Hot Set

by Ivy Blake

  I got up, locked the door and made my way to the editing room. I hoped that Hudson would see the email before he ended his day. I wanted him to tell me what really happened, and after that, I could make my decision to turn away and not look back or give him a second chance.

  Chapter 22

  Hudson

  After the shoot was over for that day, I checked my phone for missed messages. The studio heads usually sent out information regarding the movie, like times we had to show up for promotional events and other things related to upcoming PR. I scrolled through my emails until I landed on Chloe’s. After I read through it, it was clear that she wanted me to have a chance to explain myself. With shooting finally coming to an end, I felt that it was the best time to tell her the truth. All I could do was hope that now the movie was almost over, we might actually be safe to speak to each other. Maybe I could finally let her know what had happened.

  I sent her a text.

  Me: Stop by tonight. I can clear everything up and then you can make your decision after that.

  I kept my phone in my hand as I walked back to my trailer, so I could respond to her as soon as she replied. I hoped that she would surprise me and be there when I showed up, but when I opened the door, I knew it was just wishful thinking. Finally, she sent me a response.

  Chloe: Tonight is fine. I’ll meet you at your place right after the shoot.

  Me: I’ll be there. Or do you want to ride together?

  Chloe: Don’t push it.

  I was just happy that she responded to me in the first place and gave me a chance to come clean. Immediately after we were finished shooting for the day, I went straight home so I could get ready. It took me days to get the smell out of the front room from when I threw up a while ago and the stain was still there. I was going to have to get the carpet replaced, but I didn’t have the time to do it right now. I grabbed a rug out of my room and laid it over the stain that persistently reminded me what an asshole I was.

  I lit incense and waved the aroma around in the room so that it would be soaked by the time she showed up. It was almost 8:30 pm when the doorbell rang. I wanted to smile when I opened it, but I felt that it was too awkward for me to do that. Chloe looked exhausted from her day, and I knew I would have short leash.

  “Hey, Chloe. Thanks for coming by.”

  She raised an eyebrow at me. “Are you going to let me in?”

  “Of course.” She walked by me and sat on the couch. I caught her scent as she walked by me and it sent me into a tailspin of emotions, thinking about the times that I felt her body close to mine. Outside of my dreams, it hadn’t happened in some time. “Do you want anything to drink? Soda? Water?”

  “No, I’m fine, thank you.” Uncomfortable silence sat between us for a few moments until she spoke again. “I just wanted to give you the chance to explain yourself. I am not saying that what you say will be enough and suddenly change things between us. But I need answers and I know I’m only going to get them if I give you an opportunity to tell me the truth.”

  I exhaled deeply. The incense fluttered around the room while I took a seat on the other end of the sofa, keeping a cushion between us. I didn’t want to get too close, too soon, especially since I didn’t know how she was going to take the news.

  “So, Simon. Simon has this rule on set, that no one should be fraternizing. Especially talent with assistants. He threatened my job and yours and wanted me to ends things.”

  “What? That’s insane, Hudson.”

  “Yeah, so I kept it to myself. He said he would’ve ruined your career and mine, too. I mean, I probably could’ve fought my way back, but I know how much harder it would be for you, Chloe. If he had you blackballed, if he started rumors about you? And it’s not like it’s just hypothetical. I know he would do it because he’s done it before. I didn’t want to sabotage your career before you had a chance to begin it. So, I kept it to myself for the last two months. And that night that I was drunk? I was with his assistant, Ariel.”

  She fixed her attention directly on me, confused. “I don’t understand. What were you doing with Ariel?”

  “Simon sent her to try and get me in line. I was so angry that I got drunk and that’s how I ended up stumbling around on my lawn. And puking all over my carpet.”

  Chloe looked down under her feet and winced. “Okay, but did something happen with Ariel? Why did you smell like perfume that night?”

