Chapter 4

Ethan

I was itching for release. It was selfish and stupid considering all that Riley was going through, but after taking the pretty Brazilian girl back to my room the night before, I couldn't go through with it. We drank the whole bottle of Jack, and I'd kissed her a few times, but fuck if I couldn't go through with having sex with her. She was breathtaking and yet I felt nothing. Not a damn thing.

Deza almost seemed relieved earlier that morning to get rid of me, but I couldn't blame her. I was in cock-head mode, or so she called it. Nothing mattered and everything agitated me. I'd barked in her face more than once that I would be great if they would just butt out of my freaking private life. It was none of her damn business who I was sleeping with.

We argued the whole sixteen hours home off and on. She would finally bury her face in a magazine or talk to Frank or sleep a little. It was the only break I gave her, and though I hated myself for being a jerk about it, I had no choice. It was my life and they were acting like Eon fucking owned me. I'd overheard her talking to Riley earlier in the day and wanted to yank the phone from her ear, but decided not to resort to being a five-year-old spoiled brat. Seven years old was my limit.

Paul's voice caught my attention as we stood beside the last gate we'd have to go through for the day. Our final flight was delayed.

"So you want me in the studio later this week? Are we expecting Riley to be back or is she-"

"She's out for the rest of the week. I'm hoping she'll feel up to coming in next week, but we'll see." Deza glanced over at Frank as I stood there awkwardly. "Are you going with me tomorrow?"

"To the funeral?" he asked, glancing up from his phone.

"Yeah. It's tomorrow at St. Mary's. I'll look up the other details when we get back into Los Angeles. I want to send her flowers from Eon and me too."

"That sounds nice. I'd like to chip in." Paul lifted his hand as if to catch their attention.

"Me too," I mumbled and glanced over my shoulder at the sound of my name being called over and over. A group of women were jogging toward us. "Oh for fuck’s sake. This is why I hate taking commercial airplanes."

"I understand." Deza moved out in front of me to stop the women. "We didn't have much of a choice. Frank."

"She's right. The private jet was being used by an Eon executive." He walked past me and put his phone up. "You sure you don't have it in you to at least smile and shake a few hands?"

"And hug a few necks and sign a few tits. No. I'm tired and want to get my ass home." I walked past Paul, who had a look of sympathy on his face. It was hidden behind his scruffy beard, but I'd seen it multiple times from the guy over the years. He seemed more connected with how shitty the life of a movie star could be. Far more than anyone else I'd ever met. I'd have to find out why that was when I was up to talking. No one deserved the punishment of having to converse with me seeing that I was in a horrible mood.

I pulled out my phone and checked for a call or text from Riley, getting nothing of course. It was me who was supposed to call, but I couldn't muster the courage. She didn't need to hear from me. She had Jace and Jade or Charlotte, whatever the cute blond was going by now. A smile lifted my lip at the thought of her introducing her best friend to me. Charlotte had been a bundle of nerves, a class-A stalker, but Riley... she'd been cool, calm, collected. She hadn't seem bothered by me in the slightest.

And yet she was wet. Each time she let me near her to touch her beautiful body... she was wet. She needed me like I needed her. Maybe her reasons were different, but we were so fucking close the other night. I wanted to call. To offer myself to her. Maybe all she needed was someone to drown her in pleasure, to hear that she was beautiful and loved.

"Liked. That you like her," I barked at the emptiness around me. I wasn't in love with her, but the idea of one day being there left my hands clammy, my insides tight and mind racing in a million directions. She was far too much woman for me outside of the bedroom. Inside of it, I could hold my own and show her a few things that might make her pretty head spin, but outside of it? She was mature, educated and knew how to get what she wanted in life.

I was the same as I'd always been. Pretending to be whoever they wanted me to be at the time they wanted it. After glancing up at the departing time above me, I pulled out my phone and called my brother, Liam. I had twenty minutes before we boarded for our last leg of the trip, and I wasn't going to sit and stew in my own shit while we waited. My brother was an idiot and a half and could pull me out of almost any funk. It was his superpower. That and tricking beautiful women into loving him. Why, I had no clue. He was a dick and a half, and used women like most people used Kleenex.

"Brosky!" Liam's voice filled up the phone, the sound of it causing warmth to spread through me.

"Sup, man?" I sat down in the chair next to me and glanced around.

"Nothing much man. Just still at the fucking office. Where are you? Still in Rio?"

"Nope. We're headed home. Something came up with Riley's mom. She had to run back to L.A., so we wrapped up what we could and are about to get on our last flight this afternoon."

"Awww... that sucks. How much longer you got?"

"Couple of hours." I ran my fingers through my hair and leaned back in the chair. "I need to forget this chick, but every time I close my eyes, she's there. It's like she's the one woman in the world Deza and Frank don't want me with, which leaves me wanting to fuck the world and take her to the top of a tall building."

"Like fucking King-Kong. I love that. You could have them create your next blockbuster hit. King-dong." He snorted as I rolled my eyes.

"Awesome. I knew talking to you would make me feel better. Later, ass-clown." I started to hang up as he yelled into the phone.

"Ethan. Come on, dude. Don't be sensitive. You know I'm fucking around."

"Yeah, whatever. I'm not in the mood."

"Well what are you in the mood for? I got this girl over who's just your type. Dark hair and big tits. She's a friend of a friend. I've not slept with her yet because she's applying for a job at my company, but I think you and her could make some magic."

"What's her name?" I didn't give a shit about her or her name. I needed to break the pattern of returning back to Riley in my mind every chance I got, but other than that, I couldn't pass up the idea of a release.

"Izabella." He emphasized the l's in the girl’s name.

I chuckled. "I could use some magic in my life. How old is she? The last time you set me up with someone, she was a cougar."

"I can't help that you're still ten in your head. She wasn't that old, and you enjoyed her anyway, didn't you?"

"I can't deny that." I brushed my fingers by my mouth, half expecting my cock to twitch over the images running through my head, but nothing. Frustration pumped through me.

I was determined to get over Riley and to stop acting like a horny schoolboy around her. It wasn't worth my career. She wasn't worth my career. Fuck, nothing was. It defined me. It was me.

"You want me to run her over to your place and hang out until you get there? I'm sure she would be more than willing to spread her pretty bronze-colored thighs for you and let you dip your stick into her honey pot."

I glanced up as Deza motioned for me to come and join them. I was antsy over having to ride on a commercial plane where every one of the passengers, the flight attendants and even the fucking pilots knew my name.

"You're such an idiot." I shook my head as I stood up. "Yeah, bring her over. I'll text you if I change my mind."

"Good. Don't change it. You need this. She's exactly what turns you on."

"And you know this how?"

"I grew up with you. Those fucking posters are in the attic, remember?" He chuckled.

"I want them back. Those girls were my childhood." I walked toward Deza. "Gotta go. See you later."

"Be safe, Bro. I'll have a treat waiting on you later tonight."

"Awesome." I hung up and walked toward the group of familiar faces.

Frank reached out and wrapped his big arm around my shoulders. "You planning your return tonight?"

"Always, man. I'm young, dumb and full of hormones. We can't leave anything up to chance."

I didn't even want to know what Deza's snort was about as she turned and boarded the plane. She should have been thrilled that I was planning on acting up later. It would help her cause and keep me away from Riley.

Maybe. Doubtful. Nope, not a fucking chance.