LIMELIGHT

And Longing

JAY SHAW

Copyright © 2017 by Jay Shaw.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the address below.

Jay Shaw

blackwings128@gmail.com

Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

Cover design by: Haley Allison at Spellbound Cover Design:

https://www.spellboundcoverdesign.com/

Ordering Information:

Quantity sales. Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the “Special Sales Department” at the address above.

Jay Shaw/Limelight And Longing -- 1st ed.

For June

When I saw you I fell in love,

And you smiled because you knew.

– WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Chapter One

Jenna Long, and her fellow passengers, exited from gate five into Melbourne Airport’s congested Arrivals and Departures terminal.  The cacophony of voices raised in excitement and frustration made it impossible to think, let alone track down those waiting to meet their loved ones.  The four hour flight from Auckland had been uneventful and on time, but there was little to spare.  Jenna had to find Cait, and find her quick. 

She scanned the sea of anonymous travelers, searching for the face of her friend.  A friend she was yet to meet in person.  With each long-legged stride, her excitement built.  In all her twenty-eight years, she’d never won anything until the package from LunarCon arrived on the courier.  The covering letter explained that as part of the terms and conditions, every ticket to a LunarCon event automatically put the purchaser into a draw for a Celestial Platinum Package to a future event of their choice.  Included in the package were accommodation, priority VIP passes to panels and backstage meet-and-greets, vouchers for photo ops and autographs, and an invitation to the highly-coveted Celebrity Dinner; the location of which was top secret until two hours beforehand.  Since she was the only one Jenna wanted to go with her, Cait had been the first person she told.

The giant digital clock clicked over to ten-forty-two.  Eight minutes to find Cait and hop a cab to their hotel, twenty to change and make it back to the auditorium in time for the first panel.  They’d be cutting it fine.  Yet everything, from the availability of flights to having her teaching plan for the upcoming term organized, seemed cosmically-aligned to bring her here.  Why would the universe start messing with her now?

“Jenna!”

Jenna heard her name in an unfamiliar Aussie twang which matched the tone and energy of Cait’s emails.  She turned in the direction of the call and was body-slammed by a fast-moving concrete wall.

“Oh, shit!  Sorry.”

A deep comforting voice growled in apology as huge hands lashed out, grabbed her biceps and pulled her back on her feet.  She teetered a moment more on her two-inch heels but those hands continued to hold tight, biting deeper into her leather-clad arms to keep her safe.

Her senses drowned out the buzz around them and zeroed in to focus on every detail of the man who continued to hold her, still and close, deliciously close, and warm, and solid, and…

He hadn’t said anything other than the curse that’d rolled off his lips.  The same lips whose taste had eluded and mocked her in her dreams for the past eighteen months.  Jenna knew who he was.  Knew by the sound of his voice and the way her breath caught in her throat while her heart beat a frantic tattoo against her ribs.  The sweet tension wrapping itself around them was so familiar it made her sob.

He pulled her tighter into the full length of his body, something she’d wanted him to do since…she couldn’t remember when and she didn’t care.  She finally raised her chin and gazed into brown eyes, framed by no-nonsense brows and steeped with seductive confidence.

“Jacob?” Jenna asked and rolled her eyes at her own stupidity.  A cat could’ve come up with wittier opening lines.

Jacob swayed where he stood, eyes glued to those of the woman he’d looked everyfuckingwhere for. “Jenna?”

He felt her hands curve to his hips in an attempt to steady him and couldn’t silence the whisper of want that escaped his lips at her touch.  They felt perfect and made him hunger for more as their warmth seeped through the layers of worn denim, and black designer cotton, to caress his skin beneath.

She was the most damned elusive woman on the planet.  And yet, he knew if he asked she’d have a completely simple explanation as to why every avenue he’d tried had failed to produce any leads to her whereabouts.  The last thing he wanted was to feel stupid in front of her.  So he said nothing and pulled her closer against him.  Now Jenna was in his arms, he never wanted to let her go.

“What are you doing here?” He chewed the flesh of his lower lip to avoid rolling his eyes or groaning in embarrassment.  Lame, thy name is Jacob.

He watched as she attempted to catch her breath and followed the roll of her slender throat as she swallowed.  Deep rose flushed across her cheeks and warm relief settled heavy in his chest.  It wasn’t all on him.  Whatever it was between them, she was affected too.  The knowledge was more than a little heartening.

“A-Adam’s in town.” Jenna stuttered.  She’d forgotten he chewed his lip when he was nervous.  The desire to rasp her thumb over it and ease it free from his perfect teeth was difficult to ignore. “I came to meet Cait.”

“Right, yeah, of course.” He answered in what he hoped was a casual tone but she hadn’t bought it, and a crease appeared between her eyebrows.  His finger itched to smooth it away.

He should’ve known.  Adam Chase, Mr Tall-Blue-Eyed-Action-Hero, pulled women like they were moths to his fucking flame.  And damned if Jacob could figure out how he did it.  It wasn’t as if Jacob didn’t receive female attention.  His muscular six-three body, tousled chestnut-brown hair, and predatory grin, pretty much guaranteed him his choice of willing bed partners.  But there was no doubt, when it came to photo ops and autograph signings, Adam’s lines were noticeably longer. 

They’d been friends since they met on the set of The Sacred Rose.  The science fiction soldiers-of-fortune blockbuster that hurled Jacob’s Ethan Fox, and Adam’s Dante Jones into a three-film contract, and the two actors into the global spotlight.  It was on a press junket to Australia then New Zealand the previous year where they’d met Jenna during a VIP brunch.  He’d been captivated by the redhead with mischief in her eyes and a passion for their characters.  It was crystal clear she was hot for him, and he’d been just as eager.  Adam had ribbed him the rest of the weekend for being cockblocked by LunarCon’s stupid hands-off clause.  He got it, he did.  It protected everyone from potential law suits and bad press.

But as he flew back to the States without even her number in his phone Jacob had to agree with Adam.  He’d been a fucking idiot, and missed his chance.

♥♥♥

“Jenna!” Cait yelled a second time and worked her way through the mass of bodies like she was swimming in treacle.

Thirty-feet to her left, a tall woman turned her head to answer, mid-length red hair glinting gold in the overhead lighting as she was bowled into by…

Holy shit!  Cait couldn’t help the snort of surprised laughter and disbelief that broke free and startled the harassed mother-of-three she was squeezing past.  Her week just kept getting better and better.

Cait made her way to the couple, for anyone with eyes could see that’s what they were - standing in each other’s space, oblivious to everything but each other.

“Cait?” Jenna pulled back, offering a grin so bright it momentarily blinded Cait with its intensity.

“You’re here.” Cait grasped Jenna’s hands and shook them while she bounced on the spot.  But as she stared into the amused expression of the man watching them, she couldn’t work out if she’d meant the observation for him, or Jenna.

“I made it.” Jenna confirmed in a voice too low for anyone but Cait to hear and leaned into a tight squeeze of a hug, before pulling back to stand stunned between them.

Before the silence could turn more awkward than it already had, Cait pivoted to face the muscle-bound tower of gorgeousness and with a calm she didn’t feel, looked up, and offered her right hand.

“Hi, I’m Cait Dunham.  Jenna’s friend.”

Chapter Two

Well, shit.  Shit, shit, and double shit.  Jacob’s mind cursed on a loop in time with his ground-eating strides as he tailed Rick through the crowds to the Private Rentals kiosk.  Shit, shit, shiiiit!

He didn’t know if he was more pissed about a year’s worth of wasted searching, only to have Adam be the one to find Jenna, or the fact that once he had her, he’d had to let her go.  Again. 

At least now Adam’s smug and evasive I’m emailing your flight info.  Get your ass to Melbourne by tomorrow made sense.  His tone - exactly like that of the gravel-voiced soldier-of-fortune Adam had lived and breathed for the past four years - had echoed in Jacob’s inner ear long after his friend severed their connection.  An out-of-the-blue trip down under?  Adam had to be yanking his chain.  He’d stood in his chrome-and-black kitchen - ignoring the Los Angeles city skyline as it came to life against an orange and purple sunset beyond the panoramic windows – and tapped open the new email.  The flight number and departure time below the airline’s patriotic header had looked real enough. 

When he’d phoned his personal assistant, Rick had taken it in his stride and set up four promotional interviews with Australian press agents.  The first of which, he was already late for, later than late, since his collision with Jenna had delayed his exit from the terminal.  Oddly enough, Jacob couldn’t find it in himself to care.  The warmth of her touch still lingered on his hips as he followed Rick’s narrow shoulders out the sliding glass doors and into diluted sunshine; a light breeze licked at the sweat on the back of his neck and made him shiver. 

Jacob grinned; startling the chauffeur who held open the rear passenger door.  He and Jenna were in the same city again.  Eighteen months since they’d first met, seventy-two weeks separation and searching, and Fate had decided to throw him a bone at last. 

He tried to contain his thrill of excitement but it escaped in a bellow of a laugh and a hand slap on a startled Rick’s shoulder.  He had no doubt, as he sprawled his long legs across the limo’s luxurious black leather interior, that Adam was behind this and Jacob couldn’t think of a single way to thank him.

“Good Morning Melbourne with Sally Coulson,” Rick informed him without looking up from the itinerary cued-up on the screen of his notebook where it balanced on his pinstriped knees. “Ranking live-feed magazine show in the state.  I’ve phoned ahead, told them the situation and they’ve moved you to the closing ten.”

Jacob heard what the other man said, even nodded his understanding, but he wasn’t listening.  In his mind he was still back in the crowded airport, falling into clear green eyes and imagining what it’d be like to finally kiss the lips her smile teased him with.  Jenna had melted into him when he caught her mid-stumble.  He hadn’t imagined it.  Had he? 

And that was the thing; the one consistent nagging doubt about the whole messed up situation.  Had she actually lingered close at the end of the brunch, blocking his exit from between two tables, so he had to brush against her ass to get past?  Or had he only imagined her interest because he wanted her so much?  Forbidden fruit was always the sweetest.

Fuck. 

Time sure had a way of making you doubt your own mind.

God, how that moment, and so many others throughout that damned weekend, had haunted him in the time since.  That damn dress she’d worn to the cocktail evening had left just enough to his imagination.  He hadn’t been able to keep from tracking her progress around the room; emerald silk caressing every curve and fine-turned limb.  His dick twitched at the memory and he shifted on the black leather.  Her hand in his, palms touching as he accepted her greeting.  He’d wanted to keep her, right there against his side; had wanted to hear his name from her lips again and again. 

But there’d been a hundred pairs of eyes, watching his every move.

The limo came to a smooth stop and while Jacob waited for the door to open – they frowned on him doing it himself – he remembered his eagerness at seeing her in the hallway the next morning.  Her faraway frown and the lost, broken look that dulled the sparkle in her eyes had cut him to the core.  Nothing had been more important in that moment, than giving her back her smile.

She was in line, surrounded by people who’d message the moment across the globe in a heartbeat; but he hadn’t cared, he’d wanted her smile, needed it like he needed his next breath. 

He’d needed more than that, he admitted silently as he unfolded himself from the limo and rolled his shoulders.  He’d wanted her against him, wanted her hands on him and his on her.  If a boisterous hug was the only way he could publicly get that, then he’d do it.

As fleeting as it’d been, he still remembered every single minute detail.  Even now he recalled the thrill of Jenna, all breathless delight, against him.  He’d felt her fingers sneak in to twist the fabric of his tee; sensed her need to haul him close held back with hesitant resistance, as he pulled away almost before he’d held her.  He hadn’t trusted himself, hadn’t trusted where he was, but he’d trusted her.  And her smile was his reward.  It’d sparkled in her eyes and put color in her cheeks. 

She’d blushed like that today. 

When he’d held her close and…

Damn, he hoped to God Adam knew about this.  Hoped Jenna was the reason Adam’d dragged him halfway round the world.  And that it wasn’t all just another bullshit tease on the part of Fate.

“Please.” He gave a fervent whisper under his breath as he stepped through the studio door and waited silently off-camera while the stage manager wired him for a mic.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, I have a special guest for you this morning.  He plays Ethan Fox in Lunar Studios’ current box office hit Dante Jones and the Blood Orchid.  Please join me in welcoming, direct from Los Angeles, Mr Jacob Starr!”

Jacob strode into shot with a megawatt grin for the audience and an outstretched hand for his host.  As he sat in the white leather cube chair with the movie art on the wall behind, he couldn’t help wondering if Sally having red hair was a positive sign, or just further proof Fate got her jollies by totally fucking messing with lovesick saps like him.

♥♥♥

Jenna sat in the back of the yellow-and-black cab; her knees wedged against the tan vinyl of the front passenger seat, and stared unseeing out the open window.  Her thoughts weren’t on the cityscape flowing past, but rather memorizing and cataloguing, absorbing and analyzing, every moment, every touch, and how it felt to be held by those hands; to hear her name in his voice, from those lips.  She’d been given the second chance she’d begged the universe for; the chance to have what she wanted.  And, just like the first time, she’d gone and messed it up. 

It felt as if her heart was breaking all over again; a solid heavy weight of regret and despair having made itself at home between her ribs and her lungs.  Jacob hadn’t asked her to go with him, hadn’t even said he was glad to see her.  And Jenna, idiot that she was, hadn’t been able to say anything at all.

It was too late, her opportunity snatched away by Rick; a dark-haired man of average height, immaculately dressed, who carried a beaten up duffle bag and a notebook with the Lunar Studios logo in silver on the lid.  She had no idea why she recalled so many details.  Maybe it was because he’d been the one, the one who’d murmured to Jacob that they really must go and Sally doesn’t like to be kept waiting.

Well, at least she knew the answer to the big question. 

Jacob Starr was off the market.

No surprise there.

Case closed. 

Time to move on.

“You’re not imagining it, you know.” Cait spoke quietly to her right, “I saw it all, couldn’t believe it when he scooped you up and stopped you landing on your ass.  How ‘bout those reflexes.”

Jenna tugged her hair forward to hide the hot color she felt flushing from chest to hairline at the picture Cait’s words painted. “Yeah, lucky he was there, or I would’ve made a complete fool of myself.”

“Better buy a lottery ticket.” Cait’s laughter was barely hidden behind sparkling eyes as she squeezed Jenna’s forearm in understanding.

The blare of a car horn startled Jenna and knocked her elbow from the armrest as their driver veered left, and parked under the shadowy overhang of their hotel’s entrance.

“He’s here, you’re here, and this time you both know it.  He even knows where to find you this time.” Cait nudged Jenna’s arm before she swung her feet out onto the pavement. “And even if he can’t find you personally, he knows you’re here to see Adam so...”

“Well, there is that.”

“Exactly, now move your ass woman, we’ve got a panel starting in…” Cait glanced at the pink sports watch on her wrist. “Ten minutes, and a hot guy to listen to.”

Cait’s enthusiasm barely disguised the nervous tremor in her hands, but it served to remind Jenna of her immediate priorities.  She wasn’t the only one who wanted a chance with her dream guy.  Jenna may have fucked up her turn, but there was no way in hell Cait was going to miss out; not if Jenna had anything to say about it.

“You mean drool over.” Jenna smirked, paid the driver and shrugged into the straps of her backpack before lengthening her stride to catch up to Cait. “Room first, dump the bags and then…”

“HOT, HOT, HOT Adam” Cait’s excitement bubbled over and she tried to hit the lift button with a shaky hand.

“Hey, Cait,” Jenna teased as she took over button-pushing duty and the doors closed with a ding. “Don’t burn your tongue.”

Chapter Three

Adam sat on stage, his eyes wide and the audience forgotten as he attempted to process what the guy in the blue LunarCon tee was saying to him. 

“What do you mean Miss Long’s not here?”

She had to be here.  He’d made plans, dammit.  Plans that’d involved him making calls instead of getting his agent to take care of it.  He twisted his wrist to glance at his watch.  Shit, Jacob would land any minute, if he hadn’t already.  Jenna needed to be here.

“No, seriously.” He growled before he remembered his mic was live and yanked it away from his chin as if it shocked him, dropping it across his thigh.  The thud and squeal of feedback echoed through the entire audio system.  Both Adam and the audience winced.  But he couldn’t think about them right then.  

“Please tell me you’re kidding.” His voice creaked like an old wooden porch as he pleaded with the guy who leaned against the stage, four feet below where Adam sat perched on a director’s chair. 

