Chapter 2
I’m a Survivor
GREER
“Actress?” Mason doesn’t waste any time, starting the interrogation. “Model?”
I stifle a chuckle and raise an eyebrow, even as my hands grow clammy. I’m five feet tall, not exactly model material. Glancing down at my current state, I give him a look that asks really? “Neither.”
“Do you know how to cook?”
“Yes.” It’s one of the things I love to do. One of my foster mothers, Cindy, was a baker.
“Cleaning up will be part of your duties, but we do have a maid who comes by twice a week for deep cleaning. We’ll have a list for you. Do you have a problem with that?” His dark eyebrow lifts, challenging me.
“Not at all.” I’ve spent years picking up after other people.
When I glance Roarke’s way, he winks, making my whole body flush with heat. This is worse than any test anxiety I used to have. I’m hyperaware of all of them. The other guys lounge nearby, studying me. I twist the bottom of my T-shirt around my finger to give my hands something to do.
“Your main purpose will be to keep Aiden sober.” Mason glances at Aiden, who snorts and leans back like he doesn’t have a care in the world. “He’s fresh from rehab, and we have a lot of money riding on this film. We can’t have the fuckups like his last film.”
It’d been in all the tabloid news: his divorce and subsequent breakdown, followed by a stint in rehab. I don’t look at him, knowing that’s what he expects. I always hated the pitying looks from people, like you meant to fuck up your life. Like you’re flawed somehow for feeling things deeply.
“You obviously didn’t show up intending to try to seduce any of us.” Mason waves a hand at my outfit and smirks.
A breath rushes out of me, and I meet his eyes with an honest gaze. “My ex was being a dick, so I left in a hurry. Roarke asked if I could interview now, so I came straight here. I’m looking for a job and somewhere to stay. Not a man to bone. Besides, I’d hate for you to think I’m polished all the time. That would take hours to accomplish.”
“See, told you you’d like her. No fuss, no muss.” Roarke chuckles and pushes Mason’s shoulder. Like Roarke could get all that from our brief phone conversation.
Mason barely moves but glares at Roarke. Not moving his gaze from Roarke, Mason says, “We’ll need a urine test now and a blood test later. Unfortunately, someone will need to go into the bathroom with you to make sure it’s your urine.”
Roarke opens his mouth, but Aiden stands. “I’ll do it. People have been watching me pee for the last few months. It’d be a change to watch someone else.”
I don’t think my face can get any redder as he gestures for me to follow him. When I send a quick glance at everyone else, they all just watch us go. This is a normal thing, apparently. All right, I’m just going to follow the Aiden Clyborne and pee in front of him.
Fuck. How humiliating. But then I think of Chad wanting a blow job and know I’d do anything to get out of that place. Fuck, I’d probably blow all of them to get out of that apartment. My cheeks heat more as that thought doesn’t actually repulse me. It must be this place and being starstruck.
We walk down a set of stairs and pass a movie room. This is a one-in-a-million chance to see how the other half lives. My mouth drops open as I take in the expensive fixtures and pretty decorations. Did they pick this stuff out, or did a decorator come through?
With my attention distracted by all the pretty things, I crash into Aiden’s back when he stops. His back is hard as I steady myself on him.
“Sorry,” I mumble as I take a step back.
He smells like oranges, and I want to lean into the scent. But when he turns, I hustle back, trying to look like I wasn’t just sniffing him. He raises an eyebrow with that face that makes the bad guys cry in his action films.
Intimidating as fuck. I clasp my hands tight behind my back.
“Don’t run the water. When you’re finished, let me know and I’ll come in and get the sample so you can wash your hands.” Aiden’s voice is smooth like the best chocolate.
“Wait?” I point to the bathroom. “You aren’t going with me?”
He steps closer and lowers his voice. Suddenly, his heat and that citrus scent surround me, and it feels overwhelmingly intimate. He glances upstairs before returning his gaze to me. “I’ve peed enough in front of strangers to know how dehumanizing it is. If you let me pat you down, I can make sure you aren’t hiding any bags of urine on you.”
“First, ew. Second, people do that?” I tilt my head as I meet Aiden’s blue eyes.
“Yes, addicts do that. They do a lot to get their fix.” He drops his gaze before meeting my eyes again. “So what’s it going to be?”
I bite my lip and try not to stare at him, but fuck, who wouldn’t? Even if he weren’t a famous movie star, the guy is hot. The thought of his hands on my body makes my insides swirl with heat. But peeing in front of him would be humiliating.
