For our next lesson, Roman wants to take me to a bar across town. It's right next to one of the big studios, so he says they sometimes get actors popping in after filming. Television actors, for the most part, not any major A-listers - but he claims he wants me to get more comfortable talking to famous men, and this seems like the easiest way to do it.This is the point where I know I should probably tell him about the incident with Rafe, to tell him that I somehow managed to be flirtatious and interesting when it really mattered. That I managed to control my awkward, nervous impulses and capture the interest of one of the Fontaines. But there's no way to mention the progress I've made without also confessing that Rafe and I almost hooked up in the bathroom, or that even now there's a video of the incident making its way around the internet. If I'd managed to score an interview, that would have been one thing. But all I have to show for that night is the hickey I'm still hiding beneat
A short while later, we're driving through one of the swankiest parts of Beverly Hills. I try not to gape at the elaborate gates and mansions on either side of the road. I should have seen this coming - I mean, the guy's a billionaire - but that doesn't keep me from freaking out a little. I can't believe I get to see where Roman Everet lives. That silly fantasy about being his girlfriend and experiencing all of the corresponding luxuries is getting easier and easier to imagine.Calm down, Felicia, I remind myself. You know what he wants, and it isn't to introduce you to his parents or anything.I bite down on my lip as he finally pulls into a driveway. There's a huge metal gate in front of us with a giant "E" etched on the front. He hits a button in the car, and the gate swings slowly open.As he pulls down the driveway, there's just enough light from the setting sun to cast the grounds in a dark bronze hue. But my eyes go straight to the house - which is a huge, modern stucco with
My heart leaps into my throat. "We're doing it here? At your house?"He gives a dark chuckle. "You've already kicked off your shoes. Besides, there are certain lessons that are better to do in private, where there's no one to disturb us."I take a long sip of my wine. He wants us to be alone. To do this lesson in private. Was this his plan all along, to get me to come back to his house? No, I tell myself. He knows what he does to me. He knows that all he had to do was ask. That call back in the car was legitimate - why is he suddenly changing our plans for the evening? But "why" isn't the most important question - that distinction belongs to the what."What are we going to do?" I ask, trying to keep my voice from revealing how much my body is already responding to the suggestion.Roman is sitting on the lounge chair with his knees facing me. I'm looking out across the pool, but out of the corner of my eye I see him smile."Not we," he says, amusement in his voice. "You."Oh. I'm
My stomach flip-flops. "This is silly." This is already awkward enough without pretending Roman is Luca Fontaine."Try," Roman says, as if he were urging me to eat my vegetables or something equally mundane.But as strange as the request might be, as nervous as it makes me, I find myself wanting to rise to the challenge. To prove to myself - and to him - that I can take the initiative, that I can lead the course of a seduction."I look at his drink," I say. "And then I order the same thing.""That could be dangerous," Roman says. "If you do that, he might want to start a conversation with you about his drink of choice. He'll notice if you don't know what you're talking about. You'll lose his trust right from the start.""I'll order my own drink, then," I say. "A Long Island." Historically, Long Island Iced Teas aren't exactly my friend, but in this imaginary lounge, I'm willing to take the chance."Good choice," he says. I'm not sure whether that's coming from Roman or "Luca," so
I jerk, nearly spilling my wine again. "That's a very personal question.""I think it's important in your situation.""My situation? I don't think - ""But maybe I'm asking the wrong question. Tell me, when was the last time you had an orgasm?"I let out a little gasp."That's none of your business!" I say. I'm going to need a lot more wine before we have this conversation. A LOT more wine."I'm not trying to make you uncomfortable," he says. "But there is a difference in the way people conduct themselves when they're sexually fulfilled, especially around those they find attractive. You'd be amazed how many issues could be cured with the proper... satisfaction."I can't look at him, not when he speaks like that. Not when he's gazing at me that way. I reach for the bottle of wine and top off my glass."I think," he says slowly, "a little release would do you wonders, Felicia. Ask any man you know if he takes the edge off before a date. You'll find all of this a little more enjoy
At first, my movements are slow and careful. I let my palms slide up over my sides and across my belly as I try to come to terms with what I'm about to do. But I'm feeling brazen, and though I'm nervous, I'm not afraid. I can already hear my breath coming faster. I can hear Roman's breath, too, slow and steady in the chair beside mine.My hands dance across my belly for a moment before moving lower. I'm glad I decided to wear a dress tonight. It makes things easier. Slowly, my fingers tug up the fabric of the skirt, exposing my bare thighs to the night. The summer air is balmy against my skin, and it makes it that much easier to let my legs fall apart. When the fabric is up past my hips, I release it and let my fingers come to rest just above the lacy panties that I know do little to cover the carefully-trimmed patch of hair beneath.I take a deep breath. Two. My knees bend, my thighs fall a little farther apart. I'm surprised at how ready I am. I can smell my own arousal, and I susp
