Finding Jessica Lambert, page 32
Just as Anna’s fingers found the heat they desired, Jess woke with a yelp. Anna lay half on top of her, cradling her breast, her knee snug between Jess's legs. Jess's whole body thrummed with desire, an embarrassingly short way from peaking and the heat pulsed where Anna rubbed her knee.
“Oh fuck,” Jess gasped and she twitched away from Anna.
Daylight blazed into the room and she squinted.
“What time is it?” she said, alarmed in every way and sliding from under Anna and out of the bed. She snatched her phone from the bedside table.
“Is it late?” Anna moaned, her eyes scrunched and her hair a gorgeous mess.
Jess gawped for a moment. She’d forgotten how heavenly it was to wake up beside Anna and she stared captivated by the woman bathed in morning sunshine.
“We need to get ready for on set,” Jess smiled, unable to take her eyes from Anna.
Anna leant up on her elbows, her gown slipping open at the chest so that the curve of breast was deliciously apparent, and Jess audibly sighed.
Anna smiled, her cheeks pink. “I feel stupid about yesterday.”
“Don’t” she said. Did Jess's face betray total admiration and besotted longing? She was unable to do a thing about it. “You had a bad day. You’ve seen mine.”
“I fucked up in front of the whole cast and crew, then shut myself outside and had to be rescued,” Anna said quietly.
“I froze in front of several thousand people and needed the same.”
They both laughed.
“What a pair we make,” Anna said, then she paused, seeming to fear the implication.
Was it Jess's imagination or were they both glowing?
“I need to get ready,” she said reluctantly. What she would give to stay here and watch Anna Mayhew all day, ruffled and luxurious in bed.
“Me too,” Anna said, a goofy gorgeous smile on her face.
“I,” this was going to sound painfully eager but Jess couldn’t help herself, “I can come by your dressing room and run over the script before shooting if you like.”
“Thanks,” Anna said, her voice husky. “But I don’t think there’ll be many changes today.”
“Oh?”
“It’s the revival scene.”
“Oh,” and Jess's heart leapt into her throat.
Oh god. The revival scene. Of all the days.
–
“So?” Matt said, striding beside Jess along the corridor. “Ready for your Anna Mayhew kiss?”
“It’s not a kiss,” Jess grumbled. “It’s a resuscitation.”
“They’re legendary you know,” Matt said, an extra bounce to his stride.
Jess flipped up the hood on her arctic coat, hoping to hide behind the fake fur lining. “It’s a revival scene. It’s going to be more like a medical procedure than anything more salacious.”
“See, I was definitely hoping for salacious,” Matt said, growling the last word, making it sound impossibly rude.
They turned into the cavernous sound stage and approached the corner, set up with snow covered boulders.
Shawna was conferring with her assistant who was marking out the stage floor.
“Wahey,” Shawna said, with a grin when she saw them approach. “Ready for your Anna Mayhew kiss?”
Oh bloody hell.
“It’s not a kiss,” Jess said between her teeth.
Shawna lifted an eyebrow and wiggled her hips. “Oh yeah?”
“Just fuck off the pair of you.”
Shawna threw her head back and filled the entire stage with a laugh.
This was the worst day possible for this scene. Jess's body was already primed with desire for Anna. How was she meant to dispassionately lay on the floor unconscious with Anna kissing, no, reviving her? This was going to be challenging.
“Am I late?” All three of them swivelled round at the sound of Anna’s honeyed voice. She glided forward, a white gown flowing at her feet and her face hidden in the same style arctic coat as Jess. How did she manage to look even more magnificent in that, the shadow and softness of the hood accentuating the size and shine of her eyes, the fullness of her lips, the glow on her cheeks.
“Not at all, bab. Hope you’ve both dressed light under there. Could get hot,” Shawna said, her grin expanding.
Jess cleared her throat. “T-shirt and jeans.”
The roll of Shawna’s eyes had a gravity all of its own. “You have no sense of occasion.”
Jess wasn’t quite sure what she meant by that and didn’t want to think about it too much.