His mind shied away from having to tell his friend not only had he spent a small fortune on a private investigator to track down the woman of Jacob’s wet dreams - based solely on the basic info he’d flirted out of LunarCon New Zealand’s attendee coordinator - but that he’d found her, only to lose her again.  Adam shuddered and ran a palm over his face.  It’d take a braver man than him to be the bearer of that news. 

No, Jenna needed to be here.

The guy shifted from foot to foot, giving Adam the I’m about to piss off the star but I can’t tell him what he wants to hear look.  He’d seen it too many times not to recognize it for what it was. 

Fuck, she really wasn’t here.  And the thought of Jacob’s face when he saw Jenna in front of him was all that’d been making this panel survivable.  So what if he was a big red squishy-hearted romantic.  There were worse things in life to be.

Adam held the guy’s gaze for a beat longer than necessary.  Not out of sadistic amusement or anger, but because it paid to have at least one staff member who’d spread the word that Adam Chase wasn’t to be messed with.  It’d given him a rep as a diva early on in his career but it was a status quo with advantages.

At his sharp nod, the guy scurried away, up the blue-flecked carpeted aisle to the double doors in the back of the auditorium.  The natives, though patient while the obviously-important message was delivered, were getting restless.  Murmurs and shuffling had become a din of discontent which reminded Adam he still had to offer it up for another forty minutes.  He genuinely loved his fans, but how many times did he have to say who’s up for an adventure before they stopped asking?  Some days he wished he’d never ad-libbed the damn phrase into Dante’s dialogue.

Adam waited with gentlemanly-patience for the latest gushing fan to find her voice and ask her question, when a flicker of movement tugged at his peripheral vision.  The hard knot of disappointment lodged low in his gut unfurled in relief as two women stepped from the hallway, into the deep shadows below the overhang at the back of the auditorium.  One was a blond with curves to make a pro-racer salivate; the other was a leggy redhead in a rock tee and painted-on jeans.

He should’ve known she wouldn’t stand Jacob up, even if she wasn’t aware of the plan.  She must have been late registering, which explained why the staff guy had no record of her arrival.  Melbourne traffic was abysmal on a good day, but with the convention in town, crazy wasn’t the word for it.

Adam gave his watch a surreptitious glance as the two women moved with hurried grace down the aisle toward their VIP seats, before returning his attention to the thousand-strong crowd.  Somehow, finishing out the panel didn’t seem as arduous a mission as it had a moment ago.

“Umm, hi Adam, I’m Bailey, from Perth.”

“Hi, Bailey from Perth.”

A titter of amusement rippled through the audience and Bailey blushed tomato-red. “I was wondering if you would…?”

Adam resisted the urge to roll his eyes.  There were a thousand cameras on him after all.  Instead he smirked; knowing the reaction he’d get as he deepened his voice and murmured huskily into the mic. “Hey, Bailey, you up for an adventure?”

Bailey squealed into the mic as a staffer tried to pass it to the next woman in line. “Yes, oh god yes, time and place Adam, you name it, I’ll be there!”

The audience gave a collective swoon amid applause and wolf-whistles.  Adam struck a pose and lapped up the attention as he always did.  He might make their day by coming to see them, but the reverse was also true.  There was nothing better for a guy’s ego than having it stroked by a thousand women over the course of a four-day weekend.

♥♥♥

The auditorium started to clear out the moment Adam Chase ambled off stage with a half-empty water bottle tucked under his arm; but Cait stayed in her seat, hands cradling her digital camera as she browsed the hundred-image slideshow from the panel.

She could feel Jenna at her side, relaxed, patient and not a little exhausted.  It was only a two-hour time difference between Auckland and Melbourne, but it was enough to mess you up for the first twelve hours. 

“Who’s next?” She asked with a passing curiosity.  A close up of Adam’s true-blue eyes, fanned by the sweep of black lashes any woman would sell her soul to possess, filled the view screen of her camera and captured the bulk of her attention.

Jenna adjusted her position in the cramped space, knocked her boot against the chair in front as she crossed her legs, right over left, and scanned the brightly-colored program.

“Savannah Westbrook’s one hour panel.” Cait wasn’t all that keen on Savannah or her rainbow-haired alter ego Raylen Maize – love interest slash nemesis of one Dante Jones.  She was about to ask what time the autographs opened, when Jenna said. “Signing’s at two.”

Cait nodded, an amused smirk playing on her lips.  It seemed they could anticipate each other’s thoughts outside the world of email too.

“Do you want to get something to eat?” Cait looked up from the reluctant task of packing her camera into its case.

Jenna sipped from the water bottle left over from her flight and shook her head, “I’m good.  Shall we stay for Savannah?  She was fun in Wellington, although she and Jacob shared the panel.”

Cait laughed and Jenna’s cheeks developed an interesting shade of rose. “Well, if she sucks we can always leave.”

Jenna clutched her jacket to her chest, her blush beginning to fade, even if the memory of seeing Jacob live and in person for the first time still surged hot and thrilling through every inch of her body. “Sure, if you’re brave enough to risk her noticing us, then yeah, we could leave halfway through.”

Cait considered the idea of being hackled at over the sound system in front of a thousand-strong audience and hid her face while she laughed. “Not quite the attention I was hoping to receive.”

“Nor me.” Jenna covered her mouth with one hand in an attempt to stifle her laughter.  While Cait, caught in the grip of her own helpless giggles, patted Jenna’s forearm in lieu of actual speech.

Chapter Four

The top secret details about the celebrity dinner event arrived while Cait was still in the shower.  Jenna signed for the envelope and slipped her thumb under the LunarCon seal the moment the door closed behind the uniformed messenger.  On a nebula background it read:

LunarCon invites

Miss Jenna Long & Guest

To

A Night Among The Stars

At: Observe

Dress: Black Tie

Cocktails: 7pm

Dinner: 8.30pm

You will be collected from your hotel lobby at 6.30pm.

Please be punctual.

Note: LunarCon would like to remind you,

for the comfort of all attendees,

there are to be no photographs or autograph requests.

No invitation, no admittance.

We hope you enjoy your evening.

“Dinner’s at Observe.” Jenna looked up from the invite when Cait returned to the main room, wearing a towel turban over her hair, and a hotel bathrobe.

“That’s the best restaurant in town.  It’s at the top of the Natashi building.”

“Nothing but the best for a night among the stars.”

Cait accepted the card Jenna held out to her. “I’d expect nothing less.”

“Adam Chase wouldn’t either.” Jenna smiled at Cait’s blush, headed into the bathroom to put on her makeup, and tried not to let the sting of missed opportunities cut too deep.

They were waiting at the hotel’s valet-parking station when a sleek black town car with tinted windows pulled up to the curb.

“I could get used to this.” Cait murmured as she sat, before lifting her legs in and sliding across the leather seat to make room for Jenna.

Jenna thanked the valet as he closed the door after her, and smiled at the luxurious amount of leg room. “I imagine the going back to normal afterwards is the hard part.”

Cait hummed in agreement; pink-painted nails fidgeting with the skirt of her black lace fifties-style dress.

The drive through downtown Melbourne on a Saturday night wowed the senses.  Everywhere you looked there were bright lights, and people intent on having a good time.  It wasn’t hard for Cait and Jenna to feel like royalty, separated from the reveling commoners by their luxury coach.

When they pulled to a stop and the door opened, they were met by a midnight-blue carpet runner flanked by blue-velvet ropes on silver posts, which led to a twelve-foot-high iron and glass door.  Fairy lights draped artfully around the two potted topiaries and glinted off the silver trim of the doorman’s blue livery.

“Holy shit.” Cait whispered, hand clutched tight to their invitation.

“Breathe.” Jenna whispered back, taking her own advice as they stepped forward together.

The doorman accepted their invitation with a smile and a Ladies, as he pushed a button concealed in the door’s framework.  It swung open to reveal an elevator constructed of the same iron and glass.  There were no buttons to push and the elevator began its climb barely a moment after Jenna and Cait stepped inside.

“Holy shit.” Cait gasped and grabbed for the handrail for balance.

“You can say that again.” Jenna said, from where she too gripped the rail.

Cait grinned. “Holy shit.”

Jenna laughed; the nervous tension easing as they came to a stop. 

The doors slid back to reveal another midnight-blue carpet and identical towering door.

“Welcome to Observe.  It’s a pleasure to have you with us tonight.”

“Thank you.” Jenna murmured, all wide-eyed and distracted as she handed the Maître d’ her coat, and crossed the threshold into wonderland.

Observe was unlike any restaurant Jenna’d ever seen, let alone dined in.  It appeared to occupy the entire expanse of the building’s top floor.  But where any other restaurant would’ve had a roof, Observe was enclosed by an iron and glass dome to rival the pyramid outside the Louvre in Paris.  The owners had taken their business’s name to heart, allowing their clientele to not only observe the city lights, and skyscape, but the workings of the central kitchen as well.  Round tables spilled out in a spiral to fill the space like the skirts of a twirling ball gown.  Warm light reflected off white cloth, silverware, and crystal, creating an atmosphere of sophisticated elegance.

Jenna couldn’t breathe.  Whereas Cait, who’d been as nervous as a cat around a lawn sprinkler while they got ready, was in her element.  They weren’t the only civilians in the room, but there was no way to distinguish celebrities from their fans.  Everywhere she looked, handsome men in tuxedos mingled with beautiful women in designer gowns.  

“Holy shit.” She’d been an idiot to think she could get away with wearing her emerald silk a second time.  The new diamante earrings and matching cuff were the only upgrades she’d permitted herself after paying for her flights.

“Breathe.” Cait gripped Jenna’s elbow and steered her to the nearest window where a few others looked out at the view. “Do you think we can see the hotel from up here?”

Jenna hummed in answer, though she wasn’t listening, her attention stolen by the ink and eggplant of the star-spangled night sky above.  The cocktail evening LunarCon had put on in Wellington was small potatoes compared to this. 

“I always liked you in that dress.” The husky drawl of his voice close to her ear made Jenna whirl.  Eyes wide and mouth an oh of surprise as her skin prickled and her heart pounded in her chest.  If she’d been holding a drink, it would’ve sloshed all down the front of his James Bond-esque tuxedo. 

Jacob Starr with a wet tailor-made shirt clinging to his edible abs…

Jenna squeezed her thighs against the deep throb of heat the image stirred low in her belly, and pressed a palm to her chest.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.”

His wolfish grin belied his words, and she laughed.

“You’re really not.”

How was it possible for her to be both nervous, and yet completely at ease in this man’s company?

“No, I’m not.”

She felt the weight of his gaze on the swell of her breasts, and hoped the low lighting hid the rush of color heating her cheeks.

“I didn’t know you’d be here.”

It was a lame opener.  Yet she shouldn’t be expected to think straight.  Not with Mr Sexy-Bed-Hair-and-Evening-Stubble smelling so damn good, and standing so close.  A minute shift in either of their postures and they’d be touching.  But the same rule applied here, as it had in Wellington.  No attendee-guest fraternization. 

Jenna gave an inward sigh and turned her eyes upon the stars overhead as if they held the answers to every question she could ever think to ask. 

If Jacob was here, then he was here as a celebrity guest – despite his name being absent from all the information pamphlets.  It didn’t seem like much, but getting caught meant banishment from all future LunarCon events.  If it got out, and anything to do with Jacob Starr had a habit of making headlines in even the smallest newspaper circulation, not to mention the entirety of the internet, she’d likely lose her job.  The Ministry of Education tended to frown upon its teachers getting caught in sensationalized sex scandals, because it called into question what they were teaching the developing minds of tomorrow.  Then there was the havoc it’d wreak on Jacob’s professional reputation.  Admittedly, an affair with a fan wasn’t the worst thing any of Hollywood’s golden boys had been caught doing, but she’d never destroyed a reputation or brought down someone’s career, and she wasn’t about to start now. 

He was as much off-limits as he’d always been, more so since there was a significant other – Sally, who didn’t like to be kept waiting.  Jenna’s eyes darted around the room in an attempt to pick her out in the crowd, but since she had no idea what the woman looked like it was a pointless exercise.  Better to enjoy the few precious moments in Jacob’s company and savor every detail for perfect recall later.

“He called, said I should get my ass to Melbourne.” Jacob gestured over her shoulder and she turned to see Adam Chase in full sexy-action-hero mode, center of attention among a cluster of women which included Cait.

She looked up at him, amused. “You always do what you’re told?”

“Depends who’s doing the telling.” He winked and gestured with his chin toward the bar. “Can I get you a drink?”

Jenna nodded and allowed him to escort her; one large palm warm and confident on the small of her back while he signaled the bartender with the other.

♥♥♥

Jenna lost track of Cait until it came time to sit down to dinner.  Cait pulled out the chair next to her and placed her drink on the table before taking her seat.  She gave a happy sigh and grinned.

“Having a good night?” Jenna asked, though the answer was obvious by her friend’s demeanor.

Jacob leaned across the empty chair next to him to speak to Adam, who’d brought three adoring fans with him.  With the addition of a man who took the seat beside Cait, the table was at capacity, except for the one remaining chair next to Jacob.

Jenna’s evening lost a little of its sparkle when she realized it must be Sally’s.  Distracted by the cocktails and witty repartee, she’d allowed herself the faintest glimmer of hope.  Jacob had been the perfect gentleman, listening to her attempts at interesting conversation and offering clever banter in return.  A few fans joined them, asked their questions while trying not to gush too obviously.  Jacob smiled and charmed them before they moved on.  It hadn’t been hard to imagine he was there for her and her alone.

When their entrée of comfrey salmon and micro-herb salad was served, and the place setting still remained vacant, Jenna had to know.  She nodded to the empty chair. “Will your girlfriend be joining us?”

Jenna swallowed hard.  As luck would have it, she’d asked into a conversational lull and everyone at the table ceased eating to stare.

Adam quirked a brow and divided his gaze between an embarrassed Jenna and a confused Jacob. “Dude, when’d you score a girlfriend?”

“You got me.” Jacob said without taking his eyes from Jenna’s.  He took a long pull from his beer, a dot of froth caught at the corner of his mouth.  He licked it away before leaning close. “What made you think I’ve got a girlfriend?”

Jenna fidgeted with the cloth napkin in her lap, her cheeks flaming under his intense scrutiny.

“Rick, at the airport.  He said Sally didn’t like to be kept waiting, and you rushed off.  I just assumed…” She trailed off.  It sounded ridiculous when she said it aloud.

Jacob grinned at her, the tension easing from both his expression and his broad shoulders. “Sally Coulson, host of Good Morning Melbourne.  I was late for a live interview.”

Jenna felt warm all over; the hard knot lodged in her chest loosened and allowed her to breathe deep for the first time since dinner began.

“So no girlfriend then?” Cait leaned around Jenna to grin at Jacob.

“No girlfriend.” He grinned back.

“Well, that’s good news, isn’t it?” Cait elbow-tapped her before turning her attention back to the man on her left.

Jenna focused on her plate, the desire to look up and meet Jacob’s eyes at war with the prickly rush of embarrassment surging in her veins.

“Did you really think I’d be flirting with you, if I had a girlfriend?” His tone was part teasing, part admonishment.  She glanced up, breath caught in her throat with the realization of how close he was. “Since Wellington, there’s only been you, Jenna.”

The way her name sounded on his lips, the way he stretched the n’s as if they were warm caramel, made her grateful she was seated. 

She didn’t notice when the main of slow-braised beef cheek on parsnip puree with red-wine jus replaced her barely-touched entrée, too absorbed in all the wondrous possibilities a relationship with Jacob Starr brought with it.  He’d been the main attraction in her thoughts and her fantasies, as well as her regrets, for the past eighteen months; since she’d left Wellington without at least attempting to slip him her phone number. 

But they came from different worlds, lived on different continents.  She was an elementary school teacher, and he was an action star of blockbuster movies.  Eighty-percent of the world knew his name.

“Jenna?” Her name was a hot puff of air on her neck as he leaned closer still. “I can hear you thinking from here.  Was it okay for me to say that?”

It was strange to hear him so unsure when he usually projected a strength and confidence in his every word and action which in turn put those around him at ease.  She swallowed; her throat dry as she glanced at her dinner companions, who’d returned their attention to their meals, and nodded. “Wellington’s got a lot to answer for.”

“Damn right.” He chuckled; a deep, free, sound that hummed in her bones. “And in case you’re wondering, I’m Adam’s guest not LunarCon’s.”

She gasped and leaned in, hand over her mouth as if sharing a secret. “So no…umm…”

“No stupid rules or dire consequences to worry about?” Jacob inclined his head toward hers. “No.  And nothing to stand in our way either.”

