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CHAPTER TWELVE

  Dani

  "He's one of my favorites you know," Jean said, once the door to the trailer slammed shut. "Always such a gentleman, never complains. The only weird quirk that kid has is red Skittles."

  I wasn't sure if Jean knew that I didn't talk, and I didn't want to be rude, so I quickly wrote a little text.

  Dani: I don't know if Jay told you, but I can't talk.

  Jean read it over my shoulder. "Oh, sugar, I talk enough for the both of us." She tossed her bright purple hair over her shoulder and stared at me through the mirror, her green eyes meeting mine before turning back around and spraying something else on my face.

  The mist was cool against my skin — it felt good and smelled like coconut.

  "You know why he likes the red Skittles, right?" She didn't wait for me to text her. "He likes the flavor, but it's more than that. His very first movie was with some famous actor who refused to speak directly to people lest their normalness rub off on him. I won't say his name, but I'm sure you know who he is. Anyway…" She spread some cream on my eyes. "… you'll have to keep your eyes closed while I do your shadow and extensions."

  I wanted to hear more about Lincoln and the reason he loved red Skittles, but I couldn't see my phone to text, and when I opened my mouth to speak, again, nothing came.

  Which sucked, because she made me feel comfortable, and we were alone. If I was going to speak, it would be in a situation like that, where nobody could hear or point or laugh. For some reason, speaking in front of a complete stranger, who didn't care one way or another seemed a lot easier than speaking in front of my family, stuttering something stupid, and letting them down.

  "I'm just going to apply the different shadows. If you want, you can take a nap. I can lean the chair back."

  I nodded. A nap actually sounded really good. Maybe it would help take the nerves away.

  It seemed like seconds later, and I was getting gently tapped. "Wake up, sunshine." Jean smiled. "You're all done! I think he'll be pleased." She winked.

  He who?

  The trailer door opened. Linc had a dress in his hands, along with necklaces wrapped around the hanger, and tall purple heels. "So, I don't know if you want to wear all the necklaces because it's really heavy. Depending on the makeup, we can just—"

  I stood and walked over to him, reaching for the dress. The short silver cocktail dress felt silky between my fingers. It had straps that went around my neck and fell into a completely open back. It was short. I'd probably have to be careful if I had to sit down, if I could sit down at all.

  "Linc?" Jean's voice danced with amusement. "Everything alright?"

  "Uh…" He shoved the hanger into my face. "… yeah, sorry just… had a dry throat, freaked me out, don't want to start getting sick."

  "Right," Jean said slowly. "Well, I say you wear all the necklaces. I did a purple, smoky eye and straightened your hair. I'll be sure to reapply the lipstick after every take, so don't worry about that." She clasped her hands together. "Now, Linc, I know you're used to dressing and undressing around the opposite sex, but this girl isn't, so shoo." She made a sweeping motion with her right hand. "Go on. I'll send her out when she's ready."

  "But—"

  "Go!"

  "Fine!" He flashed me a smile. "Going. And Dani, you look really good."

  I returned his smile and tried to keep myself from swooning into the chair. Regardless of how I felt about actors or men in general, I'd have to be dead not to respond to his smile. He was more than pretty. There wasn't one single thing I'd change about him, but it wasn't just his bright smile or the way his eyes seemed to look at me rather than through me. It was in the simple way he walked — or stalked. It was like he couldn't help but be seductive, even the lilt of his voice had me shivering in response, which was really, really, stupid.

  The only thing that brought me back down to earth was the simple fact that he was my boss. That, and the fact that he was Lincoln Greene. He dated supermodels, not seventeen-year-old mutes. No, I was the charity case he took with him to fancy dinners in order to gain good PR. Not the girl he surprised on her birthday and whisked off to the Caribbean.

  "Alright." Jean rubbed her hands together. "Let's get you into this thing."

  I slid out of my jeans and pulled my T-shirt over my head as she unzipped the dress.

  "You're so small," Jean mused, eying me up and down.

  I wanted to tell her it was because I stopped eating after my parents died — lost my appetite and had to force myself to eat ever since then. It had nothing to do with wanting to be skinny and everything to do with the fact that after a few bites, I just felt sick.

  My therapist had said it was part of the anxiety.

