Thrill! (30 page)

Soon he began peeling down the straps of her dress, easing it off her shoulders. Then he roughly undipped her bra, tossing it across the room.

She was faint with excitement. Trembling slightly, her hands grabbed the zipper on his pants, boldly pulling it down, reaching in to explore.

He yanked the rest of her dress down over her slender hips, taking her bikini panties along with it.

"Lie on the floor,"

he commanded.

As if in a trance she did as he asked, watching as he stripped off the rest of his clothes.

She'd never wanted a man so badly in her life. With Richard things had always taken place in the bedroom; with Lee they'd been a little more adventurous; here with Joey, lying on the floor of her rented house in the living room, she was wild with passion.

Then he was on top of her - no foreplay this time, she didn't need any as he moved smoothly inside her, causing her to moan deeply in the back of her throat.

206

Soon they were in perfect rhythm, riding a giant wave, balancing precariously on the edge . . .

In the distance she could hear someone screaming. Vaguely she realized it was her.

They reached the peak together, climaxing with a frenzy of moans. And it was all she'd ever hoped for and more.

When they were finished he remained spreadeagled on top of her, neither of them moving. She was hot and sticky and totally ecstatic.

"Joey,"

she murmured contentedly.

"Oh, God, Joey."

"Was it good for you, baby?"

he asked lazily, rolling off and throwing his arm across her.

"The best,"

she whispered happily.

"The absolute best."

"Tell me,"

he urged.

"Tell you what?"

"Tell me that there'll never be anyone else for you. That I'm it. I'm your whole fuckin"

world."

"Joey

A week. All he needed was a week and she'd tell him anything he wanted.

207

^^f^^Jfl

"I WANT you to see a rough assemblage tonight,"

^^flPllkA Richard said.

"Meet me here at six, and we'll drive to the screening room together."

"Can't wait,"

Nikki responded, hoping she'd be able to get away from the production office early enough to accommodate him.

"You won't believe Lara's performance,"

he raved.

"She's sensational."

"I'm hardly surprised,"

Nikki said, wishing that he wouldn't carry on about Lara quite so much. Besides, didn't he remember that it was she who'd designed every stitch of clothing that covered Lara's gorgeous body in the movie, making her a big part of the movie's success. It was a costume picture, after all.

They were eating breakfast out on the deck. Normally she would have left by this time, but as she was on her way out Richard had announced he had something important to talk about, so she'd delayed her early start, even though she was anxious to get to the office.

Impatiently she glanced at her watch. So far he hadn't come up with a subject that merited her staying any longer.

"Lara flies back today,"

she said, making conversation.

"I thought we'd have her over for dinner tomorrow, and Mick, too, if that's OK with you."

"Why that asshole?"

"It seems a good plan for them to meet socially. Kind of a get to know each other before the movie starts."

"Lara will hate him,"

Richard said flatly.

"She sees right through assholes."

"She won't hate him."

208

"Trust me, she will."

"Richard,"

Nikki said, feeling defensive,

"when I started this project you were very supportive - now, every day, you seem to get less so."

"Because you're making the wrong choices,"

he said, his voice a monotonous nag.

"You refuse to listen. You should never have cast Lara, nor hired Mick Stefan."

"Why not? He's brilliant."

"He might be brilliant, but he needs a producer who can control him. You've had no experience, Nikki. You need experience."

"Oh, gee, thanks. I appreciate your confidence,"

she said, checking her watch again.

"I have to get going, Richard. Was there anything else?"

"I promised Summer I'd talk to you."

"What about?"

she asked, annoyed, because if Summer had something to say, she should come out with it herself.

"She said that every time she tries to talk to you, the two of you end up getting in a fight."

"Not so."

lShe seems to think it is."

Nikki sighed.

"So what is it?"

He pressed his fingers together, staring directly at her.

"She wants to come and live with us."

"Excuse me?"

Nikki said, not sure she'd heard correctly.

"She doesn't want to go back to Chicago. She'd sooner go to school here."

There was a long silence.

"You should be thrilled,"

he added.

"She is your daughter."

"Yes, my daughter, whom I've had hardly anything to do with since she was eight. Quite frankly, I'm not sure if I can take on the responsibility now."

"You're not being very understanding,"

he chided, annoying her

even more.

"You know, Richard,"

she said, beginning a slow burn,

"I resent the fact that she asked you to speak to me."

"I'm merely the messenger,"

he said, sipping his coffee.

"You should sit down with her."

209 "I will - when I've got time. Right now I'm late for the office."

Grabbing her car keys from the table, she set off, seething. How dare Summer run to Richard and persuade him to plead her case!

For a moment she was tempted to go back to the house and roust her lazy daughter out of bed. According to the maid, Summer slept in every day until noon, then got up, met friends, and wasn't to be seen again until it was to put on a different outfit. Then Nikki changed her mind, suddenly overcome with guilt - after all, as Richard had so succinctly pointed out, she was Summer's mother. She decided the fair thing to do was discuss Summer's wish to move to LA with Sheldon.

When she arrived at the office, Mick was in the middle of a big production meeting. He'd started without her, which pissed her off

even more.

