by Tara Wyatt
A fly buzzed somewhere, the sound stopping almost as soon as it had started.
Sean’s hand continued its slow path up her thigh, and her legs fell open. She wanted everything he had to give. She was selfish and needy, and she’d take it all, over and over again. His fingers teased the seam where her hip joined her thigh, inching lower.
The fly buzzed again, louder this time. The edges of the room faded, and she dug her fingers into the sheets.
With a knowing smile, Sean dipped his head, his lips almost brushing hers as his fingers caressed her inner thigh, so close to where she wanted them.
Touch me. Kiss me. Take me.
Sierra’s eyes popped open as her phone vibrated on the bedside table. With a soft groan, she pushed herself up to a sitting position and reached for her ringing phone, wishing she could simply sink back into the dream, where it had been just she and Sean.
Oh, God, those hands. She sighed out another little moan and checked the call display, grimacing slightly when she saw her agent’s name on the screen. She hadn’t spoken to her in months, and she knew Linda had been annoyed with her when she’d turned down the last audition Linda had booked for her. She wasn’t acting much these days, and as far as Sierra was concerned, that was just fine. She made a very comfortable living off the residuals from both Family Tree and Sunset Cove, which allowed her to devote her time to Choices. Rubbing a hand over her face, she swiped her finger across the screen to answer the call.
“Good morning, Linda.”
“Oh, you are alive. I was starting to think you’d kicked the bucket, since you haven’t returned any of my calls.”
Sierra grimaced. “I’ve been busy. What’s up?” She swung her legs over the side of the bed, kicking her feet and trying to ignore the weight low in her stomach. Linda never called without an explicit purpose. Her time was far too valuable.
“Are you free for lunch today? I’d like to meet with you. I’ve been making some calls, and I have a potential audition I want to talk to you about.”
“Oh, uh, today? I’ll have to check with my security people.” Her mind flashed back to her dream and her stomach clenched.
“Since when do you have security people?”
“Since I was attacked in public and my house was vandalized.”
“Is this related to all that Choices stuff?”
“Yeah, it is.”
“Well, that doesn’t surprise me. I don’t know why you waste your time with that when you could be acting.”
Sierra pressed her mouth into a thin line, not wanting to get drawn into a fruitless argument with Linda, who continued without waiting for a response from Sierra.
“Just meet me for lunch today. I promise this is something you’ll be interested in. It’s more Gloria Steinem, less rom-com.”
Her curiosity won out over her reluctance, and she found herself nodding. “Yeah, OK. I’ll see what I can do. I’ll call you if I can’t make it.” Sierra slid her feet into a pair of slippers and made her way out of her bedroom, slowly descending the stairs into the living room with the phone still pressed to her ear.
“Perfect. Meet me at Kismet at one o’clock. Ta.”
Wondering if she’d made a mistake by agreeing to meet with Linda, she shuffled into the kitchen and started the coffee maker. While she waited for her mug to fill, she checked her e-mail on her phone, sorting the messages into work and personal folders. Once her coffee was ready, she wrapped her hands around the mug, inhaling the warm aroma.
Weak sunshine filtered through the kitchen windows that looked out onto her backyard. When she’d first walked through the house five years ago, she’d loved it and had been pretty sure she wanted to call it home. The backyard had sealed the deal. A long rectangular pool sparkled in the middle of the yard, surrounded by terra-cotta patio stones that branched off to form a path toward the small guesthouse in the far right corner. Rosebushes and various potted shrubs lined the pathway and patio, and a row of low, chubby palms stood along the edge of the property. Beyond the pool the Hollywood Hills rose up, smeared with greenery, mansions, and hazy sky.
About to take that first fortifying sip of her coffee, she froze, the mug halfway to her lips.
A pair of large hands appeared on the edge of the pool, followed by a pair of strong, cut arms, and finally one of the most chiseled bodies she’d ever seen in her life.
Sean hauled himself out of the pool, water dripping off him and onto the patio stones. His black swim trunks clung to his narrow hips, revealing ripped thighs and a muscular ass. He walked over to the patio table, checked his phone, and then dove gracefully back in.
