Beyond Famous (Famous #3) (8 page)

"That's for sure. You know before you yell at Ethan, you should know that he helped make the arrangements for tonight."

"He did? He's a good guy, even if he is a fucker."

"Yes, he's great. I've got to run, babe. Meet you at Blowball... um, I mean Glowball," she teased, her eyes sparkling with glee.

"Yeah... keep it up, Brook. You're going to pay for that little stunt with Mickey earlier, too, so get ready." I knew she could hear the smile in my voice.

"Ummm... really can't wait. Love you," her voice dropped and took on that sex tone I loved.

I felt my body tighten in anticipation. "Mmmm... love you, sweets. See you in a few."

I went to collect my parents before heading downstairs to face another mob of fans, but I was so happy, nothing would ruin my mood.

AS I WATCHED BROOK
with my parents throughout the evening, my heart swelled until I thought it would burst inside my chest. She laughed and played with my dad, and fell into easy conversation with Mum. She glanced and flirted with me as they spoke. I figured they were telling all sorts of horror stories from my childhood and she was eating it up and would certainly use it to blackmail me later.

I was talking to Martin about the possibility that he would direct
A Love Like This
. He was open to it, and I found myself hoping the suits would make him an offer to do it. He knew us all so well by now, and though he had a scheduling conflict, I would speak to Denise about getting the studio to work around all of our schedules. It was the last one and if anyone could do it justice, I knew it would be him.

The party was small. Jennifer, Jeff Jackson, and Martin were the only others from the cast there. It was very relaxing for the most part and I spent most of the night laughing with everyone. I had a beer and ordered Brook and my mum champagne cocktails, and we had some of the delicious pot stickers I adored, before ordering dinner. After we'd all eaten, the group of us moved into the lounge portion of the restaurant.

My mate, Daniel Mayfield joined us and I talked with him over a drink. He was working in Vancouver and Brook had called him to ask him to meet us out. We talked about his music and possibly working on some together in the near future. I didn't want to produce anything new during filming because I felt like I wasn't being true to the craft and that any success I would have would be more due to the films then the music. That wasn't how I wanted it to happen. It had to be about the music or it felt like cheating, somehow.

My parents gave me a new laptop with a built-in web camera, so Brook and I could use Skype to talk to each other. My dad winked at me, effectively telling me without words that the real purpose was so that I could use it with Brook while I was away from her. It was silly really. I had more money than they did and didn’t need them to buy me anything, but I shut my mouth and showed the proper amount of gratitude.

Thump. My heart dropped.

Despite my determination to keep my demeanor on an even keel, my throat thickened as once again our pending separation hung over me like a storm. Brook looked over at me and what I saw in her eyes took my breath away.

She was so beautiful; happy in her talks with my parents. It gave me so much pleasure to watch her with them. Seeing how well she fit into my family meant the world to me. I loved knowing how well they got on together and I could clearly see our future having children, building a life, growing older together. Her intense blue eyes roamed over my expression and the smile fell from her lips. I tried to shake it off and smile back at her because I didn't want her to feel the pain I was feeling.

It was asking for the impossible, but I wanted to try and alleviate as much of it as I could. I got up and walked over to where she was huddled up with my dad and mum.

"You look like you're having too much fun over here, without me." I smiled down at them, and my hand reached out to brush gently against Brook's chin.

Her eyes took on a worried expression as they met mine. "Are you okay?" she asked as her hand came up to cover mine.

"Yeah. Come outside with me for a minute? Mum, Dad, do you mind?"

We didn’t really wait for an answer and I barely registered the silent shakes of their heads. Brook and I went to sit behind a stonewall, sliding to the ground behind it in case there were any paparazzi lurking, so they wouldn't see us. The crowd of fans had been steadily growing outside since we'd arrived, and I knew it was due to everyone twittering our whereabouts. I hated it, but tried to push it down and block out the din of the screams. I wanted to be normal. I wanted to concentrate on Brook.

I pulled out my cigarettes and offered her one. She took it absently and held it between her fingers as I lit mine and blew out the smoke. It was a nasty habit we both needed to kick but I was anxious. She moved closer, so our legs and shoulders were touching and instantly I found myself calming down. I leaned my head back against the wall and looked over and down at her beautiful face.

Her eyes sparkled in the soft light as she studied my face. "We'll get through it, Cade. Somehow. We have to."

"How do you know me so well?" My fingers threaded through hers.

"You're a part of me. I know you inside and out. Just like you know me. That's what we have to hang on to. It's
always
going to be
us
." I could hear the trembling in her voice as she said the words.

Brook
. I closed my eyes in reverence as her name ran through my mind. Finally, I opened them again so I could look into her face. I'd never get enough of looking at her; I wanted to devour every line of her face and memorize every second of this night.

Her features were softened with love and something more. The long hair, darkened for the film, fell over her shoulder as she leaned into me and the sweet scent of her shampoo engulfed me. My heart ached and beat faster at the same time, as I tried to commit it all to memory.

"It isn't that. It isn't that I'm afraid I'll lose you, but I'm going to miss you so much. I don't know how I'll get through those months without you. I'm trying hard to push it away and not think about it, but... I can't bloody help it."

