Page 26 of Hollywood Hotshot

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Taylor’s plan workedwell. The dogs got their exercise, and he got to chill out after a long day on the set. At first, Roberta was anxious about the arrangement. She paced the floor, wringing her hands, waiting for him to show. But after a few times, she settled into the routine. While he played with the dogs, she used the time to herself to write. When Tucker and Goober were worn out, he’d knock at the back door, and she would let them in. Then, when darkness fell, Roberta’s cell phone would ding with a text from Taylor that he was on his way over. As planned, she unlocked the back door and waited. They didn’t do much other than watch television, usually a game or a movie.

Tonight was Friday, and they stayed up to watch an exhibition game with the Patriots playing the Steelers at Heinz Field. Taylor had wanted to get them into a private luxury suite, but Laurel Lynn vetoed the idea saying talk about the photo had finally died down. The last thing they needed to do was reignite it by appearing in public, especially at a football game with multitudes of reporters and television cameras. It was just as well. Both Taylor and Roberta were ending demanding work weeks, and Taylor’s name was on the call sheet for the morning.

In the middle of the football game’s third quarter, Roberta noticed Taylor sound asleep on the sofa in his usual position ... flat on his back, his head and shoulders propped up with throw pillows. Tonight, his left arm was bent over his head, his palm cradling his head. His charcoal gray T-shirt was taut against his chest, outlining his muscular torso and well-defined abs above his jeans. A dead soldier of Guinness lay beside the sofa. Roberta decided to let him sleep and must have dozed herself.

Startled awake when the eleven o’clock anchor started in on the day's events, she clicked the television off. Taylor lay still, sound asleep on the sofa. Much as she wanted to let him rest, like a male Cinderella, he had to get back to his own house before the sun came up. The sooner, the better. Roberta crawled on her hands and knees over to the sofa, sat back on her heels, and studied his face. So peaceful. So incredibly handsome. A stray lock of dark brown hair draped over his forehead, out of place. She gently brushed it aside. A heavy sigh escaped her lips. The urge to lie beside him, nestle into his arms, and make love to him surged through her body. Biting her lip, she pushed the feelings aside. He didn’t think of her in that way. She’d only be making a fool of herself if she came on to him.

Quietly, she leaned over and said, “Taylor. Time to get up.” He didn’t stir. There was not so much as a twitch or a nod.

She tried again, hesitantly placing her hand on his right arm, still stretched out along his side. “Taylor.” She shook him gently. “Taylor, game’s over. Time to get up.”

His eyelids swept up like curtains on a stage. Like sparkling, dark gemstones, teal blue eyes stared at her, brows gathered strangely. His right hand seized hers in a tight grip. The expression on his face became fierce, and a nanosecond later, he had pulled her closer toward him while he sat up. His left hand gripped the back of her neck, pulling her head down to his. His lips crushed against hers—hungry, demanding, urgent. Her own lips responded instantly, giving as they received. His lips parted, and his tongue tentatively licked her lips, causing her to moan. Tongues played as he sank back on the sofa, pulling her on top of him. Strong arms encircled her, holding her closer. A shiver ran down her length as she settled over his broad, hard expanse. His desire for her pressed against her pubic bone, making her tremble even more.

Pressing her breasts against his chest, Roberta’s breath came ragged, her heart pounding madly in her chest so hard she was sure he could feel it.

Her hands tangled in his hair as his arms stroked her sides. She shifted her weight backward to straddle his pelvis, his thick erection scorching her damp panties. Their eyes locked and held, both of them knowing, both of them feeling the heat growing and glowing between them. His thumbs traced the contours of her lower lip. Parting her lips, softly she drew one thumb, then the other into her mouth and flicked her tongue over the very tip of them. Taylor groaned, pulled his hands away, and ran them down the sides of her neck to her chest. Her breasts filling Taylor’s hands, his index fingers and thumbs snared her hard nipples. Moans erupted from her as he stroked her nipples, his hips rising to meet her.

They explored each other with an urgency, a thirst, and a hunger only one thing could satisfy. Only then did she break their kiss long enough to switch off the lamp on the side table.

Still lying back against the sofa pillows, Taylor seized the back of her neck and pulled her into his arms again. Illuminated by the rays of moonlight streaming through the sheer curtains, their eyes met, mirroring the passion raging through their bodies.

One more long exquisite kiss rocked Roberta to her core. Taylor sat up suddenly, setting her aside at the end of the sofa. Her stomach fell, and her throat constricted tight. She hoped and prayed he wouldn’t leave her. Not like this.