Jenna’s heart beat faster than she ever thought possible as she looked up into eyes so dark and warm and hopeful, she wanted to fall into them and never find her way out again.

♥♥♥

All that remained of the short-crust chocolate-silk tart was a few crumbs, when Jenna felt the weight of a large masculine hand cover hers where it lay in her lap.  She turned her wrist so their palms pressed together and Jacob twined their fingers; thumb grazing along hers.

Oh, how she wished they could get out of there and go somewhere, anywhere, as long as it was just the two of them.  Alone.

“When this is over…”

“Yes.”

He laughed. “You haven’t heard my offer.”

“Doesn’t matter.” She gazed up at him through her lashes with every feminine wile she possessed, and felt him squeeze her hand. “Long as I’m with you.”

“I like your thinking.”

She could’ve sworn his voice dropped two full octaves.

Jacob sent Adam a signal, or at least Jenna assumed he had, because Adam drew the table’s attention with the beginnings of an epic tale of how he’d been filming a scene involving explosives and the daring rescue of an alien priestess.

Jacob was helping her into her coat out in the foyer before Jenna realized she hadn’t told Cait where she was going.

Chapter Five

The night had gotten colder as it went on and Jenna shivered despite her coat.

“I’ve got a car service.” Jacob pulled his phone from his pants pocket, the screen lighting up with a swipe of his thumb. “We could catch a tram, or walk.”

“Maybe a destination should be the first decision?”

He turned, directing all of his attention on her, every muscle tense as he held himself in check. “My hotel’s three blocks that way.”

“Sounds good.” The predatory hunger darkening his eyes had her leaning in, until barely a breath separated them. “Lead the way.”

“God, Jenna, you’ve gotta be sure.  Are you sure?”

“From the first moment you walked in the room.” She whispered, choking on the last word as he lunged for her mouth.  A rasp of stubble, lips taking everything she offered, tongue seeking permission.

Jacob groaned when she opened for him.  He released her hand so he could tangle both of his in her hair, free it from its pins, and hold her where he wanted her.  The sounds she made; soft, sweet whimpers he’d never tire of hearing.  She pressed into him, braced her hands on his hips, kneading the fabric of his shirt in an effort to reach sensitive skin beneath.  Over a year of fantasizing and nothing he’d imagined was better than the reality of kissing Jenna.

He allowed them up for air and pressed his forehead to hers, fingers still tangled in dark red whorls.  Part of him terrified she’d vanish if he let go.  She smiled and licked her lips, seeking the taste of him.  He chuckled; dazed and happy, relieved and energized, all at once.

Her arms circled his back, beneath his jacket, fingertips tracing patterns across his spine.  He had to get them to a bed; right the hell now.

“A car would be good right about now.” Jenna murmured in the intimate space between them, mirroring his thoughts and gently butting his nose with hers.

“Right, umm, sure, I’ll text my driver.”

“I’d better text Cait.” She smiled at his confused look. “Girl code.”

Jacob went in for another taste, laid a trail of soft sucking kisses along her jaw as she arched her neck to give him more room.

“Hope your driver gets here soon.” He hummed; only partly-listening, more interested in the scent hidden in the hollow behind her ear.  He kissed it, then kissed it again, and smiled into her skin when she clung to him. “You keep kissing my neck like that and I’ll be forced to rip your clothes off.”

“I fail to see the downside, Miss Long.” She groaned; fingernails scritching through his hair as she held him close, actions speaking to her desire for more of his kisses.

“My credit card will beg to differ when I have to buy a new hand-tailored tuxedo.”

The limo pulled to the curb before he could reply and she tugged him by the hand.  He had to admit, a woman who knew her own mind was a one hell of turn on.  It made a change from the simpering women who tended call him Ethan and ask him to recite lines of dialogue from his movies, while they lay there and let him do all the work. 

The sooner he and Jenna made it to his hotel room, the sooner he could get his hands on everything that damn-infuriating green dress concealed.

♥♥♥

The hallway was deserted and Jacob sent a prayer of thanks to whoever was listening.  He wanted Jenna to himself for as long as he could, before any lurking paparazzi discovered them and ran gleefully to the nearest tabloid with the pictures.

He smiled at her and she smiled back, walking at his side, one hand in his, the other holding the straps of her sliver heels and enough green silk to keep the hem from dragging.  Her hair had come loose from the elegant up-do it’d begun the night in, and one shoulder strap had fallen to drape over her bicep.  She looked thoroughly kissed, and happy.

Jacob suspected he wore a similar expression.  It’d been the best limo ride he’d had in a long while.  Three of the black stud buttons on his shirt were undone and his bow tie was shoved into his inside jacket pocket.  He still had his shoes on, but his shirt was untucked where Jenna had slipped her hands inside to slide up over his flanks.  The feel of her splayed across his thighs as she pressed her breasts against his pecs had had him cupping her ass to keep her right…there.

Neither of them spoke, comfortable with each other and the silence, as they moved quickly past door after door after door.  Jacob let go of her hand to check all his pockets for the key-card; holding it up in triumph before sliding it into the lock.

Jenna’s shoes hit the floor with a double-thunk, followed by her coat, before Jacob had time to kick the door shut and lock it.  He shrugged out of his jacket; let it slide down his arms to the floor.  The first of what would be a trail of clothing marking the way to the super-king bed.  He tugged the back of his collar and ducked out of his shirt, leaving him bare to the waist; broad shoulders, smooth curve of bicep, strong forearms and narrow wrists, sculpted chest and contoured abs, a smattering of coffee chest hair, and the tease of a treasure trail – all on display for her pleasure.  She’d given him no reason, but he couldn’t help the nervous shiver that ran through him.  Would she like what she saw?  Would he live up to her imaginings?

The click of the light switch drew his attention back to her as pools of golden light spilled into the blue-black shadows from strategically-placed lamps. 

“I want to see you.” Jacob groaned at the hunger, and reflected light, in Jenna’s eyes; watched as she slipped the other strap from her shoulder and reached behind her.  The sound of a zipper sliding made his cock twitch.  There was too much fucking space between them, but neither moved.  Jacob transfixed to the floor by the sight of emerald silk falling to pool at Jenna’s bare feet.  She was all long limbs, smooth plains, and sweet curves emphasized by low-cut black lace.  She stood motionless, her eyes wide with something he couldn’t name, but knew deep down it was only for him. 

“You’re so fucking beautiful.”

Between one ragged breath and the next, she was in his arms pressing her softness against him.  Jacob boosted her up and she wrapped her thighs around his hips, fingers tugging on his hair as she sought out his mouth; kissed him, claimed him as her own.

He walked them back without breaking their kiss, tripped once before toppling them onto the pristine white comforter; Jenna on her back and Jacob’s thigh between hers as he tugged her bra free.  Her breasts spilled into his palms and he circled her nipples with the pads of his thumbs.  She arched into his touch, a whimper of pleasure caught in her throat.

Jacob kissed her; abandoned it halfway through, eager to suckle.  She hissed and he lifted his head, only to have her shove him back, fingers tight and demanding in his hair.  He chuckled; grazing his palms down her flanks.  Want drove him on, lost in the wonder that was Jenna under him, arching into the heat of his mouth on her; everything he’d imagined when he’d jacked-off alone in the dark with her name on his lips.

A desperate hunger clawed at the inside of Jenna’s mind and surged through her body in a wave of heat that intensified like nothing she’d ever experienced before.  Jacob’s hands drew forth sounds she hadn’t known she was capable of making.  The weight of his body over hers made her writhe against him, just to test his strength, his will to have her.  He was like a drug, one she’d forever crave; intoxicating and perfect.

She spread her thighs, rutted her hips in both invitation and plea.  His fingertips edged under her panties, large palm moving to cup her as a finger slid inside, then two; setting a rhythm as his thumb grazed her clit.

“Jacob!”

She shuddered; riding out her pleasure, a luscious wave of rapture that left her breathless, body floating on a cloud of hazy warmth.  He was there.  Mouth on hers, tasting his name on her tongue as he arched over her, leaned to reach under the pillow.

He still wore his pants.  She’d come on his fingers, sprawled naked on his bed, while Jacob was still half-dressed.  Jenna swallowed down her embarrassment and reached for his belt, had button and zipper open, and his cock in her palm, when he settled back over her. 

He cursed; his breath puffed hot against her sweaty skin as he rutted into her fist, hardening further with each deliberate stroke. “You’re good at that.”

“Happy to oblige.” She grinned; quick wit returning as her afterglow receded.

Jacob ducked his head into the crook of her neck and whispered. “Miss Long, I’ve wanted to fuck you since I first laid eyes on you.”

“Back at you, Mr Starr.” Jenna turned to meet the sheer need blazing bright in his dark eyes. “Seems neither of us is good at breaking the rules.”

He snorted and pushed up to free himself of his dress pants, socks, and shoes, before reaching for the condom.  But Jenna was there; ripping it open and squeezing the tip, before rolling it down his length.

Jacob spread her wide with his hips and nudged inside her slick heat before driving home in one smooth thrust to settle deep.  Her muscles flexed around him in welcome and he groaned, kissing her name into the hollow of her throat as she arched her neck back, and wrapped both arms and legs around him.

Jenna felt split apart as she wriggled, attempting to get more of him inside her; skewered on Jacob’s cock, and pressed into the bed beneath his beautiful masculine body.  She tightened her thighs around his hips in encouragement; greedy for all he could give.  He was everything she’d fantasized and so much more.

Thought melted away, lost to the rhythm of his thrusts and the feel of his mouth on her skin.  She doubted she’d ever have enough of this man.  The more he gave, the more she desired, the more he offered, the more she craved.

He lifted her hips and bucked deeper, fingertips biting into her ass cheeks to hold her where he wanted her.  She met him thrust for thrust; denied passion driving them toward a precipice neither wanted to escape.

Jacob came first, bellowing his pleasure, powerful body arching up and hips bucking wildly; rhythm lost, coaxing her to join him.  Jenna rode him out, unwilling to be left behind.  The sparks of her orgasm danced up her spine, ignited the heavy warmth in her belly until it caught and exploded in bright lights behind her eyes, body arched to mirror her lover’s as she clung to him.

He petted her hair, brushed back sweaty tendrils with clumsy swats, so he could plant kisses along her brow.  She laughed and tugged his hair to bring his mouth to hers.

“I don’t know about you, but I needed that.”

Jacob choked out a laugh and ducked in to lave his tongue over her nipple, circled the pad of his thumb over the hardened bud. “God yes.”

She scrunched up her nose as he pulled free.  Only to gasp when he stroked her plump folds and circled her entrance with a teasing finger, before heading to the bathroom. 

Jenna lay where Jacob left her and stared at the city lights beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows.  For a moment she wondered if he expected her to leave.  She wasn’t naïve enough to think she was the only fan who’d enjoyed the privilege of Jacob Starr’s attentions.  After all, he wasn’t just a gorgeous guy.  He was an action hero, an A-lister, one of Hollywood’s elite.  Women, and likely a high number of men, had to be throwing themselves at him.  Her stomach flip-flopped at the thought of going.  But they hadn’t discussed what happened after, too wrapped up in the now. 

She hadn’t realized she’d drifted away until she felt a warm cloth pressed between her legs, and Jacob’s mouth kissing along her inner thigh as he wiped in gentle strokes. 

When Jenna pushed at his hand he lobbed the cloth back into the bathroom, and moved up to lie at her side; placed a kiss on her nearest breast, one hand low on her belly while he rested his chin on the other. 

“I sleep naked, but if you’d prefer a shirt, I can find one for you.”

Jenna smiled to herself, her question answered – he wanted her to stay.

“Naked’s my preference too.”

“Excellent.” Jacob smiled, though his eyes turned down at the corners and a yawn escaped.  She laughed through a yawn of her own and rolled over to snuggle. “It seems you’ve worn me out, Mr Starr.”

“An even trade, I assure you, Miss Long.” He caught the next yawn in his palm. “Bed.”

“I think you’ll find we’re on said bed.”

“Jenna…” The deep sexy voice came from far away and Jenna opened a wary eye to see what her lover was up to. “I won’t indulge your need to snuggle if you don’t shift your fine ass in between my very high thread count sheets.”

She snorted, amused. “You must be someone important to rate very high thread count sheets on your hotel bed.”

“I’m a famous movie star, don’t you know.” Jenna heard the laughter in his voice. 

“I vaguely remember someone mentioning something about it, yes.” They were both stupid with exhaustion and it was showing in the pointless conversation.

She rolled on her front and crawled up to the padded headboard, and wriggled herself in under the sheet and comforter; head sinking into the squishiest pillow she’d ever laid a cheek to.  The mattress dipped as Jacob joined her, his body warm and enticing against the chill of the sheets.

Jenna allowed herself to be rolled away, only to feel Jacob settle close against her back, knees tucked behind hers, strong arm heavy around her waist, and a large hand splayed over the flat of her belly.  The sound of her lover’s deep even breaths lulled her into sleep.

Chapter Six

His ass was freezing, and his arm was dead.  Something soft that smelled of flowers was caught in his stubble.  He snorted; using the not-dead hand to swat at the softness tickling his nose.  A distinctly-feminine groan came from the mound of stolen bedding beside him.

Jacob let a dreamy smile soften the confusion from his brow.  She was there.  In his bed, using his arm for a pillow, and hogging the comforter.  Soft snores she’d probably deny uttering, left warm damp patches on his wrist.  He couldn’t imagine a better way to start the day.

He pulled his arm from beneath her head, but she didn’t wake.  Her hair was a dark red inferno fanned across the white pillow.  He flexed his fingers, hissed as feeling returned, and reached his arms above his head.  Relished the stretch as it engulfed him from fingertips to where his toes curled in the sheet.

The light was bright through the huge window, the curtains open from the day before.  Tufts of fluffy-white cloud bobbed across cornflower-blue sky, destination unknown - a new day with new possibilities.

“Penny for them?” Jenna murmured and rolled over to rest her cheek against his chest.  Her voice husky with lingering sleep.

“Wondering how I’m going to get my comforter back, Blanket Hog.” She laughed and shifted her thigh to fall between his, nudging behind his balls. “And dreading the inevitable awkward conversation.”

He felt her stiffen against his side, tense and wary, and dropped his arm over her back.  He didn’t want her to leave, ever.  And if she’d give him a chance, he’d tell her that.

“Sorry about the blankets, it’s been a while since I shared a bed.” Her confession eased something in him he didn’t know was clenched tight.

He laughed as she tugged both sheet and comforter over his nakedness; right up under his chin, leaving his toes exposed to the dreaded Toe-nibblers who lived under beds.

“Better?”

“Better.”

“So, awkward conversations aren’t a favorite for me.”

“Hence the word awkward.” He looked into eyes so green and close, and reached up to tug her lip free from her teeth with a gentle finger. “What do we do now?”

“Room service and shower sex.” Jenna leaned in to steal a kiss before rolling off him to lie on her back.

“Jenna.”

She sighed and puffed the comforter over her middle. “I know, back to reality.”

“Before, or after, the shower sex?”

“After.” He watched as she twirled her hair up into a loose bun at the back of her head. “Definitely after.”

Jacob growled; lunging to pull her down on top of him amid Jenna’s peals of laughter, as he tousled her hair loose to fall over creamy shoulders – just as he had the night before. “Works for me.”

His kiss muffled her reply, but she didn’t seem to mind.  In fact, the way she moved her body against his, he doubted either of them would make it to the shower, or anywhere else, for an hour or more.

♥♥♥

The sound of his phone vibrating its way across the bedside cabinet to a tinny rendition of Persephone Jones’ Celestial Blues brought Jacob from post-sex doze to full alert.

He flung his arm out behind him in search of the offensive device, but didn’t succeed in shutting the thing up.  He rolled away from a sleeping Jenna and swiped the screen, switching the caller to speakerphone as he stalked naked to his duffle bag on the sofa.

“Rick, I said no interruptions.” He growled as he shoved one leg then the other into his jeans, tucked his dick away then thumbed the buttons home with practiced ease.

“I think I would have remembered, had you issued such orders.” The woman’s tone had a polished pout beneath the eastern European accent. “Jacob, darling, you know it wounds me when you do not return my calls.”

“Ingrid, babe, I’ve been otherwise occupied.  What’s with the sudden desire to get hold of me?” Jacob ran a palm over the back of his neck.

“Darling, come for lunch at Sergio’s and I’ll tell you all about it.  Twelve o’clock?”

“Ah, yeah…” He swallowed hard around the sudden lump in his throat.  The furious look a sex-rumpled Jenna was giving him from the tangle of white sheet both aroused him and skewered him to the spot. “I can’t make it.  I’m in Melbourne.”