Normally, that’s a relationship killer, and while I don’t think I’ll be in a relationship with him anytime soon, I will have to work with him day in and day out. So maybe some boundaries would be good.
I hold out my arms and spread my legs like I’m being arrested.
He shakes his head, but a hint of a smile quirks his lips. “This won’t take long.”
“Is that a short joke?” I give him a look like I’m offended. It’s not like I haven’t heard them all.
“You are quite small.” He goes down on his knee, and the top of his head is eye level with me. He looks over my baggy T-shirt and sighs. His light eyes lift to mine. It’s so weird to look down at someone. “I swear this isn’t a line, but this would be easier if you took off your T-shirt.”
Uh, fuck, yeah, that would be fine, but…
“I’m not wearing a bra,” I whisper loudly. I can’t even hear the guys upstairs talking anymore. It feels like we’re completely alone.
He arches an eyebrow. “I’ve seen tits before.”
I cock my eyebrow back. “Not mine you haven’t.”
“I’m a professional actor.” His face is completely emotionless. “I’ve been on set with some of the most beautiful women in the world without their tops on. I’m sure your breasts are…”
That pause is uncalled for as he gestures toward my chest. I cross my arms over my breasts and glare at him.
“Quite adequate.” He grins like I’m one of those women on set who needs convincing to take their tops off and be filmed. “However, if we don’t do this quickly, I’m sure Roarke will be down here any minute. He loves to watch almost as much as he loves to be watched.”
My mouth drops open. That implication sounds very sexual. I glance over my shoulder like he might bound down the steps, intent on watching me pee. Yeah, that’s not happening.
Before I can second-guess myself, I grab the hem of my oversized shirt and take it off, dropping it to the side before crossing my arms over my breasts.
“Larger than I thought.” Aiden’s words lack any inflection, purely formal. His eyes lift to mine, and there’s a gentleness in them I wasn’t expecting. “I’m going to pat down your hips and legs. Then you’ll turn around for me to check your back. I’ll check your T-shirt and then you can put it back on.”
“Okay.” In the world of humiliating stories from my life, this doesn’t even crack the top five. It’s not pleasant, but I can deal with Aiden Clyborne having seen my breasts. Hell, maybe I’ll even tell my imaginary grandkids too.
Aiden nods and his gaze shifts down. His large hands encircle my waist, brushing my bare skin, and an involuntary shiver works through me. He pauses.
“Sorry,” I say.
He works his hands down the outside of my legs. “Not sure what you’re sorry for. I’m the one feeling you up when we’ve just met.”
Having this superstar of a man kneeling before me is already intoxicating, but with his hands on me…Fuck me, he’s gorgeous even this close up. His fingers trail up the bottom of my pant legs along my calves, touching my bare skin and sending dizzying sparks throughout me. I suck in a breath and look up at the ceiling.
Think of something gross, like Chad. It doesn’t seem to help.
“I guess I’m used to apologizing.” Words spill out of me as he checks my other calf. Warmth surges through me as he trails them gently up the inside of my legs. “It’s easier to say sorry and have the other person dismiss you than to acknowledge what you feel sometimes.”
“Turn around, please.”
I lower my eyes to his, but he’s keeping his face devoid of emotion. Turning, I glance toward the stairs, wondering if someone really will come to check on us. Aiden’s hands settle on my hips, and I inhale sharply at the feel of him behind me.
“It’s my turn to apologize, but I’ll need to touch you between your legs.”
“Like a TSA check.” Done by one of the sexiest men alive. My blood boils. “Oh. Yeah, whatever you need to do.”
Like it isn’t a big deal that Aiden Clyborne is going to cup my pussy. I don’t think I’ve ever been this wet, and hopefully he won’t be able to tell.
“Honestly, I’ll be quick.” His fingers tighten on my hips.
“I bet you say that to all the girls.” It comes out before I can stop it.
“Maybe.” He chuckles. “It’s been a while.”
My heart clenches thinking of his brutal divorce.
Before I can think of another thing to say, his hand slides down between my legs. I bite my lip to stop from making some weird sex noise that would be awkward for both of us. His fingers press against me. He’s just checking to make sure I’m not storing pee somewhere. Nothing else. He draws his hand away.
“Done.”
I turn back around with my arms over my breasts. He holds my T-shirt, running his hands along it before righting it. He lifts his eyes to mine and slides my shirt on over my head. The fabric falls down, and I slip my arms into the sleeves before backing away as he stands.
Fuck, after that, I better get the job. Even the tips of my ears feel hot.