She sat down next to him. He threw her a vague wave. She'd known making movies was hard work, but being involved on the production side was completely time consuming, there were so many decisions to make. Each department had questions, and it was imperative that every detail was in place before the start of principal photography.

As soon as they took a break, she instructed her assistant to send Lara flowers with a note welcoming her back and inviting her to dinner the following night.

Mick grabbed her at lunchtime.

"Aiden's nutto about you,"

he said, sucking on his lower lip.

"You charmed the crap outta him."

"How nice,"

she replied, noncommittal.

"Yeah, he thinks you're a real cool chick-babe."

"As long as he behaves himself I couldn't care less what he thinks."

"How many times I gotta tell you?"

Mick said, beaming.

"Aiden's a pussy."

"Don't forget,"

she reminded him,

"tomorrow night at my house. I know you and Lara will get along."

He cackled.

"Yeah, well, we gotta, haven't we?"

"Try to remember, Mick, she's a star, treat her with respect."

"Enough already - I'm getting the message. I'll even wear a tie

- I got one, y'know."

210

"You don't have to do that."

"Yeah, yeah - kinda a respect move."

She made it home before seven. Richard and Summer were sitting out on the deck playing a game of Scrabble. She felt like an intruder as she walked past them.

"Oh hi, Mom,"

Summer said, sweet as apple candy.

"Did you have a good day?"

How come when Richard was around, Summer played the perfect daughter?

"I'm exhausted,"

she said, flopping into a chair.

"Ha!"

Richard said.

"If you think you're tired now, wait until you start shooting."

Summer jumped up. She wore minuscule shorts and a cropped top. Too much flesh, Nikki thought.

"Gotta get changed,"

Summer announced.

"I'm off to a party."

"Another on^r Nikki said.

"

"S OK, Mom - Richard said I should enjoy myself while I'm young."

"Did he?"

Nikki said, throwing him a look.

"I'm having such an amazing vacation,"

Summer said enthusiastically, throwing her arms around Nikki's neck.

"Thanks, Mom."

Then she ran over and kissed Richard, too, before vanishing into the house.

"Why do you always complain about her?"

Richard asked, pushing the Scrabble board away.

"She's a lovely girl."

"You only see the good side,"

Nikki replied ominously.

An hour later they were settled in a small screening room watching a rough cut of French Summer.

Nikki forgot about Revenge and concentrated on the exquisite images playing on the screen before her. The cinematographer was a master, the period clothes she'd designed were perfect, and Richard was right - Lara's performance was incandescent; plus Harry Solitaire and Pierre Perez both gave charming performances.

When the lights came up Richard had a big smile on his face.

"You've excelled yourself!"

she exclaimed.

"I love everything!"

"Couldn't have done it without Lara,"

he said.

"She was the perfect leading lady."

211 Great, Nikki thought, what about me?

They stopped at Dan Tana's on the way home, ordered steaks and salads, and Nikki listened while Richard talked endlessly about his movie. He really was obsessed. She tried to bring up Revenge, but he wasn't interested.

After dinner they drove to the beach.

"Let's go straight to bed,"

she suggested as soon as they entered the house.

"What's your hurry?"

Maybe I'm feeling horny, she wanted to say, but she didn't. Instead she followed Richard into the bedroom, locking the door behind them.

"Why are you doing that?"

he asked, pulling oft"his sweater and dropping his pants.

"For privacy."

"Summer's out. And even if she was home, she wouldn't come in here unannounced,"

he said, clicking on the television.

"Who can tell with Summer?"

she said, going into the bathroom, emerging a few minutes later clad in a sexy black nightgown.

Richard was now lying under the covers staring at the television, mesmerized.

"Why is it,"

she said, climbing into bed beside him,

"that I get the distinct feeling you're more into Nijjhtline than me?"

"Don't be ridiculous,"

he said, holding tightly on to the remote lest she try to grab it from him.

"We haven't made love in weeks,"

she pointed out.

"That's because we've both been so busy,"

he replied, seemingly unconcerned.

"When did that ever stop you?"

she asked, reaching over and expertly stroking him until he became aroused.

After a few moments he moved on top of her, and without a word began pumping away until he was satisfied. Then he rolled off, closed his eyes and immediately fell into a deep sleep.

Nikki was outraged. Whatever happened to romance? Not to mention foreplay. One thing about Richard, he'd always been a considerate lover - now this. And the biggest insult of all was that he'd kept the television on.

212

She turned away from his snoring presence, burying her head in the pillow, hurt and angry.

When Revenge was completed, they were due to have a long talk, and not a moment too soon.

213

^^^^Jfl

"I COULDN'T get in last night,"

Cassie said, tight^^^P^B^^ mouthed.

"Sorry,"

Lara replied guiltily.

"I must've locked the door out of. . . habit."

"I had to break a window,"

Cassie continued accusingly.

"We're responsible for a replacement, I've made a note of the damage."

"Of course."

"Everything OK?"

Lara smiled a beauteous smile.

"Yes, Cassie, everything's wonderful."

Cassie handed her a folder.

"I've put together an LA schedule for you,"

she said.

"It's tight, but as long as you don't come down with the flu or anything, you'll manage."

Lara glanced at the hourly schedule and groaned.

"This is impossible,"

she said.

"It barely gives me time to breathe."