Her voice sounded muffled through her hands. “Please just go.”
He pulled her onto his lap and held her tightly against his chest. His lips brushed against her hair as he said quietly, “Penelope, you can call me a dick, control freak whatever you want, but I’m not leaving.”
Her shoulders shook as she cried quietly into his tee shirt. “I’m a mess.”
“Let it all out. You’ve received a few knocks; you’re entitled to your tears.”
She slowly relaxed against him, her body softening. She slid her arms around his waist then rested her head on his shoulder. His shirt was wet from her tears. Her breath hitched several times before she quieted. He stroked her hair back and inhaled, groaning inwardly at her intoxicating feminine scent.
She was all woman and her hands seared him through the cotton fabric of his shirt. He shifted her weight on his lap hoping it would ease his arousal. Her fingers curled into his waist as her breath quickened, tickling his neck. The electricity between them suddenly became inescapable. She put her lips against his throat and his belly coiled with desire.
Cupping the back of his head she pulled him down to meet her lips. He held completely still, afraid to breathe. Was this really happening? She traced his bottom lip with her tongue then drew it inside her mouth sucking gently.
He pulled away reluctantly. “Whoa, Penelope, maybe we should dial it back a notch.”
Her answer was to deepen the kiss. He gave in and opened his mouth to cover hers. He pushed his tongue inside, tasting, taking, exploring. He was acutely aware that there was only the thin fabric of white silk between him and her naked body. She seemed desperate as she clung to him.Not now, not like this.
His voice was husky with restraint. “Penelope as much as it pains me to say this, I’m not about to take advantage of your vulnerable state, not here, not now.” He kissed her forehead. Softly he said, “I’ve fantasized about this moment a thousand times, I want to kiss every inch of your body. But the first time we make love is not going to be on the proverbial director’s couch. I want it to be special and I want to be sure you’re ready and it’s not just a reaction. I promise you, I’m going to seduce you like you’ve never been seduced before.”
Still breathless, her eyes soft, she brushed his hair back from his brow. “Tell me all about your fantasy.”
“Soft music, candlelight, rose petals, hot oil,” he murmured, voice low and sexy.
“More…”
“Me inside of you, making you crazy with desire for me, you on top of me, your lush breasts bouncing as you ride me…”
“Yes,” she said softly.
He moved quickly and flipped her onto her back and began raining soft kisses across her face then her neck and shoulders, until she began giggling.
“Is that a promise?”
“Stop…that tickles.” She squirmed underneath him.
“Promise me. Say it.”
Breathless from laughing, she said, “I promise. It’s a date.”
“This Saturday.”
“This Saturday,” she agreed.
He relented and got up, pulling her with him. “I’m glad we don’t have any sex scenes this afternoon,” he said.
“We still have a scene to shoot together. But it’s rated G. You’ll be fine.”
“I’m going to my room to take a cold shower. You have a scene with dickhead this morning, don’t you?”
“Yeah, but it’s only PG…swear words are involved.”
“See you on set.” He stared into her sparkling pools of green and knew he was lost. He grabbed the offensive magazine and rolled it up and stuck it in his back pocket. He left even though everything inside, screamed at him to stay.
22
Penelope watched as Stewart paced back and forth waiting for the rest of the cast and crew to show up for the impromptu meeting he’d called. Griffin sat slumped down in a chair, arms crossed, with an endearingly serious expression on his face.
“Am I the only one not worried?” she asked.