Filthy Rich Vampire Husbands (Filthy Rich 2)

Three hours later I was pumped. I had business cards in my wallet from a few industry professionals and the alcohol was sinking in and relaxing me after the last long couple days.

I was ready for home. To see if the guys had heard from Serena and Flynn today, and to hit the sack as we would be back filming again in just a few hours. Christ those in make-up were going to earn their wages.

“Carter!” Catalina yelled, and I looked over surprised to see her standing close by. “Come. I need you for something.” I followed her to an empty corner where Maya stood.

“Okay.” Catalina slurred. “Tomorrow you have a kissing scene with Maya and it’s the first one. I know how this goes. It will be entirely awkward and we will have to reshoot, so I want you to do it now here. Get the awkwardness over so tomorrow we just get it right on the first take.”

“What?” I couldn’t be hearing this right. “I’m sure we’ll be okay.”

“I am a little nervous about it.” Maya confessed. “It's because of my fiancé. He’s not happy about me kissing another man.”

“But it's just fiction.” I’d not thought about whether Serena would be jealous of me kissing co-stars. Surely she’d know it was just make believe and the only person I had eyes for was her?

“Come on, Carter. Let’s get a practice in now. I am the boss remember.” Catalina joked.

Except I wasn’t sure it was a joke.

Oh fuck it. It would help things tomorrow and maybe I’d get to finish earlier if we got this out of the way.

“Okay. Get those lines said, baby. I’m coming in.”

Catalina stepped back as we got into character. In the scene before us, Madison had just flirted with another guy making me angry and I’d stormed out of the party she was holding.

“Hey, Colt. What are you doing all alone here outside? Has Maddie got bored with you already?” Maya acted her lines.

“Something like that.” I brooded. I had to look all upset and fucked up as I was a complex character with lots of family shit.

“Why do you let her do this to you?”

“I don’t know.”

Maya touched my arm.

“Maybe she’s not the right woman for you? Perhaps the right one was in front of you this whole time?”

A beat passed between us and then she raised her face and I lowered mine. A hesitation and then a brush of my lips across her own.

“I shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry. I have a girlfriend.”

“I’m not sorry, and where is your girlfriend anyway? She’s not here. Not watching what you are doing. Leaving this most sexy, delicious man all alone. She’s stupid.”

She raised herself on tiptoes and brushed her lips across my own and it was time for me to grab her and kiss her. I followed my script pushing Maya against the wall and kissing her mouth with raw lust.

Then I broke off and stepped back.

“That shouldn’t have happened. I’m sorry. I must go back into the party. See what Maddie is doing.”

“You can’t say it shouldn’t have happened. We have a connection. Can you not feel it?” Maya turned to face me, anguish in her gaze.

“And cut,” Catalina yelled. “Okay, I take back everything I said. You don’t need practice, Carter. Looks like you’re a natural. I think I’ll ask for more kissing scenes to be added to the script between us seeing as I’ve only had pecks and fade to blacks. I’m supposed to be the boss, what am I doing?”

We all laughed. Turning around, we’d had a few party-goers watching us and they applauded. Maya’s fiancé came over to me and whispered in my ear. “You are both superb actors, but I hope I have nothing to worry about here?” I shook my head. “My heart belongs to Serena Saxton.” I told him, patting him on the back. “And now I must go home.”

“What time do you call this?” Jayden said from his seat on the couch where he was watching a game.

“You stayed up to make sure I was home safe?” I teased. “I’m back, Mom. You can go to bed now.”

“Sometimes you’re an asshole, Carter.” He said, and I noticed the tension in his jaw.