by Angela Blake
Ashlyn’s fury seemed to melt in a moment. What was he trying to do? Did this count as manipulation? Whatever. If it meant that he would leave her alone, it was worth it. She didn’t even care if it would be good food or not, but looking at Javon, he probably always went to restaurants with good food.
“Fine, whatever,” Ashlyn said. “If you promise to always leave me alone. Just let me film.”
“Great, I’ll see you at the Red Lobster as seven o’clock tonight. Deal?”
“Yeah, sure,” Ashlyn said, turning away from Javon. Things were much quieter, and she saw that one of the other cameramen was staring at her. Ashlyn stared him down. He finally looked away sheepishly. Ashlyn turned back and saw that Javon was already halfway toward the parking lot. Good riddance. Now, she could focus on filming.
Chapter Three
Ashlyn finished her filming when the sun started coming in at the wrong side of the set, around four in the afternoon. Ashlyn was exhausted, and she rode with the crew back to their hotel. They had a block of rooms where they were staying for the ten days they were filming here. Ashlyn wanted to shower and fall into her bed. Going to bed at seven o’clock wasn’t too early, was it?
Ashlyn suddenly remembered her date with Javon. She backpedaled. It wasn’t a date. It was just a bribe. She was going to follow through on it, because she didn’t want Javon making trouble for her the next day. They had nine more jam packed days of filming, and she didn’t need to be distracted on any one of those. She would pay up now and receive the benefits of being able to work.
“Can I shower first?” Ashlyn asked her roommate Pamela.
“Go ahead,” Pamela said. “I may just watch TV or something.”
Ashlyn gathered up her clothes and took a super-fast shower, mainly washing her hair. She was glad that the hotel room provided hair dryers, and she went to work in the bathroom. It took forever to dry her hair, but she was finally ready. She was wearing jeans, short heels that barely counted, and a red, skin-tight V-neck. She looked nice but not overly done.
Ashlyn’s stomach grumbled, and she smiled. At least she was going to get some delicious dinner out of it. It had been a long time since she had eaten lobster, and she loved it. A restaurant named the Red Lobster had to have Lobster, right?
“Where are you going?” Pamela asked.
The rule about not dating between contracted employees flashed through her head. She didn’t know if Javon counted and figured it would probably be better to keep it a secret if everyone didn’t already know yet.
“I’m treating myself to dinner. I think I deserve it after surviving my first day on the job.”
“Fine,” Pamela said. “But don’t wake me up when you come in. I am exhausted, and I’ll probably be in bed before eight.”
“Yeah, I’ll be quiet,” Ashlyn said, grabbing her purse and stuffing a few needed items in. She was tired too, and she envied Pamela being able to sleep so early.
Ashlyn didn’t have any sort of vehicle, but their hotel was in the middle of things. Maybe she should have asked Javon for a ride, but she hadn’t been thinking that far ahead when she made the plans. She didn’t even have his phone number to text him and ask him. Oh well, there had to be someone who was willing to at least give her directions.
Ashlyn stopped in a store near their hotel and asked after the restaurant. She was directed to keep going about four blocks. Ashlyn sighed but started her little walk. She was mostly hoping that she wouldn’t get sweaty on her way. That was the last thing she wanted: to show up at a date with her face read and her hair wisps clinging to her face.
Ashlyn saw the restaurant coming up on her left, and she slowed her pace, giving herself a few slow steps to catch her breath. She didn’t think she was out of shape, but walking in heels was not the easiest. Ashlyn walked up to the door cautiously and stepped inside. She felt out of her element as she entered the fancy restaurant’s doors. Javon was waiting just inside, and seeing him immediately calmed Ashlyn. She realized then that she felt comfortable with him.
“Wow,” Javon said. He took an exaggerated moment to look at her, and Ashlyn tried to make her look condescending. It didn’t really work well, because she ended up blushing. “I knew I struck gold when we made that bargain this afternoon.”
“Yes, and I hope you’ll fulfill your end of it,” Ashlyn replied, raising one of her eyebrows.
