by Eva Haining
“What the fuck does that even mean?” His breath is ragged, his heart hammering beneath my palm.
“It means I want you, and I don’t want to want you. I didn’t stop because the moment I felt you hard as a rock in my hand last night, I haven’t been able to think about anything else. I didn’t make you stop to wear a condom because I wanted you bareback! Are you happy? I’m a fraud. I’m not a sweet hometown girl, I’m a woman who knew the risks and wanted to feel your cum pulsing through me. I’m a slut who craves your cock!” I slam my hands against his chest, but this time he catches my wrists.
“Look at me.” Electricity crackling in the air between us as I meet his stare. “I never called you a slut. I’d never call you that.” He loosens his grip, searching my eyes for answers I don’t have. “Have I satisfied your craving? Are you done with me now?”
“I… I don’t want to be this attracted to you. You’re all wrong for me. I’m a mess, and your career hangs in the balance if I can’t deliver chemistry on screen.”
“Fuck that! I don’t care. We’re not characters in a fucking movie right now, Maisie. Tell me what just happened between us was a one-time thing. That you scratched the itch, and you never want it to happen again. If you say it, I’ll walk away. Say it,” he seethes.
“I can’t! I can’t say it.” His hands fist in my hair, his lips so close to mine I can feel his labored breaths on my skin. He holds my gaze, seeking silent permission. “I want you even more.” My voice is barely a whisper.
My words are swallowed by his kiss—hard, unrelenting, and desperate as our lips communicate in ways we can’t express. Winding our way through the long grass, we claw at each other in a feral dance until we reach the barn. My thirst for him is far from quenched. A woman lost in the desert, he’s my oasis. Stepping out of my shorts, Jasper hoists me into his arms, and I wrap my legs around his waist.
The wood of the barn is hot against my back, but all I want is to feel him inside me again, filling me, slamming into me until I explode around his cock.
“Maisie, get the condom from my wallet, now,” he commands between fevered kisses.
“There’s no point now. Fuck me, Jasper!”
“But…”
“It’s locking the gate after the horse has bolted. I literally have your cum dripping down my thigh. The condom can wait for tomorrow. I’m on the pill. Just shut up and fuck me!”
It’s all the encouragement he needs. Hammering into me, he sets a punishing rhythm, driving his cock harder and deeper than before.
“Baby, come with me.” Every thrust harder than the last, his words are my undoing. It’s dizzying, sending me cascading over the edge, my nails digging into his back, screaming his name for the birds to hear. A primal roar rips from his chest as he finds his release, our bodies covered in a slick sheen of sweat as he lowers us to the ground, both of us gasping for air.
“Oh, God. I think I’m drunk on cock.” I wipe my hair from my face, catching a glimpse of his beguiling smile.
“Good, because I think you have the equivalent of heroin for a pussy. Consider me an addict.” His comparison makes me laugh.
“Well, aren’t we a pair.”
“A pair of what?”
“I don’t know. Are we fuck buddies? Fuck enemies? Fuck co-stars? Are we even friends?” Why won’t my mouth stop spewing incoherent nonsense?
Reaching out, his fingers caress my cheek with the ease of a gentle lover, pulling me in for a chaste kiss.
“Maisie, stop talking. I am your co-star. I’m not your enemy. I can be your friend, and I’d like to be more than your fuck buddy. So, please, do me a favor, and don’t ruin the moment by saying something spiteful that you’ll regret later,” he says, kissing down my neck. “Because, if you do, I’ll say something I don’t mean, and I just want to enjoy this sated bliss for a while before we need to deal with anything outside this bubble.”
I’d like to be more than your fuck buddy. The words race around and around in my head as I look out across the fields of Mustang.
I have no idea what on God’s green earth I’m doing, but if it feels this good, it can’t be wrong. Right?
Our sex haze was set to evaporate at eleven when Jasper agreed we’d start shooting for the day. We ambled through the tall grass, his hand in mine until we set eyes on our first crew member. Now, I’m left bereft, me in my trailer being pawed by stylists, and Jasper sequestered to his. I saw Hazel disappear in there after him looking somewhat irate, and I can’t help but wonder what she’s deduced in our absence.
