Casting Lacey
Page 21
Knowing Lacey would be with her through this was the only thing holding Quinn together. The truth was, she hadn’t really done anything beyond the typical kissing scene and then skipping to the morning after scene. This, what was about to happen, would be her first real love scene. And it would be with a woman. She took another deep breath, trying to calm the butterflies in her stomach. “I do trust you.”
“Then stop trying to push me away. We’re in this together. If there’s tension between us, it’ll show up on camera.”
Lacey was right. Quinn had been in her own head for days, worried about all of this. She put her hands on Lacey’s waist, resting their foreheads together. “I know. And I’m sorry. I just have so much on my mind right now.”
“Let it all go. Just for an hour.”
Quinn nodded. “I’ll try.”
“Also, you can’t be mad at me after. You were furious with me after the kissing scene and if your panties are wet an hour from now, you can’t take it out on me.”
Quinn suppressed a giggle. “Okay. I won’t take it out on you, but eight people will be watching us, so I don’t think that’ll be a problem.” Yes, Quinn had counted them. She knew exactly who would be on the closed set.
Lacey opened the trailer door. “Oh, no. You’re going to get so lost in my touch they’re all going to say, where’s Quinn? We can’t see her! And then, they’ll look up and find you floating on cloud nine.”
Quinn leaned in as they walked to the set. “So, you’re even arrogant in bed? Are you also a screamer?”
“Would you like to find out?”
“And give you the satisfaction of saying you’d slept with me? I don’t think so.”
“You’re forgetting about the gag order in my contract…and that’s not the reason anyway.”
“Oh, please enlighten me,” Quinn said, her demeanor seeming much lighter than it was a minute ago.
Lacey tucked her hands in the pockets of her robe and straightened her shoulders. “You, Quinn Kincaid, are scared to death that if you let your guard down for even one second, you’ll fall madly in love with me.”
“HA!” Quinn huffed. “You’re a hot mess. I couldn’t possibly…”
“Well, this hot mess is about to climb on top of you and make you a fucking lesbian icon, so you’re welcome.” Lacey opened the stage door. “And really, Quinn? A hot mess?”
***
J.J. crouched down where Lacey and Quinn were kneeling on the bed, facing each other. “Okay ladies, you know the choreography. We’re going to let you two do your thing and then we’ll make adjustments on the next take. Quinn, make sure you put the cast over your head once Lacey’s pushed you down on the bed.”
“Got it.” Quinn sat in the middle of the bed with her legs out in front of her.
Lacey straddled her legs and then reached back and adjusted her lace panties, making sure they were sitting evenly on her butt. She took Quinn’s left hand and placed it on her ass. “Lower? Higher?” she asked.
“Perfect,” J.J. told her. “Now, Quinn can you put your cast hand on Lacey’s hip? Just rest it there gently.”
“Yeah, okay. Got it.” Quinn stared at her fingertips, resting on Lacey’s bare skin. Even though the fake cast made it awkward, she managed a small caress with her thumb on Lacey’s stomach, right above her panty line. She swallowed hard and looked up, trying to pretend her other hand wasn’t on Lacey’s ass.
Lacey gave her a wink. “Ready, baby?”
“I’m not your baby,” Quinn whispered as she rested her forehead on Lacey’s chest.
“You will be after this. Ready, J.J.!”
“We’re rolling, people!” J.J. gave a nod to the assistant director. “Same as last time,” he said, indicating he’d like to keep rolling beyond what the scene called for.
“Action!”
Jordan raised her head and looked up at Selena as her fingers slid up her backside under her camisole. Selena put her hands on Jordan’s shoulders and urged her back onto the pillow. She ran her fingers down Jordan’s chest and grazed them lightly over her tits, then down to her stomach. Selena pushed Jordan’s tank top up a few inches and caressed her stomach as her eyes raked over Jordan’s now hardened nipples.