“I will,” Javon said. “And, I’ll also give you an amazing date.” Javon turned and motioned to the waiter. “Could you lead us to a table for two please?”
“Would you prefer our patio seating or a place inside?”
Javon turned to Ashlyn as though passing the question on to her. “A booth is fine.”
For some reason, she felt as though the patio might be beautiful and romantic. She didn’t want that. She just had to finish this date and keep herself from becoming too distracted with Javon. Then she could get back to her real love: cameras.
“Right this way,” the waiter led them to a table. Javon placed his hand lightly on Ashlyn’s right hip as they walked side by side to the table the waiter had chosen for them. “Your server will be right with you,” he said.
Javon pulled Ashlyn’s chair back and indicated for her to sit. Her heart started beating hard as she dropped her eyes and took the chair. Javon was such a gentleman. She never would have guessed it from his behavior earlier today. Then, Ashlyn’s stomach clenched up. Maybe he was just trying to get inside her pants. The thought made her feel a little sick. Was that the whole reason he had asked her out?
Ashlyn looked up at Javon from under her eyelids, trying to think of what to say. Before she had time to think, their menus were laid before them. She quickly buried herself in the menu’s details, another thought running through her mind.
She was almost flattered that Javon might be interested in sleeping with her. Was she so attractive that she turned him on? Ashlyn slowly licked her lips and set her menu down on the table. She would find out from their conversation his reasoning for making this bargain.
“Do you know what you want?” Javon asked.
Ashlyn shrugged. “Lobster,” she smiled. “Am I supposed to order something else?”
“How much do you want? There’s an all-you-eat claw special, or you can order an amount. Are you hungry?”
“Yeah, I’m pretty hungry,” Ashlyn said, looking back at the menu. She looked up and watched Javon study the menu. When he caught her watching him, he smiled. Ashlyn’s heart started thumping hard, and she nervously licked her lips.
“Great, maybe the all-you-can-eat is a good deal.”
Ashlyn was about to protest, but Javon was already waving the waitress over. He quickly put in two orders of the same, and they put in their drink orders as well. Their menus were taken away, and they were left in silence.
“Where do you come from?” Javon asked.
“I’m originally from Wisconsin,” Ashlyn said, referring back to her childhood days. “But when I finished high school, I moved to California. That’s where all the hopeful camerawomen live.”
“Well, it seems like you’ve been successful so far,” Javon said.
“Actually,” Ashlyn paused then decided that she should be open and honest, at least about this subject, “this is my first shoot. That’s why it’s so important that I do everything right. If I mess up, I could get fired. And getting fired from my first filming job could make it impossible to get another gig. And I don’t live for free.”
Javon nodded. “I’m sorry. I really wasn’t trying to start any trouble, and then you got all fired up.”
Ashlyn screwed her face up as she looked at him, confused about his tone of voice. “Yeah, well, I had a right to be mad.”
“But do you know how beautiful you are when you’re angry? I can’t take you seriously.”
Ashlyn frowned, already annoyed at Javon. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means,” Javon said with a wink, “that when you’re angry, I can’t help bu
t do your bidding.”
“Obviously you could,” Ashlyn replied. “You didn’t just leave. You made me come on a date with you.” Ashlyn rolled her eyes and tried to find something interesting in the room to focus on.
“I would have left eventually, even if you hadn’t agreed.”
“What?” Ashlyn burst out. She toned her voice down when her shout drew a few stares as she looked at Javon incredulously. “You are a troublemaker. That’s what you are.”
“I know,” Javon said, shaking his head as though the fact hurt him. “My mother always said I would be. I just can’t seem to be helped.”
Ashlyn couldn’t stop the little smile that was spreading over her face. “You know, now I get why you’re in the entertaining business.”
“Why?” Javon asked.
“Because,” Ashlyn said, “you can make a person who would rather be doing anything else than be around you smile.”
“Good,” Javon said, “then my plan is working.”
“What is your plan?” Ashlyn asked, instantly on guard. Was Javon really so obvious about his intentions?
