Chapter 8
For Annie, auditions were stressful enough, but even worse was the waiting period afterward. If they offered you the part, then you normally heard from them within the next few days, but if they weren’t interested, then you simply heard nothing. Annie was used to hearing nothing and she’d learned to cope by throwing herself into work. The restaurant had just received a glowing review from a food critic and suddenly, now it was every celebrity’s go-to watering hole. Now she had more work than she could handle—albeit it wasn’t what she’d dreamed about, it did pay the bills—and handsomely.
As a result, she’d been promoted to the head of the wait staff and she proved to be very good at her job. She liked to see people have a good time, and she always seemed to know how to make people happy, so they’d think nothing of ordering an expensive bottle of wine to go with their very expensive entree. Her bosses liked her, and so did most of the other servers. These days Annie made the best tips in the house and was always willing to help the others get better tips too.
Most days, Annie didn’t have time to think about anything other than her job and when she wasn’t at work, there were always a thousand chores and errands to fill up her days.
As the weeks passed, Annie realized that she probably wasn’t going to get the part. She’d been so busy at work that she’d lost her focus on acting, but she knew she had to get herself back out there and start auditioning again. It was L.A., after all, and there was a casting call every day. Sure, they might not be parts in a blockbuster movie, but if they were big enough to put another role on her résumé, it was always worth it. Perhaps with enough of them, an agent would take notice and give her some professional backing.
So she started in again, and after a few auditions, she got right back into the rhythm of work and auditioning for roles. Gramps’ condition had stabilized, but he was still in the rehab unit, and after a particularly lucrative week at work, she’d splurged on a trip home to see him. They talked about her career in L.A. and agreed to postpone any decision about her return to Georgia until he was out of the hospital. Once again, he gave her his blessing to pursue her dream, at least for the time being, and just spending a few short days with her beloved grandfather had given her a shot of confidence, and she returned to L.A. with new belief in herself.
As she studied and prepared for her auditions, every now and then she thought about Vic Rossen, and what would’ve happened had she taken him up on his offer to sleep with him. Not just because it might have meant her life and career would have taken off in an instant, but she had to admit, she’d found those big arms and broad shoulders irresistible. And more than once, recalling his sexy accent made her reconsider his proposal.
Of course, even with all that daydreaming, the last thing that she’d ever expected was to run into him in the elevator one morning on her way to an audition. She was leafing through her script when she heard his distinctive accent.
“Twelve please,” he said to a woman. She winked at him seductively before pushing the button for his floor and then hers. Annie would have rolled her eyes, but she was too shocked at seeing him again.
“Mr. Rossen?”
He turned, and a smile slid across his face. “Annabelle Gibbons! How good to see you.”
Annie blushed. “You too,” she murmured. She was surprised that he’d remembered her and felt a tingle when she heard his sexy accent.
He smiled, and she watched his eyes move up and down her body in the same way he’d done on her first audition. When his eyes met hers again, she was all but breathless from the intensity of his gaze.
“Are you off to another audition?”
She nodded and then shrugged. There was no reason for her to get all fluttery when a stud like Vic Rossen eyed her up. “Yeah, a toothpaste commercial.” She grinned at him. “Of course, it’s not a big movie, but hey, it’s work.” She wondered if she should mention the call-back and ask if the role had been cast yet.
Then she saw his eyes once again as they traveled down her body. The elevator bell dinged, and he glanced back at it. “This is my floor,” he said. “Do you have time to stop by for a cup of coffee?”
Annie stepped forward before her brain had finished thinking. Why am I going with him? What do I hope to gain?
With a mental shake, she told herself that she’d simply have cup of coffee, find out if the role had been cast, and then leave.
The elevator doors closed behind them, sealing her fate and she followed Vic down a low lit hallway to an unfamiliar suite with Vic Rossen Associates on the door. The offices appeared very professional, with a few people arguing into their phones or at their computers. Daveed had told her about the office. It was plush, and was a madhouse run by a mad man. The carpet was thick and the furniture looked rich. Vic led her to a big corner office and held open the door for her to enter.
“I’ve been thinking about you,” he said, and his hand slid across her back as he ushered her into the room. He shut the door behind them.
Annie tilted her head slightly. “Well, thank you.”
His hand lingered a little longer than Annie thought necessary, and a shiver ran down her spine. She realized she had a love/hate relationship with how he made her feel. She loved and hated his arrogance. She loved and hated how her breath stopped when she looked at him, or stood near him.
Focus, she chastised herself, and dragged her eyes away from him. She was here for coffee and confirmation that she was still being considered for the film set to go into production in Hawaii. Nothing else.
She needed to separate herself from his intense presence as much as possible and she searched for a chair. There were none, only loungers and couches dotted around the room, and she instinctively knew to avoid those. Instead, she perched on the edge of the desk.
Vic made coffee from an instant espresso machine. “Sugar? Cream?” he asked.
“Sure,” she said. She wished she could just relax.
The office smelled strongly of his cologne, which was a light sandalwood and musk blend. Her body was reacting to it, to his nearness. Focus wasn’t the thing winning this battle in her mind or her body.