  It was why I ate cake.

  Cake made me happy, just like Sour Patch Kids. Though I couldn't eat a ton, it still made me feel joy in eating again.

  "There." Jean zipped me up and placed the heels on the floor. I stepped in them and turned to face the mirror.

  My mouth dropped open.

  "Like I said, he'll love it." Jean winked in the mirror, and fastened about twenty different gold necklaces around my neck, with charms on them, ranging from long to short. "And before you argue, I've seen the way he looks at you. You intrigue him, and that's half the battle with a Hollywood actor. He's young, but he's still jaded."

  I thought on her words.

  Intrigue.

  Didn't that mean I was a puzzle?

  Would the old me have gotten Lincoln to turn his head? Or was the reason he was so curious the very fact that I was different?

  "Ready!" Jean grinned.

  My straight blonde hair fell past my shoulders, nearly touching my breasts. It was shiny but still had a nice bounce to it, rather than being glued to the sides of my head — which was how my hair normally looked whenever I tried straightening it.

  Dark, long eyelashes caressed my cheeks as I gazed at myself in the mirror. I could feel each blink. I had pale pink lipstick and dark eyes, but the real difference was the sculpting.

  It made me look twenty-five instead of seventeen.

  Well, at least I finally looked legal!

  "Knock 'em dead." Jean ushered me toward the door.

  Lincoln was waiting on the other side, dressed in dark, skinny jeans and a nameless band V-neck T-shirt that showed off part of his arm and chest tattoo.

  "Ready?" he held out his hand.

  I took it and wobbled beside him. It had been ages since I'd worn heels.

  I wanted to make a joke about Bo showing on his chest. But again, the words weren't there — they just weren't. Instead, I pointed to his chest and smiled.

  He looked down. "Yeah, Bo's making an appearance."

  "Finally!" Jaymeson pointed at both of us. "Lincoln, show her to her mark. Dani, for this scene you're simply staring at him like you want to eat him. Think you can do that?"

  I nodded.

  Any woman could do that.

  Most men too.

  "Cue music!" Jaymeson called out. "Action."

  A techno mix of AD2's latest song filled the air as the extras started dancing around us. I stayed glued to the wall while Lincoln delivered his lines to Pris, and then he lifted his head, meeting my gaze.

  It's just a movie. It's just a movie.

  The breath left my chest on one slow exhale as he moved toward me, his body making fluid, purposeful movements through the crowd.

  My lips parted; my entire body felt heavy as he approached.

  He stopped in front of me, his forehead grazing mine as he leaned in a few inches. Our breath mingled as the music and scene faded around me.

  "Cut!" Jaymeson yelled.

  Holy crap on a cracker! I almost experienced my first stroke — at seventeen.

  "You okay?" Lincoln's eyebrows knit together in concern.

  I licked the lipstick from my lips and nodded quickly.

  Jaymeson approached. "Time for the kiss, remember kissing, not hockey. Clearly, you were confused earlier."<
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  Lincoln gritted his teeth and let out a little groan.

  I patted his arm and grinned, my way of encouraging him. He seemed to pale more.

  My stomach sank.

  Maybe it was me.

  I was the problem.

  Not the kiss, but me. If he'd had trouble kissing my gorgeous sister, how was he going to be able to kiss me?

  "Hey…" Lincoln cupped my cheek. "… focus on me, nothing else, alright? It's only us."

  I nodded.

  "You ever been to a party?"

  I rolled my eyes.

  "Ever made out with a guy at a party that wasn't your boyfriend?"

  I thought about it then slowly shook my head.

  "So that's what this scene is about. It's about a guy seeing a girl from across the room and wanting her so badly that he's willing to cheat on his own girlfriend for just one taste. Granted, he's supposedly drunk and high, but that just takes the romance out of it, doesn't it?"

  He released my cheek and stepped back. "Imagine you're trying to attract me, make your body as inviting as possible. Hell, just stand there and look at me, and you'll sell it."

  Sell it. I repeated the words in my mind.

  I could do that.

  Because I wanted him to kiss me.

  It made my heart beat faster.

  My blood pump harder.

  And for the first time since my parents' death, I was actually excited about something. Nervous, but excited.

  "Okay," I mouthed.

