“Yes. But I like the taste of you better.”
He covers the distance between us in two strides. He’s between my legs, thrusting his cock inside me. His hand fists my hair, tipping my head back, as he takes my mouth in a hard kiss.
It’s rough. It’s passionate. It’s everything.
He’s everything.
“Yes,” I moan as he pulls my hair, his hips slamming against mine.
“I can’t get enough of you,” he growls into my ear. “I’ve never needed anyone like I need you.”
“God, yes!” I cry out.
He sticks his tongue in my ear, sending dizzying sensations spiraling through me.
No one has ever made me feel like he does.
Needing more, needing to be closer to him, I grip ahold of his ass. Digging my nails in his skin, I push my hips harder against his. His tongue trails a path down my neck. His hand comes up to grab my breast, and his mouth finds it, sucking on my nipple hard.
I come like a rocket. “Vaughn!” I scream.
My orgasm seems to trigger his, and he’s moaning my name amid curses, his hips pumping in short, fast strokes against mine.
Then, he finally comes to a stop. His hands slide up my back, pulling me to him, and he hugs me. I lift my hands from his ass and wrap them around him.
We’re both silent, trying to catch our breaths.
“That was intense,” I whisper.
“Yeah,” he says into my neck, “it was.”
I don’t know what triggered the intense sex, but I’m not complaining even if I do feel a little knocked by it.
It feels like every time we have sex, I fall a little more for him. It’s scary as hell.
“We need to clean up.” I pat his back.
“Yeah,” he says, sounding reluctant to move. Then, he sighs and releases me, pulling out of me. He kisses me one last time. “I’ll get you a cloth,” he says, heading toward the door.
“No, it’s fine. I want to freshen up a bit anyway,” I tell him.
He stops and looks at me. “Okay, well, you use the master bathroom. Your things are up there in the bedroom. I’ll clean up down here.”
I gather up my clothes and make a naked dash for the stairs. I head left, the way I saw Vaughn go, and I soon find the master bedroom. It’s freaking huge with a massive bed facing the floor-to-ceiling windows. My case is sitting on the bed. The view is amazing. And I’m naked in front of it. I grab my toiletry bag from my overnight case and go into the bathroom.
A quick freshen-up and brush of my teeth, I head back into the bedroom. I put on fresh underwear and pull on my jeans and gray cashmere V-neck sweater.
I head back downstairs to find Vaughn and see him through the window, sitting out on the porch. I let myself outside and pad over to him.
He’s sitting on one of the comfy-looking wicker sofas out here, a bottle of beer in his hand.
“Hey, handsome.”
He turns his head, smiling at me. “I got you one.” He picks up a beer bottle off the table next to him and holds it out for me.
I take it from him and sit next to him. I bring my feet up to rest on the sofa and rest my head on his shoulder. He lifts his arm and puts it around me, so I rest my head on his chest.
“It’s so pretty here. I can understand why you like being here.”
Honestly, looking out at the view, just acres of greenery and trees beyond, the peace and tranquility of it, I could stay here forever.
Okay, well, not forever because I’d miss New York and Nick and the clothes and everything New York. But I could definitely stay here for an extended period of time.
“Yeah, it is beautiful.” He presses a gentle kiss to my hair.
I tip my head back, looking into his face. “How did you get into the movie business?” I ask.
It’s something I’ve wanted to ask him for a while now. And seeing him here, where he’s from, has piqued my curiosity. I know Vaughn modeled prior to acting, but that’s all I know about his step into the world of movies.
“Meg was studying at UCLA, doing her nursing degree.”
“She’s a nurse?” I ask.
“Yeah, she works over at Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls. Anyway, I was eighteen years old, on school break, and I went out to visit her. She took me to this club in LA. I was underage, but she got me a fake ID. Mom and Dad would have had a seizure if they had known.” He grins. “So, we were in this club with her university friends, having fun, and this woman came up to me. She was a model agency scout. Said that I had a great look. That I should consider modeling. She gave me her card. Told me to call her the next day.
