Share
Chapter 33: Scandal
Related chapters
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Lies Between the Lines Chapter 34: A New Arrangement
My breath catches in my chest. For a moment, there's something in Luca's eyes - a spark - that makes me think he means to kiss me. I stiffen, but he stops a couple of feet away from me."Yes, we do need to talk," I hear myself say.He hesitates for a moment - a very, very long moment. His eyes bore into mine, and behind the exhaustion I see something that for a brief, terrifying instant brings butterflies to my stomach. My lips tingle slightly as I remember the way his mouth tasted last night. Even though I know better, part of me still wants to taste it again.But he doesn't move. And whatever it is that I see in his eyes disappears again."I trust you've seen the internet," he says.I nod. "And I thought Cataclysm: Aftermath would be the first time the world saw me half-naked." It's supposed to be a joke, but I don't quite pull it off."We have a problem," he says, rubbing the side of his neck. "A big problem. This sort of publicity was not in our plan. I've been up all night t
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Lies Between the Lines Chapter 35: "I Can't Do This Anymore"
Luca is right. The story only gets bigger over the next few days as more and more news outlets start covering it. As I think we both suspected and feared would happen, most of the sites choose to focus on the most dramatic and negative aspects of the story: the "arrest," the half-naked photos of me, and - of course - Luca's attack on Dante.Amusingly, I suspect that a public rift between two members of the Fontaine family will only mean good things for any of their projects - the public loves some juicy family drama - but I also know that that is the absolute last thing anyone in that family wants. Part of what makes them such a powerful force in this industry is that they stand together - and everyone knows it.Well, knew it.I don't know a lot of things about the real Luca, but I do know he'll do anything to bury this story about him and his brother. No doubt he and his family have already attempted to throw their usual weapons of damage control - money and influence - at the prob
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Lies Between the Lines Chapter 36: My Date With Luca
Luca is openly staring at me."You look..." His voice trails off, but his expression shows his appreciation."Just doing my job." I shrug and look up into his eyes.That's a mistake. The look I see in his eyes reminds me of how dangerous this is, how easy it would be to fall completely under his spell again. I can't let that happen."I...I should finish getting ready," I say. "And you should put on some clothes.""Maybe." His grin turns positively cocky. "Or maybe going out like this will cause exactly the stir we're hoping for.""Only if you're hoping to get arrested for public nudity."I finally find the strength to pull away from him, and he lets me go. But that cocky, appreciative smile is still on his face.I'm relieved to see that he is, in fact, wearing a towel around his waist. But the most beautiful parts of him are still visible - his chest and abs are on full display, as is the perfect ridged "V" pointing down toward his groin.God help me. I refuse to let myself fa
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Lies Between the Lines Chapter 37: Close Call
Luca sits back in his chair, a strange mixture of emotions on his face. "Of course. Go ahead.""Thanks." I hit the button to answer and leap up from my seat. "Javy? Can you hold on one minute?"Quickly, I glance around for a quiet corner of the patio. Finding none, I head back into the restaurant. Maybe I'll find some privacy in the bathroom."Why didn't you call me?" I hiss into the phone as I make a beeline for the restrooms. "Did everything go through? Are you okay?""Maybe. Not really." I can hear the anxiety in his voice."Hold on one more second," I say. I push against the door to the women's room, but it's locked. Occupied. Shit.I glance around. Another woman is already coming down the hallway, so I won't have any privacy if I stay here. And I don't want anyone who recognizes me to try and eavesdrop on this conversation. That might be a disaster for both me and Javy."Just another minute," I tell him. "I'm in a restaurant. I'm going to head outside."I stride quickly ba
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Lies Between the Lines Chapter 38: More Bad Ideas
"I don't think this is a good idea," I say to Luca. We've already almost been arrested this week. I'd rather not get booked for trespassing."We're not going inside," he assures me. Instead, he takes me along the length of the fence, toward a small grove of palm trees and a little wooden hut that I assume was once used to rent out beach chairs and umbrellas.He pulls me inside the hut. Once we're safely hidden, he says, "Now, I want you to tell me exactly what happened.""I shouldn't have gone down to the beach," I say, dropping my stilettos onto the ground. "I just needed a quiet place to talk to Javy. I thought I was okay over on that side of the building."I can't see his face in the darkness, but his hand comes up and touches me gently on the cheek. "That was your brother who called you? The one who wanted money?""Apparently he needs more." I shrug. "I was getting frustrated with him and I was probably talking a lot louder than I intended to. If they heard what I was saying..
