Falling Down

Chapter Four
Lucy
"We're going clubbing, right?"
I groan at Sera. My feet are killing me from dancing in those damn leather boots. I'm just glad I get a wardrobe change tomorrow and those boots can be history. Honestly, those boots are hot. They would be great boots for normal outings and things like that, but to dance in for hours while making a rock video? Not so much.
"Seraaaaa," I whine.
She sits down next to me where I've flopped out on our sofa.
"I'll let you wear the Jimmy Choo's."
"The black Mary Jane's?"
She nods. Damn her.
"You fight dirty."
"I know. It's a gift. Chinese for supper?"
"Yeah. The usual."
"Okay, I'll call it in now. That'll give us time to shower before they get here."
"I'm not showering. I'm sitting in my Jacuzzi bath and soaking my tootsies."
"Poor baby."
"F*ck off. You got to wear strappy sandals that had padding." I pause. "Whore."
She laughs. "It's not my fault."
"Whatever. It's always your fault."
"I know, I know. Whereas my bribing skills are a gift, things always being my fault is a curse."
"Damn straight it is," I say as I hobble toward my bathroom.
I turn on the water, adjusting for temperature and pour in some bath salts. Yes, they are the effervescent kind. And yes, the bubbles feel amazing. I'm worked up, I admit this. I mean, hello! Jesse Kingston just talked about getting on top of me and making me scream out his name. Seriously. I'm in need of an orgasm and self-induced is my only option right now. This is why I have a waterproof vibrator. His name is Raul and he never lets me down. With Raul I'm guaranteed multiple orgasms every single time.
Twenty minutes and two toe-curling orgasms later (thank you Raul) I'm slipping on my robe when I hear the doorbell. I'm so hungry I might just eat the entire quart of moo goo gai pan. I snag one of the vegetable egg rolls and moan aloud as I take a bite. I didn't eat much for lunch--I never do when I'm on set. I'd rather be hungry than eat too much and feel sick or actually puke all over the place.
"Cage and the guys are going to meet us at Sunset."
I pause my chewing. "By 'guys' you mean Jesse Kingston-type guys? Falling Down-type guys?"
Sera nods and smirks. Oh boy.
"How is this my life?" So much for not being in a situation where I've got to worry about the challenging rockstar hottie. I'm honestly not sure I'm up for that. I mean, I am but we have to work together for a few more days at least and I don't want to be all flustered around him. I get pretty nervous around guys I have to work with after I've slept with them. I'm not sure why. I guess my ideal one-nighter is just that--one night and then never having to see them again. I learned early on in my career to not sleep with my costars.
It's eight o'clock and I'm in a simple black and pink spaghetti-strap tank top, black Capri pants, and Sera's black Mary Jane's. These are the most comfortable pair of three-inch heels I've ever encountered, with the red strappy sandals I wore at the shoot today coming in a close second. My lip curls as I remember the torturous boots.
Whenever we go out, we always have someone drive us (that'd be Max--we love Max) and we never go anywhere without a bodyguard. You just never know. My bodyguard's name is Frank. He's a very large man. He's a good six-four and over two-hundred-fifty pounds of solid muscle. He's got a beautiful face to match his beautiful body but don't make the mistake of thinking because he's pretty that he's soft. Frank will do what he needs to do to keep me and Sera safe no matter what. He's a very sweet thirty-something-year-old married father of two. He adores his family and I'm happy that we have him as part of ours. None of my employees are considered "staff". They are family.
We walk into the club and it's pretty packed for a Tuesday.
"Let's grab a drink and see if we can find Cage," Sera says.
I nod and follow behind her. I get stopped by a group of college kids who ask me for my autograph and some pictures. I wave Sera off when she looks back. I don't mind taking time for the fans, after all they take time to come see my movies, right? I like letting them know I appreciate them and their support.
After about fifteen minutes, Frank steps up signaling the autograph session is over, as is our routine, and I smile and thank everyone. Frank follows discretely to the bar where I order a Captain and diet Coke. I ignore the stares from the onlookers. I'm not that big of a deal. Honestly. I've been in a couple movies. So what? I'm just a person like they are which is why I don't understand why everyone blows things up to "celebrity status". Now I understand why Milo Ventimiglia said he's not a celebrity, he's a working actor. I ascribe to that very same philosophy.
