Page 51 of Between Takes
Chapter Eighteen
We had a rare late call time, and I’d intended to make the most of it – catching up on lost sleep. Thanks to Isla, it ended up being more about making up for lost hours tossing and turning, caught too deeply in thoughts about Shaun and whether this thing I felt was real.
In a lust sense, of course.
I had zero interest in starting something with an actor who had been off the rails not even a month ago.
Unfortunately, a late call time did not mean the day went smoother. If anything, this well-oiled machine had frayed at the edges. The entire day had lagged behind, and now the sun was going down. Worse, the set was still ablaze, the cameras continuing to roll.
I didn’t really understand what had gone wrong, but whatever it was had landed me in a trailer with Shaun as the sun set. It wasn’t a sight I thought I needed to see, but now that I was seeing it, it would haunt me.
The soft orange light played through the window, caressing his face and highlighting angles I’d never noticed before… and put some particular emphasis on his lips. (But that might have just been my overstimulated imagination at work.) Either way, I could have done without noticing them.
Shaun banged his head against the back of the sofa, growling, “Can you find out how long they’re going to be? I’m bored out of my freaking mind.” His gaze focused on the ceiling, and I was grateful to it for distracting him.
Do you see what Isla’s done to you, Mona? Grateful to the ceiling!
I picked up the radio and called in Shaun’s request for an update. The answer made neither of us happy.
“What the hell are we going to do for an hour?” Shaun grumbled.
He’d been in a mood all day. As far as I could tell, it had nothing to do with the delays. I crossed my arms and assessed him. Had he fallen off the wagon and this was him lashing out because he’d failed?
He met my critical gaze with a quirked brow. “You alright there, Sparky?”
“Pretty sure I should be asking you that question.”
He studied me, and for a second, I actually thought he would share. Instead, he shook his head and averted his gaze. Frustrated, I stomped over to him, sinking into the sofa cushion next to him with my legs folded under me.
“What is it? If you’ve had a drink, it’ll be okay. We’ll start again.”
A small smile graced his lips. “I haven’t had a drink, but thanks for worrying about me.”
I frowned. “You’re in a mood. If it’s not that, then why?”
He scanned my face with an intensity that made me squirm. Then his eyes dropped to my mouth, hovering there for what felt like hours. They darkened as I bit my bottom lip.
He leant towards me and my body responded as if pulled by a magnetic force. His fingers danced along my cheek, scattering tingles down my body. Something clenched tight and low in my stomach. A flighty thought screamed at me to pull away, that this was a mistake, but it was faint and I could barely focus on anything but the desire in his eyes.
“I can’t hold back anymore, Mona. I can’t stop thinking about how your lips would taste after you’ve told me off,” he whispered, smirking as his eyes dared me to react.
That was right about the moment my head started spinning. He wanted me? It was like my brain was trying to merge two contrasting realities. My smile was slow to grow, but I couldn’t stop it when all the facts aligned. All the brooding looks, the biting comments, the touching, the almost-kiss at aerial silks. I’d refused to believe my instincts. But they were right all along.
With slow, measured movements, he tilted my face up and lowered his. Unbearable seconds ticked by as he gave me ample time to pull away. His lips hovered inches from mine. Then impatience got the better of me.
My hands slid behind his neck and pulled his face towards mine. I claimed his lips, my movements urgent and hungry, stoking the embers of desire in us both.
One of Shaun’s hands dropped to my side, gripping my hip, pulling me forward until I fell against his hard chest. His hands moved up my torso and around my back, pressing us together until there wasn’t an inch of separation.
Then, his lips parted from mine. We both panted for breath, staring at each other with equal measures of yearning and surprise.
“What do you want, Mona?”
My brow furrowed. Why was he asking me questions? Now that I knew he felt this draw too, I didn’t want to think. I wanted this need to go away and maybe, just maybe, if we gave in, it would free me from this odd fascination.
“You. I want you.”
He smiled, his lips reaching for another kiss, and I leaned into him without hesitation. My tongue danced with his, tangling in a long, drugging kiss that clouded out all other thoughts.