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Lies Between the Lines Chapter 39: Something Real
His fingers dig into my ass, and I moan as his tongue delves into my mouth. After two years, I know the taste of him quite well, but he's never tasted as wild and as sweet as he does right now.He shifts his hips, and I can feel his arousal pressed between my legs. I should ask him to grab a condom, but my tongue is currently otherwise occupied. And I can't bear to stop this, even for a second. I need this connection to him, ache for it more than I ever thought I could. We might still be strangers on so many levels, but at the end of the day, Luca knows me in a way that no one else does. He and I share a secret that no one else in this world can truly understand, even those who know our relationship is fake. We share an understanding - and, I suspect, even a loneliness.For all that he doesn't know about me, he's seen a side of me that no one else in my life will ever get to see.He's kissing me deeply, but his hips haven't moved again. I shift impatiently against him, longing for h
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Lies Between the Lines Chapter 40: Back On Set
Apparently the owner of the restaurant can't find my phone on the beach, but he promises to have his employees search again during daylight hours. I'm not very hopeful.When we get back to Luca's house, I try calling Javy from the landline, but my brother doesn't answer. I leave a message explaining what happened and begging him to call me back as soon as possible. I try both of my parents' numbers, too, but they don't answer either.God, has everyone in my family forgotten how to use a phone? A terrible thought occurs to me - What if something disastrous has happened and everyone's too busy rushing to the hospital to pick up? - but I don't let myself go down that path. As the night goes on and still no one calls, I begin to breathe a little easier. Neither of my parents would wait this long to notify me of an emergency. Most likely they're just already in bed.Somehow I manage to keep myself from watching the internet all night, waiting for this new story to break. But I suspect I'
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Lies Between the Lines Chapter 41: The Line Between Fake And Real
Luca doesn't offer any more explanation than that. Instead, he climbs to his feet. Rubbing his eyes, he wanders over to the far side of the set.I prop myself up on my elbows, confused and slightly alarmed. My mind is still hazy, my body still hot and throbbing with need. I can't seem to form any coherent thoughts about what's happening.When I glance back over my shoulder at Isaac, he looks just as baffled."Is there a problem?" he says to Luca."No, no problem," Luca says. "I just need a moment." He turns away from the rest of us, facing the green screen at the back of the set. His hands clench and unclench at his sides. Meanwhile, the whole crew is silent, watching and waiting.Finally, he turns back to us. Whatever was going on with him, he seems fine now. His mouth is spread in a grin, and he gives a careless wave of his hand."Sorry about that," he says to the room. "I'm ready to start again."He comes back over to me, and I sit up, preparing to begin the scene once more.
Latest chapter
- The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Lies Between the Lines Chapter 53: Once And For All
- The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Lies Between the Lines Chapter 52: Not So Alone
- The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Lies Between the Lines Chapter 51: Coming Home
- The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Lies Between the Lines Chapter 50: More Than An Obsession
- The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Lies Between the Lines Chapter 49: So Long Lying
- The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Lies Between the Lines Chapter 48: "You Think This Is Pretend?"
- The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Lies Between the Lines Chapter 47: The Airport
- The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Lies Between the Lines Chapter 46: I Can't Talk Myself Out Of It Anymore
- The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Lies Between the Lines Chapter 45: After