I pay for my drink and turn to see Sera waving me over to the dance floor.
"I'll be right over here, Luce."
"Thanks Frank."
He winks and nods.
Sera and I start shaking our asses as Enrique starts singing about dirty dancers. I swivel my hips and roll my body. Sera and I are laughing as we let ourselves go. Honestly we don't let ourselves go very often, but we need to blow off some steam.
The music segues into Push It and I grin. I set my now empty glass on a nearby table and Sera sends me a wink.
I barely start dancing again when I feel a pair of very large, masculine hands wrap around my waist. I know who it is without looking. I can smell him--ocean, sandalwood, and yum. It is trouble in the form of one sexy rocker. How do I know? I know because Sera's laughing, or she was until Ben walked toward her.
Ben was right earlier, he did smell trouble. He just didn't tell me it was with a capital T.
They must have some pretty great security with them if they're not being mobbed. Jesse presses himself close, wrapping his arms around me, his hands resting on my lower abdomen. He leans in and whispers, "You look f*cking hot, Lucy."
I grin and wiggle my hips and slide down his body to a crouch, then touch my toes, straightening my legs and lifting my ass up against his ever-growing erection before slowly sliding my hands up my body as I stand up fully. I turn my head to look into his amazing face. Yeah, same move as earlier today and it worked again. Jesse's seriously sexy--all tall, dark, and dangerous. He is a bad boy personified and I couldn't be more turned on.
Ciara and Justin Timberlake take over next singing about love and sex and magic. This song could have been written about Jesse Kingston. Women fall in love with him, have sex with him, and they think he's magical. I may be tempted by two of the three. Love isn't in the cards for me. I'm not looking for anything too serious which is a good thing because Jesse Kingston doesn't do relationships.
He turns me around and lifts one of my legs up toward his hip, grinding his hard cock against my belly, sliding his leg between mine as he pulls me tight against him, hands on my hips, guiding me to circle my hips with his. I slowly slide my hands up his chest, pausing when I feel the nipple rings. That's seriously sexy. I look up at him through my lashes. He is, of course, grinning. I run my fingertips over the rings, gently tugging on them and he groans aloud. After that, the music fades out and all I hear is my heavy breathing.
My hands continue their ascent to rest on his chest. I'm not tall enough to wrap them around his neck. His thigh rubs between my legs with every swivel of my hips. I raise my arms, arching my back I lift my hair up off the back of my neck, then slowly let it fall back down as I ride his thigh the same way I would ride his cock.
He's not grinning now. Oh no, there's no grin. He is the poster boy for sex and sin. His eyes dark to the color of chocolate, his lids slightly closed. I step closer to him again, standing on tip toe to try and reach him. He bends slightly and I trace my index fingertip over his lips, his lip ring, my mouth parting as I do.
His mouth opens and I slide my finger inside. He licks then sucks it gently into his mouth. I very slowly pull it out. My gaze flicks up to his and there is no doubt in my mind he wants me. Given the chance, if we weren't in public with everyone watching us, he'd probably f*ck me right here--and I'd let him. I get even wetter at that thought. I'm sure he feels the heat and maybe even the wetness between my legs but I'm too turned on to care.
He tucks me in close, his hand on the back of my neck pulling my head to his chest and I note the music has slowed down. His heart beats furiously beneath my ear, I can feel it on my cheek and I know mine is beating just as fast.
Do I want Jesse Kingston? Yes, yes I do. Does it go against my rules of no sex while working with someone? Yep, it does. Am I going to ignore that rule tonight? This is, again, Jesse f*cking Kingston. The man I've been lusting after since seventh grade. The man who took a little piece of my heart in that airport six years ago. The man who is now running his fingertips up and down my spine and nibbling on my ear. My answer is a resounding you betcha baby.
He pulls back a bit then dips down to press a kiss to my forehead. My eyes close of their own volition. He takes advantage and presses light kisses to each eyelid, then to the tip of my nose. Next, one kiss to each cheek, my jawline, my chin until finally he slowly and softly presses his lips against mine.
All breath and rational thinking leave my body. I swear I feel my brain short circuit. If someone were to ask me what two plus two was right now I wouldn't be able to answer. The kiss is no more than a flutter at first. He takes my bottom lip between both of his and sucks gently, the metal of his lip ring biting into mine. I let out a moan as his hands came up to cup my face.