With two mugs of fresh coffee in his hands, he came closer, stopping only when the toe of his shoe met hers. With a grin, he placed the mug in her hands, and she gratefully wrapped them around its warmth.
Following her lead, he leaned next to her against the desk. His arm brushed hers, a solid mass of muscle beneath the light blue fabric of his shirt.
“You know,” he said, his voice sultry and low, “You really did blow me and the director away with your audition. You were very good, very professional.”
Annie blushed and took a sip of her coffee to compose herself. This was going much better than she’d expected and she waited for him to speak again.
He paused—his hand reached down and picked some invisible piece of lint from his designer jeans. As he did so, his fingers lightly brushed her thigh and she shuddered, looking over at his handsome face. God, he’s hot. What would it hurt? Me? I’ve got this!
He continued, “Of course, there were so many girls that auditioned for the part, I didn’t want him to become…what’s the word….distracted? Or for him to forget about you with so many other candidates up for the part.”
It was exactly what Annie had feared. A good audition never meant anything if it got lost in the middle of hundreds of equally good auditions. Vicktor’s hand slid over to rest gently on her thigh and a little shiver ran up her leg.
“But,” he said, his eyebrow lifting a little, “I would be more than happy to remind him of your superb performance. You deserve his full attention.”
Annie took another sip. A part of her was expecting this— another attempt to get into her panties, and although she’d promised herself that would never happen—she felt her resolve slipping away. She wanted him, it was a simple as that— and it wasn’t only about the part—it was also about the clenching deep inside her every time he spoke.
“You’d do that? For me?” With all of the courage and gumption she could muster, she dared look into his piercing eyes. He slid off the desk and stood in front of her. His leg pressed between her thighs, and she gasped, not only in surprise but in pleasure as well.
“Of course, Annie. I can’t tell you how impressed I am with you.”
She took a deep breath and lost herself in his soft touch as he ran his finger down her cheek. “Oh,” was all she could say.
Without another word, he took the mug from her hand and set it on the desk, then leaned in and pressed his mouth against hers. Her mouth opened to meet his and a little moan escaped her lips. His hand travelled further up her body, slid around to her ass, and pulled her toward him. She didn’t resist—she wanted this as much as he did, her hands slowly slid down, seeking out the hardness of his chest. He pulled in tight against her and ground his hips into her as his mouth moved over her jaw to the sweet spot on her neck. She gasped as his lips caressed her, followed by a little nip to her flesh.
Instinctively, she wrapped her leg around his firm ass and moaned as she felt her pussy clench with desire. His hands worked up her side and slipped under her silk shirt to press hot against her bare skin. She leaned into him, her body trembling, loving how his lightly calloused palms felt on her flesh. She tugged at his shirt, wanting desperately to rip it from his beautiful body. He leaned back and her fingers pranced down his shirt, releasing each button in turn.
Sliding it off of his shoulders, he looked even sexier. His body was tanned, and the silky hair on his chest was light, the same color as his sun-kissed blonde hair. His hand caught in a sleeve, and she watched his muscles dance and move as he struggled to free himself. She leaned in, pressing her face to the center of his chest, smelling the soft musk of his cologne and his body’s unique scent.
“Raise your arms,” he murmured, sweeping her shirt up her body and over her head. His breathing increased and he pounced, dragging her into a fierce kiss, tangling his hands in her hair. Her breath came in gasps. His lips and tongue crushed hers as he expertly unclasped her bra. She shifted as his fingers trailed after the straps, and down over her arms. Her bra slipped forward, freeing her breasts as he pushed the second strap over her wrist. His hand cupped her breast and he leaned in, his tongue circled and licked over her right nipple. “Mmmm,” he moaned as he sucked her nipple into his mouth. She felt it lengthen with each pull of his mouth, while his tongue flicked the tip. He squeezed her fleshy boobs together, kneading them as he moved from one breast to the next. She moaned, and he hushed her with a hand over her mouth.
“Shhh,” he warned, glancing at the locked door. There was no sound on the other side, and after a moment, he returned to her hardened nipples.
Her hands ran through his hair as he sucked and nipped at her breasts. Her breath coming fast and hard, her panties saturated with her desire. She wanted him, wanted nothing more than to rip his pants off and feel his hard cock inside her.
Taking charge, she unbuttoned his jeans, loving the sound of the zipper sliding down. He didn’t fight her, but shifted to help her slide the tight jeans down over his hips.
Commando.
Sexy.
His cock sprang free, standing proudly, pressed against her inner thigh. Annie nervously slid her hand down, stroking his shaft, feeling the heat of his thick cock.
He moaned, his mouth sliding up her chest to suck and nibble at her neck before tickling the rim of her ear. His hands slid down to the bottom of her skirt, pushing it up around her hips, revealing her long legs. His fingers caressed the exposed skin, then worked their way higher, slipping over and around her lacy panties. Her own hands moved rhythmically up and down his shaft, sliding down to stroke his sac, cupping his heavy balls gently in her palm.
