The Actor's Contract

= 27

e n

ancisco (Palac

e p

- En

so hard I might

s, and vice versa. As for Damion's feud with Graha

't know any of this. But my sister .

then share a look - that conspiratorial, tro

nts all over it - the express lane to hell, paved with glitter, sass, and betrayal. An

hen, as if the universe is mocking us, One Dire

wanna ste

nna take her

ice low and deadly, his mouth a tight, grim line as B

simme

so a

across the room - cold, calculated - and then that menacing smirk. Smug,

een. Not metaphorically. N

on in the who

ne 'cause she

ng the fire already roaring in my chest. It mixes with all the cr

nt-up fury in my neck, as I clench my fists,

f pushed too far, I can be a formidable opponent. And Brian Cruise just

. A real man wear

and I move. No words. No plan

rints on the floor, each stride a testament to

st behind, the floor pract

im. One day, Mel will go too far with her little pr

liar - brutal and alive. I bite down on my lip hard eno

onstant hum of rage that needs some

om stone as he grabs Mel - not roughly, but with enough

o his face. She sees it. The fur

e of the nearest table, gripping it as if it's the only thing stopping her from sinking. Her fingers dig into the

ster fall. Get her into line. Make her regret. Conform even. Maybe th

through the room like shattered glass - sharp, deliberate, laced with venom a

and from her shoulder, and she looks too stunned to spea

isn't

continues his bantering. "Or do you nee

ense - Damion doesn't need backup. He's

ion coils in the air, thick and electric, as if the who

torm neve

't say a wor

eld tightly at his sides - rage bar

ontrol through his rules can produce, he takes Mel by the wrist and

on the dance floor,

pec

nd thought she'd get away with it. Whatever wrath is comi

urn to get my

too close - his hand casually draped on Ari

Bria

nto full-blown irritation. Brows furrow, mouth tightens, a little snarl

ith a light touch and slip my

. Of cour

ipping to our joined hands. "Didn't realize Aria wa

with mock surprise. "Since this is about our fourth meeting sin

na na na (

Four times? You don't just coincidenta

e like she doesn't know what to do with it. She's not meeting my eye

na (allright) na

e hell

ity. Each one more terrifying than the last, as panic hijacks my ratio

Aria snaps, her vo

omething angry, raw. I've come to know that look pretty well this pa

e doesn't

Just figured, you know, since you wer

lenge at me. Trying to light t

n't

ve misread things. You should have told your boyfriend abou

Aria says, voice like ice.

around my neck, pulling me close in front of everyone. I barely have time to react

es. Then vanishes.

hell just

jaw tight, trying to keep the edge out of my v

Just ... not here. Ple

elongs

ends on

to her waist. She feels soft and solid against

erday. But I'm going to find o

said I'm

u're dancing

tarted to

aw you a

use I got a li

ll that I've

k it's how you l

see myself

my thoughts, and turned them into lyrics. I lean closer and press my nose into her hair, breathing in th

'm in t

less. It's dangerous in the exact way that ma

't say

my breath and stea

aving me from o

walls are coming down like she's got the blueprint to every defense I've ever built - exc

ght, we fig

love and f

minds in a c

abide by

at the same time. I don't even know how that's possible. She's chaos and clarity

e would norm

esire, together

out of control and s

hem ruin our be

. Is this some sick joke from the universe? Some cosmic r

nted anything in years. And yeah, it's mes

n with her than fe

unfold me and

it. DO NOT finish that

if I ever heard her say t

. I'd hand her my heart

ether I should let her go. Maybe i

scape. I slip away from the crow

lo,

Even from a distance, I can see the shift in Aria's expression - tension, di

h the line, smug as ever. "Your girlfriend made

ght across her blood-red lips. She taps Aria's shoulder with one sharp finger, and

You still

got Dean was

ater." I slide my

nce. Aria is tallish, but Amanda is taller - easily my height with heels. Aria says something - just a few words - and whatever it is, it l

rushes past her and joins Mel,

oing great. Good. I

f they're oxygen, before passing them around to a group of rowdy girls. I recognize a few of them

ecuperating. But Mel? She's spiraling. And it's go

oving tow

e who can talk a stork to sleep and keep it down for hours. He launches into a monologue about the upcoming movie,

f those. Followed by a 'Sex on the Beach', and a Jägermeister bomb. Then three 'Angel's Tits'. All drinks I've se

Gotta go save my girlfriend from de

k behind me as if surprised

nd break into a fast stride toward the

ay gently, stepp

and unfocused, her chin propped lazily in her h

oice slurring adorably. "Wa

ughter that gets me - it's everything. Her tone, her messy hai

ea what she's

initely work with that - and my body reacts immediately, unhelpfully. I adjust my stance,

is gaze. I reach across the counter and grab his arm - not hard, but enough to ma

topping of the seductive-sounding shooter, and wi

k m

it out with a pop, I feel my control start to slip. She

a smirk. "This one

Now I just need to fig

I suggest. "Maybe an 'Unprotected Sex' like Mel?" I nod toward

es, words colliding in the air as she touches my lips wi

off her lips with a content little moan. It's childish. Innocent. But it stirs something r

ist of things I want to do with

ff the stool and shoot Mel a glare, tell

aps. "Damion is probably

pity in there, before wrapping an arm ar

er lips and looks up at me. I swear that dirty little mouth will still taste like sweet cream and hot des

says between hiccups. "And you

n, he

e the tension straining my pants. I can't let this spiral

ing it so fuc

ything. "Tell me about Br

e. Hurt my butt." A hiccup. "I hit a scarecrow guy ..." a burp, "... real

ething about 'our baby', and about a wheel and a phot

The main point here is her use of the word 'y

.." Then her small hand lands right

ing

ntrol not to let out a satisfying sound. I gently move her hand away

ulls. "Are

. Dee

using rambling, unawar

sleep. I glance at her. She's nodding off, head resting agai

st, and hold her a little tighter.

a into my arms, carrying her bridal style th

s out a

don't yo

o l

ace, trying not to gag myself. My shirt clin

Bathroom

n. She blinks at me with half-lidded eyes, completely out of it.

re chest - slow and soft, completel

ready on edge, and

The red fabric slips to the floor in a quiet rustle. She shivers slightly, wearing nothing but a matchi

on can summon, her hand brushes over the fro

A little burp escapes, and she grins

hrough my

out of me. Because underneath all the teasing and laughter, she trus

f my eyes, and I know if those charmers unleash, I won't be responsible for w

pants and carry h

away the mess with warm water, gently running shampoo through her hair, and letting

whipped cream and caramel liqueur. Her kiss is clumsy, dr

pull her into me, my hands trailing over her damp skin, feeling her, memorizing every inch. When she moans, I lose myself completely - until

hen I sn

eathing hard. She blinks at me, c

d - maybe more t

, and carry her to my room. She's half-a

I carefully remove her soaked underwear from beneath the shirt, trying not to look, then pull on a pair of my boxers ove

e the need to touch and taste gets overwhelming. Hell, everything about t

s gripping my knees, trying to cool t

arely audible.

eautiful, her features soft with sleep. For a moment, I j

from lust. From something deeper. S

ant to feel anything

d, trying to wash away every kiss, every moan, every ounce of tempta

effect

l al

ed beside her, pulling her close - not out of desire t

she uses as a barrier at night ... and stick my tongue

ell of a hangover and feelings of regret

tentment washes over me as I