Scornfully Yours (Torn Series) (13 page)

     I was incoherent and voiceless as I stared back at his azure eyes, packed with emotions—far too intense for me.

    “Bass, I do like you…but what you’re asking of me…it’s just too much…”

     “I know. That’s why I’m not doing much about it.”

     How could he feel
this
much already? I thought as we strolled back towards the game room to join the rest of the party.

     I was sipping my espresso and was about to take a bite of a mini napoleon, when someone directed their attention to me.     

     “Do you act Emma?” Martin Lombardo asked as he twirled his amber colored drink around the glass.

     Flushed, I placed the small napoleon back on my dessert plate. “I was in drama class back in high school. It was nothing big or anything, a small play here and there.” Martin’s dark eyes perked up.

     “Small play? Come on show us some of your craft!” He avidly suggested as the others joined along encouraging me.

    
My craft?
Was he serious? Everyone here, except for his wife and I, aren’t actors. I’d rather get hit by an eighteen wheeler than perform my mediocre high school acting skills in front of all these professionals.

     “Bass, help me out here!” I hissed at his smiling face. Even in my panicked mood, I still noticed how good he looks.

     Sigh.

     “Martin, stop putting my darling on the spot. I promised to give her a good time.”

     “We are having a good time, aren’t we all?” he asked everyone, amused he asked again. “Why don’t you read lines together? See how it goes? Come on, run along kids!”

     Apparently, Bass conceded and he got up and held out his hand. “What do you say baby? Let’s give these folks a show they’ll never forget!”

     Ah, shit. I thought as I let myself be pulled up by his strong arms.

     Martin got up and handed us each a paper. Bass was to be Logan and I, Angela. My eyes skimmed through the lines as I heard Bass clear his throat.

     “Ready for me baby?” Ha!

      He was hot and loaded.

     “As ready as I’ll ever be!”

     David Shilling got up and jovially said, “One. Two. Three. ACTION!”

    
Logan:
You’re married?
How could you keep this from me?
He growled, clearly pissed off. His emotions rolling off of him.

     Angela:
I…I intended to, I swear, but there was never a good time. You were persistent and wouldn’t let me think for a second. It was too hard to resist you. I don’t have the power to say no to you, Logan.
My voice shook as I looked at the man I loved. I went closer to him—felt his warmth—this man who arrested my soul and my very being.

    
Logan:
But you should have! You’re fucking married! You have had plenty of times to say it. You could’ve said it even when I was fucking you! You could’ve said it any fucking time but you chose not to!
He cussed as he paced back and forth, distraught.

     Logan
:
I don’t believe this. The woman I fall for—is married to someone else. How can you do this to me? To us? You’ve betrayed me, Angela!
He stopped pacing and yelled at me. His eyes pained but full of love. For me and only me.

    
Angela
:
You love me?
I whispered as my heart soared—lifting me higher and higher.

     Logan:
I have fucking loved you all this time. Since the first time you smiled at me, Angela. How could you not see that?

    
Angela:
Maybe I was afraid to look because your love would complicate things. God, I’ve been so stupid Logan. I love you too. But I don’t know how this will work out. My husband will kill me if finds out that I’ve cheated on him.
Logan moved closer and he held me in his arms.

     Logan:
He doesn’t matter as long as we have each other. I would kill for you. I would die for you Angela. That’s how much I love you.

     “And cut!”

     Everyone applauded, much to my relief! I just smiled at Bass.

     He embodied the role quite well.

     Well, duh? He is an actor—an Oscar winner!

     “That was amazing, Em!” Bass beamed at me and gave me a huge hug, picking me up and twirling me around.

     “Thank you,” I shyly looked at him and his beaming smile. For a moment, we held each other’s gaze, something passed between us but it was interrupted by everyone who wanted to chitchat.

     “Wow, Miss Emma Anderson! I am impressed,” Ross Maitland gushed. The older woman was an acclaimed actress, one of the highest paid in the industry—and yet she was gushing at my mediocre acting and seemed to mean it too.

      I warmed at her sentiment. “Thank you. That’s very sweet of you to say that.”

     “You did a splendid job, Emma!” Martin expressed as he double tapped my shoulder and I murmured my ever delighted thanks.

     “You both did quite superbly well…” I heard Martin trail off as I was taken by David Shilling in a conversation.

     After an hour of talking and drinking, Bass finally sat next to me. He had been busy with Martin for the last hour, I guess talking about the movie and the trip to Greece.

     “Hanging in there?” Bass whispered in my ear making my entire body shiver.

     “Of course, everything okay?”

     “There seems to be a problem with Samantha Knowles—Martin just got a call. Anyway, want to head out soon?”

     “I thought you’d never ask.” As fun as it was to be surrounded by these lovely people, I just wanted to chill and relax with Bass.

“
Kisses are like tears, the only real ones are the ones you can’t hold back.”

-
Unknown Author

     “I told you tonight would be entertaining,” Bass said as he maneuvered the car back into traffic.

      It was an epic night!

     “It was and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Thank you.”

     “Do you have class tomorrow?” Bass quickly glanced at me as he shifted gears. That looked totally hot… he is so hot!

    
What did he ask me again?
Class tomorrow…Wednesday…

     “Yeah, I have one at two in the afternoon. Why do you ask?”

     “I was hoping you would spend the night with me again. Nothing crazy or anything—I just liked how our last date went, and frankly, I want you with me.” Direct. Forward. I like that.

     “Sure, what do you have in mind?” Another memorable night with him, why the hell not?

     “I was thinking along the lines of movies and such. Are you game?”

     “Definitely game,” I responded as my eyes studied the man beside me.

     How am I going to fight this drawing, pulling power this attraction has over me? Sure, he keeps refusing to kiss me, but if I turned on the heat and advanced on him, would he still refuse?

     I better not put myself in that position because what the hell would I do once Bass demanded things that I wasn’t able to fully comply with?

     Yeah, exactly. You better behave and keep those lecherous thoughts at bay.

      We were in his fifteen seat movie theatre looking through his movies.

     “What do you feel like watching?” He asked as he scrolled through the menu, “How about ‘Tristan and Isolde’? Have you seen the film?”

      I shrugged.

     “Nope, but have you seen it?” I looked back at him as I took off my pumps and sat back on the luxurious seat.

     “I’ve wanted to. I guess we could watch this. Do you need something comfortable to wear?” he asked as he eyed my clothing, “you look hot—but I’d rather you wear something that doesn’t push my imagination into overdrive.”

     “Oh, so you find me HOT then?” I smiled, flirty.

     He groaned and got up, “That’s it! Let’s get you changed and out of that sexy dress you’re in.” Bass offered me his hand.

     I laughed at his obvious discomfort.

     “I don’t have any clothes to change
in
to. Well—unless you want me naked walking about.”

     “YOU. ARE. A. TEASE,” He declared and swept me off me feet. He carried me out of the theatre and up the stairs, taking two steps at a time.

    
My word, he’s strong
. I thought as I hooked my arms around his neck. He gave me a smile, totally blinding me of any thoughts other than the very man himself.

     Bass quickly took me into his dark room. He carefully placed me on his bed and the only sound was the crisp ruffle of his sheets and our shallow, harsh breathing.

     In the dark, his silhouette was quite alluring.

     His searing eyes probed into my soul.

     “Why does a person want what they can’t have?” he rasped out. His sudden question bewildered the hell out of me.