Then she moved back around to the other side of the bed and climbed in, beneath the covers. She laid her head on her pillow then, before she could think about it too much, pulled the shirt over her head, tossing it to the floor. She was back to the thin camisole. But that was how she slept, she argued with her conscience, Luke or no Luke.
They weren’t touching, but she could feel the heat radiating from his body, could remember what it had been like to lay enfolded in his arms. As if he could read her mind, in the next moment, Luke rolled over and wrapped his arm across her shoulders.
He pulled himself close, spooning her with his body. Charley closed her eyes, fighting her arousal at the same time she reveled in it. His own breathing was even, deep.
They lay that way for more than an hour, Luke sleeping soundly, Charley unable to. She kept one eye on the clock, wishing she could freeze time. When morning came, everything would change. But for now, she could steal a new memory. And not get caught.
A sound caught her attention. Luke, stirring. She held her breath.
“Mmmm, Charley,” he murmured in her ear, pulling her closer until her behind was tucked into his crotch, where his rock-hard erection made itself known.
Going too far. Too far now. The warning bell in her mind clanged an alarm. She tried to get up, though it was a halfhearted effort at best.
“Stay,” he whispered.
His chest was pressed against her back, his heat searing into her skin. A moan nearly escaped, but she caught it in time and rammed it back down her throat. She would not give in. She would not succumb. That could mean the end of her chances on the show. Hadn’t Tasha said only yesterday that they could replace her?
Too far.
Maybe she could succumb a little, just enough to savor his body next to hers, his arm around her. But nothing else. She wasn’t going to risk—
Then the kisses began. On the back of her neck. Light at first, and then more urgent, each touch inflaming her senses. Her thoughts swirled and scattered until she felt like she was trying hold them and they kept escaping. All she could do was feel.
She rolled to face him, to tell him this wasn’t a good idea. Instead, he pressed his body against hers, holding her close. The tingling in her lower body spread, flooding over her until she had stretched her feet and her neck as far as they would go. Her back arched.
“We shouldn’t do this,” she said with only half her breath, not meaning it.
“No.” He kissed her again, on the lips, cheeks, and neck, each kiss increasing in intensity.
She returned his kisses, hesitantly at first and then with exquisite recklessness. She had always been his.
Once his tongue found hers, she stopped telling herself this wasn’t a good idea.
Once he found the hem of her camisole and pulled it up over her head so her bare breasts met his chest, she told herself to quit thinking. At all.
She yanked his shirt off him and tossed it to join hers on the floor.
“Could you lose the little shorts?” He seemed to also be having trouble drawing a full breath.
She could lose the shorts. Faster than she’d ever let go of a piece of clothing in her life. She was fully naked next to him now, already halfway to a massive orgasm and he hadn’t even yet touched that most sensitive spot the way she knew he could. And would.
His hands were moving up and down her back, his mouth on its way from her neck to her breasts when he stopped and pulled back to look at her with heavily lidded eyes. “You sure?”
She found her voice. “Yes.”
“Because I—”
“I’m sure.” Every part of her shuddered in anticipation. If tomorrow they had to forget this had happened, they would. They had tonight. She wanted tonight.
“We should—”
“I know.” Though reluctant to leave his embrace, she rolled over and opened the drawer to the nightstand and pulled out her purse. As she did, she heard him peel off his remaining clothes then the thud on the carpet after he sent his jeans sailing across the room.
He was back against her swiftly, his erection pressed against her skin, even larger and harder than she’d remembered. Did men…uh…grow? No more thinking. Stop thinking.
It took everything she had to pull away and hold out a foil-wrapped packet.
He took it, but laid it on the sheet and said, “In a minute.” Or he said something like that. Her brain wasn’t working all that well. He rolled her onto her back and began moving slowly downward, his lips worshipping as they traveled, his hands cupping her body.
