by Mel Curtis
“Don’t you give me that I-don’t-care look, Maddy. I know you. You like this guy. You lusted after him long before you ever met him.”
“OK, I admit. He’s smart and sexy and surprisingly caring. He has a way of seeing women that’s amazing. He looks at a woman and zoop! He knows what a woman wants.” And although she’d guessed Blue didn’t know anything about the Rules of Attraction, once she’d jump started the Freedom Transformation, he’d taken over. Quite capably.
Vera crossed her arms over her chest. “And what do you think he thinks you want from him?”
“Just to film him. He thinks my work will crush his reputation. God, Vera, don’t get all hyper. I mean, I’ve seen what his dating pool looks like, and it’s not the Levi’s wearing, T-shirt from a rock concert type.”
“Just so we’re clear. I do not want to sweep you up off the floor when he uses his über powers to get you into bed and then breaks your heart. I hear everything you’re saying, but do you hear everything you’re saying? In there?” She pointed at Maddy’s heart.
Maddy replayed that second kiss, the one where they’d gotten into a groove together. “It would be bad for my career to sleep with him. Is that what you want to hear?”
“Yes. Promise me that you’ll only sleep with Blue Rule in your dreams. I can tell just from listening to his voice what he’s like. A guy like that…he could make you believe what’s between you is real just by breathing.” Vera grabbed her purse and laptop bag. “And the worst part of it would be that while you were together, you’d believe it was love.”
“Your love guru second sight is almost as scary as his.”
“Yeah, well, women are like candy to guys like him, guys who don’t want to grow up. Are you hearing me?”
“I am.” Maddy was duly knocked back to the pavement.
“Good, because I don’t want you to have to run a dry cleaning business. Or worse, lose Poppa Bert’s photo albums over a man.”
“Me, either.” What had she been thinking to let her mind drift to thoughts of her and Blue in bed. Vera was right. Anything that happened between them would just be trivial. And hadn’t Senge pointed out that Blue was the king of trivial. According to the sex instructor, Blue’s sex life wasn’t as good as it could be because he lacked an emotional connection.
Ha! There was some revenge for the Playboy Avengers. Blue wasn’t as good as they thought he was, although they considered him to be pretty damn good.
Thoughts about sex and Blue’s devilish ways wouldn’t get the sizzle reel done. Maddy went back to work until the devil himself called her.
“I meant to call you first thing this morning, but whoever leaked what happened last night to Lyle is now my best friend. My phone’s been ringing off the hook all day.” Blue sounded pleased.
“Do they want Freedom Transformations?”
“No, thank God.” His tone cooled considerably. “How would you like to meet with Plump Bird Studios tomorrow afternoon?”
She paused the video on a close up of Blue’s handsome face. “What’s the catch?”
“There’s no catch, Maddy. I just admire what you’re doing and think you should have a valid shot at making this work.” His phone voice was smoothly controlled, countering the low sexy baritone he’d used last night at Winnie’s house.
Maddy’s radar pinged a warning. She was, after all, the queen of bad choices in men. “Why don’t I believe you? What’s in it for you?” What about his all-important pride?
He chuckled, the deep sound reverberating across her skin as if he was sitting next to her, not miles away. “It’ll earn me points with Amber if you get this into production before she gets back.”
“We wouldn’t go into production. If we’re lucky, we’ll get funding for a pilot.”
“Whatever happens, it would make Amber happy.” He sounded resigned.
“Well, thank you.” Maddy smiled at his image on her computer screen. Maybe he was coming around to the idea of the reality show. “Don’t forget I’m going with you tonight to Ulani’s wrestling match. I contacted the promoter yesterday to get permission to film.”
“If you must.” He sighed. “I’ll pick you up at six. What’s your address?”
“I’m going to kill Quinby.” It wasn’t only Winnie who made Blue’s eye twitch.
“That’s assuming Ulani doesn’t kill you first.” Maddy fit in with the crowd in her blue jeans and black KISS T-shirt, but stood out with her video camera in front of the Memorial Sports Arena. In his button-down and slacks, Blue was overdressed. “You should have called her and explained about Quinby.”
