Win a Filthy Bad Boy: A Bad Boy Romance (14 page)

“Better?” Chad asked, arranging his pants and pulling up his zipper.

“I'm not even going to ask,” Leslie said, looking at Chad's crotch. “You're both late and we need to get a move on.” She went back inside without giving them a second glance.

***

Weeks had passed and eventually, Bonnie got used to being in front of the camera. She dug deep to access her inner Colgate smile and convince the disapproving viewers, the “Bonnie skeptics” who tugged at her self-esteem, that she wasn't such a bad choice for Chad.

“Chad's not such a bad guy. I mean, at first I didn’t understand the type of person he was, but with only a few more days left on the Caribbean, part of me wishes I had gotten to know him better in a more intimate setting.” She had rehearsed her answers after reading endless comments about her on the message boards. A few neatly arranged words, compliment or insult, shouldn't have been enough to make or break her. Then again, when it came to Chad's devoted following, things weren't that simple.

“I just know Chad feels the same way about me,” Bonnie said. But realistically, all she could think about was that there were only a few more scenes to shoot, and then she could spend the evening writing her article.

After her confessional scene, Bonnie checked her emails.

To: Bonnie Jensen

From: Johnny Walker

Subject: Celebrity

Hi, Bonnie, it's me again. Johnny Walker. 5’9, blonde, baby faced, the persistent, determined guy with a fair bit of spunk who used to work in the cubicle next to you. With all the press you're getting now, it's probably hard to remember me. Ha ha, I kid, I kid.

Me and the girls, and by girls, I'm referring to Dawn, Trisha and Mia, were discussing what happened over in St. Lucia. I'm just going to come out with it, have you slept together? The world seems to think so, especially with your sudden change in attitude.

I know, I know. You're probably thinking, “why is he watching the show?” I, like you, normally hate reality television and should exercise the same disdain for
Win a Filthy Bad Boy,
but damn it's gripping. I'm literally glued to the screen every time it comes on. Which is why I'm writing you right now to see if I can get the scoop on what's going on.

I’m sure you'll be breaching your contract if you tell, so I know this is probably crazy talk. But the whole world is looking at you, so I can't help asking.

-- JW

Chapter Twelve

To: Bonnie Jensen

From: Johnny Walker

Subject: Kiss

OMG!

The kiss. So much passion.

So what are you going to do? I wouldn't trust him. Dawn says the same thing. Mia pretends she doesn't care or even watch the show, but I find it strange that she always has something to contribute when we're discussing it. She even thinks you've slept with him, but I don't think Mia knows what she's talking about. Except, hmm, maybe she's right and you've slept with each other off camera. In that case, you can share your secret with me. Fingers crossed, I won't tell.

Just want to say we’re all missing you here. I can't really believe you've been gone for a month.

P.S: It occurred to me that the kiss wasn’t a bad move. Let's not pretend Henry was a heart-stopper, but you really outdone yourself. Kissing Chad, you went from zero to a hundred in an instant.

***

Somewhere in the back of her mind, Bonnie had known it was coming, Chad’s personality being a concoction of spontaneous and impulsive called for something dramatic. But as Chad reached for Bonnie, in that instant, she was caught totally off guard. Then he kissed her. Before the kiss, they had just enjoyed a candlelit dinner at an outdoor restaurant in St. Lucia. The whole place had been bought out for the filming.

Before the kiss that broke the internet, everything was going as planned. Bonnie and Chad discussed their roles beforehand and played them out accordingly. The viewers ate it up. Chad had been eyeing the waitress all night and shooting her sly smiles whenever Bonnie's attention was averted. Although Bonnie knew he was just sticking to the script, it jabbed at her like an invisible finger.

I'm not jealous,
she told herself.
This is all part of the act. And even if he actually likes her and is not acting, what do I care?

As Bonnie was wrestling with her emotions, Chad reached for her. Seeing him stretching his arm out and having an inkling of what he was about to do, she still did nothing to stop him. Chad leaned over the table, cupped the back of Bonnie’s neck and pulled her forward. Bonnie rose to meet him, and pushing up off the table, she watched as his eyes lowered to her lips.

Everything slowed. Bonnie tilted her head, lifted her hand to press to his hard chest. It was as if her senses were heightened; the incredibly smooth fabric of his clothes sent a thrilling sensation up her spine, causing her to curl her fingers into his shirt. She tugged and pulled. The frenzied groping threatened to spiral out of control. His lips tainted her—a reckless passion, a desire for adventure and excitement that tempted her beyond sanity.

Their mountainous lust came to a crashing halt as she shoved Chad away, before things got carried away. Before the camera caught more than they wanted, more than they intended, something meant to be hidden, even from themselves, something they both denied.

Breathing hard, she shot him a
what-the-fuck
stare. His taunting gray eyes told her what she already knew, that he simply liked to bend the rules. His lips curled into a smile.

“You asshole,” she whispered. Bonnie lifted her hand to wipe the arrogant look off his face. Raising a hand to slap him, she found it instead reaching for the back of his neck and pulling him to her. Bonnie inhaled with equal measures of shock and arousal. Was she playing along, was this an act?

Regardless, this was all the invitation Chad needed for his large frame to move into action. Chairs were shoved aside, wine glasses tipped over, and the table rocked. Kissing her as if he were famished, Chad walked her backwards. Her hands pulled on the silky strands of his hair and the one thing that told her that this was really happening had been the solid wall at her back. Pressing her palms to his chest again, Bonnie felt the raging beat of his heart. She broke their kiss.

