Sighing, guilt flooded me again. “Zane. You can call me by my real name, which is Zane. I mean, we have slept together, after all. That should at least make you on a first name basis right there.” It was a lame attempt at a joke, but it was the best I had at the moment. “And I don’t hate you.”
“Thank you, Zane. That means a lot.” He blinked repeatedly and glanced away, waving his hand in front of his face. “It seems I have something in my eyes.”
Giving a half smile, I continued. “I wanted you to join us so I could have the chance to apologize to you. I’ve made so many mistakes in my life. Part of my recovery is to make restitution to the people I’ve hurt, but whether or not that was one of my steps, I’d still want to make things right with you. Not a day goes by that I don’t regret what happened and how I reacted. What can I do to make this right?”
Staring at me, he shook his head. “Absolutely nothing. There’s nothing for you to fix. My experience with you put me in the same seat you’re in now. I realized I was screwing up my life with drugs and alcohol, and was almost killed as a result of it. As soon as I was well enough, I checked straight into rehab—in this very facility, with this very doctor.”
Eyes wide, I turned to Dr. Wilson. “You knew?” I asked in disbelief. “Clear from the beginning?”
He shook his head. “No. I didn’t put two and two together until you checked back in that night and gave me Andy’s name when you revealed the assault. Even though you didn’t say his last name at that time, I was able to put two and two together because the facts of the story were so similar. Later you gave me his last name when I talked to you about meeting with him, confirming my suspicions. I couldn’t tell you I had treated him though, or I would’ve broken patient confidentiality.
“Andy never gave your name, I simply knew it had happened with a famous celebrity. Once I realized you were both patients of mine and I had his contact information, that’s when I suggested you might try meeting with him. I know Andy would like to close the door on this as much as you do.”
I hadn’t seen that little astounding twist coming. I was totally blindsided. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t need to say anything,” Andy said. “Just accept that fate did something nice for you and be happy. Move on and enjoy your life. You’ve suffered over this for too long as it is. I don’t hold you solely responsible. I hold us both responsible. We both made really bad choices that night. Now we are trying to fix them. That’s good enough for me. Is it good enough for you?”
“I hope so.” Emotion welled inside me, and I didn’t know if I could continue speaking without crying. “Thank you,” I managed to squeeze out. I never expected forgiveness from him—for him to release me from the trauma I’d put him through. It blew my mind.
“Thank you,” he replied, “for caring enough to try and make it right. You’re a good man, Zane McCartney. I hope you know that.”
Shit. Even my chin was quivering now. “Thank you. So are you.”
Standing, he came over and sat beside me. “Are we okay?” he asked, resting a hand on my knee. I didn’t even flinch. There was no need. This man was no threat to me or anyone else.
“I think we are.”
“Good.” He patted my knee again and stood, walking to the door and opening it, before glancing over his shoulder at me. “I hope we run into each other again someday.” His eyes moved to the doctor. “And you—you just keep on being fabulous!” With that, he was gone out the door the sound of humming going along with him until it faded away into nothing.
It was finally over. The guilt and self loathing I’d carried for so long had been erased from the one place I least it expected it to come from.
Burying my face in my hands, I wept.
“Captured! Pictures of Z McCartney’s Son! Get the Exclusive!”
~Paparazzi Watcher~
Chapter Twenty-Five
Z
She was a vision.
I was torn between wanting to kiss her or the idea of just standing here and watching her sleep.
The kiss won.
Kneeling beside the bed, I lightly pressed my lips to hers, followed by another near her ear. “It’s time to go, sleepyhead. Are you ready?” I whispered. Brushing a stray lock of hair away, I laughed when I realized it was part of that awful wig she’d brought with her. It was tucked up under her head.
Eyes fluttering, she stared at me in confusion. “What’s going on?” she whispered and then her eyes widened and she sat up quickly. “How did the session go?”
Smiling, I sighed. “A lot better than I ever hoped for. Come on. Grab your things and I will get my suitcase. Let’s go to my place and I’ll fill you in. That’s if you don’t mind going to my place. I figured we could talk about everything going on and see if we can’t come to some sort of an agreement about how we want to raise our son.”
“Talk?” She raised her eyebrows. “Why don’t I believe that’s all you want to do?”
“Hey, we’ve proven in the past we can both talk and have sex at the same time. Why not kill two birds with one stone?” I couldn’t help my grin. “Besides it’s been ten whole days since I had sex with you. My dick thinks you died and it’s about to shrivel up and fall off.”
Shaking her head, she stood, coming up to me. “You’re so predictable.” She popped up on her toes and kissed my cheek. “And if your dick is about to shrivel up and fall off, then why is it bulging in your pants right now? I certainly don’t see any signs of shriveling—only lots of growing.”
Chuckling, I kissed her cheek. “I didn’t say it had fallen off yet—just threatening to.”
She rolled her eyes at me and laughed. “Whatever. Let’s go.” Picking her purse up off the table, she shouldered it.
“Uh. Can you perhaps put the wig in the purse? It’s freaking me out a little. It looks like you scalped your mom and are carrying it around.”
A snort escaped her and she swung around, lightly punching me in the arm. “You’re such a geek.”