“She’d just hang up. I’d rather surprise her.”
Mr. Jiggles growled when someone cut too close to Blue and bumped his carrier.
With fifteen minutes left until the wrestling matches started, the crowd entering the arena had thinned considerably. And there was still no sign of Quinby.
He looked at Maddy, his gaze dropping to her lips. If Quinby was a no-show, the night wouldn’t be a total loss. The sting of last night’s Freedom Transformation wasn’t as sharp with Maddy near. “You left last night before – ”
“Mr. Rule!” Professor Quinby ran like he was uncomfortable in his own body, limbs over-rotating and jerkily overcompensating. He stopped a few feet away and bent over. “Let me catch my breath.”
Maddy turned on Blue’s microphone, placed a mic on Quinby, and started the camera rolling. Her touch was the only thing that kept Blue from picking Quinby up and shaking him. “You’re late.”
“I know. I forgot to plug in my electric car and the battery was dead. So I had to take the bus.” The guy was a mess. His hair looked like he’d received an electrical charge and his Green Lantern T-shirt was wrinkled.
Blue briefly considered rescheduling, but quickly discarded the idea. Quinby was perfect and Blue needed to make things right with Ulani. “I’ll make sure you get a ride home, Quinby.” Preferably from his wrestling bride-to-be.
Blue gave the ticket taker his passes and they made their way to front row seats. The crowd was brimming with beer and boisterousness.
The program listed the Hawaiian Princess in the first match of the evening. Maddy stood at the corner of the wrestling ring with her camera, taking in the stadium with a critical eye as if trying to determine what to shoot first. Then the lights dimmed and she lifted her camera to her shoulder, standing the same distance from Blue as she had last night when he’d attempted a verbal seduction.
“Would you like a beer?” Blue could use one to take the edge off his nerves.
“I don’t drink.” Quinby’s eyes were wide, taking in the crowd and the arena.
“Better and better,” Blue murmured.
A spotlight snapped on. An announcer stood in the ring wearing a dark suit with black sequined trim down the lapel and the side of each leg. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the FWA’s Hot Summer Fights!”
The crowd jumped to its feet, roaring. Blue dragged Quinby to his. Maddy crouched down in the aisle to get good crotch shots of the front row and then angled around to capture the wrestlers entering the stadium.
“She’s the queen of the jungle, a tigress discovered deep in the wilds of the Brazilian wilderness. Her appetites are legendary. Put your hands together for Le Ti-gre!”
Under another spotlight, tan, muscular men in loincloths carried a platform with an equally muscular, reclining woman in a tiger stripped bikini and long, dark pony tail. As they approached the ring, Le Tigre stood, balancing by holding onto golden ropes attached to the corners of the platform. She hissed at Blue and Quinby as she was carried past.
Quinby cringed against Blue.
“It’s just an act.” Blue gently righted him. “No one gets hurt.”
When the procession stopped, Le Tigre shed the ropes and leapt into the ring, snarling and arching her body at each section of the audience like an angry cat.
“Who is worthy to stand against such primitive beauty?” the announce
r cried.
The light dimmed in the ring, spotlights roamed the arena as the crowd fell into a hush. Drums began beating slowly.
“Princess! Princess!” the crowd chanted.
“That’s right, my friends. She’s the Hawaiian with dangerous hips. The daughter of the volcano god, Pele, and Queen Kulani, sent here to remind mankind to fear the eternal damnation of the flames of Hell! Let’s give it up for the Ha-waii-an Prin-cess!
The drums pounded faster as a second platform was carried in from the other side of the arena. These men wore nothing but a neon red sarong that barely covered the tops of their tan thighs or their hip bones. Ulani knelt on the platform with her head bent, as if in prayer. She wore a sarong and a bikini top that matched the scraps of material covering her attendants. Her black hair cascaded down her back in a fall of thick satin.
As they reached the floor of the arena the drums beat to a crescendo and then stopped.
Ulani rose, taking in her surroundings with apparent wonder.
The crowd stilled, waiting.
