With those words, I knew that I had to get out of there. I had a little money from the odd jobs that I’d done at some of the neighbor's houses. Such as babysitting, baking and even cleaning at times. I never told my parents that sometimes the neighbors gave me money. That was my little secret. I knew that the time would come when the money would come in handy, and it did the moment I walked through the door.
I look in the mirror one more time before I go downstairs to get in the car that the agency said would pick me up to take me to the airport. I can’t believe that my dream’s finally coming true. I didn’t think that it would do because everyone in Hollywood wants to be a star. It’s so disheartening to find out that what I thought would be so easy, is turning out to be a lot harder than I expected it would be. I shake my head at my father’s words as I left the house, “All those women are whores, do you think that they get the jobs based on their talent?”
I knew what he was referring to, sleeping with producers. I’m a good girl; I have no intention of getting fame and fortune just to forsake the one thing that I’ve been holding on to so dearly. The car comes to pick me up to go to the airport. I know very little about who I’m staring with in the movie seeing as I have the leading role. I still can't believe that I've not only got a part, but the leading one. I just hope that he’s not too big a star and can support me as much as possible.
No mind turns to Eric. The one that spent the whole night and morning with me and then treated me as if I was an inconvenience to him. I know that our paths will cross again. Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself, but if this movie’s going to be as big as they say that it’s going to be then, I’ll see him.
Maybe, I’ll be the one calling him a taxi at the end of the night. If he did ask me to fuck him again. Would I say no?
Never.
Because, as much as I try and think of him as being a jerk. I’ve been in love with him for too long as his number one fan. Maybe Harper’s right and I need to get rid of my infatuation. The problem is as much as I try and dismiss it, I’ve had it for most of my life, and that’s not something that you get over in a heartbeat.
“Ms. White?”
The driver asks as he steps out of the limo. I’ve been sitting outside a different apartment building for the last ten minutes. I felt too embarrassed to have him come inside, and I certainly didn’t want him to know where I lived, not that it would make a different to him. This part could be the start of change. Something new. Something good.
I nod, “Yes. I’m Valentina White. Please call me, Valentina. Ms. White reminds me of my mom,” I smile at him, but he doesn’t realize that it’s a really bad thing to be thought of us her. The one that slapped me and called me a whore when I said that I didn’t want to marry Ross. She told me not to come back; she’ll see that I’m a star and what’s she got to say about it then?
Nothing.
He smiles as he takes off his hat and bows, I notice that he’s a lot younger than I expected him to be. I just think of drivers as being old men, maybe I’ve watched one too many movies.
“Is that it?”
He points to my small case. I’m going to be onset for four weeks, but I came to the city with dresses like the one that I’m wearing now. I can’t afford anything else in the city. Everything’s too expensive. I have a couple of jeans and a few shirts that’ll have to do while I’m on location. I only have one set of boots, and that prompted my first question about going away for a while. I was relieved when I was told that my wardrobe would be provided for the set. I gathered that it would work out that way, but apart from the big script that I have to study and only came to the bar yesterday. I don’t know how this thing works. I know that I just have to be patient.
I lost my job at the bar. As soon as I told Janice that I’d be gone for four weeks, she said coldly, “You’ll be replaced you know that. And when you come back. Because you will come back and I won’t be able to help you.”
Harper said that she would help me. She was so damn proud, just as I am right now going on this trip. My first time on a plane. This whole journey’s going to be wild. I wonder if I should have gone to Eric’s house and asked him for some tips.
I need to get over Eric.
He made it clear that he wanted me out of his life, I just need to get him out of my head and then I can move on. It’s just so hard when every night I think about that night. The one where he took me all night long.
The one that I can’t get out of my mind.
Chapter Thirteen
Eric
“Shut your mouth Eric; it doesn’t suit you!”
Florence barks at me as I’m watching my leading lady walk towards me. Fuck it’s Valentina, she’s wearing a dress that belongs in a convent and her dark hair’s loose, but her blue eyes are unmistakable. Everything about her is, especially the way that she tastes.
“What Ms. Nightingale, you going to make sure that I don’t touch my leading lady.”
Too late for that, fuck why didn’t I click that it was her? There are not many women in LA with the same name. The one that I fucked in every part of my house is going to be my leading lady and the way that I treated her when she was
She shakes her head, “I’ll do better than that. If you do. Then not only will you find yourself out of a job, but I’ll fucking quit.”
“Come with me!” She points her finger and then leads me into the departure lounge. I assume so that Little Boo Peep, doesn’t hear what she has to say about her. Or rather what she has in mind to tell me to do. Keep as far as fucking away from her as possible.She closes the door behind me and then the light comes on. Then she starts to pace up and down, while I see a chair near the window with only a view of the airport and decide to slump in it. It’s as far away from her as possible.
Florence paces up and down while I wait for her to spit it out. We both know where this conversation’s heading. Part of me feels as if it’s pointless. She’ll tell me to behave, I’ll say I’ll try, and then the next thing we’ll be back to having this same conversation all over again.
Florence’s been in the industry a long time. She’s getting into her fifties. But still, tells people that she’s forty something. That something has been a line that she’s been using for years. The problem in Hollywood, as I found out from a tender age, is that you’re never forgiven for your bad behavior. Everyone gets to know about you, even people you’ve never worked with and the problem started when I began to get a reputation and unfortunately that passed on to Florence and in tail everyone that she was working with. They were dropping her like a bad habit. She’s lost a lot because of me, and I should be trying to behave myself, but it’s so fucking hard.
The last stint I did was a movie that went straight to pay-per-view. Those are the lowest of the lows. One minute, life is good, and you’re being called to work with everyone and anyone, on movies left, right, and fucking center. The next, no one wants to know you.
I found my comfort, coke. It suddenly became my best friend, and I was shooting up like there was no tomorrow. I went to rehab and got cleaned up, and for some reason going out drinking once in a while seemed like a better alternative. Besides alcohol’s a lot cheaper than coke.
“Eric,” she smiles, but I can see the rage forming behind her dark eyes.
“You want this job? Don’t you?”
She’s crossing her arms over her overbearing chest asking me a question that she knows the answer too.
“Sure.”
Then I cross my legs and start to think about the way things used to be. Her sitting me down and telling me about all the offers on the table. I look at the large conference table in front of me. No papers.
No offers.
No contracts.
I need to get Valentina act as if we’ve never met each other before. That’s the only way that this thing is going to work. She acts as if she doesn’t know me and vice-versa.
“Well, don’t even think about looking at her like that unless it’s on set. Don’t even think about touching her unless you hear the words Action. She’s innocent. Just started out and you need to be a good boy. Do you think that you can do that?”
I look up as I see images of Valentina’s pussy in front of me. Fuck, I need to get it together. Florence will know something’s wrong if I don’t do it and I’ll be out of the business for good. I’m too young for to retire.
“Don’t fucking think. Just do as I say. You got it?”
I nod my head, like a fucking choir boy.
“You’ve got no money. No options and you’re not bringing me down again.”
She shakes her head as she jumps off the table and nearly sprains her ankle doing it.
“I’m not going down with you. If you even touch her and this job doesn’t go well. You’re on your own. I’m not having you do this to me again.”