Grabbing my suitcase, I laughed. “Geek? Wow. I think that’s pretty harsh.”
“And what would you call yourself?”
“Intellectually stimulating,” I replied without missing a beat.
Pursing her lips, she gave me the once over. “Hmmm. I’ll give you the stimulating part.”
Jaw dropping, I released an overly offended gasp. “Did you just call me . . . dumb?”
Smiling widely, she headed out the door. “No. You just called yourself dumb, but if you think I called you dumb, then perhaps we need to readdress the level of dumbness going on here.”
What? “Okay. I’m not even going to pretend I understood any of that. Mother fucker—I really am dumb!”
A loud burst of laughter escaped her, but she quickly quieted it, glancing around. “Stop it! You are not. We all know you’re just stupid.”
I loved how she teased me. “Stupid crazy over you, you mean.”
“Are you stupid crazy over me?” she asked, giving me a girlish grin and I knew my comment had pleased her. I liked that.
Eyes traveling over her, I couldn’t believe she was back in my life. It thrilled me. “You have no idea the level of my stupid, crazy, love, when it comes to you. Or maybe you do.” I gave a weak laugh and she faced me, but continued to walk backward.
“I love you. Do you know that?” Her face flushed, but not with embarrassment, it was something else. “I know we’ve said it before, but it seems like most of the time it’s when I’m telling other people how I feel about you. I want you to know that I love you. I always have. I always will, no matter where we go from here.”
Turning, she moved to a locked door with a keycard reader and swiped something I assumed was her work ID. Following her, I was surprised to discover a short hallway with another door that led outside.
The two of us exited the building together. Dropping my suitcase to the ground, I cupped my hands to my mouth, shouting as loudly as possible. “Do you hear th
at world? Aubrey Hart loves me!”
Spinning around, she launched herself at me, clapping her hand over my mouth as she laughed. “What are you doing? Everyone is going to hear!”
Grabbing her around the waist, I pushed her back against the door, which was shielded by some large hedges. Pulling her hand away from my face, I replied. “Exactly, I want the whole world to know how I feel about you.” Staring at her, I was once again amazed at how kind fate had been to bring her back into my life. “I love you, Aubrey. So much.”
Her eyes watered. “I’m glad,” she whispered. “I have more to tell you, too, but I’m afraid if I do, you’ll shout it to everyone.”
Chuckling, I placed a light kiss against her lips. “Then let’s get back to my place. We can both scream as loud as we want there.”
“Home sweet home,” I said as we stepped off the elevator into the apartment.
“Where do you want to eat?” Aubrey asked, carrying the bag loaded with takeout items we’d picked up on the way.
“Just put them on the island, for now. Make yourself at home. I’m gonna toss this suitcase in the laundry room real quick. I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll be here,” she replied.
Not wanting to be away from her a moment longer than necessary, I hurriedly took my suitcase in and set it on the washing machine. I wasn’t awesome enough to actually do my own laundry. Rosita came in twice a week and cleaned my place and did all the housework, including my laundry. I appreciated her help and would be happy to see her the next time she came around. It seemed like ages since I’d seen her, which wasn’t uncommon since I was often away shooting on location. But still, it was nice to have her around the house. It made me not feel so . . . alone.
Returning to the kitchen, I stopped short, staring at the scene before me. Aubrey had kicked her shoes off and was walking around barefoot. Even in her mother’s clothes, she looked perfect, stretching as she searched the cupboards for plates, glasses, and whatever else she needed. I simply watched as she set us two places on the island, realizing this was the first time in all the years I’d lived here that this place really felt like home.
And it was all because she was in it.
“Zane, are you ready?” she called without looking, stepping back to survey the dishes and then leaning forward to straighten something.
I didn’t reply, continuing to watch as she carefully dished the Mexican food onto the plates, before disposing of the containers and washing her hands. This time when she turned, she noticed me.
“How long have you been standing there?” she asked, narrowing her eyes at me suspiciously. “Long enough to realize you’re probably the only person who has ever set foot in the place because you actually wanted to be here.”
Her brow furled. “What do you mean? You have people in and out of this place all the time.”
Slowly, I began moving toward her. “Only because I pay them to be here. They either all work for me, or they all came here hoping to get something—sex, drugs, money, whatever.”
Glancing away for a moment, she had a mischievous glint in her eyes when she looked back at me as I continued to make a slow progression toward her. “What would you say if I told you I’m here for sex, too?”
Parts of my body immediately gave her a standing ovation for that comment. “I’d ask why we’re wasting our time with food?” I stopped in front of her, staring down.
Licking her lips, she returned my stare. “What food?”
It was all the encouragement I needed, my lips attacking her mouth as my fingers searched out the buttons of her hideous blouse. Fisting her hands in my shirt, she dragged me even closer before dropping her hands to work the fastenings on my belt and pants.
“God, Aubrey. I can’t tell you how much I’ve wanted you in the last ten days,” I muttered, sliding my hands into her blouse and shoving it off her shoulders.
“Pretty sure I can imagine what it’s been like.” Shoving my pants and underwear over my hips, she dropped to her knees in front of me, slipping her mouth around my cock.
