by C. J. Thomas
Kendra turned around with big, round doe eyes. “I mean, if you’re not interested anymore . . .” She dropped her gaze to the floor. “Maybe I could go out with him?”
My stomach tightened as I flirted with the idea. “I’ll give you his number if you want.”
“No.” She pouted.
“Really. I don’t mind.” Except I kind of did.
Andy was my first. And wasn’t I supposed to always reserve that piece of my heart for him? To guard it, at all costs, from new lovers who might try and take that away from the both of us?
“No, forget it.” She took a seat at the small table nook and hugged her knees to her chest. “I can’t. I know that once I start my new job I won’t have time.”
My eyes flew open and I shrieked. “You got the job?”
Her head bounced on her shoulders wildly.
“That’s great.” I slid the laptop across my thighs, letting it rest at my knees. “Are you excited?”
“Beyond.”
“When do you start?” My fingers started a new search.
“I go in for a quick introductory meeting this afternoon.” Her smile lit up the room. “Can you believe it? Corporate paralegal, Kendra Williams.” She held her head up high.
“Now, that’s sexy,” I said before my eyes fell back to the screen.
That’s when I saw it.
My eyes narrowed and I leaned closer to get a better look.
“What is it?” Kendra dropped her feet to the floor and leaned forward on her elbows.
I lifted my gaze. “It’s her.”
34
Nash
RICKY SPANKED his girlfriend’s ass and told her to leave us be.
She gave me a quick glance before dropping her shoulders and skirting around me, exiting Ricky’s trailer. “Not bad,” I said, pointing at the closed door.
Ricky spread his arms wide across the back of his couch, leaned back, and flashed me his famous bright grin. “She’s good to me.”
“As she should be.”
He held my gaze, continuing to smile. “Something on your mind, Nash? Awfully early for business, don’t you think?”
I pointed to the empty leather recliner, asking with my eyes for a seat.
He nodded once.
I took a seat and said, “When you were working on your last film, you ever cross paths with Dex Ross?”
Ricky brought his hands down and leaned forward, resting his weight on his elbows. “A few times. Why do you ask?”
I leaned back and relaxed a bit. “I was just speaking with costume, and they said that they saw him in studio before we began filming this scene.”
Ricky shrugged. “Everyone is always running in and out of the studio, regardless of when a film is being made.”
I stroked my chin and nodded.
“What makes him different?”
“You followed Blake Stone’s fallout, didn’t you?”
“I did.” His brows tightened.
“I think he took something that doesn’t belong to him.” My knees widened and my eyes squinted.
“And costume thinks he has whatever it is you’re looking for?”
I nodded. “Said it was inside a certain duffel bag.”
His gaze ping-ponged across the walls.
I watched him clasp his hands together, drop his head, and think. A second later he stood, moved to the back of his trailer, and came back holding an empty canvas duffel bag. “What’s that?”
“Ross’s duffel,” he said without question. “It’s what you were looking for, isn’t it?”
I reached out and took it in my hands. “Yeah. It’s what I was looking for.” Except it’s empty.
“Go ahead. Take it. I’m not really sure why Wes insisted I take it in the first place.” Ricky turned his back and opened the fridge, reaching inside for a cold bottle of water. “But he did.” He leaned against the edge of the counter and took a swig.
“Did he say anything?”
He shook his head. “Wes? You know him. I don’t ask questions.”
“Sure.” I stood and took a quick assessment of his trailer. “Looks like you could use another cleaning.”
Ricky raised his bottle and smiled.
“Good. I’ll send her in today.”
When I left Ricky’s trailer, all I could think about was why Wes would give Ricky this duffel. There were so many questions I needed answers to. The biggest of them all: was it ever full of money? And if so, where did it all go?
I rounded the corner and saw the interns casually shooting the shit, waiting to be assigned today’s tasks. “Good. You’re all here.”
They stopped talking and turned to face me.
“You two.” I pointed at two young men. “You’re with camera.”
They fist bumped each other and grinned.
“You four.” I counted off the next four interns. “You’re in costume.”
Quickly I counted off and assigned four more. Now, I was left with only two.
“Alex.”
Her stunning green eyes looked up and landed on me. Fuck. She was gorgeous. And with what she was wearing—extremely short denim shorts and a black blouse—I wondered if I should be worried about sending her into Ricky’s trailer looking so god damn tempting.
“Moran’s trailer needs dusting.”
Her eyes clouded over as her normally full lips flattened.
“Val. You’re working with me today.”
Val looked over at Alex and gave her a deadly smile.
“Now, get out of here.” I clapped my hands and watch everyone hurry to their assigned places. I snatched Alex by the elbow before she could get too far. “Remember what I told you.” I lowered my voice. “I want to know what he knows.”
35
Alex
I COULD FEEL his eyes fucking me every time I bent over.
His knees widened, and when I glanced over my shoulder, his glossy gaze was buried deep in my ass.
“Don’t you have somewhere you need to be?” I wrinkled my nose.
He licked his lips. “Not with a view like this.”
