Chapter Three
Lucy
The day was long and grueling and somehow Sera and I managed to get through it without doing the whole squealing fangirl thing. I even managed to avoid "unh". I'm pretty impressed with us if I do say so myself.
When I heard Jesse start singing, my heart dropped into my stomach. I swear it stopped for a minute before it kicked into high gear. Then when he touched me? Holy Mary Mother of God. Instant wet panties… well, thong. Thankfully I was able to change out of that shortly after we began. Cage decided to do the shortest of the takes first so what started out as a conservative outfit, turned into bootie shorts and tank tops cut low enough so our really pretty lacy bras were showing. Add to that the kick ass black boots, the heavy makeup, crazily styled hair (lightly sprayed thanks to Spenser's tricks) and we were kicking ass.
When the band began playing their new song Back To Then I almost stopped and stared instead of playing my part. Jesse noticed, smirked, and sent me a wink. The timing of that couldn't have been more perfect. As he winked, I winked back and leaned forward, touching my toes, my ass cheeks peeking out of my shorts--all part of the routine. I threw him a wicked grin over my shoulder and his nostrils flared. When we cut for a lighting adjustment, Ben walked up and smacked me on my ass with a laugh.
"That was awesome."
"Why, thank you. Thank you very much. The timing couldn't have been more perfect."
"You're not the same shy, frozen girl you were six years ago. I don't think my big brother was expecting that."
"It's different behind the camera. For me, anyway. I can be anyone they need me to be and today I'm a rockstar's girlfriend slash dancer."
He nods with a smile. "I smell trouble."
"Smells good, doesn't it?" I laugh. "Seriously, it's only a few days. How much trouble can we get into in that amount of time?"
Ben raises his eyebrows. "Watching you two? A whole f*ck of a lot."
"It'll be fine."
"Girl," he says shaking his head. He never finishes the sentence as we take our places once again.
Now, after stripping off the slut-wear and unzipping and pulling off these seriously sexy but feet killing boots, I let out a moan and rub my aching feet. I change back into my comfy clothes, move to sit in this amazingly relaxing chair, just before setting my feet into a foot massage basin.
"I really, really love you Spenser."
"Oh, I know it, gorgeous."
"Not just for the foot massage or the fact that you spritzed me with each wardrobe change."
"Mhmm."
"But mostly because you didn't lacquer my hair and you never will. It's amazing that Simone can brush through this and whip my hair up into a bun like that without it being sticky. How do you do it?"
"I'll never tell."
"I want to hire you to go everywhere I go. I'll take you with me to every movie and tell them to f*ck off with their makeup and hair people. I'll have my Spenser."
"I'd follow you anywhere, Luce."
"I'm not kidding, Spenser. You have no idea what damage those… those… people do to my hair when we're filming."
"Oh, I see it and I wasn't kidding either."
"Seriously?" I perk up, nearly kicking water all over the floor.
"Seriously. But I'm not cheap."
"Well, that's a given. I'll pay you double. You're entirely worth it."
"Woman, you're crazy. You'd have had me at this rate."
"You're worth more than that to me. That means you, Simone, and you, Carmen, will be with us forever and ever and ever."
They cheer happily and Sera snorts out a snore. We all burst out laughing.
"Regina's going to be calling soon to talk me off the rocker ledge."
"Jump, Lucy. Do it. Just jump. You're an amazing actress, but your heart is music. I heard it and saw it when you sang."
"It's not that easy, Spense."
"It is that easy. You're a grown-ass woman now and your mother needs to back the f*ck off. It's your life. Let her glam it up with Joey. That's all she needs. He's top tier."
"I know. I know. I don't understand why it's such a big deal."
"Control. She doesn't know shit about the music industry so she can't manage you there."
"Hmm. That's true. I don't have any movies lined up for a while. I'm taking a break. I was back to back for the last five years with only a short break in between. Except for this last one."
"What happened?"
"Aiden f*cking Jensen happened."
"Don't even get her started," Sera says through a yawn.
"Well if it isn't Snorey McSnorelson."
"I was awake."
"You snort-snored."
She flits a hand in my direction. "We're going to do it, aren't we?"