He tilts his head ever so slightly and takes my lips in a breath-stealing kiss. His tongue slides along the seam, demanding me to open to him. There is no room for argument. I know he will accept nothing less than my full submission to his request. I open for him and his tongue slides against mine. I push closer to him, wrapping my arms around his waist, pulling him closer to me as he slowly and thoroughly f*cks my mouth with his tongue. It is exquisite. It is bone melting. It is everything I imagined it would be and more.
We kiss and kiss and kiss for what feels like forever when it hasn't been more than a few minutes. He whispers against my lips something I can't hear. I don't think I'm supposed to.
With his hands still cupping my cheeks, he looks directly into my eyes. I'm not sure what he's looking for but whatever it is I'm pretty sure he finds it. His lips come down hard, his tongue dueling with mine as we sway slowly to whatever the hell song is playing. I'm losing myself in him and it feels delicious. I'm not going to lie to myself or to Jesse. I want him. In a very bad way. I'm sure by my responses to him he's already figured that out by now. Just in case he hasn't I whisper to him that I do.
He kisses along my jawline to my neck, up to my ear. Oh God. Behind my ear. My secret spot and he zeroes right in on it. I shiver and I feel his lips curve into a smile against my skin. He sucks gently on my skin then kisses his way back until his mouth meets mine once again.
I'm floating and it feels amazing. I give way to my body, my lust, my desire. I drag my fingernails down his back and he groans into my mouth. And that's when it happens.
A flash. Then another and another and another.
"Shit," I whisper against his lips.
He runs a hand through his hair. "God damn it."
Frank comes walking up, telling the patrons to put their cameras away but the damage is already done. I can already see the headlines. Straight-Laced Actress And Bad-Boy Rocker Get It On, On The Dance Floor. Shit. Shit, shit, shit.
"I have to go, Jesse."
"I know. Hand me your phone, Luce." His fingers fly over the screen then he hands it back to me and digs his own out of his pocket.
"You've got my number and I've got yours. Use it."
I tilt my head to the side unsure what he wants of me. I step up on tip toe and he leans down to meet me for a quick, soft kiss.
"I'm sorry," I whisper.
Before I fully pull away he whispers in my ear, "Next time we're doing this in private where no one can interrupt us and I can get you naked."
His words send a shiver through my body and he winks as I pull back, letting Frank lead me and Sera out of the now insanely rowdy crowd. Frank must have called in backup because there are two more men flanking us and the car's already pulled up to the curb.
We all get into the car and I flop back with a sigh.
"God damn it!" I shout. No one bats an eyelash at my outburst. They know how much I hate the invasion of my privacy, the gossip, the bullshit. I blame my mother for this. Sure I'd have to deal with some of the same if I'd gone the musical route but nothing like I have to deal with now, as an actress.
"That f*cking sucked, Luce."
"Ya think?"
Sera raises a brow.
Frank hands me a bottle of water and I take a long drink.
"Sorry. I'm just… fed the f*ck up with this life."
"It could have been worse. At least there weren't many paps outside."
"Doesn't matter at this point and you know it. Those pics will be sold and online within the hour with some sleazy headline to go along with them."
"It's not that bad."
I give Frank a bland look. "Frank. You saw us. It was far from innocent. I lost myself."
He nods. "You never let loose like that."
"I know. I just--"
"Oh for f*ck's sake," Sera said. "It's Jesse Kingston! Who wouldn't lose themselves in that hot, delicious hunk of man, especially if they've been crushing on him forever."
"True, but the world doesn't need to know about it. Or see it."
"But they will. And that means Reggie's going to be calling."
I nod to Sera. "And with her being, what, nine hours difference this'll hit the internet just in time for her Google alert to go off during her breakfast."
"You're an adult."
"I am. And, as I keep saying, I'm tired of this life." I turn to Sera. "I'm giving up the acting. I can't do this life anymore. Maybe if it's some amazing part and we aren't touring or making music or recording, but other than that I'm done and Regina's going to have to learn to deal with it."
Sera lets out a whoop.
I reach out to take Frank's hand. "Will you stay with us, Frank? If I switch things up a bit?"
His hand squeezes mine. "I'm not going anywhere and neither will Max, Gio, or Mike. We're family." They nod their agreement.
"I love every one of you and appreciate you more than you know."
"Baby girl, we know." This comes from Mike who barely ever speaks.
