Starshine

by Melody Winter

  “It’s very—”

  “Pink!” Alex exclaimed as he opened the cupboard over the sink. He shut the doors and turned toward another cabinet. “Ah-ha, here you go. Any of this any good for you?”

  I stood next to him, seeing a sealed box of tampons in the cupboard. “They’re fine,” I said, reaching for the box.

  “Anything else you need?”

  I glanced at the rest of the items in the cabinet, sniggering at the tube of haemorrhoid cream. “No, there’s nothing else that I need in here.”

  I headed out of the bathroom, desperate to get away from the overbearing pink.

  “You should get rid of all her stuff, Alex. There’s no need to keep it.” It was strange that he’d kept it. I’d have thrown it out in the street on top of her stupid head as she was leaving.

  “I know. I’ve just sort of left it.”

  “It’s almost as if you’re hanging on to her things for a reason, as if you’re hoping she’ll come back,” I added tentatively.

  “Fuck, no! I never want her back.”

  “But all this!” I glanced around the room. There were clothes still hanging from the wardrobe, shoes dotted around the floor, and jewellery on the dressing table. “Are you sure that you aren’t still in love with her? Just a little bit?”

  “Ella, please.” He stepped in front of me and held my face in both his hands. “The day that she told me she’d killed our baby, was the day I fell completely out of love with her. I have no feelings for her that way, none at all.” He kissed my lips and then pulled me into a hug.

  “Okay,” I said.

  “Now, didn’t we have some food to eat?”

  “Yes,” I replied, heading to the door. “Come on, I’m starving.”

  We left Amy’s room, crossed the landing, and entered Alex’s room.

  The two silver domes were still on the bed, silently calling out to me to free the delicious meal underneath.

  “What have you cooked for us?” I asked.

  Alex’s jaw twitched as he knelt on the bed next to the tray. He reached for the handles on the top of the domes.

  “This is all very grand, you know,” I said. “I feel like there should be a drum roll or something.”

  I settled on the bed, mimicking his position. When he lifted the silver domes I burst out laughing, as did Alex. The grand reveal showed two plates of cheese on toast.

  I wanted to speak, but couldn’t. It was several seconds before either one of us could talk. I wiped away the tears that had fallen down my cheeks. “Cheese on toast!” I shrieked.

  “My favourite.” Alex shrugged, and feigned a look of surprise. “How dare you laugh at my masterpiece?”

  My shoulders shook as I giggled. “I dread to think what’s for desert.”

  Alex raised his eyebrows. “Desert! You never said you wanted desert?”

  “Well, of course I do. I’m female.”

  “That I had noticed.”

  My giggles swiftly stopped as a serious look crossed Alex’s face. “I’m going to miss you so much when I’m in Los Angeles,” he said.

  “No, you won’t. You’ll be glad to get away from my madness. And you’ve only just met me, remember. You’ll not miss me that much.” I was sure he’d be too busy to miss me. I, on the other hand would be stuck in a studio with Amy and Rowan, and dealing with the photographers outside my house. I’d miss him like crazy.

  “I will miss you,” he said. “I know I’ve only known you for a short time. My feelings should scare the shit out of me, but for some reason they don’t. It actually feels quite . . . nice.”

  “I understand. I feel the same.”

  “Do you know, Ella?” His hand reached across to mine. “I know I told you this before, but seriously, you’ve made me laugh so much. I honestly think I’d forgotten how to. You’ve changed me already, and for the better, I hope.”

  I nodded. “We had an agreement, I promised to help you. But I don’t think either of us expected this.”

  “I didn’t think I even wanted this. But look at us? I can’t imagine things any other way now.”

  I breathed in deeply. “Neither can I.”

  “Hey!” he exclaimed, making me jump. “And we haven’t even slept together yet!”

  I rolled my eyes at his remark. “Eat your cheese, Alex, it’s getting cold.”

  I hadn’t realised just how hungry I was, and managed to quickly eat Alex’s skilfully created meal. The wine washed down the tanginess of the cheese, and we had remained on the bed, drinking the wine, after Alex had moved the tray onto the floor.

