Page 18 of Cinematic Destinies (Red Carpet Romance #3)

“I do,” he whispered. He turned her around, slipped his hand between her legs, and started moving his fingers in a circular motion, kissing her neck and shoulder. She began to moan and writhe around in delight.

“That’s it, love,” he whispered, as her moans became louder and louder.

“Take me,” she begged, and he slid inside of her, gently moving back and forth, as they both groaned. He moved faster and faster until they both yelped with pleasure.

His quaking body pressed to hers, Roo kissed her shoulder and rubbed her arms. A moment passed as they caught their breath, and he gently turned her to face him.

He caressed the side of her face and whispered, “I love you. I’m so lost in you, and found at the same time.

I’ve never felt anything like it. You’re my soulmate and I’ll love you forever. ”

Georgia kissed him softly. “Come on, let’s finish washing up so we can go to a romantic dinner.”

THE NEXT DAY, THEY ENJOYED MORNING yoga, a huge breakfast spread that included smoothies, smoked salmon, cheese, fruit, and poached eggs, followed by facials, a couples massage, a light lunch of local sushi and ceviche, and a long dip in the lagoon.

After savoring an artfully prepared tasting menu at Moss, the resort’s most upscale restaurant, they meandered back to their room.

“That meal was beyond words, but I’m so full,” Georgia said.

“Shall we sit outside on the patio, get some fresh air?” Roo asked.

Georgia nodded. She grabbed her new hunter-green wool shawl and wrapped it around her shoulders, and they ambled to the patio.

“My God, you have the most exquisite green eyes. You really are the only woman I’ve ever known who could look as sexy wrapped in wool as she does in a bikini,” Roo gushed.

Georgia blushed. “Let’s sit together in the cocoon chair,” she suggested.

Roo sat down, then Georgia. He wrapped his arms around her, and she rested her feet on a small ottoman. He dropped a kiss in her hair and said, “This is so relaxing. It’s hard to imagine feeling any better than I do right now.”

“I hope we don’t end up too relaxed, if that’s a thing. We kind of zombied out today with all the spa stuff,” she said.

“We could change it up. We’re not that far from Reykjavík. Maybe tomorrow afternoon we could drive into the city, poke around the shops, pick up more souvenirs, grab dinner somewhere.”

“Ooh, that sounds like fun. I’ve heard Reykjavík is known for its nightlife.”

“Then perhaps we’ll have to check out a pub after dinner,” he suggested.

“That sounds great.” They sat quietly for a moment, and she said, “This view is mesmerizing. I don’t think I’ll ever stop feeling like we’re on another planet.”

“It is transporting,” Roo agreed. “I was looking through our trusty little guidebook. Seems there are some hiking trails around here. I’m sure we could get more information.

Perhaps tomorrow after breakfast we could go exploring.

It will be our last full day here. Would be a pity not to take it all in. ”

“That sounds great. I can’t get enough of this view,” Georgia replied.

“Well, that’s a shame. I hope you can tear yourself away because I’ve just got to get you inside. I’m compelled to make love with you all night.”

“In that case, let’s go to bed.”

GEORGIA WAS SIPPING THE LAST OF HER morning tea when Roo scurried back from the reception desk and said, “I have the perfect hike for us. There’s what they call a forest at the base of that mountain, really just a small stretch of pine trees or something,” he said, pointing to the window.

“The forest is called Selskógur, but since there are no other trees for miles, some of the locals call it ‘The Magical Little Forest.’ Apparently, there are songbirds and wild rabbits that inhabit it. To get there, you walk through an area of the lagoon that’s not open for use but is supposed to be gorgeous for photography, and then you continue on a path through the fields of lava rocks.

I think it would take about an hour and a half to walk there and back, of course longer for us no doubt if we stop to take photos. What do you think?”

“It sounds perfect,” she said. “Let’s go.”

An hour later, they arrived at the forest.

“Yay!” Georgia yelled, twirling around. “We made it.”

“That was the single most unusual hike of my life. You were spot-on saying it was like walking on the moon, through paths of craters. Completely surreal.”

