Hollywood Lights

by Lana Xavier

  “Could’ve been worse,” he said indifferently. “Word travels fast. Especially when it’s considered a scandal.”

  “Did... Did anyone say anything?”

  “Directly to me? No. But there were enough hushed conversations going on every time I walked into a room for me to know what they were talking about.”

  For whatever reason, I felt like this was partially my fault. I knew it was irrational, but I still felt the need to apologize. After all, at least I had the option to hide in my trailer all day. Caleb didn’t have that luxury.

  “I’m sorry.”

  He stopped what he was doing to look at me, eyebrows raised with mild surprise. “Don’t be. I’m not.”

  I joined him on the couch and he popped the caps off both of our beers as I silently studied him.

  “You’re not?”

  “Hell no. I’m used to this kind of thing. People talk shit about each other all the time. I just get it on a grander scale because I’m a celebrity. It’s no big deal to me,” he finished with a shrug.

  “So you don’t worry about your reputation?” I asked, wondering how the hell someone could possibly get as much confidence as he seemed to have. Did he really not care what people thought about him? Or was it all just a show?

  “Sabrina, I think you damn well know I don’t give a shit about my reputation,” he said with a chuckle, taking a long swallow of his beer before grabbing a slice of pizza and putting an end to this conversation for the time being.

  We ate in a comfortable silence and I used the break in conversation to attempt to wrap my mind around the idea of not caring what others thought. Could I ever be able to do it? It sounded like life would be so much simpler if I could, but I was all too aware of the meaning of the expression ‘easier said than done’. I wondered how long it took Caleb to become so cavalier.

  I wanted to ask, but I sensed that now wasn’t a good time to do so. After he finished eating, he wordlessly went into my bathroom to clean up and returned to my side right as I was popping the final bit of crust into my mouth.

  “Was it good?” he asked as he closed the pizza box as set it aside.

  “Mm-hmm,” I hummed as I finished chewing.

  “The place I ordered from didn’t have cheesecake. I did ask though.”

  After I rinsed down the food with a swallow of beer, I gave him a disbelieving smile. “I can’t believe you remembered that.”

  “I remember all of that night. It was the most unusual date I’d ever had.”

  I paused and stared at him hard for a long moment before I licked my lips and asked, “Are you familiar with the phrase ‘Freudian slip’?

  Caleb frowned and nodded. “Yeah. Why?”

  “Because I could’ve sworn I just heard you refer to that night as a date after you so emphatically denied it being one before.”

  Our gazes clashed together and he swallowed hard, aware that he had been caught.

  “So?”

  Now was the best opportunity I’d ever get to ask this question. “So, is that was this is?” I asked as I gestured between the two of us. “Are we... dating?”

  For the first time ever, I saw the tiniest blush rise to Caleb Bradshaw’s cheeks. The sight was nearly enough to make me laugh with glee, but I managed to bite it back when I noticed how uncertain he looked.

  “I don’t know... I guess? Isn’t that what you wanted? A relationship?”

  That was definitely not what I wanted to hear.

  “Caleb, I do want a relationship, but I don’t want you to feel forced into it. If the only reason you’re here is because of that, then—”

  Caleb cut me off by gently slapping a palm over my mouth. I frowned and tried to bite him, but he just laughed and pulled his hand away.

  “Stop talking. That’s not why I’m here. I’m just a little nervous. I never date and my longest relationships have all been fake. It’s just... this is new to me, alright? I’m going to screw shit up once in a while. Just ignore me when I talk.”

  It wasn’t perfect, but that was what I needed to hear. I smiled and leaned over to kiss him, hoping it would help ease some of his nerves.

  “I think you’re doing fine. But I won’t be surprised if you screw up more often than you’re letting on.”

  “Very funny,” he murmured against my lips. “I suppose we’ll find out soon enough, yeah?”