“I know Florence I…”
“I said, don’t think Eric. Just do, and I mean it.”
Then she walks out of the door, hobbling which means that she did hurt herself jumping off the table. I need to stop being a selfish prick. My dad ran off with mom’s insurance money, which was fine at the time because the money was rolling in. As soon as the money dried up and my reputation turned to mud, my so-called friends were no longer interested in hanging out with me. It was as if they thought that by hanging out with me, they would lose their jobs too. This industry’s crazy. Hanging out with successful people is key, and losers are not even an option if you want to survive. Florence has stuck by me, even when I became a junkie. I need to remind myself that every time I become an arrogant prick.
“Are you coming, Eric?”
I shake my head as a chill runs down my fucking spine. It’s the same one when Florence found me overdosed on the ground and with only a few minutes to live. She’s the one that brought me back to life. Right now, I don’t know what I’ll do without her. It’s as if she’s the mom that I’ve never had, and right now she wants to turn her back on me.
Fuck it!
I need to grow-up and stop acting like a dick. There’s only one problem. I don’t fucking know how.
She whispers, “Just get your head out of the gutter for both our sakes. We need this to finish with no issues. Then you’ll be back on top. I promise you. I know you can do it. I have faith in you. Even if you don’t have faith in yourself.”
Then with those words, the door slams shut and I’m alone with my thoughts, and that is my worst enemy. Thoughts and I don’t go together it always lands me in big fucking trouble.
Chapter Fourteen
Valentina
I don’t know what to do; I feel completely lost as I came to the departure lounge and the agent and Eric just moved out of the way. I can’t lose this job, and I had nothing else to wear. I didn’t know whether to come casual in a pair of jeans and a shirt or wear a dress.
Wearing the only decent dress from back home, maybe wasn’t the best choice. It’s long, floral and extremely old-fashioned, but then before I came to the Big Apple, it was a nice dress. Something that I would often go out and feel nice. I needed something to calm down me down before getting here.
I don’t drink.
I certainly don’t smoke.
So, I came as me and maybe that’s something that I shouldn’t have done as they made a quick disappearance the moment that they saw me. Luckily, they don’t disappear for long as Florence my agent comes by my side.
“You’re shaking are you okay?”
I nod my head, lying something that I’m not good at doing either. Maybe this isn’t the type of thing that I should be doing, going away with one of the hottest men in Hollywood for a movie that I know nothing about. Not only that but the last time I saw him he was calling a taxi from his house and making sure that I was as far away from him as possible.
I wonder if she knows?
God, I bet they were in the room laughing at me. I want to go back to my room. Back to the bar and get on my hands and knees and beg Janice to take me back.
“Valentina. This is your first movie right?”
Again, I nod my head. She’s looking at me with a smile, but there’s something about her eyes that tell me that she’s tough and has a reputation of not taking crap from anyone. Not that she would get it from me.
“Did you pack everything that you need for the trip? It’s just that you look as if you’re going on a summer vacation.”
“This is all I have,” I say quietly as my eyes dart from her to the room that she was in with Eric a few minutes ago.
Isn’t he coming back out?
“Well, as soon as we get there, we’ll need to go shopping. You can’t go around Aspen like that.”
Maybe she can see the tears building in my eyes because her last comment cut like a knife.
Florence shakes her head, “I didn’t mean it like that. It’s a pretty dress. It’s just not for the cold weather.”
I look at her in her fur coat, boots, and pants and decide that maybe I should have asked Harper if she had anything, because when I was leaving home. I was thinking that I was going to LA and I’ll never need a coat. Not for now and I couldn’t afford to buy one. I came with the most decent things that I have in my closet and judging by the look on her face I can tell that it doesn’t add up to much.
She’s about to say something else when Eric is by her side.
“Florence, are you going to introduce us?”
She nods her head, “Sorry. Eric this is Valentina, you’ll be working together on the movie. Aren’t you excited?”
Her eyes dart between the two of us, as Eric and I lock eyes. I want him to say that he knows me. I spent a memorable night with him, has he forgotten all about it?
“Nice to meet you, Valentina. I hope that we can work well together.”
Did he go to polite school in the meantime? The dirty mouthed bad boy seems to have left the airport.
“Ah, that’s sweet, she’s starstruck,” Florence comments as she takes my hand and leads me away from him. The man that I can’t get out of my mind has forgotten everything about me. I never knew that we'd be working together. For some reason, I never saw his name on the script which has been in my bag from the moment I got it only yesterday. I was too busy worrying about being on set and not looking the part. Now, I feel like a fool, thinking I meant something to him. He called the taxi and didn’t even say good-bye, that should have been clear enough for me.
But as Florence is talking the only thing I’m thinking is I wish that my real agent was here. She’s a small timer who couldn’t afford to fly. Florence said that she'd take care of everything which my agent said was nice of her. I need to focus, but it’s so hard when the man that I’ve been crazy about for too many years is not even giving me the time of day.
***
“I’m in the bathroom,” I whisper thinking that I need to hear a friendly voice. Someone who does care about me and will help me focus for the next two weeks.
“Valentina I can hardly hear you.”
I nod, “I know, but I’m in the bathroom. We’re at the airport, and we’ll be taking off soon.”
“Good! That means it’s happening. I was a bit worried when you said that your agent couldn’t meet you. It just sounded a bit suspect. But you could have just sent me a message. What’s up?”
“Eric’s here!”
“Eric who?”
Is she serious?
“Eric Turner. You know the guy who’s posters that I keep in my room. The one that I slept with on my birthday. The one…”
“I get the picture, Valentina. So, what if he’s there. Just pretend that you just met him and get on set.”
She doesn't understand what I’m saying to her, so I decide to stop whispering because I’m not making myself clear not one bit.
“He’s the main character. The one that I’m going to be starting with.”
“Shut up!”
She blurts out and then she screams as if she’s won the jackpot at Bingo.
“I know, but he’s pretending that he doesn’t know me. I hate him. I do. How can he do this to me? It’s so damn humiliating.”
“No, it’s not. It’s perfect. Because you need to focus. You’ve been given the opportunity of a lifetime. Fuck him! Oops, you already did that, but it doesn’t matter because you’re an unknown star who’s going to be known. Just remember that. Don’t even dare get distracted you hear me.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I drop my purse and salute her in the bathroom.
“I mean it, Valentina. You need to make sure that you do well and that’s the only reason you’re going to Aspen for the role. Not for Eric Turner.”
I sigh as I sit down on the toilet and think about what she’s saying, but she has no idea how hard this is going to be.
“Florence did say that I’m star struck.”
“Exactly! Stick with that, don’t get wet if he touches you. This is a job, and you need to remain as professional as possible. I wish I were there with you.”
I sigh, “You’re not the only one. My voice of reason.”
She laughs, “You’re voice of sanity. I bet you’re going crazy right now thinking about him. Seriously, he’s not worth it. He probably had some other poor soul in his room that night after you left. He’s a womanizer, and that’s the only thing on his mind.”
“Women?”
She screams, “Sex! He just wants sex, and you want a job. One that will lead the way. Even if this movie’s not a blockbuster, just put on your best performance, and it’ll set a path for you. Trust me.”