It felt like a lifetime and no time before his mouth found what it sought. Familiar pulsing sensations roared through her. When release came, she put her own hand over her mouth to muffle the sounds that could awaken Marc. And anyone else within a two-block radius.
Luke crawled upward, a drowsy grin on his face. She roused herself enough from her haze to pull the wrapper off the condom and reach for him. “I—Luke—I—” She wanted to tell him her heart was about to explode, but didn’t have the words.
“Still sure?”
“Yes.”
“Then shhh.” He put his fingers over her mouth. Seconds later, he groaned as she put the condom on the head of his great cock and began slowly rolling it down. The minute her fingers left his shaft, his mouth was on hers again, hard, his fingers tangled in her hair as he entered her with rapid, strong thrusts that built, each stronger than the last.
They moved as one, and she savored the feel of skin upon skin, of remembered and entirely new sensations. When they came, it was together and she rallied the presence of mind to keep them quiet by capturing his mouth with hers.
They collapsed into each other and held on tight, until he fell silent and began peppering her neck with kisses, his lips warm and soft.
Wordlessly, they separated their connection then he pulled her close, his arms wrapped around her from behind. While her body sighed in euphoria, somewhere deep in her mind, an alarm bell began ringing a warning she ignored as she closed her eyes and drifted off, Luke breathing deeply into her hair.
A rustling sound woke her. Charley opened her eyes then smiled and burrowed farther into Luke’s muscled arms.
Wait. What time was it? She looked at the clock. 7:30 a.m. She shot up in bed and realized what had awakened her: the sound of a paper being slid beneath her door. Shit. The morning’s briefing.
Every muscle in her body tensed, leaving her ready to run but afraid to move. In the room next door, a shower began. Oh God. They shouldn’t have slept this long.
Luke rolled over and yawned, stretching his arms wide. When one of his hands touched Charley, he smiled. Then the smile disappeared and he shot up just as fast as she had. “Oh hell no.”
The bodyguards around her heart begin lining up, lifting their weapons, talking amongst themselves.
“This didn’t happen. I can’t be here.” He put a hand to his forehead. “Ow.”
Her virtual sharpshooter took aim. “You wouldn’t leave.”
“I—I know.” He pressed his fingers to his forehead.
She grabbed the sheet and pulled, wrapping it around herself as she rose from the bed. It took every bit of courage she could find to face him. “Then go. Forget it happened.”
“No.” The vehemence in his response took her back. He got out of the bed, still clutching his head, and stood facing her, naked. “I don’t want to forget it. But you—me—last night. I’m sorry.”
She looked down at the sheet clutched in her hand.
“It was wrong to come here. Wrong to be drinking and thinking.”
“About what?” She fingered the edge of the sheet, still unable to look at him.
Instead of answering, he rounded the bed and kissed the top of her head. “I have to go before anyone finds out I’m here.” He went to the pile of his clothes on the floor and began pulling them on. “Can you be a lookout?”
A part of her wanted to beat him with the vase on the side table. A part of her wanted to scream, “Wh
at the fuck?” And a part of her wished she’d had the presence of mind to have slept in the bathtub.
Instead, she found her sleep shorts and camisole and got dressed. She grabbed her brush from the bathroom to run it through her hair and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were wide, apprehensive. She didn’t want to go back out and face him.
He was sorry. Again.
“Charley?” She heard his voice through the door.
“Coming.”
By the time she returned, Luke had begun pacing.
“It can’t be that bad,” she ventured uncertainly. “If somebody sees you, just say…” What, exactly?
Luke stopped pacing. “Did you read your contract?”
Of course she’d read her contract. Not every single word, but enough. “I did.”
“Then you saw the part about no personal relationships between contestants and crew.”
“But you’re not crew.”
“I am crew. And this could get us both kicked off the show.”
She lifted her chin, defiant. “Then don’t get caught. And don’t come back.”
His brows drew together, and his familiar, beautiful golden brown eyes searched her face. For what, she wasn’t sure.
