Page 47 of Blood Stone

Adrian had kneaded her shoulders as they watched Garrett leave the trailer. “Relax,” he murmured. “Deep breath. You’re way too wound up.”

“I used to admire Garrett, Adrian. Why did I ever think he was brilliant?”

“He is,” Adrian replied. “But you’re the object of his brilliant scheming this time around and it’s not fun being the target. Remember the goal in all this.”

She took a deep breath. And another one, imagining what it would be like when that day came. “Yeah. You might have to keep reminding me for a while. I see Garrett, I just want to castrate him. Now.”

“That’s not good. He’s still got a useful half-life, yet.” Adrian stood her up and turned her to face him. “Let’s get you unwound.”

He had stripped her, one item of clothing per step, as he led her to her bedroom. They didn’t reach the bed that time, either. He had pushed her up against the wall, picked up her hips and driven into her, hard and deep just as she had wanted it.

She had come within forty-five seconds, but still he had kept thrusting, his cock sliding out of her for almost its full length before surging back into her. And damned if she didn’t find herself responding again, her body gathering around his cock as the pleasure escalated. She squirmed and bucked in his hands, panting, as the orgasm built.

Adrian’s eyes were narrowed, his jaw clenched as he orchestrated her pleasure, holding back his own. “Scream, Kate,” he whispered.

It reminded her of how he had fucked her on her desk and the powerful orgasms she had experienced.

The reminder was just what she needed to reach her climax now. She peaked and could feel herself clenching around him as she came. Adrian groaned, his thrusts shortening, as he came with her.

When her heartbeat was steady once more, he picked her up and put her on her feet. “Back to work,” he told her, pushing her toward the door. “Although you may want to get dressed, first.”

That was the first of almost daily quick interludes, where Adrian would suddenly appear, just as her temper was starting to spill over, and distract her in the sweetest way possible. He was a master of the quickie and in the eight days before the trailers and main crew had headed for the south of California, he had taken her in some of the oddest and most outrageously daring places possible.

Once, he had fucked her into a sense-stealing orgasm, while he sat naked upon the big throne that was sitting on the dais in the set that was being built for Murad’s throne room in Constantinople. She had straddled him, just as naked, facing the camera that was already set up for the crew to check framing possibilities. Her heart had run faster and her climax had been all the more powerful because the green operational light was glowing on the top of the camera. If anyone happened to be sitting in the mixing booth, they would have been privy to the entire carnal act.

And at night...at night... When Kate had been finally ready to drive home that first day after signing Garrett’s poisonous contract, it had been close to midnight. As she stepped out of the trailer and locked it, Adrian straightened up from where he had been leaning against the back of the new sets going up. “Ready for home?” he asked.

“You’re not...you didn’t wait for me, did you?”

“There’s no way I’m letting you drive yourself home after a day like you’ve had. You’re too tired.” He took her keys from her hands. “When did you last eat?”

She tried to recollect what she had eaten for dinner. Then to recall if she had eaten dinner at all. Or had the pizza slice been lunch?

“Too long,” Adrian said.

“What?”

“You’re taking too long to remember, which means it’s been too long since you ate.” He picked up her hand. “Come on. I’ll take you home.”

“My home, Adrian. I have calls, and paperwork and god knows—”

He touched her lips with his finger, silencing her. “Of course, your place.”

She let him drive her home... in his Maserati. He drove fast but well, taking advantage of openings in the traffic that a slower car simply couldn’t have stolen. After five minutes of watching him drive and manipulate the gears with non-flashy efficiency, Kate found herself relaxing.

“I suppose you know where I live, too,” she said.

“I don’t need directions, if that’s what you’re asking.” He picked up her hand from her lap and held it for a moment. “You said you wanted me to substitute for all the men you bed when you’re on a shooting schedule. And you fuck men to relax and unwind...and because it makes you happy. So let me do my job, Kate.”

“Yourjob?” she repeated carefully, trying not to sound either shocked or amused. “Isn’t that perilously close to being bought?”

He glanced at her, and his glance was full of amusement and a heat she had learned, finally, to recognize as lust. “I volunteered for this assignment. All the difference in the world.”

She was forced to let his hand go as he reached for the gear stick to change down for a corner. “I think you’re as much of a control freak as me, Adrian. You just hide it better.”

His answer was a long time coming. “Maybe,” he said at last. “But control the way you mean it doesn’t exist. That’s one thing I’ve learned to give up on.” He nosed the car onto Ventura Highway, and settled back for the fast drive north towards the hills. “Did you hear about the deal Greg Evershot made for himself today? He obviously isn’t hurting too much over missing out on your movie.”

And for the rest of the drive Adrian had filled her in on industry gossip and news, his voice soft.