I spun around. “Excuse me?” My eyes narrowed.
“Now I see what Nash was talking about.” His gaze traveled up from my waist until they met my eyes.
Even though he deserved getting his ass chewed for being a perv, I couldn’t do it. Instead, I had to look away.
He uncurled his fingers and spread them wider on his thigh, staring at me like he knew he was as sexy as the world said he was.
I hated myself for even thinking it, but it was true. Ricky Moran was fine.
This was a stupid idea. I sighed.
I should have never agreed to spy on Ricky. Because the way he was looking at me made me think that maybe he knew exactly why Nash put me inside his trailer.
I diverted my gaze and let my mind drift.
This was partly Kendra’s fault. I should have never let her convince me to buy these shorts. They were way too short for what was considered appropriate.
And it wasn’t like I had enough problems already.
Because I had plenty.
Now, because of my choice to wear this skimpy outfit, I’d just created another.
“Ugh,” I growled and moved to the kitchen.
Ricky followed me.
“Seriously, you have nowhere better to be?” I filled the sink with water and squirted some dish soap beneath the faucet.
“You come from money, don’t you?” He stood next to me, leaned against the counter, and crossed his arms over his chest.
I scrubbed his dirty dishes. “Do you get off on watching women clean?”
His eyes sparkled with friendly fire. “It’s just that, out of all the interns, you’re the best dressed. Why is that?”
My arms stopped moving and I flicked him a quick glance.
His lips curled into something mischievous. “It’s true.” His head nodded. “You must really want a job after this is all done.”
I dropped
the sponge, turned to face him, and planted my hands on my hips. “I do.” My voice was soft.
It was impossible to know what it was he wanted, or if his intentions were anything more than what I assumed them to be. But Nash told me to be here, keep digging around, searching for something connected with Wesley Reid, so I did. But he didn’t tell me any more than that.
I turned back to the sink and continued scrubbing.
Fuckin’ Nash. It was always a game with him.
“That’s good. Because it’s extremely important to look your best in this industry.”
I rolled my eyes and looked away. “Everyone says that.”
“Because it’s true.”
I turned back to face him. “But do they say the same to men?
He laughed. “I see where you’re going with this.”
I arched a brow. “So—” I paused. “Do they?”
His chest flexed each time he belted out a pleasant chuckle. “Not quite the same.”
“Uh huh.” The corners of my lips curved upward. “That’s what I thought.”
“But,” his face got serious, “we put the pressure on ourselves to make damn sure we look good on—and off—the camera.”
“Men,” I huffed. “They’ll never understand.”
“And with that attitude, you’ll do just fine.” He leaned down closer to my face. “If you make it.”
“Oh, I’ll make it. You can count on that.” My brows raised in a challenge.
He showed me his palms and backed away.
When he grinned, it was beautiful.
“This industry is tough enough as it is,” he pushed off the counter, “without having to constantly worry what we look like. Keeping up appearances is tough. Don’t let anyone try to tell you otherwise.”
“Tell me about it.” I turned my head and stared at the suds popping in the sink.
“But seriously, Alex.” He hovered behind me so close I wondered how he got there without me realizing it. “You’re doing an excellent job setting yourself apart from the rest. You keep that up, and you’ll get the Assistant Director position.”
He was so close. Too close. And I wondered if I’d let this go too far. Get too friendly.
Damn, he smelled good. I needed to get away. Like, soon. I grabbed the towel, brushed past him, and wiped down the table. “Really?” I said, calmly enough to disguise my racing heart.
“Yes.” He remained in place. “Even better than Nash’s last girlfriend.”
My face went pale.
“She started off just like you.”
I wiped that table clean. “What do you mean?”
“She was an intern.” He turned toward the kitchen window and peered outside. “Was Nash’s favorite.”
Why was he telling me this? I didn’t want to know about his last girlfriend. Hell, I was still trying to figure out if I was his only girlfriend.
“What happened?”
“I’m not really sure.” He sighed. “But one day she just never showed up.” He turned around to meet my wary gaze. “Maybe she couldn’t handle the pressure.”
“Maybe,” I whispered, like I knew what it was like.
“Like I said,” he walked to the other side of the room, “it’s a bitch. And if there is any piece of advice I can give you, it’s to forbid that bitch to boss you.”
My laughter washed away the tension that threatened to throw out my back. “Does Nash have a girlfriend now?”
He glanced at the clock. “That’s not a question you should be asking me.”
All of a sudden, the only thing I could think of was the woman he was with in the boutique.
My phone buzzed with a text message and I reached inside my handbag.
Your background checks out, My realtor wrote. The apartment is yours if you want it.
My fingers quickly worked over my device.
I’ll take it.
36
Nash
“WELL,” my insides burned with desire, “are you just going to stand there, or are you going to come inside?”
Alex’s eyes were perfectly round—like the moon—and innocent looking as she waited outside my office. And by the way she was looking at me now, I wondered if she uncovered anything with Ricky that I should know about.
She looked to her right, then to her left, before stepping inside.