When I wake up, I feel like a different person.I roll over in bed, rubbing my eyes and wondering why I feel so rested, so... calm. Like every worry, every bit of stress, is gone from my body. It's not until I reach for my cell on the nightstand that I realize that the nightstand is all wrong. There's a lamp where there shouldn't be.And then I remember.I jerk upright. I'm not in my bedroom. I'm in Roman's. I spent the night here.The bed next to me is empty. And - a quick touch tells me - cold. As my fingers skim over the rumpled sheets, last night comes rushing back.He made me come twice more next to the pool. Once again with his tongue, and then with his fingers. My body aches at the memory of it, and I wonder how I could have gone my whole life without experiencing pleasure like that. The few partners I've had in the past never gave me anything close. I'm not sure I could even replicate the experience with my own fingers - it's like Roman knew how to wake sensations in me th
I stare at him. "You're taking me on a date?"Roman laughs. "You say that like you're surprised.""I just... I didn't know how..." I gesture between the two of us, unsure of how to voice it without sounding insecure. "I didn't know where we stood."His hazel eyes search mine, and there's a tenderness there that he hasn't let me see before. He reaches out and touches my cheek."From our very first meeting, you intrigued me," he says. "You were clearly out of your depth, but you fought quite passionately for your job. And when you claimed that you'd seduce Luca Fontaine, I saw a drive, a fire, that I couldn't let slip through my fingers." His thumb sweeps along my jaw. "As I said, for all your determination, you seemed a little lost. And I wanted to be the one who found you."His words are quickly undoing the last of my meager defenses, and his soft caresses aren't helping."I... I thought you just found me entertaining," I said.He smiles. "I did. I do." He leans closer, and his
My stomach grumbles at me. I glance down at my watch, and I almost don't believe the time - I should have left work over an hour ago. But I've been so absorbed in polishing my latest piece that I completely lost track of how late it was. My interview with Dante Fontaine is tomorrow, and I've blocked off the whole morning so I can make sure I'm prepared. This is my chance to forge a major connection, to make sure Celebrity Spark is the publication Dante contacts whenever he needs to promote a project or wishes to arrange a "scandal" in the name of a little extra publicity. If I play this right and earn Dante's trust, I might be able to turn that into a working relationship with some of the other Fontaines as well. Tomorrow's interview could make my entire career.A shadow looms over my desk, and I jump - and then look up into the eyes of Roman. My chest flutters. We've only been officially dating for a couple of weeks, but I have a sneaking suspicion that this lightheaded, giggly feeli
Roman's wicked promise turns my knees to jelly.I hear myself beg, "Not here. Please."He doesn't wait another moment. He releases his grip on my waist, then grabs my hand and pulls me through the sea of reporters. We're moving against the crowd, but that doesn't stop Roman. He forces his way through, dragging me behind him. I nearly stumble in my heels, but he doesn't let me fall. He leads me away from the carpet.As we go, I hear a new round of shouts go up behind us."Raphael!""Just one picture!""Raphael! A question!"Roman's hand tightens on mine, and his steps quicken. I'm more than happy to leave as fast as possible. I'm not particularly interested in facing Raphael right now. The video of the two of us hasn't gone viral yet - to my knowledge, at least - and I pray it gets buried by juicier celebrity news before more than a handful of people see it. And if it does start spreading... well, I'll deal with that when and if I have to. If the dating history of the Fontaine bo
Even with the barrier of the dress between us, my body still responds to Roman's touch, still remembers all the ways he caressed - and kissed, and licked - me just two short nights ago. My body doesn't care that my job is on the line, or that we're in the middle of a red carpet with people all around us. But I care, and I force myself to focus on Luca and Dante."If interviews aren't your thing, then what is your thing?" I ask sweetly. My voice is only the tiniest bit strained.Luca's grin turns decidedly devilish. "That's a personal question, isn't it? I don't even know your name."Roman's fingers have nearly moved between my legs from behind, and I suck in a breath and grab onto the barricade so I don't topple over. He's doing this on purpose - tormenting and distracting me while I'm trying to do exactly what I came here to do. But even though I'm barely holding it together, I try not to let it show."I'm Felicia," I say to Luca. "And your brother has already agreed to speak with
