CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Billie slipped on her sunglasses and stretched out onto the lounge chair, her bikini-clad body capturing all of Tyler’s attention. Even against the gorgeous Hawaiian backdrop, she was the most beautiful thing there and he wasn’t too proud to say that she’d kept him in a state of perpetual arousal since they’d arrived three days ago. Because of the warm temperatures and the isolated nature of the beach house he’d rented, she mostly wore teeny-tiny swimsuits or the occasional sundress. Happy to be in each other’s company, they had yet to venture out to see other human beings.
They’d had perfect weather so far, sunny and warm, with slightly cooler nights. The home sat right on a private beach and when they weren’t swimming, snorkeling, or sunning themselves, they were inside the elaborate master bedroom making love. It was the best vacation he’d ever been on and – as lovely as the island was – Billie was the reason.
Putting down her book she turned toward him, sliding her glasses down far enough that he could see her eyes. “So? How’s the script? Is it any good? Books are always better than the movie.”
Tyler didn’t disagree and this script was no different. “It’s good. They’ve had to cut a lot of the childhood scenes and I think it makes his motivation weaker. On the other hand, I won’t have to compete with a little kid for the Oscar or a Golden Globe.”
“Never work with children or animals,” Billie giggled. “But you’re going to break that rule if you do this movie.”
“When I do this movie,” he corrected. “I think Josh can get the deal done.”
They were still wrangling about the producer credit. The money men didn’t care. This was all Weller being an asshole. He didn’t like anyone else to get any credit, formal or informal. After his Oscar win he’d spent the next several interviews trashing everyone he’d worked with, bragging that he’d been the savior of the film. But Hollywood didn’t care if he was a jerk, they only cared if he made movies that sold tickets.
“I still think you’re insane to work with Ron Weller. He’ll make every day of that nine week shoot a misery.”
“No doubt but I think he underestimates how crappy I can make his life, too. We’ve seen how he works now so I can be prepared. My public relations machine is a hundred times more powerful than his. He’ll come out looking like the smaller man.”
“That won’t be hard considering he is the smaller man. When I talked to Josh this morning he said that because Weller is interested in you for the movie he’s getting several more offers for these more serious films. Are you going to take a look at those?”
“You talked to Josh today?” Tyler didn’t remember her being on the phone but then he’d fallen asleep in a hammock on the front porch after breakfast. They’d been up most of the night doing debauched things to each other. “What did he call you about?”
“He’s sending some scripts to the house and would like me to look them over when we get home. It seems that being your fiancée is a big boon to my career. Go figure.”
He’d been thinking about that and more. “I had a thought that maybe we should work together. I can talk to Josh about putting the word out. We can actively look for a project for the both of us. If you wanted to, that is. I know you have your own career.”
Sitting up, Billie looked more excited than he’d expected. He’d thought she might not want to have her acting career more entangled with him than she already did.
“I think that’s a great idea. We could do a romantic comedy. Like Spencer and Tracy.”
He smirked at the idea, not sure the public was ready for him to tell jokes for an hour and a half. “Hmmm…or maybe an action movie. Like Pacino and DeNiro.”
“As long as I get to be DeNiro.” She nudged his leg with her toes. “You’d be great in a romantic comedy. You have great timing and you’re genuinely funny.”
He gave her his best sad puppy face. “Yeah, but I’m not trying to be funny. People just naturally laugh at me.”
She threw back her head and laughed for real, her green eyes sparkling with delight. How had he not noticed how incredibly beautiful she was? How sweet and smart? How kind and caring? How had he not whisked her away and married her before now?
Marriage. Not the fake kind that they were planning but the real fucking deal. He’d been thinking about it more and more and he’d come to a conclusion. He needed to talk to Billie about this whole mess he’d dragged her into. He wanted to cancel the showmance for good and this time propose for real. Like on one knee, begging if he needed to. He didn’t want her to ever think for one single minute that he’d married her for a movie role.
Billie was the one.
And now that he was sure, he couldn’t wait until the autumn and a big fancy wedding. When she was in the shower yesterday he done some research online regarding getting married in Las Vegas. It was easier than he’d imagined. If she wanted the big to-do he’d bite the bullet and wait, but if she didn’t? Vegas, baby.
“I know why they laugh at you,” Billie said, pushing up her sunglasses and putting her nose back into her book. “You’re a big goof, remember?”
“But I’m your big goof.”
He’d be content with that. For now.
* * *
Billie was having the most amazingly erotic dream. She was lying on the sandy beach, water tickling her toes with every pull of the tide. The sun beat down on her nude body but suddenly she felt a shadow fall over her, blocking her from the warming rays. Opening her eyes, she blinked a few times as a figure came into focus. Tyler, as naked as she was, hovering over her with that look on his face. The hungry one that made arousal stir inside of her at the very thought of someone wanting her so fiercely.