“I knew I was a good-looking guy—I’d never had a problem with getting girls in school—but modeling wasn’t something I’d ever considered. Honestly, in my mind, I was going to go to graduate college, do a horticultural and business degree, and then work for my dad on the farm until I took it over one day.
“So, I took her card, put it in my pocket, and didn’t think about it until I pulled the card back out when I was getting my wallet the next day. I was looking at the card, thinking, What if? You know?”
He looks at me, and I nod.
“So, I called her. Thought it couldn’t hurt anything. Her assistant answered and asked me if I could come into the agency the next day. Turns out, she was a scout for LA Models. I went in, and they took some test shots. Then, I left. They called me the next day, asking me to come back in for a chat. A few days later, I was signed to their books.
“There was nothing at first. No calls. And I came back home. Then, the phone rang, and I had my first booking. And that was it after that. The jobs started rolling in, and staying in Keno wasn’t doable, so I ended up moving to LA and staying with Meg. I was getting busier and busier by the day, traveling all over the world.
“After being in the business for a year, I was at a party, and that was when I was introduced to Jack Hanson, my manager,” he tells me.
“Jack asked if I’d ever considered acting. I told him I hadn’t, but I was willing to give it a try. I signed with him and enrolled in some acting lessons. He started getting me auditions for small roles, like ads and that kind of thing. Then, he called me up one day and said he had a role in a movie he thought I’d be perfect for. He sent me the details. Of course I liked the looks of it. I mean, it was a movie. If I got the part, I knew it’d be a huge step in my career. I just didn’t realize how huge. So, a week later, off I went to audition for the part of Talion in All the Pretty Ones.”
“But you played Zander in the movie.”
Zander was the lead role. Talion was Zander’s rival in the movie. All the Pretty Ones was a dystopian film based on the novel of the same name. That movie was when the whole world fell in love with Vaughn West.
“Yeah, but when I went in to audition for the part of Talion, Jeff saw me—Jeff Burke, the director,” he explains. “Took one look at me and said I was exactly what he was looking for, for Zander. He asked me to read for the part. I did, and he offered me the role on the spot. And, as they say, the rest is history.”
“Wow,” I say.
“Yeah,” he says, but he doesn’t sound as enthused as he should.
“You don’t sound happy about it.”
“I am.” He takes a swig of his beer. “But, sometimes, I just wish…”
“What?”
He looks at me again.
“I wish I had my anonymity back. I wish I could just walk around, unknown.”
“You can here, in Keno.”
“I know. But I wish I could just go anywhere without being recognized. Without someone stopping me to ask if I was Vaughn West, if they could take a photo with me, if they could have my autograph. I wish I could go to the fucking grocery store without the press following me there. Without my whereabouts being tweeted and shared among people, and then a crowd turns up, and I have to have a security escort out of there. To meet a pretty girl, take her out on a date, have a relationship without every detail
ending up on the nightly fucking news. I just…I don’t know.” He sighs. “I love my job. I love acting. I’m fucking good at it. But, sometimes, I wonder what my life would have been like if I hadn’t made that call.”
“Sometimes, I wonder what my life would have been like if my dad hadn’t murdered my mom.”
Jesus, I can’t believe I just said that.
“Fuck, Charly. Jesus.” He scrubs a hand over his face. “Here I am, whining like a little bitch about my privileged life…and you lost your mom. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. I guess…I think everyone’s problems are individual to them. No one else’s problems are bigger or more important than the next person’s, you know. I think we all deal with things differently. We all have different levels of coping abilities.”
“And you have the dealing ability of a lioness. And, still, I’m a whiny dick who’s not worthy of you. I’m sorry, Pins.”
“Like I said, don’t be. That’s not why I said it.”
Why did I?
“Then, why did you?” His words echo my own thoughts.
I look down at my hands. “I don’t know. I guess, it kind of just popped out because I feel safe with you. I know I can talk to you. Tell you anything. I trust you, Vaughn.”
