Page 15 of Tell Me the Truth

“Which call? I’m constantly making so many of them,” Ellis says as he also puts his phone on Silent mode. “I want to make sure to take credit for the right one.”

“On choosing this movie to watch on the first day that Ben Watts’s new movie is released.” I look around at the empty theatre, “We have our own private showing.”

“Ah, ha ha ha ha,” he cackles, tenting his fingers and squinting his eyes, “Yes my dearie, all part of my plan.” His devilish grin is irresistible, and I love how we can so easily joke around and let loose around one another.

The movie opens with Jessica Strait driving a car through the lush wine country. She is speaking in a voice-over of the scenes, like we’re in her thoughts. Jessica Strait’s character is named Mya and she arrives at a multimillion-dollar vineyard estate for the combined bachelor and bachelorette parties for her best friend, Victoria, and her younger brother, Case. Jessica Strait’s character is smart, sassy, and drop-dead gorgeous.

The scene changes to Brock Nolan swimming in the pool on the estate. He is known for his incredibly muscled and tanned body and is the perfect actor to play the leading role in any romantic movie. In another voice-over, we find out that he plays the role of Liam, a troubled ex-military turned mountain man.

“This plot seems to be right up your alley.” I look around and see that we’re still the only ones in the theatre. I tell him my version of the movie’s plot, “Headstrong city girl meets military/survivalist ... together they persevere six nights in the unforgiving wild and relentless weather of the California wine country.”

He lets out an appreciative chuckle, then says, “Our story is my favorite.” He nears his face towards me and teases my neck and ear with his breath. “What do you think?” he whispers.

“Hmmmmm. I definitely like how it’s going so far.” I turn my face to him and brush my lips across his. He leans towards me, but I pull back playfully, saying, “Peppy and ambitious salesgirl meets cutthroat and grumpy billionaire... he propositions her to act as his fake fiance to save her from a mountain of debt, but it’s she who actually saves him.” I giggle as I move towards him and plant a kiss, parting my lips, pressing my tongue forward, hoping to play with his.

He seems to pause for a moment and I temporarily insert doubt in my mind. But I decide I am mistaken when he returns my kiss, satisfying what my tongue is seeking. It’s driving me crazy that he’s weaving his fingers through my hair, pulling my hair slightly.

“I want to feel you.” He breathes into my ear and I move closer to him as his mouth continues to cover mine.

He moves a hand under my shirt and the entire front of my stomach feels small, covered in whole by his large palm, which he then moves around my back, then up my side. He is causing me to moan uncontrollably. My sounds and the way I move when he touches me is turning him on.

He reaches up to the top of my bra and pulls down the lace to tease and lightly circle my nipple with his finger. I feel the urge to jump on top of him as he covers his large palm over my breast.

His tongue and his mouth feed off the pleasure within me. For him, I have a constant supply and he’ll just find more.

As he moves his hand down to the button of my jeans, I thinkThese damn jeans. I have no interest in this movie and I’m convincing myself that it doesn’t matter that we’re in public, I want to have him again.We’re alone. Persuaded by my desire, I move to jump into his lap.

“Shhhhhh!” Comes from somewhere within the theatre, along with some unintelligible whispering. I’m jarred back into the here and now and I reluctantly slink back into my seat.

I look over toward the direction of the speakers as they come up the walkway into the theatre. Another couple has entered, and they walk up the aisle stairs to find their seats. We’re no longer alone.

There are bits and pieces of the movie that I’m catching and I can tell it’s a comedy as well as romantic. But being this close to him and not getting to touch or be touched by him is driving me absolutely insane. I’m having a hard time enjoying the movie because for the remainder of it, all I can think about is what I want to do with Ellis when I get home. What I want him to do with me. Definitely a repeat of last night.

So when the lights come on and we stand up to leave, I am a ball of pent-up energy and I can’t stop talking. All the way home, I joke about the movie and come up with ridiculous romance plots for romantic comedy books and movies that I can tease Ellis about.

When Ellis pulls up to the curb in front of my house, I tell him, “Come here handsome,” and I grab his chin and pull his face towards mine. It should be very clear to him that I don’t want this night to end here. We’re going to continue what we were starting to do in the theatre. “Stay with me again tonight?” I barely get this question out between hungry kisses.

His lips are telling meyesand he confirms their meaning by saying, “I want all of you.” He steps out of his car and circles around to open my car door.

I do another body scan.Clean, lacy underwear. Sexy bra. Maybe a quick trip to the bathroom. Ooh, maybe some toys?I am feeling impatient, thinking about having his body next to mine. Being with him.

I look in the passenger sideview mirror and don’t see Ellis walking over to open my door for me. Spinning my head around I see that he’s stopped by his trunk. So, I open my door and stick my head out just enough to peek back and ask him, “Is Everything OK? That long trip around your car is taking you too long. I’m impatient, but luckily I know how to open my own car door.” I swing my legs out of the car and Ellis walks up, reaching his hand out to me.

We walk to my front door and I’m desperate with desire. On my front porch, I spin around to face him and playfully ask, “So are we going to continue writing our story?”

He bends his neck down to return my kiss and my body instantly reacts to his touch. This man is everything I need in this moment. I breathe in his musky, sandalwood scent and I feel him swimming around in me, reaching and taking hold of my self-control. He is claiming me, and I will give him my whole body.

But as I’m willfully drowning in his rapture, his hands leave my head and waist and push at my shoulders to separate us. My lips on his the last I feel of him.

Ellis groans and tells me, “I can’t stay tonight. I have to go.”

I take one step away from him. Partially so that I can remain standing, as I do feel like falling backwards. But I also need to look in his eyes and make sure he’s not playing with me. It feels like I’ve been slapped by a whoopie cushion to my face. That’s a strange thought, but it’s what crossed my mind because I’m stalled by the shock of it and at the same time, it has to be a joke.

My eyes, though, don’t deceive me because I can tell in his expression that he is not playfully teasing me. He’s not trying to get a rise out of me, only to pull me back in and do with me what he wants.

Pained, like a dagger has been thrust into my heart. And confused, because my body is still reeling from the passion it was feeling just moments earlier. I say, “Alright. Then, thank you for tonight,” and I turn to walk inside.

Chapter Five

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