He fell to his knees on the sand and began kissing her, their mouths fused together and their tongues dueling for supremacy. Tyler’s hands were everywhere at once it seemed, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. Billie moaned his name as his lips trailed lower, down over her breasts, tickling her belly, then finally brushing her clit with the flat of his tongue.
Jolting awake as if she’d been stabbed with a cattle prod, she moaned Tyler’s name as her eyes focused more clearly on the ceiling above her. She was lying in bed and that naughty boy was kneeling between her legs, his face pressed up against her most intimate parts. What a lovely way to wake up in paradise.
His skilled tongue did devilishly evil things to her swollen button and it didn’t take long until he had her legs trembling and her head thrashing back and forth. The little shit was keeping her on the edge deliberately and she would have none of that dominant control bull. At least not this morning. Maybe they could play that game tonight. Right now she wanted an orgasm and Tyler had taken her to the brink.
Curling her fingers into his scalp, she gave his hair a tug to let him know her patience had waned. She felt his chuckle against her sensitized flesh as his mouth closed over her clit, giving it flicks with his tongue until she plunged over the edge. Given barely any time to enjoy the bliss, Tyler flipped her over onto her belly and pulled her up to her knees. His fingers flexed on her hips and he leaned forward, his lips close to her ear and his warm breath caressing her shoulder.
“Brace yourself, babe. We’re doing this fast and hard.”
It was her own fault, really. She’d teased Tyler the night before when they’d been fucking in the kitchen, her on the counter with her legs over his shoulders, that she wasn’t made of glass and she wouldn’t break. Apparently he’d taken those words to heart because he thrust into the hilt in one go, sending a shockwave through her already overwrought nervous system.
Already starting her climb, she braced herself with her hands planted on the mattress to withstand his hard thrusts, each one stimulating her g-spot and sending her arousal spiraling upwards. Tyler had one hand tangled in her long hair and the other anchored onto her bottom, giving him the control he needed. There was something so incredibly hot and sexy about this. He was taking her as if he couldn’t help himself and she loved every single second of it. She was probably going to be sore afterward but it would be totally worth it.
“Yes,” she hissed as his cock ran over a particularly sensitive area. “Fuck me harder.”
Their breaths ragged and labored they crossed the finish line together when Tyler reached around and rubbed her clit, his dexterous fingers finding just the right rhythm to make her scream with ecstasy. Eventually they fell back to the mattress, their bodies covered in sweat and happy, satisfied smiles on their faces. They had nothing better to do all day than stay in bed if that’s what they wanted to do.
Rolling over, Billie nuzzled Tyler’s chest, pressing a chaste kiss just where his heart beat below, his skin salty on her lips. “I love you.”
She didn’t feel the need to dress up her declaration in fancy words or complicated adjectives. The words weren’t the important part. It was the emotion behind them.
“I love you too, baby girl. More than you can possibly imagine.”
Looking up, she searched in his expression for any form of fear or regret.
“Are you okay with that? You didn’t plan on this.”
“Neither did you but here we are. And it’s great. I thought I was happy before but this is so much better. You make everything in my life better.”
Tyler wasn’t the talkative type either, preferring actions to make his point, so his words of love meant all the more to her and she tucked them away in a corner of her heart for safekeeping. No matter what happened in the future, no one could take them from her today.
They dozed off, cuddled together in the luxurious bedroom, Billie tucked into the space under Tyler’s chin where she fit perfectly. She’d been dreaming of fluffy clouds and sunshine when a buzzing sound made her open one eye, groaning at being awoken so abruptly. Tyler had rolled over and was holding her phone up in front of her.
“It’s yours.”
Squinting to see the screen, her heart stopped momentarily when she saw who it was. Connie. Hopefully with good news about Sierra. Could divorces be arranged that quickly?
Placing the phone to her ear, she sat up in bed. “Hi, Connie. How is everything? Is Sierra recovering well?”
Connie didn’t beat around the bush. “You need to get Sierra out of Wisconsin, Billie. That asshole found her and she’d be six feet under if her neighbors hadn’t stepped in. He’s in jail now because he violated the restraining order but I don’t know how long they can keep him. The social worker moved Sierra but I think he’ll just find her again.” Billie could hear the tears in her old friend’s voice. “Please get her out of here so she can be safe.”
Billie would have gone a long time ago but Sierra had been adamant that her sister stay out of her life. She didn’t want Billie’s interference.
Glancing at Tyler who was wearing an expression of concern, Billie responded the only way she could. Sierra might not want Billie in her life but she needed her. Paradise was going to have to wait for another time.
“Tell me where she is. I’m on my way.”