Scornfully Yours (Torn Series) (6 page)

     I swallowed. I bit back my tongue from wanting to snake it out and lick his finger.
Whoa
, where did that thought come from?

     His close proximity wasn’t helping my jumbled brain. His eyes darkened as he studied my lips.
Shit, he’s killing me here
. His thumb grazed the tip of my bottom lip and I held back the urge to wet my sudden dry puckers. His breathing hitched and when he did speak, it was raspy and seductive.

     “
Call me crazy
. You can call me
anything
you like—but I want to get to know you, Emma. Give me the rest of the night to get to know you. The moment my eyes saw you tonight, I was mesmerized and I can’t let you walk away.” My eyes looked into his, seeking answers, seeking reason.

     “I don’t know about that, Bass.” Was this about sex again? Didn’t I decline him?

     “Tonight,
just tonight…
that’s all I ask, Emma. I know you barely know me, but I give you my word, I will not do anything you don’t want me to do, I promise,” Bass assured me.

     He would be an honorable gentleman? Hmmm.

     Was I crazy? This hot movie star wanted to get to know me and here I was contemplating if I should agree or not. What is wrong with me?!

     “Why? What do you have in mind?” I asked, needing assurance. I was still mending my broken heart. I couldn’t possibly let loose and be with another man straight away, even if it was Bass Cole who wants me to lose it,
with him
.

     “All I want to do is talk and enjoy your company, nothing more.” The heartthrob even managed to look desperate.
Damn
, he’s a good actor.

     “Fine, as long as you
keep
your promise, okay? No sex of any kind or shit will turn very ugly,” I warned him off but he just gave me his mega-watt smile.

     “Thank you, Emma Anderson. I promise you won’t regret this.” His finger traced my bottom lip again, ever so slowly.

     Shove me in the burning furnace, why don’t you?

“You better,” I croaked back.

     His gentle brush made me a little breathless. Wasn’t I in love with Carter?
Then
, why does Bass make me feel like
this
and forget that Carter existed? Carter Mason.  He’s possibly somewhere in Santa Barbara…
quite
possibly nestled in between a woman’s legs.

     My brain diffused as Bass took over. He pressed his hard muscled body against mine. His delicious scent overpowered me, making me think of
his skin, his taste and those unforgettable lips. My body shivered in its sheer contact.

    “Exquisite beauty…” Bass rasped out, staring at me with dilated eyes.

    Slowly, his hand caressed my neck and jaw, with soft gentle strokes. It was simply driving me senseless with want and need. His touch utterly seared me. My skin was on high alert and sensitive to his touch.

    
Oh, fucking hell,
I freaked
.

I gulped down what little saliva I had when he pressed on me, his face against mine.

“I told you we will have our first date tonight,” He whispered intoxicatingly on my ear. His hot breath brought a soft moan from my lips.

     Dear Almighty, what have I gotten myself into?

“Some of us think holding on makes us strong; but sometimes it is letting go.”

-
Herman Hesse

     Bass was on his phone when we emerged from the club door, but he stayed close to me. His strong arm held my hips. Immediately, a black Escalade parked upfront.

     A few cameras flashed out of nowhere, nearly blinding me.

     Paparazzi, of course, they followed him everywhere.

     Why didn’t I think of it?

      “Bass, who’s your date tonight? She’s hot!” a guy asked and flashed his camera at us.

     “Good choice, tonight, Bass. Is she fresh meat?” another of the one of the annoying goodbye party asked.

     “Bass!” someone yelled at the top of his lungs.

     Christ.

     “Bass Cole over here! Is she your new girlfriend?” another man asked.

     A few security men came over and ushered us towards the awaiting SUV. Who would have thought that getting into an SUV a few feet away would take forever to get to?

     I was relieved when I got in the awaiting car. Once inside the confines of the car, he profusely apologized. “Sorry I didn’t warn you about the paparazzi. They can be very obtrusive most times. I should’ve prepared you for that.”

     “It’s alright. I should’ve thought about it sooner. I mean you’re a celebrity. That comes with the territory, I
guess.” I mumbled back to him.

     “Where do you want me to take you, sir?” The chauffer asked.

     “Just bring me back to my place, Lou. I need to pick-up my car.”

     “Right away, Sir,” Lou replied and focused on the traffic.

    
Shit
, we’re going to his house to get his car. Shit. I had no fucking clue where this night was heading. I certainly didn’t expect to end up with a fucking celebrity. Let alone with Bass fucking Cole of all men! With the leather seat and my short dress, I could feel my legs started to sweat. Hell, I was super nervous.

     Bass’s cell phone was quite a different matter.  It was constantly ringing and beeping.  How does he live his life like this?  It was disconcerting.    

     “Hey, Turner!” I heard him say as I watched the passing cars before me. “No dude, can’t join the crowd. I’m with Emma.” I smiled at the way he said my name. He sounded like he’d known me for awhile and not just a couple of hours ago.

     I can just imagine this Turner dude asking, ‘
who the heck is Emma?
’ because Bass replied, “my date for the evening. Now, if you don’t mind, go hassle someone else. Gotta go. Bye.”

     “Are you okay?” He murmured as he moved closer. Not touching, but close enough for me to feel the heat of his body.

     “I don’t know. I’m thinking ‘what the fuck’ right now,” I answered him with honesty.

     He chuckled at my retort.

