Page 85 of Stone Promises

Hayden salutes me on my way out. Then I quickly go over to the monitor on the outside of the cave and huddle around it with five or six crew as we watch Chad and Hayden nail it in one take, Chad giving the performance of a lifetime in that one Oscar-worthy scene.

Chapter Twenty-five

Chad

“I think you just might be David’s favorite person in the whole world right now,” I say to Mal in the car on the way home. “He thinks you walk on water, you know. And David doesn’t likeanybody.”

She shrugs as if it’s no big deal.

“Seriously, nobody stands up to the guy,” I say. “You just earned the respect of every person on the crew.”

“Hewasa little terrifying,” she admits with a smile.

“Do you know how good you are for me? I don’t think an entire team of high-priced shrinks could have accomplished in a hundred hours of therapy what it took you ten minutes to do.” I wrap my arm around her, pulling her close in the back seat. “You saved my ass today, Mallory.”

She nuzzles her head into me. “It’s nothing you wouldn’t have done for me.”

“And that’s why we’re perfect for each other.” I look at Cole in the front, his eyes fully seated on the road in front of him. I take the opportunity to run my hand up Mallory’s thigh. It’s hot in Sedona in the summer, so she’s always wearing these short shorts and tank tops, making it damn hard for me to concentrate.

“Chad!” she whispers, scolding me with her stare.

“Just trying to make sure you don’t renege on that promise you made in the cave.” I plant my hand on her inner thigh and rub my thumb across her soft skin, repeating a pattern that sends goosebumps up and down her arms on this warm evening.

Her eyes are glued to the rearview mirror, making sure Cole isn’t watching us. My eyes are glued to hers. And every once in a while she closes them, taking in a breath as her body quivers under my touch. The ride back home is too long. There are so many things I want to do to her right now, but can’t. I remove my hand from her leg and she protests with silent, pouty lips, making me chuckle.

I pull out my phone and tap out a text.

Mallory stares at me, clearly annoyed. “You’re sending a text?Now?”she whines.

I smile as her phone pings in her back pocket. I nod my head at it and watch as she pulls it out and reads the text.

Me: Do you know what I want to do to that tight, sweaty little body of yours?

She laughs when she reads it. Then she smiles a deviant smile and texts me back.

Mal: Why don’t you tell me?

Damn. What did I ever do to deserve this girl? I stare at her and tell her with my eyes what I want to do. We don’t need words. She knows what I’m saying without them. But what’s the fun in that? She wants to play this game, so I go all in. Good thing I’m a fast texter.

Me: I was watching you all day. Every chance I got, my eyes were glued to you. You didn’t know because you were busy making everyone on set fall in love with you. But you want to know my favorite thing about watching you today? It was when you took a drink of water and then someone made you laugh. A bead of water trickled out of your mouth and rolled down your chin. You tossed your head back, laughing, and that bead of water traced a line down your neck, across your collarbone, and into your cleavage, finally disappearing into your shirt. It was the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. And I was jealous of a damn drop of water. I wanted to BE that drop of water. And tonight, when we get home, I’m going to follow the same path that bead of water followed. I’m going to kiss your beautiful lips and trace my tongue down your neck. I’m going to lick your salty skin and savor the sweet taste of you. But I won’t stop there . . .

I press send and then I watch her react as she reads the text. The more she reads, the faster her breathing gets. I’m already hard. Writing her the text was like reliving that moment. Her reaction makes me even harder. Her eyes close briefly before she taps out her reply.

Mal: How can you seduce me simply by talking about a drop of water? I want that. I want that and more. Every time your lips are on me, I’m in heaven. Every time you touch me, another memory gets added to my vault that chronicles my life’s most cherished moments.

God. This girl.

Me: Oh, I plan to put my lips ALL over you. After my mouth gets its fill of your incredible breasts, I’m going to lick my way down your stomach. I’m going to kiss that sexy little scar of yours. And while my mouth is busy there, my fingers are going to explore how wet I’ve made you . . .

She squirms around in her seat as she reads my text. Her mouth hangs open slightly. I watch as she taps out a few short words with shaky fingers. I laugh when I read them.

Mal: Yes, please.

Me: God, Mal, you’re going to be so wet for me that my fingers slide easily inside your tight walls. I move them around, massaging that little area that makes you groan every time I find it. Then my tongue is going to join the party and I’m going to taste how hungry you are for me. I’m going to flick your clit with my tongue and then I’ll run it in circles, making you squirm so hard under me you’ll want to explode. My fingers will start to work faster because I feel your thighs start to tighten around my shoulders. God, I love that moment right before you come, when I know it’s going to happen and I’m the one who’s going to take you there. I suck your hard nub into my mouth as your hands grip my shoulders so fiercely that your fingernails dig into me. They dig in so deeply it hurts a bit. But I love it because it means you are mine in every way, and while I’m making you come, you are marking me as yours. Your hips buck under me as I continue to rub that spot inside you, drawing every moan and shout out of your pretty pink lips. And when you cry my name, it’s a prayer I want you to say every fucking day of our lives.

I hit send and watch her as she reads it. Her body language is spectacular. Her face flushes. Her lips form an ‘O’ as a long, slow breath leaves them. Her thighs press tightly together. She drops the phone onto her lap, and her head falls back against the leather seat, eyes closed as she tries to control her breathing. She steals a shy look at me, shaking her head as she smiles before she sends another short text.

Mal: I need a cigarette.

---