  I hummed in agreement before I swung my leg over his lap and straddled him. Our lips locked together like magnets and his hands freely roamed up my back, taking my shirt with them. He pulled away from the kiss just long enough to get the garment over my head, then tugged me back down to kiss him again.

  Even with all the bullshit that was going on, it was still incredibly easy for me to lose myself in his embrace. He unhooked my bra and slid it down my arms before tweaking my nipples with the rough pads of his fingertips.

  When I moaned into his mouth, he pulled away and lifted me up by my waist, bringing my breasts high enough for him to lick and suck until I was desperately grinding down on his lap.

  I looked down and my eyes locked immediately on his as he watched me. He pulled away from my breast with a wet pop and grinned.

  “Stand up.”

  I backed up and stood on wobbly legs, embarrassed to find how turned on I was even though he had barely touched me. He scooted forward on the couch and slid my pants down my hips, taking my panties with them.

  As he lifted his own hips to slide down his jeans and boxer briefs he asked, “Have I ever told you how fucking beautiful you are?”

  I couldn’t answer because I honestly couldn’t remember. Whether he ever said the words or not didn’t matter because I felt them every time he looked at me.

  Luckily, the question seemed to be rhetorical. He pulled me back to his lap and said, “Because you are.”

  He helped me get his t-shirt off before he leaned back against the couch and placed his hands behind his head, a smug smile on his lips.

  “I want you to ride me.”

  “Condom?”

  “Back pocket.”

  I reached for his jeans on the floor and dug out the packet. I tore it open with my teeth and smiled when his grin got even wider. He licked his lips as I brought it down to his hard cock and slowly rolled it down. I never knew putting on a condom could feel so... erotic.

  When he was sheathed in the latex, he gripped my hips hand and tugged me closer to him, making me straddle his hips. I took hold of his thick member and guided it to my entrance, sliding the head against my clit a few times before I finally sunk down and took him inside.

  Once he bottomed out in me, he threw his head back and let out a harsh breath and I shuddered as my body both welcomed and protested the invasion. I wondered if I would ever get used to his size and kind of hoped I didn’t. As corny as it was, it felt like our first time together every single time he slid inside.

  “Move, baby,” he impatiently grunted as he tightened his grip on my hips and started to grind me on his cock.

  I slapped his hands away and leaned forward to brace myself on his chest. He smirked up at me as he settled his hands back under his head and I mentally resolved to wipe the cocky look right off his face.

  I wasn’t entirely confident in my abilities on top, but I shoved away every shred of doubt that popped up in my mind and focused on my task. I used my knees and the leverage I had against his chest to slowly begin rising off of him, holding myself up so only the head of his cock was in me, before slamming down hard and fast.

  Caleb’s jaw clenched as he fought back the moan that wanted to come out and I repeated the motion, circling my raised hips as a tease. I watched the muscles of his throat flexing as he fought the urge to speak, letting me hold all the control this time.

  When I was satisfied with my teasing, I slammed my hips back down, grinding against his pelvis and moaning when I felt the friction on my clitoris. It sent small sparks of electricity shooting through my core and I gave up teasing him in favor of bringin
g myself more pleasure.

  Forgetting all about Caleb for the time being, I rhythmically ground back and forth, pulling off only a couple inches with each stroke. My eyes were sealed tight as I focused solely on the pleasure rippling through my body and rapidly growing, so when Caleb gripped the back of my neck and pulled me down, it surprised the hell out of me.

  My eyes flew open and our gazes clashed, his pupils blown wide with lust as he watched me. He seemed to know and understand exactly what I was doing, that this moment was only about me.

  The bigger surprise was how much he appeared to be enjoying it.

  “That’s it, baby. Use my cock to get yourself off,” he whispered, his breaths coming out in harsh pants. “Let me feel how much you love this.”

  My mouth fell open and a long, low moan came tearing out of my throat before I could even attempt to stop it. I moved my hips rapidly back and forth, taking myself further to the edge and just barely hanging on to sanity when climax finally washed over me.

