Just Like the Movies

by Natasha Preston

  If he’s still nervous, it doesn’t show.

  After a little while of drinking and chatting, we’re shown into the screening room.

  The cinema is fancy, adorned with artwork, extra-comfortable seats, and a lot of champagne. Quarantine is written in lights on the walls outside of the screening room. There are posters from the set, where Spencer is looking very gorgeous, obviously—much better than the poster I saw of him in his kitchen. Not that he ever takes a bad picture. Some photos in here are candid snaps of him laughing with other members of the cast and crew. Those are my favourite. One picture in particular that I want to steal is a black and white picture of Spencer’s set chair. Lowe is written on the back of it with Spence in the distance smiling, his hand midway through his hair.

  “Thank you,” I say, taking a glass from the tray that’s offered to me.

  Jodie sips hers straight away, absolutely loving every minute. We gravitated back to each other when we were told to take our seats.

  I sit down, and Spencer drops beside me. “Hi,” he says.

  “Hey, Hollywood. This is amazing.”

  There are only celebrities and guests in here. I don’t think anyone will think much about Spence sitting with his family. Maybe they’ll mistake me for a family member. Maybe they won’t care at all.

  “I’m so excited,” I tell him, grinning like a psycho. “This is your premiere!”

  His smile is infectious. “You’ve just realised, huh?”

  “No, it just got real. I’m so proud of you.”

  He takes my hand on the arm of the chair as the lights dim.

  I don’t ever want him to let go.

  I watch, enthralled as Spencer lights up the screen. He’s absolutely amazing. I know it’s my Spence up there, but I buy into his character totally. I bet he loved playing someone who was a bit of a dick at first, only out for himself during the apocalypse as he tries to survive. Then enters Ella, Ethan, and the group they’re traveling with, and that changes everything. Spencer’s on-screen romance with Ella is horribly real. I know they’re only acting but it still makes me insanely jealous.

  There are lots of fights and power challenges as Jack—Spencer’s character—tries to be the top dog, leading the group to safety. It really is a very good story about human survival, showcasing the good and bad in people when civilisation goes to crap.

  My hand tightens around his as his character kisses Ella’s for the third time. Is that really necessary? Out of the corner of my eye, I see him smirk at me. Perhaps my narrowed eyes are giving me away. I don’t really care anymore. After last night there is no need to hide how I feel.

  Well, kind of. He still doesn’t know that I’m in love with him.

  The credits roll, and applause fills the room. I beam at him, clapping and wolf whistling, making him laugh out loud. I can see the pride in his eyes, though.

  The lights brighten.

  “You were incredible, Spence. I loved it!”

  To my left, I hear Jodie sobbing and Andrew gushing about how he always knew Spencer would do something amazing.

  “Yeah?” Spencer’s toothy smile is so wide, his face is in danger of cracking.

  “You better get an Oscar.”

  He laughs, shaking his head like I’ve said something absurd. “I’m just glad you liked it.”

  “Loved it,” I correct.

  Jodie stands and demands a hug.

  The rest of the room is up and buzzing.

  I take a breath and soak it all in. The atmosphere, the pride… and the gloom settling in my stomach.

  Can the movie star and the broken university student really work?

  Twenty-Two

  Spencer

  I’m at a party being thrown for me and my co-stars… and I want to leave.

  All I can think about is getting Indie back into bed. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve fucking loved the premiere and how well the movie was received, but now I want to celebrate privately. I don’t have much time left with her. I can see everyone else here again soon.

  Indie is with my parents, talking to Ella. She’s wearing a little black dress that I’ve not been able to take my eyes off. The whole time we were in the cinema—besides when the lights went down—she looked uncomfortable. I get it. At first you’re unsure of your place. I used to wait for someone to tell me there’s been a mistake and that I needed to leave.

  Indie will be more comfortable once she gets used to it.

  Having your life turn so fast is full on. It takes a minute to adjust.

