Thrill! (48 page)

Aiden was extremely passionate, hardly giving her a moment to think. So unlike Richard, who'd moved at a leisurely pace, an older man's pace.

"First time I saw your lips I couldn't wait to suck

"em,"

Aiden said, breathing all over her.

"Fuckable lips . . . fuckable you . . ."

His hands were everywhere. Under her sweater, up her skirt, sneaking around the elastic of her panties. Long inquisitive fingers exploring new territory.

"Slow down,"

she gasped.

"Fuck slowing down,"

he responded.

"I've wanted to do this ever since that first lunch."

And then he began kissing her again, his tongue jamming deep into her mouth.

She found herself responding with a sexual zeal she hadn't felt in a long time. He tasted of cigarette smoke and booze and forbidden excitement and she wanted him desperately.

After a few feverish minutes, he ripped off her bra - breaking

335 the clasp. Her breasts tumbled free as he pushed her up against the kitchen counter, raising her hips so that she was half sitting, tearing at her panties until they too were history. Her skirt was around her waist, her sweater around her neck, the rest of her exposed to his probing eyes.

With one hand he untied his towel, letting it drop to the floor. With the other he crushed her breasts together playing with her nipples.

Then he put his cock between her legs - pausing for a moment before plunging in.

She let out a scream of pleasurable pain. Aiden might be thin but he made up for it in other places.

And finally they were into a wild ride that lasted for a very long time. And after that, sleep - a deeply satisfying sleep.

# # it

"I can't remember ever being more content,"

Lara said with a big smile. They sat in bed, trays in front of them - having recently finished a delicious dinner.

"Yeah,"

Joey said.

"Mrs C.'s cookin"

does it for me every time."

"Will you stop!"

she said, laughing.

"You know exactly what I mean. The two of us - here together - nobody to bother us. It's like being in our own little world."

"You're right,"

he said.

"Truth is - I've never been happier either. Who needs to go out?"

"We're so alike,"

she said, sighing contentedly.

"Yeah, two loners wanderin"

around lost - then we got lucky an"

found each other. Right?"

,.

"You said it, Joey."

He grinned.

"An"

now'

"We're together."

"Like you said - soulmates."

A long beat.

"In fact. . ."

"Yes, Joey?"

"You ready to hear my great idea?"

"What is it?"

she asked with an indulgent smile.

"Dinner in bed for two?"

336

w

THRILL!

"No, smart ass."

"I'm waiting."

"Well. . ."

He paused before plunging ahead.

"I kinda had this crazy thought that when you finish the movie - we should take off . . . an', y'know, kinda get married."

"Married?

"Yeah, that's what people in love do, y'know."

She regarded him for a long silent moment.

"They do?"

she finally managed, filled with mixed emotions.

"You an"

me, somewhere quiet, where no one can find us. What d'you say, baby?"

She hesitated for only a second, and then she realized how right it all was.

"I say . . . whatever you want, Joey. Whatever makes you happy."

"No,"

he responded - staring at the most beautiful woman in the world,

"whatever makes you happy. I love you, Lara, an"

I'm gonna make you happier than you ever imagined possible."

And then they kissed - a long deep soul kiss. And Lara knew she was making the right decision. They truly belonged together, and they always would.

337

j^^^Jfl THE MYSTERY voice had delivered. Yes, Alison ^^^PII^A Sewell knew she finally had a friend, someone she could trust.

The voice had told her exactly where to go to get the pictures of Lara Ivory that nobody else would have. A seedy hotel room overlooking the alley where Revenge was shooting the next day. A hotel room booked and paid for in the name of Mrs Smith. All Alison had to do was to go there with her cameras and telephoto lenses and wait.

"If I get the pictures you say I will,"

Alison had said,

"and I sell

"em to the tabs, what d'you get out of it?"

"Satisfaction,"

the mystery voice had replied.

All had come to pass. Alison had done exactly as instructed, and sure enough she was centre stage for the rape scene, with an unobstructed view of the action.

God! She could hardly shoot fast enough as the scene progressed. Snap snap - as Lara was shoved to the ground; zoom in for close-up as Aiden Sean ripped off her bra; automatic reflex five shots a second - as they spread her legs and ripped off her panties.

Alison was breathing hard. These were the pictures a photographer of her calibre dreamt about! Naked celebrities fetched top price - especially a celebrity who was supposed to be so sweet and nice. Lara Ivory. Miss Incorruptible. Well, look at you now, bitch. That'll teach you to cross Alison Sewell.

By the time she was finished, Alison was drenched with sweat.

338

She hurriedly packed up her equipment and raced home, anxious to see what treasures her camera had brought her.

When she viewed the results she was in heaven. The photographs were so raunchy, so bad, so sellable . . .

Lara Ivory exposed for everyone to see.

Revenge was sweet as pie.

And this was just the start.

339

^^f^^Jf^ WHEN LARA reported for work the next day, V^flPIPk^ Mick started jumping all over her, spewing forth compliments.

"Couldn't've asked for more,"

he said enthusiastically, pushing his heavy glasses back on his nose.

"That was some freakin"

kick-ass performance."

"I'm so glad it's over,"

she said crisply.

"It was quite an ordeal, but I think we got it."

"You bet we did,"

he crowed.

"Thanks to you."

