I was giddy to finally be able to tell her about it. Holding it inside had been killing me, but once the secret was out of the bag, and I could talk about it, she hadn’t wanted to listen. Every time I’d tried to tell her about the show the last few days, she’d quietly left the room. “Well, for starters…I’m a rock star.” Her eyes widened and I grinned. “Yeah, I know, ironic, huh? And in a way, appropriate. I’m still living out my childhood dream, it’s just bigger and badder than ever.”
Anna gave me small smile that was more on the encouraging side than the humoring smile, and my mood lifted even higher. With Anna firmly at my side, there wasn’t anything I couldn’t do. I was going to own this town, it was just a matter of time.
The next morning, Anna and I made our way to the studio in my dad’s minivan. It was embarrassing to drive it, but we hadn’t had a chance to rent a car yet. I texted Harold when we were there, and he met us in the parking lot in a golf cart, same as before. He said hello to me, then took in my wife with surprised eyes. “Mrs. Hancock…it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Harold Berk, the executive producer of the show. We’re so thrilled to have your husband on board.” He extended his hand in greeting.
Anna gave him a polite smile as she shook his hand. She didn’t exactly share his opinion on the matter. “Yes, I believe I’ve heard of you. Briefly.” Her irritated eyes flashed a glance my way. Even if she did forgive me, she’d never completely let this go.
Harold laughed at her comment and released her hand. When his gaze got a little too lengthy, I stepped in front of Anna. Yes, my wife is hot. She’s also mine, so go ahead and back that dirty thought up. It’ll never happen, bro.
“Should we get going?” I asked.
Harold returned his eyes to mine. “Yes! Hop in, and I’ll take you to your new home away from home.” As Anna and I scooted in beside him, he told me, “I should let you know, Mr. Hancock, you’re the only cast member here who has their own trailer. You should feel very special.”
I gave him a heated glance. “Well of course I should. I’m the star. Remember?” I considered asking him if what Denny told me was true—that he’d asked every other band member to do this before he approached me—but I decided not to. Denny had it wrong. Thinking of Denny made me think of Matt and our tiff at the bar. Was he still mad at me for that? Yeah, probably. I was still mad at him for his comment—You’re dead to me. Whatever, fucker.
Harold kept his eyes glued to the street as he answered me. “Yes, yes. The most important star.”
Anna had her brows furrowed when I glanced at her, so I gave her an easy breezy grin. This was going to be amazing. I could feel it in my bones.
Walking around the set helped bring Anna out of the funk she’d been stuck in, and for the first time in a long time, I saw genuine excitement on her face. Seeing it helped remove the final remnants of guilt that had been hanging around my gut. Given enough time, she was gonna be cool with this. In fact, just watching her face light up as we walked around reminded me of the old pre-responsibilities Anna. It amped me up to see the playful girl I’d married returning.
Anna squealed when she saw the bar set. “It almost looks exactly like Pete’s!” I smiled at her reaction; I’d thought the same thing myself when I’d first looked at it.
Harold seemed uncomfortable with the similarities. “No, no, it’s a generic bar…I assure you.”
He quickly moved us along to the living quarters sets after that. Anna gave me a crooked grin when she ran her finger along the edge of my bed. Since I’d been away from her on that damn promo tour for weeks, and then cut off by her prickly anger or strange mopey mood for the past few days, it had been forever since I’d had sex. My cock started coming to life and I suddenly wanted to take Anna to a private room more than I wanted to continue this stupid tour.
I had work to do though. I had to get my hair touched up for one thing. Fucking brown hair. I almost growled at the hairdresser when I saw her again. It was her fucking fault that I looked like Denny. And once she was done removing all traces of my glorious blondness, I resembled him even more.
Anna seemed to like it though. When we were alone, she fingered a dark strand with a curious smile on her lips. “You know, this is the one aspect of all this that I actually like. You pull off the dark look really well, babe. Very sexy…”
The look in her eyes told me just how much she enjoyed what she was seeing. Grabbing her hips, I pulled her into me. “Oh yeah? Just how sexy is it? Am I making you wet, baby?”