Then, appearing to make up his mind, he said, “I won’t.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Make Me a Match
Episode Three
Squirrels and Sur
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Tasha demanded. “You look like somebody ran you over, backed up, and did it again.”
Luke bristled. “So what? I’m not on camera.” He’d made it safely out of Charley’s room, but there hadn’t been time to get to his place and back before he had to be on set. He knew he looked like crap; the mirror in the bathroom had reflected the truth straight back to his bloodshot eyes and yesterday’s clothes. But that didn’t mean Tasha had to make a thing out of it. Other people might hear.
“How about we just do our jobs, okay?”
“Great.” Tasha rolled her eyes. “I get to work with Mr. Sunshine and Unicorns today. Should be fun.”
Luke thought about replying but tossed that idea out when he saw the contestants beginning to filter into the foyer where he and Tasha stood, waiting for them. Jason and Trevor came in first, holding hands and darting shy, pleased smiles at each other.
“Young love,” Tasha sighed under her breath. “I so have this.”
“Don’t count on it.” The winning couple’s producer would receive a sizeable bonus from the show, bragging rights, and a probable career boost. Judging from the way Jason and Trevor were looking at each other, Tasha was probably right.
He wished he cared that he’d sabotaged his chances of winning. He wished he felt sorry about last night. He wished he wasn’t such an asshole.
Jen appeared at Luke’s side. “Sorry I’m late.”
“You didn’t miss anything,” Luke told her. “Just Tasha talking trash.”
“Tasha talking trash,” Jen repeated, grinning. “That’s new how?”
Luke rubbed two fingers against his forehead. He hadn’t had enough coffee to face Jen’s cheerful personality this early. He glanced at his watch. One minute before nine.
Burt walked up, giving the three producers a curt nod.
Brittany strode in next, nodded hello at everyone in the room, and then folded her arms across her chest, tapping her foot. Michael followed shortly after and took his place next to her side.
“Trouble?” Luke asked Jen from the corner of his mouth.
“They’re just super competitive,” she whispered. “But I think they like each other.”
Michael landed a defiant kiss on Brittany’s cheek. She hip checked him.
“See?” Jen hissed.
“Uh-huh. They like each other.”
Brittany gave a Luke a coy look, dragging a finger across her lips.
“There’s one other thing,” Jen said. “She thinks you’re hot, so if you could take it down to a simmer, that would be helpful. Otherwise, you might get Michael in your face.”
Luke exhaled. “That’s all we need.”
“Leave her to me. And be careful.”
“I’m always careful.” Riiiight. He’d blown straight past careful and embraced stupid with open arms.
Where was Charley? Another look at his watch. “It’s after nine. Where the hell are they?”
Tasha glared at him. “You’re their producer. If you don’t know, how are we supposed to?”
Some great producer. He’d not only put Charley and himself in jeopardy, he might have risked everybody’s jobs. Jonathan, who liked to brag he had more money than God, could decide to scrap this whole thing if it became too troublesome. He’d done crazier things in the past.
Charley entered the room, followed by Marc. All Luke could think about was the softness of her skin, the vanilla scent of her perfume, the familiar but all-new feeling of holding her in his arms, of driving toward—
Tasha hit his arm. “Are you listening?”
“Yes.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Listening.”
“Okay, then.” She sounded doubtful, but beckoned to Rob Smiley, who had at some point sauntered into the room. “Here.” She handed Rob three envelopes. “Go.”
Burt signaled and an assistant stepped up with the clapper.
Rob’s disinterested expression instantly transformed. He smiled at the contestants, his hands clasped in front of him. “Today,” he began, “we have a special activity—a challenge where you will complete specific tasks that have been assigned to you. Each couple will work together to compete against the other two. And each couple will be assigned their own unique tasks, in different parts of L.A.”
“All right, now,” said Michael, nodding at Brittany. “We’ve got this, babe.”
She turned to him and lifted her chin.