  “The bar was packed, Chloe. There women everywhere. People were rubbing up against me every time they went to get drinks. But I swear. Nothing happened with Ariel. She is a single mother and Simon has her over a barrel too. She is barely holding on to her job because she turned him down. I didn’t want you to be put in that same position, but neither of us knew what to do about it. All I could do was wait for the movie to finish and hope you hadn’t moved on, or ended up hating me so much, you couldn’t come back from it.”

  She turned away from me and shook her head. “Wow. I mean, I guess that was the last thing I expected to hear. I had a feeling Simon was a piece of shit, but I had no idea it was this bad. Ugh, and poor Ariel. She is a sweetie. She doesn’t deserve any of this crap.”

  “We are almost done with this movie. We just have to get through the last few days and then we can decide how to move forward.”

  Chloe kept a straight face as she looked at the blank television screen in front of us. Suddenly, she smiled, and then seconds later, laughter erupted from like she’d just been told the most hilarious joke she’d ever heard in her life. “That son of a bitch!” she said as she continued laughing, doubling over to her knees. “This is insane and so unbelievably childish. I can’t believe him. But I guess I can. I knew this shit happened before I moved out here, but on my first movie? Come on.”

  “That was my point exactly.”

  “Well, I’ll tell you one thing, when I write my book, all of this is going in there. All of it. Every last word.” I laughed and scooted closer to her, hoping that maybe we were on our way to a place where she might forgive me. She can’t still hate me, can she?

  “Hold on,” she said right before I put my hand on her thigh. “Do you promise all of this true? You aren’t just telling me a story or pulling a line or working me?”

  “What?” I asked, confused.

  She glared at me. “I’m just having trouble settling into all of this. Going from hating you one minute and realizing what a mess this has all been the next. I need to believe, really believe, you, Hudson.”

  “With every fiber of being, every ounce of my soul, I promise you, Chloe. Simon is behind all of this and I just wanted to protect you. I will never hurt you again, and when this movie is over, we will fix all of it together.”

  Chloe reached out and took my hand in hers, giving it a squeeze. “Good,” she said with a smile.

  “So, are we ok now?”

  She fixed her eyes on me, not blinking once. I expected the worse but suddenly, she leaned forward and kissed me. “I forgive you.” She kissed me again. “I missed you.” She kissed me a third time. “And don’t you ever, ever keep secrets from me again. If anything like this happens in the future, you tell me about it, and we’ll work it out. I’m not a porcelain doll. I can handle anything, and we can definitely handle things together. So, if some douchebag director tries to use me or seduce me, assume that I am also capable of making decisions myself.”

  I slid my hand onto her thigh. “You’re absolutely right, Chloe. Will you give me a chance to make it up to you?” I asked with a wink.

  “You read my mind.”

  Chapter 23

  Chloe

  I leaned back onto the bed and beckoned him closer to me and without hesitation, he traced his tongue down the length of my stomach, settling into my core. I dipped my head back as the evening rays of sun shone directly through the large window behind the bed. I had forgotten just how amazing he was, how much he cared about my pleasure. Being with Hudson again was beyond anything I remember, and I wanted us
to be like this forever. A rushing sensation of pleasure shot through my legs as he teased and tasted me. I bit my bottom lip and ran my fingers through his thick, beautiful hair as he clenched his arms around my thighs. As his sucked gently on my clit, I wiggled out of my shirt, then tossed aside my satin bra, relishing the cool night air against my skin.

  My breathing intensified as he flattened his tongue and ran it down the middle of my pussy. “Yes,” I whispered as ecstasy rushed through my bones and sent small convulsions through my legs. I didn’t want to leave that hallowed place between my thighs. I wanted him to make me feel like that forever. Even when I had been hurt by him, I still wanted him. Hudson had become like a drug. Now that we had found our way back together, I could never imagine myself with anyone else ever again.