"Do I get to shoot someone today?"

she asked calmly, quite confident that when the gun was in her hands she could handle it.

"Lara!"

Mick exclaimed.

"What happened to you?"

"Oh, I can be tough too,"

she said with a wicked grin.

He grinned back.

"Oooh, baby, I get off when you're bad..''

"Then I'll try to be bad more often,"

she said, still smiling.

"We brought in a weapons expert for the scene today,"

Mick said.

"He'll show you how to handle a gun."

"Joey already did that."

"Nothin"

like expert advice."

"If you insist,"

she said, heading for the make-up trailer, unable to stop thinking about Joey. Last night they'd decided that as soon as the movie was finished they'd take off and get married. He'd made her promise not to mention it to anyone - which wasn't easy because she wanted to tell the world. But he'd convinced her it was the only way if they didn't want a circus.

340

She hugged the secret to herself and couldn't stop srnilin

# # &

Mick was already setting up the first shot when Nikki arrived later than usual.

"What happened to your he said cheerfully.

"You're usually the early chick-bird on set."

"I, uh . . . had a restless night,"

she replied, wondering if it was written all over her face that what she'd actually had was great sex with Aiden and then overslept.

"Uh . . . Mick, do you know anything about anyone shooting photos yesterday?"

""Nopress allowed" rule. Remember?"

"I heard a rumour someone might have gotten shots of Lara."

"No way."

"Are you certain?"

"On my set?"

Mick said, arms flailing wildly.

"They wouldVe been spotted and shot on the spot."

"I guess you're right,"

she said unsurely.

"Is Lara here yet?"

"In make-up."

She headed for the make-up trailer, expecting to find Lara in a bad mood. But to her surprise Lara was smiling and chatting to the make-up woman, looking amazing as usual, in spite of yesterday's ordeal.

"Hi,"

Nikki said, not quite sure where they were at.

"Morning,"

Lara responded amiably.

"You look great."

"I feel sensational. Now that the rape scene's over I can relax. This was a tough shoot, Nik. But I'm sure it's all going to be worth it."

"You bet."

A pause.

"Uh, is Joey around?"

"He'll be in at noon. Why?"

"I was out of line yesterday, thought I'd apologize."

Lara nodded her agreement.

"Truth is, you both behaved badly,"

she said.

"I know, I know,"

Nikki admitted.

"And I'm sorry. It's just that it hasn't been easy, what with Richard obsessing over you, plus my problems with Summer - which I won't even get into."

341 "More problems?"

Nikki glanced at the make-up woman diligently doing her job.

"Uh. . .I'll tell you later."

"How about lunch?"

Lara suggested, feeling that maybe she'd been neglecting their friendship.

"Just the two of us?"

"Yes."

Td like that."

"So would I,"

Lara responded warmly.

"It seems we never get a chance to talk any more."

Nikki leaned over, impulsively kissing her on the cheek.

"You're my best friend,"

she said.

"We'll always stick together, huh?"

Lara nodded.

"Of course we will, Nik."

And she wished she could confide her secret.

& ft ft

The weapons expert was a beefy ex-cop who turned to mush in Lara's presence. He had difficulty explaining what she had to do, because her closeness rendered him speechless. She was gentle with him - knowing the effect she had on most men. Mick thought it was hilarious.

"Don't you dare embarrass him,"

she said sternly.

"He's so sweet."

"Sweet my ass!"

Mick guffawed.

"He's a big old hairy pisser who'd jump you soon as look at you!"

Gingerly she held the gun and didn't feel a thing. No bad memories today. Little Lara Ann was safely tucked away in the back of her mind. No visual images of blood and gore and torn flesh . . .

When Joey arrived they embraced, completely oblivious that everyone was watching them.

"I booked the airline tickets,"

he said, close to her ear.

"Under assumed names. We leave the morning after you wrap."

"Shouldn't we wait a couple of days?"

342

I

m

"For what? We gotta do it fast, babe."

m

"Where are we going?"

it1

"Tahiti. I heard about a place where nobody'll bother us."

H For a moment she felt a frisson of anxiety.

"You're sure we're

* not rushing in to this?"

»S

"Do you feel as if we're rushin'?"

I

"No."

%

^

"Then why're you givin"

me a hard time?"

|J. She smiled softly.

"I never give you a hard time."

And she

^ gazed into his eyes and knew it was the right thing to do.

|f,

"That's what I like about you,"

he said.

"That and your sexy

| body."

?"

"Hmm . . . right back at you."

"I They both laughed.

"You wait until I get you alone on a tropical island,"

he said ,\ in a low voice, nuzzling her neck.

"I'm gonna make love to you like you've never been made love to before."

"You are?"

she said, her voice husky with desire.

t

"Bet on it."

A beat.

"In fact, if we go to your trailer right now. . ."

"Uh . . . Joey, I promised I'd have lunch with Nikki today. You don't mind, do you?"

"Don't wanna have sex with me, huh?"

he teased.

"Takin"

me for granted."

"It's just that Nikki needs to talk."

"As long as you don't plan on telling her."

She put her arms around his neck and kissed him.

"As if I would."

He was pissed, although he didn't show it. Nikki had too strong a hold over Lara. Now that he'd made the final commitment he wanted her all to himself with no outside influences.