Page 33 of Love At First Fright

“W hat do you devils want with me?” Ellis shouted, as Ben, one of the ghost actors, pinned him to the ground and twisted his face in an uncanny, ghoulish expression.

“ Parloooow, ” Ben howled back.

“And cut!” Vincent shouted. “Good work this morning, everyone!”

Ben helped Ellis to his feet, and they chatted for a minute about weekend plans.

They weren’t meant to be shooting this morning—hell, Ellis was on very little sleep after his PA had woken him up at eight this morning, barely three hours into his “night’s” sleep.

But apparently, Jeremy had spoken with the studio, and they wanted to release the trailer a little earlier than originally planned.

And Vincent wanted this shot in the trailer, kept saying it was “the heart of the movie” in his French accent.

Ellis had rolled his eyes, and reluctantly pulled himself from bed to go and film.

It would have been harder to get up if Ellis hadn’t known he would get to see Rosemary again.

Another day and working night had passed since he’d finally had her in the library, and the memory of the needy little sighs she’d made when he sucked her clit, and the way he’d painted her tits with his come, had Ellis actively fighting erections all morning.

They’d gone out bird-watching into the midmorning, Rosemary pointing out all the native bird species to him in her sweet accent, the flush from her orgasm still on her cheeks.

He’d stopped them several times just to back her up against a tree and kiss her senseless again.

She made these little sounds when her lips parted for him, he wasn’t sure if she was even aware of it, but he would die a happy man to hear her make that sound one more time.

By the time Ellis had finished shooting, Rosemary had arrived on set. She was bundled up in her winter coat, nose pink from the cold. As Vincent looked over the footage, deciding if he wanted another take, Ellis made Rosemary a coffee, and took a moment to carry it to her.

“Good morning.” He smiled, grazing her fingers with his as he handed her the cup. Beside them both, Ellis heard Lyn mutter “Fucking finally” under their breath.

The smile Rosemary gave him, soft and rosy, had something bubbling up inside him. Something joyful and light that Ellis wasn’t used to.

“Good morning.”

“How are you feeling about the scene?” she asked.

“Good, I feel like I got across Alfred’s fear. What do you think?”

“I agree, you seemed afraid but also curious, which is exactly how he would have been feeling at that moment.”

Hearing that she liked the way Ellis was portraying the character she’d written had him buzzing.

As Ellis turned back to speak with his costume team, he thought about how easily he could get used to this.

Seeing Rosemary every day, getting her coffee.

He would make her breakfast in his kitchen, with fresh herbs from his garden, and then he’d bend her over the counter and make her come at least twice before they went about their days.

Maybe he would create a home office for her, with a view of the garden, so she could look at the birds as she wrote.

Don’t get ahead of yourself, he thought, this is probably just a phase for her.

He was an actor, and she wanted that celebrity dating experience.

Even as he thought that, he knew it wasn’t true.

Rosemary wasn’t like that. But what would she want?

To still be with him, even when this bubble popped and they were back in the real world?

And how would she react if he told her he was bi?

Brody had always taunted that women found bi men to be less masculine.

Is that what Rosemary would think when he told her?

Ellis tugged off his costume waistcoat and handed it back to Aaron.

“Sorry, I think I got some grass stains on it,” he said.

“No problem, that’s what my trusty vanish pen is for,” Aaron grinned, handing Ellis his casual, modern clothes so he could change back. He was midway through changing in one of the closed-off side parlours, just inside the manor, when a text came through on his phone.

Surprise, Brody had typed, Jenna will be dropping by for a visit this morning. Take her out somewhere nice. Sent the convertible.

“Fuck,” Ellis cursed. I didn’t agree to this, he sent back.

Tough shit, Brody responded. 4 photo opportunities, you agreed and I’m cashing in.

The last thing he wanted right now was to have to deal with paparazzi and Jenna. Of course Brody had sent a convertible; what better way to maximise the time photographers could capture them together?

His first instinct was to run, but he couldn’t do that. When Ellis looked around, he noticed their presence and kicked himself for not noticing it before. Photographers, behind-the-scenes videographers, all eagerly waiting for Jenna’s arrival.

He began walking over to Rosemary to tell her, but just then, he heard the sound of tires biting down the gravel drive. That asshole Brody had waited until Jenna was already here to let him know, giving Ellis no time for escape. And no time to warn Rosemary.