“Australia?  Oh Darling, how you love to tease me.” Jenna’s gaze hardened to shards of icy-green flint, cutting right to his core as she flung the sheet away and stood up; searched the floor for her clothes. “Come now, wear your charcoal suit, and the blue shirt we bought you in Milan.  And do not be late.  You know how Oswald is a stickler for time, he wants to discuss opportunities.”

“Ingrid, I- ”

“Twelve on the dot, Darling.  Auf Wiedersehen.”

The call dropped out leaving him in the path of an approaching hurricane.  He didn’t know what to tackle first.  He wanted to go to Jenna and haul her into his arms, but her stay back posture kept him where he was; with an ever-increasing abyss between them.  Morning after awkwardness blown to hell and gone, taking every word he’d ever learned with it.

Embarrassment burned hot on Jenna’s skin.  She had to get out.  She’d been a fool to believe him; a silly, stupid, romantic, fool.  Of course he had someone.  A man of Jacob Starr’s caliber didn’t remain unattached.  Not with a smorgasbord of women offering themselves on a platter every time he walked in the damn room.

She had no claim on him.  They’d spent a wonderful night together, had some truly mind-melting sex.  But it was a fantasy fulfilled.  One she’d treasure and remember, once the hurt morphed into fond memory.  

Jenna felt his eyes on her as she pulled on her dress and shoved her bra and panties into the pocket of her coat.  She wouldn’t regret what they’d shared; only the way it’d crashed back into reality with the harsh light of day.

“Jenna.”

“I should go…have to meet Cait.” She stooped to grab her shoes and headed for the door, coat clutched tight over the jiggle of her unsupported breasts.

“She’s my…” He sounded dazed even to his own ears, lost.

“Don’t, there’s no need to explain.  I get it, I do.” She’d cut him off, hand on the door knob as she turned back to meet his eyes. “What happens in Melbourne stays in Melbourne.”

With one final gaze that made Jacob feel as if she was committing him to memory, Jenna opened the door and left – before he could get a grip and stop her.

Fuck Ingrid for her shitty timing.

Fuck himself for a coward and taking the easy way out.  How hard was it to say to a woman he wanted to be with for more than just one night that he wanted to be with her for more than just one night?  He glanced at the phone in his hand, wondering how he’d got in this mess, and swiped before dialing.

“Hey, man.  Didn’t expect to hear from you.” Adam’s voice held the usual teasing, but there was a hint of curious concern too. “You and the lovely Jenna coming up for air?  Hey, I’ve got second-round ops and autos, but we could meet up around six.  Can’t wait to…”

He must have realized Jacob hadn’t said anything because he didn’t finish. “Jacob?  You still there?”

“Ingrid called and…she left.”

Adam cursed; muttering something Jacob didn’t catch. “You still want what you said you want?”

Jacob nodded before he remembered Adam couldn’t see him. “Yeah, man, I do.”

“Then what the hell are you doing gabbing to me for?”

“Right.”

He heard Adam laughing as he hung up, grabbed a tee, and charged out the still-open door; startling a maid and throwing an apology over his shoulder as he ran.  The age-old question of which would be faster – elevator, or stairs, tying his gut in knots.

Neither was fast enough.  Jacob charged out the front doors of the hotel, a bare-chested wild man in half-buttoned jeans clutching a tee in a white-knuckled fist, eyes wide and darting for the smallest…

“Jenna!” A glimpse of green silk against yellow as she closed the cab door. “Jenna!”

“Sir? Can I be of some-”

“A cab, get me a cab, now!”

The valet signaled the first cab in the rack and held the rear door as Jacob launched himself inside.

“Follow that cab.” His gut lurched as Jenna’s cab was swallowed by the midday squall of downtown traffic.  Losing her wasn’t an option.  Not again.

Jacob whacked his elbow on the window as he shrugged into his tee, yanked his head through the neckline, and ruffled his hair with a shaky hand.  He could see what he hoped was her cab pulling left into a hotel loading zone.  A flash of green confirmed it.  He leaped out the second they came to a halt, his driver yelling for payment behind him.

“Jenna!” She stopped and Jacob whispered a grateful thank you.  Two minutes; he’d have it cleared up in two minutes if she’d let him.  And then, well, then he wouldn’t lose her. “Jenna.”

Sweet Lord, the sound of her name in his rich melodic voice would, always and forever, leave her breathless and wanting.

“Jacob, it’s okay.” She sighed; gasped when he gripped her upper arms, heat bleeding through the fabric of her coat to warm her skin beneath.

“No, listen.  Please.”

Her heart turned over at the hope and fear shadowing his beautiful eyes.  She nodded and the grip on her arms eased.  She wanted to tell him to hold her tighter, to keep her close.  He was tall and solid and warm and ragged around his handsome edges.  Oh God, bare feet and jeans!  He must’ve chased out after her.  She couldn’t speak; too many emotions clambering over each other in her throat, but she nodded to indicate he should say what he obviously needed to get off his chest.

“Ingrid’s my agent.  She’s from Austria, that’s just how she talks, the darlings, they don’t mean anything.  I mean, sure, she’s got a great rack and before I took her on we flirted.  I was new to Hollywood, had parties to go to, and she looked good on my arm.  She knew people.  I wanted good roles and she wanted a client who’d make her rich.”

He took a deep breath, ready to add more if needed.

Jenna reached up and pressed her fingertips to Jacob’s mouth, felt the soft give of his lips and the warm puff of his breath. “I thought…”

“I know, it sounded bad, I get it, and with the Sally thing yesterday…you must think I’m a real player, but that’s not me, I promise.  I leave that to Adam and his alter ego.”

He looked so earnest, shoulders hunched in and brows drawn down over eyes that’d softened to a golden-brown.

“Trust me, I’m not her type, and she doesn’t come close to mine.”

Jenna leaned up on her tiptoes and smiled into Jacob’s kiss; wrapped her arms around his neck as he dropped a hand to the small of her back, pulled her in against his hips.  Heat prickled over her skin, surged through her body in pops and zings.  She pressed closer; resisting the desire to leap into his arms and wrap her thighs around his waist.

“So what exactly is your type?” She murmured eons later when they came up for air.

He laughed and ducked to lay a kiss behind her ear. “Hot redheads with a preference for green silk and a willingness to pay a guy’s cab fare.”

She gaped at him and turned to see the cab driver advancing on them, a thundercloud of trouble brewing on his olive complexion as he elbowed through the semi-circle of people filming the moment on their phones.

“You’re lucky you’re so good-looking.”

The driver nodded his thanks when Jenna passed over the outstanding fare.

“Agreed.”

She snorted and took Jacob’s proffered hand. “You know this thing we’re starting will have gone viral by the time we make the lobby, right?”

“I’d be disappointed if it hadn’t.” He grinned a megawatt smile and she laughed outright.

“Your world’s a far cry from mine.” She found comfort in the squeeze of his hand on hers.

“I know.” He held the door open for her to walk in ahead. “We can talk about it over dinner – my shout.”

“Deal.” Jenna couldn’t help her own grin, and eyed his bare feet. “Somewhere less formal than Observe though.”

“Hell yeah.” He dropped an arm across her shoulders and tugged her into his side. “I could murder a burger and fries.”

Jacob’s phone rang as they stepped into the elevator and Jenna couldn’t help startling at the sound.

“It’s sorted.” She looked up at that and he mimed Adam. “I’ll text and let you know.”

Jacob wedged his phone in his back pocket and took her hand again as the elevator dinged their arrival on her floor.

“He wants to meet up for dinner.”

“Sure, Cait will want to come, what with it being our last night.”

“Yeah.” Jacob agreed; quiet as another dose of ice-cold reality hit.

“Yeah.” Jenna murmured and slipped her key card into the lock.

Deciding they wanted each other had been the easy part.

Chapter Seven

Jacob worked his way along the route designated by Enzo, Oswald’s Director of Photography, with an aluminum double-barrel kolec blaster held at the ready.

It was amazing how authentic sandstone walls, painted expando-foam, and a big-ass green screen, could make a guy experience the sights and sounds of an alien bazaar located in the Otaeb quadrant of the Outer Rim Territories.

Half the Moroccan desert had worked its way inside Ethan Fox’s white wifebeater and beige leather pants, irritating the hell out of Jacob’s skin and invading places it had no right to be.  The upside of filming in locations like the one they were based at for another three weeks, meant he didn’t need to fake Ethan’s permanent scowl of sexy intimidation.

He pressed his back against the crumbling red stone at the corner and wiped the photogenic sweat from his brow with the back of his hand, before ducking muzzle-first into the alley.

“And cut!” Oswald called, and the extras dressed in a colorful array of fabrics, makeup, and alien prosthetics, returned to their first positions. “Good, Jacob, good, good.  You must remember Ethan’s motivation.  He is not just breaking into Iskan City for kamna wine and sandfish stew.  Dante and the crystal lotus are held captive, and time is against Ethan if he is to save his friend before Romanenko kills him.  And of course, the beautiful Raylen Maize has her eyes on the prize too.”

Jacob suspected the wizened director had a thing for the rainbow-haired interstellar jewel thief.  And who could blame him?  Savannah’s curves filled out Raylen’s cobalt catsuit to perfection.

Oswald clapped Jacob on the back with one hand and took a drag on his cigarillo with the other; his moustache wriggling like a furry caterpillar across his top lip. “We go again, yes?”

“Sure thing, Oswald.” Jacob sighed and ran a hand over his face, only to have Amy appear at his side as if she’d been teleported there.  She tisked as she applied fresh corn-syrup blood to the knife wound riding his cheekbone, and added more sand to his hair with an artful wave of the aerosol canister she carried on her belt.

He didn’t know what was wrong with him.  Fudging a scene wasn’t his usual MO.  He always came to set prepared.  After two movies together he knew Ethan Fox as well as he knew himself – some would say better.

Jacob called bullshit on his thoughts.  He knew damn well what his problem was.  Two months without laying hands on his woman was messing with his focus.  He scuffed the toe of his combat boot in the ochre sand and tugged on the lapels of Ethan’s vest, the red leather squeaking against the straps of his shoulder holster.  Loving his job didn’t negate the fact that another four months without Jenna would damn near kill him.  Sure, he’d gone for longer, but this time he knew how her skin felt under his hands; remembered the scent of her, and how she tasted.  The sounds she made when he fucked into her…

Oswald cued the clapper boy and Jacob stepped to his mark, rolling his shoulders and shaking out his arms to dissipate the want his thoughts had stirred up.  Ethan had to rescue Dante before Jacob could think more about Jenna.

“Dante Jones and the Crystal Lotus, scene twelve, take two.”

“And in…three…two…”

Jacob made his way along the wall to the crowded alley for a second time.  Ethan’s scowl and determination fueled by Jacob’s need to retain his reputation as a no-muss no-fuss professional.  Besides, the sooner they wrapped the final chapter in the trilogy, the sooner he’d see her smile again.  And he didn’t mean via a TransCom window on his laptop either.

An hour later, while sound and lighting shifted their rigs into the three-walled room playing the role of Romanenko’s secret lair - where Dante would be hog-tied on his knees waiting for Ethan’s daring rescue – Jacob texted Jenna.

Waiting for A.

M’s sandy.

WYWH.

He checked the time once he tapped Send on the last kinda-sappy line.  Three-thirty-eight in the afternoon Morocco time meant three-thirty-eight in the morning New Zealand time.  It’d be a good four hours before she checked her phone. 

Jacob imagined sleeping Jenna.  Her red tresses spread in fiery snarls across her pillow, soft snores emitting from a mound of stolen blankets.  He smiled; maybe there’d be some green-painted toes peeking out the end.

“You ready to do this?” Adam ducked out from behind the canvas door of his tent wearing his number-three costume, the one Wardrobe attacked with a utility knife before smearing it with blood and grime.  Green tape circled his wrists, knees, and ankles, in preparation for the special effects geeks to add in the holocuffs and restraints in postproduction.  But Adam would still spend the whole scene gagged with a blood sponge up one nostril, so when Xavier pulled Romanenko’s punches the hits still showed on Dante’s face.

“I oughta be asking you that.” Jacob slipped his phone in to the pocket on the side of his chair and matched his stride to Adam’s. 

“Nah, your turn Friday.”

Jacob scowled; he’d forgotten Ethan’s encounter with Raylen in scene twenty-nine.  Savannah had winked at him over lunch in the dining tent the day before and asked him what his safeword was.  He’d spooned spiced couscous and beef tagine with apricots onto a thick slice of bread, and shoved the lot into his mouth so he didn’t have to answer.  His cheeks had flamed hot when she laughed at his discomfort.  It made sense now. “Damn.”

They weaved their way through crew members and milling extras to where Oswald waited; newly-lit cigarillo clamped between his teeth as he gesticulated with his hands, deep in creative conversation with a nodding Enzo.

“Ah, Adam, Jacob, places, places.  We must beat up Dante before dinner, yes?”

“Whatever you say, Ozzy.” Adam held his fist out for Jacob to bump before dropping down into position on his blocking tape. “Let’s get this on the first try.”

Jacob smirked and moved to take up his mark off-camera, blaster in hand, ready to charge in on Oswald’s cue. Adam always said that at the start of a scene, and strangely enough it helped Jacob get into character too.

“Dante Jones and the Crystal Lotus, scene fourteen, take one.”

The sound of the clapper board completed Jacob’s transition into Ethan Fox and he braced for the call.

“And three…two…one….action!”

♥♥♥

Jenna woke to rain pounding a tattoo on the roof and wind howling around the windows trying to find a way in, screaming in frustration when it failed.  The idea of leaving the sanctuary of her warm bed to drive the thirty minutes to school wasn’t a favorable one.  Instead she snuggled deeper into her nest of blankets and closed her eyes.  But sleep wasn’t coming back, both the storm and her well-trained body clock preventing a lie-in of any duration.

She groaned and flopped a hand out in search of her phone, pulling it in under the covers where it illuminated her blanket cave in a harsh white glow.  A cheerful bleep signaled three new messages – all from Jacob.  She held tight to the fluttery excited feeling in her belly at the sight of his name on her screen and tapped open the first one.

Waiting for A.

A for Adam? Well that explained why he’d had time to text her in the middle of his filming day.  She rolled on her side, pulling her knees up and snuggling into the warmth surrounding her inside and out.  He’d been thinking of her. 

M’s sandy.

She wondered exactly which M he meant, since he hadn’t been allowed to disclose any of their shooting locations.  But the image of her disgruntled action star in a place where sand was an issue made her chuckle.  Jacob wasn’t a fan of sand. 

WYWH.

Another tap revealed an acronym she’d never seen before.  It wasn’t the first of its kind. Jacob’s unique text-speak had taken a bit of getting used to the first few days into their sporadic trans-hemisphere conversation.  But a quick search usually ended with a duh moment, and then she was sending back her own reply.  Jenna brought up the search app on her phone, tapped in WYWH, and grinned when the top result brought clarity. 

Wish You Were Here.

“Me too.” She whispered and traced a fingertip over the text whose meaning equated to so much more than the sum of its four individual letters.

Me too.

Wherever *here* is.

7.30 - work calls.

She tapped Send and lay on her back, phone on her belly, and sighed before throwing back the covers and leaping to her feet in a whorl of energy and a spectacular case of bed-hair.

♥♥♥

It wasn’t until recess that Jenna turned her phone back on.  The message app sprang to life as if it was reciting a Christmas carol.

“Someone’s keen.” Eleanor, the other fifth grade teacher in the classroom next to Jenna’s, smiled at her from beside the coffee machine.

“Sorry.” Jenna clutched her phone to her chest in an effort to muffle the bleeping.

Eleanor emptied her fourth Sweeeet! sachet into her enormous Coffee-Drinking Is My Super Power What’s Yours? mug and reached for a wooden stirrer. “No, no, it’s fine.  I’m just jealous.”

Jenna made an encouraging sound and eased out a relieved breath when her phone fell silent at last.

“George hardly ever texts me.  Even when we were first together.” Eleanor waved a dismissive hand and sank into the chair opposite Jenna. “Not that texting was an option back in the time of the dinosaurs.”

Jenna bit her lip to keep from laughing.  Eleanor was her senior by a good three decades, but the woman’s carefully-maintained features and on-trend wardrobe did a great job of concealing the fact.

“How long have you been together?”

“Huh?” Jenna’s attention had drifted to the first of Jacob’s messages and she answered without looking up. “Oh, two months.”

