And Vaughn is Vaughn.
He just shines the brightest. Something about him pulls your attention straight to him.
“Guys, this is Ava, Logan, and Pins.”
“Pins?” Gabriel chuckles.
I frown at Vaughn. “Charly. Nice to meet you, Gabriel.”
“Call me Gabe.”
I watch his eyes brush over Logan and Ava. Then, they stop on Ava, who’s looking like a deer in headlights right now.
“Seeing as though this jackass isn’t going to introduce me, I’m Julian.” He shoulders Vaughn.
“I know who you are.” I smile at him.
“Yeah, it’s good, really good, to meet you,” Logan says. “I love Dead Cop! Big fan! I have to ask, are you and Meredith ever going to get it on in the show?”
Julian winks and taps his nose.
“I knew it!” Logan cheers.
I think I need to watch this show if it has Logan that excited.
Vaughn introduces us to the rest of the group. A few are Gabriel’s friends, and others are what I like to call celeb hangers-on.
I somehow find myself standing next to Vaughn while Ava chats with Gabriel and Logan chews Julian’s ear off about his show.
“Thanks for coming over and letting us in. That security guy wasn’t budging.”
“I told him not to let any stalkers in, and you do look like a stalker.”
“Ha! Says the man who came to the bar he knew I was going to. The only new bar on Sunset.”
“Are you saying, I followed you here?” He gives me an affronted look.
Keeping my eyes on him, I tip my head to the side, a smile teasing my lips. “Well, didn’t you?”
His arms fold over his chest. “Technically, I didn’t follow you. But…yes, I did know that you might possibly be here.”
“Aha! I knew it! You little stalker!” I laugh, secretly feeling thrilled that he wanted to see me tonight.
“It was my cock,” Vaughn says. “He smelled your scent and followed you here. He’s a needy bastard like that.”
Laughter bursts from me.
He smiles, his eyes shining.
“You’re weird.” I laugh.
“It turns you on though. Admit it.”
I measure out an inch with my thumb and forefinger.
“I hope you’re not sizing up my cock there, Pins, ’cause I’m gonna be seriously offended if you are.”
“Stop it.” I laugh, playfully pushing my hand to his chest, feeling giddy from the drinks.
He moves a little closer to me. “Are you drunk?”
“No. I’m only on cocktail number three.”
“Good.” He leans in close. “Because I like my women to be alert when I’m fucking them.”
“Them?”
“You.”
My stomach clenches, and I feel my panties getting wet, making me press my thighs together.
His eyes skim down my body. “I like the dress and the heels, but I miss the boots.”
I press a hand to my dress. It’s one I made myself. A red lace body-con dress. Him saying he likes it makes me feel good even if he does know zero about women’s fashion.
“The boots needed a rest. I wore them all day.” I flash him a smile.
He leans in again, speaking into my ear, “I want you wearing the boots later. Them and nothing else.”
He tips his head back and stares into my eyes, taking a swig of his beer, and I nod my head in agreement, like an eager puppy.
Vaughn
I swear to God, this night is never going to be over.
I’ve wanted to leave the bar since I saw Charly.
I knew she was down there. Of course I knew. But I wanted her to see me and come to me.
And she did.
We’ve all been drinking and talking and dancing for hours. Well, I’ve only had a few beers. I don’t like to get too tanked, and I need to be in good working order, as I plan on spending the rest of the night inside Charly.
I’ve noticed that Charly has slowed her drinking down, too.
I haven’t been able to keep my eyes off her all night. I just want to be alone with her. I haven’t been alone with her since she first arrived and we spoke for a few minutes. After that, she was off dancing with Ava and chatting to people she knew from the cast.
I just want to pick her up and carry her off, so I can have her to myself.
And thank fuck we’re finally leaving.
I’m going to grab Charly, put her in my limo, strip her clothes off, and fuck her all the way to her hotel. Then, I’ll get her inside her hotel room and fuck her all over again.
