As we fall in step, she gives me the side-eye. “He doesn’t bring women on set, so you must be doing something right.”
“We’ve only been on one date,” I confess, out of character.
“Must have been some date.”
I grin. “It was.”
“I don’t have to say this because I’m getting paid either way, but just so you know, he’s a good one. I’ve worked for two other actors since I started, and Lucas is like a fish out of water here. Which is a good thing.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, he’s too new to be demeaning or demanding, and he’s too good to turn into that kind of an asshole.”
“Good to know.”
“We’ll have to be really quiet,” she says, approaching the door. “I just got here. Your boy likes to run me ragged, but I think they’re in the middle of filming a scene. Lucas should have a break coming up.”
“Okay.” It occurred to me then that on our date we hadn’t even talked about movies much at all, not to mention I didn’t ask him what he was working on. Truth be told, I was a little intimidated to bring it up. I didn’t know what was acceptable to ask from a date’s point of view and where the line would cross into fandom. ‘I’ve missed you,’ is what has me following Nova inside.
“He didn’t tell me he was working on anything.”
“We had a few preproduction issues and just started a few days ago.”
Shrouded in darkness, we see the crowd further back in the warehouse surrounded by blinding lights. Perched high above them is an empty crane made for camera equipment.
“What’s it about?” I whisper, detecting the change in the air as we head toward the brightly lit part of the studio.
“Spy movie called Cairo. Lots of action and so not my bag.”
“Mine either.”
Nova rounds a cluster of men looking on at the commotion in the warehouse. It takes a few seconds for my eyes to adjust to my surroundings, but when they do, I want to gouge them out. In the middle of the warehouse, on top of a brightly lit bed, Lucas is fucking the hell out of Marie Toll, an up-and-coming actress who I just so happen to think is one of the prettiest and most talented.
Is this some kind of sick joke?
Lucas is practically naked as he swivels his hips, gripping her hair while the whole set watches on, rapt. There are people everywhere, and I glance between them to gauge their reactions as I shrink where I stand. Nova seems just as shocked at the scene as I am. She flips through her clipboard furiously as if she can somehow stop what I’m seeing and then leans over to me on a whisper. “I’m so sorry. They weren’t supposed to film this today.” I can feel her eyes on me as my face flames. I know Lucas is not having sex, I know it’s acting, I know that. But when he leans down and takes her mouth so completely, unexpected jealousy surfaces and courses through me. I can’t look away. And when he lifts her leg underneath the knee to drive in harder, my panties flood. I want it just like that. I want him the way she has him. With complete attention. Rough and wild. I want to be the woman beneath him.
What in the hell is wrong with you, Mila?
Acting, he’s just acting.
He’s so perfect fully naked, his rock-hard ass pumping furiously, his jeans around his ankles atop muddied construction boots. It’s as if they were so hot for each other, that they couldn’t take the time to undress. He’s grinding into her as I watch on, anger and lust battling inside. Lucas draws her perfect nipple into his mouth as she tilts her head back, a true-to-life moan escaping her lips. The scene is off the charts hot, and yet, I’m furious and hornier than I’ve ever been in my entire life. I’m fully aware of the boom operator holding the mic above them, of the camera capturing their every move, but it’s not what I’m transfixed on. It seems to last forever, and I, along with everyone else on set, am entranced until Lucas stills, collapsing on top of her. She smiles, murmuring into his neck. “That’s one way to start a conversation.” Someone next to the camera yells, “Cut.” And I’m snapped back into reality. Lucas pulls away, and I see a small pillow emerge from between them. Nova looks on at me horrified as I do my best to keep a level expression.
“I thought this was a spy movie,” I grit through my teeth.
“It is. This is the only sex scene.”
“So glad I could make it for this.”
Nova bursts into laughter and palms my shoulder. “She is so not his type. I’ll be back.”
Once dressed, Lucas sits on the edge of the bed and begins talking to Marie conversationally, while a man, who I assume is the director, walks over to them. After a few words and nods are exchanged, they both leave the set, and Lucas spots Nova, who gives him a jerk of her head in my direction. I can visibly see his curse as he scans the crowd until his eyes find mine. He doesn’t smile, and I don’t either. Lucas studies me briefly and then hangs his head.
He didn’t want me to see this.
That makes two of us.
Nova walks back to join me where I stand. “Oh, he likes you.”