Page 42 of All That Glitters

Control versus desire.

How much longer will I let her think she’s got me by the short and curlies? I see through her game easily enough, even through my thick haze of jealousy.

“Keep doing the scene,” I urge, keeping my fingers light on her thighs.

“It’s your line,” she corrects.

Crap, it is. I glance over at the script, the words obscure and unfocused on the page, and I have to blink to clear my eyes long enough to find my place.

What a little brat, I think again. Someone needs to spank some sense into her or stuff it into her with my cock. That’s a mental picture to savor.

Empire wants to finish the scene, which culminates in a sexy fade to black before the two characters finally sleep together for the first time. No matter what she wants to get out of this, I highlighted it, along with a few other scenes in my script, for further inspection. Only the ones I considered a potential issue for her during filming.

Talk about taking a dive into the deep end of a pool with only minimal swim lessons. That’s this role for her.

“Actually, I think you’re okay on this scene for now.” I make no move to remove her from my lap, though. “I actually feel you’d be better served going over the scene on page two hundred and one today.”

It’s darker, with sinister overtones. If she wants to play games, then I’ll play. Let’s see what kind of performance she gives with this curveball.

Her brows knit together. “I want to finish this one.” She sounds like a princess who isn’t given her way.

“And I want you to run a new scene,” I tell her, flipping the pages haphazardly until I stop at the neon-colored post it note I’d tacked near the top. “Stop looking at me for your cues and keep going, as though you’re here in front of a camera. This sort of shit happens all the time. Directors change their focus.”

“Hmm?” She blinks, craning her head to look at the one I’m pointing to. Her face goes pale. “Marcus, I’m not mentally prepared to do this one today. No.”

“Come on. If you want my help, then let me help you, Empire.” Smooth as butter, trapping her without her knowing. “I’m going to forget the lines, but you have to act professionally and run with it, even if I screw up. Plus, I had a feeling you were going to need some extra work on this one. We might as well start now.”

“You picked this one out as a problem for me?” Her frown deepens as she scans the page. “I’m not sure if I should be insulted or not.”

“No insult necessary.” I grip her tighter to make sure she doesn’t shift away yet. In this scene, she won’t be on my lap.

“This is the one you want to do now?” she asks.

“Unless you feel you need a break or you’re not up for the challenge.” I shrug one shoulder high and watch her lift one corner of her lip in a quickly flashed snarl.

She rises to the challenge and takes the bait like a champ. “No, this is fine. I’m up for it. I just have to get in character.” Empire peels herself off my lap and moves a foot away, close enough for me to still reach her.

I stand too, making no move to hide the bulge very much evident in my sweatpants. I’m so hard, I can barely think. Barely move, for that matter. I give her a minute, looking at the script and tugging at the neck of my shirt to mime loosening a tie.

Her chest heaves, and the tiny top she wore to bed shows more skin than it hides.

“Looks like you have a little problem there.” She sucks on her teeth.

“This?” I jut my hips forward. “Don’t worry about me. Worry about yourself and this script. I’m just hoping your unwillingness to do the part won’t shine through.”

There’s no prodding her, though. She’s too focused on other things.

After scanning the dialogue, she turns back to me and tosses her hair to the side. Her entire demeanor changes with the gesture, along with the expression on her face. There’s still enough of Empire in her for me to know she’s distracted, but she’s begun to embody the character, whether she’s fully aware of the change or not.

“Haven’t you heard a word I’ve said? I’m done with this now.” Her voice is high pitched, tenacious.

“I hear you trying to end things,” I tell her slowly. “What you don’t understand, my dear, is the price you’ve got to pay now. You’ve entered into this deal with your eyes open. There is no going back now.”

“What deal?”

It’s the start of the scene where Alicia, after having gotten Mr. Patterson exactly where she wanted him, tries to break things off after he becomes too obsessive for her liking. Rather than letting her get away, Mr. Patterson refuses to let her go and runs after her when she bolts.

“I thought you understood. There is no involvement with me in any half measures.” I lick my lips, gauging her reaction.

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