He kisses along my jawline to my neck, up to my ear. Oh God. Behind my ear. My secret spot and he zeroes right in on it. I shiver and I feel his lips curve into a smile against my skin. He sucks gently on my skin then kisses his way back until his mouth meets mine once again.
I'm floating and it feels amazing. I give way to my body, my lust, my desire. I drag my fingernails down his back and he groans into my mouth. And that's when it happens.
A flash. Then another and another and another.
"Shit," I whisper against his lips.
He runs a hand through his hair. "God damn it."
Frank comes walking up, telling the patrons to put their cameras away but the damage is already done. I can already see the headlines. Straight-Laced Actress And Bad-Boy Rocker Get It On, On The Dance Floor. Shit. Shit, shit, shit.
"I have to go, Jesse."
"I know. Hand me your phone, Luce." His fingers fly over the screen then he hands it back to me and digs his own out of his pocket.
"You've got my number and I've got yours. Use it."
I tilt my head to the side unsure what he wants of me. I step up on tip toe and he leans down to meet me for a quick, soft kiss.
"I'm sorry," I whisper.
Before I fully pull away he whispers in my ear, "Next time we're doing this in private where no one can interrupt us and I can get you naked."
His words send a shiver through my body and he winks as I pull back, letting Frank lead me and Sera out of the now insanely rowdy crowd. Frank must have called in backup because there are two more men flanking us and the car's already pulled up to the curb.
We all get into the car and I flop back with a sigh.
"God damn it!" I shout. No one bats an eyelash at my outburst. They know how much I hate the invasion of my privacy, the gossip, the bullshit. I blame my mother for this. Sure I'd have to deal with some of the same if I'd gone the musical route but nothing like I have to deal with now, as an actress.
"That fucking sucked, Luce."
"Ya think?"
Sera raises a brow.
Frank hands me a bottle of water and I take a long drink.
"Sorry. I'm just… fed the fuck up with this life."
"It could have been worse. At least there weren't many paps outside."
"Doesn't matter at this point and you know it. Those pics will be sold and online within the hour with some sleazy headline to go along with them."
"It's not that bad."
I give Frank a bland look. "Frank. You saw us. It was far from innocent. I lost myself."
He nods. "You never let loose like that."
"I know. I just--"
"Oh for fuck's sake," Sera said. "It's Jesse Kingston! Who wouldn't lose themselves in that hot, delicious hunk of man, especially if they've been crushing on him forever."
"True, but the world doesn't need to know about it. Or see it."
"But they will. And that means Reggie's going to be calling."
I nod to Sera. "And with her being, what, nine hours difference this'll hit the internet just in time for her Google alert to go off during her breakfast."
"You're an adult."
"I am. And, as I keep saying, I'm tired of this life." I turn to Sera. "I'm giving up the acting. I can't do this life anymore. Maybe if it's some amazing part and we aren't touring or making music or recording, but other than that I'm done and Regina's going to have to learn to deal with it."
Sera lets out a whoop.
I reach out to take Frank's hand. "Will you stay with us, Frank? If I switch things up a bit?"
His hand squeezes mine. "I'm not going anywhere and neither will Max, Gio, or Mike. We're family." They nod their agreement.
"I love every one of you and appreciate you more than you know."
"Baby girl, we know." This comes from Mike who barely ever speaks.
I'm about to get all sappy and mushy when my phone rings.
"Wow, that's got to be a record." I look at my watch. "Only thirty minutes and she's already circling on her broomstick. There had to be a plant in there. There's no way they could have gotten the story and pics up that fast without putting someone in there or paying them off outside before they came in."
"Likely," Frank nods. "You gonna answer that?"
I didn't answer it the first time she called and she's calling right back.
"I suppose."
I press Talk.
"Good morning, mother." I hold the phone away from my ear knowing full well she's going to say all three of my names very loudly.
"Luciana Antonia Russo. What have you done now?" She then breaks into a stream of Italian which, unbeknownst to her, I fully understand. She's calling me a foolish girl. Something about my crush on the dirty rock star. Dirty! He's not dirty. She's got some nerve.
"Are you done yet?" I ask blandly.
"Don't you take that tone with me, young lady."
"In case you've forgotten, I'm twenty-three years old. That makes me an adult. That means I can take any damn tone I want. I am tired of this Regina. I am done."
"Regina? This is how you speak to your mother?"
"Right now it is because you're not my mother right now. You're my manager."
A pause. Frank raises his eyebrows. "What are you done with exactly, Luciana?"
"Acting. I'm finished."
She laughs. "Darling, you're just upset about the reporters again and right after you've had such a hard time with Aiden Jensen." She tsks. "Your father is here."
"Hi Button."
"Hi daddy."
"You okay?"
I sigh. "I will be."
"You indulged yourself tonight and now the media will have a field day but it will die down in a couple of days and things will be back to normal." My mother. Always trying to rationalize me into agreeing and doing whatever she says.
I move the phone to my other ear.
"You don't understand, Regina. I. Am. Done. Acting. No more movies. No more television shows. No more anything. Done. Done, done, done."
"You can't mean that. Your career is at its peak right now."