The sexiest man she’d ever seen was swimming laps in her pool. She took a sip of her coffee and continued to watch him, letting her mind slip back to that dream. Her imagination hadn’t done him justice. She’d known he was fit and strong given the way his suit fit him, but knowing and seeing were two completely different things. His body was incredible. He just looked so…strong. And big. And gorgeous.
After several minutes of hard swimming, he hauled himself out again, muscles straining as he pulled his large frame onto the patio stones. He shook his head, flinging out water droplets that sparkled in the sunlight. The moment could’ve been more perfect only if it had been happening in slow motion with “Whatta Man” playing in the background.
If it hadn’t been clear enough given that dream, it was now undeniable. She’d never been more attracted to a man in her life. And sure, the unbelievable body and gorgeous face were a big part of that, but there was more to it than simple lust. Because while she’d never been so attracted to a man in her life, she’d also never been so instantly trusting of one, and the knowledge that she trusted him completely despite having known him for less than forty-eight hours was unsettling. Trust had never come easily for her, and here she was, giving it freely and unquestioningly.
Maybe it had something to do with how safe she felt around him. How protected and secure he made her feel just with his presence. After the attack and the vandalism, she’d been sure that she’d never feel at ease in her home again, but last night she’d slept like a baby—albeit a horny one—knowing that he was less than a hundred feet away in the guesthouse, and that a member of his team was spending the night on guard. The attack and the break-in had left her feeling vulnerable and powerless, and now she felt sheltered and safe. He’d spent the rest of the afternoon yesterday in jeans and a T-shirt, installing security cameras and motion-detecting floodlights and working with some guys from his company to get the new alarm system set up and linked with everything. Her garage now looked like the inside of some top-secret command center. She liked seeing these different sides of him: the professional in a suit, the handyman in jeans, the athlete in swim trunks. She was collecting all these different pieces, holding on to them, wanting to know what she’d see when she had them all.
He was just doing his job, and maybe everything he’d done for her wasn’t a big deal to him, but it was a big deal to her. Almost effortlessly, he’d restored something taken from her.
She could feel herself sinking, getting pulled into something she wasn’t sure she could handle. Maybe she was confusing lust for something more. Maybe she was making the mistake of letting her attraction to him and her recent loneliness cloud her judgment, and seeing things that weren’t there.
Maybe it would be safer if she kept a little friendly distance between them until she got a grip on how she felt about him and how he made her feel.
And yet…it was only being friendly if she took him a cup of coffee, right?
She grabbed a pod and brewed a second cup.
Sean picked up a towel from one of the patio chairs and began drying himself off, his muscles flexing beneath tanned skin as he moved the towel from his hair down his torso and over his legs.
Oh, God. She’d never wanted to be a towel so badly in all her life.
Watching him, she felt a warm tightening between her thighs, accompanied by a tingling pulse
low in her belly. Sean was still toweling off when she stepped out onto the patio stones, the freshly brewed cup of coffee clutched in her hands.
“Morning,” she said, trying not to stare. “I thought you might like some coffee.”
He smiled at her and took the offered mug. “Thanks. You sleep OK last night?” A droplet of water fell from his hair and onto his shoulder, sliding down over one of his gorgeously defined pecs and into the dusting of dark hair that arrowed a path down his abs and into his swim trunks.
She had the sudden urge to trace the trail left by the drop of water with her tongue.
“Sierra? You OK?”
Her cheeks hot, her eyes flew up to meet his. An amused smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he waited for her answer.
“Oh yeah. I’m good,” she stammered, tucking her hair behind her ears. “Did you, um…did you sleep OK?”
“Just fine.” He took a sip of his coffee, still studying her. The strap of her tank top slipped off her shoulder, and his eyes tracked the movement, lingering on her bare skin. An electric current ran up her spine, and her lips parted slightly, the air suddenly too thick to carry enough oxygen.