  She laughs with Ella, a glass of champagne clutched tightly in her hand.

  When she told me that she was a virgin, I thought I was going to come on the spot. Knowing that I’m the only person who has been inside her is the best feeling in the world. It’s some primal and possessive bullshit, no doubt. I don’t even care. She’s all mine.

  Indie looks up and says something to the group. Ethan joins them, so the rest don’t pay much attention to Indie walking off.

  I stuff my hands in my pockets to stop me reaching out for her as she approaches. My heart thuds faster the closer she gets. She stops too far away.

  “People are going to talk if you keep looking at me like you want to rip my clothes off,” she says.

  “I do want to rip that tiny dress off.”

  “It’s not tiny,” she says flattening it down.

  The sleeveless number comes to her mid-thigh, and I want it off.

  My dick begins to stiffen. Fucking hell, not here. “Let’s go back to mine.”

  “Spencer, we’ve only been here for twenty minutes.”

  “Is that it?” It feels like hours.

  “You need to stay for an hour, at least.”

  Forty more minutes of watching her walk around in that dress and not being able to touch her. Pure torture.

  Noticing my reluctance, her cheeks redden, and she smiles. “You’ll have me again soon.”

  I groan. “Don’t say it like that.”

  “Poor, Spencer. Do you need to take a minute?”

  “We both know what I need.”

  Her grin widens, and her eyes become flirty. She’s enjoying this, playing with me. It looks good on her. “You’re going to have to practice a little patience.”

  “I’ve been patient since we sat down to watch the movie.”

  She was sitting beside me watching it with this expression that I couldn’t quite place, like a mix of wonder, pride, and maybe lust. I’ve never seen her want me or anyone before. The heavy rise and fall of her chest and the hunger in her eyes almost knocked me off my feet.

  “Come and join me with your parents and Ella. Ethan just came over, too.”

  “Still fancy Ethan?”

  “I’ll never not think he’s hot.”

  Wrong thing to say. I step closer, and she lifts her chin. “Indie…”

  She blinks heavily. “You’re hotter. Obviously.”

  “He’ll be attracted to you. You’re just his type.”

  She shrugs a shoulder. “I really don’t care. There’s no one else I want, Spence. To me, you’re perfect.”

  My hands itch to reach out. I hold my breath and will my erection away. Indie, I love you.

  “Now, come on…” She grabs my hand and pulls me over to the group. I think she said something else after that, but I can’t focus.

  “There you are, man,” Ethan says. His lopsided smile shows the number of champagnes he’s had. “Everyone loves it!”

  “Of course, they do.”

  “Dream team,” Ella cheers. “I hope we all get to work together again.”

  “Do you think there will be a sequel?” Indie asks.

  Ella bites her lip. “I don’t know. I really hope so. There’s tons more that can be done with those characters.”

  “And look at movies like The Fast and the Furious. They’re on, what, eight or nine now,” Indie says. “If I was the producer there, I would do that, too. Hello, Vin Diesel.”

  I roll my eyes.
“Is there anyone in Hollywood you don’t fancy?”

  She pretends to think. “Probably not.”

  Ethan’s eyes shine, and I want to knock him off his feet. “I like that in a girl,” he says, smiling at Indie as if she’s a sure thing.

  “If you’re still sleeping with girls, I don’t want to know,” she retorts, waving him off.

  “Oh,” he moans, gripping his heart while the rest of our group laughs.

  I couldn’t be prouder of her.

  “Poor Ethan,” Ella coos, wrapping her arm around him. “It’s not often you get a rejection from a woman.”

  “I think she’s broken,” he replies, looking at Indie.

  My girl does not back down. “Wow, is it really that hard for you to accept that not all women are into you?”

  “It doesn’t happen from the normal ones.”

  “Didn’t a girl you slept with once trash your car? Or is that fake news?”

  Ella’s eyes light up like a Christmas tree. “No, that totally happened.”