She ran a hand down her shirt, outlining the succulent curve of her beautiful breasts. “Mmmm, you know you do. All the damn time.”
Seeing Anna get more and more into this TV idea was turning me on faster than her body. Her support meant everything to me, and now that I was finally starting to get a little bit of it, I wanted to physically reciprocate. I wanted to worship her body, to thank her for accepting all my shit. It was the least I could do. “You are so gorgeous,” I murmured in her ear. “Every girl on this show is going to wish she looked as hot as you.”
She let out a soft moan as she tilted her head back, exposing her neck. I placed a soft kiss against her jugular. All thoughts of being responsible on my first day of the job instantly left me. What could they do if I disappeared for an hour or so? I was the star, the reason this show was going to skyrocket. They’d tolerate a slight delay for epic glory, I was sure.
Once we were outside, I pressed Anna’s back into the hair and makeup trailer and she groaned as our bodies came together. “What do you want me to do to you, baby?” I asked. Bringing my hand to her chest, I barely touched her nipple with my finger. The light touch drove her crazy, and her eyes were heated when they locked on mine.
She threaded her hands into my new dark ’do. “I want you to take me back to that bedroom set and screw me on your new bed…”
Well, fuck me.
I looked around for our guide, but Harold had disappeared once he’d delivered me to makeup. He’d said he’d be back to take me to rehearsals, but who knew when that might happen. And he never told me to wait here…surely he could find me if I toured the set again with my wife. My hot, horny wife who I hadn’t fucked in weeks.
Grabbing her hand, I pulled her away from the trailer and led her back to the bedroom set. It wasn’t the most private place in the world, since most of the walls were missing so the cameras had room to record. This particular set was already prepped though, so no one was around when we stumbled across it.
Laughing, I flung myself onto the bed, pulling her with me. She laughed too, then attacked my mouth like we hadn’t kissed like this in years. And it felt like years. I was rock hard in under six seconds.
“God, you feel good, baby,” she murmured between breaks in our lips.
“You too,” I repeated, grabbing her ass and pulling her hips into mine. By the way we were both already panting and groaning, I knew this was going to be a brief but powerful fusion. Good thing too, since someone would eventually come in here for one reason or another.
Thankfully, Anna was wearing a loose skirt, and hiking it up was easy. While she nibbled on my ear, I slipped a finger into her underwear. Fuck, she was so ready. An erotic cry left her mouth as she jerked against my hand. “Yeah, you like that?”
“Yes…fuck, yes. More, Griffin. I need more…”
She rotated her hips, grinding her pussy against me. I just about came it felt so good. “Yeah, baby…I’m ready for you.”
Pushing her back a little, I unzipped my jeans and freed myself. I wasn’t quite as naked as I wanted to be, but I didn’t have time for anything else. I didn’t even take Anna’s underwear off; I just moved them to the side so I could plunge into her.
She sat up on my lap, dropping her head back and showing off her chest. Fuck…they should really be recording this. It should be the opening scene of the show.
“Oh God, Griffin,” she cried, moving against me.
Grabbing her hips, I worked her over me. “Call me, A
ce,” I murmured. My peak was approaching faster than I wanted it to. Fuck, this was hot.
Anna slowed her pace and looked down at me, then glanced at where we were and smiled. I wondered if she felt as electrified by the openness of our setting as I did. Any second, someone could walk around the corner and see us. It made every nerve ending in my body come to life. I was sizzling, and I hadn’t even come yet.
Closing her eyes, she cried out, “God, Ace…you feel so good. More…I need more. I need you to come. Come with me.”
Fuck, yes! My hand ducked under her shirt as we moved together with a furious intensity. Ripping down her bra, I twisted her nipple between my fingers. She instantly clenched around me. “Yes, Ace, now…now,” she cried as she climaxed.
“I’m there, baby,” I got out, just before I finished.
Oh my God…I loved being an actor.
After our grunting, groaning, and panting calmed down, she lay on my chest. Giggling, she made a circle over my pec. “I can’t believe we just did that…Ace.”
Even though my jeans were chaffing me, I didn’t care, that was fucking amazing. Squeezing her breast still in my hand, I nodded. “Let’s do that before every show, ’kay?”