  “Now,” he said, his eyes lighting up with mischief. “I think we’ve waited long enough to familiarise ourselves with each other. Would you mind lying down so that I can give you my undivided attention?”

  “With pleasure,” I replied, already shifting backward up the bed.

  “Lie down,” he said. “I intend to complete a thorough investigation.”

  I giggled, doing as he asked. But my amusement soon stopped when he crawled over the bed toward me. Like earlier, he held himself above me, his arms supporting his weight.

  His clean-shaven face inched close, and I shut my eyes, expecting his lips to meet with my own. But they didn’t. I felt the softness of his hair against my ear and his lips upon my neck. I tipped my head to the side, giving him even greater access to my skin, and as he slowly kissed up my neck toward my ear I let out a whimper. His smile pulled against my skin before he resumed kissing along my jaw.

  I lifted my hands from my sides, unable to keep my emotions under control for any longer, and reached for his shoulders. I wanted to feel the weight of him on top of me. But he stayed where he was, ignoring my attempt to pull him closer.

  Bending his head to my neck again, he trailed his tongue downward before running tender kisses along the base of my neck.

  I breathed deeply, relaxing in his arms, enjoying his attention. But it was only fair that I gave him some of my attention. I slipped my fingers under the back of the elasticated waist of his pyjama bottoms, wanting to reach lower, hoping that I’d get to play with things currently out of reach and hidden by the cotton fabric.

  I scratched my nails lightly across the skin just under the covering of the pyjamas.

  “You really do like my ass, don’t you?” Alex said, his lips moving against my skin.

  “I certainly do,” I replied seriously. I mean, what girl wouldn’t like it? We’d been treated to quick flashes of it in one of his films, but it was so quick that even the pause button on the DVD player struggled to catch it.

  His face was suddenly above mine, and he gently lowered his body so that he was lying on top of me with his upper body weight still supported on his elbows.

  “I wonder what else of mine you’ll like.”

  I pulled my hands out of his pyjamas and let them snake up his back. “I think you’ll struggle to disappoint me.”

  “Is that so?” He settled his lower body settling against mine as I relaxed against him.

  “What are you planning?” I asked, wriggling against the hardness that was resting in just the right place.

  He raised his brow at my action. “Well, not too much tonight, remember.” He inclined his head toward the box of tampons on the bedside table.

  I sighed. I’d forgotten about my impending visitor.

  “I best pop to the loo,” I said, hating my body for its inconvenient timing.

  Alex kissed my lips before sliding to my side.

  “You do realise that once we have the green-light for things, we’ll not be leaving this bed for a week,” he said, resting on his elbow.

  I smirked. If I had my way it’d be for more than a week.

  I shuffled to the edge of the bed and picked the box of tampons from the bedside table.

  “I’ll only be a minute,” I said before heading to the bedroom.

  I was as quick as possible, wanting to be back in his arms, and snuggled up to his warm body.

  When I emerg
ed from the bathroom he was leaning back against the headboard, fidgeting to get comfortable.

  “Come here, Ella,” he offered, reaching his arm out as a gesture for me to join him. “I’ve got a busy two days ahead.” He yawned as I snuggled into his side. “Everything needs wrapping up, so Wednesday is clear for the closed set.”

  “Closed set?”

  He hesitated. “Hmmm, I’ve got a sex scene with Amy.”

  “That’s not going to be much fun.”

  “Not at all. But I wanted you to know that I will be acting. I will be incredibly professional. I’m just not sure whether you should watch it.”

  “Watch the sex scene?”

  “Yeah. I mean, I have no problem with it, it’s only acting after all, and I’ve done other scenes that are just as sexually charged as this one, but I’m not sure it’s something that you should watch. Not now.” His arm tightened around my hip. “But the decision is yours. I just wanted you to know that if you decide to duck out of the studio whilst it’s happening, then I understand.”