"Then it'll take a long time for it to plummet to the bottom, right? I can't do it anymore, mom. I just can't. I never wanted to act. I did it because it made you happy, but I'm a grown woman and I need to do what makes me happy before I'm old and gray and miserable."
"Luciana--"
My father cuts her off. "Enough Regina Are you sure this is what you want to do, Button?"
"It is. You know I've wanted this for a long time."
"Yes, we know. And you're correct. You are an adult. This is your life so these are your decisions to make." My mother tries to interrupt him and he shushes her. "You do what makes you happy, Button. We will support you in your decisions."
My mother is cursing in Italian. I just know my father is giving her "the look" because she immediately shuts up. I want to laugh, but I'm sure that won't go over well.
"Luciana, you and Serafina are set on doing this rock thing?"
"We are mama."
She sighs. "Then I will do what I can to help you if you wish for me to continue being your manager."
"We do--until we find one we can trust who knows the music industry. But no decisions for us, mama. Sera and I make our own decisions and will consult you in any major ones we need to make."
My father says something to her I can't hear.
"Fine," she huffs. "I'll notify Irene and she will have to draw up new contracts and one for Serafina as well."
"We'll meet with her whenever they're ready. Just have her give me a call."
"I will."
"Thank you both for supporting this decision. Sera and I just want to do what makes us happy."
"And that is why I'm not fighting you on the decision."
"That and the fact that daddy's right there."
She grumbles. "He is very demanding. But I knew this day would come sooner or later. To be honest I'm surprised it took this long. I'll call you in a couple
of days. Maybe if you get the band together soon you could work on a soundtrack for one of Joey's movies."
"Maybe, mama. We'll see where this goes. We don't even have a full band yet."
"You will. I have faith. Take care of yourselves."
"You as well. I love you both."
"We love you too."
The call ends and I sit there for a minute or two just staring at my phone.
Without looking up I ask, "Did that just happen?"
"Yep," Sera says.
"That was too easy."
"That's because dad was there."
I snicker. "That certainly did help. She would have tried to talk us out of it if he hadn't been. He saved us about an hour of unnecessary chatter."
"That he did."
I look to Sera and she's already looking at me.
"We're going to do this. For real."
"For real."
"It's time," I say and we start squealing like high school girls. Frank and the guys smirk--they very rarely full-on smile or laugh but this is one time when they cave and enjoy the moment with us.
Everything from earlier with the press slips away from my mind as we celebrate our new path. This is one of the happiest moments of my life and I intend to enjoy it.
Chapter Five
Lucy
"Hey, hey I wanna be a rock star," Sera sings as she walks into the kitchen.
"A little Nickelback for breakfast?" I ask with a grin.
She twirls in a circle. "I'm so happy right now, Luce. We get to start living our dream."
"I know," I say. I can't stop grinning. I have been all morning. I barely slept last night. I was too excited.
"We should ask Jace if he wants to play with us."
"You know he'll be on the next plane out, Sera."
She picks up her phone and calls him. "I'll book his ticket. He can stay here. I'll let Max and Frank know."
She nods. "Jace! Mr. Sexiness! How would you feel about starting up a band with me and Luce?" Pause. "It's for real." Pause. "No shit. For real." Pause. "Luce is on her laptop waiting to hear how soon you can get away and--" She laughs. "Book it. Soonest you can get."
I laugh. "I love you Jace!" I yell.
"He loves you too and he says it's about fucking time, woman."
I nod. "I know."
I've never been this alive at six in the morning. Well, not including the day after I met Jesse in Chicago. That was… yeah.
"Wait a second, Sera," I say as an idea takes over my brain. I walk over to where she's standing. "Speaker please. Hey Jace."
"What's up sexy Lucy?"
"I'm wondering, what about Luther and Tommy? Do you think they'll want to join us?"
"I'm not sure. Luther's got a steady girl and Tommy's married with a baby on the way."
I'm a little disappointed but I understand.
"No worries. We'll find someone to fill the spots. I'm not sure how, but we'll get it done."
"Hello!" Sera says. "We have connections to Jesse Kingston. He'll help. I'm sure of it."
"I can't ask him to do that."
"Why the hell not? You heard them yesterday. They want us to do this."
"True. Okay, I'll see what he says. I'll talk to him and Cage together today. I'm so excited to see you Jace!"
"We're going to rock the hell out of it, you know this, right Luce?"
"I know it," I nod to Sera.
"Anything you can't take on the plane that you want to bring, box it up. I'll have someone come take care of it for you."
"Thanks Luce."
"You betcha baby. Just pick up your ticket at the counter. You're all set. I paid for extra luggage so you can bring an extra bag."
"Woman, I'm not like you and Sera."
I laugh. "I know, but this is forever, Jace."
He pauses. "Forever."
"I've got to get in the shower but I'll see you tonight. Max will be there to pick you up."
"Thanks, both of you. Not just for the ticket or the car, but for including me."
"You're the best bass guitarist we know," Sera says. "There's no one we want more."
"Cool."
"I'm off," I say as I head toward the shower before I start to cry. Our dream is starting to come true.
