Beyond Famous (Famous #3) (45 page)

“What room?”

“1120. Right by the elevator.” Brook pointed to my right. I could have let her down, but didn't.

“Where's that prick's room? Is there a connecting door?”

Brook burst out laughing as we entered her room.

"Now who needs to get over it? Come on!" she teased, her eyes flashing.

I peeled off my clothes and checked my messages while Brook took a quick shower. She joined me in the bedroom afterward, removing the towel from her blonde hair and starting to run a comb through it.

I pulled back the covers on the bed, and sat down with my back to her. I could feel the heat of her eyes rake over me. "You don't seem to have a problem getting naked."

Her nearness calmed me down. “Not with you," I murmured.

She sidled up on her knees behind me and started to run the comb through my hair with her right hand, the other resting on the muscles of my left shoulder. I could smell her shampoo and the sweet scent of her skin. And her soothing strokes were relaxing me as she continued for a few moments, neither one of us speaking.

It wasn't long before her warm breath rushed over the skin of my neck and her hot little mouth opened over the skin where my neck and shoulder joined. She sucked and bit me gently and it sent goose pimples rushing all over me. My body sprang to life, thickening and hardening within a few seconds.

"Brook..." I pulled her hand in front of me so that I could kiss the inside of her palm, bringing her body flush against my back. "I love you, you know. I don't like being away from you. I hate being in the new house without you."

The fingers of her other hand threaded through my wet hair and pushed my head slightly to the side so she could run a series of kisses down my neck.

"I know," Brook whispered against my skin and another rush of gooseflesh rushed over me. I pulled her around until she was straddling my lap and my hands were untying the knot on her robe until it tumbled open to reveal her luscious body to my view. “I miss you every day. I'll be home in a few weeks,” she murmured against my temple. “Then we have the Movie Awards in L.A. before our last press tour. It's a month together before you leave.”

“A month together flies by.”

My hands pushed it open farther, my hands cupped her breasts, brushing over the nipples that instantly hardened beneath my touch and then sliding lower to her hips and behind her back to pull her closer to me as my mouth found one of the delicious mounds.

"Mmmm, Cade," she moaned as my erection pressed into her soft swells. "I miss you, too."

"I hate it when we fight," I said softly, my mouth moving up the skin of her chest and collarbones up her neck until I found her mouth. "Bloody hate it."

“The distance makes it worse, but making up is nice.”

Her fingers pulled my head closer as we finally started to kiss those deep, soul-searing kisses that said we couldn't get enough... that we were starving for each other. It amazed me how it never lessened and I thrilled each and every time her little tongue sought mine out and started the passionate dance I loved. I sucked her lower lip into my mouth just to give us both a breath before I took it in wild abandon once again and turned to press her into the mattress with my body.

Brook's knees came up around my hips and I could feel the moistness of her calling my body home. It was easy and perfect as I slid so effortlessly into her, sinking and falling as I lost myself in the woman I loved more than anything. I loved her beyond the pains and glory of fame; beyond everything real or surreal that was a part of our messed up, blessed, and cursed lives. I loved her beyond anything. The love was strong enough to survive anything.

UGH. NOT THIS SHIT
again…

“Brook, you know you’re going to win again, so suck it up already.” Jeanne’s voice droned over the phone. My stomach turned at the thought. It was bad enough to have to attend to present the clip of
Don’t Forget to Remember Me
, but the kiss…would this shit ever end? The award shows were months behind release, and the releases were a year behind production. We’d just wrapped
A Love Like This,
but the focus of this year’s award shows was on the second film.

“Can’t they rig it so we won’t win? I’m so over these things.”

“I thought you liked the glitz of this job.”

“It’s wearing off.” I was tired of the press chasing me, and I’d just had an incident with Sheldon Richards two days ago when he’d asked to meet me to discuss a possible role in an upcoming film he was producing. It was a joke. I should have taken Cade’s concern seriously. After his visit, I took more notice of how Sheldon treated the women on the set. Not only in the cast, but also the production staff. It was obvious Cade wasn’t just jealous. The man was nothing more than a skirt chaser who wouldn’t take no for an answer. He’d made a big effort to get me in bed on set, but I’d kept my distance and holed up in my room.

Now, back in L.A., our film done; he hit on me. Huge. My face flushed with heat, and my heart pounded just thinking about it. Not because of Sheldon, but because of Cade. It seemed innocent enough, and he’d been nothing but nice to me during filming. Despite that, I was panicking. Cade and I were closer than ever, and I shouldn’t have brushed off his warning about that asshole.

I hadn’t told Cade because all it would do was cause him to worry and he’d probably find Sheldon and cause a scene. I felt stupid for even going, and nothing happened. Cade would be leaving on another job soon, and the last thing I wanted was to upset him. I wanted to enjoy the time we had left. We promised not to have secrets, but Sheldon Richards was insignificant to me, and my life with Cade. The fingers of my right hand fiddled with the engagement ring on my left.