The announcer’s voice was urgent. “Be careful folks. The volcano goddess is about to blow!”
Ulani crouched in a defensive stance, glaring at them all. She lifted her palm in front of her mouth and blew flames over the crowd as the sound of a volcanic eruption shook the arena.
The crowd thundered its approval.
“She’s a goddess,” Quinby cried and fell to his knees as her bodyguards carried her closer.
Crap. This was exactly what Ulani didn’t want.
Blue yanked Quinby back to his feet. “She’s Tinkerbell with a flame thrower. Don’t be fooled.”
Maddy’s camera caught all the action. She panned back and forth between Ulani and Blue, probably wishing she had a camera in each hand.
Ulani knelt in prayer once more. The warriors carrying the rear of the platform extended their arms, lifting her carrier and tilting it forward until Ulani plunged from it into the ring, as if she were being sacrificed into the depths of a volcano. At the last moment, she tucked and rolled, bouncing to her feet and spewing more fire above the crowd.
The audience loved her, shouting and whistling their appreciation.
The arena darkened, but Blue was close enough to the ring that he could see Ulani hurry into a corner, strip off her sarong skirt and wipe her hands on a towel.
“Ladies and gentlemen. Tonight’s match between Le Tigre and the Hawaiian Princess will last three rounds of five minutes each. Choose your champion because the match is about to begin!”
With glaring intensity, the lights came up on the ring. The women were barefoot and barely covered by their bikinis. Their bodies had a slick sheen to them as if they’d been oiled down. The two women circled each other. Sensing blood, the crowd grew more excited.
A referee stepped into the ring, a portable microphone curved over his ear. “I want a clean fight, ladies. Nothing like last time.”
Without warning, Ulani and Le Tigre charged toward each other and the referee that stood between them. With a sickening thud, all three went down.
“She’s too powerful, too beautiful,” Quinby cried. “What would she want with me?”
“Hey, aren’t you the highest level in World of Warcraft? She may be beauty and the beast all wrapped in one package, but you’re the brains that will keep her safe.”
Quinby seemed to buy it, for he brightened and his scrawny chest seemed to swell.
Ulani broke free and grabbed Le Tigre by the ankle, dragging her off the referee.
Le Tigre whipped her other foot at Ulani’s head, bringing Ulani down hard in front of Blue.
Showing no mercy, Le Tigre dropped a knee in Ulani’s back and grabbed a handful of her hair.
“Help her!” Quinby cried stepping toward the ring. “We must help her!”
Blue held the professor back. “You do know wrestling is fake, right?”
Ulani spotted Blue and snarled as if she was a tigress. With a quick roll and an elbow to Le Tigre’s midsection, Ulani was free. She ran to the nearest corner, grabbed a stool and hefted it at Blue.
Blue ducked and covered Mr. Jiggles’ bag. The stool connected with something with a loud crack. The crowd held its collective breath. He looked up to make sure Maddy was unharmed. She was filming, adjusting her camera lens his way as if nothing disastrous had happened.
Blue turned back to the ring and stumbled…over Quinby, unconscious on the ground. “Quinby! Jesus, I wanted you to find true love, not a ticket to the emergency room.”
Ulani grabbed Blue by the shoulders and shook him. “You.” And then she wrapped her strong hands around Blue’s throat. “You can’t escape your fate.” Her words poured out of the speakers.
“Man down.” Blue forced the raspy words past fingers clenched around his throat. “Down there.”
The crowd ate it up as if it was all part of the show.
Ulani glanced down. “Dear gods. This is all your fault.” Ulani released Blue and crouched next to Quinby, her face ashen. “I’ve killed him.”
Quinby wasn’t dead. Blue had seen his thin chest rise and fall. “This is the sacrifice I promised you, Princess. The man who will complete you.” Blue’s words were unintelligibly garbled coming out of the speakers.
Thankfully, Ulani seemed to hear. She blinked and then sagged against Blue’s legs with a shuddering sniff. “I’ve killed him.”
“No. You haven’t.” Blue leaned over and whispered in her ear. “Say something princess-like and carry him off like King Kong did with Fay Wray.” He slipped the microphone Maddy had put on Quinby free.