“What the hell, Chad?” Bonnie whispered, as she distantly registered the cameras in the background.

Chad slid his finger underneath her chin, tilted it up, leaving her without an escape from his stormy gray eyes. “Are you telling me you didn't like it?” his hoarse voice asked. “Or maybe you just couldn't stand the fact you liked it?”

“But in public, in front of the whole—”

“I want them to see how wild you drive me.” His voice did something crazy to her insides.

“We can't…” A knot tightened in Bonnie's throat. “Maybe we can get Leslie to cut it out or something.”

“We're streaming live, remember?” Chad said, smiling.

Bonnie blew a sharp breath, feeling as if the kiss scrambled her brain temporarily, leaving her in a dreamy haze. It would be a gradual process to see clearly again after his kiss had scrambled her brain.

“Kissing me like that is going to throw the viewers through a loop. You’ve gone from detached and immature to pretty fucking intense,” Bonnie said. “No one's going to find that believable.”

“Tell me something. That boyfriend of yours who never got you off; did he ever kiss you in public?” Chad asked, tucking a tendril of her hair behind her ear.

“What's that got—”

“You haven't answered my question.” His voice, low, a perfect register.

This wasn't the first time he had challenged her with those words. He would cut off her mental backtracking and make her acknowledge that part of herself, her wants, desires, and needs.

“No,” Bonnie said. She wanted ever so badly to look away, but he looked at her with such intensity that it took all she had to utter one monosyllabic word. “No,” Bonnie repeated, more quietly this time. Words not fully formed scrambled up her throat, but the stubborn, defiant part of her swallowed them down.

They silently stared at each other. His arms moved around her waist to pull her closer, his smoldering gaze infiltrated her to the core. The lust in his eyes rivaled her own. Nothing else existed, everything faded. In that moment, Bonnie grew terrified. Terrified of wanting him.

What was he thinking, kissing her as if they belonged together?

***

Hours after the kiss, Bonnie laid back on her bed, palm to her face, phone pressed to her ear. She rubbed her eyes in an effort to rid herself of her drowsiness. She hadn't slept all night. Sleep was impossible. Chad had shaken up her orderly world and turned it upside down. And all it took was one public kiss.

“I don't know, Jill. It felt good, but wrong at the same time.” Bonnie huffed. After Chad kissed her, she left without a word. Not that he seemed to mind; if anything he seemed even more cocksure that she would be back for more.

“Okay, but remember, we're talking about Mr. Steel here. The whole world knows you don't trust guys like that,” Jill said, firmly. “Establish boundaries. Stick to them. You'll be better for it.”

Bonnie had witnessed Jill’s stint of turbulent relationships, when Jill never knew what she wanted out of life. Now Jill took hold of the reins of her life to steer it in the direction she desired.

“You're right,” Bonnie said. Even now, hours later, her lips still tingled from his kiss; she could still taste him. The musky scent of his cologne still invaded her senses. It turned her on to the point that she wanted to touch herself. How fucked up was that?

“Your words are saying one thing, but something tells me, you're thinking something else entirely,” Jill said.

“Really. Chad's no big deal. I've forgotten him already. Chad who?”

Jill laughed. “I've gone through a few serious rebounds, but you've set the bar high with this one.”

Bonnie had been so engrossed in her hormonal drama that she forgot to ask Jill about her own romantic conquests.

“So dish. The guy from HC Lounge?” Bonnie remembered the man in the business suit who couldn't take his eyes off Jill.

“You mean, Dean— “

“Interesting, he has a name,” Bonnie said.

“—aka Mr. Hit-and-Run?”

“How's that?” Bonnie asked. There had been few situations that hadn't worked out in Jill's favor.

“The asshole wanted a public threesome.”

Bonnie's voice wobbled. “Whoa. That’s a new one.” She swallowed. “Obviously a no-no. So what'd you tell him?”

“I told the jerk there was no way I was about to let two guys have their way with me. I barely knew him and he expected to share me with his friend? Hell no.”

“Sounds like a piece of work,” Bonnie said. “I'm glad you kicked him to the curb.”

“Well, I did end up calling him,” Jill said, sheepishly.

“Oh.” Bonnie noted the dejected slant in Jill's tone.

“But he didn’t pick up!” Jill said, annoyed.

“Sounds like a real prick. You're off better without him.”

“Then he called me…”

Bonnie waited for it.

“And we’re kind of back on again,” Jill said. “I know what you thinking, you don't have to say it… sounds like a dick.”

Bonnie didn't like the sound of the guy, but tried not to be too judgmental when it came to poor choices. Her own monumentally poor choices, specifically, the two passionless years shared with Henry, loomed over her as a reminder that she wasn’t perfect. And yet, Bonnie had to add her two cents.

“So, let me get this straight. You declined his outlandish proposal for a threesome, he gives you the cold shoulder with no explanation, and when he calls you, you go running?”

“Pretty much, yeah,” Jill replied. She sighed.

“And here I thought you couldn't possibly find a guy as bad as Chad. Just be careful, Jill.” Bonnie knew not to push the issue. Personal experience taught Bonnie that Jill would have to come to see things on her own. Relationships were about taking risks and learning from your mistakes.

"And if he pulls any crap, then fuck him. I won't have anything more to do with the fucker,” Jill said in a determined tone. “For now, I've decided to give him another chance.”