As he felt the moisture on her panties, he smiled and looked back into her eyes. She felt a blush slip over her cheeks, embarrassed that her need for him was so obvious. His fingers slipped inside the top her panties and slid them down. She shifted, from one side and then the other, allowing him to free her from this final barrier with ease. His eyes never left hers as he lowered her panties down her legs slowly, then over her heels before dropping them to the floor. His fingers retraced the path up her legs. Calves, knees, thighs, achingly slow as they moved toward their target.
She felt light headed from holding her breath, his fingers found her center, running up her wet lips before pressing light circles around her clit. She moaned when his strong finger gently stroked her pussy.
One finger, then two slipped inside, filling her while his tongue filled her mouth. She trembled, as he massaged her G-spot for a moment, and then rubbed her engorged clitoris with his thumb.
Annie was near release when suddenly he stopped and his hands tightened on her hips. He leaned forward, his mouth seeking hers, then slid down her neck in hot, fast kisses. He pushed a few papers out of the way, and produced a condom from… somewhere… and expertly rolled it down his length before pressing his hips in tight against hers. She guided his smooth cock right up to her entrance, a low moan escaping as the tip nudged against her lips.
In a long, painfully slow movement, he drove himself deep inside her. She gasped, clinging to him, her nails leaving little tracks down his back as she panted against him. Slowly he began to move, his body rocking into hers as his cock drove deeper and deeper into her.
She bit down on his shoulder to keep from crying out and her whole body trembled with pleasure. Moans escaped her mouth with every breath. Just when she thought that she couldn’t take anymore, his cock found her G-spot, caressing it and sending her body reeling.
He moved faster now. They both panted and moaned against each other, his hands pulled her harder and faster against him. She fell back against the desk, her fingers searching for anything to grab onto as he pounded into her aching body. She arched and lifted, grabbing at his shoulders, anything to get traction on the slick desk as she bit back a moan.
Her head was woozy, her breathing labored when the sensations of her climax built inside her. After a few more thrusts, her orgasm crashed through her, causing her whole body to tremble and shake. She cried out, gasping and moaning as he continued to drive his cock deeper into her, sending her over the edge into ecstasy.
As her muscles finally relaxed, she leaned back and gasped for air. He thrusted deeper. His fingers had stilled, then lifted to rest on her sweaty breasts. They bounced lightly as he pounded harder and harder. She felt him thicken just as his breathing increased and that sexy “I’m going to come” look appeared on his face. In one final stroke, his eyes closed and he came deep, with a ferocious groan on his lips. She whimpered as she felt his cock pulsating, twitching, throbbing, causing her pussy to grip him, pumping him for every drop. She grinned at his reaction to her, feeling like a goddess as his body shook and quivered.
He collapsed onto her for a moment, catching his breath. She panted beneath him, letting her hand wander through his short cropped hair. Finally, he stood and ran a hand through his hair to straighten it before looking at her then he removed the condom and tossed it into the trash.
She was surprised. Gone was the embarrassed look he had earlier. Instead, he looked just as arrogant and cocky as he had the first day she’d met him. He reached down to pull up his pants, his eyes travelling once more over her body and an ugly smirk on his face.
Annie felt naked, totally exposed. She used one hand to cover her breasts while she leaned down to retrieve her underwear. She was all too aware of his eyes on her body while he straightened his jeans and slipped on his shirt.
Annie had barely gotten her panties and bra back on before he turned to walk around the desk, fussing with some papers. She fumbled with her silk shirt, slipping it on over her head.
“Thank you,” he said, not meeting her eyes. “Like I said, I’ll give your regards to the director.”
In a wave, Annie realized just how stupid she’d been. She’d been played, manipulated, used. And she had fallen for it, doing the one thing she’d promised herself she’d never do.
Her mouth gaped open a moment and she realized that he had no intention of looking at her. She quickly snapped it shut, taking a deep breath to calm herself. She knew she had this one moment to be different, different from all the other girls he’d manipulated in the past. Instead of yelling at him, which she so very much wanted to do, she squared her shoulders and straightened her clothes.
“Thanks. Perhaps I’ll give my regards to the director as well. Maybe I won’t have to act when I’m visiting his couch.”
She smiled sweetly, collected her bag and turned towards the door. Although it took a few moments to figure out how to unlock it, she made the most graceful exit she could muster. It wasn’t until she was safely inside the elevator that the full impact of her emotions hit her, leaving her feeling shaky and raw.
Annie was furious the whole way down to the lobby. She felt cheap and used. Most of all, she felt stupid. Oh, hell no. That bastard will not get away with this.
Sure, she’d wanted to fuck him—he was blazing hot—but there was something so dirty about the way that he’d treated her afterwards. Like she was a hooker, or a star-struck wannabe actress. She hadn’t planned on whoring her way into the part and it wasn’t fair that he’d treated her that way but she knew she’d been naive.
She did her best to straighten her clothes and her hair, knowing that her makeup was a disaster. It didn’t really matter—she’d already missed her audition slot for the toothpaste commercial.