He closed his eyes briefly as an image of Kenny and India in a pretty explicit love scene filled the screen. He couldn’t watch it; he couldn’t watch someone else touching her like that, someone else’s hands on her.
He remembered the sick feeling he’d had in the pit of his stomach the day they’d filmed that scene, and even though Kenny and India had taken it all in their stride he still had no idea how he’d got through it. He couldn’t get her out of his head, couldn’t let a day go by when he didn’t think about how to stay close to her, how to keep her in close proximity and he couldn’t help but feel envious of Reece Brogan for having found a way to do all of that and more.
She was consuming every waking minute of his days, at night she invariably invaded his dreams, and he had two choices here. He could either get this movie done and dusted and move onto the next project, leaving India to get on with her life. Or he could do his utmost to make sure she stayed a part of his.
He looked back at the screen, at a close up of her face, Kenny Ross behind her, kissing her neck, stroking her shoulders. And that’s when Michael realised he had no choice at all. He wasn’t letting India go.
CHAPTER 8
Kenny sat on the window sill of their Hollywood hotel room, watching through the slightly open bathroom door as India stepped out of the shower, a small white towel wrapped around her tanned body. With her damp blonde hair loose around her shoulders and her skin all wet, Kenny felt more than a little hot under the collar. He knew he should look away but he couldn’t stop himself. Something about her just drew him in. Her confidence was growing by the day and she was fast turning into this amazing young woman, someone that Kenny was fascinated with. In more ways than one.
He finally decided to move away from watching her, just incase she saw him, and walked over to the window, looking out but not really taking notice of anything in particular.
It was the night of the premiere and everyone was here, including India’s brother Terry and her friend Charley. From the second India had introduced him to Charley she’d done nothing but smile and flirt with him, despite the fact she was, apparently, very much attached to Terry. Kenny had found it a touch unsettling but it wasn’t like it was something he hadn’t come across before. He just found it hard to believe that she and India were friends. They both seemed so different. India was all blonde hair and natural beauty whilst Charley, who was undeniably one hell of a good looking girl, was someone who Kenny could only describe as slightly obvious. She wore far too much make-up and her clothes were too revealing but, if she was India’s friend, he’d make sure he was nothing but nice to her.
Her brother was another matter, of course. Terry could only look at Kenny with something bordering on total contempt but Kenny had expected nothing else. He had a long way to go to prove his worth to India’s big brother, and maybe it was pointless even trying. Let them all think what they wanted, what did he and India have to prove anyway? Nothing was going on.
He turned around as she walked out of the bathroom, all damp hair and unmade up face and he thought he’d never seen her look more beautiful. She was only wearing underwear too – a black bra and matching bikini briefs - a testament to how comfortable they felt with each other, yet today he felt slightly flustered as he watched her move around the room, stopping in front of the mirror to towel dry her hair.
“If Terry catches you in here ...” India said, a slight smile on her face.
Kenny smiled too, walking over to the sideboard and pouring them both a very small shot of tequila. “What’s he gonna do?”
“Hang around much longer and you might find out.”
He leant back against the sideboard, knocking back his tequila shot, putting the glass down behind him and folding his arms. “You gonna put some clothes on?”
She smiled at him. “Are you complaining?”
“Oh, absolutely not. I think you look just perfect as you are.”
She walked over to the clothes that had been laid out on the bed by her stylist, looking at them closely, picking up the short black dress.
“You know, I’m still not sure about this Hollywood glamour thing. Is it really me? I’ve never felt all that comfortable in dresses and heels.”
She turned to look at him. He was definitely going for the unique approach to red carpet fashion, looking very much like the rock star he portrayed in the movie, dangerously sexy in black leather pants and biker boots, a black t-shirt that clung to his amazing body, his dark hair pushed back off his handsome face. He was standing there, in her hotel room, a man who’d once been her idol and was now her friend and that didn’t feel strange anymore.
But he was so beautiful. She couldn’t ignore that any longer and all of a sudden she felt a tight sensation in her chest which, for a second, made it difficult for her to catch her breath.
“You ok?” Kenny asked.
She nodded, throwing the towel she’d just used to dry her hair onto the floor. “I want to wear biker boots too.”
Kenny laughed. “So wear them.”
“Not sure what the stylists would say about that. Look at all the trouble they’ve gone to to sort all this stuff out for me.”
“Fuck the stylists! You’re you, India. Let the world see that.”
He watched as she slipped on a pair of high-heeled shoes that had been left next to the dress they’d picked out for her. In only her underwear and those heels she looked like a walking real-life fantasy and he’d never looked at her like this before. He’d never felt like this before, not about India.
He ran a hand along the back of his neck and turned round to pour himself another shot, knocking it back in one, turning back around to see her looking at him, standing there, all sexy-as-hell-centrefold and no idea what she was doing to him.
“What’s wrong with you?” she asked, cocking her head slightly.