Jordan reached up and slid her hand into Selena’s hair, pulling her down so their lips were inches apart. Their eyes met for a few seconds before Selena leaned in just enough for their lips to lightly touch. Jordan pulled Selena into a gentle kiss that quickly turned passionate. Selena let out an almost imperceptible moan as Jordan’s hand ran up her thigh and onto her ass. Selena broke the kiss and worked her way over to Jordan’s ear. Jordan closed her eyes and breathed heavily as Selena sucked on her earlobe.
Selena worked her way down Jordan’s chest and bit her hardened nipple, making Jordan gasp. Jordan’s eyes shuttered closed when she felt Selena circle her belly button with her tongue. She moaned and raised her other arm above her head, resting it on the pillow as Selena bit her through her panties.
“And, cut!” J.J.’s voice cracked ever so slightly.
Lacey sat up on her knees. “My ass was hanging out. I could feel it.”
“Don’t worry about it. The camera was on Quinn…and goddamn,” J.J. said, and then whistled.
Quinn sat up and covered her face with her hands. “I feel like I’m shooting porn.”
“Most of it will be cut, so don’t worry about it,” J.J. told her. “We do still have a little thing called Standards & Practices.” Apparently, J.J. lacked confidence that the in-house censors would sign off on airing panty bites.
Quinn uncovered her eyes and shook her head at Lacey. “Really…with the…” she said as she pointed at her panties. That was certainly not in the script. The action was supposed to stop at her belly button.
Lacey shrugged. “What can I say, I’m a hot mess.”
***
Lacey waited in the Range Rover, nervously tapping her thumbs on the steering wheel. They’d done three takes of the love scene, each one a little hotter, a little more intense than the last. She liked the last one best, when she felt Quinn’s fingernails dig into her back.
The car door opened and Lacey held her breath, wondering if she’d be ripped into or ignored or even yelled at, like she had been right after the kissing scene. Her concerned eyes scanned Quinn, looking for clues.
“What?” Quinn put her seatbelt on and took her phone out of her purse.
“Nothing.” Lacey shifted the car into reverse.
“I have some calls to make, do you mind?”
“Have I ever minded?” She eyed Quinn again, but her expression was neutral, leaving no clues as to her state of mind. “Will you check the traffic first?”
“Already on it. Normal. Red everywhere. Just take the usual route.”
So. They were going to ignore it. Just not talk about it. Not mention the fact that their sexual chemistry was off the charts. Fine, Lacey thought. I’ll go to my happy place while you make your phone calls.
Turned out Lacey’s new happy place involved a lot of fucking in the kitchen. Taking Quinn Kincaid up against the fridge. Not Jordan. Quinn.
From behind.
As Lacey walked into the kitchen and set her purse on the counter, she paused, looking at the fridge. The kitschy little palm tree magnet was where it always was, not laying on the floor in several pieces. The photo of Quinn on her mountain bike wasn’t askew, and there were no palm prints on the shiny stainless steel.
“What’s wrong?”
“Huh?” Lacey quickly opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water. “Nothing.”
“You were staring at the fridge.”
“It’s late. Do you still want dinner?” She stood there with the fridge open, drinking the cold water, waiting for an answer and trying to cast the graphic images of Quinn’s naked body writhing under her touch from her mind. It would take Lacey about 4.8 seconds for her to climax if she touched herself right now. “A snack?”
Quinn took Lacey’s arm and t
urned her around. She pulled her away from the fridge and closed the door. “It’s fine. I’m not freaking out this time. I’m not going to lash out at you or whatever you’re worried is going to happen. We did our job. We did it well. And I’ve never felt more comfortable with a co-star than I do with you. Okay?”
Lacey nodded. “Okay.”
Quinn studied her for a few seconds. “You still look worried.”
“I’m not worried. I’m just…” Trying really hard not to fall in love with you. She took a deep breath. “You’re right. I was worried you’d be mad at me again. But if you’re good, I’m good.”
“I’m good.” After an awkward moment of silence, Quinn tore her eyes from Lacey and backed away. “I’m tired. I think I’ll just go to bed.”
“How about a soak in the hot tub first?” What the hell what Lacey doing? The last thing she needed was to see Quinn in a bikini, but she didn’t want the night to end this way, in awkward silence. “I was on my knees all day,” she quipped. “I could use a soak.”