Had it really been that long?  Could what she and Jacob had be classed as a relationship, when ninety-percent of their interactions were via text?

“Oh, I remember those days.” Eleanor sipped from her mug and gave Jenna a slow knowing smile. “All the hot sweaty sex you could want.”

“Eleanor!” Jenna glanced around the teacher’s lounge to see if anyone had overheard, but they were alone – for the moment.

“I’ll take that to mean I’ve hit the nail on the head, as it were.”

Jenna sighed and Eleanor leaned across the table between them. “Oh, you can tell me, honey.  Doesn’t he know what he’s doing in the bedroom?”

“No, I mean yes, hell yes, but he’s away for work and well…I miss him.” Jenna gestured to her phone where Jacob’s messages waited eagerly for her attention. “I don’t know if all this back ‘n’ forth makes it easier, or harder.”

Eleanor patted her on the wrist, giving it a bracing squeeze before returning to her coffee. “When’s he back?”

Jenna didn’t know how to respond.  They hadn’t discussed it.  Too busy memorizing each other with mouths and hands to dwell on their impending separation.  They’d barely remembered to exchange contact information in the airport before she flight was called for boarding.  Now, two months into said separation, it didn’t seem like the best of plans. “Four months.”

“Oh, honey.” This time Eleanor’s pat was one of consolation. “I’ll leave you to your messages, but if you want my dime’s worth, a man who takes the time to message that much…you’ve got nothing to worry about.”

Jenna smiled, surprised how comforted by Eleanor’s assurances she was.  She didn’t doubt Jacob’s loyalty or his desire for her.  Two nights ago she’d watched him lying naked on the bed in his tent, somewhere on the other side of the world, jacking off for her while she did the same for him.

Sprawled in her desk chair with her skirt around her waist like a belt, panties caught on one high heel, one leg over the armrest so he could see everything.  Her head flung back and her breasts framed by the pushed-down bra, their nipples hard nubs of excitement as she worked for her pleasure.  The sound of her name in Jacob’s deep voice murmuring encouragement, his sweet dirty nothings pouring from her laptop speakers, had her screaming his name and coming hard on fingers she wished were his. 

Afterward, the only sounds in the shocked silence of her house had been her harsh ragged breaths leaving her boneless and sated body.  All praise to whichever TransCom employee had come up with the idea for a face-to-face online communication program.  But even with the assistance of an innovative telecommunications company, it was easy to understand why long distance relationships struggled to survive.  God, she missed her gorgeous movie star lover with his deep dark eyes, crazy-hot smile, and sleek honed muscles.  But it was the way he held her like she was something precious, someone to be treasured beyond physical attraction.  And his laugh, so free and warm it lured her in until her sides ached and neither could remember what’d started them off.  Two completely different lifestyles would factor in at some point, of that Jenna was sure; but travelling Life’s bumpy road without Jacob by her side wasn’t something she was prepared to contemplate.

Jenna sighed; five minutes before Social Science, enough time to read – if not reply – to Jacob’s messages.  If she was lucky he’d still be up when she had her lunch break and they could text back and forth without the annoying time zone differential, before she headed in to supervise her class’s math test.

Rescued A 12 times today.

X has lousy timing.

She chuckled to herself.  Jacob might be bitching, but she knew as well as he did, he loved every minute of being a big-time action hero.  Xavier King, the actor behind Leck Romanenko – space smuggler extraordinaire and purveyor of information, with his fingers in every kind of pie the Outer Rim Territories could offer up - attended both Wellington and Melbourne conventions, but Jenna hadn’t been inclined to meet him.  Not when Jacob was there, live and in the flesh.

Note to self – never wear leather to the beach.

Jenna pictured his annoyed face and her fingers itched to tousle his hair, knowing he’d duck into her touch and laugh at himself.  Oh the hardships that must be endured to earn a crust in Hollywood’s gilded realm.  A sweet smile played at the corner of her mouth as she tapped open the next message.

Poker with the guys tonight.

Glad the beer’s safe here.

There was a two hour gap between the last two messages and she was happy he had a distraction and some time off from his grueling shooting schedule.

Thinking of you.

Her heart thudded an extra beat and she felt hot all over.  She knew the feeling.  Every minute of every day, Jacob Starr lingered in her thoughts.  Background or foreground, it didn’t matter, he was always on her mind.  It was a miracle she got anything other than daydreaming or pining done from one hour to the next.

A says thanks for the winnings.

Her face ached with how hard she grinned.  He’d been so distracted thinking about her that Adam won the round at cards.  Jacob hadn’t said what he lost, but she hoped it was only a few dollars and not something insane like the pink slip to his truck, or a dare that would have him streaking naked down Hollywood Boulevard.  Even if the mental image held a certain appeal.

Dune buggies on Saturday.

The bikes get more air.

She could almost see his pout as she imagined him in motorcycle leathers instead of allowing herself to fret over the dangers.  Would he take her out in a buggy?  She’d have to remember to ask.

The bell rang and Jenna switched off her phone before putting it in her locker.  Then she straightened her black pencil skirt and headed across the quad to her classroom.  Social Science was one of her favorite subjects to teach, and her students appeared to enjoy the experience.  Today’s lesson might have to include a pop quiz on how many countries began with the letter M. 

She entered to the buzz of children’s voices revved up on fresh air and the scrape of chair legs on linoleum, and clapped her hands to gain everyone’s attention. “Hurry, sit down, we’ve got a lot to get through.  Please initialize your screens and access your Social Science folder.”

The room settled into an industrious hum and Jenna lost herself in the joy of teaching young minds.  It’d always been something she wanted to do.  While other little girls had tea parties with their dolls, she’d taught Barnaby Bear, Spaceman Steve, Cuddles the purple unicorn, and Giraffey, their ABCs and their one-two-three’s in her best school ma’am voice.  She’d achieved her Master’s in five years instead of the usual six, and had been teaching fifth grade at Lockwood Elementary ever since.

“Miss?”

“Yes, Benjamin?” Jenna looked up from her own screen; knowing what was coming.

A tow-headed boy in the third row rested his chin on his palms and sighed with a dramatic air. “I forgot my password again.”

Chapter Eight

Jacob lounged on the red suede sofa in Sound Bite’s mixing room with Xavier and Savannah while Adam was in the booth; headphones on and rehashing his dialogue from the Iskan City crowd scene.  It was a drag to be called back for additional dialogue recording, but it meant his and the other actors’ contribution to the project was almost done.  One, two days, tops, and he’d be a free agent until the junkets began in the lead up to the premiere. 

He rubbed his palms up and down his thighs.  Jenna.  Just the thought of her brought a slow sweet smile to his lips and warmth nestled in his chest.  Elation rushed light and free in his veins, and goosebumps broke out over his skin.  How he’d survived this long without her near him was a mystery.  The memory of her arched back in her chair, sexy-teacher blouse and skirt yanked aside; breasts with their rosy teats on show just for him, creamy thighs spread wide as she fingered herself.   He’d been harder than he could ever remember being as her pretty moans taunted him across the Transcom connection.

“Jacob?” Savannah elbow-tabbed him, one perfectly-manicured brow arched in query as if it wasn’t the first time she’d tried to get his attention. “You okay?”

He shifted to ease the pressure of his zipper on his chubbed-up dick and laid his hands in his lap in what he hoped was a relaxed pose.  If she noticed he’d never hear the end of it. “Yeah, I’m good.”

Savannah scooted toward the edge of the sofa; delicate gold belly chain emphasizing the way her black yoga pants clung to her hips, lean thighs spread for balance as she swooped her long blond hair up into a messy bun at her nape.  The pose accentuated the sweet curve of her spine and gentle swell of her ass, making him long for Jenna all the more.  He wondered if the maneuver was a deliberate ploy on Savannah’s part to gain male attention.  An artifice perfected over time until it became a natural part of the graceful alluring woman she was. 

Either way it worked a treat.  After all, he wasn’t the only man in the room who’d noticed.  Xavier ran a hand along his jaw, palm rasping over fashionable stubble.  Then reached to slurp from his jumbo pineapple soda; straw noisy as he sucked up the dregs.

“You’re next, Miss Westbrook.” Zach’s voice seemed to fade in and out.  His gaze fixed on the mixing bank as he flicked switches and slid levers with long slender fingers.

“Zach, honey, I’ve told you to call me Sav.” Savannah smiled; her voice a hypnotizing blend of little girl and sex kitten.

Zach hunched his shoulders in an attempt to hide the bright color painting his cheeks as he flipped the intercom switch. “You’re all done, Mr Chase.”

Jacob gave the guy credit.  Savannah Westbrook wasn’t a woman to be denied – anything.  And yet, it appeared their sound engineer hadn’t had the privilege of sampling her wares. 

Adam held the door open as Savannah sashayed past him into the recording booth, flimsy blue fabric of her crop top rippling in the draught from the air-con, and boosted herself up onto the waiting stool. “Ready when you are, Zachary.”

“Seems Zach’s the flavor of the minute.” Adam groaned under his breath and dropped down onto the sofa beside Jacob.  He scooped a fistful of shelled pistachios from the bowl on the glass coffee table and poured them into his mouth.

“Looks that way.”

Adam crunched through the nuts and reached for a low-carb soda, popped the tab, swigged and swallowed. “Another poor sap takes the bait.”

Jacob snorted and leaned his head back, arch of the cushion supporting his neck.

“Speaking of poor saps…” Jacob opened one eye and glared at his friend. “When’s Jenna arrive? Or haven’t you invited her yet?”

“No.” Something in him twisted up tight at the thought.  What if he asked her and she turned him down?  But then, a voice whispered inside his head, if he didn’t ask the answer would definitely be no. “Haven’t had time.”

It wasn’t a complete lie.  He’d still been shooting scenes right up until the last day when Oswald wrapped the project.  Then he’d slept for close to twenty-nine hours straight.  He’d spent the following day and a half feeling like a zombie on steroids.  A strange mix of exhaustion and energized enthusiasm brought on by differing time zones and the absence of a demanding schedule.  The empty pizza boxes, soda cans and beer bottles, sub wrappers, and butterscotch pudding cups, littering the designer furniture of his apartment declared themselves witness to his post-wrap carb binge.  It hadn’t been pretty.  But the long hot showers were the definition of bliss.  Two days passed before he was convinced he’d gotten rid of every last grain of sand, smear of fake blood and makeup from his skin, and gel from his hair. 

It’d felt good to lounge around in nothing but a pair of old sweats.  To watch the sun set to the husky cadences of Persephone Jones’ debut album Bootleg Blues, and stay up late talking with Jenna without worrying about early calls to set.  His extra-long black leather couch proved a wise purchase when he woke draped in the old crochet throw his grandmother made him, the midday sun streaming bright and warm across his face. 

Okay, so he wasn’t that busy, but it was his process dammit.  And he hadn’t wanted to think about anything work related, including the rapidly-approaching red carpet premiere.

“Isn’t that why you have a PA and an agent?” Adam smirked; the bastard. “Go on, get Rick or Ingrid on it.  What’s the problem, you think she’ll turn you down?”

He didn’t, not really.  Money could be an issue, but he’d already decided to have her ticket waiting at the airport for her once he’d invited Jenna to be his plus-one.  Jacob tugged his phone from his pocket and brought up Ingrid’s number. 

She answered on the second ring. “Jacob, darling, are you finished recording?”

“Just about to go in.  Hey, can you do me a favor?”

“Sure thing, darling.”

“Can you mail Jenna an invite for the premiere?  I’ll text you her address.”

“It’ll be in this afternoon’s post.”

He could hear the smile in her voice, along with the million or so questions she was dying to ask. “Thanks, make it priority registered.”

“Of course.  Anything else, darling?”

“No, no, that’s it.”

“Okay, Auf Wiedersehen.”

The call dropped out before he could say anything else, and he pushed his phone back into his pocket.  He’d make sure to message Jenna as soon as he finished up.

Adam handed him the platter of gourmet sandwiches but Jacob waved him off.  He didn’t eat before recording dialogue.  Adam shrugged and lounged back with the platter balanced across the threadbare thighs of his designer-faded jeans, and bit into what looked to be a beef and horseradish bagel with sesame sprinkle.

♥♥♥

It was after midnight when Jacob made it home.  Adam, Xavier, and Savannah, having convinced him on the merits of Siesta Sid’s chili-beef enchiladas.  The guys vetoed Savannah’s karaoke and shots idea in favor of margarita pitchers and a few games of pool.  She pouted prettily and played the part of pool cue virgin with Oscar-winning skill, but none of them were fooled.  They’d all lost too many Ben Franklins to that pout over the years.

His phone gave a cheerful bleep from where he’d tossed it on the comforter, then stripped down and headed for the bathroom to take a leak and brush his teeth.  There was only one person who’d send him a video chat request at one in the morning.  Jenna.  He grinned at his reflection and ran his fingers through his tousled hair.

Jacob tossed back the comforter and slid between the sheets, twisting awkwardly to stack his pillows for optimal leaning before tapping the Accept button. 

“Hi, Sweetheart.” He grinned and his heart flip-flopped in his chest when Jenna grinned back, green eyes sparkling with happiness and something hot enough to set his entire body aflame. “Was just thinking about you.”

“Well, duh.”

Jacob laughed out loud.  This woman did him good in ways he had no words to describe; knocked him off-guard in the best way.

“What are you doing three weeks from tomorrow?” He asked, gaze fixed on Jenna’s face.  Wayward tresses of her dark red hair brushed her cheeks and fell to caress the bare creamy flesh of her shoulders.  His fingers itched to tangle in the fiery silk and pull her close enough to kiss. “Can you get time off work?”

“Three weeks from tomorrow…” Her attention drifted, the little concentration line appearing between her brows as she tapped at a keyboard outside the frame of his phone’s screen. “Are you talking just the one day or…?”

She shot him a mischievous smirk and Jacob felt hot all over, like a naughty kid caught out by his teacher. “As many as I can get.”

“I know what you mean. See you in six months sounded doable standing in the airport with our arms around each other and you whispering sexy promises against my ear, but not so much in reality.”

Jacob nodded; a dejected look in his warm brown eyes as he ran a hand through his hair. “You’re not alone, Sweetheart.”

“Hmmm…” She was distracted again. “Yes, and I can do a week either side too.”

Jacob’s heart thudded an extra beat in relieved anticipation.

“What have you got planned?”

“Ingrid sent the information today, but I wanted to make it official and ask in person.” He waved a dismissive hand, corner of his mouth tugging up in amusement. “Well, as in-person as a live chat window can be, anyway.  Will you be my date to the LA premiere?  They’re not as glamourous as the media makes them out to be, but I know how much you liked the previous films and I’ll be there, so it won’t be a total loss.”

He was babbling, he knew, but he couldn’t seem to stop.  It was why he’d delayed asking in the first place.

“I’ve got Rick on standby to book your flight once you give me the dates.”

“Jacob.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes.”

“Yes?”

“Yes.”

He laughed; a light kinda-goofy sound as he fist-pumped the air, heard her laughing too.

“What? After all these months apart you thought I’d turn down a chance to be in the same hemisphere again?”

“Uh, yeah, sounds stupid when you put it like that.” He yawned, the release of tension combined with the margaritas and the late hour had drained him of his energy.

“Fuck, I want to kiss you right now.” Jenna murmured as she leaned back into the plush sofa cushions and crossed her legs beneath her.  He looked so goddamned sexy.  It still caught her off guard that it was her he wanted.

“Ditto, and then some.”

The yawns came thick and fast once they’d started, and she chuckled. “You’d better rest up then.”

“Something tells me I’m going to need all the energy I can muster.”

“I can’t imagine what you mean, Mr Starr.” She twirled a strand of hair around a finger and fluttered her lashes for extra effect.

“I could give you a preview if you’d like, Miss Long.” He slipped a hand beneath the comforter, exhaled slow and deep as he palmed his cock; felt it grow heavier with each twist and pull he gave it.

He heard a soft whimper but didn’t know who’d uttered it.

“Absolutely.” Jenna murmured; gaze mesmerized by the view filling her phone’s screen.  Her free hand wriggled inside the cotton and lace of her panties, fingertips sliding in slick circles over her clit - his name falling in husky broken syllables from her softly-parted mouth.

♥♥♥

The priority registered envelope arrived on the courier just as Jenna hauled two grocery bags from the back seat of her car.

Since her live chat with Jacob, she’d tried to put the fact she would attend a Hollywood red carpet event on the arm of one of the movie’s stars out of her mind.  It hadn’t worked but points for effort and all.  It was both exciting and terrifying at the same time. 