My hairstylist immediately orders me to take a shower and comb the ‘clumps of grass’ from my hair. Seeing myself in the mirror, I look as sex mussed as can be and exhausted, to boot. As my momma would say, I look like chewed twine. She was always full of southern clichés. If only she could see me now. She’d be fussing all over me, telling anyone who’d listen that her daughter is starring in a fancy Hollywood movie. She always believed I’d make it onto the big screen.
These girls have got their work cut out for them today.
It takes an hour and thirty minutes for hair, makeup, and wardrobe to make me presentable. Then, it’s down to the river to reshoot the scene we tried yesterday. It seems like so long ago now, but the second I lock eyes with Jasper, I know we’ve got this. If it’s chemistry they want, we’ve got it in spades.
His gaze blazes across the river, crackling in the air between us. I brush my fingers over my lips, the memory of our impassioned kiss still fresh in my mind. Every cell in my body sparks to life, eager for his touch.
As one of the crew members leads me down to the water’s edge, I can sense Hazel’s eyes on me, watching my every move. She knows. Stepping into the river, I feel like a siren as the sun-warmed water laps at my feet. Jasper stalks me like I’m prey, leaving his assistant shouting directions in the distance.
When we meet in the middle, it takes everything I have not to reach out and touch him. Waiting for the director to shout Action is slow torture, foreplay for the inevitable earth-shattering release I know will be coming later tonight. I’ve not had my fill of Jasper yet.
A handful of takes and we’re done. Chemistry wasn’t an issue today. Stopping was the problem. Knowing how it feels to have him thrusting into me, ripping orgasms from my body, his tongue lapping at my clit until I can’t take it anymore, it’s agonizing stopping before our movie turned into porno. The fade to black, every urgent groan and subtle bite of my lip as his character lost control was the culmination of years of being in love with his best friend’s girl.
There’s something naughty about having his hands on me with everyone watching. They all believe it’s just acting, but he knows I want him. He knows how I sound when I come screaming his name, naked and writhing beneath him. It’s intoxicating.
By the time they pull us out of the water and wrap us in fluffy white robes, I’m eager to see how it looked on camera. Huddling around the director’s chair, we get a glimpse of the rough footage. Holy shit. I’m struggling to control my erratic breaths seeing the way his hands claw at me, hungry like a man possessed.
Hazel, Jack, and a handful of cameramen sing our praises, relief evident in their voices after yesterday’s catastrophic attempt to capture this scene. While they busy themselves pointing out everything they love about it, I’m hyperaware of Jasper’s fingertips grazing the back of my hand. A simple touch, and yet it feels more intimate than the footage of us on playback. I don’t risk a glance up into his deep blue eyes, afraid that I’ll give myself away.
Looking at him today, I see a different person than the man who stood before me yesterday. So much has happened in such a short space of time, and I need to ground myself in reality before I’m swept up in a fairy tale.
When we wrap for the day, I’m excited to see Jax on the back porch of Mad’s place. I’ve been dying to know how A.B. and the baby are doing.
“Hey, Mais!”
“Are they home?” His eyes are alight with pride, but he ca
n’t resist a quip at my expense.
“I’m great. Why thank you for asking, Maisie.” He shoots me one of those McKinney smiles, and like every other woman in the world, I melt.
“Sorry.” Grabbing a beer from the cooler, he flips the cap and holds it out to me, and I gladly accept. It’s been a long day.
“To answer your question, they’ll be home tomorrow.” He reaches into his pocket and brings up a photo of baby Robert on his phone. He’s cuter than a speckled pup under a red wagon.
“Oh my God, he’s adorable.”
“Yep, he’s going to be a heartbreaker just like his Uncle Jax. He and Jax Junior are going to tear this town up when they’re older.”
“Lord, help us all. If I ever have a baby girl, I’ll need to raise her somewhere else. I can’t have her fall prey to the legacy of the Hale and McKinney men.” That gets a hearty laugh from him.
“Well, it looks like you won’t be hanging around here for much longer. You’ll be off being a movie star in LA living the dream for the rest of us.”