  Indie smiles triumphantly. “Well, on that note, I need to use the bathroom.”

  I watch her walk away from us with confidence that makes me want her even more. There is no shyness or uncertainty. This is what I always want to see. I want her to believe how amazing and beautiful she is. Whatever she hides at home isn’t with her right now.

  I don’t want her to go back to it. Not ever.

  After the most agonising hour of my life, Indie is ready to leave. She worked the room like a pro, speaking to only the celebrities she’d heard of, introducing herself as ‘Spencer’s childhood friend’. We’ve gone so far past friends.

  I’m not worrying over that part yet because she’s made a huge step tonight. She came out when she hates attention, and by the end of it, she was initiating conversation with strangers.

  She was a hit. No one has questioned our relationship by asking if we’re more than friends, although Ella looked at us a little too hard. She’s the only one who knows that Indie and I were once a thing.

  Of course, she thinks it’s romantic. I assured her that Indie and I were only friends again. For a while, I was okay with that. I need her in my life, and I’ll take friends if nothing more is on offer. I wasn’t able to continue lying to myself.

  I want everything.

  She has to get there, too. When she opens up about her past and her home life, I’ll know she’s all mine.

  I side-eye her as we race home in a taxi. We ditched Jared, but I sent him a text, letting him know we were fine. The driver is probably in his late sixties. He looked right past me when I gave my address. I don’t think he has a clue who I am. He probably wouldn’t recognise anyone under the age of forty.

  Indie has her hands curled together in her lap. She looks like she’s trying to stop herself from leaping on top of me.

  I wouldn’t mind a leap.

  The driver would likely have a heart attack, though.

  “You okay?” I ask quietly.

  Her body shivers, and her lips part. She slowly turns her head in my direction. “Yes.”

  “Really? Because you look like sex.”

  Her eyes flash to the driver who is humming along to Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash. Satisfied that he isn’t listening, she looks back.

  “I look like sex?” she asks, her voice barely a whisper.

  I nod and swallow as my eyes trail down her body. “I don’t know how I’ve managed to keep my hands off you for so long.” I’m not only talking about tonight.

  “Spencer.” Squirming in the seat, her knuckles turn white.

  I lean over and whisper in her ear, “I’m going to bend you over my balcony and fuck you.”

  Her whimper is definitely heard by the driver.

  Hurry. Up.

  Twenty-Three

  Indie

  I hold onto the glass balcony with a death grip as Spencer drives into me from behind. I’ve not had sex in this position before. It’s a new favourite, I have to say. We barely got inside before our clothes were off.

  Spencer holds onto my hips and groans as he picks up his pace.

  My body is flooded with desire. I roll my hips at his maddening rhythm. Every thrust strokes something inside me that pushes me closer to an orgasm I know is going to rock my world.

  “You’re so deep,” I say, biting my lip as my clit throbs. I’m always so close, it drives me insane. I don’t think it’s possible to get any deeper. “Shit.”

  “I want you like this again tonight. I’ll never get over the feel of you gripping me tight. So fucking beautiful,” he hisses through gritted teeth.

  My first quickie turns me on more than I thought was possible. I love it when we take our time to explore each other but this raw, I just need to come thing is so hot.

  “Harder, Spence,” I beg.

  His fingers dig in, a long groan escaping his throat. He pounds into me like it’s a punishment. God, it’s not.

  My nails press into the glass, probably snapping off and ruining my manicure.

  “Indie,” he pants. “Come, baby; I need you to come.”

  His words are my undoing, sending jolts of ecstasy pulsing through my body.

  “Yes,” I say as my pussy tightens around him. “I’m going to come, don’t stop.”

  He hits that same spot inside me over and over. I slam my forehead onto the balcony as my orgasm explodes. “Spencer,” I moan, my body shaking.

  “Fuck,” he hisses, pounding into me as he follows. “Fuck.”

  I gasp as the aftershocks leave me breathless. He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me up, keeping himself buried inside of me.