He walked over to her and she suddenly felt her stomach jolt, like a million butterflies had just been let loose in there, and she felt absolutely powerless.
He was smiling at her; a knowing smile, a smile that was conveying something she knew neither of them were going to be able to stop and she felt the room start to spin, aware only of the loud rock music still coming from the CD player and the fact that Kenny Ross was beside her. He was so very close beside her now.
And then it happened. That line between friendship and lovers suddenly became blurred as he pushed her back against the wall, his fingers closing around hers as he stared into her blue eyes, eyes that were telling him it was ok, it was fine, they could do this. They were going to do it anyway. The time for turning back was long gone.
As his mouth touched hers, gently at first then harder and faster, it was like a bolt of white hot electricity had been shot right through her, his body pressed up against hers, his fingers stroking her skin. It was crazy, totally unplanned and it had taken her completely by surprise, this sudden rush of feelings for him. She had an ache so bad it was killing her, she wanted him so much. There were no words, no-one spoke. No-one needed to. The message was loud and clear and the wheels were already in motion.
But even Kenny felt dizzy with the speed at which events had turned, because he wanted her so badly now, and he was almost sure he hadn’t felt this way yesterday. He suddenly needed to feel every inch of her, and he had no idea where these feelings had come from, maybe they’d always been there, but he needed to become a part of her now and within seconds he was there. Within seconds he’d pushed his way inside her beautiful body, feeling her hand squeeze his tight as he pushed harder, her moans turning him on even more and it was incredible, it was crazy, and he’d never experienced anything like it before. Kenny Ross was lost - lost in this girl from England.
He buried his face in her damp blonde hair as he pushed into her again, holding her naked body tight against his clothed one, feeling her shudder and hearing her scream and just wanting to stay there, stay this way and never let her go, while India clung onto him, her eyes closed as his lips touched h
er neck, her shoulders, her mouth. It was the most beautiful feeling and it was completely rocking her whole body, making her shout out loud, her nails digging into his back as he gave that last, long, rough push, his own body finally giving in to it all.
His breath was hot on her neck as they held onto each other, neither really wanting to let go so they stayed there, catching their breath. Until Kenny knew he had look at her, to see what they’d just done, but she’d closed her eyes, an overwhelming feeling of emptiness washing over her as she felt him leave her body. But she also felt calm, as if something had just happened that had needed to happen before either of them could really move forward.
He kissed her gently and she opened her eyes, looking right at him.
“Nothing has to change you know,” he whispered, his hand resting lightly on her hip.
“Still best friends then?” she smiled, gently stroking his face.
He stepped back slightly and took a long look at her tanned, toned body, naked except for those heels. “With all the fucking benefits there could possibly be,” he grinned.
She grabbed the front of his t-shirt and pulled him back up against her, slowly kissing him. They had no idea what they were getting themselves into here but who the hell cared? It was their secret, their game. This was where it was probably always going to have ended up anyway so why fight it?
“You’re going to get me into so much trouble,” she whispered, feeling one of his hands slide into the small of her back as the other gently pushed her legs apart.
“Trouble like you wouldn’t believe,” Kenny smiled, getting ready to enjoy the ride one more time before they had to re-join the real world. This was definitely turning into one hell of a crazy night, and that was just the way Kenny Ross liked it.
***
Reece sat at the bar in the hotel lobby, dressed in his usual red carpet attire of black suit and open-necked white shirt. He liked to keep it casual yet smart, and he’d never been one for tuxedos; they didn’t make him feel all that comfortable. But tonight he looked good, as usual. Reece Brogan was always well presented, always well turned out, although it hadn’t always been that way. Still, the past was the past.
He checked his watch, wondering where India was. She should be ready by now. He didn’t want her being late for her first premiere. He wanted to make sure she was calm and not nervous, but most of all, sober. She’d been with Kenny for most of the day and that had caused him a great deal of worry, knowing what Kenny was like and knowing that India would do anything for him. He just hoped she realised how important tonight was. He wanted her to enjoy it; he wanted her to be happy and to take it all in because it might be something she was going to have to get used to, and he was determined to be there for her tonight, just like he should be. Just like he’d promised himself he would be from the start.
Michael Walsh joined him at the bar and Reece threw him a smile, watching as he ordered a bourbon, knocking it back in one. Understandable that he was nervous, this being his first outing as a director, but the only indication they were getting from test screenings was that this movie was going to be an out and out success. India had turned out to be more than any of them could have hoped for, especially Reece. He’d known there’d been something there; he’d just never been sure how much. He’d discovered more than just an actress, that was for sure.
“Any idea where India is?” Michael asked, leaning back against the bar and looking towards the elevators. He seemed agitated.
Reece shook his head. “I’m assuming she’s still getting ready. Do you want me to call upstairs and see if she’s done yet?”
“No.” He looked at Reece. “Where’s Kenny?”
“I’m guessing he’s with India.”
Michael felt his stomach lurch.