“Shut the door.” My voice was deep and commanding.
She closed the door.
“Lock it.” My eyes hooded over as the bulge hiding behind my zipper grew.
Click.
She turned, quickly glanced at me, and moved to the empty chair opposite me.
“Sit.”
She pulled at her shorts, pressed her knees together, and sat in the chair properly.
We stared at each other, taking a minute to get lost in one another’s eyes.
There was a glimmer in her eye that told me everything. She wanted me to forget business and go straight to sexing her up. And maybe I would, but first I needed to know what—if anything—she discovered.
“What did you find?” My fingers drummed my thigh.
She poked her tongue into her cheek and inhaled a long breath.
My hands came together and created a steeple beneath my chin.
“He doesn’t know anything.”
Slowly, my head raised. “You’re sure?”
“Nash.” She sighed. “I don’t know what it is you want me to find. Or what I’m supposed to even be looking for.” Her eyes drifted off mine and glided over my shoulder.
I turned to see what she was looking at.
Ahh . . . of course. The duffel bag.
“This is ridiculous.” Her tongue slid over her lips. “He was there the whole time, watching.”
My eyes pierced her beauty that made my dick hard as steel.
“I want to be working with the crew on filming.” Her face hardened. “Not cleaning.”
My cock hardened and I could feel the blood pulsating in my neck. “Let me remind you . . .” I stood and planted my hands flat on my desk, leaning forward. “You’ll do as I say.”
She arched a brow and challenged my authority.
I lunged forward and clamped my hand around her wrist, tugging her across my desk until she was beneath me, lying face down.
My hand spanked her covered ass.
She yelped and thrashed her head back and forth.
I did it again.
“Punish me. Anything to get me back on set,” she cried.
My fingers gripped her shoulders as I rolled her onto her back, pinching her cheeks between my fingers. Her pouty, moist lips screamed for me to crash my lips down onto them.
And I almost did.
Instead, I leaned down so close I was only a whisper away. “It’s about time we set some ground rules when it comes to you and me.”
She slapped my hand away. “Good.” She narrowed her eyes. “Because I have some rules I’d like to set of my own.”
My groin swelled hot. God damn. She was incredible. Her feistiness was hotter than she probably knew, and I could only hope that same attitude would carry over when I buried my rod deep inside her slickness.
Because that was exactly what I was going to do.
“Okay.” My hand curled around the back of her knee—feeling her hot flesh against mine. “You first.”
She blinked and shook her head. “You started this. You go first.”
My hand slid up her smooth thigh, causing my balls to tighten and ache in sweet agony. I wanted nothing more than to feel her nakedness wrap around my body as I drove her over the edge and made her scream my name. She was so hot, and it had me painfully hard.
There was only one way to relieve this madness, and she held the master key.
My fingers started to undo her shorts.
Her eyes sparkled and danced across mine.
And when I had the waistband opened, I slid my hand beneath her panties and started massaging her wetness. “Fuck. You’re dripping.”
Her eyes glossed over as she relaxed into my touch.
“Does that feel good?”
Her tongue swirled over the tip of her finger. “That’s not a rule.” Her voice was coated with pleasure.
My fingers pressed her swollen nub, causing her to whimper. She was so wet and willing, there was no way I wasn’t going to let her leave without fucking her first. “I know it feels good. Really, fucking good.” I dipped my fingers inside her heat and maintained the pressure on her clit with the pad of my thumb. “That’s why today’s rule is,” I leaned down and whispered in her ear, “no coming until I give you permission.”
Her knees fell wider apart, her eyes closed, and she cupped her breast with her free hand.
My fingers worked their magic, making her squirm on top of my desk. Loose papers crashed to the floor and I continued to drive her closer to the edge, testing her obedience before I really gave it to her good.
She turned her head and gripped my wrist between her legs, grinding her sex on my hand, harder and harder. “Mmm . . . can I come, yet?” Her voice floated sweet tunes up to my ears.
She was so sexy. I pressed on her bud, and when I did, she arched her spine, flinging her head back, and moaned. “No.” I nipped at the soft flesh of her neck.
She whimpered and cried, fucking my fingers like she hadn’t come in six months. “But it feels sooooo good. Please, Nash. I’m going to come regardless.” Her body opened just a bit more.
I curled my fingers inside her and her eyes crossed. “Not until you tell me your rule.”
“Fuck.” She dug her nails into my forearm. “I’m going to come.”
And with the swamp I felt pooling inside the palm of my hand, I knew that she wasn’t lying. She was about to open the flood gates.
My fingers plunged deeper.
She grinded enthusiastically, and the second before I knew she was about to climax, I pulled my fingers free, leaving her hot and empty.
“Nash, shit.” She breathed noisily. “I was so close. You can’t do this to me. God, you’re such an asshole.” Her brows scrunched together.
I chuckled. “What’s your rule?”
She propped herself up on her elbows. “Okay.” Her desperate eyes landed on me. “You want to know what it is?”
“I do.” I nodded, squeezing her fleshy thigh between my fingers.
