For the Love of His Life (29 page)

“Yeah, there’s the rub. It would only work if people still wanted me to be in their pictures badly enough to continue to send me scripts wherever I’m living.”

“What if they don’t?”

“Then I guess I’ll have to find some other way to support you and our hungry horde of children.”

“Horde? How many do you think we’re going to have?”

He smiled. “As many as I can talk you into. I hated being an only child…especially one with only Mom and no father or other relatives. I want to give my kids what I always wanted…what you have. A real family.”

She stared into his eyes for a long time before a crooked smile played on her lips.

“Well…I’ll bet Keith would hire you to work as an outfitter. He can always use a hand when he’s got a big group to organize.”

“And if people know they will have a famous ex-actor going along with them, that might encourage more folks to book their voyage with him.”

Veronica rolled her eyes. “I’m sure. But I’m not about to let you go out into the woods with a bunch of horny old cougars who’ve been lusting after you for years since that shower scene!”

He nodded. “Yeah, that was a good scene! It practically made my name for me. That was right after I got really ripped to star in
Avenge Tastes Sweet
… “

“I’m surprised it didn’t melt the celluloid!”

He looked thoughtful. “But I can’t depend on being able to look that good as I get older, can I?”

She leered at him. “Oh, I don’t know…you look damn good now,
señor
!”

He lifted an eyebrow. “Is that an invitation? Maybe I should bend you over my pool table there and show you how good my aim is with my stick?”

“Do you have condoms hidden in every room?”

“Yup. Part of my plan was to have you in every room that I could talk you into, so yes…I’ve got them all over the house.”

“Then let’s see how well you can aim that thing…”

He was already tearing the package open with his teeth as he walked back around the bar, over to where Veronica was leaning back across the pool table, watching him.

“Oh, I can aim plenty well, lady. When I get really good at it, my little guys are gonna knock you up so fast you won’t know what hit you!”

She giggled. “Practice, practice, practice. That’s the key.”

He turned her around and bent over to lap at her from behind, using his finger to flick at her clit and his tongue to delve into her, spreading her juices all around before he shoved two fingers into her just as she started to moan from her clitoral orgasm. Her moan turned into a shriek as the pleasure intensified, her inner walls pulsating around his fingers. He pushed up then aimed himself into her, forcing his way in with repeated short stabs and retreats, until with the last stab he was seated in her so fully that he felt his balls snug between her thighs. She kept her legs pressed together and he stayed still as long as he could, before reaching around her to pull on her nipples, twisting and pinching them in rhythm with his thrusting.

“Ah, my Nica,” he growled into her ear, “Your shrieks and moans are music to my ears. Come for me, my love. Come and bring me with you…”

And she did.

Chapter Twenty-One

Two weeks after Veronica got back from California she was woken up early by the phone ringing. She groggily glanced at the clock before patting her bed stand to find the offending phone.

She picked it up. “Hello? This better be good! It’s way too early for chatting…”

“Nica! I have to share this with you!”

She tried to be more alert. “Share what, Raul?”

He could barely contain his excitement. “I’ve been nominated for an Oscar!”

Now she was awake. “What? Oh my God! When did you find out?”

“Just now! My agent called me and told me and I had to call you…”

“Oh, Raul, that’s wonderful! I’m so happy for you! You really did an exceptional job, so you deserve this nomination.”

“And that’s not all! Kelly’s also nominated for best actress, and Jared for director, and the movie’s been nominated for best film! I’m so excited! Never in a million years did I ever expect this to happen to me!”

“I’m telling you, Raul, you all made an excellent movie. Everyone laughed and cried when we saw it out here. I’ll tell you one thing, sweetie. Everyone out here will be watching the Oscars with their fingers crossed, because we’ll all be rooting for our home-boys!”

“Only you won’t be there, Nica. You’ll be here with me. I’ll need you here for moral support. If I lose, I’ll know I still have you so life is still wonderful. But if I win?
¡Dios mio!
I don’t know how I’d react! You might have to make my speech for me. I’d be so shocked I’d be unable to even move!”

She laughed. “Of course I’ll be there with you. I have no idea what on earth I’ll wear, since it’s the most glamorous night of the year out there in Hollywood-land. But I’ll think of something.”

“No, you’ll wear something that we pick out together. I want to show you off, my love. I want the whole world to see the most beautiful woman in the world…the woman I love, on the most exciting night of my career.”

“I guess so,” Veronica said slowly.

Raul chuckled into the phone. “Notice I didn’t say the most exciting night of my life? That is every night that I can sleep with you in my arms. Beginning with that first night in your house…”

“Oh, Raul. You say the most romantic things sometimes!”

“I mean it, and you know it. I love you. But this might mean my career will continue, even after I move out of Tinseltown for the backwoods of the BWCA.”

“So I should tell Keith to take your name off his website as his associate?”

“Not yet. Let’s wait and see how this thing plays out. Cheeky bitch.”

“Pompous bastard.”

“Truce. I’m sorry I woke you so early. But I won’t be able to go back to sleep now.”

“Me neither. And it’s okay. I’m kind of pleased that you wanted to share this news with me. Sometimes you seem so far away that I ache to hold you again.”

Raul sighed. “I know. I roll over in the night and reach for you, and you’re not there. I hid your pillow so Laura couldn’t wash the pillowcase. I hug it, because it smells like your hair. I miss you so much.”

“When are the Oscars?”

“In about a month, I think. There will be TV shows to yak up the film on, and personal appearances at parties all around town as the studios all lobby for their films to win. I’ll be busy making pitches to everyone, trying to get their votes. But don’t think I’ll be too busy to miss you. I’ll keep on calling you every night, just to hear your voice before I go to sleep.”