“She’ll be ok you know.” Reece sensed Michael’s nerves. He’d never seen him so on edge. “She won’t let us down.”
Michael looked towards the elevators again, as if willing her to appear. “It’s not her I’m worried about.”
Reece caught the bar man’s attention and ordered another couple of bourbons, sliding one towards Michael.
“Come on. One more for the road. It’s gonna be a long night.”
***
Charley blew on her nails, waiting for the cerise polish to dry so she could finally pull on the dress of her dreams. It was a very tight, quite short little pink number that left little to the imagination and showed off everything she had, including her fantastic new breasts. She loved them. They were something she’d always wanted and now they were also her most valuable assets.
Charley Miles was pursuing a new career. She’d put the drudgery of ‘Wheatman & Rogers’ behind her after that trip to Merseyside to see Terry. All it had taken was one night of clubbing and a morning of making him realise that he couldn’t live without her and she’d had him hooked. India’s footballer brother was now her boyfriend. One small step on the ladder to recognition and she felt very, very pleased with herself.
When she’d handed in her resignation at ‘Wheatman & Rogers’ it had been the happiest day of her life. She’d almost skipped out of the building with a head full of dreams and the determination that she was going to make something happen, and she had. She’d bagged a first division footballer and now she was well on the way to becoming a glamour model. She just needed to speed things up a bit, get her face known more. Well, not just her face, really.
She smiled to herself as she remembered seeing her first set of photographs. Now it wasn’t just India on the front of magazines, Charley could be a cover girl too, even if it was a completely different kind of cover girl. But she had to start somewhere. Not everybody could have the lucky break that India had had but Charley would get there. She’d make it as big as India; she’d have everything India had.
Blowing on her nails one last time she thought about Kenny Ross. Like she’d said - everything India had.
***
Terry was as nervous as hell. This was a huge night for his sister and he just wanted everything to go right, which included Charley behaving herself. A bit of Dutch courage she’d said when she’d opened the bottle of wine she’d ordered from room service ten minutes ago. What did she need Dutch courage for? It wasn’t her night; it wasn’t her who would have the eyes of Hollywood watching them. She was supposed to be there to support India. And he wasn’t sure about the dress she’d chosen either. It seemed a little too obvious to him. He’d preferred her before the breast implants and this obsession she had about becoming a glamour model, it was almost too predictable for the girlfriend of a footballer but he was trying to be as supportive as he possibly could. She was making it hard, though, and he was trying to concentrate what little energy he had left on India.
But Charley was good for him in some respects. She brought out the wilder side of him, a side he never really let out that often. She was showing him what it was like to have a bit of fun now and again, although it was tough keeping up with her sometimes. And he couldn’t ignore the stick he was getting from the other lads on the football team. If it wasn’t enough having your sister all over magazines and newspapers he now had his girlfriend getting her tits out for money and sometimes that really bothered him, with the comments he got. Charley was a beautiful girl; did she really need to be doing that? But what was he supposed to do? Tell her to pack it all in? That’d go down well.
He decided to go and find India, see how she was getting on, so, leaving Charley to finish putting on what little clothing she was going to wear, he left the hotel room and went in search of his sister.
***
India looked at herself in the mirror. She felt almost invincible, totally calm, and that was all thanks to Kenny. Kenny Ross – her best friend with amazing benefits. She smiled to herself as she thought about the night ahead. They now had a very special secret, a part of their relationship that nobody else needed to know about, and that’s the way they both wanted it. Something just between them.
Kenny
whistled as he came out of the bathroom, looking at her standing there, and she swung around to face him, smiling. “You like?”
He smiled back, sliding an arm round her waist, kissing her slowly. “Oh yes.”
She was wearing the short, black, strapless baby doll dress that the stylists had chosen for her, but instead of heels she’d teamed it with knee-high biker boots, thick leather cuff bracelets round her wrists and a bandana tied around her long blonde hair. It sounded unorthodox for a Hollywood red carpet event, probably an outfit more suited to a rock concert but, thanks to the fabulous hair and make-up people, and her natural ability to carry off such a different style, she looked incredible. They’d gone with what she’d wanted, creating India Steven the movie star, and she felt amazing.
“We should be going,” she whispered, stroking Kenny’s face. Sometimes she still couldn’t believe she was here with him. Just months ago she’d been watching him on the cinema screen back home in Britain and now he was here, holding her, kissing her, making her feel like a million dollars.
She let her fingers stroke his cheek, moving down to his rough chin – he almost had a beard at the minute and it only made him look all the more handsome. And incredibly sexy. Kenny Ross wasn’t one to go with the norm, even on nights like this. What you saw was what you got and that’s what she loved about him.
“Come on. They’ll be looking for us soon if we don’t get a move on,” she smiled, letting him kiss her one more time, almost falling against him like a rag doll as he held her and she wished they had a little more time. She really did.
No Matter What Page 6
