Page 23 of Her Hollywood Master (Master Me #6)

M arissa straightened her dress and drew a long breath as the doorman held the door open for her.

“You look beautiful,” Joel said as he joined her, a light scolding in his tone.

“So do you—I mean,” she broke off with a giggle.

He squeezed her hand. “I won’t let any sharks eat you,” he said, the same words he’d spoken before their meeting with studio execs. And he’d delivered on his promise then.

“Who will you let eat me?” she teased, darting forward, out of his grasp and into the lobby of The Standard, where the opening night fete was being held.

He lunged, chasing, and caught her about the waist, lifting her off her feet.

She squealed and giggled, kicking, not caring if they drew attention.

The flash of bulbs confirmed they had.

He set her down, tickling under her arms. “Only I get to eat you,” he growled in a low voice in her ear.

She turned in his arms and beamed up at him. “Goodie,” she murmured.

“Come on,” he said, looping an arm around her waist and leading her to the banquet hall.

She stiffened when the first people she saw were Bev and Billy, nestled against each other like love-sick teenagers, but Joel squeezed her and she suddenly didn’t care. If her sister wanted to date the biggest man-whore in Los Angeles, who was she to complain? She certainly didn’t want him anymore.

She saw her mother standing by the bar and gave a little wave. Her mother waved back enthusiastically, making a beeline for them.

“Joel, thank you so much for leaving our names at the door, we wouldn’t want to miss your big premiere.”

“My pleasure,” he said.

“Joel, there you are,” Tim Steiner, the producer of the movie said. “Come here, I want to introduce you to someone.”

Joel glanced at her apologetically.

“Go ahead,” she said. “I’m fine.”

He patted her hip and excused himself.

“Listen, Marissa,” her mother said in the tone that made her brace herself for bad news. “I don’t know what your plans are with Joel, but I think we should put the mansion on the market. Cash flow is getting a little sticky.”

Oddly, she didn’t even feel like rolling her eyes at the understatement. “I know, Mom.”

“I’ve put some of my handbags on ebay, and I’ve already sold twelve, so that should cover the month’s mortgage.”

Marissa’s eyebrows shot up. “You’re selling your handbags? Wow.”

Her mother’s shoulders sagged. “I know I haven’t been the best manager. Especially where money is concerned. Maybe—” her mom broke off and stared out at the guests. “Maybe it’s time for you to find a more professional manager.”

Tears stung her eyes. “No way,” she said, a lump in her throat. “I don’t think I’m ready for that.”

Her mother gave her a watery smile. “I know Julie’s been advising it for years now. And I’ve been thinking about moving back to Atlanta.”

“You have?” she asked, her jaw dropping.

“Yes, I’ve been corresponding with an old boyfriend and...well, I’m just ready for a change. And it seems like you are, too.”

“What about Bev?” she asked.

Her mother lifted one shoulder. “She says she’s moving in with Billy. We both know that’s a mistake, but she’ll have to figure it out for herself, I guess.”

Funny, hearing Bev was moving in with Billy didn’t hurt at all. Not one bit. If anything, she felt like giggling.

“Mama, I love you,” she said, wrapping her arms around her mother’s still-elegant neck.

Her mother kissed her. “I’m so proud of you, Marissa Jean. You have worked so hard and accomplished so much.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I always knew you’d be a star, but even I am dazzled by you.”

She hugged her mother again. “Stop. I’m not wearing waterproof mascara,” she scolded.

“I know, me neither,” her mother said. “Come on, let’s get you a drink.”

She circulated through the room with her mom, not once feeling ashamed of her as she stopped along the way to talk to actors or agents she knew. After she found a drink and left her mother with Bev, she found Joel giving a brief, on camera interview.

“So you and Marissa Sparks…”

“Yes,” he answered, confirming their relationship.

Her heart picked up speed.

“She’s been known as Hollywood’s wild child this fall, but rumors say you tamed her. Did she just need a mature man?”

Joel caught sight of her and winked. “Maybe I just needed someone youthful.”

“How serious are the two of you?”

“Well, It’s still pretty new. Right now we just need to get through the filming of Canyon del Oro , the movie we’re starring in together.”

It was a perfectly reasonable answer. Why, then, did a knot twist in her stomach to hear it?

Was it because the public at large always knew more about her personal relationships than she did?

No, it was more than that. His comment was just a painful reminder that they didn’t have a relationship at all—they had a verbal contract that extended through the filming of this movie.

