“You’renot,” Gina mutters. “But we want the audience to root for you and Thom to be together. And I doubt they’re going to be able to do that when he looks like he’s about to wet himself.”
I look down at Thom, sprawled under me. “Areyou about to wet yourself?” I ask. “I’ll sue you.”
He blinks up at me stupidly. “F-for what?”
“Being gross.” We’re both almost completely naked. I’m wearing a flesh-coloured thong and no bra, and he’s just wearing a very strategically placed sock. I look at it suspiciously for signs of pee. He covers it with his hand.I flick his cheek, making him yelp.
I didn’t know when I booked this role that Thom would be playing my love interest. When I found out, I considered dropping out of the movie, but the role was too good to pass up on. During the three-month shoot, Thom and I have, weirdly enough, become friends again. I felt pretty bad when I found out that his house had been blown up because of me. We’ve had a lot of time to hash out our issues. It’s nice, having my very first showbiz friend back.
Still. If he pees on me, I will be calling my lawyer.
Gina rubs the bridge of her nose. “This is the last day of filming. We all want to get this wrapped so we can go home. So for the love ofGod,just tell your boyfriends to leave, so we can get this shot done and catch our flights.”
Oh.
I turn, looking over my shoulder. The Angels are all standing in one corner of the pavilion, staring Thom down like they’re a gang about to beat him up. I try not to laugh.
We’ve been filming my movieSunstruckfor over three months now. We did most of it in London studios, using sets built specially for the film, but some of the shots required a beach setting, so the cast and crew have spent the last two weeks shooting on-location on a little private island just off Sardinia. It’s a beautiful place: icy-white beaches, palm trees, tropical blue oceans. When I told the guys that I’d be travelling abroad, they offered to come with me as my security detail.
I was thrilled. They only recently got back from a stint in America, protecting a politician in a very tumultuous swing state. What with my busy filming schedule, and their back-to-back assignments, it’s been hard to get any time with them recently. That’s why it’s so perfect that they came with me to Italy.
Still. If they keep pulling stunts like this, it’s unlikely that they’ll ever be invited on another shoot again. I narrow my eyes at the three men. I only need one security guard on set with me at a time, but it’s funny; whenever I’m shooting an intimate scene, they all suddenly seem to have nothing better to do than come and observe.
As I watch, Kenta’s cold eyes flick from Thom to me. His expression relaxes, and he smiles, waving.
I turn back to Thom. “Pull yourself together,” I tell him. “They won’t do anything to you.”
He bites his lip. “You won’t let them, right, B?”
Jesus. “I’ll have a word with them,” I tell Gina.
She nods. “Take ten, everyone!” She calls.
An assistant runs up and offers me a robe, and I stand, draping it over my body. None of the boys look even remotely embarrassed as I march up to them.
“Briar,” Kenta smiles, running his eyes down the gap in my silk robe. “You’re doing great, sweetheart.”
“Unlikehim,” Glen mutters. “Any man sleeping with you should look a Hell of a lot more enthusiastic.”
I bat away his hand as he reaches for me. “The director has politely asked that you all leave the premises.”
They have the audacity to look surprised.
“Why?” Glen demands.
“Because you’re scaring my co-star so much he can’t remember his lines.”
“He can’t be a very good actor, then,” Kenta says peaceably.
“He can’t be expected to perform well under the threat of castration.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. We’re just watching, love.” He tilts his head, taking in my wig. “You look so pretty with brown hair.”
“You need security,” Glen adds, tossing a scowl over my shoulder.
“Fromwhat?” I cast my arm around the beach. “Literally everything is getting recorded!”
“He has your naked breasts in his face,” Kenta murmurs, reaching out to carefully re-adjust my robe. The movement looks innocent enough, but as the soft fabric slides over my skin, tingles skitter over my nerve endings. I fight the urge to shiver in pleasure. “We just want to make sure he doesn’t step out of line. It would kill us if he got handsy with you.”