  Caleb’s surprised moan broke through the haze of my orgasm and I allowed him to maneuver me forward to lean against his chest. With my hips higher in the air, he began thrusting up into me and I muffled my pleasured shout into his shoulder.

  “Fuck, I love when you come on me, girl. Never felt anything so fucking good,” he panted breathlessly as he drove his cock into me at a brutal speed.

  Between his hard, fast thrusts and his whispered words, it felt like my orgasm never ended. It simply glided from one to another, making me writhe around helplessly against his chest as my body attempted to handle the almost overwhelming pleasure. He wrapped his arms around my back and held my shuddering body to his, breathing heavily into my ear as he fucked me.

  It was too much. Being so close, coming so hard back to back—it was too much for both my mind and body to handle.

  I turned my cheek to face his ear and whispered, “Caleb... come. Come for me.”

  There was a brief pause of his hips—obviously startled by my request and equally surprised when his body obeyed my command. He inhaled sharply before pulling my hips down on his, burying his cock deep in me as it pulsed and released.

  I bounced on his pulsating cock a few times, using the last bit of energy I had left to milk his orgasm for all it was worth and I was rewarded with a tortured groan of bliss.

  After a few minutes of relaxing, he easily lifted me off him and laid me on his side. My eyes closed automatically as my exhausted body demanded sleep. The last thing I was aware of was him rolling off the couch and standing up.

  I wanted to open my mouth and plead for him to stay, but I was just too tired. The moment Caleb flipped the light off, I fell asleep with a nagging sense of dread lingering in my stomach.

  * * *

  Chapter Twelve

  When the door to my trailer burst open the next morning to reveal a frazzled looking Nathan, I remembered why I had been dreading the morning light right before I had fallen asleep.

  Before he could even open his mouth to apologize for the intrusion, Annabelle’s posh British voice called, “Everyone decent? Too bad,” as she breezed into my trailer like she had every right in the world to be there.

  Caleb didn’t looked unnerved in the slightest. It made me cringe a little to think that this was likely a common occurrence between the two.

  “I didn’t think you’d get here so early,” his sleep thickened voice rumbled as he rolled over to grab his jeans from the floor and tug them on.

  “After a scandal this big? I hopped on the first flight out.”

  Her tone was airy and she was inspecting her fingernails closely as she said it, which only served to make me even more suspicious of her being an accomplice to Marlena. Maybe Caleb did bring in more money, but Marlena was surely an easier client to control.

  And something told me that to a woman like Annabelle— control was more important than outright cash.

  “So, you’re the little trollop who’s causing all the fuss?”

  I silently seethed, wanting nothing more than to slap the shit out of her and screech, ‘We’ve met before, you idiot!’

  Was I really that forgettable or were people in this industry just total cunts?

  Before I could open my mouth to find out, Caleb growled out an angry warning.

  “Don’t call her that. This isn’t her fault.”

  Annabelle finally looked up from her nails, glancing from Caleb to me a few times before finally letting her gaze settle on her client.

  Her face was devoid of an expression as she plainly said, “You’re right. It’s not her fault. It’s yours.”

  Caleb let out a self-deprecating snort. “Alert the media—Caleb fucked up again. It’s not like people don’t expect this kind of shit from me by now.”

  Annabelle was still eerily calm and it unnerved me. “Perhaps, but you’ve really pushed it this time. Not only have you damaged your own reputation, you’ve drug Marlena and your little girlfriend into it as well. This is a problem.”

  I was watching their interaction so closely that I nearly jumped when I noticed Nathan creeping up beside me, reaching his hand out to pass me my discarded clothing. I was still clutching the sheet to my chest and keeping my body covered, but I couldn’t help but blush at the fact that so many people were around while I was so obviously naked.

  “Thanks,” I mumbled quietly before I lied back and tried to get redressed beneath the covers while simultaneously listening to the conversation between Caleb and his publicist.

  “So... what? A public apology? You going to put me on probation?” Caleb asked with a small chuckle.