And when that ended, would her contract be renewed?

Or would she be handed her humiliation on a platter?

Tears burned her eyes. How could she even begin to enter the dating world again after she’d given her whole self—her dignity, her body, her vulnerability—everything to this man?

She walked away, heading outside to the patio for fresh air.

“Hey.” Joel wrapped his warm arms around her from behind.

She stiffened.

He stilled. “Hey,” he said again. “What’s up?”

“Nothing, I’m just getting tired. Would you mind if I got a cab home? I know you need to stay and circulate.”

Joel turned her around to see her face. “What is it?” he asked.

She shook her head “Nothing. I just want to go home, that’s all.”

“Okay,” he said slowly, studying her face. “Give me fifteen minutes.”

She nodded mutely, her heart sinking. She would have preferred to be alone with her insecurities, so she could get them under control. For all her acting abilities, it seemed with Joel, she was an open book. Always bared to him.

She stayed outside, taking deep breaths, and telling herself she would be all right without him.

“So what happened?” Joel asked his silent date on the ride home.

“Nothing. I told you that,” she said.

“You’re lying.”

She said nothing.

He hated moments like these, where he wasn’t sure whether to push in dom mode as Daddy, or back off and just be Joel. He opted for pushing. “Do you remember what happened the last time you put walls up when you were upset?”

That wrung a small smile from her—a good sign, but she still didn’t speak.

He parked in the garage and met her as she attempted to bolt inside without waiting. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“Joel, I’m really tired.”

Her use of his name struck hard, but he persisted.

He picked up her hand and with the most gentle of touches, bent it behind her back, holding it there as he guided her forward, toward his office.

“I’m sorry, love, but we need to talk. You have one more chance to tell me what’s going on or I will help you talk. ”

Her cheeks colored, but she clamped her teeth together in a stubborn refusal.

He opened the door to his study. “Bend over my desk.”

She took two steps toward the desk, then stopped, turning back. Not an outright refusal, but it seemed she needed more help.

He picked up her hand again, returning it to her low back and propelled her forward until she reached his desk.

He pushed her torso down and delivered a flurry of sharp spanks over her dress.

“Reach your hands straight out in front of you to grab the other side of my desk.” He held his breath, still not sure whether she would comply.

She reached them forward and he exhaled. She did want this.

He lifted the skirt of her dress and peeled the snug-fitting gown up over her hips.

She wore a pair of the new panties he’d bought, satin with a heart-shaped cutout in the back to show the cleavage of her ass.

He ran his hand over her luscious curves.

“I might have to leave these on while I spank you.” He hooked his fingers in the elastic.

“On second thought, they will make a beautiful frame for my work when I’m finished. ”

Marissa only shifted but he sensed a giggle in her. Encouraged, he picked up the riding crop he’d stowed in the corner. “I’d been planning on having you wear your new school girl outfit to try this out,” he said, swishing it through the air, “but it seems you have need of it now.”

Her shoulders stiffened at the sound. He smoothed back the hair covering her face so he could watch her expression. Tapping the crop on her vulnerable backside, he said, “Last chance. Tell me what’s bothering you.”

She said nothing.

He brought the crop down smartly.

She yelped, starting to erect herself.

He pushed her torso back down and made a tsking sound.

“Sorry, sweetheart. There’s only one way to get yourself out of this position, and it’s to tell me what’s going on in that beautiful head of yours.

” He waited a few beats for her to reply and when she didn’t, he brought the crop down again, making a red weal directly below the first one.

She whimpered.

He tapped. “Ready to talk?”

“No,” she said sullenly.

Well, at least she said something. He whipped her with the crop again.

She sucked in her breath, her face screwing up in pain.

“All you have to do is talk, baby.” He kept his voice warm and loving—no stern daddy tonight.

“I can’t,” she whined.

He sliced the crop through the air again.

She cried out, squeezing her buns together, then let out a low moan as she released them.

He ran his hand lightly over the raised welts. “What upset you tonight, love?” he asked.

“I just?—”

She squeezed her eyes closed, a tear rolling out of the corner and across the bridge of her nose.

He caught it with his thumb and wiped it away.

“Yes, baby?”

“I just want to know what happens when this is all over.”

His heart contracted. He dropped the crop and pulled up Marissa’s panties. Helping Marissa to stand, he enveloped her in his arms. “I don’t want it to end, sweet girl. I don’t want it ever to end. Do you?”