by Gina Hummer
“You alright?” David asked from somewhere far away.
Charlotte kept the pillow mashed over her face and shook her head. David chuckled and moved inside her once more. Charlotte squealed, and her head began to spin before she burst into a fit of giggles. David pulled the pillow off her face, where she launched into full-on guffaws.
“What is going on with you?” David asked, his own laughter creeping into his voice.
“I don’t know,” Charlotte panted. “This has never happened before.” She looked at him. “What in the hell are you doing to me?”
David leaned down and resumed his thrusts. “Pleasuring you.”
Charlotte dropped her head back, and David’s movements became faster and deeper. It wasn’t long before his own guttural howl roared from beneath his lips and he collapsed on top of Charlotte. They lay there, drenched in sweat, neither willing to move or speak.
Finally, Charlotte’s leg began to sting with sleep, and she tapped David on the shoulder so she could roll over on her side. David plastered himself against her and nestled his nose within the tangles of her hair.
“Strawberries,” he murmured.
“Strawberries,” she whispered.
#
Charlotte rolled over, expecting to run into David as she did so. She propped one eye open and saw that his side of the bed was empty. She gasped and sat up, panicked. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, grimacing as she did so. They’d made love twice more before nodding off to a symphony of their own snores. She tripped over David’s shoes, which he’d kicked off the night before. Charlotte bent down and laughed before she moved the shoes underneath her nightstand. She pulled her pink terrycloth bathrobe from the hook on the back of the door and tied it around her waist as she went in search of David.
She found him in her living room, clad only in his boxer briefs, standing in front of her floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. He was lost in perusing her shelves crammed full of CDs, books, and photos. She crept up behind him and slipped her arms around his torso.
“See anything you want to borrow?” she mumbled into his back.
David chuckled and whipped around to kiss her. “You know, there was a time when you wouldn’t let me kiss you unless you’d brushed your teeth.” He leaned back. “You better not be getting bored with me.”
Charlotte gripped him tighter. “Never.”
“Good,” David said as he kissed the top of her head. “How about some eggs? I’m famished.”
Charlotte nodded and David grabbed her and led her to the kitchen. He busied himself with pulling out his ingredients along with pans and spatulas.
“Looks like you’ve already been nosing around my kitchen,” she said as she perched on a bar stool.
David dumped a pat of butter into the frying pan. “Well, I figured I’d be here lots of mornings so I’d better get acquainted.” He looked at her sheepishly. “At least that’s what I was hoping, anyway.”
Charlotte twisted a lock of hair and looked at her hands. “I’m sorry I didn’t trust you,” she said quietly. “I’m sorry that I automatically assumed the worst.”
David continued to scramble the eggs. “I’m not going to kid you, Charlotte. When you date someone like me, the tabloids are a way of life. Someone will always be fabricating a story, dredging through the garbage ---- all kinds of things. It’s not going to be easy.” He sprinkled some cheese on top of the eggs. “You sure you don’t want to cut and run?”
“Why? You trying to get rid of me?”
David grinned and shook his head. “Not a chance.” David slid some eggs onto a plate in front of Charlotte. “To be fair, I should have just told you right away what was going on. I guess in my foolhardy, misguided way I was trying to protect you.”
Charlotte doodled on the bar with her finger. “Can we make a pact?”
“What’s that?”
“That we’re honest with each other. Even if we think the other person can’t handle it. No secrets.”
David put some eggs for himself on another plate and smiled at Charlotte. “Deal.”
Charlotte picked up her fork and grinned. “Good,” she said as she scooped up a forkful of fluffy eggs. “You know, I have to say…there’s something about the sight of you cooking in my kitchen in your kegs that’s rather sexy.”
“Ah ha! You remembered!”
Charlotte giggled and swallowed her eggs. “At least you know I listen to what you say.”
“Greatly appreciated.” David scooped up the last of his eggs. “So…what’s on the agenda for the day?”
“Ugh; well, I really do need to buckle down and do some actual work.”
David sucked in his breath. “That’s too bad.”
Charlotte frowned. “Why?”
“I planned to get lost in that big, fantastic bed with you.”
Charlotte threw down her fork and stood. “Race you to the bedroom.”
#
It was early afternoon before Charlotte slipped out of bed and into the shower. She hated to leave David, but she knew she’d better get going on her work. She had cordoned herself off in her office, and within moments there were papers scattered everywhere and at least two pencils were sticking out of Charlotte’s hair. She was tapping away on her laptop when she felt David’s arms around her. She jumped, and David planted a kiss on her neck.
“Admit it; you missed having me sneak up on you when you least expect it.”
“Oh, yeah; it was my favorite part of the day.”
“I almost put my eye out on those pencils.”
“Oh, those,” Charlotte said sheepishly as her hands flew to her head to extricate them from her hair. “Sometimes I forget and have been known to walk around all day with a pencil here, a pencil there…”
“Good thing you work from home.”