My dick has never been so eager.
“So, we’re leaving then?” Gabe slaps me on the back. He’s drunk, of course.
“Yep.”
“Cool. Well, I told my driver to take the night off, so we’ll grab a lift back with you. Is that cool?”
No, it’s not fucking cool. It’s not fucking cool at all.
I know my expression has gone tight, so I school it. “Sure,” I say with a casual tone.
He stares at me for a beat and then laughs, his eyes sparkling. “Cool.” He pats me on the shoulder. “I’ll let Julian know we’re leaving. The others are heading off to a club.”
I watch him walk off, cursing the motherfucker to hell.
A hand touches my arm. “So, we’re gonna head off.” Charly’s voice comes close to my ear.
I turn to her. God, she’s fucking gorgeous.
“Ava’s drunk. I need to get her home.”
“Sure thing. I was planning on getting you in my limo and doing all kinds of dirty things to you in there, but fucking Gabe has just invited himself and Julian for a ride home.”
“It’s fine.” She smiles. “I’ll grab us a cab.”
“No. I’m in the limo. I’ll have Aiden drive you guys home.”
“You sure?”
“Course.” I move in closer, leaving a sliver of air between us. I love the sound of the breath she sucks in at my nearness. “But I’m dropping you off last. Then, you and I are going back to your hotel. Okay?”
“No.” She shakes her head.
“No?” I frown.
“Drop me off first. Well, I mean, drop Ava off first, then Logan, and then me, and—”
“Um, am I fucking missing something here? You ditching me?”
She laughs, the sound light and airy, but I’m feeling kind of pissed off right now, so it doesn’t have the effect it normally does.
“Don’t be stupid, West. Of course I’m not ditching you, you needy bastard.” She grins, and I can’t help but smile back at her using my term. “It’ll just look suspect if I’m the last one left in the car with you. It’ll look better if you drop us off first and then your boys. Then, you can come back to my hotel once you’re alone.”
“Good call.”
She’s smart, my girl.
My girl?
Hang the fuck on. When exactly did I start thinking of her as mine?
No need to go getting carried away, West. You’re just fucking her, remember?
“I’m a genius. What can I say?” She puts her hands on her hips and does a little wiggle.
“And a little devious, Pins. But I like it. It’s fucking hot.”
We round everyone up and head out the back exit of the bar to my waiting limo.
Of course the paparazzi are out there.
“Vaughn, look this way! It’s been a while since you were out partying. Have you missed it? Who are the girls?”
“Julian, where’s your costar tonight?”
“Gabe, is it true you and Marti Shaw are together?”
“Vaughn, are you still bitter about what Piper and Cain did to you? I hear they’re getting married. Will you be at the ceremony?”
The questions are like bullets firing at us.
The sad thing is, it’s fucking normal for me, Gabe, and Julian.
We all bundle into the car, shutting the door on the vipers. But they still have the
cameras to the windows, trying to get pictures.
“Aiden, get us the fuck out of here,” I tell him.
He nods from the front, and then the car is moving slowly, his horn honking to move the fuckers out of the way.
I slump back in the seat, feeling pissed off. Not about the Piper and Cain comments. I couldn’t give a shit if they were getting married or not.
It’s just the fact that I can’t go out to a bar with my friends without getting hounded by the press.
It was probably a good thing that I didn’t get in the car with just Charly. That would have been spread all across the Internet within minutes, and any chance of keeping me and her on the down-low would have been blown out of the water.
I look at her sitting on the seat across from me, a drunk Ava half-asleep on her shoulder and Logan sitting on the other side.
She gives me a soft smile, and the annoyance instantly just ebbs away.
I can’t wait to be alone with her.
“The pictures are already online,” Julian says from beside me, showing me his phone.
“Fuck, they’re quick,” Gabe says from my other side, leaning over to help himself to a whiskey from the minibar in the limo.
