“You were. You’re not getting enough sleep. You crashed on me.” Concern shows on his face.
“I think I felt safe for the first time in a really long time.”
“You are safe,” he vows. I drop my head back, wishing he would lean down and kiss me. When his eyes go to my mouth, I think he might. He starts to lean down, but someone calls his name. He jerks back.
“Coffee?”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I’ve got you,” he says before he heads back out the bedroom door, leaving me alone. My eyes linger on the other side of the bed that’s still made. But as I stare at it I swear I can see the outline of what could have been a person lying on top of the sheets.
“Snap out of it, Sadie,” I whisper to myself as I make myself get up. I grab my phone off the nightstand, powering it on before going into the bathroom. I spot a bag that has some of my stuff inside it. I take it with me. I might as well get ready.
When I come back out of the bathroom, I see a cup of coffee sitting on the nightstand. I take a sip and smile when I realize it’s made just how I like it. Locke steps out from his room next to mine, stopping when he sees me.
“Coffee okay?”
“It’s perfect, actually. How did you know how I liked it?” Another one of those blushes spreads across his cheeks. Never in a million years would I have guessed Locke would blush over anything. I love that I keep making him do it.
“I read it online. It was asked in an interview.”
“You’ve been reading about me.” I set my coffee back down.
“It’s my job,” he responds quickly.
“Right.” There’s that stark reminder that I’m only a job to him. I drop my chin to hide my disappointment. Every time he says those words, it burns more than it should. It's good that he does it, though, so that my mind doesn’t get away from me.
“Sadie, I didn’t—” My phone dings from on top of the bed where I’d tossed it after I powered it back on.
“I should check that.” I snag it off the bed, seeing a million and one messages.
“Want me to handle it.” Locke steps into my bedroom, holding his hand out. I should give it to him to deal with, but that’s not actually his job. “Let me,” he pushes. His tone is firmer this time.
“Oh god, Locke.” I breathe when I see why my phone is going off. “They have dug up your whole life.”
“It will be a boring read.” Before I know it, my phone is out of my hand and in his pocket. “They can dig away.”
“They are going to be all over me today with questions about you.” I’m lined up with promo interviews today. Of course they will ask about the movie, but it always bleeds over into personal stuff.
“You need to eat something.” I shake my head no. There is no way I can eat anything right now. My stomach is in knots.
“I’m a terrible liar. It’s crazy because I’m an actress. I should be able to lie.” Locke shuts the bedroom door and flips the lock.
“Don’t lie.” He says it as if it’s the easiest thing to do.
“What?”
“Don’t lie.” He closes the space between us.
“What do you mean? I—” His mouth comes down on to mine, cutting me off. My lips part for him when his tongue slips along the seam of my mouth. He deepens the kiss as my tongue starts to tangle with his.
“Locke,” I breathe, gripping his shirt as the world starts to move under my feet. Before I know it, I’m back in bed. Locke’s hand slips under the dress I’d put on. I part my thighs as his fingers find the edge of my panties.
“You don’t have to lie,” he says as he trails kisses up my neck.
“Yes.” I thrust my hips up when he finally slips his hand into my panties.
“You’re my girl.” His rough fingers go to my clit. He presses firmly against me as he begins to make slow circles. My breath hitches at the sensation. My body is screaming for him to go faster. “Aren’t you?”
“Yes,” I agree. He nips at my neck, making me whimper with need. I’m so close.
“Say it. Say you're my girl.”
“I’m your girl,” I rush to say.
“And I take care of my girl.” He claims my mouth again before his fingers move faster, giving me what I need. “Be my good girl and give me what I want. Come for me.”
“Locke!” I cry out his name. The orgasm hits me hard. I cling to him as he keeps working his fingers against my clit, milking out my pleasure until I’m lying under him completely relaxed.