THIRTEEN
“BAMBI!”
God, she was popular. At least Mieux’s voice was familiar. And welcome, she needed the interruption.
Tommy stepped aside to let her colleague—not calling her an assistant—and another guy get close.
“Randall Fichman,” the new guy said, offering a hand. “Randy.”
“Randy is the showrunner. This is his ship, bow to stern.”
“Keel to crow’s nest, only while things are running smooth. If things go the other way, it’s some other guy’s fault.” Mieux joined in the fake laugh, saving her the trouble. Hopefully her smile sold her camaraderie. “Tick…” Randy gestured yet another new face over. Younger than the others, confident, though the exterior wasn’t faultless. Finally someone who felt her pain. “Show Bambi round back. Put her in Roman’s trailer.”
“Oh no, I shouldn’t—”
“He’ll want to see you, and we’ve got time. Take the chance now ‘cause when things get underway, it could be a while ‘til we take a break.”
Randy walked off, Tommy darted after him, clamoring to get his airtime.
“Want me to come with you?”
“Oh no, I’m good,” she said to Mieux. The fewer witnesses, the better. “I’ll catch up with you…”
Somewhere. Thankfully, Tick had started moving, so she had to hurry to catch up. No time for follow up questions.
They wound around equipment and hopped over wires. She found herself stepping almost exactly where Tick did, for fear she might break something, like her neck.
When he pushed open the side door, light burst, startling her eyes. But it was welcome. Being outside, even in concrete and modernity, was better than the stifling indoors.
“This is his,” Tick said, turning the handle to open the trailer door.
In there or not, she was left with little choice but to ascend the stairs and listen to the door close behind her.
Hmm. Now what was she supposed to do?
Recessed lighting. Blinds pulled down over every window. Roman wasn’t there, that she could see, but she could smell him in the air. Yep, definitely his space. Exactly where she didn’t want to be.
A TV, a fireplace, couches, a kitchen… wow, talk about full spec. Going to sit on the couch, she perched on the edge. Already living in the guy’s house felt wrong, being there in another of his private spaces—
The door opened and she shot to her feet. Struan leaped inside and tossed something to the kitchen counter. Then he noticed her. If he’d been intending to leave immediately, that plan quickly evaporated.
“Hi,” he said first, letting the door fall back into its frame.
Rather than the awkwardness she’d expected, a different kind of aura settled on them.
“Hi.” Just looking at the man excited her. She needed to get a grip. “Where’s Roman?”
“Makeup.”
So it was just them… alone.
She slipped her hands into her back pockets. “You’re busy.”
“No, I… left some notes on the script for him.”
No? That couldn’t be further from the truth. Not the script thing, that was probably what he’d tossed to the counter. But she’d been watching him out there, for a while, he definitely had a full dance card. Though he didn’t seem to be in any hurry to run off.
Time to start tapping. “What do you do here?”
“In the trailer?”
She laughed. “On set. I never asked what—you can’t be playing Roman here too.”
“I’m his stunt double, his body double.”
It wasn’t so wrong her eyes gave that body a once-over, was it?
“Your whole life revolves around him.”
“I like what I do.”
Good, he deserved some satisfaction.
“Body double,” she said, “is that like… intimate scenes?”
He exhaled his own laugh. “Sometimes, but it’s not like you think. Intimate scenes aren’t that… intimate. It’s about lighting and movement, little else.”
“That supposed to make me feel better?” Her hands slid loose as she strolled toward him. “About you getting naked with gorgeous women?”
“I missed that.” As she stopped, he leaned in. “When’d you get naked with me?” Her head tilted in question. “I hear ‘gorgeous,’ all I think is you.”
So maybe she wasn’t the only one obsessed.
“I’m sorry I didn’t… I should’ve asked about your life.”
“My job is low on the list of things you’ve got to worry about right now. What happened at Brooker?”
“Everyone wanted to gawp, just like here. It’s probably why they hid me in here ‘cause I know for sure Roman didn’t ask for me.”