He reached out and gently slipped the errant strap back into place, the pads of his fingers grazing her neck and collarbone. She wanted to arch into that touch, needed more of it, but he pulled his hand back and took another sip of his coffee.
“My agent wants to have lunch with me today. Can we do that?” she asked in a rush, her skin still tingling from the contact.
He tipped his head and then nodded. “Shouldn’t be a problem. Anything else you need to do today? Appointments or anything?” he asked.
“Not an appointment, but it’s my friend Chloe’s birthday tonight. I’m supposed to meet up with her and a couple others for drinks at the Chateau Marmont.”
Sean frowned, his lips pressed together tightly. He took a sip of his coffee and grimaced slightly as he shook his head. “No. It’s not a good idea.”
She felt her shoulders drop slightly. “But you’ll be with me. It’ll be fine.”
“It’s a public place at night, and I wouldn’t even know who or what to be on the lookout for. For your own safety, it’s best if you stay home, where I can control the situation. There are too many moving pieces, too many unknowns for me to think it’s safe for you to go to a bar right now, regardless of whether or not I’m with you.”
“Oh.” Disappointment pulled at her, and she sighed heavily, but then frowned as she looked up at him. “So what makes this different from the lunch meeting with my agent?”
“The time of day, the location, the activity. There’s a difference between a business meeting in the middle of the day between two people, and drinking in a crowded bar at night with a group.”
“The attack at the convention center happened in the middle of the day.”
He tipped his head, agreeing. “True, but the point of the attack wasn’t to hurt you. It was to humiliate you in a public place. We don’t know what they have planned next, or who they even are. Better to play it safe and minimize the risks. Invite your friends here. Then we’re both happy.” Another drop of water fell from his hair and onto his chest, landing with a tiny splash beside his right nipple. Her blood hummed in her veins in response.
She sighed again. “I’ll see if I can convince them to change their plans for me, I guess. I feel bad asking them to, though.” A surge of anger pushed up through her chest, not because of Sean and his security protocols, but because of the situation that necessitated them. Not only was Sacrosanct trying to intimidate and humiliate her into shutting up, but it was negatively affecting her day-to-day life. All because she felt that women should be allowed to decide what happened to their bodies.
Assholes.
* * *
He watched as Jonathan Fairfax circled him, stalking closer like a wolf hunting its prey.
“What do you mean, you don’t have the money?” Fairfax batted at the overhead light, sending it swinging back and forth in an arc of light and shadow, adding to his dizziness. He shifted in his chair, the wood hard and unforgiving underneath him. It creaked slightly, and he cleared his throat.
“I don’t have it right now. But I’ll get it.”
“You have no fucking clue who you’re messing with, do you?” Fairfax’s voice was quiet and menacing, the words spoken with deadly precision.
A chill ran across his skin, the hairs on the back of his neck standing at attention, because he knew exactly who he was messing with. A bead of sweat rolled down his back, and he clenched his jaw, trying to suppress the tremor threatening to shake his skin free of his bones. “I’ll get you the money. I swear.”
Fairfax frowned, looking both unconvinced and unimpressed. “Let me ask you a question. Do you think it’s fair that we held up our end of the deal and got you exactly what you wanted, and now you can’t pay us for services rendered?” He nodded at someone behind the chair, and suddenly a plastic bag came down over his head, clamped in place with strong, immovable hands. He struggled for air, kicking out his feet as his lungs burned, his vision blurring around the edges. After a moment the bag lifted, and he sucked in a lungful of air, sputtering and gasping as his pulse thundered in his ears.
“Answer me. Do you think that’s fair?”
He shook his head rapidly, spots dancing across his field of vision. “No.”
Fairfax smiled, all tanned skin and white teeth. “I’m so glad we agree.” The smile still in place, he leaned down, his hands braced on the arms of the chair, his face inches away. “You will pay me every cent you owe me with interest, you fucking worm, or I will end you, slowly and painfully. The next time I set eyes on you, you better have my money. Don’t make me break your fingers. I hate resorting to clichés.”
He nodded. “I’ll have it. I promise.”