I finally look back up at him, and the warmth in his eyes coats my skin like a blanket.
“I trust you, too, Pins.”
He kisses my forehead, and then I lay my head back down on his chest and take a sip of my beer.
And I realize something in this moment.
I get to see the real Vaughn West. One not many other people get to see.
I can’t tell you how incredibly privileged that makes me feel because he’s so very special. He’s so much more than what people see on-screen.
He’s smart and witty and beautiful, inside and out, and he’s incredibly talented. I’ve never known a man who loved his family more.
He has such a big heart. A heart that I want to keep all for myself.
I don’t ever want to let him go.
I’m just not sure how I can keep him forever.
Vaughn
It’s a warm evening, so Charly and I decide to walk over to my parents’ house, as it’s only a ten-minute walk.
She’s wearing this sexy strappy, knee-length pink dress that I can’t wait to take off her later. Surprisingly, she doesn’t have heels on her feet; instead, she has on a pair of flip-flops.
She looks beautiful.
I catch hold of her hand as we walk.
She smiles up at me and wraps her other hand over my arm, bringing herself closer to me.
It’s good to be able to walk outside and hold her hand. Okay, so it’s on my parents’ land, not in the middle of town, but still, it feels good.
“This is nice,” she murmurs.
“Yeah, it is.”
And it really is. Not just the hand-holding. Being here with her. I’m usually here on my own. I don’t bring anyone here. I thought it would be weird, her being here, but it isn’t. Having her in my home feels as natural as breathing.
We reach my parents’ house and head on inside. As usual, the noise is at an epic level.
“Uncle Vaughn!”
A swarm of kids run at me, hugging my legs and stomach.
“Hey,” I say to my nieces and nephews. “Kids, this is Charly.”
They all let me go, and four sets of eyes all stare at Charly.
“Charly, this is George.” I pat his head. “He belongs to Meg and Vic. These three are Parker, Thomas, and Nora. They’re Sasha and Greg’s.”
“My mama and daddy are getting married,” Nora tells her.
Nora’s three and beyond cute. I adore her.
I know you’re not supposed to have favorites, but she’s my favorite.
“I know,” Charly says, crouching down to Nora’s level. “It’s so exciting. I bet you’re a bridesmaid, right?”
“Uh-huh,” Nora replies. “My brothers are page boys. I’m three, you know.”
“She doesn’t care how old you are,” Thomas says to her. “Are you Uncle Vaughn’s girlfriend?” he asks Charly.
Charly looks up at me and then back at Thomas. “Yeah, I guess I am.”
“Mama said you were his girlfriend,” Nora says. “She was telling Aunt Meg how pretty you are and that she thinks that Uncle Vaughn is going to marry you.”
“And that’s enough of this conversation.” I scoop Nora up in my arms, carrying her through to the living room, blowing a raspberry on her stomach.
“Stop, Uncle Vaughn!” she squeals, grabbing my hair.
Then, I feel arms grab me from behind, and it’s Parker. I drop to my knees, placing Nora on the floor, and take hold of Parker, bringing him over my shoulder. I go down to the floor with him. The next thing I know, I’m under attack from four kids, who are all on me. Three are tickling me while Nora is blowing raspberries on my stomach.
“Uncle Vaughn, why is your tummy so hard? Daddy’s tummy isn’t this hard when I blow raspberries on it. It’s all squishy.”
“Thanks, baby.” I hear Greg’s voice, followed by his laughter.
“Sounds like you need to get to the gym, man.” I look up at him, grinning.
He picks Nora up from off me, gives her a kiss, and puts her to her feet while I continue to wrestle with the boys.
“Grandma wants you all in the kitchen to wash up for dinner.”
They all groan in unison, and then, one by one, they clamber off me and head into the kitchen.
Greg offers me a hand, and I get to my feet.
“Good to see you.” I give him a one-armed hug. “Greg, this is my girl, Charly.”
Charly’s lingering in the living room doorway with this odd look on her face.
I raise a brow in question, but she just returns it with a smile.