“You know what’s kind of surreal?” she said, waving her arms around. “This small little clump of trees is considered a forest here. It’s so strange. Yet somehow it seems beautiful. I don’t think I’d feel as satisfied making it to the finish line of a race as I did making it here.”

He smiled. “Because trees are so scarce it seems special, miraculous.”

“I believe the word is magical ,” she said with a playful look.

“Indeed.”

“Oh look,” Georgia said, pointing. “There really are rabbits.”

“Ah, and songbirds too,” Roo added, a few birds beginning to chirp as if on cue. “This place is like a fairy tale of sorts.”

Georgia giggled. “It’s kind of funny. My mother wrote some children’s fairy-tale books. They all take place in a forest that I kind of pictured like this one.”

“I didn’t know that about your mother. I was only aware of her philosophy books.”

“She wrote a really famous philosophy book about love, dedicated to my dad, of course. After that, she decided to share her views in a kid-friendly format, I think as an alternative to traditional princess stories. She wrote the books when I was little and dedicated them to me and my siblings.”

“That’s so special. Did you like them?” he asked.

She nodded. “I loved them when I was little. They all took place somewhere like this. I don’t remember the details, but at the end of one of them, the characters look up at the top of the trees, trying to figure out where the trees end and the sky begins.

Eventually, they decide it doesn’t matter.

That’s when they realize how beautiful it is.

” She craned her neck to look at the top of the trees and added, “It was a metaphor about love, and how we try to hold on to ourselves, but if we let go, we create something new with another person—like the space where the trees touch the sky.”

“That’s lovely.”

Georgia shrugged. “My mom’s a hopeless romantic. I’ve never taken it too seriously. It’s a nice story, though.”

He gave her a gentle peck on the lips. “You never know, maybe it’s more than a nice story.”

“Do you really believe in those kinds of fairy tales?”

Two songbirds began singing, again as if on cue. Roo smiled and said, “More so by the minute.”

“THAT PLACE? ARE YOU QUITE SURE?” Roo asked.

“Yes, let’s get in line,” Georgia replied, tugging his hand.

He laughed. “Here I’d take you to the best restaurant in the city, and you choose this little hole-in-the-wall crêperie where we have to wait in a line spilling out the door.”

“The line means it’s good. Besides, we did fancy last night. Don’t you just love crêpes?”

He kissed her forehead. “I do. Honestly, this place would probably be my pick too, I just didn’t know it would be yours. You are surprising, Georgia Sinclair Forrester.”

“Good. I don’t want you to get bored.”

“No chance of that,” he assured her.

“Reykjavík is so cool. Although I’m still bummed out that the penis museum was closed. What kinds of exhibits do you suppose they have?”

“I don’t know,” he said, “but I’m glad we missed our chance. I’m afraid you’d see I don’t measure up and that you could do a lot better.”

She giggled and refocused on the crêperie as they moved forward in line. “This place is going to be awesome.”

“It bloody well smells good. What are you going to have in yours, something savory or something sweet?”

“I’m not sure,” she replied, reading the menu posted in the window. “I kind of have a sweet tooth right now, but it is supposed to be our dinner.”

“How about we get one of each and share, then we won’t have to feel guilty,” Roo suggested.

“That sounds like a perfect plan. What fillings do you like?”

“I’m easy. I’ll eat just about anything. Like I’ve told you, my pantry at home is mostly tins and cans, and I don’t mind a bit.” She giggled and he asked, “Do you fancy ham and cheese?”

“Yeah. Maybe we can add some spinach to make it a little healthier.”

“And for the sweet one?” he asked.

“Hmm. I can’t decide between strawberries and whipped cream, which we can kinda sorta pretend is healthy, or dark chocolate with a scoop of pistachio gelato. Which do you prefer?”

“Let’s get both and share. I’m famished anyway.”

“You’re naughty. I like it.”

He smiled. “Oh, those people at that back table are leaving. Try to snag it while I order.”

She snaked through the narrow, crowded space and grabbed the table, admiring the surrealist paintings hanging on the walls.

