A Captivating Conundrum (42 page)

"Hello, beautiful." I looked up and stared at those riveting blue eyes. "Sorry, Bobby gave me the key."

My frustration turned into a smile immediately, despite how hard I tried to keep it off my face. This man had power; I could see why Matt had become such a beloved actor because every time he walked through a door the air literally felt lighter.

"And how was your shopping excursion? Did Chris find what he wanted for the show?"

Walking around my desk, Matt turned my chair toward him. Placing his hands on the armrests, he leaned forward. "He found the perfect something."

"And, you?"

He shrugged. "They didn't have one of you, so I came back here for perfection."

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, my God. Who writes your lines?"

He laughed. "I'm heading to the theatre. Nicole has formally ordered me to arrive there ASAP in order to rehearse. I swear, she's way worse than my agent."

"This is true," I agreed, reaching up to touch the stubble that was growing in on the stunning face.

"Actually my agent could take lessons from Nicole on how to make anyone kowtow. I'd bet money on the fact that she could have Obama following her orders in seconds," he grimaced. "There goes Europe."

I nodded. "She'd blow up everything except New York City and Texas."

He raised an eyebrow.

"She wouldn't want to hurt Ken." I grinned.

"Ah, yes. The man who could put us all six-feet-under."

Without a thought in my head, I grabbed Matt's face and claimed those stunning lips for my own as quickly as possible, knowing from the clicking sound in the distance that this was most likely the last chance I'd ever get. When I pulled away I stared into a face that looked as passionate as I felt.

"I would really like to toss you down on this desk right here, right now," he said, patting the glass.

My heart practically leapt into my mouth as my body cried out, screaming at my brain to remember how amazing he'd felt inside me and to give it another go right this second.

Matt's lips captured mine.

"Are you DONE?" Nicole's voice echoed in my ears.

I pulled back and sighed, watching the fire fade from his eyes and feeling it fade from every body part I owned. "You know, it's like living in a convent with Mother Superior constantly up my ass," I muttered.

"And YOU." Nicole pointed at Matt. "I am sitting down there WAITING for you to come out and head to rehearsal."

"You do remember, Nicole," I began, "that Matt is actually doing this as a FAVOR, right? This is not a job; it's out of the kindness of his own heart. He's a celebrity, and you yapping at him all the time is probably not what he signed on for."

Nicole stepped back, as a smile slowly spread across her face. "I'm sure he got a LOT he didn't sign on for, so forgive me for not feeling bad for him." 

Matt laughed. "She's so right."

"We don't have time for love and affection," Nicole sighed, glancing at her watch.

"You know?" I said. "My plans were to finish the book in the next hour, then take this man into the bedroom, draw him a bath, give him a massage, and use his body like there's no tomorrow."

"I'm good with that plan," Matt spoke loudly.

Nicole tapped her foot. "Rehearsal."

I pushed against Matt's chest. "Just go. We won't get rid of her. Trust me, she'll jump in the tub with you."

"Well, I didn't know THAT was an option," Nicole said, with a wink. "Okey-doke then, I'm good with your plan, too."

I laughed. "Leave! Out! Be Gone!" I smiled at him. "Both of you…off to work you go."

~***~

When the last period had been placed on the last sentence, I twisted my chair around and stared out at the evening. I loved the lights—the vibrancy of this city. If anyone ever needed any 'spark' of imagination or fire in their lives—
this
was the skyline to get it from.

Shutting down the computer and saying 'so long' to my characters until next time, I headed to the kitchen and reached for the pots, pans, coffee maker—everything that made me feel calm—and began cooking.

It was an hour later that the small, slightly weary-sounding knock came at the door. Chris and Bobby had long since departed for their own evening excursion, and when I opened the door I realized the knock certainly fit the exhausted man delivering it. 

Matt stepped inside, put his arms around my waist and let his head fall to my shoulder. "I thought you were kidding," said the tired voice. "But I think she's way more like Mussolini than Hitler. Either way, one of those bastards has to be in her family tree somewhere."

I couldn't help but laugh as I patted the thick head of hair and led him slowly to the sofa. "Sit."

He fell into the cushions.

"You look terrible."

He nodded. "Thanks a lot. How come you look fantastic?"

"You took Nicole with you."

"Ah, that's right." Matt reached for my hand and tried to pull me into his lap.

"Nope." I stayed standing. "You have a bath to take and then a meal to consume."

I watched the light come on in those beautiful eyes. "Really?"
"It's all about you tonight. It's like
Survivor
. You're still alive after Hurricane Nicole, so you get a reward."

I used all the strength I had to pull the almost lifeless body off the couch and point him straight to the bedroom. 

He locked his hand in mine. "Come with me."

