pulse pounded against the corner of his eye and his vision had already started t
o blur.

  “Don’t worry about it. I knew you didn’t get along, but I had no idea it was this bad. Hang on a sec.” Travis jogged over to the rental car, retrieved Brian’s bag, and returned.

  A group of women surrounded Nate and were making a big fuss over his bloody nose. “Oh, you poor thing,” one of them said as she looked at Brian with contempt.

  Brian scoffed. “Poor thing? He’s lucky to be standing.” Inside the airport, he and Travis sorted out their tickets before boarding began. The same man stood behind the counter, moving just as slowly as he had the night Brian arrived.

  Travis shook Brian’s hand as they stood in line together. “I’ll keep an eye on Nate.”

  “Have a few drinks. That helps,” Brian called over his shoulder as he passed through the security screening area. Two police officers were working, tripling the staff at the airport.

  “Will do,” Travis replied.

  Brian followed the stream of people and waited to board the crowded aircraft. The aisle was narrow and the plane vibrated under his feet, but it was better than sitting next to Nate. Once he got into his seat, he buckled up, leaned his head back, and closed his eyes. He couldn’t get home fast enough.

  ****

  The first thing Brian did after getting off the plane was take a cab to the daycare where Ozzie waited for him. The woman behind the desk told him what his dog had been doing for the past two weeks, much of which was a recap from what he already knew from calling and watching the webcam.

  “He made so many new friends,” she said. “We went to the park every day. He’s such a good boy.”

  Brian nodded and smiled and then Ozzie rushed out to see him and nothing else mattered. After a few slobbery kisses, Ozzie circled Brian’s body and snuffled every inch of his clothes. They were, in fact, the same clothes he’d worn when he left Alex’s house. “I cheated on you,” Brian admitted. “You’d love her though. Maybe you’ll get to meet her one day, and her mom.”

  When they got home, Brian couldn’t imagine doing anything else but unpacking and relaxing with his dog. Even though he had a thousand things to do, nothing was more important than decompressing. Checking in with his parents would have to wait until he got a new phone, he just hoped they would understand. Just thinking about his fight with Nate made him furious. He needed a break from anger.