  Hudson stood up and removed his shirt as the weakened rays of sun beamed through the window, enhancing the ripples in his chest and his abs as he towered above me. His thick cock was already hard and ready to slide for me, reminding me of the pleasure he’d already brought me. I felt ready to come already as he climbed on top of me and slid himself slowly inside of my ready core. His eyes closed tightly as he entered me, both of us lost in a wave of extreme pleasure. He exhaled deeply as he gripped my legs and pushed them back, enhancing the easy glide of his thickness inside of me.

  He pressed his lips against mine as he picked up his speed, my whole-body trembling with the power of his prowess. We bounced on the mattress as I knocked pillows onto the floor, trying to find something to grab onto. We fit together perfectly, like two pieces of a puzzle, and every thrust was like magic. I wanted more of him, all of him, forever.

  Just when I was settling into an easy rhythm, Hudson lifted me off the bed and carried me to the wall, pinning my back against the coolness of it as the sun shone down on us. His naked, muscular body held me up with ease as he fucked me again, my legs wrapped around his waist as if he were the only thing keeping me anchored to the earth. I put my arms around the back of his neck, holding onto him tightly as he remained fully inside me. I slid my nails down his back, and he shivered under my chest.

  “Fuck,” he whispered in my ear, nibbling on it gently.

  He eased me down to the floor where I got on top of him and rode him, relishing every movement. He smiled, biting his bottom lip as sweat formed on his brow. “You like that?” I asked while we lay on the carpet in the master bedroom. Hudson smiled and ran his hands up and down my legs.

  “I’m about to come,” he said, sweat rolling down the sides of his face.

  “Yes, baby,” I said. “Together. I want to come together.”

  Moments later, his body convulsed as he grabbed on to my hips and thrust himself deep inside of me. I planted myself on top of him, wanting to feel inch of him inside of me. I felt him tremble, and then the warmth of him reaching his peak.

  “Hudson!” I yelled, clenching my legs around his waist. I shook as I leaned forward and kissed him deeply, doing what I could to keep my screams of ecstasy as quiet as I possibly could. He held onto me tight, my body was pinned to his, until I could feel his breathing steady.

  I was so glad that we had figured everything out because the idea I may have missed out on this was horrifying. He was everything I wanted in a relationship. Our careers were flourishing and regardless of what crap Simon pulled, we were going to figure things out.

  “I missed you so much, Chloe,” Hudson whispered as I lay on top of him.

  I rested my head on his chest and moved my hand over his biceps. “I missed you, too. I’m glad you finally told me the truth.”

  He sighed. “I will figure out what to do with Simon. If he has done this to me and you and Ariel, I can only imagine what other horrible stuff he has done. He is a devil.”

  “Yeah, he is, but we won’t worry about that right now.” I kissed him on the lips. “We will just worry about us and let the rest take care of itself.”

  “That sounds good with me.”

  We laughed and kissed each other as the moon replaced the sun in the sky. I was right where I wanted to be and no matter what, I wouldn’t let things change ever again.

  Chapter 24

  Hudson

  Two weeks later, the movie was finally finished, and we had the wrap party. Everyone who had anything to do with the success of the shoot, from cameramen and actors to the writers and producers, were there. It was a casual event, but people usually dressed up for it. All of my movies before had been low budget films, but this time, they rented out a restaurant in downtown Los Angeles for the event.

  I parked my car on the street down the road from La Trattoria and started for the restaurant. I could see lights from the sidewalk, and people mingling around outside. Chloe and I had talked earlier in the day and agreed not to announce anything about “us” until we were well and truly in the clear, which was more for her benefit than mine. I was at the point where I didn’t care anymore what Simon did me. I just wanted Chloe to be happy, comfortable, and know her career was safe. But until Simon was in our rearview for good, I didn’t know if that was an option.

  As I walked up to the gate that lead to La Trattoria’s front patio, I saw a flash of pink, and suddenly, Ariel was at my side.

  “Hudson… Simon knows. And he’s pissed,” she whispered in a panic.

  “Knows what? I don’t understand.”