  I nodded against his chest. I’d never thought of it as Alex had said. How would I feel about him simulating sex with Amy? I’d probably want to drag her off him by her hair, and beat the life out of her. I sniggered at my thoughts.

  “What’s so funny?” Alex asked, shifting position so that he could see my face.

  “I was thinking that maybe I could have a bit of a bitch attack on her, drag her off you, throw her to the ground and beat the shit out of her.”

  “I like the idea, but it really is highly unprofessional.”

  “I know. But I can just imagine the look on her face.” I snaked my arm around his waist, tightening my hold on him. Talking about Alex simulating sex with Amy had reminded me about our current predicament. I was beyond pissed off that things wouldn’t go any further tonight. “I’m sorry,” I said, knowing how frustrated he must be as well.

  “About what?”

  “About my body deciding to call a halt to everything.”

  He chuckled. “It’s not how I imagined our first night together.”

  “No, it’s not how I dreamt our first night would be.”

  He shifted position and kissed the top of my head.

  “I don’t think your dreams will have done me justice, Ella. But I’ll let you be the judge of that when you’ve experienced what I can do with my tongue.”

  “You . . . you don’t mind that I’ve imagined this, dreamt about it even? It doesn’t bother you?” I asked.

  “I have no problem with it at all. I’m sure that if I had known of your existence, I would have dreamt about you, Ella. But you kept yourself hidden from me.”

  I breathed deeply, wondering whether to tell him about the time he had seen me. It was only briefly. I’d gone to the premier of the first film, Starworld, and managed to have a snatched photo with him as he’d chatted to the fans. He’d told me to enjoy the film.

  “I didn’t hide. You just had to find me,” I whispered.

  His face dipped toward mine.

  “Ella,” he breathed. “You found me, remember. I’m so sorry I was such as ass when I first met you.”

  “Shhh . . .” I lifted my head from the comfort of the pillow and pressed my lips against his. I didn’t want him getting all melancholy about how he had behaved when we first met. He’d had his reasons.

  My hands grasped at his hair as I kissed him, but it wasn’t long before he took control. His mouth expertly teased mine, lips against lips, tongue against tongue, as our actions became more heated. A moan escaped me as his hips shifted, the pressure from his lower body was deliciously hard yet again, and impossible to ignore. He rubbed against me as the kiss continued, and I writhed underneath him, seeking even more friction.

  Alex groaned into my mouth before breaking our kiss and rolling onto his back. “You’re evil, Ella, pure evil. The way you move, shit.”

  I reached across him and slipped my hand under the front of his pyjama bottoms.

  Alex grabbed my hand. “Oh no. No, no, no! There’s no way I’m letting you get hold of me tonight. I want to fully explore your body before you even touch mine.”

  My stomach suddenly griped, and I pulled my hand away from Alex’s grasp. I rested it on my stomach, wiling the cramp away.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  I nodded. “My stomach’s aching a bit, that’s all. You sure you didn’t feed me dodgy cheese on toast?”

  Alex chuckled. “Much as I hate to say it, I think we need to get some sleep. We can save our passion for another night.”

  “Spoilsport,” I muttered.

  “Under the covers, Ella, get comfy.”

  As much as I wanted the fun to continue, his suggestion made sense.

  I shuffled under the sheets, and Alex joined me, flicking the bedside lamp off before facing me.

  “Turn around, Ella. I can cuddle you properly from behind if that’s okay.”

  “That’s okay,” I replied. Okay? It was like my own personal heaven. I turned my back to him, and he immediately snaked his arm around my side, settling his hand across the bare flesh of my tummy. He nuzzled his chin into my neck, kissing the back of it through my hair.

  I was spooning with Alex Denton. This was beyond my wildest dreams.

  “Night, Ella,” he whispered, planting a kiss on my shoulder.

  “Night, Alex.” I wriggled my bottom against him.

  “Behave,” he hissed as I felt the reaction my movement had caused.

  I drifted off to sleep with a smile on my face.

