by Donna Hill
Kendall pulled away, breathless. She looked at him. The question transmitted subliminally. Tyson nodded, tore himself away from her long enough to retrieve protection. He returned and handed it to her. Kendall ripped open the package, slid it over his erection and held his hardness in her hand. It filled her palm. The walls of her center pulsated in anticipation. Tyson slid her jeans down her hips, then peeled them and her lace panties past the heels of her feet.
Tyson lifted Kendall in the air. His strength made her moist. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his muscular back. Tyson eased her down onto him, entering slowly.
“Ah!” Kendall’s moan was involuntary. It was her body’s response to the deliciousness of Tyson gently filling her to capacity. She squeezed her muscles around him, clenching him, and then watched as his head and eyes rolled back.
Slowly at first, Tyson lifted and lowered Kendall onto his erection as he stood. Kendall moved her hips in a circular motion, tightening her walls around him. The friction they created was exhilarating and severely intense. Kendall knew she wouldn’t last long and figured Tyson wouldn’t either. They moved into each other faster until they slammed against one another. Kendall’s legs trembled, and her body followed with a shudder. Her peak began with a low rumble, and burgeoned until it exploded through her. Kendall screamed and milked Tyson’s still-erect member. She felt him swell inside of her and jerk a few times. Tyson moved faster, and she held him tight. He grumbled and grunted, closed his eyes. Grunting again, his breath shortened and then he roared. Kendall collapsed against him. Still holding her, he slid to the floor.
She lay in his arms, cuddled against his chest. Together they watched the sun set. After the magnificence of its descent, Tyson began snoring lightly.
Chapter 22
“You’ve got this, Ty.” Kendall had taken to shortening his name since their escapade at his ranch in Montana.
“Thanks for your encouragement, but I still don’t want to do this.”
“I completely understand. Don’t let them trip you up. Some journalists are good at that, especially the ones who dish celebrity gossip.”
“Are we still on for tonight?”
“I wouldn’t miss it. Meet you there, and I want to hear all about the interview.”
“Oh, you will. See you later, pretty lady.”
Kendall tittered into the phone. Tyson knew she was blushing. She did it every time he called her some kind of endearing name. He couldn’t see her smile, but it felt good to him just the same because he was the cause of it.
Tyson didn’t think he’d ever get enough of her smiles. He’d awakened to her smiling face after they’d made love at the ranch. Kendall’s smiles had returned that night when they made love again in his oversize custom bed. They were supposed to fly back to Los Angeles but weren’t ready to return to the paparazzi-infested town. Frankly, Tyson hadn’t had enough of Kendall to himself. It didn’t take much to convince her to stay until the next day. There was more boating, horseback riding, eating, shopping and then the hot tub.
Tyson sat back in his office chair, closed his eyes and willed his body to remain calm. Thoughts of what they had done to one another in that hot tub nearly gave Tyson a fresh erection. Kendall was an incredible lover, unselfish and indulging. She didn’t lie around like a wet fish waiting for him to initiate everything. She took charge, and that excited him to no end. Kendall didn’t just stimulate his body. She invigorated his mind. They talked about everything from their childhoods to politics to current goals and aspirations. Tyson shared his ambitions, and she encouraged him. His conversations with Tiffany had always centered around her own desires. If Tiffany was ever asked, she probably couldn’t name a single thing that Tyson wanted from life. But Kendall was different. Not only did she ask Tyson about his wishes, they engaged in discussions about how he could achieve those desires.
Their conversation took on a more intimate turn when she talked about her mother’s death a few years before and expressed how much she missed her. Tyson held her in his arms, wishing he could siphon the pain from her heart. He kissed her tears away and they made love again with a passion so intense it felt like an out-of-body experience. It was surreal.
Tyson appreciated the fact that as famous as she was, she was still grounded and unspoiled. Admittedly, he hadn’t expected any of this from Kendall and was more than pleasantly surprised.
“Mr. Blackwell. Your car is ready.” Tyson’s assistant, Brianna’s voice jerked him from his thoughts of Kendall.
It was time for his interview. After a deep breath, Tyson stood, straightened his tie and headed down to his awaiting limo. Brianna, someone from BCG’s marketing team and the head of PR joined him. During the ride, they prepped Tyson again. He felt like a witness getting ready to testify for a big trial. The closer he got, the more he wanted to back out. He definitely wasn’t camera shy but contributing to celebrity gossip wasn’t something he’d ever wanted to do. This felt gimmicky, and Tyson wasn’t the type to engage in gimmicks. His reputation as well as the company’s were on the line.
They arrived at the studio in less than fifteen minutes. Their car pulled to the curb and the second the door swung open, they were swarmed with reporters and their cameras. Stations that hadn’t gotten the exclusive, along with bloggers and paparazzi, filled the sidewalk. With their arms held out, his team had to carve a path for Tyson to get from the car to the building. He walked with his head high, only offering a professional nod and tight smile for the many cameras, ignoring the microphones shoved in his direction. Tyson wanted to get this over with. He wished he were back in Montana with Kendall. He would have liked for her to attend the interview with him and could picture her coaching and encouraging him from the sidelines. But she was filming, and that would have raised even more questions.