“The power of technology.” I sigh.
“Love ’em or hate ’em, they keep our name in the press and keep us relevant,” Gabe says.
He’s right. But it doesn’t make it any easier.
Sometimes, I just crave privacy. To not have to hide whom I’m sleeping with.
I couldn’t even take Charly out on a date if I wanted to because we might be seen.
It’s fucking ridiculous. And it’s my life.
“Where am I heading?” Aiden calls back to us.
“Is it still okay to drop off Ava first?” Charly checks with me.
“Of course. Just let Aiden know her address.”
Charly turns to Aiden and tells him where Ava lives.
Ten minutes later, we’re pulling up at Ava’s. Logan and Charly get her out of the limo. I’m pretty sure she’s asleep.
“We’ll just get her inside, and we’ll be right back,” Charly tells me.
“No worries. Take your time.”
She shuts the door. I grab a bottle of water from the minibar.
“So, she works on set?” Gabe asks.
I unscrew the cap and take a drink. “Who?”
“Charly.”
“Yeah, in wardrobe. She’s assigned to me.”
“You fucking her?”
I feel my chest tighten. “No.”
“Mind if I do?”
I stare at him hard, my insides turning over. I grit my jaw. “No, go ahead.”
I’ve just got to pray that Charly tells him to fuck off, or I’ll be in jail for killing Gabe.
“But you’re probably not her type,” I add.
He laughs, eyes grinning at me. “I’m everyone’s type.”
“You’re not mine,” Julian says.
Julian’s gay. But in the closet. Like a lot of actors in Hollywood. The studio doesn’t want him out because they think it’ll damage the show.
Stupid if you ask me, but what do I know?
I’m currently hiding the girl I’m sleeping with and telling my friend he’s okay to hit on her when he’s most definitely not.
“I’m fucking wounded.” Gabe laughs, slapping a hand to his chest. “And don’t worry, West. I’ll leave your girl alone.” He pats my leg.
“She’s not my girl.”
“Sure she’s not.” He laughs, and so does Julian.
I want to tell them I’m sleeping with her…that she is mine. But, after what Cain did to me, it’s just hard for me to trust anyone.
I’ve known them both for years. But then I knew Cain for ten years, and he shit all over me.
The door opens, and Charly and Logan climb back in.
“She okay?” I ask.
“Yeah. Her boyfriend was home; he put her to bed,” Charly says.
“Not that he didn’t fucking complain about it,” Logan says. “I don’t know what she sees in that jackass.”
Charly pats Logan’s leg with her hand.
I know Logan is gay, but I still feel a spike of jealousy at her touching him, which is so strange to me. I’ve never been a jealous kind of guy.
Maybe it’s because of what happened with Piper and Cain.
Or maybe it’s because I never cared enough about a woman before to be jealous over her.
I’m going with option number one.
We drop off Logan. Then, it’s Charly’s turn.
“Thanks for the ride,” she says to Aiden. Then, she climbs out of the limo. “Thanks for a great night, guys.” She smiles at everyone before her eyes finally connect with mine. “I’ll see you later.”
Yes, you fucking will. Sooner than later, baby.
She shuts the door and is gone.
Right, let me get these bastards home, and then I can get back here.
“Aiden, Julian’s next,” I tell him.
He pulls off, knowing the way to Julian’s, as he’s dropped him off plenty of times.
“Anyone wanna come in for a drink at mine?” Julian asks.
“Nope,” I say.
“Gee, thanks, West. You sure know how to make a guy feel wanted.”
Gabe laughs. “I’ll come for a drink, but don’t be getting me drunk and feeling me up while I’m passed out. I know how bad you want me.”
I laugh, shaking my head at Gabe.
“Fuck you.” Julian laughs.
“I know you want to, but I’m a giver, not a taker.” Gabe grins.
“Why do we hang out with him?” Julian asks me.
“Beats me.” I shrug.