“Sure.”
“Valentina, are you listening or still thinking about him?”
I’m just about to lie and say that I feel as if my heart’s been pulled in so many different directions in the space of thirty minutes.
“Eric wants to pretend that he doesn’t know me and it hurts. Maybe I’m not cut out for acting. Because I don’t think that I can pretend.”
“Do you want to end up going back home?”
I stand up at the mere thought of it.
“That’s not an option.”
She sighs, “Exactly, so put on your best acting talent both on and off screen. What happened with you and Eric is a thing of the past. It doesn’t bother you, and you’re there to perform. Do that, and everything will fall into place. You just need to believe that it’s possible. I believe in you, Valentina. Just trust me on this one. You know it makes sense.”
I nod, “You’re right.”
And before I could say another word, someone came into the bathroom.
Shoot!
I quickly hang up and then send her a text telling her that someone’s come in. And then when I hear my name being called out, “Valentina?”
I quickly flush the toilet and smile with such confidence, “Coming!”
That it surprises me and I realize that maybe I’m cut out for acting after all. If Eric wants to pretend that he doesn’t know me. Then it’s not an issue because I need this job. So damn bad and I’m going to make sure that nothing stands in my way. I had a childhood crush. I need to get over it, starting today.
Chapter Fifteen
Eric
“Thanks, peeps! That’s a wrap of the final scene!” the director shouts as I leave the cabin. The last few days have been painful, every time I look at Valentina she’s as cold as ice. I don’t blame her, I’ve done a good job of keeping my distance, and she should do the same.
The fucking crazy part about it, is that I thought that by ignoring her, I’ll be able to focus on working. But instead it’s driving me crazy not knowing what’s going through her mind. She doesn’t look at me, let alone speak to me unless she hears the words, ‘Camera, Lights, Action’ or even just the word, ‘Go!’
Once we wrap up this movie, I’m going to head straight to the car showroom and buy myself a new Merc. not on credit, cash and there’s nothing that’s going to stop me doing it. I can tell that this movie’s going to be big. No fucking huge and I don’t want anything standing in the way. No matter how hot Valentina looks at the best of times.
Florence is confident that everything’s going well and she’s left us to our own devices, which is crazy considering before she wouldn’t leave Valentina and me in the same room. Maybe she trusts me. Either way, she knows that I have too much to loose to even think about fucking this whole thing up and I have no intention of doing that. Not again.
“Eric, we’re having a little party in the cabin later if you’re interested?”
Kevin one of the cameramen asks me as I’m just about to jump on the bus to go to the hotel. One thing that Florence warned me about before she left was drinking; I promised that I wouldn’t touch the stuff. Not for her good, but my own.
“Not sure. We’ve got a pretty tight schedule tomorrow.”
He shakes his head, “No, we need to check everything tomorrow and then we’re shooting the day after. The team wants to review it all. Anyway, it’s up to you. But I just thought that you would want to come. Everyone’s coming.”
“Everyone?”
What I want to know is if Valentina’s coming?
But I don’t ask him that, no one knows about our rendezvous before we came on set and I want to keep it that way.
Maybe I should talk to her and figure out what’s going on in her mind, considering this is her first big screen movie she seems to be doing well. She’s talented that's for sure. I feel as if I’m the newbie and I should be getting advice from her as to what to do next.
“Everyone!”
He pats me on the back, and I wonder if he knows. Fuck! I’m so fucking paranoid, and I need to stop doing that. So, what if he knows. It doesn’t mean a thing. I should have a conversation with her. That would be the decent thing to do, seeing as she was a fan. I bet she stopped being one the moment I ignored her on the first day.
“Sure. I’ll come. What time and where?”
“Really?”
I laugh, “Why do you say that?”
He tilts his head to the side and says, “Well some of the guys were thinking that you’re a bit full of yourself because you never want to go out for a drink or anything. So, at least I can prove them wrong.”
“Since I came out of rehab I’ve avoided socializing. It tends to lead to temptation. As much as I say that I'm not going to drink, for some reason whenever I go out. I can't say no. I fucking drink over time.”
That’s the only bullshit that I can think to come up with, it’s partly true, and the other part is mainly because the dark-haired blue eye that I need to fake being attracted to in the next few scenes is here and I need to fucking avoid her like the plague.
“Fuck, I feel like a prick for saying anything.”
I smile, “Don’t sweat it, man. I’ll be there. Just tell me where and what time?”
He nods, “Cool, we’re only here for another week, so I think that it’ll be a good thing. It helps with the vibe of the movie and everything.”
I sigh, “Sure.”
It’s all bullshit, everyone gives this illusion that for the movie to be a success we all need to connect in one way or another, but that’s not true. They just like turning the set into an offscreen orgy and use the movie as an excuse to do it. I’ve been in the industry long enough to know the drill. I don’t want an orgy, I just want one lady but the problem is staying away is becoming harder every fucking today. I have a feeling that tonight it’s going to be even harder and that makes me want to go to the party. Not to mingle with them, but just her.
Chapter Sixteen
Valentina
A few of the guys are going to a party, the good part about it is the fact that Eric won’t be going. He didn’t go to the one on the first night, and I’m sure that he’s not going to be going to this one. I pick up the phone and give my usual update to Harper which entails, ‘Did you talk to Eric off-screen?’ my reply’s always the same, ‘No.’ Then we move on to other topics. The crew, the people, being in a movie and anything else the doesn’t revolve around Eric.
“Hey Harper,” I beam as I’ve got something really important to tell her tonight.
“You sound happy. What’s happened? Oh God, please tell me that you didn’t talk to Eric off-screen today?”
“No! Can you stop tripping about that? Besides he hasn’t even made any effort to talk to me. I told you that.”
“Yeah, but he’s a snake. He’ll try it eventually mark my words.”
I giggle at her being the expert in everything and always wanting me to send her pictures of the set. Just so that she can feel that she’s part of it all.
“Anyway, I've got big news. The director said that I did an excellent job today and he feels that I'm a born natural. He said that he's worked with a lot of newbies and none of them have been as professional as me. And if at any time I need a reference, he'll be happy to give me one.”
“Really?”
She squirms, and she can probably feel my excitement on the phone.
“I was so nervous about it all and then being here Harper, well it made everything feel natural. It’s as if it's all fallen into place. Without me even trying.”
She sighs, “That’s good, and it’ll stay that way as long as you don’t let Eric anywhere near you.”
“Okay, okay. I get it. So, tell me what gives?” I slump down on the bed again. I’ve been sleeping since I came in the room. Crap! I never checked the time before I called her. I didn’t even take my clothes off. I was exhausted we had an early morning start today, but it’s all good because we’re not shooting tomorrow.
Sometimes I don’t want to talk about me. Right now, I don’t want to jinx it all. I did catch Eric looking at me a few times today. But there’s no way I’ll tell her and make her panic about it all. Eric’s spent seven days ignoring me and treating me as if I’m a stranger. I’ve been doing the same. Apart from yesterday when we had a break. I swear that he was coming towards me. That’s when Florence left. It was as if he was good at keeping his distance when she was around, but then again maybe that’s what I want to think. That he’s regretting the last few days, because of as much as I keep telling myself that he’s a jerk. There’s another part of me that keeps saying that it's all in my mind.