Quinn chuckled. “Yeah, I guess you were…hovering over me…a lot.”
“Hovering?” Lacey opened the fridge again. “I topped you like a pro.”
“See you in the hot tub, professional topper.”
Lacey turned and smiled, feeling relieved that their banter was back. Her eyes lingered on Quinn’s ass until she was almost to the stairs and then she shouted, “Finally, I get the respect I’ve always deserved!”
***
Quinn closed her bedroom door and locked it. She went into her bathroom and closed that door too. She leaned against the sink and unzipped her jeans. Sliding her hand into her panties, she whimpered at the initial touch.
She thought it would matter that people were watching their love scene. She’d worried she’d be self-conscious and mechanical because of it. That feeling went away after the first take. By the third take, Quinn had completely stopped caring about anyone other than Lacey. Having her hands on Lacey’s body was everything she’d imagined it would be. She was soft and curvy, and her ass – God, her ass felt so good in Quinn’s hand.
It had taken all of her self-control not to get completely lost in the moment and run her hand up Lacey’s side to those tits that were hanging over her, just begging to be touched. God. She’d wanted every inch of that beautiful woman in her mouth.
Quinn’s eyes shuttered closed as she imagined herself pushing Lacey’s bra straps down, freeing those gorgeous tits and taking one of them into her mouth. She slid a finger into her folds and felt her swollen clit. Her breath quickened and so did her hand. She moved in circles, pressing against herself. Faster and faster until she crumpled over as the orgasm overwhelmed her. She whimpered as she turned and gripped the counter, trying to regain her balance.
The orgasm hit her far quicker than she thought it would. Or frankly, than she thought she could. She turned the water on and washed her hands, catching a quick look at herself in the mirror. “Goddamn,” she whispered with a smile. Then she imagined Lacey’s sarcastic commentary. “I knew it! You totally turn yourself on!” She giggled quietly as she pulled her bikini out of a drawer.
Lacey was waiting for her in the hot tub. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah,” Quinn couldn’t help but notice Lacey’s eyes had locked onto her tits. She took her time stepping down into the water. Instead of sitting, she leaned back, resting her arms on the edge and leaving the bubbles to bounce around her tits. “Are you going to share that?” She pointed at the cold beer in Lacey’s hand.
“Here.” Lacey offered Quinn her beer, but she didn’t stretch out her arm, making Quinn come to her if she really wanted it.
Quinn did. She stood right in front of Lacey and took a long sip, her tits barely inches away from Lacey’s mouth. It wouldn’t take much. One bad step and she’d trip her way into Lacey’s arms. She’d apologize, of course, but she’d hold onto Lacey’s shoulders and not move, like they do in the movies. Lacey’s hands would stay on her body, the beer bottle floating among the bubbles. “Are you okay?” Lacey would ask, always worried about Quinn’s arm. Quinn would nod. And then, she’d sit on Lacey’s lap. No, straddle. She’d straddle Lacey’s lap. God. Lacey’s hands would find their way to her ass. God, Quinn. Don’t. Do. It.
“You just drank my entire beer.”
Quinn took the bottle from her mouth and inspected it. “Shit. I did.”
“While I watched.”
Quinn leaned forward and set the bottle next to Lacey’s head. “Was it as good for you as it was for me?”
“Almost.”
Quinn’s movement stilled. Does she know? Could she see it in my eyes, what I was thinking? No. No way.
“A real friend would get me another beer.”
Quinn rolled her eyes. “Whatever. You just want to watch my ass.” She stepped out of the hot tub and sauntered back into the house.
“Yep.” Lacey tipped the bottle over her open mouth, just to make sure there wasn’t any beer left. Nothing came out. “Damn, woman.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
A few weeks later, Lacey walked into the main house, phone in hand. “Quinn?” She didn’t get a reply, so she ran upstairs into Quinn’s bedroom. “Quinn?” She didn’t find her in the office either, so she went to the garage to see if her car was there. She opened the door and found Quinn wiping down her mountain bike.
“Good morning,” Quinn said with a smile.