Soon Roo joined her with their food and two glasses of water and said, “Let’s dig in.”

As they scraped the last bites of the chocolate-and-pistachio crêpe, Georgia gestured and said, “You’ve got a bit of melted chocolate on your lips.”

He used a napkin to wipe his mouth. “Can’t take me anywhere. That one was the winner.”

She nodded and drank the rest of her water. “Silly as it sounds, one of the things I’m going to miss the most is the Icelandic water. It’s so pure. I’m so over the bottled water thing in LA.”

“Yes, there’s much I’ll miss,” he said. They were quiet for a moment, and he added, “When we return tomorrow, there will only be a few weeks left of filming.”

“Yeah, I’ve been thinking about that too.”

“Georgia, I realize that our relationship has happened quickly and we’re still learning about each other, but I’m certain of my feelings for you.

At the risk of scaring the hell out of you, there’s something I must tell you.

” She raised her eyebrows and he continued, “I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Honestly, I can’t imagine living without you, or at least I don’t want to.

I know it’s fast and whirlwind, but in my heart, I feel we’re meant for each other.

Soulmates. That’s forever. I don’t know what your plans are for when the shoot ends, but I hope they include me. ”

“I don’t know what to say. I love you too, but . . .”

“What?” he said, reaching his hand across the table and taking hold of hers. “It’s okay. Tell me how you’re feeling.”

She took a breath. “I’m feeling like I can’t imagine being without you either, and I don’t have any plans after the film, but I don’t know what any of that means. I’ve never even really had a boyfriend before. I’m not good at that stuff. This is new to me.”

“Is it really true you’ve never had a boyfriend?”

Georgia nodded. “I had a couple in high school that lasted like a month, and I’ve had casual things with lots of guys. Affairs, basically. I was never interested in anything else. Have you had lots of girlfriends?”

“I had a couple that were serious, but I never felt for them as I feel for you.”

“Do you have plans after the shoot?” she asked.

Roo shook his head. “I want to make plans with you.”

“I’m not much of a planner. I’m pretty spontaneous.”

“I know, darling,” he said with a smile. “It’s one of the things I adore about you. What if after we wrap the film, we take a little time to explore more of Iceland? Put that guidebook to good use. Then we can decide what’s next. One adventure at a time. Do you like that idea?”

“Yes. It sounds perfect.” They sat for a moment smiling at each other before Georgia said, “Now come on, let’s go find a pub and party into the wee hours.”

THE NEXT MORNING, GEORGIA OPENED HER eyes, her nude limbs entangled in Roo’s. She craned her neck to see what time it was, and he woke up.

“Morning,” he said softly.

“Sorry I woke you.”

“That’s alright. What time is it?”

“A little after eight.”

Roo stretched his arms and yawned. “We should probably get breakfast so there’s time for a last dip in the lagoon before checkout.”

“Roo . . .”

“What is it, love? You look like something’s on your mind.”

“It’s just what you said last night, about wanting to be together after the film, and that you’ll always . . .”

“Love you? Yes. What about it?”

“I just don’t want to disappoint you,” she said. “I mean, we’ve been in this exotic place, making this film where we’re lovers and . . .”

“Oh darling, do you fear it’s just some kind of affair that happens on location, and we’ll feel differently in our real lives?”

“The thing is, this is my real life. Traveling from place to place, making films, not knowing what comes next. There’s no other life I’m returning to.”

He smiled. “Your adventurous spirit may be my favorite thing about you. Or perhaps it’s this,” he said, caressing her hair.

“Or this,” he continued, running his fingers down her arm.

“Or maybe it’s this,” he said, leaning forward and kissing her.

When he pulled back, he whispered, “Georgia, I’m in love with you, only you, forever you. Tell me you feel the same.”

“I do.”

“Then there’s nothing to fear. We’ll figure it out. Okay?”

She nodded.

“Good, then let’s throw something on and get breakfast. I’m starving. Are you hungry?”

“Yeah.”

They slipped out of bed; all the while Georgia tried to convince herself that the pit in her stomach was hunger and not fear.