A sleek grey convertible was heading towards him. It was too late.

From the edges of his vision he sensed the swarm of paparazzi descending, and when Jenna honked the horn at him, Ellis waved back weakly. Time to perform for the cameras, each click of a lens boring into him as if it were Brody looking at him, all the way from LA.

Just as Jenna stepped out of the car, dressed in a fitted three-piece suit, Ellis spotted Rosemary standing beside Lyn, just behind the row of photographers that had amassed.

He wished he’d had time to prepare her for this, to prepare himself for this, for how it would feel seeing her there.

There was no denying the twist of confusion on her face, or the way it warped into hurt as she noticed who was getting out of the car.

“Well, aren’t you lord of the manor.” Jenna laughed, stepping into Ellis’s one-armed embrace. “You should probably kiss my cheek, Ellis, or at least try and look like you’re happy to see me.”

“Of course, sorry.” He forced his face to smile, and pressed a swift kiss to her cheek.

“So, the convertible?”

“Brody sent it.”

“Yeah, he mentioned. Wish I’d had a heads-up.”

“Sorry,” she replied sincerely. “He only told me about it two hours ago. I wasn’t even expecting to hear from him, it’s the middle of the night there.”

“What, in hell?”

“Ha. I am sorry, though; I had to rush to get ready and there was no hands-free way to text you from the car.”

Ellis forgot that the younger generation had an existential fear of phone calls.

“It’s alright, Jenna.” He bent closer so the vipers could get their photos of them looking like they were all into each other, and then leave them alone.

“Could you come for a drive then? I packed some food. What do the elderly eat these days?” She grinned.

“You sure you don’t want to consider a comedy career?”

“With this face? Never.” Jenna glanced around, and her eyes widened. “Who is that ?”

Ellis turned around. She was looking directly at Rosemary.

“That’s Rosemary, remember? You met her at the dinner?”

“No, not Rosemary. The person beside her.” Jenna whispered, entirely dumbstruck.

“You mean Lyn? They’re Rosemary’s PA.”

“Lyn. Okay. Cool. That’s cool.”

Ellis huffed a laugh. “Yes, that’s very cool. Why don’t I introduce you? Since you’ve come all this way and hopefully we gave the photographers what they need.”

Jenna smoothed down her jacket, flicking her hair. Ellis realised this was the first time he’d ever seen her nervous. “Sure.”

Ellis led her over to Rosemary and Lyn. There was so much he wanted to tell Rosemary right now, but it would be better to do it when he had her alone. He had a sudden idea to suggest they go away for the weekend, rent a cottage somewhere, have her all to himself, away from prying eyes.

When Ellis introduced Lyn and Jenna, it was clear within seconds that Lyn was just as interested in Jenna. They looked sweet together, and if something good could come out of this whole arrangement, that would make Ellis feel a touch better about it all.

“That was…interesting,” Rosemary said, when Ellis pulled her into a quiet alcove inside the manor.

“I should have told you,” he said.

“That would have been nice. I get it, Ellis, I know it’s not real, it’s just…”

“I should have told you, it wasn’t a nice surprise.”

“Yeah,” she exhaled.

“For what it’s worth, I was planning to tell you, but Brody only told me a few minutes before. The ambush is one of his preferred tactics.”

“You make him sound like a military tactician.”

Ellis grimaced. “He is.”

“Will you warn me next time if Brody is going to pull something?” she asked, stepping into the circle of his arms.

“Of course.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, inhaling the scent of her shampoo. Lavender and mint. “I wish there didn’t have to be a next time.”

“Me, too,” Rosemary whispered. “I wish you’d tell me why he makes you do this.”

Ellis didn’t answer, he couldn’t, so he captured her lips with his and kissed her until they both had to pull back to breathe.

“I just want to protect you, love, from all of the shit I have to deal with on a daily basis, both from Brody and from the rest of the industry.”

“I get it, Ellis. But I don’t want to be hidden. If you want this”—she gestured between them—“then I need you to understand that.”

“I do. But I also sort of want to steal you away for the whole weekend and not see anyone else, how does that sound?” He nipped at her ear and relished the feel of Rosemary shivering and arching into him.

“I could be on board with that.” She grinned.

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