“Tell me about it,” Charlotte snorted as David stuck a yellow sticky note on her chest. “What’s this?” Charlotte pulled the note off her tee-shirt and saw an e-mail address.
“You need to e-mail William your info for the Vancouver trip so he can make all the arrangements. We leave day after tomorrow.”
“Ah, right. Vancouver,” Charlotte said as she leaned back in her chair.
“You still want to go, don’t you?”
“Oh, yes, yes. Of course. I’m sorry. I guess with everything going on I completely forgot.”
“It’ll be fun. Promise.” David searched Charlotte’s face. “What is it?”
Charlotte waved her hand. “Oh, well, this…this sounds so silly, but…what, uh…what have you told William about…us?”
David knelt down until he was eye level with Charlotte. “That you make me deliriously happy. He thinks its funny how we met.”
“Hmmm. I see, and uh, did you tell him that I’m a couple of years younger than you?” she said sarcastically. “I want him to know before he meets me so that he doesn’t faint in front of me.”
David rolled his eyes. “Oh, here we go.”
Charlotte laughed. “Okay, okay, sorry. I’ll stop. And I’ll e-mail William.”
“Excellent. While you do that, I’m going to hop in the shower.”
“I set out some towels for you on the counter in the bathroom.”
“Thanks, love,” David said as he stood and went to leave the room. When he reached the door he turned to look back at Charlotte. She glanced up.
“Yeah?”
David smiled. “For everything.”
CHAPTER 9
“Remind me again why our flight is at four in the morning?” Charlotte yawned and dropped her head back against the headrest of the limo William had sent to Charlotte’s house to ferry them to the airport.
“The earlier it is, the less people,” David responded. “Cheer up. We’re flying first-class and you can sleep on the plane. I’ll even let you drool on my shoulder.”
“Well, gee, with an offer like that,” Charlotte muttered. “Just wake me up if I start to snore.”
David chuckled and
sipped his coffee. “Only if I’m not snoring myself. So, you ever flown first-class before?”
“A few times. My publisher actually springs for it when I do big, big book tours or conferences. Which has happened only about a handful of times. Still, it was nice.”
“Stick with me love; everything for you will be first-class.”
Before Charlotte could respond they’d pulled up to LAX. The driver unloaded their luggage, and a pair of guards came over to whisk them away to the security checkpoint. As they sailed past the small line of people standing in general boarding, Charlotte couldn’t help but feel a bit woozy over the preferential treatment. Everyone looked bleary-eyed and hardly alert, so no one took notice of the handsome movie star and his mystery companion gliding through security. People were mostly busy slurping on coffee or scrolling away on their Blackberries, and Charlotte was relieved no one held up their phones to snap David. They were the first people seated on the plane, and shortly after take-off Charlotte kept her word and conked out on David’s shoulder; he followed suit a short time later.
Just before they landed, David tapped Charlotte on the thigh to wake her up. “Sleep alright?” he asked.
Charlotte stretched. “Amazingly well. I usually can’t sleep on planes. Must be first-class flying.”
“And here I thought it was me.”
“Oh, well, that too.” Charlotte sat up. “So is William meeting us at the airport? I’m dying to meet him.”
David rubbed his hands together. “Yes,” he said, drawing the word out. “And there may also be some paparazzi.”
“Oh.” Charlotte took a deep breath. “But William will help us out though, right?”
“Absolutely. I just wanted to give you a heads-up. Just remember to stay close to me and hold my hand.”
Charlotte pulled her compact out of her purse, glossed her lips, and ran a smidge of powder across her nose. “I think I can manage that,” she smiled as she smoothed her hair back and popped a mint.
“Just be prepared…for anything.”
“You make them sound scary,” she laughed nervously.
“They can be at times. I’ve met some really nice guys and some monsters. You just never know who is going to be there. Like I said, just stay close to me because I move pretty fast.”
“I’m glad I have you to help me navigate the madness.”
David smiled and kissed Charlotte’s hand. The plane descended and touched down in a matter of minutes. David and Charlotte were first off the plane, and David pulled a baseball cap out of his carry-on while Charlotte slipped on her sunglasses. David grasped Charlotte’s hand before they stepped into the airport.
“Ready?” he asked.
Charlotte squeezed his hand back. “Ready.”
They stepped through the door where two large security guards were waiting. They nodded at David and Charlotte.
“Mr. King? Follow us.”
Before Charlotte knew what was happening, they were on a fast-track through the airport. David wasn’t kidding ---- he moved at the speed of light, his long legs crossing over giant patches of floor at a dizzying pace. Charlotte had to run to keep up with him, and she was a little out of breath. Within seconds they were outside and being hustled into the backseat of a large black Town Car. Charlotte barely even noticed what the weather was like in Vancouver.
“You okay?” David asked.
Charlotte nodded and exhaled. “Yes; that was… different.”
For the first time, Charlotte noticed the dapper gentleman with sandy blonde hair in an expensive-looking charcoal gray suit with a pink silk handkerchief peeking out of the breast pocket. He was reclining against the plush seats.