Anna smacked my chest, then pushed herself up. She carefully removed herself from me and stood up. I wanted to keep lying there with my spent dick on view for the world to see, but Anna tucked me back into my underwear. She looked around with a secretive smile on her face, like she couldn’t believe we’d gotten away with that with no witnesses.
Harold found us just as Anna was straightening the covers on the bed. “Oh good, there you are. I thought I’d lost you. Everything…okay?” He quirked a brow as he took in Anna’s actions and the pleasing flush in her cheeks. My girl had had an orgasm for the record books. But I’d totally bend her over and give her another one if she wasn’t satisfied yet. She deserved it, after what I’d put her through recently.
Anna giggled in a charmingly seductive way that made me want to sit her on my lap. “Oh yeah…everything is good.” Smiling brighter, she turned to me. “Let’s go meet your costars.”
It gave me no end of delight that she was finally as eager about this as I was. We followed Harold with fucking springs in our step. Everything was turning out exactly as I’d hoped. It just reaffirmed the fact that I was doing the right thing by cutting ties with the D-Bags. It was time.
On the way there, Anna asked Harold about the pilot. “So, who picked up the show? What network?”
Harold started playing with his tie while he walked. “LMF.”
Anna and I exchanged a glance. I hadn’t heard the name before, and it was clear Anna hadn’t either. “LMF? I’ve never heard of ’em. You sure they’re legit?”
Harold nodded. “Yeah, yeah, they’re a bit on the new side, but they are a real up-and-coming network. They’re going to blow the big boys out of the water soon. And they’re the perfect vehicle for this program…they’re focusing on real cutting-edge stuff. And they are crazy about you. They are going to promote the hell out of this show. You’ll be everywhere!”
Smiling, I hugged Anna tighter. “Everywhere…I like that. So, when’s it airing?”
Harold’s smile matched mine. “Monday night, prime time.”
My smile dropped. “Wait…I’ll be competing with Monday Night Football?” Damn, even I might not watch me now.
Harold swished away my concern with his hand. “With DVRs it doesn’t really matter anymore. It will hardly affect us, and who knows, it might even help. This is an incredible deal for us, truly something to celebrate!”
Grinning, I replayed screwing Anna on the set. Damn straight I was celebrating. I was going to rule the airwaves this fall. Take that, D-Bags.
When we got to the room where the rest of the cast was waiting, I introduced my wife. “Anna, this is my ‘band’—Vicky, Elijah, Cole, and Christine. They play Scarlet, Crash, Stix, and Kiki. Guys, this is my wife, Anna.” On the show, Vicky and Christine’s characters—Scarlet and Kiki—were blonde, busty babes who totally wanted me…they’d even gotten into a hair-pulling catfight over me in the pilot. It was awesome. I think Cole’s character, Stix, wanted me too, but I wasn’t entirely sure yet. But all my costars’ eyes were on my wife right now. She ruled the room just by being in it. Yep, I know. Go ahead and be jealous, ’cause that hotness you see before you is all mine.
“Nice to meet you all. I just saw your set. It’s pretty amazing.” She winked at me and my dick twitched. Fuck, I’d love to take her on Ace’s bed again.
Harold handed me a script though. “Best get started.” He introduced me to the guy who’d be directing the episode; it was a different person from last time.
While I flipped through the script, the director dude held his hand up. “Okay, in this episode, the main story line is Scarlet hooks up with Stix to try and forget about Ace.”
He pointed at me, and I nudged Anna in the ribs. “Fat chance of that, huh? I bet she cries afterwards. Sorry, dude,” I said to Cole. He flipped me off.
While Anna laughed, Harold approached her. “Excuse me, Mrs. Hancock, would you like to watch the completed pilot? It’s an amazing piece of work, if I do say so myself. And then I could arrange for a ride home for you. This is going to be a long day, and the actors need to focus.”
I bristled at that, I’d wanted Anna here for the whole thing, but Anna seemed content to let me work in peace. “Knock ’em dead, babe. See you tonight.” She gave me a kiss on the cheek before leaving with Harold.
