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4
“Okay,so this scene is where Jessa and Jackson fight over money,” Eli explains as he hands me his script, pointing to where he wants me to start.
We’ve been running lines for two hours. Working on scenes he has slated to be filmed tomorrow. I can’t wait to see what they’ve done to studio D. It’s supposed to look like the inside of a Venetian hotel and I’m having a hard time picturing it. Don’t get me wrong, the set designers are amazing. I’ve seen some impressive construction over the years.
“You want me to just start?” I’m not ready for this but really what can I do? I wasn’t ready for the first scene we read through, but after four or five rounds, I felt a little more comfortable. Pushing off the couch, I roll my shoulders back and read over the first few lines in my head.
“Whenever you’re ready,” he encourages me, moving to stand in front of me the way it’s dictated in the script.
Jessa and Jackson. Within arm’s reach of each other. Staring into one another’s eyes. Unlike the other scenes we’ve read today, this one feels more sexually charged. “Picture us standing in the lobby of a gorgeous hotel. It’s over the top, and as much as Jessa is in love with her surroundings, she had other plans for her trip. She can’t afford this place, and as she looks around that fact becomes apparent.”
Closing my eyes, I try to envision what Eli’s describing. High ceilings. Floor-to-ceiling windows. Traditional Venetian decor.
Letting out a breath, I open my eyes to find Eli’s trained on mine. Watching me. Studying me. He’s been doing that a lot today. Averting my gaze, I focus on the black and white ink on the pages in my hand and let myself fall into character.
“This place is too much.”
“It’s magnificent, isn’t it? When I found it, I knew you would love it.”
His voice is filled with the perfect amount of excitement mixed with hesitation.
“I do … it’s gorgeous, but it’s expensive. I can’t afford it, Jackson.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Eli reaches up and places his hand on my cheek, looking deep into my eyes as he speaks.
He’s acting.
This isn’t real.
“I am.” The script says to sound upset, forceful. Jessa is a strong woman.
Me? I sound like a lovesick little girl, his touch making me suddenly breathless.
“Do you really want to talk about this now?” Eli leans in closer, his breath fanning across my cheek. “Don’t you want to clean up and check out the city?”
His body is blocking my view of the script. I have no idea what my next line is, and at the moment, with him this close, I don’t care. His right hand is still cradling my face. His lips are a breath away from my ear. And there’s a puddle in my panties that shouldn’t be there, especially since we’re reading a fight scene.
Still, after spending hours with him and fighting the reaction my body has been having, with him this close, I can’t fight it anymore. I knew this was a bad idea. I knew I needed to stay away.
“Taylor?”
The way my name escapes his lips causes my breath to hitch. It’s intense and filled with promise. Then his hand starts to move. He’s barely touching my skin as he slowly moves from my cheek to my shoulder, down my arm, finally lacing our fingers together.
“Yeah?”
“I think we need to take a break.”
Shit! Yes. A break.
“Okay,” is all I say as I quickly step back, my legs bumping into the coffee table, causing me to lose my balance. Forgetting that Eli still has a hold of my hand, my body lurches upright and I’m crashing into his firm chest before I realize what’s happening.
“Are you okay?” He keeps a tight hold on my body until I nod. When he finally releases me and I step back, careful not to bump into the table again, I chance a glance in his direction. What I see startles me, causing me to suck in a deep breath and hold it.
It’s evident there’s a storm brewing. His light blue eyes have darkened, filled with lust, and they’re penetrating mine. When he closes the distance between us, I match his movements, stepping back. Once, then twice. When my back hits the kitchen island, I let out the breath I was holding, and my inner goddess starts giving me orders.
Kiss him.
Let yourself have this. You deserve it.