Inside, he was quickly ushered to the greenroom to get camera ready and then into the studio where the interview would take place. Reina Roberts, the host of her self-named show, greeted him with a firm handshake. Reina was approved for the interview by his team because of her reputation for being a fair and unbiased host. She had interviewed many of the world’s most powerful people in entertainment and beyond.
Reina sat directly across from him, separated only by a small accent table. Both received microphones, and once the sound was checked, they were ready to begin. A hush fell over the set.
“I have some tough questions for you. Are you ready, Mr. Blackwell?”
“Ready, Ms. Roberts.” Tyson gave her a confident nod.
The director counted backward from three and pointed to Reina. A green light flashed on one of the three cameras. Reina faced it and began her standard introduction, then announced Tyson as her guest.
“Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Blackwell.”
“Please call me Tyson and thank you for having me.”
Reina started in with rapid-fire questions, addressing all the rumors and insinuations that had been circling since Tiffany’s last interview. Tyson kept his cool, knowing what to expect.
“Okay, Tyson.” Reina nodded. “Tiffany has been pretty vocal about your breakup while you’ve been very quiet. Why haven’t we heard from you?”
Tyson folded his hands and looked pensive for a moment before answering. His PR team had encouraged him to make sure he came across in the sincerest manner and to give thoughtful answers. “Our relationship meant a lot to me—still means a lot to me. Tiffany is a...talented, smart...and beautiful woman. Our breakup was a great loss and very personal. I needed to deal with it on my own—privately. It wasn’t easy. I’ve also seen how quickly things can get misconstrued, and I didn’t want to say anything that would place Tiffany in a bad light. Sound bites go a long way with social media these days.”
Reina chuckled. “I know what you mean.” She tilted her head. “So why speak out now?”
“There’s been a lot of speculati
on, and I think it’s important to let people know that despite our breakup, I have a lot of respect for Tiffany and I truly wish her the best. There are still rumors swirling, and I know I may not be able to dispel them all, but at least I can put some to rest, especially any that may potentially be harmful to her.”
“You still care about her?” Reina looked somewhat surprised.
“I do, and I wish her well. When you break up with someone, you don’t just turn off your feelings like a switch. We may not have worked out, but I’m still very proud of her for what she’s been able to accomplish.”
“Interesting.” Reina hummed, looked at Tyson through a narrowed gaze. “What about the accusation that you’d taken advantage of her being an actress on the rise?”
Tyson spoke calmly, in a comfortable but measured tone. “Not only am I a mama’s boy, but my sister would kill me if I ever took advantage of Tiffany or any woman in such a way. Tiffany earned every role she’s ever received simply because she’s a great actress. I can tell you firsthand that she gives her all to every role, making sure she delivers her best possible performance.” And that was true. Tiffany was by far the most determined actress he’d ever dated. She was going to make it to the top or die trying.
“Is it true that you cheated on Tiffany?”
“I never cheated on Tiffany.” Even though she cheated on me. Tyson was mindful to maintain a sincere expression.
Reina looked at him sideways. “Never?”
“Never. I’ve never cheated on any woman I’ve been in a serious relationship with.” Reina still looked skeptical. Tyson smiled and shook his head. “I give you permission to speak with any of my exes. Not one of my relationships ended because of me being unfaithful.”
Reina hit Tyson with a few more questions. “Could you see the two of you ever getting back together?”
“No. But we’ll probably always be friends.”
“Anyone new in your life?”
Kendall’s beautiful face flashed before him. “Not at this time.” His smile was purposely mysterious.
“Thank you for joining us today, Tyson.” Reina turned to the camera. “Well, there you have it. Tyson Blackwell’s side of the story. That’s all we have for today. See you next time on Eye on Entertainment with Reina Roberts.”
The lights on the cameras went off, and the once-quiet set buzzed with chatter and moving equipment. The interview seemed to end abruptly. A man rushed to Reina and helped extract her microphone from the back of her dress. She walked over to Tyson and shook his hand.
“Thanks again for the interview. I have to admit, I was expecting something...juicier. Sounds like you genuinely cared about Tiffany. That says a lot.”
Tyson wanted to ask exactly what it said to her but held his tongue. He was glad that it was all over. “You’re welcome. Thanks for hearing my side,” Tyson said.
Tyson thought the conversation was over, but Reina didn’t move. She looked at him pensively for several moments.
“So, you’re not seeing anyone at this time, huh?”
“Uh. No. Not at this time.” He thought of Kendall.
“Then maybe we should have dinner sometime soon.”
Reina was a beautiful woman, but Tyson wasn’t interested. Not to mention Reina’s line of work would keep him steeped in the world of celebrity gossip, and that was the one thing he wanted to get as far away from as possible. Most of all, nothing and no one interested him more than Kendall Chandler. She was his perfect fit and had him completely smitten. Tyson had eyes for no other woman.