“That’s just it. My dream looks different all of a sudden.” I sit back on a night like tonight and stare out over the fields to where the burnt orange hues of sunset adorn the horizon, and I can’t imagine leaving.
“Would that have anything to do with a certain ruggedly handsome movie star? You two were getting hot and heavy yesterday. Are you sure you know what you’re doing with that man? He’s got trouble written all over his face.”
“I hope you’re not talking about me. My face says all kinds of nice things. Trouble isn’t one of them.” Jasper appears on the wraparound porch looking sinfully sexy, his hair still wet from the shower. “I rang the doorbell, but no one answered. I just wanted to drop this off.” He’s carrying a massive gift bag, bursting at the seams.
Staring up at him from where I sit on the steps, my core tightens as I drink him in from head to toe. He’s every inch the movie star and so much more.
Jax swaps him a beer for the gift bag, sliding it inside the back door.
“They’ll be home tomorrow. The girls are at my place with Savannah.”
“Great.” Tipping his head back, Jasper takes a long swig of beer, condensation from the deep green glass dripping onto his lips. I literally wipe my mouth, afraid I’m drooling at the sight of him.
“A.B. said she wants you both here tomorrow night. With y’all watching the girls for them, she wants you to meet the little guy before they get inundated with the whole town visiting.”
“We’d love to,” Jasper interjects.
“Lord, help us. Y’all are we people already?” He stands to leave, draining the last of his beer before slapping Jasper on the shoulder. “I’m out. I’m not down for being a third wheel. I have children to put to bed and a smoking hot wife to ravage. Help yourself to the beer, and lock the back door before you leave. Later, guys.” As he disappears around the side of the house, his voice echoes back toward me. “Mais… make good decisions. He’s punching above his weight!”
Jasper takes a seat next to me, his leg brushing against mine as he leans back on the top step. Propped on his elbows, he takes a swig of beer, his hair flopping over one eye—unruly and begging for my fingers to run through it.
“I didn’t mean to break up a party. Do I smell bad?” With a sly wink, a wry grin tugs at the corner of his lip.
“You smell good, and you know it!” I mimic his stance, leaning back on my elbows until I’m close enough to enjoy the scent of his cologne mixed with shampoo and body wash. He’s edible. My breath quickens under the heat of his stare. Leaning over, I press my lips to his, slow and sensual and mingled with the taste of ice-cold beer.
“It’s been a strange couple of days.” There’s a question in there somewhere.
“You could say that. There’s a new Hale, you’re the town babysitter, and we crushed the shoot today, which is a relief after yesterday.”
“And this morning?” He reaches out, caressing my cheek with the back of his hand, his fingers leaving a trail of desire in their wake.
“Was…” The best sex of my life! I’m lost for words. I don’t know what any of this means, and as I scramble to identify the emotions, Jasper pulls back, searching my gaze.
“You’ve scratched the itch now?” The usual bite in his tone is gone, replaced by something softer—uncertainty?
“Have you? Am I out of your system now? You can get back to the movie having tasted the goods?” My brain is screaming at me to shut the hell up, nerves gnawing at my stomach as I wait for his answer.
“Not even close…” His lips descend on mine in a fervent kiss, but he doesn’t take it any further, much to my dismay.
“Do you want to come to my place tonight? I’m sure it’s not much compared to what you’re used to, but it’s private.”
“Yes.” He plants soft kisses up and down my neck. “But can we just stay here for a little while longer?
“Mmm…” My words are lost on his lips, each gentle stroke of his tongue on mine reminding me of lazy high school days, first kisses that went on for hours, and the warm haze of new relationships on long summer nights.
“I like it out here, it’s a change of pace from LA.” After a while, the crickets come out to serenade us while we lay back on the porch watching the sunset in stunning hues of burnt orange.
“I bet. I’m nervous about going to Hollywood.”
“Don’t be, they’re going to love you.” I turn on my side, my gaze finding his, entreating him to be honest.
“Up until and including earlier today, you couldn’t stand me. What makes you so sure LA will like me?” He pulls me on top of him, sweeping my hair over my shoulders.
“It’s well documented that I’m an asshole. Check the papers.”