A look of hurt washed over Lacey’s face. Quinn’s shoes were muddy. The bike was muddy. She even had mud stuck to the ends of her hair. Why in the hell would Quinn go riding after it had rained the day before? And why wouldn’t she invite Lacey along? That’s what the extra bike was for, after all.
“What’s wrong?” Quinn asked.
“You went without me.”
“Yeah, I um…I woke up needing to do something.”
“I’m supposed to go with you, Quinn.”
Quinn tossed the rag aside. “I know. And you will. But you can’t go where I usually ride. You don’t have the experience.”
Lacey threw her hands in the air. “How hard can it be?”
Quinn chuckled. “When was the last time you got on a bike of any kind?”
Lacey pursed her lips together. “Hmm...” It had been so long, she couldn’t actually remember the last time.
“Riding on dirt trails is very different from renting a bike and riding through central park. I’ve been doing it for ten years and I still managed to smash my arm.”
“So, the extra bike was a pointless gift? How am I supposed to learn to ride if you leave me at home?” Lacey was finding it hard to be truly mad at Quinn because she looked so damned adorable in her tight little biking shorts. “Huh?” she added for effect.
“I promise to take you next time,” Quinn said.
“Okay, but you can’t come in the house like that. You’re filthy.” Lacey bit her lip, trying not to smile. Would Quinn take the bait and undress right here, in front of her?
“I’ll use the shower out back. Oh, and can you bring me a copy of your contract when you have a second?”
“What?” Lacey was confused by the request. “Why?”
“I want to check on the part where apparently, I’m paying you to nag.”
“Oooh, bitchy. But don’t complain to me when your arm is aching and you can’t sleep.” It didn’t get past Lacey that Quinn winced when she tried to pull her shoe off with her right hand.
“Okay, Dr. Fake Covington.” Quinn got both of her shoes off and looked up to find Lacey walking away. “Hey, Lacey?”
“Yeah?”
“I really do appreciate your concern, and if you’re up for it, I’d love to take you out to dinner tonight. Maybe make up for leaving you in the dust this morning?”
There was only one reason Quinn would want to go out to dinner. They’d hardly been out at all since the incident at the bar, usually ordering take-out or Lacey cooking at home. “A paparazzi dinner?”
“Papar
azzi, and the best bottle of wine I can find.”
Lacey bit her thumbnail while she considered it. “I’ll need something fabulous to wear.”
“Of course.”
“So will you.”
Quinn smiled. “I have a closet full of fabulous things.”
“What’s the goal?”
“Now that the first kiss episode has aired, Jack thinks it’s time for a public display of affection.”
Lacey leaned on the Maserati, looking worried. “That should make things interesting with....” She trailed off.
“Dani?” Quinn helped her out.
“I’ve been putting her off…making excuses…”
“Meaning, you haven’t told her it’s really over? Which means it must not be really over.”
“It’s not easy, okay? I feel like I’ve loved her forever.” Lacey couldn’t bring herself to say the words, it’s really over, to Dani. They weren’t communicating every day – Dani was busy with school and Lacey barely had time to think about anything but work – but they did still stay in touch via text.
“It was easy for Dani. She dumped you, remember?”
Lacey folded her arms, needing protection. “Yeah, you like to remind me of that fact every chance you get.”
“Just keeping it real.”
“Says the woman with the fake girlfriend.”
Quinn turned around and took off her muddy t-shirt. She was about to remove her shorts when she stopped and turned back around. “You want some reality? Fine. I went on a ride this morning because I’m scared shitless right now. I’m scared to take this coming out thing all the way, and I thought a ride would calm my nerves. I took the hardest route, and now, my arm is killing me, but I didn’t want to tell you that because you’ll rip me a new one for being so stupid. And, so gutless.”
Surprised by the admission, Lacey stared at Quinn, standing there in just her sports bra and shorts. Obviously feeling self-conscious, Quinn draped her shirt over her chest. Lacey snorted. “Like I haven’t seen you in a bra before.” She put up her hand to stop whatever retort Quinn had for her. “Just promise me you won’t get on that bike without me, and I won’t say a word about anyone being stupid.”