Emma Riley
Outside Ryker's Apartment Building
I had to sit in my car for a while before driving. I was so turned on by what just happened I couldn't think straight. I didn't trust myself behind the wheel right now.
I listened to music on the radio, a song I didn't recognize. I don't smoke, but I was craving a cigarette right about now. I don't know what it is about sex and cigarettes that seem to go hand and hand.
There was part of me that felt like an idiot for stopping it. There was a part of me....still tempted to get out of my durango and run back up there and beg for it. Oh my God.. when did I become such a slut? My personal guess is, about two minutes ago.
You know something? One of these days, I'm going to actually clean when I arrive at his house. I rolled my eyes at myself. I didn't like feeling..unprofessional.
I guess I wasn't used to it. I'm not the kind of girl who does things like this. This isn't me. I mean..holy shit.
I almost let Ryker Fox fuck me against the wall! How the hell did this become my life?! I haven't slept with anyone except for a guy I was in a relationship with for a year and I totally almost just..oh, God.
Panic was beginning to set in as I started to come to terms with what just happened. On one hand, it all felt too overwhelming. On the other hand, it was the most exciting thing that's ever happened to me.
I could still feel his lips..his hands on my skin. I looked at myself in the rearview mirror, and I looked a mess.
My mascara was smudged, my hair every which way where he had grabbed it, my face was red from blushing. I tried to improve my appearance in vain before finally giving up.
I need to take my mind off all this. I needed to clear my head. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed Gina's cell phone, hoping she would answer.
"Hey, you. What's the latest tea?" Gina answered, immediately ready to gossip. I couldn't help but smirk, just wait until she hears this.
"Where are you right now? Can I meet you somewhere?" I asked. I didn't really care where she was right now, I just needed to talk to someone.
"I'm at the salon, come on by whenever." She said, sounding excited. She could probably hear in my voice something was up. She knew me too well.
"I'm on my way." I hung up the phone and put it back in my pocket before finally starting my car. I took a deep breath, taking one last look at Ryker Fox's building before driving towards Gina's work.
I had no idea how it was going to be seeing him again after what just happened.
Ryker Fox
Ryker's Balcony
After Emma Riley left, admittedly I had to rub one out. Part of me felt like stomping my foot like a little kid. So fucking close.
However, I can understand why she wasn't ready to go there. The greatest things worth having are always a challenge. When she is ready..not if, but when, I want all of her. Every inch of her.
This morning things got..out of hand. All kinds of emotions all over the place. Perhaps she was still shaken up, what with finding Maria here.
I winced, realizing if I hadn't made the stupid decision of calling Maria last night I'd probably still be in there fucking Miss Riley against the wall.
After I gave myself time to..ahem.."collect myself", I came out to the balcony with a cigar. I was trying and failing to calm down and get my mind right, but Emma Riley had blown my mind without even actually fucking me.
Every time I think of her hand, wrapped around my dick..her lavender scent, her juicy lips between my teeth, her tits pressed up against me..I get hard all over again. Since I met her I feel like I've had a permanent boner that just won't go away.
I was still thrown for a loop that a woman like that can't see how sexy she is. Can't see her tremendous power. But I've made it my mission to change it. Before I'm done, she will never doubt her sex appeal again. Not that I can picture myself actually being done.
I took another puff of my cigar as I sat in my favorite chair. I had to focus. I had to figure out how to calm the fuck down. At least for now. I still had that movie script I was supposed to go over by Friday, I've been slacking the past few days. Then there was the other thing.
Dexter. I really wanted to clear the air and make things right with him. I gave him a day to himself so he could calm down, but not having him here has made me realize how lucky I am to have him.
I do believe he needs to loosen the reigns, just a bit. He also needs to accept that I've made my decision when it comes to Emma Riley. I know he's worried and it's not that his concerns are not valid, but I really believe she's different. I think I can trust her.
I picked up my phone from the table, my cigar still in my other hand as I hit speed dial to call Dexter.
"I was wondering if I was going to hear from you." Dexter's voice sounded cautious, but friendly enough. At least as friendly as Dexter can get.
"I thought I'd give you a day to yourself . You've been working too hard anyway." I said, taking another puff of my cigar. I was honestly relieved his voice didn't sound too pissed.
"Have you had any time to go over that script I gave you?!" His voice sounded a little on edge as he immediately went into assistant mode. I found myself smiling, because he just couldn't stop himself from caring.
"I'm spending the rest of the day going over it, but we can get into that later. Think you might want to stop by so we can talk?" I asked as I put out my cigar.
He sighed as he seemed to get awkward. "I was kind of..already on the way over when you called." He admitted.
I grinned. "Aww, were you coming over to kiss and makeup with me?" I asked, my voice teasing. I could almost hear him rolling his eyes.
"You've kissed everyone else in the United States, now you want to make out with me too?" He snapped back.
"Okay..ouch? Low blow Dex. But also..touche." I laughed. I kind of loved when Dexter played along and made a joke, even if it was at my expense. It rarely happened so when it did, it felt like a special event.
"I'll see you soon, Ryker. Try not to slip and fall into anyone's vagina before I get there." He snapped back again, only half-joking. If only he knew how my morning had gone so far. He would have a stroke.
"Drive safe, Dex." I said, hanging up the phone. I felt better already.
Emma Riley
Curl Up & Dye Salon
The Mall
I managed to find a parking spot in the sea of vehicles. This might be against..you know, "girl code" or whatever. But I hated coming to the mall. I hated shopping, I hate the crowds of people. I'm definitely an "order online and stay home with no pants on" kind of girl.