  I must have surprised him again because his eyes darkened, and then he grinned. "One day, Dani. One day I'm going to hear my name coming from that gorgeous mouth of yours, and I'm not going to be held responsible for my actions… damn the consequences."

  My breath hitched.

  "Quiet on set! And action!"

  There was no warning. Suddenly, Lincoln's mouth was fused against mine, no teeth, just his soft lips pushing, prodding, moving slowly back and forth until his tongue slid through and made contact with mine.

  Heart racing, I opened my mouth enough to deepen the kiss as heat washed over me.

  He groaned and dug his fingers into my shoulders then slid his hands down my back and gripped my butt. I let out a squeak of surprise as I flicked his tongue with mine.

  "Cut!" Jaymeson yelled.

  I kept kissing.

  So did Lincoln.

  His chest brushed roughly against mine; my breasts ached at the sharp contact. I let out a little hiss at the exact time Linc let out a groan and nudged his knee between my legs.

  "Cut!" Jaymeson yelled again.

  Slowly, Lincoln pried himself away from me, chest heaving.

  "Good enough," said Jaymeson.

  "No," Lincoln argued without taking his wild, grey eyes off me, "I went off script. We need to do it again."

  "The hell you do," someone mumbled. I wasn't surprised to see Demetri glaring daggers at Lincoln's back. Alec was next to Jaymeson, giving him an earful. I noted the strong tick in his jaw.

  "Fine." Jaymeson waved them both off. "We'll do it again."

  "Take two, and action!"

  This time the kiss was slow, languid in its movements. Hot waves of pleasure coursed through my body as his tongue slid seductively past my lips. His taste, the feel of his mouth was unlike anything I'd ever experienced. Greedily, I moaned, desperate for more of him as I reached for his shirt, fisting it with my hands and tugging him tighter against my body, wanting more contact with him. I felt every plane of muscle as he slowly turned us so his back was semi facing the camera. His knee nudged my legs apart as pressure increased down the middle of my body. I hadn't really looked long at the script, but I was pretty sure that this wasn't part of it.

  Not that I was complaining.

  He rocked into me, my back connected with the wall. With a possessive growl, he nipped my lower lip then started kissing down my neck. Kissing in public had never been my thing — but maybe that was because I'd never kissed Lincoln.

  I would kiss him anywhere.

  All he needed to do was ask.

  Body humming with pleasure, I let out a little gasp as his warm lips met the pulse on my neck. Then his tongue licked where his lips had just been.

  His knee rose higher and higher as my body sank onto his; the first contact of his leg had my body screaming with pleasure — just a little higher, just a little more.

  "Cut!" someone shouted, though it didn't sound like Jaymeson.

  Suddenly, Demetri was pulling Lincoln away from me and glaring daggers at both of us. "I think you guys got the scene."

  Embarrassed, I looked down, tucking my silky hair behind my ear. Did I really almost just dry hump Lincoln Greene's leg? In front of about twenty people, including my sister?

  "You sure?" Lincoln asked, voice hoarse. I glanced up at him, his chest was heaving with exertion, his lips swollen. "Because I could have sworn I messed up my lines."

  "There are no lines, you bastard," Demetri muttered under his breath.

  "Damn it!" Jaymeson shouted. "Hey, guys, I'm going to need you to shoot it one more time. Remember, Lincoln, you're supposed to proposition her."

  Lincoln grinned smugly at Demetri.

  Demetri didn't move.

  I sighed and then tapped him on the shoulder and nodded my okay.

  "I saw tongue." Demetri pointed at Lincoln. "We both know that's not necessary. This isn't a brothel."

  I almost burst out laughing at Demetri's knowledge of the word brothel. That, mixed with his protectiveness, wasn't something I was used to from him. He was usually too easy going.

  "Places!" Jaymeson yelled.

  Nervous anticipation trickled down my spine as the scene was slated, and Lincoln was facing me again, his features a mask of complete and utter seduction. Throat dry, I waited for the kiss.

  Once his mouth was on mine again.

  I realized.

  His kisses weren't the type you could physically prepare yourself for — the feeling wasn't something my body would ever get accustomed to.

  Lincoln's hands cupped my face and then tilted my cheek to the side as he whispered in my ear, "We should take this somewhere… private."