  “It’s not funny, Caleb,” Annabelle snapped, her voice cold as she started losing her patience. “You violated your contract.”

  “I did what?”

  “Your contract. The one you signed agreeing to remain out of the public eye with any women besides Marlena until the movie released.”

  Caleb’s brow furrowed and he folded his arms across his bare chest. “That’s bullshit. I didn’t sign anything that—”

  “Oh yes, you did. Maybe you should start actually reading the things you sign, Caleb,” Annabelle hissed. “Because the studio faxed me a copy of the contract last night with your signature on it.”

  He rapidly deflated, plopping down on the edge of the bed and burying his face in his hands. “Alight, fine. What do I need to do to fix this?”

  Her eyes flickered to me for a brief moment and I could practically feel her distaste. I hardened my expression and gave her an equally hateful glare.

  “I’m talking with the studio to see if they would be alright with a public make-up. You would admit to making a mistake and say that the two of you are in couple’s therapy and are going even stronger than before or some equally dreadful nonsense.”

  “I don’t—”

  “Shut it, Caleb. You will do this and you will stop seeing this woman if you want to remain in business with me. It’s causing my reputation just as much damage as yours right now. Are we clear?”

  There was a brief silence as Caleb considered her words and I felt terror grip my heart at the idea of not seeing him just because Annabelle ordered it. I was convinced that she played a part in this scandal getting out.

  Marlena was an evil bitch, but it was pretty clear that Annabelle was a master manipulator. Marlena couldn’t have come up with this one on her own.

  “Caleb! Are. We. Clear?”

  He finally looked up at me and I felt my heart stutter at the look of sadness on his face. So, this was it. Broken up with before we even started actually dating.

  “Sabrina—”

  I held up my hand and shook my head, doing my best to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill. I didn’t want this evil woman to see the pain she and Marlena had caused me.

  “Don’t. Just go,” I forced out, breathing a sigh of relief when I managed to keep my voice steady.

  He stood up and with every step further away from me he took, it felt as if h
is feet were walking on my heart. Stomping it right into the ground.

  Annabelle smiled, obviously pleased with the outcome, and beckoned Caleb to follow her out. He stopped near the doorway, lingering awkwardly for a moment and sparing me a last glance.

  I couldn’t help but to look up at him and when I did, a traitorous tear went rolling down my cheek. His face hardened immediately and I closed my eyes, completely embarrassed by how emotionally involved I already was in our quasi-relationship.

  “Annabelle.”

  My eyes popped open when I heard his voice and I watched as the woman reappeared in my doorway, frowning at Caleb.

  “What is it?”

  “I’m not doing it. I won’t stop seeing her.”

  “Excuse me?” she hissed.

  As Annabelle looked prepared to rip out Caleb’s heart and eat it, I was trying to fight back the urge to run to him and throw my arms around his neck. My heart soared in my chest as he stood up to the woman that I was sure had played a part in this mess, even though doing so might cost him quite a bit.

  “If there isn’t a way to fix this without Sabrina being collateral damage, then I don’t want to fix it. I... She means a lot to me,” he explained, cutting himself off before he could say more.

  “She means a lot to you?” Annabelle repeated dryly. “Is that so? Does she mean more to you than your career? Because that’s what you’re giving up for this trollop.”

  “Don’t fucking call her that!” Caleb shouted angrily before taking a deep breath to calm himself down. “I think that’s enough, Annabelle. You’re fired.”

  “Me? I’m fired? Fuck you, Caleb! I’ve spent years cleaning up your bloody messes and for what? To be cast aside when things don’t magically go your way? I don’t think so. You’re fired!”

  Caleb shook his head and ground his teeth together before responding. “You know what? I don’t really give a shit who fired who. Just get the fuck out and stay away from me. We’re through here.”

  Annabelle stared at him for a long moment, her shock well hidden behind her mask of anger, but showing just enough for me to feel a smug sense of satisfaction. He was choosing me over her and it was pissing her off.