“True. You’re an ass.” I circle my hips, grinding against his crotch. There are too many emotions at war within me right now. Feelings I’m not ready to face. I want to lose myself for a night.
“Is that your version of dirty talk? Insults.”
“You haven’t even scratched the surface of my kind of dirty.” My pulse races as I push myself up to a sitting position, his muscular frame sprawled beneath me. “I’m going to show you how a real cowgirl rides. Are you coming home with me or not, city boy?”
“Lead the way…”
Chapter Fifteen
JASPER
Sunlight creeps through a crack in the drapes of Maisie’s bedroom. We’ve found an easy rhythm over the past few weeks. She swore Jax to secrecy, worried the crew might find out about us. I don’t have the heart to tell her she’s kidding herself if she thinks the crew doesn’t already know, not to mention half the town. I’ve been caught sneaking out of her house at the crack of dawn more times than I can count, but the locals are getting used to me and seem to respect our privacy.
Sneaking around isn’t the worst thing in the world. After having such a public breakup with Cece, I’m happy to avoid explaining myself to anyone. I’m just surprised the press hasn’t caught wind of this yet. Journalists seem to be waiting for me to return to LA before slating my every move. I like it. This town is like my own personal retreat.
I told Ethan to keep the change in scale and budget of the movie to himself until I’m ready to deal with the onslaught of press. I can use this to my advantage, and when they hear Maisie’s story of hometown extra to starlet, it’s going to drive them wild.
Risking our relationship going public—if that’s what we’re calling it—wouldn’t benefit the narrative we’re planning to create around this movie. Plus, she and I haven’t really discussed our extracurricular activities. The sex is mind-blowing. I’m not going to lie, I was hoping we’d fuck a couple of times and get it out of our systems, but I can’t get enough of her.
Whenever I can, I steal her off to a vacant field or the cottage, anywhere with a modicum of privacy and fuck her senseless. The girl’s got moves, and whatever she’s doing, I’m hooked. I know every inch of her tight little body, and I wa
nt it more with each passing day. I’m ravenous for her.
Maisie still riles me daily, our verbal sparring matches becoming legendary on set, but in the quiet hours after dark when we’re lying tangled and sated in her sheets, we actually talk. We’ve talked movies, music, school, and friends. First love, first kiss, first fuck, and I hate to admit, but it irks me when she admits her ex-boyfriend, Thomas, was her high school crush. I haven’t seen him on set with the rest of the extras, so I assume he’s off licking his wounds somewhere.
I should feel bad that kissing Maisie is what prompted their breakup, but I’m an unrepentant sinner. When I kissed her, I had no idea whether or not their relationship was serious. I didn’t care. I just wanted to taste her, even though she wasn’t mine to taste. The relief when she told me they hadn’t slept together was an archaic male response.
I’ve slept with my fair share of women, and I never expected Maisie to be a virgin or anything, but that doesn’t mean I want to know if I’m standing in the same room as anyone included in her body count. If I were, there’s a strong chance I’d want to punch them out. I’ve become territorial of her pleasure. I don’t want anyone else enjoying her soft moans and screaming orgasms.
It’s become a routine of mine to shower and make her some coffee before I leave in the morning. Watching her feline stretch under the sheets, she smiles at the scent of freshly brewed coffee.
“I could get used to this.” Pushing herself up to take the mug from my hand, the crisp white sheets pool at her waist, affording me a glorious view of her naked flesh. I need to get going, but my cock twitches to life at the sight of her tightly-budded nipples.
“Play your cards right, and I could be persuaded.” Who am I kidding? She’s the one holding all the cards right now.
“Do you have to go yet?”
“Baby, you’re the one who’s hell-bent on kicking me out at the crack of dawn. I’d gladly arrive on set with you, but I guess you don’t want any of your other fuck buddies to see you kicking about with me.” I’m so lame. I know she’s spent every spare minute with me, and even if she hadn’t, deep down I know she’s not the kind of girl who would sleep with multiple partners at once, but a hot and heavy one-night stand I can see, although it makes me want to punch someone. This girl has gotten under my skin in a way I never anticipated.