“That would be nice. Unfortunately, my schedule doesn’t allow for much social interaction, and my wounds might still be a little fresh.” Tyson definitely wasn’t still pining over Tiffany but didn’t mind using her as an excuse. He had to let Reina down easily, not wanting to hurt her feelings. Egos were fragile in Hollywood and could be troublesome if attached to someone bitter from rejection.
“Oh. Yes. I understand. My apologies. I should have thought about that.” She flipped out her card anyway. “After you’ve given yourself some time, give me a call.”
Tyson took the card. “Thank you.”
He couldn’t wait to get back to Kendall.
Happy to be done with the interview, Tyson left with his team and treated them to lunch. They laughed about how uneventful it seemed to have gone. Even in fairness, Reina had been fishing for scandalous details, but Tyson refused to feed the monster. His team hoped the interview would come across exactly as they planned, showing the human side of Tyson—a man like any other, dealing with the effects of a failed relationship without painting his ex as a trifling, attention-hungry opportunist.
Back at the office, it was business as usual. With Kendall heavy on his mind and the fact that she was leaving to shoot on location in another country the next day, he had to see her. Finishing up early, Tyson headed over to the set, arriving just in time to see Kendall and Storm entwined in each other’s arms right in the throes of a heated love scene. He knew they were acting, but it seemed so authentic. He felt like he was spying on real lovers.
After a few short moments, Tyson left the set. Jealousy burned in his chest. He couldn’t help it. It was clear to him that he was over Tiffany—but was Kendall done with Storm?
Chapter 23
Kendall couldn’t wait for Tyson to arrive. When she left the set, she headed straight for the freeway. She wanted to make it to Temecula in time to get ready for her night with Tyson. Her sanctuary would give them the privacy they needed to really enjoy each other’s company away from the prying lenses of the paparazzi. She imagined he’d be stressed about the interview, and she planned to help him ease the angst.
Whatever they had between them was their delicious little secret. It had to be. Kendall was going to get credit for her own advancement in the entertainment world. If word about her seeing Tyson got out, that could muddy her credibility, and she couldn’t have that. She hadn’t even told Randi.
The second she got in the house, she showered, removing Storm’s touch. She had to dig deep into her character and her acting lessons to get through those scenes with him. How had she gotten to the point where his touch made her want to recoil? When they weren’t shooting, Kendall avoided him. She usually retreated to her trailer. Storm acted like they didn’t have a messy past. Maybe he thought if he acted like he hadn’t betrayed her, she’d act like it never happened.
Feeling refreshed after her shower, Kendall put on a tank and leggings. She looked much more comfortable than sexy, and she knew it and loved it. She pulled her hair into a bun on top of her head. Even though it was her go-to when she lounged around the house, she remembered that Tyson thought the bun and her freckles were sexy.
Kendall’s mind went back to Montana, when Tyson had kissed those freckles under the midnight sky. The stars had seemed to twinkle a little brighter that night. Knowing he was driving, she fought the urge to text him to find out how close he was, and instead started dinner. Tonight, she was cooking soul food—deep-fried fish, greens, buttery corn on the cob and her grandma’s famous lemon pound cake. She hadn’t cooked like that in ages.
Kendall spoke to her voice-controlled speaker system and asked it to play R & B soul. After getting most of her meal on the stove, she lowered the music and called Tyson. She’d fry the fish when he arrived so it would be piping hot.
“Hey!” Kendall couldn’t contain her excitement. The anticipation of another night with Tyson made her giddy.
“Hey.” Tyson’s tone was even.
Kendall’s brows furrowed. “You okay?”
“Oh. Yeah. I’m fine.”
Kendall looked at the phone and placed it back to her ear. “You sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. It’s been a long day, that’s all.”
“Oh. I can imagine.” She plopped on the sofa in the den and folded her legs under her, then looked out into t
he night covering her backyard. The landscape lighting kept the patio and pool in view. “What’s your ETA?”
“Uh...half hour?”
“Okay.” Kendall looked at the clock on the cable box. She decided to drop the fish in the grease in twenty minutes. That way it would be ready around the time he arrived. “We’re going to have to get up and run in the morning after tonight’s dinner. I haven’t eaten like this in a long time.” She laughed.
Kendall chatted with Tyson for a little while longer before ending her call to tend to the meal. Even on the phone, he didn’t seem like his usual self. She credited his low energy and light conversation to his rough day. What had happened during that interview? Whatever it was, Kendall would help him feel better.
Just as she had hoped, Tyson arrived right around the time that the fish was ready to come out of the pan.
“Hey you!” Kendall swung open the door and practically jumped into his arms.
Then they did something they’d never do in Los Angeles—kissed right in the open doorway. Yet Kendall felt like his kiss was void of its normal passion. Tyson usually kissed her like he required her lips for survival.
“I left a washcloth and towel for you in the bathroom. Why don’t you freshen up and get comfortable? We’ll have dinner and I’ll show you around my Wine Country Shangri-la.” She giggled.
“That sounds good.”
“It will be good. Now go.” She pointed him toward the guest bathroom, then headed back to the kitchen.
Minutes later, Tyson emerged from the restroom in a T-shirt that must have been ecstatic about being so close to his muscular chest, and jeans that showed off his long legs, sexy stride and strong thighs.