“This will test your teamwork and problem-solving skills, which, as you know, a couple needs for a successful partnership and marriage,” Rob continued. “But aside from that, we think you’ll have fun while you’re at it.” He winked.
Luke watched Charley and Marc from the corner of his eye. Damn, she looked good, though only a couple of hours ago, without any makeup, her clothes off, and her hair all messed up, she’d looked even better. He swallowed hard.
“Contestants, come get your sealed envelopes.” Rob said.
Michael stepped forward first, followed by Marc. Trevor came next, but Luke didn’t look at him. His eyes were on Marc and the way he was looking at Charley. Like he had any right to her. Like he had any reason to think she could fall for him.
Jealousy squeezed at Luke’s spine, clouding his thinking. He squeezed his eyes shut tight. Marc was supposed to think Charley would fall for him. Luke was not supposed to think about Charley at all, except when it came to capturing moments of brilliant TV.
Yeah, right.
“In your envelope, you have everything you’ll need to win this challenge—a map, a pen, and a pad of paper. The rules are simple. Your camera crew will be with you to film the completion of your tasks, though they can’t assist you in any way. The first couple to complete all the assigned tasks wins. And there’s a great prize for winning, so give this everything you have.” Rob paused for effect. “Is everyone ready?”
“We’re ready, Rob,” Michael shouted, his fist pumping the air.
The other contestants turned to look at him. Brittany put her own arm in the air defiantly. “Ready, Rob.” She high-fived Michael.
“We’re ready,” Jason murmured.
“Ready,” Trevor echoed.
“What kind of things do you think they’ll make us do?” Marc asked Charley.
“I know, right?” Jason whispered to Marc.
“It will all be on TV, so can’t be anything too bad,” Charley reassured them.
“That’s true,” said Jason. “So we’ll just have fun with it.”
Trevor squeezed his hand.
“I wonder what
I’m going to spend my bonus on,” Tasha sighed to Luke and Jen.
He ignored her. Marc had taken Charley’s hand. She’d shot Luke a quick glance as she clasped her hand to Marc’s.
She could not do that, look at him. As if asking his permission. Tasha had the sharpest eyes of anyone he knew—she’d guess something had gone on with him and Charley in a second. “Wrap it up, Rob,” he urged under his breath.
“Great,” Rob enthused. “Then let’s head to the vans and get this party started.” He made a dramatic sweep toward the door with his hand. Burt nodded and signaled the contestants and cameramen to follow.
Luke hung back, waiting until he was the last one to walk out. How in the hell was he going to work with Marc and Charley today and pretend that nothing had happened last night? He didn’t even know for sure what he’d said to her when he’d first showed up at her door. But he had the nagging feeling the whiskey might have said things he hadn’t approved for release.
The van dropped Charley, Marc, and their camera crew at a spot on the Sunset Strip near The Comedy Store. Luke pulled his phone from his pocket and pressed a button. “Your time starts now.”
His hand didn’t seem that steady, Charley noted. She refused to think about why.
She pulled out the list she’d been handed as they stepped out of the van. While looking down at it, she sneaked a glance at Luke through her lashes. He turned away and headed back to the van, but their eyes had met, just for a second. A second she’d need to hold on to for a while. Possibly forever.
She read the instructions at the top of the list to Marc.
Charley and Marc, you are to perform/accomplish each of these items without using any money. You also can’t use your camera crew to help you accomplish the tasks, though they will record the day on film. The tasks don’t have to be performed in order, but remember, time is everything. Good luck! When you have completed your tasks, meet your producer in front of The Giant Bullwinkle Statue.
“The Giant Bullwinkle Statue?” she puzzled.
“That’s the last thing, so let’s not worry about it yet,” Marc said. “What’s on the list? We’ll need to get organized. Teamwork.” His tone was brisk, urgent. “Come on, we’ve got this.”
Kiss and Confess (Love Unscripted Book 1) Page 6