Phoenix Reborn (Woodland Creek)(23)
“It’s nothing,” he said, smiling again; another attempt to reassure her. “Just that I…don’t usually attack lunatics. Especially with my bare hands.”
“Most men don’t,” said Ashling, allowing her own relieved smile. “Thank you, by the way. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone move so fast as you did just now. Except—” She recalled suddenly the night that she’d set Jeremy on fire, when Hawke had darted out of the woods to save him.
“It was my pleasure. No — of course, not pleasure. But it was certainly my duty. And as for speed, you know what they say about adrenaline kicking in when someone’s in danger.”
“Your producers would kill me if they knew you’d nearly gotten your face torn off on my account.”
“Well, that doesn’t matter,” he said, rubbing his jaw. “I’d find a new career as a guy who only plays horribly mangled men.”
“I hear they’re very much in demand.”
“You’d be surprised. Listen, I’m supposed to be filming this afternoon, and I don’t want you wondering if I’ve disappeared on you. I can’t really text or call while I’m on set. But I want you to let me know that you’re okay. That you’re safe.”
“Of course,” she said. “I will.”
“Good.”
“So — how are things with your female lead?”
“You’re my female lead. The only one that counts, anyhow.”
Ashling smiled. The way he spoke, she almost believed he meant it. A sudden thought occurred to her. “How did you know I was here? I didn’t say…”
“I don’t know how I knew. A sixth sense, I suppose,” he said, taking her hand. “When I got your text, I knew that something was wrong, of course. So I hunted for you. I feel a strong bond with you, Ashling.” He pulled her fingers to his mouth, kissing them. “If something happened to you, I’d hate myself for not protecting you.”
“I should be able to protect myself.” She drew her hand away. It was impossible not to recall how her fingers had looked only minutes earlier; glowing in streams of colour, unnatural and threatening. “But thank you, again.”
“Do you want to come watch the filming? I’m afraid that it’s more awkward date scenes.”
“I have to work again.” The truth was that she couldn’t bear the thought. Actors and actresses always seemed to fall for each other, and it seemed an overly masochistic pursuit to watch a man she was growing to care about form a bond with someone else.
And besides, she wasn’t supposed to care about him, to want him so deeply. This was dangerous ground they were treading on, and if he wasn’t going to put an end to it, she would have to do it herself. As soon as she could muster the courage.
“Well, if you change your mind, we’ll be down by the coffee shop,” he said. “I’d love it if you came by. You might inspire something in me. After all, you’ve become my muse. I don’t think I would function well if I suddenly found that you weren’t in my life.”
“You did pretty well for yourself before I came along, Hawke.”
“I managed. But I wasn’t excited — not like I am now.”
“I’ve never been anyone’s muse,” said Ashling, unable to resist her own smile. He had such a way of assuring her of her importance, and she was so unaccustomed to feeling significant. “I’m happy to know that I inspire you. Even if it’s to inspire you to pretend to fall madly in love with someone else.”
Hawke laughed. “The operative word is ‘pretend,’” he said. “You should remember that I’m fairly good at my job. And in case I can be so arrogant as to think it might pain you in any way, let me just say that no actress can hold a candle to you, my beautiful fire girl.” He moved in closer. “You have given me new life, Ashling Jones. And I’m not going to put up with you constantly pulling away. Not when I so want to do this.”
He took her hand and gathered her to him, kissing her, softly, sweetly. A tentative kiss, as though he were trying to gauge whether he was welcome or not.
Ashling slipped a hand around his neck, pulling his face to hers, and showed him how very welcome he was. Her lips met his, eager, hungry for his taste. Their tongues entwined, sending her spiralling through space, her balance once again thrown off as gravity played tricks on her mind.
Yes, she wanted him, despite what had just occurred, or maybe because of it: danger, fear, all of it had only served to deepen her desire. And it seemed, gloriously, that he felt the same way. For a moment she forgot her resolution to break things off.
“I would so take your clothes off right here and now,” he whispered as he pressed his forehead to hers, his breath suddenly heavy. “I want to do everything — everything — to you, Ashling. Do you understand me? I’ve wanted to since you opened Ranach’s door.”
She nodded, acknowledging that she reciprocated the sentiment. Her hands were on his stomach, feeling his breath deepen under her touch. She wanted so badly to slip them under his shirt, to feel his heat, his sweat, every inch of that body that she’d seen on screen. And all of the inches that she hadn’t. He was so much better in person, if such a thing was possible.
As he kissed her again she felt her insides melt, for once enhanced by a heat other than her own. For a moment she wondered what sort of punishment might be inflicted on them if they had sex in a public place.