“I’m going to steal a few legs off your all-you-can eat plate.”
Ashlyn laughed. “Go ahead. Do it, as long as you’re not afraid of the restaurant calling the police on you.”
“Oh please, these dishes were created to be robbed from.”
Ashlyn covered her mouth and pointed at the server who was coming their way. It was as though they shared a secret that was only for the two of them. Once they had their food, they were pretty silent as they dug in.
After eight crab legs, Ashlyn started slowing down. The server had brought her another plate, and Ashlyn lazily picked at the shell of one more crab leg.
“Can I speak?” Javon asked.
Ashlyn gave him a strange look. “I think so. You’re so weird.”
Javon laughed. “I’m just scared to ask anything now. I never know when you might take my head off. Have you always been into film?”
“Yes,” Ashlyn answered. “You can ask me everything you want. We’re not on set.”
“Do you have a favorite movie?”
“Mm, probably a movie from when I was a child: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
Javon smiled. “I watched that a few times when I was a kid too. Okay, mm, what else?”
“You could ask me what I think of you,” Ashlyn answered.
Javon smiled. “Okay, what do you think of me?”
“I think you’re a very attractive, annoying distraction,” Ashlyn lifted her eyebrows as though challenging him to be honest with her.
“I can take that,” Javon said. He waited, as though wanting her to beg him to give her his opinion. Ashlyn, curious, finally gave in.
“So, what do you think of me?”
“I think you are gorgeous, determined, entertaining, and very, very sexy.” Javon’s voice dropped at the end of his sentence.
Ashlyn’s mouth suddenly felt dry. He thought she was sexy? She had never really thought of herself as very attractive before. Ashlyn looked up and met Javon’s eyes. He looked completely serious as he looked right back across the table at her.
He slowly slid his hand across the table and laid it with his palm up near her elbow. Ashlyn’s eyes flitted down to his hand. She had been wondering all night how they felt. Ashlyn finally moved her hand to take his. His fingers immediately wrapped around hers. She was amazed by the difference in their skin color. His skin looked so pure, its darkness hiding the imperfections while hers was unable to hide them.
Javon gently squeezed Ashlyn’s hand two then three times. It was as though he was trying to match her heartbeat, but nothing save the speed of light could do that. Ashlyn looked up, and suddenly, she was very tempted to find out what kissing Javon would be like. It was as though her whole thought process turned around. Maybe he did just want to get inside her pants, but was that really so bad? Ashlyn wondered what it would be like to touch the front of his pants and feel how hard he was.
Javon’s tongue slowly flicked out and licked his bottom lip. He then gently bit his lip, and Ashlyn suppressed the urge to groan. She wanted to kiss him. She just wanted to kiss him. Ashlyn took a deep breath. They were in a restaurant. This was not the place to begin making out with Javon.
“Are you done eating?” Javon asked.
“Yes,” Ashlyn nodded.
“Let me settle the bill, and then. . .” Javon trailed off as he opened his wallet.
“And then what?” Ashlyn asked, wanting to know exactly what Javon was thinking.
“Maybe they’ll let us step out on the patio. I’m pretty sure the sun is setting in about,” Javon glanced at his watch, “about ten minutes. I don’t want to miss it.”
Ashlyn smiled. Javon was oddly romantic. It was as though he had just planned the dinner time so that they could catch the late summer sunset. Ashlyn watched as Javon slapped enough money down on the table to cover the meal and pay their server. He apparently was not interested in waiting for change. Who was he that he had so much money yet had been scrounging up extra acting jobs?
Javon stood and took hold of the back of her chair. Ashlyn stood as Javon pulled the chair back. He offered his arm, and Ashlyn slipped her arm through his, feeling like a princess. He led her out onto restaurant’s patio. It had cooled down a few degrees, and Ashlyn didn’t feel as hot anymore.
Javon led Ashlyn over to one side of the railing. The sun was just touching the horizon. Hues of purple, pink, and orange filled the sky as the sun inched down toward bed. Ashlyn stared in wonder, wishing she had her camera with her. This sunset was a beauty. Ashlyn freed herself from Javon’s hand and moved to a better viewing place along the rail. Javon came up behind her and placed one of his hands on either side of her.