"Not a chance." I grinned. "I am the maker of the meal."

His jaw tightened. "You are the meal."

"Go take a bath. Relax." 

A small whine came from the figure as I stepped away and went back to my work.

When Matt returned, he looked far better. "See? You've washed Nic's commanding presence off—I like to call it the
Silkwood
treatment."

He laughed, staring down at the table with wide eyes. "You did all this for me?"

"No, the elves came and helped." Pushing him into the chair, I placed a kiss on his neck. God, I loved the smell of him. 

Watching a man devour food like a caged animal that's just been given meat after ten days on a vegetarian diet, is actually kind of arousing when you think about it. I don't really know if that's the 'caveman' thing us chicks want every once in a while, but it was absolutely engaging to see Matt treat his food like I'd given him a new lung or kidney to grant him twenty more years of life.

"Did you finish the book?" he mumbled between bites.

I nodded. "Yup, all done. Ready for the next one."

He sat back. "Don't you take a break in between?"

I shrugged. "Depends. As a writer you never know how, when, or where the story's going to hit you. You just get that feeling one day and it all begins again. You get lost in it, it's hard for others," I said, noting the warning tone in my voice. It seemed that no matter how hard I wanted to keep him at my table, I also wanted Matt to know what he was in for if he stayed.

"A man would need to be understanding of that," he said.

"Yes."

"Just like a woman would have to be okay with the whole acting, performing gig."

I grinned at the handsome face across from me. "Well, I'm sure the love scenes would be a chore for the girlfriend to have to watch."

"It takes a certain personality not to be upset."

I grinned. "If you're asking, I'm not the jealous type."

"I might be," Matt responded quickly. "I mean, I didn't think I was, but you are…"

"Not an actress who does love scenes."

He laughed. "Got me there."

"Don't worry," I said. "If I was ever with a man like that I would only beat up the chicks who wanted him off-screen."

His smile grew wider. "You mean, like fans?"

"Oh, no," I replied. "Fans are fine; even crushes are fine like that lovelorn waitress. I mean the crones who're out for themselves."

He raised an eyebrow. "You can tell which ones those are?"

"You bet I can, darlin. All chicks can." I raised my glass of wine to him. "They are the ones who sashay around just waiting to be seen. They're the ones who take advantage and pretend to be the 'Happy Homemaker' for the poor star after he spends a long day in front of that camera, yet have an ulterior motive the whole time." Standing up, I walked over and kissed those lips that looked more inviting than any piece of meat I could imagine.

He remained silent, as I took his hand and led him into the bedroom. "I do understand why they barely cover themselves," I said, discarding the outfit I wore. 

Matt's gaze moved from my face and walked up and down my body, as I felt my heart constrict in my chest. 

Pushing him gently down on the bed, I undressed him with each movement I made. 

The fire—that incredible fire—filled his eyes and was absolutely mesmerizing, as I straddled his legs and moved him inside me. Matt's eyes closed and his breath released with a moan that was more exciting than anything I had ever heard.

I tried to ride him slowly, but the feel of him inside me, the heat he caused just being beneath me was too much to stand. Every time I fell his cock brushed against that place inside that not many men can reach. It was like my body was attached to an electric cable that shot energy through me every time my spot was rubbed. I trembled as I rode him, watching his gaze stay on me as I had my fun.

Swiftly he rose from the bed and his lips found my neck. I was lost. I can't put the feeling into words—not even the greatest writer in the world could describe the excitement that Matt gave. All I did know was that I wanted the feeling to last forever.

~ His ~

Beth was so warm, wet…god, so tight. Her body wrapped around me, stroking and squeezing until I couldn't take a breath.

To watch her beauty above me was amazing. The curves, the tight stomach and that beautiful face that showed every single orgasm going on inside her…I was stunned. I knew my body was going to betray me because there was no way to wait or slow down—I needed her so badly.

Pulling her hard against me, I forced Beth underneath me and thrust faster. My hips felt like I was running a race and I pumped hard. Her moans increased to screams of pleasure even though I could barely hear anything over the sound of her name coming from my lips. The arch of her back as Beth clenched around me. The feeling of that crevice, that niche, knowing that I was massaging an unreachable spot that was completely mine, made my mouth water. With one hard, deep thrust, I exploded over and over again. I couldn't stop; I could barely remember my name.

This was bliss. And the one thing that made it feel far greater than anything else I would ever experience was the fact that I was, and always would be, completely in love with her.

Thirty-Three

~ Hers ~

I stared at Matt lying on the bed; small, soft snores came from that amazing mouth and I grinned. At least he didn't have any nightmares last night. I figured a macabre dream about Nicole and a chainsaw might be in his future after working with her yesterday. God knows, I had them. But Matt was dreaming just fine.