Ulani blinked and then her killer showman’s face slid back in place. “This offering is mine!”
The drum beat slowly as Ulani carried Quinby up the ramp as tenderly as if she carried the baby she so desperately desired.
“My job here is done,” Blue said, nodding toward Maddy. He picked up Mr. Jiggles’ messenger bag.
Applause in the arena built to a deafening wave as Blue made his way to the exit, followed by Maddy, her camera still rolling.
“Did you see how she threw that stool at you? Oh, my God. I didn’t think you could move that fast.” Maddy sat in the front seat of Blue’s SUV, cradling her camera to her pounding heart.
“Thanks. I think.”
“And then Ulani leapt over the rope and grabbed you like she couldn’t decide whether to choke you or swing you up in the ring by your neck. Can you image if she would have done that? Le Tigre would have eaten you for breakfast.”
“Your continued confidence in my skills is heartwarming,” Blue deadpanned, accelerating onto the freeway as if he couldn’t get away from Ulani fast enough.
“You would have been toast.” Of all the projects Maddy had worked on, this night had by far been the most exhilarating.
“Okay, the wimp driving would like to change the subject.”
Maddy fidgeted in her seat. “Do you think Quinby will be scared? We should have followed her backstage.”
“Some things are best left off camera.”
She laughed. And then giggled.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Oh, my God. I’m just so excited. I can’t sit still. I’ve never seen anything like that and to get it on film.” She pounded her feet on the floorboards as if she was sprinting. “I want to go back and do it again.”
“No. You don’t.” Blue pulled off the highway and into a subdivision, following the winding roads until they dead ended on a cul-de-sac overlooking the ocean.
“Yes, I – ” But her enthusiasm was cut short by Blue’s lips on hers.
“Burn some of that energy off on me,” he murmured into her ear a short time later. He eased her camera to the floorboard.
In the back seat, Mr. Jiggles growled.
Maddy leaned over the shifter, reaching for Blue, throwing Vera’s cautions to the wind, because this was the release of energy her body craved. Not filming. Not telling a story. Him.
She grabbed Bl
ue’s shirt the way Ulani had and tugged him closer.
Blue chuckled, the sound reverberating into her throat as he started another kiss. “You want to be in control.”
“Yes.” But that wasn’t all. She wanted to stretch her body out against his. She wanted to feel the hard length of him against her. She wanted to nip and lick and taste.
Mr. Jiggles growled.
He always seems to know what you want.
Words the Avengers had used to describe Blue.
Maddy drew back. “Holy crap. You’re dangerous.”
“And you’re combustible.” His hand had somehow managed to find its way beneath her shirt, creeping closer to the cup of her bra. “I’ve wanted to touch you since…” He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a bedroom whisper. “Since the first day we met.”
Not believing him, Maddy shoved Blue away. “No. This is exactly what happens with you and women. You want to give me something I want, just the way I want it. Fast and dangerous. What’s next? Sex in a dressing room?” The thought turned her on. What was happening to her?
“That’s not…that isn’t…”
“You have an M.O. I’ve listened to enough of your exes to recognize you’re playing me.”
“Not all play is bad.” Blue retreated to his side of the vehicle. His face was hidden in shadow.
“It is if you don’t mean anything to someone. It’s just sex, like Senge said. An empty release.”
“Don’t short change a freely offered orgasm.” The sarcasm in his offer couldn’t disguise his hurt.
“Don’t be like the Avengers and take this personally.” She held up a hand between them. “Part of me wants to accept your offer, but I’ve been shortchanged too often in the past. If I was looking for a quick release, I’d date my shower nozzle. The next time I go to bed with a guy, I want him to go nuts over me.”
“You drive me nuts, Maddy.” No hesitation. So believable.
Maddy didn’t know what to believe. “I drive you nuts when I film. I drive you nuts because you don’t have control over the show I’m pitching. Don’t try to kid yourself or me into believing you lie awake at night thinking about me or that you’d give me a second thought after we had sex.”