We were settling into the new house, and making appearances here and there around Hollywood and L.A. The appearances were nothing too over-the-top; just out for tacos, to the grocery store, or driving to my mom’s house. Our relationship wasn’t official yet, and we found that letting the press see us together did little to dispel their interest. Cade thought if we just came out with it, they’d back off… that wasn’t the case. Now they were stacked five deep at the entrance to the house. We’d started staying home more and more as it got worse.

“Look at the bright side; you’ll get to show up with Cade.” Jeanne broke me out of my thoughts. “That will make him happy.”

I sighed and rolled over on my stomach and stared into the big brown eyes of our new puppy, Lucky. He was a mutt we’d gotten from a shelter when my mom refused to let me take Molly. He was adorable as he looked at me apologetically as if he understood exactly how I felt. I reached out to scratch his silky black head and his eyes started to droop immediately. He had taken ownership of both of our hearts at first sight and was perched in his place of seniority on my pillow.

“I know,” I retorted sulkily. Cade would be happy, but my life had been almost normal the past couple of weeks. I was hanging out with my brother and spending time with my parents. I’d forgotten how much I’d missed it. Not that I didn’t miss Cade. I did. It was fucking ridiculous.

“The official “coming out” was supposed to be the premiere of the third film. I’m still not sure about this.” I was feeling uneasy. Unsure if I’d be able to look Cade in the face and hide the incident with Sheldon.

“Get your game face on. It’s almost over.”

“The hell it is. I’ve got another
eighteen months
of this crap if we keep getting more of these dumb nominations.”

“Ugh!” Jeanne protested. “I’m sorry I do my job so well. You’re welcome,” she teased, the amusement trickling in with every syllable.

“Ha ha. You’re hilarious. If I didn’t love you so much, I’d rip your hair out.”

“I can’t take all the credit. These films blew up because of you and Cade.”

“Yeah; it had nothing at all to do with the plot or the big studio money behind the promotion. Not a bit,” I mocked. “It was filming this movie; I loved. I should have listened to Cade when he told me two years ago fame wouldn’t be what I expected.”

“Aw, honey, just take it one day at a time. The stylist has three outfits for you to choose from and they’ll be there tomorrow around noon and Mickey’s coming. I’ve made it as painless as I possibly can.”

“Oh, boy. Mickey’s coming? Can’t wait to see Cade’s reaction!”

“I thought you loved Mickey?”

Lucky whined and crawled onto my lap. I lifted him up and kissed his sweet face three times.

“I do, but he loves
Cade
. Doesn’t he, Lucky?” I asked my sleeping puppy.

“What about the red carpet?”

“What about it?” She couldn’t have missed the disgust in my voice.

“Brook,” she said sternly.

I cringed. I knew we’d agreed to walk the carpet… finally giving the fans what they’d been waiting to see, but it went against everything I believed or wanted. Even if Cade and I didn’t confirm our relationship for sure, speculation was everywhere. At first he’d been elated, but now he acknowledged it only made the stalking worse. There were women who hated me just because he was with me, and I loathed dealing with them. No matter how good I’d gotten at hiding how much it affected me, it still stung more than I wanted to admit. And worse; I hated how it worried Cade.

“Can’t we just sneak in right after the awards begin, and then leave after we present the clip?”

“Uh…
no
. Best Actor is the last award, and what are the chances your boy won’t win?”

Jesus. I knew she was right. I rolled over on my back taking Lucky with me. He snuggled onto my chest. I let out a deep sigh, trying to concentrate on the soft golden glow reflected through the closed blinds and the shadows being cast on the ceiling.

“None, what-so-ever,” I admitted. “The hormones in the room are always enough to make me gag… and the screaming… make it fucking stop.”

“The screaming is for you, too.”

“Humph!” I scoffed. “Marginally, maybe. I see some of the same faces at these things, and I wonder if they have a life beyond worshiping Cade? I mean, seriously?”

“You aren’t jealous, are you?”

I laughed. “No. It’s annoying, that’s all. Some of them are great, but others, just… Ugh!”

“Have you and Cade worked out what you’ll do about coming and going?”

“We’re gonna figure it out when he gets here.” Cade was flying in from a short visit to his parents in London, mostly, in effort to divert attention of the press, and allow me to come and go from the house undetected for a while. It was technically his house, but they were on watch for any appearance from me. No doubt that was the money-shot; absolute proof Cade and I were together.

“Why don’t I believe that?”

“We have to practice. I mean, in case we win.” I chuckled softly, and Jeanne’s face showed her amusement.

“Yeah, sure you do. When does Cade get in?”

“He texted he was on the ground, so any time now. I’m sure he’s tired, and probably starving.” My voice softened and my heart sped up. Just a few minutes now…

“Hmm, yes. At least you have twenty-four hours to um… ah, rest up.” Jeanne laughed as she headed for the door.

“Right. We’ll do loads of resting.” I laughed along with her. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”