“Raul, are you doing that to let me know that you’re home? Because I do trust you, you know. You don’t have to do that.”

“Yes I do, Nica. It would be too easy for me to fall into my old bad habits. The calls keep coming and I keep ignoring them. But I’m going to be running into people I don’t really want to see, while I make the rounds doing promotions. It’s going to be a real test of my resolve to be a better man, so I’m good enough for you. Knowing I have to call you once I get home every night will help me to remember why I’m not going to get back into the scene I used to live for.”

“Then if it’s that important to you, I’ll keep on waiting up every night until I hear from you. And if I fall asleep, I’ll still get the phone when it rings, like I just did. No matter when you call.”

“Thank you,
cara mia
. You are the anchor I need to keep myself on an even keel. So I don’t just float away as another statistic…yet another example of an actor who had promise and blew his chance to be great, because his demons held him back. Your love helps me to keep those demons chained up, where they belong.”

“I love you, Raul. Know that and stay safe…for me.”

“I will. Now I’ll have to let you go because I have a call on my other line, and I think it’s Jared.”

“Bye, my love. And congratulations!”

“Bye,
querida.
I’ll call you again soon.”

Veronica looked at her phone after the call ended.

Please, Lord, give him the strength to be great, just this once. Let him achieve his dream. He’s worked so hard against such huge odds. Let him win this time.

* * * *

Veronica looked around in a daze. Through the windows of the limo she saw faces, a sea of faces, all waiting to see who would get out of the next car. There were cheers and shouts, almost continuous flashes of cameras taking pictures of the celebrities and even the air was alive with excitement.

She used both hands to smooth down the skirt of her evening gown. She had never worn a gown before…even for Keith’s wedding, the bridesmaids had worn cocktail dresses. She was feeling both over-dressed and almost naked. The gown Raul had convinced her to wear was made of a dark midnight blue silky fabric that had a purplish sheen to it in the right light. It had a plunging neckline in the front, that showcased her cleavage held in place by a push-up bra, and the back plunged almost all of the way down to her other cleavage. She was afraid to move lest something get flashed at the public who would surely capture the moment on film. But Raul had gotten a roll of sticky tape from a costume specialist, who assured him that barring a tornado, even wind wouldn’t be able to tear her dress off. She fervently hoped that was true.

The shoes were a whole other issue. She was not used to walking in high heels, and these were
fuck-me
heels, three-inch silver spikes with silk bows dyed to match her dress. There was a slit up the side of the dress, up to just past her knee, but with enough swing to the fabric that the shoes were showcased as she walked. Her hair was swept up into a fussy hairstyle that she wouldn’t ever be able to recreate, nor did she want to. And her face had been slathered with so many different cosmetics that she had given up trying to figure out what all of it was as it was applied painstakingly by the makeup artist who had already won her award at the smaller Oscars ceremony the week before for the crew members.

She glanced over at Raul who looked stunning and every bit the famous movie star that he was. He had on a white tux that accentuated his dark good looks. He wore a shirt with it that was the same shade of blue as her dress, with a white bow tie. His shoes matched her dress, and his black hair was short and spiked up, while his face had stubble on it that made him look like his razor only cut every other hair. He was busy waving out the window at the fans whose shouting grew louder as they realized who was in the next limo.

He turned to her and smiled, looking as nervous as she felt.

“Ready, honey? It’s show-time,” he said in a voice held steady by his acting skills.

She shook her head. “I want to go home! I’m not ready for this! I don’t belong here!”

He leaned forward to place one hand over hers which were clasped tightly on her lap. He used his other hand to caress the side of her face, his fingers traveling to her neck as he lightly brushed his lips against hers, careful not to smear the lipstick that she had fought so hard against. His hot breath warmed her ear as he whispered into it, “Do this for me, Nica. Just this once. I’ll be right next to you all of the time.”

She glared at him. “Don’t even leave me to use the bathroom! I don’t know how on earth I’m going to be able to pass as one of you!”

He grinned at her. “Don’t you see? That’s what makes you the most beautiful woman here…you aren’t one of us. We’re all fake and you’re real. Just stay close to me and you’ll be fine.”

The limo stopped and the door was opened, thrusting them into the glare of the spotlights, with celebrity show hosts suddenly in their faces as they moved out of the car and onto the red carpet.

She let Raul do all of the talking as he masterfully answered the usual questions about who she was and why she was there with him. She smiled and nodded at everyone, temporarily unable to speak due to an extreme case of nerves. No one seemed to care that she was quiet, so she tried to shut out the constant buzz of noise and concentrated on not falling off of her shoes. She was already a tall woman, but even in her heels, Raul was still taller. He held her arm possessively and guided her successfully into the theater, away from the paparazzi.

As they went through the door, the last interviewer following them sniffed disparagingly to her cameraman.

“
That’s
what he brought to the biggest night of his career? She looks like a
before
picture for a diet program.”

“Oh, I don’t know. Her tits jiggle like they’re real and that ass would be fun to hold onto while we were…”

“Yeah, I get it.” She shook her head. “You men are such pigs.”

He grinned and made snorting noises as they turned to look for the next grist for their mill.

* * * *

Once they found their seats, Raul introduced Veronica to the impeccably dressed woman and her tuxedoed husband already seated next to them.

“Nica, this is my Mom, Guadalupe Patricia Rodriguez de Johnson and her husband, Robert Johnson. Mom, this is Veronica Sorrenson, my fiancée.”