  On a sigh, he kisses my neck. “Damn, that was good.”

  My body is spent.

  “I have to say, I’m a fan of that position… and the quickie.”

  “Mmm,” he murmurs against my neck. “You’re beautiful. I don’t want you to leave.”

  He steps back, sliding out of me before he turns me around.

  “Long-distance will work,” I tell him. “I can’t go back to being just friends.”

  He shakes his head. “That was never an option. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

  I’m not sure I’ll be able to walk for a while. Or breathe. My legs, lungs, and everything else refuse to work properly. Spencer keeps me upright with his arm while, awkwardly bending down to pull up his trousers. The hot glow of my orgasm still burns.

  He really didn’t lie when he said that he would bend me over. I’m grateful that the balcony is private, although I don’t think I would have cared a few minutes ago. It’s pitch-black out with only the moon casting a rippled glow over the ocean in the distance.

  Spencer chuckles against my forehead as he takes my whole weight. He places a chaste kiss against my skin. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, just don’t let go.”

  His arms tighten. “I’m not about to. Come on, I’ll carry you inside.”

  My toes feel weird. I’m sure I’m going to be walking like a robot. He scoops me into his arms. “Do you want to watch TV?”

  “Not out here.” I let go of him and take his hand now that I can move a bit better.

  “In my bedroom, huh,” he says as I now pull him along.

  “Don’t even think about touching me again yet. I’m so sensitive, I’ll probably punch you. I want to curl up in your huge bed and chill.” I think Spencer’s bed could comfortably sleep four. I don’t want to know why anyone would need a bed that big. We only need two in ours.

  We take a quick shower, and then get into bed. He pulls me into his side. I curl into his chest and rest my head on his shoulder. This is perfection. I don’t need fancy houses or cars. All I want is to be this happy with him for the rest of my life.

  Sighing like he’s just hit the jackpot, he kisses the top of my head again. I. Love. That.

  “How are you doing, Hollywood?”

  “Nothing beats this.”

  “I can’t wait for the whole world to watch your m
ovie. It was so, so good. I couldn’t be prouder of you.”

  “Let’s hope everyone else thinks it’s good.”

  I look up at him. “They will.”

  “Ethan might try talking to you again.”

  I’m guessing from his emphasis on ‘talking’, he doesn’t mean Ethan wants a general chat. I didn’t flirt with him. In fact, I made it clear that I’m not interested. “Why?”

  “Because you rejected him. He likes a challenge; rarely loses them. Ethan is celeb royalty. He’s had women throwing themselves at him for years.”

  “I have no interest in him, Spence. I’ll tell him I’m unavailable.”

  “You’re unavailable. I like that.”

  I move back and push myself up to rest on my elbow. “If I wanted to date someone else then I wouldn’t be in bed with you. This isn’t a fling for me.”

  He brushes my hair from my face. “I don’t want anyone else, either. How are you feeling about long-distance?”

  “I’m not loving the idea of being away from you, but we have to try, right?” Maybe we can make it work. I’m scared, I’m doubtful, but I will give it everything.

  “I’ll come home every time I get longer than two days off.”

  “That sounds exhausting.”

  “It’ll be worth it. I might not even get the next role.”

  Oh, please. “You will, but even if you didn’t, you’re going to get a lot of offers. Everyone is going to want Spencer Lowe.” And I’m the one who gets him. “You’re going to have even more women throwing themselves at you. Get ready for a proper taste of Ethan’s life.”

  “They can throw what they want, Indie. I’ll be coming home to you.”

  “Glad to hear it, Hollywood.”

  In the back of my head, the sensible side of me is screaming that this is a bad idea. How far down the line will it be before he asks more direct questions? How long until a glossy magazine wants to know more about Spencer’s girlfriend? That doesn’t mean they get to know everything they want. He said some people manage a private life, and Ella told me some of her childhood friends are unknown.