  A foreign moan escaped between my lips, and his mouth was on mine again, this time his tongue outlining the seam of my lips before he tugged my lower lip with his teeth, drawing my body closer to his.

  "Cut!" Jaymeson yelled.

  Lincoln kept an arm around me as he led me back to the guys. My legs wobbled. Alec was pacing in front of Jaymeson like a worried mother, and Demetri was in the process of pulling off his shirt and dabbing his chest with napkins.

  "My scene was that hot, huh?" Lincoln teased.

  Demetri glared but continued to pat his tan, perfect body. "This… this is worry sweat, not hot, lustful, holy-shit-it's-Lincoln-Greene sweat, you vain, slutty, little piece of—"

  "Good job." Jaymeson shoved Demetri out of the way, nearly sending him colliding with one of the crew. Cursing ensued as something loud clattered to the floor. I think that something was Demetri. "I think my favorite part was when a certain retired manwhore decided to ruin the entire scene with his mental breakdown."

  Demetri dusted himself off, stood, and gave Jaymeson the finger.

  I chewed my lower lip, still tasting Lincoln.

  "Okay, Lincoln, it's back to Pris. We'll just film her reaction, and then you run after her, got it?"

  I was left forgotten, suddenly extremely uncomfortable in my own skin, my dress too tight and hot, my lips still buzzing with awareness.

  Alec came by me and stood as the next scene was slated.

  His anger was so tangible I felt like I was swimming in it. He waited a few minutes before talking.

  "He's really good at what he does," Alec whispered.

  I gulped. Yeah, I'd gotten that part. He was a god at what he did. If kissing was an actual occupation, he'd have a doctorate.

  "But…" Alec reached for my hand and gripped it.

  I glanced up at h
im.

  "… it's a job, Dani. It's…" He exhaled roughly. "… it's not real, you get that, right?"

  I jerked my hand away in horror. I didn't have my phone on me so I couldn't type him the message I wanted to; besides, it would have a lot of cursing in it, and I knew that would amuse him more than anger him.

  "Aw, don't get pissed." Alec grabbed my hand again, refusing to let me pull away this time. His grip tightened around my fingers. "I'm protective, okay? You're important to us, and I don't want you thinking that what just happened means anything beyond this scene today. I know you're a smart girl."

  Then treat me like one! I wanted to yell.

  "You're seventeen," he explained slowly as if I wasn't aware of my own stupid age. "You're so young still, and he's…" Alec shook his head and watched the scene play out. Lincoln went running after Pris. "He's Hollywood — they're born cynical and get even worse as the days progress. You don't want any part of that, no matter how nice it may look, or—" His eyes met mine. "—taste."

  Was Alec Daniels really having a dad talk with me? And did he just say taste? Never in my life had I been so uncomfortable.

  "Here." Demetri walked up and handed me my phone. It was a godsend. I sent a group text to both of them.

  Dani: If you start talking about the birds and the bees, I'm going to punch you in your perfect face.

  Demetri frowned down at his phone. "What did I miss?"

  I jabbed a finger at Alec.

  Alec chuckled. "Wow. I knew I was bad at heart to hearts, but I think I just managed to piss her off more."

  Dani: Most uncomfortable situation I've ever been in! And I've walked in on Jay and my sister!

  Demetri smirked. "Probably needed a magnifying glass to see anything on Jay though. Am I right?"

  I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms.

  "I was just warning her," Alec said in a hushed voice.

  I stood between the two of them, jumpy and extremely uncomfortable. It was like having two really irritatingly hot and protective bodyguards. It wouldn't come as a shock if they sent me to a nunnery or decided to order one of those chastity belts, not that it mattered. Who screwed around with mute girls?

  Tears threatened.

  That was the worst part.

  That Alec was right.

  Lincoln was a good actor — a great actor.

  He was doing his job.

  He did it well.

  Because for a few brief moments, I had felt like the most desired woman in the world. The way he'd looked at me had made me think it could possibly be true. And it was probably better for everyone that Alec was blunt with me about the type of guy Lincoln was.

  Because as much as I kept my guard up — he made me want to tear down that wall just to see the other side. Just to remember what it felt like to be normal.