A Hollywood Deal (Ryder & Paige 1)

“I have a movie ready to go,” I say. “We can watch it if you’re up for it.”

“Are you going to watch one this late?”

“Why not? I can’t sleep. Maybe it’ll help.”

“Is it a boring movie?”

“God, I hope so. Never seen it.”

I gesture toward the movie room. Smiling, she carries the drinks, and I take the pizza platter.

After putting down the can and glass on the portable table, she asks, “Where did you find seats this large?”

“Custom made.”

“Where did you get the inspiration? Or was it something your interior decorator suggested?”

“I was at the Ritz once, and it had these huge beds and sofas. Everything looked like it was built for a giant. I wanted to do something similar here.”

“Ah.” She nods, then studies the pizza topping.

Before she asks, I say, “Grilled chicken and mushrooms cooked in dry white wine and truffles.”

“Same thing you made for the proposal.”

“Yup.” I’m pleased she remembers.

She takes a small bite. “Mmmm… This is even better than I remembered.”

And it feels damn good to feed my woman, have her practically moaning with satisfaction. I want her to do the same with my dick inside her. I want to be her everything…and the feeling’s uncomfortable, making me unbalanced, like I’m trying to walk across a half-full water bed.

Not willing to dwell on the squirmy emotion, I bite into a piece and start the movie.

It isn’t in English, and it isn’t subtitled. Black and white, it goes on and on, following some slim woman during a bleak winter in Eastern Europe. The lack of color makes her appear stark, and she doesn’t speak much, just going through the daily routine of her ordinary life. I don’t mind, since the goal isn’t to be sucked into the film.

Paige leans over so close I can smell the shampoo and soap from her soft flesh. “Do you understand this?”

“Nope.”

She worries her lower lip. “Then why do you watch it?”

“Something for background noise when I eat and try to relax. I don’t watch new movies that I know will get me thinking too hard or anything.”

“Oh.” She reaches for another slice of pizza. After a while, she says, “I thought you were kidding when you said you ate at night like this.”

“Why?”

Paige finishes her slice and sips her ginger ale. “Well…eating alone isn’t fun. Food is meant to be shared. It’s such a social activity.”

I pull her closer to me until her side is flush against mine. “Now I have you.”

She cuddles, her soft body curving around me. Her skin’s so smooth and warm against mine, and we watch the movie in silence. When I’m almost done with the pizza, the movie turns decidedly racier.

The protagonist walks into a strip club. She chats, then gets dressed. She goes on the stage, gyrating and rolling her body, showing off her assets to the hungry stares of the men around her. The men are in shadow, but it’s obvious they’re supposed to be moneyed from the classic cut of their suits, the fancy cigars they smoke.

The lust from the men is palpable, while the woman seems to feed on it, thriving under the greedy gazes.

When she’s done, a few of them follow her, but the bouncer stops them. It isn’t until her shift is over and she slips into the bathroom that a man accosts her. He doesn’t even talk to her. Just grabs her roughly in front of the sink and grinds his mouth over hers. She digs her fingers into his hair. They fuck hard and fast, no foreplay, nothing.