Don’t worry kid,” he said. “My assistant will pick up your bags and bring them to the hotel.”
“William,” Charlotte smiled.
He winked. “The one, the only.” William said as the car pulled out of the airport. Charlotte sized him up. She pegged him to be in his early forties, and there were streaks of gray at his temples. His loafers shimmered like mirrors, and his socks looked to be silk. She noticed that his gold cufflinks were emblazoned with big W’s and his gold watch flashed in the sunlight.
Charlotte extended her hand. “I’m Charlotte, although I guess you knew that already.”
They shook hands, and William chuckled. “Based on what David said, I’d know you anywhere.”
Charlotte twisted around to look at David. “Really? And just what has he been saying about me?”
“That he’s nuts about you, although I have to say, you’re far prettier than David described.”
“William!” David scolded.
William waved his hand and clucked his tongue. “She knows I’m joking, right Charlotte?” William winked as he looked at Charlotte, who giggled. “All kidding aside, he’s been e-mailing me about you non-stop, and I’m so glad you came with him.” William leaned back and crossed one leg over the other. “You’re gonna love Vancouver.”
Charlotte looked out the window. “It looks beautiful so far. David told me you used to be an actor, right?” Charlotte asked.
“Ha! Yeah, you could say that. Mostly bit parts, supporting roles, dime-store stuff. I managed to squeak out a decent enough living, but I’ll tell ya kid, the real money’s on the business side.”
“Oh, I do alright,” David grinned.
William chuckled. “That you do, my friend. No; I’m much better at managing and producing than I ever was at acting. Oh, and running after this one all the time,” he said, pointing at David. Charlotte looked back and forth between the two.
“Seems like you guys make a pretty good team,” Charlotte said.
William grinned. “I guess we do, huh?”
“Yes well, as long as William’s able to make his tennis lessons he stays quite productive.”
The car slowed in front of a lavish hotel that easily took up one city block. They turned the corner and stopped in the back, next to some dumpsters. The driver opened the door, and the trio exited the limo. Charlotte put her hand over her nose.
“Anyone who says the movie star life is a glamorous one should trade places with me right now,” Charlotte muttered.
William held a service door open for David and Charlotte. “Sorry, kiddo, but we go through the front and it’ll be a brigade of camera phones and a stealth paparazzo or two.”
Charlotte nodded as David grabbed her other hand and followed William through the dark and dank loading dock, which reeked of yet more garbage. A security guard met them at the entrance to the kitchen and hustled them onto the service elevator. They all rode silently to the fiftieth floor, where security walked them right to their room. Charlotte saw William slip the guy some money before he whipped out the room key and showed them inside.
“Your home away from home for the next week,” William said as Charlotte slowly walked in.
“Whoa,” she whispered as she drank in the luxurious accommodations. It was a four-room suite complete with a master bedroom, a smaller guest room, living room, kitchen, and two bathrooms. The scent of fresh-cut flowers eradicated the stench of garbage from Charlotte’s memory, and the entire room was ablaze with the sunshine that poured in from the floor-to-ceiling windows that took up one wall. Oversized graphic artwork dominated many of the walls, which were wrapped in pale beige wallpaper with flecks of gold. She could hear David and William murmuring to each other as she walked over the window and pressed her forehead against the glass and looked down. People scurried around on the street below like ants at a picnic.
“Charlotte?”
She turned at the sound of her name, still dizzy from the room.
“Yes?”
William was standing by the door. “I’m taking off. Great to meet you and I’ll schedule you in for drink so we can talk smack about David behind his back.”
David jabbed William on the shoulder while Charlotte laughed and waved. “See you soon.”
William closed the door, and Charlotte stood in the ce
nter of the room, her jaw still on the floor.
“God, I feel like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. Except for the hooker thing.” Charlotte continued to explore the suite. “I mean, this room is really something --- I think it’s bigger than my entire house,” she yelled from the guest room.
David grinned as he sat on the edge of the couch and watched her. “Even though it was a pain to get here, right?”
Charlotte walked to David and threw her arms around his neck. “Yeah, well, except for that.” She kissed his nose. David dove down and picked up Charlotte behind her knees. In spite of herself, she squealed as he ran toward the master bedroom and dropped her on the bed. She closed her eyes as she sank into the down comforter.
“My God, it’s like falling into a cloud,” she said as she spread her arms and legs out to either side of her. She yawned and closed her eyes and felt David lie down next to her. He began to trace her lips with his finger.
“Tired?” he whispered.
“You’re not?”
“I’m beyond tired, and I have to be up at dawn.”
Charlotte’s eyes flicked open. “Dawn?”
David leaned his head against the palm of his hand. “You don’t have to go with me. You can stay here and enjoy the hotel or take the car and driver and see some sights. Or,” David leaned down and pelted her face with kisses. “You can go with me and sleep in my trailer. That way I could come and see you on my breaks and wake you up with my lips.” He nibbled on her ear.