“Should I change?” Anna said, with a slight frown, innocently seeking clarification. Jess wanted to kick Shawna.
“You’re fine,” the director said, squeezing her arm. “Right, let’s get down and dirty then,” she said with glee.
Jess shot her friend daggers then obediently lay down on her mark and waited for the crew to dust her with snow. She closed her eyes and tried to think of anything to reduce her heightened state. It was to no avail, because as soon as Anna leant over her, liquid warmth suffused Jess's entire body. The beautiful woman, on all fours, hands either side of Jess's breasts, one knee between Jess's legs the other astride her thigh, and the growing desire had Jess on the verge of groaning.
“You OK?” Anna whispered, her face a few inches away.
Jess gazed up into her eyes, melted at the sight of her smile, inwardly groaned at the flush across her cheeks, and sighed at those soft lips. “Amazing.”
“Wait!” Shawna shouted.
The intimacy was broken by the appearance of Shawna’s face and abundant hair between them. She tweaked a stray ribbon of hair into Anna’s hood and gave Jess a grin. “Cosy?” She didn’t wait for an answer and bustled away and a camera drew up to them in her place.
The assistant director started the run through. Sound. Camera. Then silence.
Jess closed her eyes and let her cheeks go slack. Her head lolled to the side as she relaxed her neck muscles and she slowed her breathing. She was a picture of oblivion and even her heart rate slowed.
But the anticipation, what a killer that was. A shadow stroked across her eyelids. The air between them became balmy and Jess sensed Anna getting closer. The temptation to meet her was colossal and even though she managed to suppress a twitch across her cheeks, her chest began to heave with expectation.
Then Anna’s lips touched hers. Those succulent, most tender lips surrounded her. The contact was like gentle lightening, hot, instantaneous, burning but delightful, all at the same time. The exquisite sensation made Jess's body thrum. How Anna managed to caress with such delicacy but at the same time stunning command, Jess she had no idea. Anna’s lips slipped over Jess's and as she drew slowly away, Jess's whole being was drawn after her, and she lifted her head from the floor, loath to break contact.
“Cut!”
Jess snapped her eyes open and stared right into Anna’s. Were her co-star’s cheeks flushed? Were those dark pupils large with the same kind of longing that made Jess's body pulse?
“Right,” Shawna shouted, “that was quite a lot of movement for an unconscious body.”
Jess's cheeks burned.
“Let’s try again. And,” Shawna shouted, “can we get some blue light on them? These two are positively glowing with good health.”
And Jess's cheeks shot up another few degrees.
“OK?” The assistant director ran through to silence again.
“Stay still,” Jess chanted mentally, while trying to keep her body limp. Don’t react.
Again the anticipation heightened her senses, from her tingling lips, through her inflamed body, all the way to her toes. Anna lingered this time, the warmth of her face caressing Jess. Her breasts pushed down and Jess couldn’t help the moan that escaped her lips.
“Keep rolling.”
Drawing deep on will power, Jess suppressed her reaction, keeping her body supple and supine. Anna’s breath was humid on Jess's lips, her breasts cushioned into hers, her knee brushing inside her thigh. Jess kept herself limp but the heat building inside threatened to burst.
Then came the kiss. Another divine kiss from Anna. More fluid this time. Was there more intent than just revival? Jess couldn’t help herself and she moved into the kiss. She reached up to hold Anna’s side, the curve of her breast discernible and teasing in her palm. Jess's body wouldn’t pretend. It twisted with longing and just as embarrassment and awareness threatened to intrude, Anna slipped the tip of her tongue inside Jess's mouth and the whole of her body burst into flames.
“Cut!”
Jess blinked. She let her head fall back to the floor and she stared up at Anna whose rose cheeks were definitely as involved as Jess's burning body. She was breathing hard and Jess gazed with inflamed disbelief at Anna.
“Sorry,” Jess whispered, but Anna remained silent.
“OK,” Shawna shouted. “I think we need more blue light. Let’s roll again.”