He gestures to the bathroom. “Good to go.”
I duck my head and go into the bathroom, leaving the door open a crack. Pressing my cold hands to my hot face, I feel like screaming, but that would be inappropriate. Instead, I release the breath I’m holding and get ready to pee in a cup.
Suddenly, it’s too quiet. I can literally hear Aiden’s breath in here.
“Performance anxiety?” he asks after a few long minutes.
“I swear this never happens.” But sitting on a toilet holding a cup between my legs while one of the hottest actors stands outside waiting to hear me pee is just a step too far for my poor bladder. “Can you maybe sing?”
His dark chuckle makes my insides warm. “Not even if you paid me to.”
“If I turned on the water—”
“Not an option.” His voice goes away and then comes back. “How about a monologue?”
“Anything.” To cover the silence and awkwardness of this moment.
He takes a breath and begins the lines from one of the superhero movies he starred in. The words flow from him like water, and for a minute, I forget the strip search and pat down. Better yet, I relax enough to pee. Thankfully, he doesn’t even pause at the sound and continues going on about the way of the world.
Setting the cup on the counter, I finish and stand without flushing. My cheeks heat as I call out, “Done.”
The door opens and he nods at the toilet. I flush and move to the sink to wash my hands. He passes behind me. My breath catches at his nearness. I can still feel the ghost of his hands running over me.
He pulls out a test strip and dips it in my urine.
“Now what?” I dry my hands on the towel.
He leans against the counter. “We wait for the results.”
I nod and sit on the edge of the tub. “That’s from my favorite movie.”
He smiles and dips his head, making his curls fall over his forehead. “It’s most people’s favorite movie.”
“True.” I kick my legs out in front of me. It was the movie that launched him into superstardom. “But do most people go as the character for Halloween?”
He raises his eyebrow like I’m foolish to ask.
“As a gender-bending version of your character?” I grin, remembering Chad being disgusted that I didn’t go as the female lead character to his male superhero.
“More than you think.” The corners of his lips quirk up in a sly smile. He glances at the test strip.
“How does this work?” I’m curious, and we have a few minutes alone.
“The drug test or this arrangement?” He cocks his head to the side as he maintains eye contact.
“The arrangement. What do you expect from your personal assistant?” I straighten the hem of my shirt, and his gaze drops to my breasts for a second. My face burns, and an urge to cover my breasts flows through me.
“You’re in charge of making sure I don’t crash and burn again.”
I bite out a sarcastic laugh. “So no pressure?”
He gives me a half grin that makes him seem approachable. “You keep me away from alcohol and drugs. The other parts are mostly what the guys need. Someone to make sure our house is taken care of while we work fourteen-hour days on set. Make sure we have food in the fridge and on the table.”
“Will I need to go to set with you?” I’ve never been on a film set before. It feels odd even asking.
“Sometimes.” He shrugs. “You’re here to keep me from wanting to drown myself in substances.”
That speaks to a place deep inside me. There’s a reason I ended up in foster care. The person who was supposed to love me loved drugs more.
“My mom was an addict,” I say softly. “I couldn’t save her.”
After glancing at his phone and the strip again, Aiden lowers himself to sit on the floor. “How old were you?”
“Ten.” Normally, I’d let my hair fall around my face, but right now my hair is pulled back. My need to hide goes unfulfilled, ashamed of who I was. Who I am. The daughter of an addict.
“Hey.” The word is soft and compelling.
When I lift my gaze to his, he gives me a world-weary smile.
“Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how much we love someone. Sometimes the addiction wins.” He rubs his fingers together. “I’ve been through rehab. I did all the steps. I don’t want addiction to win.”
There’s a light in the darkness of his eyes. He’s battling this demon and he just needs me to keep him on track. He’s willing to fight. That’s a step in the right direction.
“I don’t drink alcohol or take drugs because I don’t want to become her. I don’t want anyone to end up like her.” A shiver races through me as the memory presses forward of her blank brown eyes staring into nothing. I push it down, hide it away like I’ve done for years.
“I promise I’m fighting.” His words flow over me, and I can see the strength in his eyes.
“If you choose me to go into the fight with you, I’ll fight harder than anyone else. That I promise you.” It comes from somewhere deep inside. This need to make sure no one loses their loved one. To make sure we don’t lose Aiden to the darkness.
“I believe you, little warrior.” Aiden’s lips tip into a smile as the timer goes off on his phone.
My insides warm as I return his smile. Maybe this is what I need too. A mission. Someone to save.