What were the protocols? 

What would she wear?

The last thing she wanted was to embarrass Jacob in front of the world’s press, and have the moment immortalized on every social media platform ever created.

She thunked the bags on the polished cedar countertop, sank onto a barstool, and stared at cursive loops of the handwritten address before opening it.

Lunar Studios

Presents

The World Premiere

Of

Dante Jones and the Crystal Lotus

At The

Maricot Theatre, Hollywood, CA

8 PM

Dress: Black Tie

RSVP: Events Coordinator, Lunar Studios

The purple font winked in the overhead lighting as Jenna held the thick card in her shaky hand.  Jacob inviting her felt real enough, but this, this confirmed it in the world beyond internet communication.

The accompanying letter bore the logo and contact information for The Muller Agency, and explained that all protocol and details regarding her attire for the premiere would be gone over once she arrived in Los Angeles.  It concluded with the expected salutations and the elegant signature of one Ingrid Muller, Agent to the Stars.

Jenna rummaged the nearest bag for the carton of strawberry-fudge-ripple ice cream she’d tossed into her shopping cart on impulse, and leaned to get a spoon from the drawer.  Two weeks and she’d be with Jacob again.

Chapter Nine

    “Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please.”

Jenna opened her eyes in long slow blinks only to realize her complimentary blindfold still covered them.  She stretched both arms and legs as far as the first-class sleeper permitted, yawning until her jaw creaked.

“For those of you with a window seat, you’ll notice the City of Angels has polished her halo and put on her best sunset.”

Jenna shoved her blindfold up into her hairline and pressed a button on the console beside her to raise the sleeper from its horizontal position to sitting.  She craned her neck to see out the three small windows to her left.  The announcer over the intercom was right.  It was easy to understand how the city gained its Tinseltown moniker.  Los Angeles was a giant circuit board of twinkling lights and silver glitter sparkling up at her from a backdrop of deep orange and cool purple bleeding into the dark navy of encroaching night. 

“Now folks if you would put your tray tables in their locked position and tidy away any supplies in preparation for landing, we’ll have you on the ground in half an hour, where it’s a balmy seventy-five degrees.”

Jenna swigged from her bottled water and gave a happy sigh.  Somewhere below, Mr Jacob Starr – famous action hero – waited for her.

Oh God, Jacob was waiting for her!

The blindfold pinged off her mussed hair to land on the complimentary plush blanket covering her legs.  She’d been on a plane for nigh-on thirteen hours.  They hadn’t seen each other in six months, but it was pretty much guaranteed Jacob would be his usual Hollywood A-List gorgeous self.  Whereas Jenna would…well…she would look like she’d been on a plane for thirteen hours.  Even without looking in the back-lit mirror built into the countertop in front of her, she knew the situation was bleak - her hair alone. 

She flung back the blanket and pushed up from her seat just as the seatbelt sign pinged on.  Using the bathroom to rectify the damage was out of the question.  A quick rummage through her carry-on bag yielded a brush, her makeup purse, and a travel pack of refresher wipes.  In a plastic bag at the bottom was the change of clothes she’d packed just in case her checked luggage took a detour to France, or Turkey, or some other inconvenient destination.  With the plane’s inner wall on one side and the sliding privacy doors between her and the next passenger’s sleeper cubicle across the aisle, the odds of pulling a superhero costume change without being caught out by a curious flight attendant were reassuringly high.

By the time they landed and were taxiing from the runway to the terminal, Jenna was dressed in an apple-green peasant top, jeans – no belt, she didn’t want to hold up the line at security – and black ballet flats.  She’d tied her hair into a casual up-do and freshened her mascara and lip gloss, before cramming everything back into her bag.  A final glance in the Hollywoodesque mirror had been reassuring – all things considered.

♥♥♥

Jacob saw her before she saw him, and damn if she wasn’t the most gorgeous woman he’d ever seen.  He grinned.  She travelled light; an overnight bag and a wheeled case.  But she was flustered, the little concentration line prominent between her brows, as she made her way through the smattering of people waiting. 

Sparks of excitement and heat surged through him, thrilled him like he’d been sleepwalking his way through half a year, only to come full awake and himself at the sight of her.  The urge to go to her, to meet her half way and sweep her off her feet into his arms, was countered by the desire to watch her from afar.  To drink her in and catalogue every beautiful breath-taking detail of her; from the tantalizing jiggle of her breasts with each of her long strides, to the way her jeans rode low on the sweet curve of her hips and caressed toned thighs in a way that made him jealous of the privilege.  Green eyes searched for him, dismissing those who weren’t the man she wanted. 

Until…

He knew the moment she found him; felt the warmth of her gaze settle on him and he shivered with pleasure.  She’d stopped in her tracks and he strode forward as if being found, being claimed, allowed him to claim her in return.

“Jacob.” His name, a gasp of joyful relief from her soft lips, made his heart roll over in his chest.  He reached for her, large hands cupping her face to bring her across the final space between them.

“Yeah, babe, it’s me.” Jacob lunged for her mouth just as Jenna pushed up on her toes to accept his kiss, ravenous and eager, needy and giving all at once.

When they came up for air it was to an awareness of both being in each other’s arms, and having an audience.  Jenna squinted in the direction of a camera flash before glancing up at Jacob; uncertain how she should react.  There’d been plenty of flashes going off at both Wellington and Melbourne, but she hadn’t been kissing Mr Jacob Starr – Hollywood heartthrob extraordinaire – at either LunarCon event.

“Probably not the best place to continue this reunion, Miss Long.”

“I’m inclined to agree with you, Mr Starr.” Jenna tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear and ducked her head, but Jacob still noticed the bloom of color on her cheeks.  It gave him an innate sense of satisfaction to know his kisses affected her as much as being able to kiss her aroused him.

“Let’s get out of here.” He reached for the handle of her case and took her hand in his, entwining their fingers together.

“What, before everyone recognizes you under the ball cap and trendsetter shades, and start asking for selfies and autographs?” Jenna teased; falling into step beside him.

Jacob laughed a hearty full-body laugh that fizzed and zinged along every one of his nerve endings, leaving him exhilarated from head to toe with the knowledge that this time, they were leaving an airport together.

“Are you in a rush to be anywhere?” Jenna asked from the passenger seat of Jacob’s macho black truck.  It felt weird to be seated on the right and not be behind the steering wheel, like she would’ve been back home.

He spared her a quick glance, one expressive brow quirked in curiosity, as he focused on the crowded lanes of airport traffic ahead of them. “What did you have in mind?”

“Somewhere out in the open where we can see the sky and the city lights.” She smiled at him and Jacob shifted lanes, making a break for the next turn before the traffic signal changed. “I’ve been stuck in a flying metal tube for the past thirteen hours.  I could do with some fresh air.”

“You can stick your head out the window if you want.” Jenna gave his thigh a playful slap and he laughed, taking her hand prisoner and entwining their fingers together. “I know the perfect place.”

Keeping their hands joined across the distance of the cab between them caused her arm to ache.  Jacob must’ve realized because he moved their hands to rest between them on the leather bench seat.  The considerate gesture combined with the gentle stroke along the side of her thumb made her heart thud an extra beat.  They’d spent one weekend together six months ago and yet being here with Jacob now felt as though the torture of separation was all an illusion.  Jenna sighed and stroked his thumb in return.  There was no better place in the world than beside the gorgeous man whose laugh made her feel special just to have heard it, and whose body was hard and hot and felt perfect against her own.

Jacob drove up into the hills, the truck’s engine made easy work of the climb and it wasn’t long before Jacob reversed them into what appeared to be a lookout carpark.  Wooden bollards jutted from the sandy verge to prevent vehicles going over the edge.  The view out the windshield held no interest.  Just a wastepaper bin strapped to a wooden post next to a picnic table which glowed white beyond the arc of the truck’s headlights.

“Umm…” Jenna glanced at Jacob, puzzlement tugging up one fine-plucked brow.

Jacob grinned; popped his seatbelt catch with one hand and opened his door with the other, tossing his cap into the footwell before jumping out. “View’s out back, you coming?”

Her feet slid on the gravel as she jumped down from the cab, using the door frame to steady herself, before shoving it closed with the right amount of oomph.

“This do?” Jacob had the tailgate down and offered his hand to haul her up.

“Absolutely.” Jenna turned to look up at him but her gaze was drawn back to the colorful patchwork of lights and shadows laid out from the hem of the hills to the horizon. “Even with a first class ticket it’s hard not to feel claustrophobic.”

She inhaled deep, held it, and exhaled on a satisfied sigh. 

He chuckled and wrapped an arm across her shoulders before pressing a quick kiss to her temple. “When you’re in the thick of it with a crazy schedule, it’s easy to forget the city looks like this.”

She hmm’d and leaned into the hard line of his body.  His arm tightened around her, his warmth seeping through the thin fabrics of their shirts.

“Cold?”

“A little.”

Her mouth opened to protest when he moved away, the truck rocking on its shock absorbers as he strode to the lockbox riveted to the back of the cab.  A snap-clink of the fasteners and he had the lid open, and was pulling out a couple of blankets and two cushions.

“I’m guessing you were a Boy Scout.  Or is this where you bring all your women?” Jacob’s head jerked up, distracted from the nest he’d made them by the less-than-playful edge in her voice. “Come stargazing with Jacob Starr.”

The amused glint in Jenna’s eyes reassured him she was teasing and the tight feeling in his chest eased as fast as it’d formed.

“Good one, I’ll tell Rick.  See if he can set up a fan contest or something.” He grinned as she gasped, loving how easy she rose to the bait. “I’m kidding, Jenna. C’mere, you can’t imagine how my arms ache to hold you.”

Her eagerness had him bracing against the lockbox to support them as she threw herself into his lap.  Legs either side of his hips and fingers in his hair, tugging him where she wanted him, her mouth hungry and sweet against his own.

He couldn’t help the growl of want which escaped, only to be consumed and drowned out by her answering moan.  She ground against him, luscious breasts crushed into his chest.  He dropped his hands to her ass, squeezed tight and smiled to himself when she wriggled for more.

Jenna broke their kiss, head flung back as she gasped for much-needed air and exposed the pale line of her throat to Jacob’s gaze and willing mouth.

“Missed you.” She murmured, back arching into the slide of his hand up her spine to tangle in her hair. “Missed you so much.”

Jacob leaned in to taste the warm patch of sensitive skin behind her ear, suckled and laved his tongue over and again until she uttered the little sounds of pleasure he remembered from Melbourne; sounds that made him harder than memories ever could.  He anchored her hip, kept her grinding against his length; her grip in his hair egged him on.

“Jacob, please.” Damn the sound of his name, all breathless and pleasure-soaked, on her lips had him breaking off for fear he’d peak too soon.

He eased her hands from his hair but didn’t let go, his chest blowing like he’d run a hundred miles. “You keep begging like that and this’ll be over before either of us is satisfied.”

The corner of her kiss-swollen mouth pulled into a smirk, matched only by the devilment in her beautiful green eyes.  Jacob’s dick throbbed.  The sensation echoed the surge of want tightening his gut.  He swallowed hard as she lifted the hem of her shirt; a glimpse of smooth pale waist followed by lean flanks and the tease of white lace.

“We’re doing this here?” The want inside him cooled a little at the thought of being busted by some passerby with a phone and the need to make a few bucks.  It was just the kind of thing social media salivated over.

She must’ve sensed his unease because she stopped mid-tug, the last before she’d be astride him in bra and jeans; moonlight illuminating every curve and dip of her body.  He could picture her laid back on the picnic blanket naked and open for his eyes only.  But the wary flutter wouldn’t be quelled so easily.

“Jacob?” Jenna crossed her arms over her breasts.  The chill air rose goosebumps over her skin now that she wasn’t lost in the heat of the moment and Jacob’s touch. “We can go if you’d…I thought since…”

She gestured to the blanket and the stars overhead, the complete lack of cars in the carpark or out on the road.  Her willingness to go with whatever he wanted eased the sudden attack of stage fright which turned him gun shy, and he smiled wide and bashful.

“No sense leaving when we’re both comfortable here, right?”

“Right.” She was helpless not to grin back as she cupped a palm to stubbled cheek and stroked her thumb over his cheekbone. “Now, where were we?”

“Right…about…” Jacob’s eyes darkened, focused intently on the back of his hand where it grazed up Jenna’s belly and cupped one breast, thumb mimicking her own slow caress. “…Here.”

He grinned when she murmured her agreement, eyes fluttering closed at the feel of his hands on her, lifting feminine flesh to spill into his palms; luscious and sensitive and full.  Jacob ducked in to suckle and hummed against the hard nipple brushing his tongue; felt Jenna grind closer as she clung to him.

“Oh, Jacob.”

He shifted them, held her close as he rolled her beneath him, laid her head on the cushion and settled his hips between her spread thighs.  The cool of the truck bed seeped through blanket and denim, but it was a discomfort easily ignored when Jenna was in his arms.  He supported his weight on one arm while he stretched the other to reach into the lockbox.

“What are you doing?”

He grunted, lost his balance but held a box of condoms aloft in triumph. “I hoped you’d be as horny as me.”

He felt heat suffuse his cheeks and hoped the shadows hid his blush from her as she laughed, free and happy. “There’s something to be said for forethought.  Now come here.”

Her nimble fingers slid the buttons of her fly open, then shoved panties and jeans down slim thighs as he worked free of his own; boots and socks holding him up for a frustrating second.

Then he was back, cock sheathed and bobbing in its eagerness, and the warmth of her luring him in.  Helpless to resist, he thrust deep.  Her tender flesh surrounded him, parted in welcome only to enfold him, keep him within her; offered resistance when he retreated.

“Jenna, oh God, Jenna.” His hips rutted, ragged, his hunger for her surpassing his ability to make it last.  He felt her thighs squeeze his flanks.  In excitement or command or both he was too far gone to tell.  He kissed her, a clumsy attempt.  One she returned as she clung to him, her nails sharp curves of fire in the skin of his shoulders, rose to meet his every surge and retreat.  Sweaty and beautiful and as desperate for the bliss their bodies promised as he was.  He felt it just beyond his reach, in the echo of his name in the intimate space between breaths.  And he was there, bucking deep and tight inside her.  Jenna arched her body to his, her cry of surrender dragged him after her into the bright light of euphoria.

The night air was cold on her flushed skin but Jenna didn’t care.  Jacob lay sprawled over her, heavy with the weight of healthy, satiated male.  She stroked her fingertips in the short hair at his nape and smiled at the sounds he made, soft exhales that puffed warm over the top swell of her breast.  It was a moment to be treasured; her lover asleep and trusting in her arms.

She felt the press of lips over her heart and looked down her nose to meet deep brown eyes, liquid and sleepy with lingering bliss.

“Hello.” She smiled; amused as his heightened color was visible by moonlight.

“That’s embarrassing.”

Jacob pushed up on his hands, shifting his weight to the side.

“Why?”

“One might consider it rude to pass out on a lady after…”

“After fucking her brains out?” Jenna wriggled away from the tickling fingers assaulting the nearest hip. “You make a good blanket.”

“This coming from a certified Blanket Hog.” Jacob snorted and hooked a hand over her hip, dragging her into his side. “Speaking of blankets, I suggest we get under this one.”

“I like your thinking.”

She shuffled and lifted when asked as he tugged the top blanket free and flicked it to settle over them.  Warmth returned to her toes and she spooned into him, her head on his shoulder as they stared up at the star-spangled ink sky.

“Do you think there’s life out there?  Maybe a galaxy where there’s a real-life Dante Jones and an Ethan Fox, saving people from interstellar smugglers and jewel thieves with rainbow hair.”

He chuckled; a light happy sound that danced along every one of her nerve endings. “I’d like to think so.  Probably not as ruggedly handsome…”

“Of course not.  That’d be impossible.”

Jenna sensed Jacob’s thoughts drifting into quiet, much like her own were.  It was warm and peaceful and safe enveloped in his arms.  She knew a lot would be thrown at her in the next few days, it wouldn’t hurt to enjoy how perfect now was.

Chapter Ten

Light poured in through the large picture window to stab her retinas.  Jenna snuggled deeper into the warm cloud of luxurious comforter for a long minute, before sighing and stretching her arms above her head.

The vast bedroom with its crisp white, navy, and silver, décor spoke of spacious luxury, while the giant flat screen TV attested to a large disposable income.  Jenna’s belly flip-flopped.  In Melbourne she’d expected a certain level of extravagance in a five star hotel room, but this was Jacob’s home.  The difference between it and her compact bungalow with its eclectic mix of bohemian bright and flatpack-practicality couldn’t have been more glaring.