“Are you listening to me?”
Crap!
I was too busy thinking about Eric that I even forgot that I was still on the phone to Harper.
“Sorry, I need to get ready, and the bar sounds as if it’s lively as always.”
“Valentina…”
I know exactly what she’s going to say next, but I don’t want to hear it.
“Tony’s asking about you. Should I tell him that you say hi?”
“No, I said after that night with Eric. He gives me the creeps. Don’t say anything. Please?”
She starts to tut which means that she’s thinking about it. But, I can’t deal with that, not when I have a party to get ready for.
“Harper?”
“Yeah. Yeah. I get the message. I’ll tell him that you say hi. Bye.”
Then she hangs up. I’m just about to ring her back when there’s a knock at the door. Shoot! Is that the time already. I haven’t even showered or changed. Florence took me shopping last week, and she went all crazy as she picked up clothes that I see on the shop front and can never afford to buy. It was nice to be spoiled, and I’ve got a nice collection going on for the first time in my life from dresses, skirts, pants, and jeans. It was as if she was enjoying the shopping trip just as much as I was and it made me feel less guilty.
“Coming!”
I shout out as I jump over the bed and then head towards the door. I drop my phone on the bed, and I’m annoyed by the person on the other side.
Eric’s wearing black pants and a matching shirt just drove me wild. His strong musk has sexy written all over it has my panties doing somersaults. There’s no denying that I’m attracted to Eric, and my school girl crush isn’t a thing from the past.
He comes closer to me, “Valentina.”
Shoot!
It has been over a week since we’ve been here, and he hasn’t said a word to me. Just like that he comes close and our lips are so close. They’re not touching, but enough that I can smell the beer that he must have been drinking before he ended up at my door.
My breasts turn tender and start to crave his touch. My nipples feel hard as they start to remember the slickness of his tongue. He didn’t say anything as he drew close to me. I didn’t back up as I held on to the door. Not for protection, but just for balance. Our lips are so close. They weren’t touching, but I could smell his breath.
It wasn’t the best smell in the world. A mix of beer and cigarettes, but I was so damn attracted to him that I still wanted to stick my tongue down his throat.
My breasts were tender, craving his touch. My nipples were hard, pressed against his chest, and desperate for his tongue as they rub against his shirt. He’s waiting for me to make a move or something, but then I come to my senses and ask him, “What are you doing here?”
I blink furiously wondering if we’re on screen or if this is happening?
I’m not going to fall for the charms of Eric Turner in a flash. This time he can’t tell me that we’re going to fuck and I follow him like a puppy dog.
Once bitten, twice shy.
I’ve learned my lesson once, I don’t need to sit in class to know better this time. I know what he’s really like and I don’t like it.
Chapter Seventeen
Eric
I smile thinking that my charm will work on her, but as she crosses her arms. I know that I’ve crossed a line. One that can’t be broken by simply being charming. I need to do some groveling or maybe a little more than that.
“Kevin said that you were going to the party and I said that I'd pick you up,” her sea-blue eyes are avoiding mine as she’s backing into the room and I turn to firmly shut the door. There’s no escaping me, even if she does try.
“Oh, so now you want to talk to me? Eric really, I’m not in the mood for games. I have a headache.”
“So, why were you going to the party?”
She may be a good actress, but she’s a pretty shit liar. I’ve seen her in action, and it’s always painful. She starts to bite her lips and then her eyes dart from every angle of the room. Away from the person that she’s talking to and anyone else would find it childish, but I find it sexy as hell.
“Because I didn’t have a headache then,” she puts her arms on her hips. “Eric, I don’t know what you came here for?”
“To take you to the party. I said that already.”
I can see that she’s getting flustered and I never meant to be rude or even make her feel small. She asked a question, and I just told her the answer to it. But, I can tell that she’s starting to get even more annoyed.
“Anyhow. I just know that you’ve been here for how long?”
“Eight days.”
She sighs as if she’s trying to make a point and as much as she’s trying to do it. She’s failing miserably. I want her so fucking badly, but I can’t. I won’t. It wouldn’t be right and as much as I hate to admit that I’m in the wrong. I know that I have to start right here and now.
“Valentina. Can we start again?”
“What just like that? You expect me to bend over backward when you haven’t even tried to speak to me. Not once.”
I sigh, “I know, and this is fucking hard for me. I don’t apologize for anything. Never in my life. I've always been the one to sulk or make it that it's someone else's fault. But I know that what I did to you was wrong. I don’t even know where to begin, but I do know that I want to try and make things right."
“Let’s start Eric with why did you call the taxi that day? You didn’t even tell me that one was on the way and you just shoved me out of the door.”
“Can I sit down?”
She’s rolling her eyes, her arms are folded, and she’s pushing her breasts to the front. I know that she’s not doing it for my benefit, but it feels as if it’s going to take a lot more than an apology for her to forgive me. I don’t blame her. I was an ass, and she deserves better than that.
“Sit!”
She points to the bed, and I want to ask her to sit down too. Just so that we can talk. Nothing else.
“My cars had been repossessed that day, and I’d just found out. I was talking to you and getting distracted, but I was frustrated.”
“I see. And when we started shooting. When you saw me at the airport. Why then too?”
“Because we both needed this job. We needed to focus, and I just thought that if we did…”
We’re both quiet at this point; I know that I don’t need to elaborate any more on this part. She knows what I’m about to say.
“Anyway, I just thought that it was in our best interests not to talk or get distracted.”
She nods her head, “That’s why you need to leave here and not go to the party.”
“What?”
“We have just over three weeks until we leave Aspen. I can go on another three more without seeing you unless it's in front of the camera. We don't need to be friends or try and make-up. We spent one night together; there were no promises, so we can just leave it like that.”
I sound like a broken record as I repeat, “What?”
“Eric you thought that you were going to come here. Seduce me, maybe because you’re bored and I would fall for you. Again. No, not this time buster. If you insist on going to the party, then I can stay here. I’m not bored; I have lines to learn and books to read, I don't need to socialize.”
Fuck! What's got into her?
She doesn't wait for me to say anything, but then starts pacing the room and blurts out, “I don’t need company right now and especially not yours.”
She turns her back on me and then heads into the bathroom. The only place that she can get away from me. I sit on the bed. Then I get up and pace a bit more. She’s not coming out. Fuck, this isn’t the way that I’d envisaged this apology. Not one bit.
“Valentina, are you coming out or what?”
“No, not until you leave!”
Fine! I’ll fucking leave if that’s what she wants. I’ll go to the party, they’ll be plenty of girls to satisfy my needs, and she’s not one of them. That’s her loss, not mine. I don’t know what I was thinking about coming over here like this. Apologizing and making out that I was in the wrong. There was a time that she could come and speak to me. She could have done that little effort. She didn’t want to. As usual, it’s always the guy's fault. Even when he’s not completely in the wrong.
Chapter Eighteen
Valentina
I fucking hate him!
My blood’s boiling at the idea that he can come in here and just expect me to kneel down to him. What does he think he is? Some God or something? That no one has feelings, only he has them, and those are more important than anyone else’s.