Jess's mind raced, wishing the scene over. She cursed Shawna for shooting from several different angles then insisting on a tracking shot around them both.
Did Anna feel that? Was she as overcome as Jess or was this torture?
Her mind was in turmoil and Jess lay, take after take, wound with nerves and twitching with desire, wishing an end to it so she could talk to Anna.
“Alrighty then!” Shawna shouted. “Not what I had in mind, but I’m gonna take that and roast it.”
Anna sat back, took down her hood, her cheeks blazing.
“Are we done?”
“We certainly are. Jess you’re finished for the day. Anna I need you in twenty.”
Jess stared, as Anna rose to her feet. Was she avoiding her gaze? She watched as Anna made her way across the sound stage, unbuttoning her coat as she went.
Shit. Had Jess thrown away all the progress she’d made with Anna? But how could she not react to that, after a night in her arms and a kiss that seduced like an instant liquid drug it was so overpowering.
She scrambled to her feet. “OK,” she muttered as she passed Shawna, wilfully ignoring her friend’s gleeful expression.
“Anna,” Jess said, rounding the corner, but Anna was already half way along the corridor towards her dressing room.
Jess broke into a run. “Anna!” she shouted. Surely she could hear her.
Anna was stepping inside her room when Jess caught up and she put her arm out to stop Anna from closing the door. Her heart jolted with surprise as Anna reached back and pulled her inside. The door slammed, Anna pushed Jess up against it and Anna’s wonderful hot lips smothered her with delicious hunger.
Jess groaned and wanted to slide down the door it was so exquisite. She held Anna’s head and instantly deepened the kiss, the heat from them both driving their passion.
“God,” Jess gasped, as Anna’s leg pushed between hers, the warm pressure so achingly welcome.
Anna tore at her coat, pulling the buttons apart, as she writhed between Jess's legs, sending Jess higher and almost agonisingly into desire. She was soaking wet against Anna’s leg.
Thrown up against the wall, by someone Jess had craved for months, it was fucking heaven.
Her hands explored Anna, desperate to find a way in. Anna was direct and adept, pushing Jess back, her hands undoing Jess's trousers, dipping her fingers inside and stroking straight over Jess's clitoris.
“Oh fuck,” Jess gasped and she caved in rhythm as Anna circled her centre with a sure and hungry touch. Just as Jess became comfortable to her rhythm, Anna pushed her higher against the door and slipped her fingers inside. Jess moaned loudly as Anna filled her so that her body was consumed all the way to her chest. As Anna thrust her fingers inside, her thumb circled her clitoris so that Jess groaned with every motion. Oh christ she wouldn’t last long like this.
She desperately tried to find Anna’s body, stroking her hands beneath her dress, eager to touch her, and suddenly her hands encountered her naked chest. She panted in time to Anna pushing inside her and squeezed Anna’s breasts with dizzy rapture. The woman felt phenomenal.
As Jess's arousal built, Anna quickened her rhythm, pushing her higher. Jess stroked her fingers down Anna’s waist and slipped her fingers between her legs. She was soaking, the warm slickness making Jess's head spin, and Anna’s cry as Jess circled her sent delicious shivers through Jess that heightened her arousal and her whole body prickled with expectation at the orgasm to come.
Her body tensed from her core to her fingers, ready to explode and they both cried out as they came together.
Chapter 50.
They stood trembling, Jess's breath humid beside Anna’s ear. Her chest heaved with deep inhalations. Jess sank down the wall and Anna to her knees and she stared at Jess's beautiful face, which still reeled with the shock of orgasm.
Anna cupped Jess's soft cheek and sighed at this wonderful woman. Eyes like conkers. Jess's description always made her smile. Anna traced her fingers lightly over Jess's features. The full lips that felt delicious against her own. Her black hair, which had been straightened but now curled in the perspiration of their activity. Her toned shoulders and smooth skin. Her elegant, strong arms. Her long slender fingers that enjoyed Anna’s body. The way they fit together. She adored it all.
Anna’s heart sank. “I probably shouldn’t have done that.”
