Page 75 of Steamy on Set

Sitting there staring at myself, my mind wanders to the rollercoaster these months have been. Day one on set, I was unsure where I would fit in. No way did I ever think I would be in this place, in this role, in his arms. Yet it’s the only place I want to be these days. Errol has all of me, and I know without a doubt that I love him.

As if my thoughts summoned him, I turn to see him standing in the door.

“Hello, gorgeous.”

I wave for him to come into the room before someone hears him. He steps in and closes the door behind him. Sliding out of the chair, I come around to stand in front of him.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to wish you good luck, and to do this.” He pulls me into his arms, lowering his face. My hand rises up to stop him in his tracks, blocking him from making it to my mouth.

“Don’t mess up my makeup,” I admonish, stepping back.

“There are other places I can kiss you.” His head comes down as he brushes his lips against my neck. My heart begins to race at the faint contact, eyes fluttering shut in pleasure. Flicking his tongue out, he eases up my throat, before licking back down. I pull at his shirt, trying to lift it up over his head. He lets me, easing open my robe to explore my body clad in only underwear.

We are so lost in the feel of each others’ skin that we don’t hear the door open.

“Ehem.”

We both turn at the sound of someone clearing their throat.

Mira stands in the doorway, her lips pulled back in a vindictive smile. “I was just coming to get you to change, but clearly you’re busy,” she says before turning to leave.

Grabbing the straps of my robe, I fumble to close it as I rush after her.

“Mira.”

She slows her pace until she stops. Turning around, her hands are clasped in front of her, smile even wider on her mouth.

“I knew there was a reason he gave you that role.”

My fingers curl with the urge to slap her. Every fiber in my being sings with a mix of worry and frustration as I walk up to her. Despite the anger blossoming in my chest, I have only one thing on my mind.

“Please.” I fold my hands into a prayer position. “Can you not say anything to anyone?”

She throws her curls over her shoulder with the flip of her head. A smug smirk plays on her lips as she looks me up and down. Her look makes me feel like filth, like what Errol and I were doing is dirty. It pushes that feeling over me, forcing me to wear a shame that doesn’t fit quite right.

“Please,” I say again, grabbing on to her hands. “On the friendship we had.”

Pulling back, she yanks them out of mine.

We lock eyes, and I can see as she comes to a decision.

“No.” With that, she turns on her heels and walks away.

My heart hits my stomach as I watch her go.

The backlash of this news getting out today will paint doubt on everything. Me getting this role. Errol’s decisions. It will be the scandal that marks how people will view both of us moving forward. I don’t care about myself. Barely anyone likes me anyway. But I want to protect him.

I hurry back into the room to find he is gone. With a few minutes until I’m supposed to be on set, I grab my outfit. The whole time, all I can think about is what’s going to come next. How will we survive this?

So far, we’ve been in our own little bubble of bliss, living out our lives without anyone being the wiser. How will people knowing change that?

With the profession that he’s in, a scandal like this can stretch beyond this film, marking his career. Even though I’m a newbie to acting, it might even be noteworthy enough for gossip magazines. This could get messy very quickly. I have no power to stop it.

When I enter the set, he is already in a conversation with someone. He looks like nothing happened, talking with an ease that moves through his hands. As I catch his gaze, I can see it there though, the hesitation, the concern. It’s enough to make me falter in my steps.

I need to talk to him, but now is not the time.

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