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
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
"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..
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
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'
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.
One way or another, Luca and I need to figure this out. He's been moody as hell recently, and I'm tired of being on the receiving end of it. My career - and many other things - are on the line.We're silent as we walk to his trailer, and I find myself oscillating between anger and unease. I'm determined to get to the root of his issue - and fast - because I don't think I'm going to survive the rest of the day if we keep having to redo this scene. My poor body can't take it.By the time we reach his trailer, I've managed to get myself - and my body - under control. I think."Okay," I say as soon as the door is shut behind us. "What's the issue?"He doesn't answer. Instead, he goes over to the trailer's kitchen and pulls a bottle down from the shelf. "Drink?"I cross my arms. "Don't try to change the subject. If it's something I'm doing, just tell me. I'll have you know I had half a dozen breath mints before walking on set today.""This isn't about you. And it's not about your brea
How is it that after everything, I still become completely helpless the moment he kisses me?The moment his lips touch mine, my entire being becomes focused on him and him alone. I just want to melt into him, to let him carry me off to bed and - No. I'm not doing this again.I pull my face away and push at his chest. "Luca, we - "I'm cut off by his mouth coming down on mine again. It steals all of the breath right out of me."Please, Emilia," he murmurs against my lips. "Don't make me beg."His tongue slips into my mouth, sliding across my bottom lip before delving deeper. I moan, tightening my grip on his shirt.And then, abruptly, I push him away again."What the hell are you doing?" I demand. "Last night you told me you couldn't have sex with me because of our contract. Now you're kissing me and telling me you don't want anyone else to see me come and I - "He kisses me again, and a whimper escapes my throat as his hands slide down to my ass and pull me against his hips.