Dante Fontaine's stare isn't like the ones Roman has been giving me all week - dark and intense and full of desire - but rather one of confusion, and I realize that he recognizes me but can't seem to place how.So I do the only thing I can - I smile and hold up my press badge, hoping he connects the dots. And it works - I practically see the light bulb going off in his head.This is my chance.I pull away from Roman and push my way along the barricade - only elbowing one person in the process - until I'm a little closer to Dante."You owe me an interview!" I call over the people around me.The look he gives me isn't quite a smile, but there's a flicker of something in his eyes - humor? Appreciation? - that gives me hope. And then before I realize what's happening, he says a quick word to his date and walks toward the barricade. Toward me.I'm so surprised that I almost turn and run just out of habit. But I'm not going to miss my chance. And anyway, Roman has just squeezed in behi
"Luca!"My stomach tightens as the shouts multiply. Luca was my original target, but I was hoping Dante might show up first. I had a moment with Dante back at Hallevern's - a brief moment, but a promising one, and it would have given me a starting point. With Luca, I'm facing the unknown. And he's getting more attention than anyone else in his family these days, so he'll be that much harder to pin down.At least it's not Rafe, I tell myself. I'm not ready for that sort of awkwardness right now - either with one of the Fontaines or with the man behind me. I lean forward again and watch as Luca makes his way toward where I stand.He's a charmer, that he is. And like the rest of his family, he's pretty damn breathtaking in person. His dirty-blond hair has been cropped close for Cataclysm: Earth, enhancing the strong, sharp planes of his face. His body was always athletic, but he's clearly added some more muscle for this latest role - and he definitely has the build to pull it off witho
Roman's words are like a knife right in my gut. But before I can respond, there's a commotion at the far end of the red carpet and all of the reporters around us start pressing forward. The first limo has arrived.There's no time to have this conversation right now. Members of the press start shouting for attention, calling to the couple that has just stepped out of the car. Camera bulbs flash. People jostle me from all angles, trying to get closer to the barricade. I know I need to fight too if I want any chance of speaking to one of the Fontaines.Roman is right behind me. He's closer than he was a moment ago, pushed against me by the crowd, and the familiar heat of him against my back makes my knees feel weak. His hands fall to my waist, holding me steady, and I realize he's protecting me from the press of reporters, shielding me from the worst of the rush. Suddenly, I feel the heat of his breath against my temple."Move forward," he says right into my ear. "I'll help you get to
I've never looked this glamorous in my entire life - or felt as miserable.The gold gown swishes around my legs as I walk, and the beads sparkle like diamonds in the late afternoon sunlight. My makeup is flawless, and my thick hair has been pinned into a flawless French twist. I debated skipping the salon appointment Roman made for me, but he had one of his assistants email me a reminder this morning, and it felt childish to refuse to go. Still, there was a knot in my stomach the entire time I sat in the chair, and while the results look beautiful, I don't feel as much like Cinderella as I expected. I feel a lot more like I'm going to throw up.I've been here for almost three hours already, standing in my place behind the partition that separates the press from the red carpet. I've learned the hard way that they give priority positions to television reporters and the members of the press with cameras or other large equipment, but the crowd of journalists here today isn't nearly as la
Roman kisses me again, and my legs come up and wrap around his hips. We're pressed together now, bare skin against bare skin, and he groans."Change of plans," he growls. "We're staying here today. And I'm going to fuck you over and over again until you can't walk.""Is that a promise?"He sucks my bottom lip between his teeth in response, and I grab his hair and tighten my legs around him."Pleasthh," I beg him as he continues to suck on my lip. It's torture, being pressed against him without joining.He releases my lip. "Patience, my little seductress."I writhe against him. "Fuck patience."Suddenly he grabs my legs and pulls them away from him, and before I realize what's happening, he's flipped me over onto my belly. He leans toward me, his cock pressing against me from behind. He bends down so that his mouth is right against my ear."You will have more than your share of pleasure today. Don't you worry," he says. "But first, I need to go get a condom."The thought of sto
I stare at him. "You're taking me on a date?"Roman laughs. "You say that like you're surprised.""I just... I didn't know how..." I gesture between the two of us, unsure of how to voice it without sounding insecure. "I didn't know where we stood."His hazel eyes search mine, and there's a tenderness there that he hasn't let me see before. He reaches out and touches my cheek."From our very first meeting, you intrigued me," he says. "You were clearly out of your depth, but you fought quite passionately for your job. And when you claimed that you'd seduce Luca Fontaine, I saw a drive, a fire, that I couldn't let slip through my fingers." His thumb sweeps along my jaw. "As I said, for all your determination, you seemed a little lost. And I wanted to be the one who found you."His words are quickly undoing the last of my meager defenses, and his soft caresses aren't helping."I... I thought you just found me entertaining," I said.He smiles. "I did. I do." He leans closer, and his