“Why?” Jess gasped.
Anna peered at her. “What are we doing?” she whispered.
“Falling for each other?”
Anna smiled sadly.
“I don’t understand,” Jess said. Anna could hear the hurt in her voice. “I think we make a great couple. I’m bonkers about you.”
Anna had to breathe in to keep a level head and stop her emotions from rising.
“Your life,” Anna said. “You. Your fans. I’m not sure if I can afford to fall for you. I’m already in deep and I’m scared.”
“Of what?”
“You’re young and superstar, wanted all over the globe. You’re under immense scrutiny and I’m not sure I’d cope well with the increased attention. I’ve already trespassed beyond my comfort zone and I haven’t coped well at times. I don’t want to have to check over my shoulder.”
“But I’d be with you.”
“Would you? All the time?”
“If that’s what it takes.”
Anna’s chest swelled with affection for this kind and genuine woman.
“Maybe now,” Anna said. “But you’re young. What happens when the passion wears off? What about when an opportunity comes your way and you need to travel? Because you are going to get those offers, no doubt. Then there’s the fact that I’m a middle-aged woman who values her independence. I don’t want for you to have to be always around.”
Jess was silent.
“I’m falling for you so badly,” Anna said. “You had me right from the start, but I have to be realistic.”
“So....So what….” Jess was struggling.
Anna sat back and waited, realising Jess needed time to think.
“It’s not just you who’s scared of my life,” Jess started. “I’ve had trouble with fans in the past. I tend to shut down any attention quickly, but I’ve had people who think we have a connection when there’s none. They’ve watched me for hours on film, read every article and interview. I think they get attached to that. Maybe they forget that I don’t know them and that’s not me up there on the screen.” She paused. “So I do understand.”
Anna nodded.
“That’s why,” Jess continued, those beautiful eyes filling with hurt and longing, “I need a break. And I don’t mean an escape for now, I need somewhere to come home to. Staying with my parents helped, but most of all I want you. I want a real life. I want pancakes in the morning. I want walks in the park and to wake up with a woman I love. I want to chill out with a book and have somewhere familiar to retreat and recharge. And I love acting, have lived for Atlassia, but I can’t do it any more without a real life too, without my own story.”
Anna listened, her forehead pounding with yearning for this to work. “Can you even have that?” she murmured. “Are you so well known that it’s not possible anymore?”
“I want to try,” Jess said, her tone desperate.
There was a knock at the door and they both flinched.
“A minute please,” Anna called out.
“Ms Mayhew, you’re needed in Stage 4,” came a man’s voice.
“OK. I’ll be right there.”
Anna waited until the footsteps receded down the corridor. She opened her mouth to speak, but Jess cut in.
“I know you have to go, but…” Jess shook her head annoyed with herself. “I don’t think well on my feet. Just, don’t dismiss this. Please.” And big brown eyes looked at Anna and she could see they were filling with tears.
–
At least Anna had time to think with Jess away on location, except every time Anna did she went through missing Jess, aching for her with so much strength Anna felt she could overcome anything, then relapsing into fear about what lay ahead.
Midweek, Anna joined the crew on location in a Midlands wood for a heavy schedule before spring arrived in force and the barren chill of winter couldn’t be pretended anymore.
Anna hung back from the shooting, behind the perimeter of tape, grateful for her arctic coat costume and her breath clouding in the cool air of the woods. The fallen leaves of autumn were still bronze and rustled beneath her feet, but spring was definitely threatening and she twirled a bud on a branch between her fingers, the leaf inside almost ready to unfurl.
A little way through the woods was a village and a handful of locals had turned up to watch the shoot.
“This is where it all began,” a woman further along the tape said, her strong voice lending the sentence the grand promise of story. “This is where she and her friends from school shot their version of Atlassia. It had millions of hits and won her the role.”
Anna’s ears pricked up as she realised the woman was talking about Jess.
“I think it’s wonderful that the producer wanted to acknowledge those beginnings by including the location in the new series and making our little village famous.” The woman said the last word with a growling gusto.