Groaning loudly, I gripped her upper arms and dragged her back to her feet. “Not this time. You’re gonna feel everything I do at the same time I do.” Quickly, I undid her pants and pushed them down.
“Fast and hard this time,” she whispered, longing in her eyes, as she kicked the items the rest of the way off.
“Coming right up.” This was one role request I would happily oblige. Taking her shoulders, I turned her around so she was facing the small dining table. “Lay over it,” I coached her and she did so, baring that alluring pert butt of hers to my view. Coming behind her, I adjusted her position and spread her legs wider. “Damn, your ass is beautiful,” I added as I slid my dick over the wet folds of her pussy and pushed inside. “Such a nice view.”
She pushed back against me, moaning. “Just shut up and fuck me already,” she pleaded.
Grinning, I slapped that delicious ass of hers and she jumped. “What? I thought we came here to talk and fuck?”
“I changed my mind. Now hurry.”
I couldn’t help myself. “Impatient girls will have to wait.”
Laughter escaped her and she tried to glance at me over her shoulder. “I can go home and use my vibrator if you’d prefer.”
“Like hell,” I replied, pumping into her once and stilling again, although the thought of watching her pleasure herself was pretty damn heady.
Shamelessly, she pushed herself back against me, trying to get more. I loved how wanton she was with me. She wasn’t afraid to ask for it. It was taking all my power to not pound into her with complete abandon. My muscles were shaking as everything in me begged to get on with it. I was hungry for her—starved even.
“Zane, please.” She dragged the word out.
“I wish you could see how pretty you look, right now.” She was a vision.
More laughter and even that action caused her to tighten around me. “What?”
“All spread out across my table with your clothes half on, half off, and that cute butt poking up in the air. You should see how incredible my cock looks shoved inside you.”
“Can you please demonstrate said shoving in again . . . you know . . . repeatedly, so I can make sure I understand right?”
I slapped the other cheek and moved once, then stilling again, just to torment her a little longer.
She sighed. “It’s gonna take me a long time to climax if you keep this pace up.”
“Really? That’s too bad, because I’m so hot I could probably come right now.”
“Is this how you profess to keep it up all night long?” she taunted. “If so, I should tell you, this doesn’t count.”
“Oh, hell, woman. Them’s fightin’ words. Now I’m gonna have to prove it to you.”
“Please, prove it to me, Zane. Prove it to me right now! And don’t stop the slapping. It feels amazing.”
Dear god, she was gonna make me come with just her words if she kept talking like that. Grabbing her hips, I withdrew and slammed heavily into her, so forceful the table slid a fraction of an inch.”
“Fuck, yes!” she shouted. “Oh, gosh!” A long wail escaped her.
“Already, Aubrey?” I kidded. “I’m just getting started.”
“Whatever you do, don’t stop!”
Letting loose, I pounded away, in and out as fast as I could. Closing my eyes, I gave myself over to the sensations running through me. She was so wet and ready, and I loved the feel of her body beginning to spasm around me.
“Yes, oh fuck, yes!”
I opened my eyes, wanting to see the scene she created before me. Gaze dropping to where our bodies joined, I loved seeing how well we fit. I loved hearing her cries surrounding me—yearning and seeking for release. I loved that I was fucking her so hard the heavy table was moving.
I simply loved everything about this moment, and it was all because it was her—my Aubrey. We could’ve been rolling around screwing like pigs in a hog waller, and I sti
ll would’ve been having the time of my life.
Mud wrestling. I just added that to my list of places I wanted to fuck Aubrey. Of course, maybe it would be easier to list the places I didn’t want to fuck Aubrey, because I wanted to fuck her everywhere.
And then I wanted to make love to her. I didn’t need a new list for that. I wanted to make love to her in all the places I fucked her. I wanted to hear her screaming my name in places all over the world, and I wanted to hear her screaming it when I was at home.
It was just her.
It didn’t even have anything to do with sex. I didn’t care if she was just screaming at me because she was mad even. I wanted her. Only her. It had to be Aubrey that I spent the rest of my life with.
Emotion filled me, pooling inside of me and without stopping, I groaned loudly, as I began shooting giant streams inside her. “Aubrey,” I ground out through gritted teeth. “I love you. God, you have no idea how much I love you.”
“I love you too, Zane,” she replied, flopping like a rag doll on the surface of the table. “Thank you.”
“Don’t be thanking me yet. We aren’t even close to finished.” Pulling out, I hiked my pants up a bit so I could walk and scooped her into my arms, carrying her to my room.
We never got around to the food.
“Z McCartney Takes Son to Soldier Force Film Set!”
~The Gamer Mag~
Chapter Twenty-Six
Aubrey
“Cut!” the director yelled and suddenly the set buzzed to life. I couldn’t help myself—I clapped, and so did Dustin.
“That was mind-blowing!” I said, smiling as Zane joined us. “I swear I’ve never seen anything so amazing in my life. I will definitely be buying this film. The leading man is hot!”
Grinning, Zane bent and kissed my cheek. “I’m pretty sure I’ve never been so happy to be called a leading man before. It sounds so much better coming from you for some reason.”
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