***~~~***
When we get on set, we're met by an extremely enthusiastic Spenser.
"What's up, Spense?"
"What's up?" he asks incredulously. "Are you fucking with me right now, Luciana Russo?"
I just stare.
"You haven't seen the internet or turned on a television, have you?"
"Oh shit," Sera says.
"Uh, no." Shit. Last night. Club Sunset. Flashes. Paparazzi. Me and Jesse. Mmm, me and Jesse. I familiar ache settles between my thighs as I remember how it felt to touch and kiss him.
"Come with me," he pulls me along with him, Sera following on our heels. He heads to an office and turns on the television. It's seven-thirty and all the morning news and talk shows are just getting started and there we are. The first channel.
Me and Jesse pressed as tightly together as we can be, my arms around his waist, my nails digging into his back. His hands are cupping my face, his thigh between my legs. Jesus. We look as hot as it felt.
"They're speculating. No one has any idea what's going on between you two or how you connected," Spenser says.
"After all that last night, we went home and grabbed our stuff and we stayed at a hotel. We didn't have to deal with the paps but you can bet your ass they're camped out at our front gate," Sera says with an arch of her brow.
"Well, hell. We need to change it up for Jace. He can't go to the house. I won't subject him to that."
"He can stay at the hotel with us. We booked the entire floor."
I nod at Sera and put a call in to Max and Frank.
I glance at the computer and see Spenser has pulled up a video of me and Jesse. A video. Holy God.
I make a strangled noise and Sera tells Spenser to play it. It starts from the beginning of my dance with Jesse and ends with the flash. It's the entire thing. It's sexy and it's hot and I want to do it again.
"Oh my God," I breathe out.
"It's sexy as hell," Spenser exclaims.
"Hell yeah it is," Jesse says from behind me. I whip around to see him leaning against the door frame, arms crossed over his chest, feet crossed at the ankles. He appears to be completely relaxed, rather blasé about the whole bullshit media gossipfest.
I huff. "Honestly Jesse."
One side of his mouth lifts in a smirk.
"Don't you smirk at me."
So he does.
"I can't help it. This is amusing. You're amusing."
"I'm amusing. Are you kidding me right now?"
"Lucy, you're taking this too seriously."
I tamp down my temper. Too seriously, he says. I narrow my eyes.
"Oh hell, Jesse. Now you did it," Sera says.
"What?"
"Her eyes are narrowed, her nostrils are flaring, her lips are thinned out. She's pissed. She's going to blow any second."
"She can--"
"You better not go there right now, hot stuff," Sera tells him with a laugh.
"You're probably right."
I take a deep breath. "So you saw the video, then?"
He nods.
"You know what?"
He looks like he's unsure whether he should respond or not. Sera, knowingly, stays quiet as does Spenser. Jesse follows their lead.
"For as hot and wet as I was last night on the dance floor, we should have just fucked right there."
Sera laughs, Spenser coughs, and Jesse's eyes darken.
"Perhaps we should have."
I shrug. "We may as well have. The only difference would be if we were naked because we were all but fucking in that video."
Jesse steps forward, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "Lucy, trust me. If we were fucking you'd know it. I'd be buried so deep inside of you, you wouldn't know where you
ended and I began, and I can guarantee it wouldn't be over as quickly as that dance was."
I lick my lips and more moisture gathers between my thighs. His lips are hovering just over mine and I am severely tempted to kiss him right here, shove Sera and Spenser out the door, and have Jesse Kingston fuck me up against the wall.
He smirks as if he knows what I'm thinking and I lift a brow. He winks then leans in and presses a soft kiss to my lips. "Soon."
"Not soon enough," Spenser says. "Jesus, you two. Even I need a cold shower after that."
"And Lucy's going to need some dry panties," Sera blurts out.
Jesse's smile grows.
"Do we need to do damage control?"
I shrug. "Nope. I really don't care anymore. I just hate my personal life being scrutinized, speculated, and dissected."
He nods. "The life of a movie star."
"That's not--," Sera says with a smile until I cut her off, shaking my head. Out comes the award-winning Serafina Manzini pout.
"Awww, why not?"
"Later. We need to get ready or Cage is going to get cranky. You know very well that a cranky Cage is not a good thing."
"True enough," she responds.
"Jesse, can I talk to you later? Not about," I wave a hand at the television and computer, "that but something else."
"Of course."
I nod, my gaze unable to move from his lips. "I've got to go."
He nods. I start to stand up on tiptoe and he meets me half way for a lingering touching of our lips. He pulls back and rests his forehead against mine.
"This is so going to complicate things."
"I hope so," he says with a pat on my ass. "Now go get ready."
I squeal when he smacks my ass again and laughs. I grin the whole way to hair and makeup. I lick my lips, savoring his taste. Oh boy. Jesse Kingston.
***~~~***
The day is long and tiring. We get through a lot of filming and I'm ready to get back into my yoga pants.
"You said you wanted to talk about something?" Jesse asks.
"Yeah. Actually," I say looking round. "Cage? Guys? Can Sera and I talk to you all in say, twenty minutes? I'd like to wash the mask off my face and get out of this ridiculous leather dress."