"I want to but we need to see what there is out there for us first."
Sera nodded. "Irene will know. She's always got the hookup."
"That she does."
"I'm on hiatus until further notice from modeling."
I turn to her. "You didn't tell me that."
She shrugs. "It's not what I want to do. Sure, it's glamorous and makes me feel sexy but I want to eat a cream-filled donut. If I want to eat the entire pint of Ben & Jerry's Salted Caramel Core, then I'm going to eat the entire f*cking thing."
"Damn right you are! You can have a fat ass like me."
"Cupcake, your ass is anything but fat."
I stare at Sera for a minute with wide eyes, then take a deep, calming breath.
"Jesse Kingston, what are you doing back here? We could have been naked," Sera says with a grin.
"A man can hope."
"How disappointing for you." I say with a grin.
"Not so much. You're still here."
I suck in a breath. Oh my. No. Yes. No. Oh my God. I wasn't prepared for Jesse Kingston today. I'm not prepared now. Truth be told, I will never be prepared for the hotness that is Jesse Kingston. What is he doing? Here. With me.
He flops into the chair next to mine and Ben strolls over to the sofa. Next comes Kennedy, Ethan, and Xander.
"Sera?"
"Yeah, Luce?"
"Why? Why is it they come back here when we've just gotten our makeup scrubbed off and our hair thrown up in messy buns while we sport our yoga pants and t-shirts? We looked f*cking amazing no more than ten minutes ago."
Sera lets out a loud sigh. "It's our curse."
I nod and press my lips together. "We have a lot of curses."
"True story," Sera murmurs.
The guys just stare like we're freak shows.
"Stop staring! I know I look like shit, okay? Makeup-less Lucy isn't a great sight to behold."
"Oh, I don't know," Xander says. "I think you look just as hot without makeup as you do with it. Maybe hotter since it's real."
Jesse lets out a growl and my eyes widen. Xander grins and Ben winks at me.
"Did he just growl?"
Ben winks again.
"Well, thank you Xander for the compliment. That's very sweet of you to say."
"Great shirt," Ethan tells me with a wink.
"Thanks. Deftones put on an amazing concert."
"Avenged Sevenfold?"
"Yeah baby."
"Nice."
"Matt Shadows is so damn sexy."
"Oh my God," Sera moans. "There are no words. M. Shadows," she says with reverence and I grin.
"Mmm," I groan leaning back in my chair, wiggling my toes.
"Is that a moan for Matt Shadows or do you have sore feet?" Jesse asks.
"Sore feet. Killer boots."
Jesse places a towel on his lap then lifting one of my feet and massaging.
I close my eyes and moan out loud. His hands still. "Oh, don’t stop. That feels so good."
He starts rubbing again and everyone in the room starts laughing.
"Shut up. I know what it sounded like and I just don't care."
I peek through one eye at Jesse and he grins. I close the eye again and just relax into my chair.
"Your hands are amazing."
Silent pause.
"Again, I know what it sounded like. Get your minds out of the gutter. You all can see he's rubbing my feet. Pervs."
"Yeah, pervs," Jesse says with a hint of laughter in his voice.
"Don't think I don't know you're smiling over there, Kingston."
"Oh, hell yeah I'm smiling. I'm thinking if this is the kind of reaction I get when I'm rubbing your feet, what kind of reaction am I going to get when you're naked and underneath me."
"Hmm. You're assuming a lot with that statement."
"How so?"
"First, you're assuming I'm ever going to be naked when you're around. Second, you're assuming you'd be on top. Third, you're assuming you'd be able to touch me in such a way that would cause me to moan as I did when you rubbed my sore, overworked feet."
"First, I've no doubt I'm going to see you naked, it's a matter of when. Second, the first time I'm definitely going to be on top, after that we'll play it by ear. Third, I guarantee I can make you moan longer and louder than you just did and you'll be screaming my name."
The first time? Wow. Screaming his name… I'm all for that if he's inside me while I'm doing it.
Sera snickers, Spenser lets out a frustrated noise, and the guys are murmuring amongst themselves.
"Hmm. Guess we'll have to wait and see but I'm not going to bet the ranch."
He stops rubbing and taps my shin so I'll look at him.
