For Us (The Girl I Loved Duet 2)

“That you did.” I don’t let go, I’m still clinging to him and he’s still inside me and I’m pissed that we have to get up and go to work because I don’t want to move. I sigh, and Peter kisses my forehead. “You’re coming back tonight, and I’ll make sure you get plenty of sleep underneath me.”

“How did you know?”

“Because you closed your eyes, your breath smoothed out like you were going to sleep, and you’re frowning now that it’s over.” Peter’s lips touch mine, starting slow before going deeper, pulling me in and lighting a fire in my gut again. I didn’t realize he paid attention that closely.

“Okay.” He removes his arms from underneath me, and slowly, slowly, pulls back, and I don’t like it. I feel cold and empty and I want to stay in bed. “There’s no chance that if we just both call in sick that no one will notice, right?”

“Yeah, I think that might give it away.”

“Fine,” I sigh, “but I need coffee. And maybe another pancake.”

“That,” he says, “I can do.

17

Peter

Present

Harley is back on set and we’re filming the other side of our kiss scene today. Since Clay isn’t here, I asked Amber that we re-do my side of the kiss as well. Neither of us were acting, and I don’t want our kiss being broadcast to the national viewing audience of America.

But I’m distracted, because the second I walk out onto the set in that costume, I’m thrown back to that day and that kiss and the way Amber’s mouth felt under mine. I’m reliving this morning with some of the best sex we’ve ever had. Not to mention the system.

I’ve got to stop thinking about it because I’m going to get a hard-on in front of the crew, but the memory of Amber’s face, relaxing into me as I took control, feels like it’s burned onto the inside of my eye lids.

Harley walks up. “Hey, Peter.”

“How was New York?”

She rolls her eyes. “You know, same old. Answering the same questions over and over until your brain starts to bleed.” I do know. Press junkets are boring, but necessary. “I got a new question a few times though, so I figured I’d give you a heads up because it’s probably heading your way too.”

“Oh, no.”

“Yep. I think five different interviewers asked me if we were together.”

I shake my head. “Do we even have any pictures together floating around?”

She laughs, “No, other than the production photos, I don’t think so.”

“All right, thanks for letting me know.”

“No problem,” she stretches, and that costume, which Amber was falling out of and Harley does too, is made even sexier by her stretch. It’s made sexier and it does nothing for me. “I brushed it off, left it to you for what you want to say. They’ll ask who you’re with now, since they know that we’re not together.”

“And I’ll say that I’m happily taken, nothing more.” I freeze, realizing that I probably shouldn’t have said that, but it’s the truth. I may not be able to shout to the rooftops that I’m finally able to be with the love of my life again, but I’m not going to deny that and have people try to paint me as a free-wheeling, single man who’s available and willing.

“Good,” she says. “You ready for this? I heard you already filmed your side.”

“Yeah. I think we’re going to film both sides again, though, just for consistency.”

“Sounds good.”

A few minutes later we’re rolling, and I do my best to disappear into the character. I’m trying to let go of that feeling of Peter and Amber in the scene and become Alex and Genova. It’s not as easy as I would like it to be. I try to catch Amber’s eye between takes, but it seems she’s always doing something. Gloria is holding out something for her to look at or she’s giving instructions to the DP and the rest of the crew.

It’s probably better this way, because by the end of filming I’m finally getting to the place where I can let myself go, and the final take is definitely the best one. Harley heads off, and I go to my trailer, because I can’t go straight to Amber the way I want to. But my phone is in my trailer and I’m going to text her.

I’m in the middle of doing that when there’s a knock on my door. Speak of the devil. “Hello,” I say with a smile.

“I’m here to talk about possible changes to your character, in case anyone asks.”

“Good to know.” She closes the door, and I press her up against it and kiss her. “Hi.”

“Hi,” she breathes.

“It’s not like you, to take a risk like this that would make people ask questions.”

“I know.” She’s blushing and it’s cute and I want to kiss her again, but I let her finish. “I just wanted to see you because I didn’t like watching you with Harley.”