“Hey,” Greg says to her, giving her a polite nod. “Good to meet you.”
She walks over and stands beside me. I sling my arm over her shoulder.
“Congratulations on your upcoming wedding,” she says to Greg.
“How are you feeling about signing away your life to my sister?” I joke with him.
“I signed it away years ago.” He chuckles, making us all laugh.
“Where is everyone?” I ask him.
“Your dad’s out back with Vic, showing him the tent. Sasha, your mom, Gran, and Meg are all in the kitchen.”
“I guess we should go let Mom know we’re here,” I tell Charly.
We leave Greg in the living room and head toward the kitchen.
“You okay?” I quietly ask her.
“Yeah”—she smiles—“I’m good. Your nephews and niece are adorable.”
“They get it from me.”
“Of course they do.” She rolls her eyes, making me laugh.
I push open the door, seeing the familiar sight of the women in my family in the kitchen. As usual, Meg’s sitting at the breakfast bar, reading a magazine and sipping a glass of wine; she’s not a cooker. Gran, Mom, and Sasha are working in perfect sync.
“We’re here,” I announce.
“Vaughn!” Meg hops off her stool and runs at me, throwing her arms around me like she hasn’t seen me for a year. “Missed you, movie star.”
“Missed you, too, Nutmeg.”
“And you must be Charly!” She lets go of me and advances on Charly, sweeping her up in a hug.
I think Charly must be getting used to the hugs, as she doesn’t seem to freeze up this time.
“I love your hair! Sasha said it was gorgeous, and it really is. Come sit with me.” She grabs Charly’s hand, leading her over to the breakfast bar.
“Hey, Mom.” I lean over and kiss her cheek.
“Hey.” She smiles.
“Sasha, Gran.” I smile at them. “You doing okay?”
“I would be if your sister didn’t keep trying to give me the easy jobs.” Gran frowns at Sasha.
“I’m not!” Sasha holds her hands up in innocence.
“Do you want a glass of wine?” Meg asks Charly.
“Sure. Thanks.”
“Movie star, grab us a glass for Charly. So, you’re the girl who finally tamed my baby brother.”
“Hey! Who says I’m tamed?” I put the wine glass down and pick up the bottle, pouring some into the glass for Charly.
“Thanks,” she says to me, picking it up and taking a sip.
I rest my arm around her shoulder.
Meg is staring at us with a big smile on her face.
“What?” I say to her.
“Nothing.”
“You’re acting weirder than usual, Nutmeg.”
“You just look so adorable together.” She presses her hands to her chest.
“And, on that note, we’re going to say hi to Dad and Vic. Come on, Pins.” I reach for her hand, helping her off the stool.
“Oh my God, you have a nickname for her! That’s so sweet! Did you hear that, Mom? Vaughn has a nickname for Charly. It’s so cute.”
“Run,” I whisper into Charly’s ear. “Before she starts getting out Sasha’s bridal magazines for us to take a look at.”
Charly looks at me. There’s a beat of hesitation in her eyes, which she quickly covers with a smile. And, as we make a hasty exit from the kitchen and away from my overly romantic sister, I wonder where the hesitation came from, but before I can think too much about it, the second we step outside, we’re under attack from Jester. Well, Charly is. He practically leaps into her arms. She giggles, cuddling him, while he licks her face.
I think Jester’s in love. He’s not the only one.
Wait.
What?
Charly
“Megs, do you remember when Vaughn was obsessed with Bugsy Malone?” Sasha says with a smile on her face.
We’ve just finished dinner—or I should say, a feast of epic proportions—and I’m stuffed to the rafters. I won’t need to eat for another week. Vaughn’s family has been telling me funny stories all night.
The meal and company have been amazing. I’ve had such fun. Although I do keep catching Vaughn staring at me with this odd look in his eyes. One I’ve never seen before.
“Oh my God, yeah!” Meg laughs.
“Oh God, no,” Vaughn groans from beside me.
Wardrobe Malfunction Page 18