"Challenge accepted, Lucy."
***~~~***
"Do you just realize you just laid down a challenge to Jesse Kingston?"
"I didn't. He just took it as one."
"Same thing, Luce."
"I'm not worried about it. We're only on set a few days and I doubt we're going to find ourselves in a situation where any of that will be possible. Besides, he was just saying those things because everyone was there and he wanted to best me."
"You didn't see his face."
I shrug. "Again, not worried."
"I sure as hell would be. We're talking the Jesse Kingston."
"Besides, why are they being all friendly with us? The bands have never done that with us before. It's just surreal."
"Did you ever stop to think they might think you're a big deal?"
"No."
"You should. Hollywood actress appearing in their video? It's got to be a major deal for them."
"Meh, maybe. But I'm really no one. Just some chick doing a job."
Sera nods. "And they're just guys, doing their job. But due to fame and the hype that goes with it, you all think the other is a big f*cking deal."
"I am certainly not a BFD."
"You are to them."
I shrug and my phone rings. "Why did I have to let you drive home? If I drove I wouldn't have to answer this call from Regina."
"Just get it over with."
"Yeah." I sigh. "Hey mom."
"How was your shoot?"
"It was good. A lot of fun."
"What band did Cage pick for you this time?"
I bite my lip knowing my mom is going to know this is a huge deal for me the minute she hears the name but there is no talking around this one.
"Falling Down."
Silent pause. "Isn't that Jesse Kingston's band?"
"Yep."
"The one you've had a crush on since seventh grade?"
"Mother. That was a long time ago."
"Hmm. Was it? I remember your reaction when we ran into him in Chicago. Don't think I've missed the fact you've also gone to multiple concerts of his as well."
"Their music is f*cking awesome mom." I throw the F-bomb in to piss her off a bit.
"Luciana Antonia Russo. Watch your language."
"Yes, mama." I grin at Sera who grins back.
"Now, tell me, what you have line up next."
"Nothing."
Another silent pause. "What do you mean?"
"I'm taking a break and so is Sera."
Again, silence. "You realize you're doing this at a time when your career is just skyrocketing. This could potentially lose the momentum you've just gained."
"I'm aware of that. After the last movie with Aiden Jensen, I need a break. It was a nightmare, mama. I am not exaggerating. Even Mel lost it."
"Well, that's saying something then, isn't it? Mel's the most laid back director I've ever met."
"I know! I'm telling you, mama, it was the worst. I was stressed out nonstop. My hair started falling out again."
"Oh Luciana. Did you start taking your vitamins again?"
"I have." God, I hated this job.
"That's good then. Hopefully being away from that situation your body will recover quickly."
"I hope so. I don't want to be a patchy baldy twenty-three year old."
Sera snorts out a laugh and my mother tsks.
"You all think I'm kidding. You've seen it, Sera."
"I have. I admit. It wasn't pretty, mama." I love that Sera calls my mom, mama. She is, after all, like a sister to me.
"I think I found a way to fix that problem though."
"Oh? How is that?" my mom asks.
"I hired Spenser and his two assistants."
"Oh!" my mother shouts out a girlie happy sound. "I'm so happy. Spenser is the most amazing artist."
"That he is and he doesn't lacquer me."
"You're so hung up on that."
"Mother, why do you think my hair f*cking falls out?"
"Language, Luciana."
"Yes, mama."
Sera sends me a grin and I grin back. We're such bratty daughters.
"I'm glad everything is going well for you both. We'll discuss this hiatus again later in the week. I need to call Joey and see how his movie is coming along."
"He's likely in the middle of filming, mom. It's only a little after four here."
"True. That gives me time to run down and have some coffee and pastries. Talk to you soon darlings. I love you."
"Love you too," we both murmur into the phone and I press the End button.
I lean back into the car seat and turn my head to Sera.
She glances at me out of the corner of her eye. "What?"
"Jesse f*cking Kingston, Sera. Can you believe this? Falling Down. This is insane."
She nods and smiles. "Feels kind of like a dream, right?"
I nod and we're both silent and lost in our own thoughts.
It does feel like a dream, but it's real. Shit.
"Jesse f*cking Kingston."