I have my phone in my hand, and I’m so tempted to call Harper, to tell her about him. But, I know that she’ll freak and then tell me that I won’t be able to handle anything that he does. Accept, I just threw him out of my bedroom by locking myself in the bathroom. I locked it to make sure that he didn’t attempt to come in.
Crazy!
It took every last ounce of me to say no to him. It was so hard, but I did it and I’m proud. I should be thinking about getting out there, especially after hearing the door slam. But there’s one problem. I just don’t trust him. I think that the second I open the door. He’s going to be out there. Waiting for me to come in.
I sit on the floor and play Candy Crush for a while until I think that maybe he’ll give up and then head out. I never had time to play games; I didn’t have time to do anything. Everything was all about work. That’s been the best thing about working here. Sure, it’s hard work, but at least I get to chill for a minute.
Not long and not often, but enough to get a decent night’s sleep in a bed that has fresh sheets which aren’t the cheapest from the local Walmart. These are the kind of sheets that stars sleep in. Something that I hope to be one day, I’m just not sure when that day starts or ends at the moment.
My phone rings and I automatically pick it up by accident. I just hope that it isn’t him.
“Hello,” I say quietly debating whether to hang up instantly if it is him.
“Hey, Valentina. Are you not coming?”
I don't recognize the voice on the other line.
“What?”
“This is Kevin. Eric just got here, and he said that you refused to come.”
Oh, did he now! Why didn’t he tell Kevin that I was just sick? That’s exactly what I told Eric.
I start to cough, “No, it’s just that I’m not used to it being so cold. I think that I’ve caught a cold or something.”
“Really? Sorry about that, you seemed fine earlier. I suppose you’re used to the hot LA climates now. Shoot now I feel bad. Eric never said that you were sick.”
That’s Eric for you! I told him that I had a headache and he went and said a completely different story. What is it with him? He ignores me for days and then all of a sudden he wants to be my best friend, lover or whore? I don’t care; things have been working well lately. He’s kept his distance, and I’ve kept mine. It doesn’t have to change, it’s out of his control because I’m not going to let it.
“Maybe I should get you something. You know to make you feel better.”
His voice is changing, and if I didn’t know better, then I would think that he was flirting.
Holy crap!
Why am I so slow at times? Kevin’s asked me out so many times, but always with the other guys. I just didn’t think that he was interested, but then again I’ve spent most of my time trying to learn my lines and keep away from Eric. I’m not on the look out for a relationship, I’m twenty-two and so far I live in a box. I’ve only slept with one man, and I need to make my life better. Not only to prove something to myself, but to my parents too. They think that I’ll sell myself or do something unethical to make it big. I don’t even need to do that. I just need to follow my heart. That’s acting and what I have with Eric is just lust. It needs to fade like a bad dream. I wish it will just go away.
“No Kevin. Sorry, I need to be left alone. I just..”
“I know, small town girl. Missing home. I’ll be over in about twenty minutes. I know exactly what you need.”
Before I can say another thing, he hangs up. It looks as if he’s coming to join me. Whether I like it or not!
Chapter Nineteen
Eric
Fuck!
I can’t believe Valentina. She told me that she’s not coming to the party and she’s invited Kevin back to her room. That's what he just told everyone as he's walking out of the door. Winking and telling people not to expect him back.
Okay, so she’s right. We’ve been here for a week. One long, painful week, but the majority of that included Florence keeping a watchful eye. I couldn’t do anything when she was here. Now, I can, and she wants to punish me, for not talking to her.
Well, she didn’t exactly make an effort. But every girl under the sun wants to be my friend at this party. There’s Gia the makeup artist, Rachel the stylist and Isobel who has a small role in the movie. I think that Isobel’s more interested in fast-tracking her career rather than keeping me company tonight. Their beautiful. Fucking stunning either, but they’re not Valentina. She’s the girl that I can’t get out of my fucking mind and yet she’s ignoring me.
Kevin’s been gone for twenty minutes. He must be in her room right now. I take a swing of my beer and grab hold of Gia, “Come on, let’s dance.”
As we start to dance, I realize that nothing about Gia is real. From her silicon breasts to her over inflated lips that make her look as if she’s been stung by a bee. To her blonde hair. Fuck! It’s as if she’s a real-life Barbie doll. And it starts to dawn on me, why I like Valentina so much. Everything about her is real.
From the fact that she bites her lips whenever she’s nervous, that she’s got the role of a lifetime and she doesn’t take it for granted. I’ve worked with girls that are just starting out in the industry. They get the one role and all of a sudden their treating their old friends as if they’re their slaves.
Valentina’s not like that, and even when her name goes up in lights, she’s not going to change. I know that for sure. Gia’s rubbing up against me and I feel that if she does it any more than her silicon breasts are going to cause a fire. I can’t stand it, and I growl, “I need to go and pee!”
She smiles and then continues to dance to her beat. Even her moves look fake. Fuck it; I’m going to see Valentina. I’m going to say what I should have said the moment; I got to her room. This time I’ll do it properly. I won’t take no for an answer, no matter how long she decides to lock herself in the bathroom for.
***
I feel like a caveman ready to kick Kevin out of her room if he’s in there and ready to fight for Valentina. She can’t say no to me. I won’t let her. As I step out of the taxi and head towards the hotel door. I hear my name being called out.
“Eric!”
I take another step and then I hear my name being called again. I stop dead in my tracks because I’m sure that the voice that’s calling it is Valentina.
“What the fuck?”
I say as I see a hand waving in the bushes near the hotel side window.
“Shh, come here,” Valentina says as she’s hiding behind a bush just by the front door.
“But what are you doing out here? It’s freezing.”
She’s shaking in my arms, and she has a hat on and some boots, but it’s not enough. Not to be stuck out here.
“I had a feeling that Kevin was up to something, so when he said that he was coming, I decided to hide out here.”
“Okay?”
I had the same feeling, but she could have hidden in the bar or something, not outside in the cold.
“Why out here? I don’t get it.”
“Well, if we go to your room then I’ll explain it to you.”
I nod my head and then take her hand, even with her gloves on I can tell that they’re as hard as ice.
“I don’t understand why…”
“Shh, fewer questions. Let’s get up to your room and then we’ll talk. Right now, I just want to get warm.”
Really?
What would she have done if I hadn’t come along?
She would have been at one with the bush, yet she wants to tell me what to do. I suppose I’ll let her, because maybe then I’ll get back into her good books. If she has one, I want to feature in it. As we walk through the hotel, I can tell that she’s shaking and so I turn to pick her up.
She waves a finger at me and says, “No you don’t. I can walk by myself. I don’t need you to carry me.”
I sigh at the thought of her being so cold, but then I have to remember the reason that I came back. I came to claim her, whether she likes it or not.
“Suit yourself.”
“I do actually. I’m only in need of your help because I’m desperate.”
I start to walk the opposite way, sure I deserve some slap on the cheek, but she’s going too far.
“Wait, where are you going?”
“To get Kevin!”
“Shit, no Eric don’t. I’m sorry. Look it’s been an eventful day. First I thought that I was going to the party and you weren’t going, then I find out that you’re going..”
