Page 36 of Camera Stays On

“Great minds think alike.” I smiled, and together we went back downstairs. I made a point to stay a step behind so it didn’t look like I was too interested in taking off with her. We left quickly, not speaking to anyone in the house or each other until we reached the path leading into the woods.

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” I said once we were hidden by the trees. I reached for her hand, threading our fingers together. In the dark, so close to the house, it felt like forbidden fruit. Scary, and thrilling at the same time. A low ache in my chest developed as I waited for her to pull away, but then… she didn’t, and warmth settled around me.

“I think I’m ignoring a lot of red flags, and I’m not sure why,” she confessed. “I spent five years thinking about how much I did not like being with Sawyer, and since I’ve been back, I’ve been sick to my stomach every day, wondering if I’m going to give in.”

“Give in to what?”

“Everything? Ash, I’m broke and homeless, and he knows this. Sawyer has a way of catching me at my most vulnerable moments and forcing himself on me. I don’t want to be with him, but—”

I stopped walking and turned toward her. She looked up at me, tears shining in her eyes, and in that moment, I knew she meant what she’d said. If I didn’t fight for her, eventually I’d lose my chance with her, again.

I refused to let that happen.

“No, you’re not going back. I’m stepping in to be your scene partner. I won’t let him touch you.”

“You think that’ll work?” she scoffed. “You’re not an actor.”

“It’s found footage. I’ll be fine. I...” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I can’t stand the idea of seeing him touch you. Andi, that night we had…”

“We were drunk,” she said quickly.

“Yeah, but—” I bit my lip, trying to get the words to come. My heart hammered in my chest. “I’d been wanting to do that since…”

“I know. Me too.” She squeezed my hand, and my heart soared. Confidence flooded my veins, making me stand straighter.

“Let’s just do the movie, and once it’s over we can get you settled somewhere and then...” I couldn’t say the rest. That was too much. I’d put my heart on the line once, and she’d run from me. Even though that night was five years ago, it still stung like it was yesterday. “Talk about things with him. Sawyer will have to deal. Maybe spending all this time with you not giving in to his advances will soften the blow. He’ll realize it’s not happening between you two.”

Andi stepped toward me, putting her hand on my chest. “Maybe, or—what if we’re too good at acting as lovers? He’ll start to ask questions.” Her breath was warm against my skin, and my cock pulsed. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her closer. “I don’t want him to find out about—”

“Find out what, exactly?” I grew bold, a smile crossing my lips. “Whose cock you like more? Who made you come harder? Who gets you wetter?” I purred into her ear as my hand slid down her hips, teasing the top of her pants. “I can check now and let him know.”

Our lips were mere inches from each other, and I couldn’t take it anymore. I leaned in, pressing my mouth against hers. It’d been too long. Days, weeks, months? I couldn’t remember just how long it’d been since that night in her hotel room, but I was starved. I stepped forward, taking her with me until her back hit a tree. I pressed her firmly against it, my tongue tangled with hers.

“He’s going to know.” She gasped as my hand slid underneath her pants, teasing her above her panties. I was right, she was soaked.

“What, that we’re good kissers? That our on-screen chemistry is hot? Or that I finger-fucked you in the woods while he sat a quarter-mile away, pining for you?” I wanted to make her come. I needed to see her head thrown back in ecstasy like she had on our one night together. My fingers teased the edge of her panties, my heart raced in my ears as I started to push them aside, but Andi’s voice dragged me back from depravity.

“Ash, not like this.”

I pulled back, looking into her eyes. Those beautiful dark irises shone with something I couldn’t put my finger on, but it gave me…hope.

She hadn’t said no. She’d said not now. I’d take it. Removing my hand from her pants, I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her into me, kissing her deeply. She kissed me back, just as eagerly, and while things hadn’t progressed in the way I’d wanted them to just moments ago, the feel of her body pressed against mine was enough. I felt like a teenager again, kissing my crush in the dark where no one could see us. When I finally came up for air, I looked down at her and pressed my forehead to hers.

Her response to my kiss spoke more than her words tonight. It was a promise that once this movie wrapped, we’d figure out if there was something between us worth pursuing, and I was determined to make sure by the time we got there, she felt the same as I did.

“My brother is used to getting what he wants. But he fucked around too much, and now, he’s gonna find out.”

“Find out what?” she whispered.

“That you were never really his.”

Chapter 16

Asher

“I JUST DON’T know if people will believe it.” Sawyer shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. You’ve never acted before.”

“I don’t recall you being in front of the camera much, either, Sawyer.” I knew he’d pull out every excuse in the book, and I was ready to argue. “I read the script last night. You really think Andi will be comfortable putting that dress back on?”