But none of that had mattered while they had reunion sex under the stars.  She smiled to herself.  The feel of Jacob’s hot hard body against her, in her, and around her, as they made lazy sleepy love here in his enormous bed, reaffirmed how right they were together.

Alone now, she made a sheet angel across the vacant space; its surface devoid of both comforter, and any trace of lingering body heat.  Jacob had been up for a while.  And the faint sounds of breakfast in the making were familiar no matter which time zone you occupied.

♥♥♥

Jacob zipped around the kitchen like a bumble bee trying to find his way out of a jar.  Morning sunlight caught the bronze highlights in his hair and sparkled through the highball glasses he filled with lime-green liquid from a blender jug.

“She’ll need a car.”

Jenna boosted herself onto one of the four chrome and red leather barstools and quirked a brow in question.  Jacob smiled and slid one of the glasses across the black granite countertop toward her, before swigging from his own.

“No, no, I’ll be there, just make sure they’re ready to go.  I want to get out of there-” Jacob nodded as if he didn’t realize whoever he was talking to couldn’t see him.

“They want how many?” He reached for the frying pan and jiggled it so the streaky bacon and mushrooms tumbled onto the kitchen towel he’d placed on a plate. “How many looks can Ethan Fox have? He’s a space merc for Christ’s sake, not a lot of designer fashion stores in the Outer Rim Territories.”

Jenna stifled a giggle and Jacob glared at her.  The affect diluted by the smirk playing in the corner of his kiss-bitten lips.

“Yeah, yeah, I know.” He glanced at his watch. “I’ve gotta go, Ingrid.  I’ll see you at three, provided they’re done turning my character into a fashion icon.”

“I can’t imagine Ethan going for that.” Jenna swigged the dregs of her juice and looked at the empty glass in surprise. “Whatever was in that was delicious, thank you.”

“Huh?” He stared at her as if he’d forgotten she was there. “Sorry, my day’s mad.  Banana, leafy greens, mango, coconut milk, pineapple, and the last of the avocado; I make one every morning I’m not on location.”

He took her glass, rinsed it, and upended it into the top drawer of the dishwasher, then repeated the ritual with his own. “The photographer the studio’s going with wants to quote, freshen his look.”

Jenna nodded and forked a mushroom into her mouth.  The garlic, chive, and butter combo exploded across her taste buds. “Mmm yum!”

“Glad you approve.” He passed her two slices of fresh bread to make a sandwich.

“A breakfast I didn’t cook will always be delicious.”

Jacob laughed, loud and happy, and loped around the island to leave a smacking kiss on her forehead. “Fuck, I’ve missed you, you’ve no idea.”

She leaned in, cheek pressed to his cotton-covered abs, arms squeezed tight around his middle. “Probably as much as I’ve missed you.”

He hummed into the top of her head before he cupped her face to meet his gaze, and stared at her for the longest time. “I love you.”

Jenna gasped and brought her own hands up to cover his, couldn’t help the shiver of pleasure inside her.  He looked terrified.  The handsome lines of his face pulled taut as he waited, vulnerable and wary.

“I love you too, have done since…oh hell, since before we met in Wellington, if you want the whole embarrassing truth.”

Her confession sounded young, and kind of creepy to admit the famous movie star she’d had a thing for was the same man who searched the world for her, courted her via text, entranced her with his voice, and seduced her with his body; even if it was the stuff of feminine fantasies.  To the rest of the world, he remained a fantasy.  He was an unobtainable desire from the magical kingdom of glitz and glamor called Hollywood.  Yet Jacob Starr had just put himself beyond the reach of the masses by declaring that he was hers.

Jenna stood into the small space between counter and Jacob, pushed up onto her toes and kissed him hard and needy and honest.  He pulled her close in answer; crushed her breasts against his pecs, and smiled into their kiss when she moaned.  How he got so lucky, he’d never know, but he wasn’t about to question it.

He groaned as he pulled free, reluctant to part so soon after having her with him again. “I’ve got to go.”

She released him and he felt cold where her touch cooled on the small of his back.  It made him eager to step back into her embrace.

“Ingrid’s sending a car for you.  They’ll ring up when they arrive.” The little crease appeared between Jenna’s brows and Jacob went with the impulse to smooth it with the pad of his thumb, as if it was something he’d been doing for years. “She has a load of designers who want to dress you for the premiere.”

“Oh…”

He chuckled; pocketed his phone from the counter and scooped up his keys. “This’ll be the scene where Cinderella’s fairy godmother picks her ball gown.  Don’t tell Ingrid I said that, she’ll have my balls.”

Jenna’s scowl had him ducking for cover. “I’ve got dibs on those if you don’t mind, Mr Starr.”

“Don’t mind at all, Miss Long, not one bit.”

Jacob’s laughter echoed through the entrance way long after he’d closed the door behind him; leaving Jenna with a rosy glow of possessive contentment swirling low in her belly.  Against all odds she’d found her prince, and he was taking her to a ball.  Okay, so it wasn’t a ball as such, but she would be surrounded by Hollywood royalty all the same.

♥♥♥

Jenna stepped from the elevator into the Muller Agency’s sleek modern reception area of buttermilk walls, cinnamon carpet, and towering leafy plants in bronze pots.  It was an atmosphere which oozed the utmost professionalism while instilling confidence in their clients.

“Miss Long, good morning, wonderful to meet you at last.  Jacob has talked of nothing else since he returned from his impromptu trip downunder.” Jenna accepted the proffered hand, but couldn’t help feeling she was both on the back foot and underdressed in her knee-length sundress and sandals.  “I’m Ingrid Muller, and now that I’ve met you I can understand Jacob’s fascination.”

Jenna bristled at the implication she was just a passing phase, a mere dalliance of someone rich enough to have whatever he desired, whenever he desired it.

Ingrid wore a tight white dress with black pinstripes, styled like a men’s suit jacket with oversized black buttons down the front, and four-inch white stilettos which can’t have been comfortable to wear all day.  Her platinum hair, secured in a no-nonsense chignon, emphasized her round blue eyes and what seemed to be a genuine smile.

“Pleased to meet you, Ingrid.”

With a nod, Ingrid sashayed around the curved wall without checking to see if Jenna followed. “We have a lot to get through in order to get you ready.  I assume you received the package I forwarded to your address?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Good, good, then we shall begin.” Ingrid flung open a set of double frosted-glass doors to reveal an enormous conference room, the table in the center capable of seating at least thirty. “Theodore, darling, Mr Starr has blessed you with an inspired canvas on which to work your magic.”

“Ingrid, darling, you must stop t-” A tower of golden muscle in a black wifebeater and designer-ripped jeans rose from behind one of the many clothing racks, mouth agape.

Jenna tried not to be offended by his obvious amazement.  To be fair they didn’t know her.

Theodore stepped forward, large manicured hand extended for her to shake, and Jenna had to crane her neck back to meet his gaze.  He wore glasses; their thick black frames beset with diamantes, and his bald head was a maze of Maori tribal tattoos.

“Theodore Montrose at your service.”

Jenna shook his hand and smiled.  Never had she met someone who blended clichés with such seamless skill. “Jenna Long.”

“Now I see the introductions are made, I must organize the necessary press releases.  Everyone wants to know who Jacob Starr is taking to the premiere and it is my job to see they find out.  I shall leave you in Theodore’s capable hands, Miss Long.”

Jenna turned, her words lost in the flutter of nerves in her stomach as Ingrid backed out of the room, closing the doors behind her. Theodore ducked close and Jenna flinched, only to grin at the playfulness in his expression.

“Let’s find you a gown that’ll blow Mr Starr’s…mind.”

Jenna laughed at his conspiratorial wink and nodded, nerves forgotten.  After Melbourne, she hadn’t been sure of what to expect from her meeting with Ingrid, but she had to admit the woman knew her business.

“We should begin with the purples.” Theodore pushed aside an overstuffed rack to reveal sequins, silks, and tulles, in every shade from the softest lilac, to rich eggplants, and sumptuous plums. “With that hair yellows, oranges, and browns won’t do at all.  Come, come, don’t just stand there.  We have a lot to do.  Which one speaks to you, darling?”

Theodore’s flamboyant enthusiasm was contagious, obliterating the last of Jenna’s reserve. “The dark plum?”

“Excellent, excellent.” He unhooked a seductive sheath that shimmered in the overhead lights, and Jenna’s fingers flexed with the need to feel it flow over her skin. “But, don’t fall in love too soon, darling, we must not neglect the greens, and the reds.  I can hear them screaming to bask in your beauty.”

Chapter Eleven

Stylists, hair designers, makeup artists, their assistants and their assistants’ assistants ebbed and flowed around Jenna as if she were a lone island in a sea of agitated efficiency, while Theodore and Ingrid surveyed their minions with mutual expressions of pride and accomplishment.

The week since she’d arrived in Los Angeles and been reunited with Jacob, had flown by in a whirlwind of appointments, lunch and dinner dates – each accompanied by varying entourages of photographers, journalists, and fans.  Jacob posed for photos and answered questions enough to keep them pacified, so when he asked they backed away and left him and Jenna to enjoy their evening together.

But it was the quiet privacy of Jacob’s apartment Jenna treasured.  They enjoyed the vibrant colors of sunset over drinks, before playing pool, or sprawling on the sofa; her head on his chest as they talked of everything and nothing, the madness of his upcoming film schedule, how she liked spa pools but hated baths, how on his next trip to Morocco he’d buy four punched-silver lamps to hang above the kitchen island, and who was the better blues singer - Eva Symone, or Persephone Jones.

Now here she was; Jacob’s guest bedroom taken over for the purpose of making her ready to attend her first movie premiere.  She hadn’t seen him since dawn first crept over the Hollywood hills and through the open windows to shade the white comforter gold, heralding Ingrid’s arrival as she hustled Jenna away.

She raised her arms on command as three assistants maneuvered her gown over her head without smudging makeup or touching one hair of her elaborate up-do.  Her natural shyness at being half-naked in front of a room full of strangers had evaporated within the first hour, along with the illusion that beneath all their finery celebrities got to wear expensive lingerie.  After her shower, wax, and mani-pedi, Jenna switched her robe for a strapless sausage skin in nude – complete with built-in panties.

While two assistants smoothed the fitted sleeves down her arms, and another two shaped the scoop neckline around her breasts before smoothing the bodice and skirt, it all made sense.  The shiny undergarment allowed the fabric to move without clinging and helped support her posture without the inconvenience of visible bra straps and pantie lines. 

Jenna felt taller and more glamorous than she’d ever felt in her favorite emerald silk.  Perhaps it was the small army of experts.  Or maybe it was the knowledge that Jacob Starr, Hollywood action hero superstar, would be her date.  She might be living the fantasy of more than a few women around the globe, but to her he was just Jacob - lover of modern blues, chocolate pecan ice-cream, and collector of sci-fi graphic novels; hater of sand, reality TV shows, and leaver of wet towels on the bathroom floor. 

Jenna smiled to herself as she used a nearby shoulder to keep her balance and lifted first her left foot, then her right, in answer to the tap on her toes.  The glittered four-inch stilettos were gold instead of red, but she was careful not to tap her heels together.

“Mirrors, mirrors now please.” Theodore broke her trance with an imperious clap of his hands.

The crowd parted like the red sea for Moses as two full-length mirrors with ornate white frames were brought in and positioned in front and back of Jenna.

“Rest assured you are stunning, Jenna, darling.” Ingrid purred as she stepped into view behind Jenna, an elaborate diamond lace collar draped between her fingers. “The final touch and my work here will be done.”

Theodore huffed; theatrical as always in his offence.  Jenna reached a hand out to him and squeezed his fingers in grateful acknowledgement.  Without him she would never have traversed the fashion minefield and survived.  He squeezed back, adding a delicate pat for reassurance.

The necklace’s cool weight settled around her neck and contoured to her collarbones.  Its center drop emphasized the soft swell of her breasts.  Jenna lifted her chin.  She felt like royalty.  Her nerves contained within the slinky red fabric and lace inserts of her mermaid-silhouette gown.

“A word of warning, Miss Long.” Ingrid’s usually-melodic tones cut the air like an axe murderer going after his latest victim. “You wear two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand dollars on your perfectly-lovely décolletage.  It is on loan from Villa d’Alessandro and should anything happen to it your handsome Mr Starr will be residing in a cardboard box.”

“Why would Villa d’Alessandro entrust such an expensive treasure to me of all people?”

“It’s not about you.  Fashion houses are not alone in their desire to hawk their wares on the world stage.” Ingrid glanced up from fixing the clasp. “Who wears what to a Hollywood premiere will be talked about for weeks to come, what better advertising campaign could one ask for?”

Jenna’s hand fluttered over her chest, overwhelmed by the idea of someone having enough disposable income to purchase the breathtaking creation outright.  The responsibility was daunting enough she almost told Ingrid to take it back, but she couldn’t deny how cool and decadent the jewels felt against her skin.  The idea of fucking Jacob cowgirl-style while wearing nothing but a two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand dollar diamond necklace was one hell of an aphrodisiac too. 

“I’ll be careful, Ingrid, I promise.”

Ingrid met Jenna’s gaze in the reflection they shared and held it for a moment longer, before giving a satisfied nod. “I believe you will.”

The friendly chirp of Ingrid’s phone brought everyone to life once more.  Mirrors disappeared, makeup cases, hair cape, driers, blowers, and their operators, all vanished with them as if sucked into a time vortex.

  “Now it is time for me to give up playing fairy godmother and go.” Ingrid slipped her hand into the crook of Theodore’s arm. “The car will be downstairs in ten minutes, do not keep him waiting.  We are all but slaves to the schedule which maintains the illusion of glamor.”

“’Tis a fact of life, darling.” Theodore waved a large hand in a c'est la vie gesture then slung two garment bags over his shoulder.

“Thank you for everything, Theodore.”

“Just be sure to enjoy yourself at the ball, and don’t worry about no stinking pumpkin hour.”

Jenna wrapped an arm around her middle for fear her laughter might burst a seam. “Never been a fan of pumpkins.”

“Quite right.  Orange, with that hair and skin tone, hideous!” Theodore winked at her, the diamantes in his glasses twinkling in the low light.

“Come now, Theo, we must depart.  Jenna, darling, you look marvelous.” Ingrid stepped in to bestow her ritual air-kisses. “I shall meet you on the red carpet.  Remember to remove your sweat pads before exiting the car or you will regret it when they appear in every photograph across the world.”

Jenna had forgotten the pads her stylist shoved between the gown and her armpits as they dressed her.  When asked, the woman had answered with a gruff nerves make you sweat like a pig.  A trick of the trade Jenna was grateful to learn.  The thought of revealing ugly sweat patches under her arms while standing in front of thousands of cameras and phones was horrifying.

“Jenna?” Jenna startled.  It’d been an entire day since she’d last heard his voice, and it thrilled her to her bones, heated her blood and set her heart racing. “Shall I come in?”

“No!”

“Okay.” The wariness in his voice made her realize she’d barked like a junkyard dog.

“No, no.” She chuckled to reassure him as she figured out how heels and cocktail train were supposed to work together. “I want to make an entrance here.  That way if I fall on my ass, it’ll just be you witnessing my humiliation, and not the entire world press.”

His laughter buoyed her.  Although there’d been times in their unconventional courtship where the chasm between their worlds was glaring, Jenna had never felt like she didn’t belong with Jacob.  Dressed in the trappings of his world showed her another version of herself, one she would be happy to explore in depth in the future.

Jenna stepped from guest room to living room and grinned as the handsomest man she’d ever seen stared back at her, brown eyes wide and dark with appreciation.

“Holy fuck!”

Jenna bobbed a curtsy as best she could and fluttered her lashes at her lover. “Such compliments are liable to make a girl blush, Mr Starr.”

“You take my breath away.” He truly sounded breathless as he strode from the balcony doors across the room to take her hands in his. “How’d I get so lucky?”

“It’s a question I ask myself every time you look my way.” Jenna stroked the backs of his hands and felt satisfaction simmer beneath her skin when his eyes fluttered at her touch.

He wore an exclusively-tailored black suit, a matching vest, black dress shirt, and a black tie with a metallic shimmer.  She had seen him dressed up before, yet the masculine prowess and sheer sexiness he projected seemed only to increase with each occasion.  She suspected even years into the future Jacob Starr would still have the power to turn her insides to liquid want.  In fact, if they weren’t expected somewhere so important, Jenna would’ve demanded he take her right there against the wall.