I shut her up with a kiss; I don’t try anything sexy. I just want to kiss her pale blue lips which need warming up and then I hold her in my arms and growl, “Do you ever shut up?”
She shakes her head, as she looks at me. Those blue eyes that got me from the start are staring at me with the same innocence that they did from the start. As much as I want to take her right now. I won’t. I’ll talk to her and appeal to her good nature. She has one; I know that I can get to it. I just need to give her time.
Chapter Twenty
Valentina
Oh my God, as if tonight couldn’t get any worse. First Eric comes to my room expecting me to forgive him at the drop of a hat and then Kevin was on his way. I knew that he wasn’t coming to talk. Or even keep me company, I just had a bad feeling about being in the room when he came over.
Maybe staying behind the bush wasn’t the best idea, but I just didn’t want him to Kevin to know that I was around. I had visions of him trying to get me drunk at the bar. He’s cute. The type of guy that could have been my best friend back home. The type that I would confide in, but this is a different type of reality. The people here on set. Talk about each other. I’ve seen a couple of the girls flirting with one guy and then go up to the guy and do the same thing. They’re either bitching or just making up stuff just to get the other one in trouble. This is why I go to the party’s and smile too much and say a lot less. I don’t want to be caught up in the web of lies that they love to bathe in. I may want to be an actress, but I don’t want to surround myself with all the crap that comes with it too. Then again, maybe I’m kidding myself and they both go hand-in-hand.
“Okay, so are you sure that you don’t have frostbite or something?” Eric asks as he gets to the front of his door.
I shake my head, “No. I’m just cold.”
He nods frantically, “Right let’s get you warmed up.”
I want to agree with him, the way that he would have done it before. Getting me all dirty between the sheets. But there’s something different about his tone. Then again we’re now different people. No longer are in my bar and ready to fuck.
We’re starting in the same movie, and both of us have something to lose if it doesn't work out. I think that slowly, but surely I’m starting to realize that now. He’s so damn gentle that it makes me feel bad for throwing him out earlier.
“Hey, just get in the bed, and I’ll get some covers and get you warm.”
I nod my head like a little child, being looked after their dad as he starts to peel off my gloves and says, “You are crazy. Standing out there. You could have gone to the bar or something?”
“Yes, but I had a feeling that if he saw me, then he’ll drag me to my room.”
He laughs, “He couldn’t do that. Unless you drank a bit too much.”
I shake my head as he cups me in his arms, he’s stroking my back, and the covers are between us, but I know that he’s keeping me warm.
“Do you feel better?”
“Yes,” I whisper as I close my eyes.
“I’m sorry about the way things ended up between us and I should have apologized better and explained to things to you.’
I choke, “Why? You’re acting as if we were an item or something? It was just one night.”
He kisses my head and sighs, “Keep telling yourself that Valentina.”
I want to say something, but I’m lost for words, as he holds me tightly in his arms.
“But why tonight. Why now?”
“Why did I come and talk to you tonight and not before?”
“Uh-huh.”
“I don’t know; it just felt like the right opportunity to do it. It’s not that I haven’t thought of a doing it before, but Florence was on my back about not drinking or doing anything and even after she left….I still didn't want to let her down. She’s more my agent. She’s been there for me when everyone turned their back on me and when Kevin said about the party. I thought one night. One time just so that we could talk. You know.”
I smile, “Like we’re doing now.”
“Exactly! But if you don’t want to talk then we don’t have to. Maybe you’re right about Kevin. He seems kind of creepy to me.”
“Because he wears glasses?”
He chuckles, “No, because he kept insisting on coming to your room and maybe your gut instincts were right. You did need to stay away from him.”
Maybe?
It’s something that I’ll never find out, and I’m not even curious to know what he did, because I’m right where I want to be, in Eric’s arms. But not sexually, just sensually and it makes me feel warm, not only his body heat, but I have that feeling deep down inside that he’s here for a reason and it’s not to just apologize. It’s to do something more than that, but he has to gain my trust, and that’ll only come one step at a time.
Chapter Twenty One
Eric
I feel like a prick who’s life has been turned completely upside down, and it’s not from getting high or even being drunk and out of it most of the time. It’s from one woman. I never thought that I would even feel this way about anyone. I used to see actors marry their co-stars, dancers and sometimes I would attend, but they’ll talk about love and then six months, or if they were lucky six Valentina is entirely different to any woman that I like to hang around with whenever I get in the mood for some female company. There’s an innocence about her, that makes you think that you can take advantage of her. The moment anyone tries to do that she puts her foot down. She’s kind of a Sara Parker and Cinderella in one tight, sexy body.
“It looks as if you two are really getting along..” Florence smiles at me.
She flew in last night for our final day on the set. She claims it’s to make sure that everything gets tied up, but I think that it’s just a reason Florence says as she comes back for the final day of shooting.
“Well, we knew each other before we came on the set.”
I confess to her, our time here’s done, and the movie shooting is coming to an end. There’s no point keeping it a secret anymore, and I’m sure that she already knows that Valentina and I have been spending time together. No sex. Not that it hasn’t been on my mind on all the fucking time. I know that if I try anything then she’ll have nothing to do with me. A risk that I’m not willing to take.
“Really? I would never have been able to tell. You guys in the same room. I could cut the atmosphere with a knife.”
I laugh as she raises her eyebrow. That’s one thing about Florence she’s no one’s fool. I knew that her statement was because she knew the truth and with that one line, she confirmed it.
“Maybe she’s exactly what you need,” she smiles as she holds on to my hand.
“Florence. I thought that I needed to be alone. You’re always telling me that I think with my dick and not my head.”
We’re taking a break and catching up over breakfast while Valentina’s shooting the final scenes.
“Yes, but it wasn’t only your dick that was playing with your mind. I think it was more your over inflated ego.”
“Ouch,” I put my hand to my heart as if I’ve been wounded with her words.
She laughs, “Don’t try and act as if you’re so sensitive I know that you know I’m right. No, Valentina could be exactly what you need. Just don’t fuck it up.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Eric, I’ve known you long enough, and I saw the way that you were looking at her last night over dinner. It’s clear that there's something special between you two and it’s not just sex.”
Wow!
“So, you were watching us? And there I was thinking that you were too busy flirting with the director.”
She giggles, “A girl can do both.”
I nod and say, “Yes a girl can do both, but you are far from a girl. You’re a lot older than that and you should know better.”
I kiss her on the forehead as I head out to catch up with Valentina.
“Yes, but I’m not dead yet. So, there’s nothing wrong with living and having a little fun. But not too much fun.”
I nod as I head out and start making my way towards Valentina. Her final scene’s are being shot in the cabin, and I have something to tell her. It starts with that I don’t want this to be the end. I want us to keep seeing each other as a couple. She’s been the ray of the sunshine that I’ve needed in my life, and I don't want to let her go. I haven’t been drunk or even felt like it for the last few days, and it’s all down to her.
***
“Where’s Valentina?”
I ask Gia, as I pass her as she starts leaving the cabin. I notice that she’s the only one coming out of there. Which I find a bit weird, usually when they’re shooting scenes there’s people coming in and out of the cabin. And a least a stand-by crew outside.
“How the hell am I supposed to know? I’m not her keeper!”
