Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 128260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Don’t think. Just stop thinking. My heart was beating too quickly now, but not with arousal. With panic. This wasn’t working for me.
It has to work for you. You have a job to do.
I didn’t want to think of Grace, but thoughts of her were the only thing keeping me hard. I shut my eyes quickly and tried to bring her to mind. I reached up to touch her hair and it wasn’t heavy silk in my hand—it was crispy with hairspray. We continued kissing and Rose brought her hand up to my cheek, the one that she had used to touch herself. I smelled her essence on her hand and that was it. I broke away from her and stood up. “Sorry,” I muttered. “Not your fault but this isn’t working for me.”
“Cut!” I heard yelled.
I walked into the bathroom, retrieved my clothes and started pulling them on as Courtney’s voice sounded at the door. “Carson, babe, if you need a little more time or maybe a blue pill, I’ve got you covered.”
I opened the door, pulling on my shoes. I pushed past Courtney. “Sorry, Courtney, I really am. But I can’t do this anymore.” I looked around the room in general, catching sight of a stricken-looking Rose pulling on a robe in the corner. “Rose,” I called. She looked up, blinking at me. “This has nothing to do with you. I promise. Maybe… just think about if this is what you really want, okay? There are… repercussions. There just are. And… Rose is a great name.” I looked around at the crew staring at me with looks ranging from confusion to flat-out annoyance. “I’m sorry for wasting all of your time. I don’t know what to say. I’m just…sorry.” Then I walked to the door of the suite, opened it, and closed it behind me quietly.
__________
I returned to the elevators and pushed the down button. My head was spinning. Oh, shit. What the fuck had I just done? I was gonna get sued and I’d never make a film again after that meltdown.
I stood there, staring at the closed elevator door. I was screwed. I took a deep breath, pulling it through my body. So…why didn’t I give even a small rat’s ass right now? I let out a small, humorless laugh. I was basically penniless and jobless, and I felt…fine. Lighter.
What exactly are you going to do now, fuckwit? What about a fucking plan before you do some shit like that? I laughed again, only this one was real. A plan. I reached both hands up and laced my fingers together, putting them on my forehead and letting my head fall back. I stood like that for a minute until I heard the elevator ding and the doors start to open. I dropped my hands and started stepping toward it when I saw who was getting off. Tim. Fucking, Tim.
He looked surprised as he stepped from the car. “Carson,” he said, “you can’t be done already.” He looked down at his watch. The elevator doors closed behind him and he took a step closer to me.
“The shoot is over, Tim. But only because I walked out.”
His brows snapped down. “You walked out? What the hell is going on?”
“Listen, Tim, I would have called you later to let you know. But I’m done. I’m not gonna be making films anymore.”
His eyes narrowed slowly. Then he let out a sharp laugh. “Well, goddamn. She must have been one hell of a fuck for you to throw your whole career away. Now I really wish that little blonde had taken me up on my offer to join me in my hotel room.”
I jolted. “Your offer?” I asked, the air around us taking on a red tinge. “Your fucking offer?” I repeated, the realization that Tim had propositioned Grace when he came to my hotel room the day before making my blood boil. Disgusting pig.
I moved on him before he even knew what was coming, grabbing his dress shirt and walking him backward until I slammed him against the wall. Rage was pumping through my blood as I got right up in his face. “You sick, depraved motherfucker. How dare you speak to her like that? How dare you even fucking look at her? I should beat the living shit out of you.”
“What the fuck are you doing?” he yelled. “Over a piece of ass, Carson? Over a fucking piece of ass?”
My limbs turned to ice as I balled my fist, and smashed it into his face. Blood spurted from his nose and I let go of him, letting him sink to the floor. He looked up at me dazedly.
I stepped over him, entering the elevator car. That coldness was seeping all through my body, making me feel disconnected, like I was watching the scene from some perch high above. I had a moment of vertigo—almost a soaring feeling—and then I gave a slight jolt, suddenly grounded again. The world around me came into focus, everything appearing sharp and clear. I pulled myself straight. “I’ll no longer require your representation, Tim,” I said without emotion. He let out a groan, pulling himself forward and beginning to sit up. I felt nothing for the sleazy asshole bleeding in front of me, nothing but hollow contempt. I pressed the lobby button, my eyes never leaving him as the doors between us closed.