Ashlyn immediately felt the warmth of his body, and it caused her face to heat up. He was so close. She could turn and kiss him right now. No one would fault her. Her body was screaming for her to move, to make a decision. Ashlyn slowly, inch by slow inch, moved her ass backward until she was pressing into the front of Javon’s pants.
She could feel, now clearly against her pants that he was hard. Ashlyn froze as though unsure what to do now. What was she thinking? Javon wrapped his arms around her, pulling her even closer, and his words came into her ear. “What are you trying to start, you little firecracker?”
Ashlyn couldn’t answer. She just wanted to freeze, not have to make any decisions but just freeze and enjoy the moment. Javon slowly moved himself away then slowly pushed himself into her again. He let out a low moan just next to her ear.
It undid Ashlyn, and she turned away. She pulled his hips toward her and closed her eyes, needing his lips on hers, needing to let go of some of her built-up passion. His lips pressed down hard onto hers. Then, he seemed to consume her. His lips hurriedly kissed hers over and over. He bit her lower lip gently and pulled it toward him.
Ashlyn’s stomach felt as though it was on fire, and she knew she was wetting her panties. She knew he wanted to have her as much as her body was telling her to take him. Ashlyn pulled back, dread settling over her. She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t get in trouble. She had to be back in her hotel room that night. Gary was strict. If she acted now on purely passion, she might regret it in the morning.
Javon’s voice was low. “Do you want to come to my place?” he asked.
Ashlyn quivered as she imagined what it would be like to open her legs to him and feel him touch her. She already knew that he would be able to take her to an amazing place, but Ashlyn didn’t know what she felt about giving herself away to a man she had just met. The only time she had done it before was with her boyfriend of two years. She couldn’t.
Chapter Four
“I need to go back,” Ashlyn said.
Javon’s eyes focused directly on hers. They were so close. She seemed able to read every thought as it passed through. “Ashlyn, come on, can’t you come with me? Don’t you want to?”
“I
want to,” Ashlyn acceded before she had a chance to really think through her words.
“Then, come on,” Javon said. “You’ve turned me on now. If you’re turning me on just to leave me, that’s mean.”
“I want to go with you,” Ashlyn said as she pulled away to look at the front of Javon’s pants. She was suddenly very self-conscious as she realized that there were other people out on the patio. Her cheeks turned red. “I think I need to go back. Thanks for dinner. It was delicious.”
Javon walked Ashlyn silently around to the front of the restaurant. “I don’t know what I did to make you want to leave me, but I’m sorry for whatever it was.”
Ashlyn halted as she tried to explain her conflicting feelings. She didn’t even understand herself, but she just knew that she should go back to her hotel room that night. She should wait and see if Javon was really interested in her, if they had a chance at anything. “You didn’t do anything wrong,” Ashlyn said, “you did everything right. But,” she paused, her mind scrambling. “I never do something like that with a guy on a first date.”
“I guess I’ll have to take you out again then,” Javon said as they parted. His words echoed in Ashlyn’s mind as she hoofed it back to her room. Would she do it if they went out again? She wasn’t sure, but she did know that her mind could not take any more heavy-thinking right now. She needed to figure things out.
The next day, Ashlyn was up and ready early. She couldn’t wait to get on set and see Javon again. She wondered if the new day would give her a new perspective on things. She might think her desire from the night before to be overrated or she might regret not taking the opportunity when she had it.
“You are very chipper to have been out so late,” Pamela said as they shuffled around before breakfast.
“I wasn’t out that late,” Ashlyn said. “You just went to bed super early.” In truth, she had gotten back about nine thirty, not late at all for her usual. Ashlyn couldn’t even devote part of her mind to thinking about what Pamela might think. She was too busy thinking about Javon. Ashlyn dressed up a little more than she usually would to film in the forest, but she wanted to make Javon have that same reaction to her this morning as he had had the night before.