Then she struts off as if she’s pissed with me. I know she is, but she needs to get over it. It’s not as if she was fucking interested in me. She has a reputation for trying to get with the leading men, and it seems as if this time she failed, and now she’s pissed. She’ll get a job on another movie-set and I’m sure the leading man will be ever so willing and then I will be a man of the past. One that she’ll probably not even remember turning her down.
I shrug my shoulders and walk off hoping to see someone else.
Damn!
I thought that they'd be here for at least three hours, but it looks as if they ended early. What the fuck is going on?
“Ben, what’s up? How comes the shoot ended early?”
He sighs as he rubs his balding head. He’s a bit eccentric, but there’s no doubt that he’s one of the top directors’s in the business.
“Yeah, we had to stop shooting. It seems that the weather’s not cold enough to shoot it right. Something was wrong, so we need to try again another time. Maybe tomorrow.”
“Oh.”
“And my scene?”
He pats me on the shoulder’s, “Tomorrow.”
Then he starts to mumble something and then walks off. That’s the problem with filming outdoors at times, the weather needs to be right, but for some crazy reason, I thought that this was all going to be happening indoors. But that still doesn’t help answer my question about Valentina? Where is she?
I take out my phone, and there’s no message from her. Maybe she wanted some quiet time? She does that once in a while; I know that she feels that way whenever she thinks about her parents. She becomes all insecure and shit. I feel like the white knight that wants to take the pain away from her. The problem is she doesn’t allow me to do it. At times, I think that she’s too independent for her good. Always wanting to do things by herself and never really letting me in.
I start walking to the hotel, it’s not far, and as much as the winds blowing, the sun’s out, and it doesn’t feel as cold as it did when we first came here. I must admit that I’ve missed being at home in my bed. The idea that it’s not going to be taken away from me makes me want to be there even more. Rosetta was happy when I told her the news about being able to pay her, but she seemed even happier knowing that I was back at work. Back on the big screen.
As I step outside Valentina’s door, I think I hear a scream. I’m just about to knock when I hear it again.
Fuck!
“Valentina!”
She doesn’t say anything, but I start to panic. I start trying to knock down the door. Fuck they’re tough, and my head’s racing out of control. On in a while I used to play an action hero figure. I used to know what to do in these type of circumstances. Kick and then the door would automatically open and I’d rush in and fight whoever was in there. It seemed so fucking easy, but that’s the problem with being a movie star hero and real life. They’re not the fucking same and kicking down a door isn’t as easy as it’s been when shooting, besides I don’t even know if I’m doing this fucking right.
So with my heart racing like crazy I decide to do the best thing. Get some fucking help. I didn’t have to look far before I see one of the maid’s and tell her, “You need to open that fucking door now!”
“That’s why I came here. I thought I heard something.”
She starts panicking as she’s trying to get the key. I start to kick the door some more with my foot. It fucking hurt, but I can’t hear anything, and it scares me so fucking much right now.
“Valentina!”
I shout out as the maid blurts out, “I got it!”
She slots the key and just like that I don’t see anything, I start rummaging around the room until we get to the bathroom. Fuck, she’s in there, but the question is who is in there with her? Because I know that she’s not alone and it scares the shit out of me.
“Valentina!”
I start banging on the door. There’s nothing. She’s not saying a word and whoever’s in there is keeping her quiet. I need to fucking get in there. Right now!
I turn to the maid, “Get back. She’s in there, and I start to thump the door one more time. It doesn’t take much effort for it to open and see that Kevin has knocked Valentina out somehow and he’s holding her. I rush to him and greet him with my fist. Fucking dog! I feel like a fool as I see that Valentina’s on the ground. She said that she had a bad feeling about him. I should have fucking listened to her. As Kevin falls flat to the ground and that doesn’t stop me kicking and punching him.
“Stop it!”
“Stop it please!”
The maid yells behind me. She’s screaming in between telling me to stop. Meanwhile Valentina’s not he other side just lying still. I should be worried about her, but I’m so fucking angry right now. I see that Valentina’s fully dressed, but I don’t know how long he’s been in here with her. I don’t know if he’s drugged or done something to her. The maid’s screams have caught other’s attention, because she’s not screaming but someone’s holding me back. They’re stopping me from doing anymore damage to him and I hate them.
But most of all I hate myself for not listening to her, when she told me that she thought that Kevin was creepy. It’s guilt that makes me want to kill him right now. It’s guilt that makes me walk out of her room and take a breather, before I do anymore damage to Kevin. Because, right now the site of him is making me feel sick.
Chapter Twenty Two
Valentina
The last couple of days have been crazy, between being interviewed by the police, what felt like the same thing from Florence and then Ben, the director too. The guys have been great and even Rebecca just the run-in said that one time Kevin tried to drug her. Even though he was protesting his innocence by saying that I led him on.
“Seriously Eric I'm all right.”
He’s been my private nurse ever since I thought that I was being too harsh on Kevin and took up his offer on reading my final lines. My last shoot alone was horrible. The director said that it was the weather, but it was evident I was completely off my form. I couldn’t get Eric off my mind.
“The doctor says that you will be okay, but you still look a little hazy to me.”
“Thanks,” I smile at him. He’s got a serious look on his face. The same one that he had when he was beating the living daylight out of Kevin.
“Where’s Kevin now?”
“What do you care? He’s lucky that he’s not in a fucking body bag,” Eric sighs, I can tell that he’s trying to hold back how angry he is right now. I told him about Kevin, and he said that I was oversensitive. He’s apologized so many times for not listening, but he doesn’t seem to realize that it’s not his fault.
“I was the one that said that Kevin could come back to my room and help me. I didn’t have to do it. I thought that he was a creep from the beginning, and I even told you that, but still, I shouldn’t have let down my guard.”
“You should have called me!”
He kisses me on the head, and for a split second I think that he’s right but then I stop myself from thinking that and say, “You know I shouldn’t have called you. At least we’re on set for another couple of days. The weather’s perfect apparently and everything’s worked out in the end. Can we just drop it please?”
I fold my arms when he avoids looking at me, and I can see that his vein is starting to pop which means that he’s angry, probably reliving the time that he came to rescue me in his head.
“I should have just stuck with my gut instinct which was that Kevin’s a creep. That’s it. I don’t want to be running to you all the time. For the first time in my life Eric I’ve been independent, and I just don’t want that to stop. I need to feel like a woman. Not a child running around waiting for her parents to take care of her. Or hook up with a star on one night and then think that he’s going to run into the bar that she works in and declare his undying love for her.”
He gazes over my body in my non-sexy night robe courtesy of the hospital and I can tell that he has lust on his mind.
“You did that?”
I nod my head thinking that he was paying attention to that part. I wondered if he heard anything else, but then he confirms it when he says, “Well, you’re every bit of a woman to me and more.”
“You say the sweetest things, but I know what you have in mind.”
He shakes his head, “You have no idea what I have in my mind. I have so many dirty thoughts that I need to fucking stop myself at the best of times. God like a week ago, when we were doing that sex scene. How many times did Ben tell us to cut?”
“God! that was so hard,” I giggle remembering the director telling us to cut about five times. “It was like being back in your house that night.”
