Page 9 of Role Play
I licked my lips, my eyes locking onto Lucy’s. They were wide and a rich, deep brown that rivaled what I’d imagined Venus to be in my Mythology class back in college. I inhaled deeply, catching a whiff of her sweet scent—vanilla and something else… lavender? It was so different from the light, flowered orchid scent Brie used to wear. Our breathing synced, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw that with each inhalation her curvy breasts rose and fell. But I wasn’t focusing on anything but hereyes.
“Lucy,” Kelly said from the doorway. The moment shattered and for the first time in my life, I understood the saying,deafening silence. Kelly didn’t say another word—hell, she didn’t have to. Her tone was razor sharp as was the tight line of her lips. And Lucy responded immediately to the command. She turned and scurried out the door behindKelly.
I stood there an extra long moment peering at the closed door before me. What the hell just happened? What was that buzzing connection with her for the second time in one day? Not to brag or anything, but I had my share of women. And yet—I wanted Lucybad.
I grunted as I moved across the room to my bourbon cart, pouring myself two fingers worth of a stiff drink. I needed to get it the fuck together. Lucy was cute. But she wasn’t Giselle for Christ’s sake.Or Venus for that matter, you idiot.What in the damn hell had me thinking of my mythology class from over a decade ago? This must be Richard getting into my head—all that talk about introducing a sub to BDSM and how good it was. I just needed to go to LnS and interview Eve, a professional submissive that worked there. I could interview her about how she entered into the lifestyle. Hell, maybe we could even play out a scene or two. Have her act like she’s being trained with me. I grabbed my phone, texting Eve to see if she was free to meet at LnStonight.
I actually felt really good about this plan. It was a good compromise. I’d be able to feel some of what Richard was talking about without completely betraying Brie’s memory. Then this weird lust for Lucy would fadeaway.
My phone buzzed as Eve’s text glowed on myscreen.
I’ll meet you at the bar. 11:00.
Tipping my head back, I finished the bourbon and grabbed my keys and wallet, heading to the door. As I swung it open, Neil, Jude's stuntman and personal trainer, was standing there, fist raised, ready to knock. He grinned and ran his hand through his brown hair. “Hey boss,” hesaid.
“Dude… What have I told you about calling methat?”
“Right. Sorry.” But he didn’t sound all that fucking contrite. And that smirk on his face needed a good slam from myfist.
I groaned and rolled my eyes. “Anyway,” Neil continued, “A bunch of the crew is going out for drinks to Alma’s if you want to join.” Neil, Jude, and I had been best friends since we all rolled up to Los Angeles together in the same beat up Honda Accord. The car had barely made it across the country from our Boston dormroom.
Neil lifted an eyebrow. "What do you say? One beer with yourcrew?"
A drink with the crew was literally the last thing I wanted to do. Even though I knew it was for the best for the film, I didn’t even want to go see Eve all that much. More than anything, I just wanted to go home, rub one out in a steaming hot shower while thinking of Lucy’s brown eyes, and then fall into bed. I opened my mouth to respond, but Kelly’s voice cut through the silenthallway.
“And if you ever… I meaneverundermine me again in front of Ash Livingston, I swear to fucking God you won’t even get commercial work in thiscity.”
I couldn’t see them from where I stood in the hallway. Fuck, I had gotten Lucy in trouble. I had encouraged her to be part of the creative team, and whether it was because of my personal relationship with Kelly, or because she was just one of those types that felt threatened by new talent… I was the reason why Lucy was getting yelledat.
“Yeah,” Neil whispered. “That poor assistant has been getting reamed out for a few minutesnow.”
I swallowed my sigh. “Thanks for the invite to Alma’s. But other than you, I doubt any of the crew wants to see their boss out andabout.”
I remembered those days—you went out after a long day to bitch about the director, not have a beer withhim.
“Just think about it.” Neil gave me a good-natured slap on the shoulder. “People in this crew actually like you. They’re saying it’s one of the best pre-production sets they’ve ever been on.” I snorted.Except that apparently my shots from the first week are shit.“I know,” Neil continued. “I couldn’t believe it either. I tried to tell them what an asshole you are.” Then with a wink, Neil pulled a cellophane wrapped brownie from his pocket, handing it tome.
"Unless that's got some pot in it, I'm not wasting thecalories."
Neil smirked. "It's infused with protein powder, not pot. My latest concoction. Tryit."
I chuckled and shook my head, taking the brownie. Instead of eating it, I tucked it in my pocket. For as long as I'd known Neil, the guy was like a giant contradiction. Muscular as all hell. Spent hours in the gym every day. And when he wasn't working or working out, he was in the kitchen, apron tied around his waist,baking.
Neil gave me a wave before taking off, lumbering down the hall and turning the corner. “Hey Kelly—hey new girl,” I heard Neil say. “We’re doing beers at Alma's if you want tojoin.”
I held my breath, listening as my friend's heavy footsteps faded. “Not you,” Kelly said. “I better not see you at Alma’s. Maybe go have a drink with yourroommate, instead.” The clacking sound of heels stomping away told me Kelly wasgone.
Should I go apologize to Lucy? Make sure she was okay? I shook my head, berating myself.No. Special attention was what got the poor girl in trouble with Kelly in the firstplace.
Whether or not I liked it, film sets had a hierarchical structure. Like a proper table setting, everything had a place, everything had an order—from the soup spoon to the dessert fork. And I’d just yanked the tablecloth out from under the plates by paying special attention toLucy.
Turning, I locked the door to my office and walked the opposite way to the back door where I was parked. I needed to blow off steam—a beer at Alma’s with my crew wasn’t going to cutit.
Eve would help me. She alwaysdid.