I'm about to get all sappy and mushy when my phone rings.
"Wow, that's got to be a record." I look at my watch. "Only thirty minutes and she's already circling on her broomstick. There had to be a plant in there. There's no way they could have gotten the story and pics up that fast without putting someone in there or paying them off outside before they came in."
"Likely," Frank nods. "You gonna answer that?"
I didn't answer it the first time she called and she's calling right back.
"I suppose."
I press Talk.
"Good morning, mother." I hold the phone away from my ear knowing full well she's going to say all three of my names very loudly.
"Luciana Antonia Russo. What have you done now?" She then breaks into a stream of Italian which, unbeknownst to her, I fully understand. She's calling me a foolish girl. Something about my crush on the dirty rock star. Dirty! He's not dirty. She's got some nerve.
"Are you done yet?" I ask blandly.
"Don't you take that tone with me, young lady."
"In case you've forgotten, I'm twenty-three years old. That makes me an adult. That means I can take any damn tone I want. I am tired of this Regina. I am done."
"Regina? This is how you speak to your mother?"
"Right now it is because you're not my mother right now. You're my manager."
A pause. Frank raises his eyebrows. "What are you done with exactly, Luciana?"
"Acting. I'm finished."
She laughs. "Darling, you're just upset about the reporters again and right after you've had such a hard time with Aiden Jensen." She tsks. "Your father is here."
"Hi Button."
"Hi daddy."
"You okay?"
I sigh. "I will be."
"You indulged yourself tonight and now the media will have a field day but it will die down in a couple of days and things will be back to normal." My mother. Always trying to rationalize me into agreeing and doing whatever she says.
I move the phone to my other ear.
"You don't understand, Regina. I. Am. Done. Acting. No more movies. No more television shows. No more anything. Done. Done, done, done."
"You can't mean that. Your career is at its peak right now."
"Then it'll take a long time for it to plummet to the bottom, right? I can't do it anymore, mom. I just can't. I never wanted to act. I did it because it made you happy, but I'm a grown woman and I need to do what makes me happy before I'm old and gray and miserable."
"Luciana--"
My father cuts her off. "Enough Regina Are you sure this is what you want to do, Button?"
"It is. You know I've wanted this for a long time."
"Yes, we know. And you're correct. You are an adult. This is your life so these are your decisions to make." My mother tries to interrupt him and he shushes her. "You do what makes you happy, Button. We will support you in your decisions."
My mother is cursing in Italian. I just know my father is giving her "the look" because she immediately shuts up. I want to laugh, but I'm sure that won't go over well.
"Luciana, you and Serafina are set on doing this rock thing?"
"We are mama."
She sighs. "Then I will do what I can to help you if you wish for me to continue being your manager."
"We do--until we find one we can trust who knows the music industry. But no decisions for us, mama. Sera and I make our own decisions and will consult you in any major ones we need to make."
My father says something to her I can't hear.
"Fine," she huffs. "I'll notify Irene and she will have to draw up new contracts and one for Serafina as well."
"We'll meet with her whenever they're ready. Just have her give me a call."
"I will."
"Thank you both for supporting this decision. Sera and I just want to do what makes us happy."
"And that is why I'm not fighting you on the decision."
"That and the fact that daddy's right there."
She grumbles. "He is very demanding. But I knew this day would come sooner or later. To be honest I'm surprised it took this long. I'll call you in a couple of days. Maybe if you get the band together soon you could work on a soundtrack for one of Joey's movies."
"Maybe, mama. We'll see where this goes. We don't even have a full band yet."
"You will. I have faith. Take care of yourselves."
"You as well. I love you both."
"We love you too."
The call ends and I sit there for a minute or two just staring at my phone.
Without looking up I ask, "Did that just happen?"
"Yep," Sera says.
"That was too easy."
"That's because dad was there."
I snicker. "That certainly did help. She would have tried to talk us out of it if he hadn't been. He saved us about an hour of unnecessary chatter."
"That he did."
I look to Sera and she's already looking at me.
"We're going to do this. For real."
"For real."
"It's time," I say and we start squealing like high school girls. Frank and the guys smirk--they very rarely full-on smile or laugh but this is one time when they cave and enjoy the moment with us.
Everything from earlier with the press slips away from my mind as we celebrate our new path. This is one of the happiest moments of my life and I intend to enjoy it.