She squeezed my hand and I saw the tears well in her blue eyes, as she tried to blink them back. "I'll miss you, too. Every day. Probably more than I'll be able to stand, but distance isn't going to change how I feel about you." She swallowed and her chin jutted out as she fought with the emotions. "You told me once that you'd make sure to remind me how much you loved me, remember?" I nodded, before she continued, "I'll do the same for you. I promise."

She leaned against my shoulder and I leaned my cheek on the top of her head. We sat side by side, and I traced circles on top of her hand with my thumb. I wanted to leave, to be alone with her, to lose myself in her and erase the anguish I knew we both felt. I wanted to store up memories of holding her, making love and telling her how she made me feel… I wanted to spend every minute we had left, alone with her.

"Let's go soon, okay? I know it's only eleven, but your parents are dealing with jet lag and it's 5 A.M. to them." She read my mind again.

"Yeah. Okay." I stared into her face and snubbed out my cigarette on the slate of the patio. "I love you."

She smiled softly at me. "I know. Miracles
do
happen." I felt my lips quirk despite myself, as she repeated the words I’d spoken earlier that day in the makeup trailer. Just like me, she remembered the little things that were totally and utterly
us
.

BROOK CUDDLED CLOSE
to me in the back of the limo as it drove us to our hotel. When we arrived, my parents and I got out at the front and she huddled down so fans and paparazzi wouldn’t see her, then Peter took her back in through the garage, as had become our covert habit.

My parents were beat so I said goodnight to them and went to my room to wait for my girl. I took off the button-down I had over my T-Shirt, kicked my shoes off and turned down the lights; leaving only a small one on over the TV. TV was something Brook and I rarely did. We preferred to spend our time playing music, talking, or making love.

Mmmm...
The thought of her naked skin against mine made my body tighten in anticipation
.
I ran my hands through my hair as I went to move the gift from Dawson and Ethan into the closet.
Ugh!
I would ask Denise to bring in some scissors so I could pop the damn thing and she could take it out in her bag and dispose of it. I smiled despite myself. It was bloody funny, but for Christ's sake, I had to get rid of it, and fast.

I pulled down the sheets on the newly made bed, stripped all of my clothes off, and climbed in to wait for Brook. I sat, leaning up against the headboard and listened for her. It wasn't long before I heard the door open and her footsteps padding toward the bedroom door.

"Hey, sexy," she murmured as she moved into the room.  When she got to the bed, she crawled across it to kneel beside me. Her little hand came up to grasp my chin as her lips came down in a soft, slow kiss and her tongue gently slid into my mouth. I groaned as my arms snaked around her to pull her closer. She gave in to the kiss for a minute or two before pulling her mouth away from mine.

"Wait. Cade, I've got something for you. Just give me a minute." She placed another soft, sensual kiss on my mouth that left my body clamoring for hers then moved away from me toward my iPod dock on the desk across the room. She removed mine and put hers into it before turning it on. My eyes followed her movements as the soft music filled the room.

"Are you planning on seducing me for my birthday?" I murmured quietly as I watched her lift her shirt over her head. My eyes narrowed as I took in the black lace bra she wore underneath. It was delicate and beautiful, leaving the top half of her perfect breasts bare.

"No." Her eyes were locked with mine and her voice was low as she slid out of her shoes and stood at the end of the bed as she slowly unbuttoned and opened her jeans.

"No?" I asked as my eyes roamed up and down her body. My dick thickened and hardened as I watched her. I wanted her. I was hungry to touch her and taste her. "Brook...”

"No. I want to seduce you for the
rest of your life
," she whispered as she slid her jeans down her hips and off of her shapely legs. Her translucent skin glowed in the soft light and her eyes never left mine as she stepped out of them and kicked them off, revealing a matching black lace thong underneath. My heart quickened in my chest and my breath came in more shallow rhythm.

"Mmmm... You look good enough to eat. Come here," I whispered as I reached a hand out to her.

She was stunning; her curves perfect. Even though she was small, she was so womanly; her body called to the man inside me, which created strong feelings of protectiveness, selfishness, and filled me with possessiveness like I never felt before with anyone else.

She crawled toward me from the foot of the bed and I watched every move. She was so svelte and firm; my hands ached to touch her, my mouth watered at the thought of her kisses as she came to straddle my lap just above my knees, but she wasn't close enough to suit me. I wanted her closer.

She bent to ghost her lips over mine, licking my top lip before my need overwhelmed me and my hand moved to pull her closer and take her mouth in a passionate kiss. She tasted sweet, luscious like champagne and all Brook. She was completely intoxicating and I was drowning in her. I was losing myself, but more than willing to do so.

My hands moved to her bare ass cheeks to pull her closer, pressing her heat to my hardness. Everywhere I touched her she was on fire, her skin burning mine. "Jesus, Brook, you're so beautiful," I groaned against her mouth as her arms wound around my shoulders, and then one hand fisted in my hair as she pulled my mouth closer to hers. Her breath fanned out on my face in a hot rush before my mouth crushed down on hers, demanding she open to my tongue. She moaned, giving me what I wanted. Always giving me what I wanted; what I needed.

My hands roamed her body, over the little lace strips across the top of her bum and her back as I kissed her again and again. Her hips moved against mine as she ground her softness against my length, eliciting a similar response from me. She was so hot, so wet against me; I worried I'd come before I even entered her; I was so excited. I'd been dreaming of this every second of the day, and her outrageous flirting earlier had wound me tighter than a drum.