“Because I’m fucking awesome, and you know it.” Gabe spreads his arms out, spilling some of the whiskey in his glass.
We pull up at Julian’s house.
“You coming in then, fuckface?” Julian asks Gabe.
“Nah, I’ll head home.”
For fuck’s sake, I’ve got to drop Gabe off now. It’ll be the fucking morning before I get back to Charly.
“Cool. See you later then. Thanks for the ride, man.”
We do the guy handshake as he passes by before climbing out the limo.
“Later, Julian.”
He shuts the door.
“Aiden, to Gabe’s place now.”
The car pulls off again. It feels like he’s driving at a snail’s pace.
I’m tapping my foot, drumming my fingers on my thigh.
“You look tense, West,” Gabe says, pouring himself another whiskey.
“Not tense, just tired.”
“Sure.” He smirks. “You want one?” He lifts the whiskey bottle.
“Nah. I’m good with water.” I take another drink.
Then, I stare out the window, watching the houses pass by.
How long does it take to get to Gabe’s place from Julian’s? Five minutes normally.
Why does it feel like we’ve been driving for ten fucking minutes then?
Why aren’t we there already?
Then, we finally turn onto his street, and I nearly exhale with relief.
Aiden stops the limo outside Gabe’s apartment building.
I open the door. “Hit the pavement, pretty boy.”
“Hey, I haven’t finished my drink.”
“Take it with you.”
He smirks. “Anyone would think you were eager to get off.”
“I am. I’ve got an early shoot.”
He laughs. “Is that what we’re calling it nowadays?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Sure you don’t.” He chuckles. “Great night, West. Thanks for the ride.” He slings an arm around me, giving me a guy hug. “Love you, man,” he slurs, patting my back before letting go.
Gabe always gets affectionate when he’s drunk. It’s usually funny. Right now, I just want him out of my fucking car, so I can get back to Charly and screw her brains
out.
“Sleep it off, man.” I laugh, shoving him in the direction of the open car door.
He stumbles out, glass still in hand. He rights himself on the pavement. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t, which isn’t much!” He laughs at his own joke, stumbling slightly.
I shake my head at him, laughing. Honestly, at this moment in time, I don’t give a shit if he does know I’m going back to Charly. I just want to go.
“Get to bed, and sleep it off,” I say to him. “Make sure he gets inside all right,” I tell his doorman, who is standing outside, holding the door open for Gabe.
“Will do, Mr. West. Come on, Mr. Evans, let’s get you to your apartment.”
I shut the limo door to the sound of Gabe singing Lukas Graham’s “7 Years” loudly. His neighbors must fucking love him.
“Back to Charly’s hotel,” I tell Aiden. “And drive fast.”
“Will do.” He chuckles.
He pulls off, the tires squealing as he slams on the gas.
It takes for-fucking-ever to get there.
I swear to God, we hit every red light. It’s like someone is out to torture me.
I’m climbing the limo walls by the time we finally pull up at her hotel.
“Pick me up at eight a.m.,” I tell Aiden.
He hands me my ball cap. Pulling it on, I’m out of the limo the second it stops.
Then, I’m jogging—I’m fucking jogging—through the hotel and up the steps and along the corridor to her hotel room.
I’ve never needed to be inside someone as much as I do her.
I don’t know what the fuck she’s done to me, but I like it. A lot.
Then, I’m knocking on her door. Fucking finally!
I wait a few seconds, and then the door pulls open.
And there she is.
Standing there, looking like a fucking goddess.
A leather-boot-wearing goddess.
My mouth waters as I take her in.
“I thought you were never going to get here,” she says.
I grip ahold of the doorframe, restraining myself from pouncing on her. “Me neither. I was ready to commit murder if it meant getting back here sooner.”
She laughs, and my cock stands up to attention. Not that he wasn’t already paying attention at the sight of her in those goddamn boots and sexy red lacy underwear.
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