He shakes his head, “No even better than that. Because now I’ve got to know you. It doesn’t feel like a one-night stand it feels as if it’s the start of something new…”
I bite my lip as I listen to him.
“That’s if you want it to be. I just presumed that this is what you wanted, or that’s what I thought at least. I mean that after we’ve finished shooting I don’t want to see you again, just so that we can have sex.”
“Thanks Eric.”
“No, I meant that I would like to take you on a date. Or whatever it is people do when they’re dating. Then again if we’re dating then I do need to take you on a date. But then again, I was thinking something more on the lines of boyfriend and girlfriend.”
God, the man can talk!
“Yes!”
He takes in a deep breath and then comes back to sit on the bed, this time not at the edge, but a lot closer.
“Florence says that you’re good for me.”
“Does she? And what do you think Eric?”
“I think,” he strokes the side of my face. “That you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me and I want it to work.”
“Before I used to dream about us getting married.”
“Like a lot of young girls. I know you had my photos on your wall. You used to sign your name as Valentina Turner, and you used to kiss my photos at night.”
“Now, I’m kissing the real thing. It feels like a dream come true.”
He pulls back as he was just about to kiss me.
“Thing?”
“Oh, come here and kiss me already. You know you want to.”
He growls as he gets closer, “Oh, I want to do a lot more than that. Once you’re out of this hospital bed. I have every intention of showing you.”
Before I can say another word, he presses his lips to mine, and it’s so strong that I wonder if he’s going to wait for me to leave the hospital or if he intends to take me right now as he crushes his face to mine. His tongue explores my mouth greedily as I hold on to his head and encourage him to come in deeper. He moves his fingers along my shoulder and then to the nape of my neck.
The pain that I felt in my head as I was lying on the bed from the knock that Kevin gave me becomes a fading memory as I think about Eric and I. Our lives not only as a couple but as stars.
Epilogue
Valentina
We’re supposed to be on our way to the movie premiere. It’s already been labeled the blockbuster of the year, and so far both Eric and I have had calls about new movies to star in. A couple of them together which Eric’s keen on the other romantic comedy. It’s kind of similar to the premier that we’re going to, but I’m just starting out so I’m cool to stay in the same type of role if that’s the way to go about things. I’m still not sure and I feel like a little kid always asking Eric about the best thing to do at times.
After going to court and testifying against Kevin, I thought that no one would want me on their books. But it’s been the complete opposite. It’s as if I’m the girl that spoke up against the dirty camera man and helped other women speak up against him, which is why he’s safely locked behind bars.
As Eric’s tongue slowly slithers inside my mouth like it’s been longing to do ever since that first night when I was back at his house. I knew that the moment we did the last scene of the movie. There’ll be no holding back, and I was right, we’ve been inseparable ever since then. He grabs my hand and unbuckles my seatbelt as we’re both sat at the back of the limo.
“Eric, don’t you ever get tired?”
He slips his hand in between my dress and growls, “You know you want to!”
In a quick flash, he rips my lace panties as if it’s a piece of paper.
Why does he always make me so wet?
We’re breathing so heavily in and out of each other’s mouths. My hands are running underneath his shirt, and I tug it off him and throw it on the floor.
It’s crazy because we’re acting as if we’re long-lost lovers even though I’m nearly always at his place. Rosetta constantly asks if I’m going to be moving in permanently. I think that she likes having me around, and she’s been giving me cooking lessons, but I believe that Eric needs it more than I do.
“Eric, we really shouldn’t be…”
I’m lost for words as he unbuckles his belt and I see his cock. My second favorite part of his body. I could touch it all day, and right now I think that my pussy’s gong to be riding it. I don’t hesitate on sitting on top of him.
“You’re amazing!”
He growls as I lift up my legs and I’m not even bothered about the fact that there could be people outside seeing us as we stop at the lights. Eric doesn’t seem fazed either as he closes his eyes.
“Shit, you’re so damn wet. I just slid right in.”
“Where you belong!”
I purr as I start to rock against him. I feel his cock fill me up and I start to ride him faster pumping my hips back and forth. His cock start to grind against my clit and Eric holds on to my ass keeping it firmly in place as I continue to work him.
“Yes!”
I blurt out as I start to feel myself twisting and I know that it won’t be long before I start to come. He starts to kiss me passionately, and I feel his stubble against my skin. He’s growing a beard for his new role. The one that we’ve agreed to star in together. I know that we can’t keep it up for long, they’ll be a time that we’re working separately, but for now, I’m happy to be with him as much as possible.
Our bodies are knotting together as if we’re a single entity even the bumpy ride doesn’t take away the moment that we’re sharing at the back of the limo.
I start to hold on to the chair, gripping it for dear life as I feel myself completely losing control. There’s a wordless eruption that starts to take place as he starts to growl like a wild beast and I start to scream out loud unclear about our surroundings. Nothing matters but being in his arms.
“Valentina!”
He snarls as he starts moving my butt up and down out of control. I know that means that he’s coming and I want to do it too. This is a big night for us and as we both sigh with relief as my body starts to shake and it all comes to a dramatic end. I can feel that his once erect cock is now limp as I don’t have the same sense of fullness that I had only a few seconds ago.
“Eric, I can’t go in there. I have no panties.”
He winks at me, “That never stopped you before.”
He has this crazy fetish which seems to involve me going everywhere with no panties, which at times is funny but this is a big night. I went to the stylist, had my make-up done professionally all for tonight. I wanted to look the part, a star. Because even if the movie isn’t the big blockbuster that everyone’s forecasting it will be. I want to feel as if all my hard work hasn’t been in vain. My parents told me that I was a whore. Sometimes I wash their words out of my mind, and once in a while, it comes in my head to bring me down.
“All I know is that I love you Valentina White and you’re my shining star.”
Wow, I want to scream at the top of my lungs as he strokes the hair out of my face.
“You’re beautiful you know that?”
I shake my head as I feel speechless about him confessing how he feels about me. I know that he cares, he’s attracted to me, but to say that he loves me. So many things are flashing through my mind right now as I hug him and say, “I love you too Eric.”
“Good, now let’s show them that this is going to be the biggest blockbuster of the year.”
Holy crap!
“We’re here?”
I jump up and move to the other side of him.
“We’re here!”
I scream out as I get myself together and put the loose strands behind my ear. He pulls up his pants and then laughs, “Let your hair loose like that. It looks sexy. Everything about you is sexy.”
Apart from I can do with a quick shower right now, because my black silk dress is sticking to me like glue.
“Can’t we go back home first?”
He shakes his head, “No. You’re an actress. Put on a smile and fake it.”
As the limo stops and the doors open and Eric step out, waving as if he was born to do it. I do the same thinking about what he’d just said. Not only am I an actress, but the man holding my hand right now loves me. Things are looking up for me, in so many ways that I know that our movie Perfect Strangers was the right title for how we hooked up. We were strangers then lovers and then friends. Our journey started unlike most couples; they become friends then lovers. It doesn’t matter because I have a feeling that things can only get better and it starts with right here and now. Harper spots me and winks at me. My best friend, the one that’s supported me, a lot more than anyone I know. The two people I love are here with me now, and I couldn’t ask for anything more. I don’t need it.