  I slept solidly all night. Alex’s bed was the most comfortable bed I had ever slept in. But maybe my contented sleep had something to do with Alex’s arms wrapped around me all night. I stirred, wanting to pretend to still be dozing, but Alex was already awake. His arms squeezed me as he pulled me backward, closer to his front.

  “Morning, Ella,” he greeted huskily before kissing me on my shoulder. “Did you sleep well?”

  I stretched, rolling even further onto Alex’s body as I did so.

  “So comfy.” I yawned, knowing that this was the start of another morning, another day. I wanted to avoid everything outside our current blissful bubble. “Let’s stay here forever,” I suggested.

  “You’re not a morning person, are you?” He kissed the side of my neck.

  “Not at all,” I confirmed. “Not when I’m this comfy.”

  “I can make you un-comfy.” He twisted my hair as he spoke, the action one of tenderness. I turned to face him.

  “We need to get up,” he said, the sleepiness of his voice matched my own. He didn’t sound as if he wanted to get up any more than I did. He was just far more professional.

  “It’s six in the morning. We need to be at the studio at seven today.” He kissed the side of my head, and his arms squeezed me before he moved. “I brought you dinner in bed last night. But I’m not bringing you breakfast.”

  He stood at the end of the bed, stretching his arms above his head. My sleepy eyes managed to open a little wider.

  “Now, stop ogling me and get up!” His hands grabbed the sheets, pulling them off my warm and comfortable body.

  “You . . .” I started.

  “Now, now, Ella.” He rushed toward the bathroom.

  I thumped the mattress, and groaned as I pulled the sheets back over my body. I willed myself to think about anything but the day ahead. I didn’t know whether I had the strength to face the reporters and photographers outside, or the ones that would undoubtedly be waiting at the studio. And then there was Amy.

  Alex was humming as he came out of the bathroom. “All yours,” he said cheerfully. He sounded like he’d been awake for hours.

  I remained silent, battling my inner demons that were preventing me from getting up. I knew I had to, but my body didn’t want to move.

  “How are you feeling today?”

  “Fine,” I mumbled.

  Alex chuckled. “Oh, we are grumpy this morning.”

  I open
ed one eye to see what he was doing and was greeted with a sight that definitely woke me up. I sat up, both eyes wide open. Alex had his back to me, but he had just pulled his pyjama bottoms down his legs and was stepping out of them. He was completely naked.

  I stared, completely gobsmacked, and drew in a sharp intake of breath. He pulled on a pair of black trunks, just like the ones I was currently wearing. All I wished was that I’d been standing in front of him a few seconds ago, rather than on the bed behind him.

  “I won’t tell you again,” he said, not turning to face me. “Stop checking out my ass, Ella.”

  “Well stop flaunting it in my face then,” I said.

  He grinned before pulling on a pair of jeans.

  “Breakfast. Downstairs. Five minutes. I suggest you get dressed,” he said, buttoning up the fly on his jeans before leaving the bedroom.

  With Alex gone the bed wasn’t so welcoming. I groaned as I got up and dressed in the same clothes I’d worn yesterday. There was one different item though. I kept Alex’s trunks on.

  The fuss when we left Alex’s house was just as expected. Photographers were everywhere. They seemed to have doubled in number as well. Word that I had stayed the night at Alex’s had spread, and they all wanted a picture of me.

  Alex had suggested I tie my hair back, and then placed the obligatory baseball cap on my head. He had pushed a hooded sweat-top my way, telling me to pull the hood up. He had also produced a pair of sunglasses. I felt like a complete idiot climbing into the car wearing the sunglasses. It was half past six in the morning. The sun wasn’t even in the sky.

  The fuss when we arrived at the studio wasn’t much better, but Alex talked me through the whole frightening event, whispering words of encouragement and advising me where to look and what to do.

  He guided me into the quietness of the studio, his arm around my waist. As soon as we were out of sight of all the powerful lenses he grabbed my hand and practically ran with me to his dressing room. He dragged me into the room, backing me up against the door we’d just come through. I giggled excitedly as he attacked my lips.

  “I haven’t had my kiss this morning,” he growled.