     “Try to relax. I won’t let you down.” Bass promised with seriousness.

     I muttered ‘uhhmm’ and reverted back looking through the glass absentmindedly. He was silent the whole ride and I was quite thankful that he was. I needed to gather my thoughts.

     When Lou, the driver, rounded towards Hollywood Hills and towards Bass’s house, I was impressed from what I could see of his home.

     From what I could see of it, it was made with a lot of glass and a lot of white. When Lou finally stopped and opened the door for us to step out, I was suddenly feeling anxious.

    
I am so out of my depth here
, I thought with a moment of insanity.

     When Lou bid us goodnight and left, Bass held my arm and pulled me towards his home. Once he managed to open the door, the lights immediately flickered to life.

     Wow, I thought as I took in my surroundings.

     An entire glass wall panel was made of a blue-lighted waterfall. A lot of open space was done elegantly. Black, white, silver and hues of cerulean blue accents meshed quite chicly. It was the ultimate bachelor’s pad—an expensive and an impressive one to boot.

     “I want to tell you that your house is gorgeous, but you probably hear that all the time.” I grinned from ear to ear.

     “Thank you, I do but it’s a first from you. So, that counts.” With his arm around my waist, he nudged me forward. My heels echoed loudly against the black marbled floor. “Come on, I want to show you the view from the patio.”

     The view before me was simply amazing.

     Situated on a hilltop, the bright lights of Los Angeles sprawled before our eyes, vast and mysterious. It was utterly captivating. The famous Hollywood sign could be seen from afar.

     Magnificent, was all I could muster. My eyes took in the sight before me with great fascination.

     “It’s marvelous, isn’t it?” he asked, from behind me.

     I merely nodded in agreement. It was truly majestic.

     Bass cleared his throat and his dark toe-curling voice asked, “You’re a new guest in my home, Emma Anderson. What can I get you for refreshments?”

     “Red wine and water, please.”

     Bass smiled lazily. “Right away Miss.”

     Charming, just charming…and he was disarming my lucidity.

     I followed him inside the house and watched as he moved about his impressive kitchen. I leaned over the island as he gathered my drinks. He was nice to look at and I couldn’t seem to drag my eyes away from him.
Okay
—I concede. He was
more
than nice to look at—he was epic to gawk at. I could look at his smoldering eyes and his lazy smiles all night long.

     “
So
—where did Cece go?” I lightly inquired. Did they exchange numbers? I wouldn’t put it past Cece.

      I caught him hide back a smile. Goodness….that smile of his…

    
Shit
, why is it that I feel the urge to just jump on him and kiss him? Wow, I was really crushing on him big time.

     “I knew what you were doing, you know. I have to tell you that I feel insulted, truly and deeply insulted—that you would ditch me and hand me over to someone else. But you weren’t that slick.” Bass shook his head, smiling. “I caught you at the right moment.” He made an emphasis of the word ‘caught’.

     Ha!
If only…

     Bass handed me a bottle of water then opened a bottle of red wine and took out two wine glasses.

    
Such a yummy, fascinating specimen to look at…

     “Whoops. Thought it was a match made in heaven,” I jested back at his grinning face.

     “Not even close…not even close…” He murmured as he left for the patio, barefoot.

     I followed him and watched as he placed the items on the table and turned on the huge outdoor marbled fireplace. He then went back inside to get something else. I walked towards the rattan chaise lounge and rested my aching feet.

     The ambiance around here was getting cozy and downright romantic. Bass Cole, a true romantic? I wish, but I guess acting taught him a thing or two about romance? This was a step more than what Carter ever showed me anyway. I should just bask in it and not overthink it.

     My phone rang inside my purse and I instantly went to go get it. Maybe I shouldn’t have because I gasped when I saw who my caller was.

     Carter Mason’s name was flashing manically at me.

     After a few more flashes it stopped.

     I had nine missed calls and two text messages from Carter. Curious, I hastily opened my messages.

    
Carter: where the fuck are you?

     Great, so now he’s worried?

    
Carter: Cece just posted on Facebook a video of you and some celebrity guy dancing. What the fuck were you thinking?

     What the fuck was I thinking? You ought to be kidding me!

    
Carter: Pick. The. Fuck. Up!!!!!

    
Bastard!

     I didn’t even bother responding to his stupid condescending texts.

      A big part of me was delighted that he was affected by this. What girl wouldn’t? It was a big slap in his face. Did he really think I would sit back and cry over him after how he treated me the last time I saw him? How he didn’t even have the decency to look me in the eye when he left me bedraggled and naked on his bed? It took him, what? Like a whole three minutes to fucking ditch me for a shower after he came? Prick.

     No! Carter Mason was history.

     He was, wasn’t he?

     Then why did I feel a sudden pang of sadness?

     My thoughts of Carter went on hiatus when Bass came out with a tray of food and placed it on the table. It consisted of fruits, brie and crackers, cold cuts, black and green olives, cherry tomatoes, dark and milk chocolates, a slice of strawberry cheesecake, a chocolate cake and a bag of Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream chips.

     I laughed.

     “This is a very interesting mix you’ve got here, Bass.”

     He blushed and placed his hands in his pockets. “I didn’t know what you wanted, so, I uh, guessed.” He really blushed! Maybe he wasn’t the playboy the tabloids portrayed him to be? Didn’t they like to exaggerate to get more sales?