The intercom buzzed just as Jacob leaned in to kiss her and Jenna sighed with both relief and disappointment.  If only she’d had the forethought to have him kiss her senseless before they took an hour to do her makeup.  Now she’d have to wait until the dark of the cinema.  Would they be able to sit in the back row like a couple of teenagers on a first date?  Her lips twitched in amusement even as she dismissed the notion for the time being.

“Ready?” Jacob stood by the open front door and held out a gold clutch purse to her.

“As I’ll ever be.” Jenna smoothed away the non-existent creases over her abs and reached for the purse.

“Just smile, and remember, I’ll be with you.” He pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her the curve of her shoulder, his breath a hot mist on her bare skin.

“Thank you for a wonderful evening.” He glanced up from locking the door, confusion furrowing his brow. “Just in case, with all the limelight and flashbulbs, I forget to tell you, later.”

Jacob ducked his head, a bashful flush coloring his cheeks as he offered her his arm. “C’mon, we better get going or Adam’ll have them eating out the palm of his hand before we get through traffic.”

“What are we waiting for then?” Jenna picked up her skirt so she could take longer strides without catching her heels in the hem. “Let’s go, Mr Starr, your public awaits.”

They were still laughing when they reached the sleek black-and-oyster limousine parked against the curb outside Jacob’s building.

Chapter Twelve

Jenna couldn’t breathe.  Trussed up as she was the butterflies had nowhere to go but slam-dancing into her ribs and kidneys.  She heard the crowds from four limos back.  The anticipatory pause followed by the crescendo of cheers as whichever celebrity debunked from their ride and began their red carpet odyssey.

It was real.  She was going to a red carpet premiere in Hollywood, California.  And she wasn’t going as a fan.  Or even as a fan with a VIP pass.  She was going as the date of one of the movie’s stars, a man who she’d been sharing a long distance relationship with for the past six months – longer if you counted the eighteen months they’d thought about each other from afar.  The same gorgeous, kind-hearted, responsible, fun-loving man whose laugh melted her insides into a puddle of rapturous want; the same man who’d told her he loved her not two days past.

Jacob took her hand from where it sat clenched in her lap and opened her fingers one by one, so he could entwine them with his.  His touch soothed her, just as the solid feel of his body against her own kept her grounded. 

She breathed in as far as she could and let it out again, slow and easy, and Jacob stroked his thumb along hers.  He hadn’t said a word since they hopped in the car.  She wondered if it was part of his process.  Though he’d been to premieres before Jenna doubted they ever got easier.

The car moved forward one length before stopping again.  Only now the roar of the crowd was just a thin pane of tinted glass away.  Jacob pulled on their joined hands to get her attention.  When she looked up from the glittered toes of her shoes, the excited sparkle in his eyes and the warm reassurance in his smile evaporated the last of her nerves.  As long as he was beside her, everything would be okay.

“Ingrid went through it all with you?”

“Yes.” Jenna tugged her hand free from his, just long enough to remove the second sweat pad and toss it along with its fellow into the provided wastepaper basket. “You get out, the valet will help me, and then we’re into it.”

Jacob gave a sharp nod and tapped the window.  The door opened and a barrage of indecipherable sound flooded the limo’s interior. 

No amount of preparation could’ve prepared Jenna for the assault on every one of her senses as she accepted the valet’s hand and stepped from the car, up to the pavement, and tucked her hand into the crook of Jacob’s elbow.  She might have been thrown in the deep end but it was still better than the week of torturous build up. 

A wash of orange and purple, and a sprinkle of early stars painted the clear dome above, while the cool evening air eased the flush in her cheeks.  Jacob led her forward into the cascade of camera flashes.  Everywhere she looked faceless voices yelled her name, yelled for her to turn left or right.  They wanted to know which designer she wore, and how long she and Jacob had been an item.  It was impossible to answer any of them so she smiled until her face ached, and moved when Jacob did. 

Jenna basked in the celebrity limelight, seductive and dangerous in its allure, while wonder and elation zinged new pathways through every inch of her body and mind.  This was what it felt like to be a hot Hollywood commodity; beloved and idolized by the entire world, and showered with adoration until their attention waned and they no longer deemed you worthy.

Ingrid was there, dressed in a nondescript black dress, stockings, and heels; her elegant hand on Jenna’s elbow guiding her back three steps, separating her from Jacob.

“Cast only.” The whispered reminder drew Jenna’s attention to where Jacob stood with Adam, Savannah, and Xavier.  The perfect image of professional star power and unobtainable fantasy staring down the camera lenses and flashes of the people their lifestyles and careers depended on.

“Amazing.” Jenna murmured, only to realize she was alone. 

Ingrid, along with other agents, personal assistants, and bodyguards, herded the celebrities along the carpet like designer-dressed cattle headed to market.  Savannah’s sky-blue gown flowed into a ten-foot train which contrasted with the carpet and the dark suits of her co-stars.  Her blond hair pulled back and up to show off her slender neck and her long diamond earrings.  She was every inch a Hollywood star, beloved by all, and in no need of an escort.

“You okay?” Jacob’s concern was a warm whisper against her ear and Jenna leaned close to chase more of his alluring heat.

“Yes, haven’t tripped over my dress, yet.” She chuckled; the apprehension of a moment ago giving way to the glitz, glamor, and excitement of the occasion.

“The night’s still young.” He teased; tightening his grip over her hand where it rested on his forearm.

“Jenna!”

“Oh my God, it’s them, it’s them!  They’re here together!”

“Jenna, over here!”

Jacob turned her toward a group of young women waving at her from behind the barrier.

“We saw your pictures from Melbourne.  I nearly swooned when I read Jacob had been searching for you for over a year, so romantic!” The women clutched each other in a group swoon.

Ingrid had warned her there’d be a press release ahead of the event, but the woman wasn’t shy about revealing details.

Jenna had a vague recollection of pictures being taken as Jacob pleaded for her to listen to him about Ingrid’s place in his life.  She knew the odds of their private moment being private weren’t all that high, since they’d been standing on the pavement outside her hotel.  But the reality of anyone with internet access being able to weigh in on their budding relationship was still a shock. 

“Can we get a picture of you both?”

“Sure.” Jacob turned on the professional charm, covering for her by hauling her into his side, the weight of his hand reassuring on the small of her back.

“Can we get one with you, Jacob?” One of the other women asked, her cheeks flaming at her boldness.

“Sure, no problem for my biggest fans.” He stepped up to the railing, his bodyguard less than a step behind.

“I can take it for you.” Jenna reached for the woman’s phone. “Then you can all be in it.”

The five women jostled closer.  The creak of the barrier made the bodyguard nervous, but it was the wandering hands which made Jenna’s smile tighten at the corners.

“Ready?  Say Ethan Fox Rocks!”

“Ethan Fox Rocks!”

Jenna snapped off four or five photos in the hope all the women would be happy with their expressions in at least one of them, before handing the phone back.

“Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome.” Jenna smiled and tried not to glower as Ingrid once again moved her on without Jacob.  All the woman had to do was ask.

Left to her own devices for a moment, Jenna was able to take in more of her surroundings.  Adam worked his charms on his fans a few feet down the line from Savannah, who held the skirts of her gown to show off the thigh-high split.  Cameras flashed like fireworks, no doubt more eager to capture a glimpse of elegant leg than fabric lines.  Jenna took her phone from her purse and snapped some pictures of her own.  Cait’d never forgive her if she didn’t send her at least one attachment in her next email.

“Want me to take one of you?” Jacob was back at her side and Jenna jumped in surprise, having been caught out in her own fangirl moment.

“Oh, Mr Starr, that’d be so awesome.”

He laughed as she batted her lashes and fluttered a hand, the sound warming her from the inside out.  He snapped a couple of pictures and handed her phone back. “I aim to please, Miss Long.”

“I’ll hold you to that later.”

“Promise?”

Jenna leaned into the hard length of Jacob’s side as he guided her on, images of what they could do once they returned to his apartment stirred tendrils of heat inside her. “Absolutely.”

♥♥♥

Beyond the gaze of the masses, the pomp and splendor of the premiere died away, leaving Jenna to feel like it was any other night at the movies. 

Ushers stood at the ready to guide people to their allocated seating.  Popcorn machines churned out bucket after bucket of hot buttery deliciousness, alongside servers who handed out boxed candy, beer, and champagne.

Jacob and Jenna waited in line to be seated behind four other couples when Savannah approached; a plastic glass of champagne in her hand and a box of raspberry licorice peeking out of her evening bag.

“Are you staying then?”

“Jenna hasn’t been to a premiere before.  I thought it only fair she get the full experience.”

Savannah nodded, her earrings sparkling in the light as they bobbed. “Of course.  Though for my part I never could watch myself on screen, especially a fifty-foot one.”

She chuckled at her own joke and held out her hand. “Savannah Westbrook, nice to meet you.”

Jenna shook Savannah’s hand and smiled. “Jenna Long.”

“It’s good to finally put a face to all the things Jacob’s said about you.  Are you enjoying seeing how the other half live?”

Jacob stiffened but Jenna put a hand on his arm to still him. “I am, thanks.”

Savannah sniffed; put out that Jenna hadn’t risen to her bait, and sculled the rest of her drink. “Glad to hear it.  Enjoy your evening.  I’m escaping out the back, ordering Indian, and curling up with a good book.  These are medieval torture devices, not shoes.  I’m going to murder my stylist.”

Jenna glanced down at the gorgeous rainbow-sparkle five-inch heel slingbacks Savannah had on display, and grimaced in sympathy; yeah, they had to pinch like a bitch.

“What’s this I hear?” Adam looped an arm around Savannah’s shoulders and offered a sulky pout. “A party’s not a party without Savannah Westbrook in attendance, or so I’ve been told.  What will the other guests say?”

“Oh Adam, if you tell me I can dance barefoot I shall be there with-”

“Shoes off?” Jenna smirked.

Adam laughed. “Good one.”

“Indeed.  It seems our Jacob has at last found someone worthy of my approval.”

Despite her tone, Savannah’s smile was genuine enough to ease the prickle of annoyance beneath Jenna’s skin.

“I wasn’t aware I required your approval, Sav.”

“And this is where I play referee.” Adam stood tall, body turned into the space between Jacob and Savannah. “Miss Westbrook, will you allow me to escort you to your car?”

“Thank you, Mr Chase.”

They both snorted in amusement when Adam got his foot tangled in sky-blue silk and nearly landed on his ass in the middle of the crowded lobby.

“You’re such a dork, a very cute dork, but a dork nonetheless.” Savannah scolded with affection as she freed him from her skirts.

Adam waggled his brows and offered her his arm. “You love me.”

“I most certainly do not, and if I should read anything in the media to the contrary, you’ll be hearing from my lawyers in the morning.”

The slap to his ass had Adam laughing loud enough to draw attention. “Jacob, Jenna, see you at mine after the film.  No excuses.”

Jenna blushed so hard her cheeks had to be the color of her dress.  Adam winked and cocked a finger gun at them both. 

Jacob cursed under his breath. “Introducing my co-stars.”

“I’ve met them before, they just don’t remember.” Jenna smiled up into Jacob’s beautiful eyes and felt her heart flutter like a caged bird.  How lucky she was. “It’s nice seeing them without their guards up.”

He relaxed against her, one large hand warm and heavy on her hip. “Adam’s parties have a reputation for getting out of control.  We can skip it if you want, he won’t notice we’re not there.  And if he does, he won’t remember by the morning.”

“No, it’ll be my first Hollywood party.  Why would I miss it?”

Jacob wrapped his other arm around her waist and tugged her back into him. “I might have a few ideas.”

“Ohhh…well in that case, how can I refuse?” She turned in his arms and stroked a hand down his tie, the expensive fabric silky beneath her palm.

“Sir, we’re ready for you.”

“Thank you.” Jacob nodded for the usher to lead the way and waited for Jenna to lift her skirt clear of her shoes.

“How ‘bout we do both, stop in at Adam’s, then head back to your place?” He hummed his agreement.  As long as they got in some serious making out in the next hundred-and-fifty minutes he might survive until they got home.

It’d been far too long since he’d tasted Jenna’s sweet moans on his tongue, and felt her small hands clutch at his biceps as he drove hard inside her.

♥♥♥

Cool air from the open balcony door carried in the muted sounds of a city banished from their sanctuary.  They lay amid the rumpled destruction of his bed.  Their sweaty limbs entangled, bodies satiated and minds sleepy. 

“What did you think?”

Jenna slipped her thigh between his and continued to scribe mindless patterns over his flank. “I think fucking a woman wearing two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand dollars in diamonds around her neck agrees with you.”

Jacob slapped her ass and dug his fingertips into one peachy globe to keep her close.

“I think your prowess knows no bounds.”

“I may have been aroused by you riding me like a queen, but such finery can’t hold a candle to your luscious breasts.”

“You go anywhere near my breasts with a candle and I-”

Jacob rolled them, pressed her beneath him and kissed her until she opened her sweet mouth to him. “I wasn’t asking for feedback on my skills in bed.”

Flashes of him taking her on all fours not-three steps inside his front door surged desire, hot and urgent, straight to his exhausted dick.

“Or on the entranceway floor?” She slapped his ass in payback, only to trail her fingers up his spine in a little dancing sparks that teased his ardor.

“Be straight with me.” He growled; ducked low to lave one pert nipple. “What’s worrying you?”

Her fingers paused in their combing of his mussed hair before continuing their soothing pattern.

“Will my teaching credits transfer, do you think?”

He breathed deep, his chest aching with the effort.  She’d expressed her concern at last and it was nothing to do with him.

“I won’t be a mindless groupie, Jacob.  I need my own life, even if it’ll be here in LA with you.”

“I wouldn’t want it any other way.” He smiled into the sensitive spot behind her ear, heart thudding a tattoo of elation against his ribs. “We’ll make some calls.”

She nuzzled the hollow of his throat and he swallowed, felt her lips press…just…there.  He eased his weight to the side and pulled her close, eyes drifting closed as sleep whispered her seduction to him.

“I’ll have to go back and sort everything.”

The thought of her leaving set him on edge.  They’d spent so much of their admittedly-short relationship in different time zones.  Now she was in his arms it was damn hard for him to let her go.  Knowing when she returned to him it’d be for good, didn’t make it easier.

“Want company?”

She took so long to answer he wondered if she’d fallen asleep.

“Aren’t you needed here for some pre-production…stuff?”

It eased something inside him to hear the quiet hope behind her practical words. “Not for a couple of months.  Oswald won’t start until after the new year, and I can stay in contact via email.”

Jenna leaned up to meet his eyes, searched for anything he held back.  There was nothing there she didn’t already know.  He was utterly gone for his redheaded teacher.  Just as uprooting her life to be with him proved she felt the same.

“Zorbing seems fun.”

Jenna chuckled, but didn’t answer as her breathing slowed then evened out.  Jacob pressed a fond kiss to the top of his blanket hog’s head and tugged the corner of the comforter free to cover himself.  If he got to do this every night for the rest of his life, he’d be a happy man indeed.

Also By Jay Shaw

Dragonus Chronicles:

The Space Colonel’s Woman

The Hunted

Duality Series:

Wolfhaven

Movie Star Romances:

Limelight and Longing

Acknowledgements

To Netta, without her suggestion that we both try writing novellas, this book and its soon-to-be-written sequels would not exist.

To Colonel Mark Holden (The Space Colonel’s Woman) for mentioning Dante Jones in a conversation with Julia Holden, and thereby giving me a whole new cast of characters to explore.

To June, Alpha Reader Extraordinaire, for her unwavering support.

To Jules, whose feedback and enthusiasm keep me going when I panic that all my words have evaporated into the ether.

To Haley Allison of Spellbound Cover Design, who created this gorgeous cover.

And as always to my children, who despite everything life throws at us, still encourage me and can’t wait to be old enough to read my books.

About The Author

Jay Shaw writes sci-fi, paranormal, action, and contemporary, romance stories.  Her characters will, through trial and tribulation, adventure and discovery, ultimately find their one great love.  A love that all of time and space will lie down and be still for.

Jay lives in New Zealand, where she raises her two teenagers. She loves photography, reading, cooking, and movies.

You can find Jay online at:

www.facebook.com/JayShawAuthor

 https://twitter.com/jayshawauthor

www.amazon.com/Jay-Shaw/e/B01CXLFUMG

www.goodreads.com/author/show/15094075.Jay_Shaw