Blasphemous (Torn #3)(10)
Bass finally came back at midnight, drunk as hell and incoherent, with only his pants on. What the hell happened to his shirt? “Where have you been? I was worried all weekend.”
“Trying to forget you. I don’t want to think about you with him, in bed together. Holding you like you belonged to him because guess what? You were his and I tried to steal you away. You know why?” He started laughing before he leaned against the wall, eyes closed. “Because I was stupid to fall for a woman who had another man in her heart.”
Forget me, how? “Can we please move past this and start over?”
Bass made a light snort at my suggestion. “You clearly have a big heart. So big, you forgive people easily. So big, you hold two men in it, but mine isn’t that big, Emma. Nor is it forgetful.” He spoke with a scathing tone before releasing a shattered sigh. “I’m done talking about this farcical subject. Goodnight.” He uttered with profound finality before heading towards his bedroom.
I get that he was angry, but was he really going to throw what we had away? I tried to convince myself that he needed time, but as the days went by, I was losing hope.
E
“Cut!” the clapperboard woman called out in the background.
Bass instantly let go of me like I was diseased. His eyes were stormy and menacing after that heated kiss we just played out. The scene today was about Angela and Logan getting into a fiery fight because he wanted her to leave her husband for him, but she was hesitant and scared to do so. Shooting it was emotional because Bass was truly channeling his anger on that score. Somehow, it felt like Bass was directing the words to me, to our personal relationship, and not the characters that we were portraying.
We had an hour break before we started filming again. I had just plopped in Ant’s chair, ready for my touch-up, when he tsk-tsked me with a raised brow. “What?”
“We need to get you some ice, sweetie. Your lip is bleeding.”
It was? I wondered as I pushed myself closer to the mirror to inspect the wound. True enough, there was a teeny cut. My entire lip, though, looked seriously swollen. Odd, I didn’t even feel a thing.
Ants strode towards me and handed me an icepack. “Too passionate, perhaps? He’s never done this before.” Of course Ants would know. He’s been doing my make-up since the beginning. So he knew this was clearly personal.
“Come sit. I’ll do your hair first,” he said, tapping the chair for me to follow him. He was humming quietly as he fluffed my hair and got to work. I was lost in thought about the encounter with Bass earlier when Ants interrupted my train of thought. “Emma, I really like you. I think you’re a genuine person and I feel somehow protective of you. You know that, right?”
Why was he using a tone that was going to bring bad news? “Thank you, Ants, but will you please finish what you were saying?” I rushed out, anxious.
“There’s a lot of speculation around here as to why Bass left you. Since you two weren’t really official, the rest just speculated. When Bass started hanging out around the rest of the other actors and the crew, it’s practically fair game. The women here are getting competitive to see who can get Bass to have sex with them first. This is a common thing around Hollywood. Bass Cole is a young, hot piece of ass that’s loaded with millions.” He paused and looked straight at my reflection in the big, lit-up mirror. “If it’s worth fighting for, then get your man back. That’s all I’m sayin’.”
A bet to get Bass in bed… did any of them succeed? My blood ran cold as the heavy feeling in my stomach started to drop while my heart pounded like I just ran for miles. “We had a fight… he’s not talking much. He tries to ignore me whenever possible.”
“Well, honey, just look at your lip, hmm? Is that an act of a man who doesn’t want you? He still does, Emma. Use that to your advantage. Do what other women do to get their men back.”
“I’ve begged, but he’s not listening. I don’t know what to do, Ants. I feel helpless.”
“I’m talking about sex, silly. Use that as a weapon. It’s a trick done since the beginning of time. Just get on your knees and blow him like he’s your master. Make him feel wanted. Make him feel special. Men love to see their partner submit to them, in exchange, he’s going to be the same with you. Give and take, you know? Totally an easy plan.”
Not easy, nope, not from where I’m standing. How do I even approach him with that kind of offer? “I don’t know if it’ll work,” I whispered with uncertainty.
“Girl, you won’t know if you don’t try.”
Ants had a point. It was worth a shot.
E
When I heard the loud thud of the door being opened and closed, I knew right then and there that he’d been drinking again. Where does he go? At one of the tavernas or in someone’s bedroom?
Provoking thoughts prevailed over reason when I decided to get out of my bedroom and confront him. Without knocking on his door, I drastically yanked it open. “How many women have you nailed since me?”
Bass cocked his head sideways and darted me a murderous glare. “Of all the things to say, you had to ask me that. That speaks volumes as to how you regard me.” Bass looked ahead for a beat or two before he bent his head. “I haven’t been with anyone, Em. I couldn’t do it knowing how I feel about you. I didn’t want to betray that love by cheating on it, even if it was for a pleasurable, short time. I couldn’t do it.”