Page 110 of Out of the Gold

Later, I stroke her bare arm across my equally naked torso. Her leg tangles with mine. “I was so scared I’d never be here again.”

“You belong here. I couldn’t imagine sleeping without you.”

She giggles. “Then it’s a good thing that I came here tonight.”

I roll her onto her back and settle myself on top of her. “A very good thing.”

I return from myearly morning workout—I won’t miss these early morning call times, that’s for sure. “Are you ready to sew me into that damn Doctor Manipul8 outfit one last time?”

“I’m going to miss it,” she replies, standing in front of the kitchen’s island.

“Are you serious?” At her nod, I continue, “You can always put a pillow on the floor and kneel before me any time you’d like.”

She rolls her eyes. “In your dreams.”

I hold up my phone. “Better take a few photos today then.”

She giggles, but her face turns serious. “I’ve been thinking. We know your sister didn’t touch your bodysuit.” She inhales. “But who did?”

“You’re sure someone tampered with it, and it wasn’t simple wear and tear?”

“Yes, I’m positive. It was too perfect not to have been tampered with.”

“I really don’t know. My trailer always has a bunch of people in it.”

She sighs. “Who would do it, though? Do you have any enemies on set?”

I consider everyone in the movie. “I can’t think of anyone here. If we were in LA, I’d say some actors aren’t too happy with me because I snagged a role from them.”

She plays with her hair. “Lindsay showed up unexpectedly—did anyone else?” At my frustrated head shake, she implores, “Well, keep your thinking cap on. Maybe someone will come to mind.”

“Will do. This is my third time playing Troy Oro, you know. If someone was angry about losing the role to me, they would’ve done something earlier.”

“I was thinking that, too. But the damage to the bodysuit didn’t happen by itself. I’m positive of it.”

At her determined look, I caress her cheek. “I believe you.”

She tilts her head into my palm. “Okay, stud. I’m running back to my hotel room to change and I’ll meet you in your trailer in thirty minutes.”

“If I didn’t say so before, I’m mad as hell you wore that dress out without me.”

She rises to her tiptoes and kisses me. My hands land on her waist and slide down to her ass. After a minute, she steps back. “I’ll model it, with a couple others, for your private pleasure.”

“That’s what a man wants to hear from his girlfriend.”

She beams and slips into her stilettos. “I’ll see you there soon. You need to take a shower, though. You stink from your workout.”

“Actors don’t stink.”

“Ha! And rock stars don’t sweat.”

I capture the sassy woman and wrap her in my stinky body, kissing her thoroughly. When we part, we’re both breathing hard. I slap her ass. “See you there.”

When she leaves, I hop into the shower and get dressed. Beating her to the trailer, I chug my specialty water. The door opens and, instead of my girlfriend, Thomas enters.

“Hi, Chase. Are you ready for your final shoot as Doctor Manipul8?”

“I’m so ready to be done with this costume, that’s for sure.” We high five.

---