“He’s in makeup.”
Which he’d already said. Their eyes met as her fingertips reached the fabric of his tee-shirt.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Supporting me,” she said. “I wouldn’t have got through this without you.”
As her hands glided around him, he caught her shoulders. “You don’t want to do that.”
“I don’t?”
Why was it like they shared a mind? This wasn’t a rejection, instinct, and searing need betrayed that without words. This wasn’t an indifferent, unaroused man.
“I have to confess—”
“Don’t tell me,” she whispered, choosing to skim her palms up as opposed to around. “Show me.”
In the inevitable clash of their mouths, he dipped to catch her thighs as she threw her arms around his neck. Neither cared who was first, who instigated, who provoked, all came together in unison and consent.
Locking her arms tight, she pulled herself higher, forcing his head back as her spine hit the wall. Wall? What wall? This man was her wall, her stability, the clench that tightened around her veins holding her atoms together.
His powerful forearms supported her legs while his fingers dug deep into her ass. This was what she wanted, her life’s blood. The heat of his tongue pushing hers back, tempting her deeper, all she could think about was—she landed flat on her back, somewhere hard, soft… a bed.
“Stru,” she whispered, losing her fingers in his hair, raising her hips, pushing against him.
A startling bang separated their mouths.
“We’re on, Ro!” someone shouted from outside.
Fighting her shallow breathing, she might be looking Struan in the eye, but she wasn’t giving him leeway to rise further. No, her arms were staying tight around him, for as long as they could.
“I have to go get him,” he said, drawing in a long nasal inhale, mesmerized by her mouth. “Want me to apologize?”
“No.”
Licking her lips, satisfaction burst around her heart when the need in his gaze flared.
“Good. Because I won’t.” And she could lay there all day under his adoration. “I saw you first.”
Still clamped around him, her hips ascended, pushing, writhing, begging while making a promise.
“Am I your toy?” she asked, unable to refute being his.
“Oh, baby, if wishing made it so.” A dimple. “Roman’ll be shooting at least a couple of hours. Stay in here. Away from the gawpers. My trailer’s two down, gray stripe on the door.”
“Can I hang out there instead?”
“As soon as I come up with a good reason you’d be there rather than here.” He kissed her again. “This is better.”
“This?”
“You here,” he said on another glimmer of a smile. “If you were in my trailer, I’d never leave it.”
If they were in that place, she wouldn’t have released him from their bed before leaving the house.
“I haven’t decided if I’ll let you go from here yet.” Dragging her knees higher, she squeezed herself even closer. “It’s only with you I feel whole.”
On his next kiss, she relaxed. What an idiot. Why did she say that? Whatever was going on between them, it was too early to confess her own secret. Even after her arms and legs loosened, he stayed right there on top of her.
“Hold that thought,” he murmured against her lips.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t—”
“No apologies,” he said, meeting her eye again. “We’re going to figure this out, Fawn.” After another kiss, he vaulted to his feet, and stayed there at the side of the bed, admiring her. “Now you’re just lying in my brother’s bed.”
He extended an arm, offering a hand. The moment she took it, he pulled her onto her feet, then she was in his embrace. For a guy with a job to do, he wasn’t rushing to do it. Not that she was complaining.
“Next time make it yours.”
The pride of his satisfaction wrapped her in seduction. “Yes, ma’am.” And if he kept looking at her like that, they might end up on the floor. “I’ll send Mieux in to hang out. Watch a movie, there’s food in the fridge.”
“Does she know?” she asked. “Mieux?”
“Not explicitly, but she has a way of knowing everything. Don’t underestimate her. She can be trusted a hundred percent.”
That was good to know. Only what was she asking? That Mieux knew her and Roman’s engagement was bullshit, or that her and Struan were…
“I’ll come find you when I can.”
She pulled him down for another kiss and laughed at his groan as they withdrew. Yeah, their lips shouldn’t really be getting such a workout, but, come on, alone, in privacy, it wasn’t like they could resist.