I clapped my hands together once she was gone. “All right! Let’s kill this shit!”
When I got home after rehearsal wrapped up, I felt like my head was going to explode. It was a lot to remember, and I already felt like I remembered too much, what with all the D-Bags lyrics and rhythms spinning in my head. I supposed I could let myself forget those, now that I didn’t need them anymore. That thought made my chest hurt, like an elephant was stepping on my sternum. I didn’t want to deal with that feeling right now though, so I shoved it to the I’ll worry about that later section of my brain. It was a full section.
Mom and Dad’s place was chaos, with a half dozen relatives visiting for dinner; that happened a lot. Anna greeted me at the door with Onnika in her arms; her smile seemed forced, and I wondered what had happened since this afternoon. She’d been in such a great mood while touring the set with me. Onnie smiled and I reached out to take her. “Hey, baby girl, I missed you.”
Just as Anna was handing her to me, Gibson weaseled her way between us and unceremoniously shoved Anna away from me; Anna almost lost her hold on Onnika with the unexpected movement. “Gibson!” she snapped, “I almost dropped the baby. Be careful.”
Ignoring her, Gibson tossed her arms around my legs like we’d been separated our entire lives. “Daddy!” she exclaimed.
“Hey, kiddo,” I said, putting a hand on her back. “Be nice to your sister…and listen to your mom.” Anna’s smile turned genuine as she kissed Onnika’s head. She always liked it when I backed her up.
Lifting Gibson, I twisted her around so she could ride on my shoulders. Usually when I did this, she grabbed my hair and used it like reins, but I had a lot less hair now. “This is weird. I like your old hair,” she told me. She timidly patted my Denny-hair like it was some bizarre animal that might bite her.
“I know,” I sighed.
Mom barked an order from the kitchen to help her with dinner, so Gibson and I headed that way. I recited lines to her while I walked. “Kiki, I know we had a thing once, but it’s time to move on. The band comes first.” I pointed up at Gibson. “Now you say, “But Ace…besides bass, you’re my only love.”
“Ace bass.” She giggled.
I shrugged. “Close enough.”
Mom pointed to a bowl of potatoes when I got to the kitchen, so I moved to the counter to help her peel them. Anna stepped close to my side. “So…Harold showed me the pilot. Have you seen it?”
Shaking my head, I told her, ?
??Nah, I was too busy promoting that stupid album.” A flash of something painful washed over me—that “stupid album” was releasing soon. Without me. I shook my head harder to shake out the feelings I shouldn’t be having. Didn’t matter what the D-Bags were doing. Gibson giggled as she wrapped her arms around my head to hold on. “Why? Is it awesome?”
“Um…well…” As I looked over at Anna, she was worrying her lip. I didn’t take that as a good sign. “It got picked up for prime time…so it must be good, right? I mean, they wouldn’t put a bad show on the air.” She said it like she was both trying to convince herself and encourage me. She was failing at both.
With a sniff, I grabbed a peeler and started peeling. “Nope, they wouldn’t. And besides, nothing that I’m involved with could ever be considered bad. Just look at us.” I flashed her a charming smile, but Anna only gave me a halfhearted grin in return.
Chapter 13
Welcome to Awesometown, Population: Me
It took an entire week, but eventually the four of us did find somewhere to rent. And just to show Anna that everything was going to be fine, I found a place that was even bigger than our home in Seattle. From what the real estate chick told me, one of the Spellings owned it; it was luxurious to the max, and it came with a monthly price tag that was close to what the average person made in a year. It was ridiculous, even I could admit that, but it was a statement I needed to make. We were headed for greatness.
Anna wasn’t so sure. “This is too much, Griffin, even for us.” She looked around our new foyer with wide eyes—everything was marble. “And we’ll have to hire half a dozen people just to maintain this place…”
“Already taken care of,” I told her with a smile. “We have three housekeepers, one for each floor, two cooks, a butler…to do whatever butlers do…three yard guys, a pool guy, and two drivers. Oh, and two nannies, one for each girl.” I gave her a You’re welcome wink. She wouldn’t have to lift a finger. Once again, I was back at awesome husband status.