And he knew exactly where he was going to get it.
Chapter 7
Sierra stepped into the restaurant with Sean and Jamie at her back, a sea of customers enjoying their lunches before her. She glanced over her shoulder at Sean, who sent her a reassuring smile. Not only was she not looking forward to the meeting with her agent, but she suddenly felt open and exposed. Her eyes darted around the restaurant, looking for…something. Anything out of place. Her shoulders stiffened as she realized how right Sean had been about the potential danger in public spaces right now. She didn’t even know who or what to look for, or what they’d do next. Fear mingled with anger, and she gripped her purse a little tighter.
“Relax. You’re fine. Jamie and I have got you.” Sean’s deep voice was quiet, and it washed over her, unknotting the tense muscles in her back and shoulders. He laid a hand on her lower back and guided her farther into the restaurant. “I’ll be at a table nearby, and Jamie will be watching the doors. If it wasn’t safe, I wouldn’t have let you come.” She glanced back at him again, and his hand pressed a bit more firmly into her back, warmth radiating out from his touch and relaxing her even further. She nodded, gratitude that he was here and trust in his ability to keep her safe extinguishing the anxiety eating at her chest.
She caught Linda’s eye and waved, weaving her way through the maze of square tables, each topped with a pristine white tablecloth. The sun streaming in the front windows reflected off the wine bar on the opposite wall, illuminating the elegant space done in shades of cream and tan. Nearly every table was full, mostly with industry types conducting business over twenty-five-dollar salads that wouldn’t have satisfied a rabbit. As she approached the table, a waiter appeared and pulled her chair out for her. She smiled politely and took a seat, watching as Sean settled himself a couple of tables away. Close enough to protect her, but far enough away to give her some privacy. The low buzz of conversation, clinking glasses, and scraping chairs hummed through the restaurant, shrouding them in a hush of sound.
Linda tucked a smooth strand of ice-blond hair behind one ear before taking a tiny sip of her water. “Sierra, sweetheart, how are you?�
� Her well-preserved face barely moved as she spoke. Her head swiveled around, taking in Sean a few tables behind her. One slender eyebrow arched inquisitively. “You weren’t kidding about the security.”
“I’m fine, Linda. And no. I wasn’t kidding. After what happened the other day, I’d be stupid not to have security.”
Linda flipped open her menu, her thin lips pursed. “Hmm. Well. You could just, you know. Quit. Then you’d be out of danger, right?”
Sierra bit back the scoff rising up in her throat. “If I quit, they win. And Choices loses. I refuse to let some whack-jobs have that kind of power.”
“I just don’t understand why you’d put yourself at risk for them.”
“Because I understand the importance of what they do, Linda. And I’m not going to let these bullies scare me.”
“But you already are scared, darling. I can see it. You’re pale. You look tired. You keep looking at your bodyguard as if you’re terrified he’s going to leave.”
As Linda spoke, Sierra realized that her eyes had, in fact, drifted back to Sean. Almost guiltily she pulled them away, not sure what to do with the realization that she needed Sean around to feel OK. That she’d attached herself to the safe harbor he provided like a barnacle to a ship. Eventually, mercifully, this would be behind her, and then he’d move on to another job.
Oh. The thought hurt like pressing on a bruise, tender and sore, purple and black around the edges.
Oh.
Pushing the thought away, she flipped open her menu, which was divided not by type of cuisine but by type of diet. Raw, vegan, gluten-free. Only in LA was this completely normal.
“I can get you work. Real work,” continued Linda as she pulled a script out of the briefcase tucked against her chair.
“My work at Choices is real work.”
“It puts you in danger, and makes you almost no money.”
“I’m not hurting for money, Linda. You see my residuals. I’m doing just fine.” She certainly wasn’t rich—especially by Hollywood standards—but the residual payments from both Family Tree and Sunset Cove brought in a few hundred thousand dollars a year, which was plenty. In fact, those residuals were pretty much the only reason she even still had an agent. She’d bought her house outright, and didn’t have any extravagant expenses.