  “He knows you and Chloe are back together. Just watch your back. He’s on the war path,” she said quickly and then ran away. I sighed and ran my hands through my hair. Damnit, I thought as I walked into the restaurant. All of the tables had been cleared away and waiters were wandering around with trays of appetizers and champagne. In the corner, I saw Chloe talking with a few of the other assistants. I had to remind myself not to wave, so instead, I walked up to the bar and ordered a whiskey neat.

  “You thought you could pull one over on me you son of a bitch?”

  Simon’s voice made me cringe. I didn’t turn to him. I just drank down my whiskey and ordered another. “Nice to see you too, Simon.”

  “Don’t give me that. We had a deal. You’re done. Both of you. You and your little bitch girlfriend.”

  That was all I needed. I spun around and got up in his face, the gesture sudden enough that it drew everyone’s attention. “That’s it. I’ve had it with you. I don’t care who you think you are or what you think you deserve. But you’re done. You’re never going to hurt another woman again. You’re never going to threaten another woman again. And I don’t care what it means for me. All I care about is taking you down. And if I have to go down with you, so be it. But you. Are. FINISHED.”

  For a moment, the restaurant was filled with stunned silence. And then, an eruption of applause echoed from every corner. I could hear Ariel and Chloe’s voice above everyone else’s. For a second, I thought Simon was going to hit me. But when he realized every eye was on him, he just turned on his heel and stomped out.

  Chloe was in front of me a second later, a giant grin of her face. But I felt like crap. “Chloe, I’m sorry for making a scene like that in front of everyone. But I love you and after the way he treated you, I just couldn’t let it keep going on. I should have been a man and just put my foot down in the beginning. I apologize again for hurting you and I hope…”

  She got up on her tip toes and kissed me on my lips. I felt a rush of a panic for a moment but then I realized it didn’t matter anymore. The movie would be out soon and then our talent would speak for itself. There was nothing else Simon could do at that point, especially once word got out what a monster he was.

  “I can’t believe you did that,” Chloe said, smiling. “In front of everyone like this? I just… I didn’t expect it to happen this way.”

  “You’ve already been through enough and I wasn’t going to allow him to talk about you like that. I know that you knew the truth, but just the thought of what he wanted to do sent me into a rage. He is going to get what he deserves, that’s for sure.”

  “You love me?”
<
br />   “Do I love you?” I asked with a smile. “Yes. Without a shadow of a doubt. I knew it the first day I met you.”

  “I love you too, Hudson.”

  Her eyes became misty as she smiled, then hugged me again. I hoped that we would be able to endure whatever else came our way and the tighter we held on to each other, the more I was sure of it. We were together, finally, officially, and nobody was going change that.

  EPILOUGE

  CHLOE

  Before the movie even had a chance to come out, everything Simon had done over the course of his entire career finally came to light. It turned out that Simon had hurt so many women and ruined so many careers before he even got to me and Hudson that he was forced out of the business. Not only had he been blackballed from the industry, but no one had any idea where he had gone. The last anyone had heard, he was in some resort in the Bahamas, pretending to recover from “sex addiction.” But the truth was, nobody cared. The industry was already better off without him and a lot of people had done a lot of healing in his absence.

  After Love Struck came out and stayed at number one for a month, Hudson and I both had no trouble finding working. Not long after the release, a new comic book movie had announced they were looking for someone with leading-man good looks to take on the lead, and it only took two auditions for Hudson to nail the part. If Love Struck was Hudson’s jumping-off point, the super hero was his golden ticket. I couldn’t have been more of him.

  It certainly didn’t hurt that the director of Hudson’s movie was a Claire Reynolds, one of the most sought-after women in the business. When she heard about the “Simon Debacle,” as it came to be known, as well as my role in it, she was intrigued enough to hire me on as her second assistant director. It was a huge opportunity and one I lucky to get.

  Now, it was our first day of shooting on Manager Zero and the one-year anniversary of Hudson and I making our relationship official. It couldn’t have been more perfect.