When he stood, he held out his hand. Roberta took it. Before she could inhale, Taylor swept her up in his arms. Carrying her, he turned sideways to navigate the narrow hallway to her bedroom. “This time, I’m not sitting in your rocking chair with a boner half the night.”

Realizing the night he referred to, Roberta stifled a giggle in the crook of his neck before giving it a nibble. The growl from his throat further fueled her boldness. By the time the bed was beneath them, they had nothing between them but the heat of their bodies.

A phone rang far off, but it was a strange sound. Not a ring at all, more a musical tone but one familiar. Her pillow moved. Roberta startled, fully awake, eyes wide open now.Oh my God, Taylor is in my bed!

She scanned the room frantically for her robe, still holding the sheet up to her chin with one hand, while a naked Taylor stood beside the bed rifling through the pockets of his discarded jeans for the cell phone. His finely shaped glutes and long muscular legs captured her attention, and she sighed. He looked over his shoulder, flashing a wink and a lazy morning-after smile.

Feeling a blush rising from her toes to the tips of her ears, she looked away.Thank God he isn’t regretting it yet.Spotting her robe, she lunged for it and scrambled to put it on.

“Yo! Alex, you here already?” Taylor asked, the phone scrunched on his shoulder while he tried to put on his pants. “I’ll be out soon. Hang tight. Do me a favor? Call Marcie and let her know I’m running late. Thanks, I appreciate it.” He lifted his chin, letting the phone drop to the floor while he stood to fasten his jeans. He turned toward the bed. “Roberta, come here,” he said softly as he crawled across the bed toward her.

She moved closer. Snagging her with his right arm, he pushed her back on the pillows, taking her lips with a soft, full contact kiss that started a scorching burn all over. She inhaled an exotic mixture of sex, light sweat, and the lavender water she always sprayed on the linens. He caressed the side of her face while she stroked his perfect chest.

“Aagh. I so want to stay here in bed with you all day.” He whispered against her lips before pulling back. “I have to go. I’m already late.” But he made no more moves to leave.

She battled the urge to tug her robe open, convince him to stay, or maybe be a little later. But he had a good work ethic; he would hate himself for being any later. With a little shove, she pushed him away. “Hurry back. One take per scene.”

He laughed hysterically at the idea and planted another kiss on her lips before heading out. From the living room window, Roberta watched him step into the Escalade, hoping there weren’t any cameras to catch him leaving her house again.

Hours later, while washing the breakfast dishes, Roberta heard the music again. The tinny sound coming from the bedroom sounded like a Sinatra tune. She traced it under her bed, where she found Taylor’s cell phone. The screen showed a late-middle-aged woman with Taylor’s teal-colored eyes as the ring tone continued. The name at the bottom of the picture said “MOM.”

Roberta sat on the floor looking at the screen, listening to it ring. There was no way she was going to answer it. How could she explain who she was and how she came by his phone?“Hi Mrs. Reyd, you don’t know me, but your son and I had wild sex most of last night, or should I say early this morning, and he forgot his phone under my bed.”It would make his mother’s day for sure. Especially coming from an older woman. Not that she was much older than Taylor, but some people, especially mothers, get upset about such things. One year was nothing, but she was pretty sure Mrs. Reyd would have nothing good to say.

Taking the phone into the kitchen, she stared at it some more, wanting to answer it but knowing it wasn’t a good idea. The phone stopped ringing then started up again a minute later. Roberta hoped it wasn’t some kind of emergency. If only she had a way of contacting him other than through his cell phone. Other than Alex, she didn’t know anyone else, and she certainly didn’t think going to the location set would help. She would just become another of a couple hundred panting females trying to get to him. She would have to hope Mrs. Reyd had another avenue to communicate.

Roberta walked into the living room and peered out the side window. Two vehicles with the chauffeur and a bodyguard stood in the driveway. Alex was already privy to where Taylor spent the night. What if she slipped it to him and asked him to deliver the phone? She didn’t feel comfortable having it. It might be a while before Taylor was free enough to come back to retrieve it. Assuming he figured out where he left it.

Roberta hurried through the kitchen, snatching up the phone on the way past the table. Once out the back door, she tried to walk more slowly toward the men who reclined against the vehicles, chatting. Dominic casually smoked a cigarette while Alex stood, hands in pockets, watching her approach. When she got within range, she called out to Alex.

“Are you Alex?”

“Yes, ma’am?” he said, standing up straight and starting toward her, his hands removed from his pockets.

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