I took one last look at myself in the rearview mirror, before rolling my eyes and deciding I was a lost cause.
I managed to make my way to the cute little salon in the mall that Gina worked at. The lady at the front nodded at me and let me go on back, recognizing me as Gina's friend.
Luckily it wasn't that busy right now. A few times I came in here it was so busy Gina didn't really even have time to talk to me.
But today she was standing at her station by herself, sweeping up a large pile of brown hair on the floor. She must have just got done with somebody.
She noticed me walking towards her and she greeted me with a bright smile, until I got closer and she took in my appearance.
"Wow! You look like you've had a morning." She exclaimed, looking at me up and down. "Sit down." She gestured at the black styling chair while putting the broom away.
"What? Why?!" I asked, wondering what it was she had planned. She shook her head at me like I was being silly.
"I'm not going to shave your head. Although, judging from those nests in your hair you might be better off starting over." She teased, while examining my head.
I laughed sarcastically, but sat in the salon chair. "Just..clean me up a little bit. But don't cut it or anything, I like the length." I took a deep breath feeling nervous as I looked at myself in the mirror.
"Not even those split ends?" She winked at me in the mirror as she put a black cape around my neck. I could tell she was only half joking.
I let out a defeated sigh, not feeling like arguing. I had bigger things on my mind. "Fine. Do the ends, but just, you know..spruce me up a bit." I said, sounding weary and feeling exhausted.
"I'm going to give you one of those 'my name is karen and I want to speak with your supervisor' soccer mom haircuts." She put a manicured finger to her pouted lip, as if trying to envision it. But I knew she was joking. She knows I'd cut her with her own damn scissors.
I laughed, this time a genuine one. She seemed pleased she had made me smile, sensing I had something on my mind. She has no idea the bomb I was about to drop.
Lost in my thoughts for a moment, I was startled to feel Gina spraying my hair down with a little spray bottle. The water was cold and I jumped in my chair.
She snickered as she tried to comb through my ratty hair and I glared at her in the mirror, realizing she had scared me on purpose.
"Nice of you to join us, Em." She said in a sarcastic tone. "Care to tell me what the hell is your problem now? Something about you seems..different." She observed.
My eyes widened and I swallowed, startled she actually knew me that well. "Is it really that obvious?!" I flushed, suddenly feeling exposed.
She rolled her brown eyes in the back of her head and looked at me like I was missing something obvious.
"Emma, you literally came in here with sex hair." She sounded downright ecstatic. "Not to mention you're kind of glowing."
I looked at myself in the mirror. I am not glowing! Am I? I shifted my gaze from myself to Gina, who was standing behind me staring at me in the mirror with an all-too-knowing grin on her face.
Yeah, it's official. She knows entirely too damn much, and I have no one to blame but me and my big mouth.
"You're even quicker than I thought." She said as she drew her attention back to my hair, still with a cheesy grin on her face.
I stared at her, confused. "I beg your pardon?" I raised one eyebrow, questioning where this was going.
"I said you and Ryker Fox would be humping and bumping by the end of the week, you didn't even wait a day. Although, I still feel an 'I told you so' is in order." She laughed, seeming pleased with herself.
I avoided eye contact with myself in the mirror, for two different reasons. One, I was embarrassed she had figured it out so easily. I could only hope I wasn't so easy to read to other people. Two, everyone looks like crap in the mirror when they are in the middle of getting their haircut. It's like you start with meh, go straight to kill it with fire, and end with who's this beautiful bitch?
"You know you need to tell me every little detail, right? Come on! Let me live vicariously through you." She jumped up and down, excited. I suppose I should feel touched my sex life means that much to her?
Before I could respond she continued, seeming too excited to wait. "Who made the first move? Did you take it slow or were you just like jack rabbits on red bull? Is he as good as he looks? On a scale from toothpick to anacoda how big is his--"
I shushed her before she could finish her train of questions, seeming to be the only one who realizes we were in public. Besides, she was kind of overwhelming right now.
"First of all, one nutty question at a time." I said in a hushed tone. She scoffed. "Second of all, what's the next level after anacoda? Take that, and double it. That would be it..if it were folded in half." She seemed startled by my bluntness, she looked up from my mirror to my face with her mouth hung open.
"Before you start freaking out!" I warned, putting up my hands defensively. She still stood there staring with her mouth hung open. "We didn't..you know, do it. It was just..a close call." I couldn't stop myself from blushing.
She stomped her foot and grunted. "What do you mean you didn't do it?!" She studied my face and I avoided eye contact, trying to escape her knowing eyes.
I didn't like how she was looking at me. She seemed to be analysing my every expression and movement. I swear to God, this bitch is too smart. If this hair stylist thing doesn't work, she should consider the FBI.
"You chickened out." She finally decided, nodding to herself before turning her attention back to my hair. It was a statement, not an question.
Goddamnit. You see what I mean?! "It's really complicated Gina, after what had just happened I couldn't bring myself to--"
She interrupted me, seeming genuinely surprised. "What do you mean by that?! What happened?!" She demanded.
I put my palm to my forehead. "Oh my God! I didn't even tell you the weirdest part!" I groaned, hating the reminder of finding my ex-boyfriend's bitch of a girlfriend in Ryker's robe.
"Okay..I think you need to start from the beginning." She prompted, trying and failing to hide her enthusiasm about the 'tea' that I was about to serve.
"First..maybe put the scissors down for this next part." I warned, with a sigh.
"Why?!" She sounded genuinely confused as she continued to cut the ends of my hair.
"Because, this is going to shock the hell out of you and I don't need you freaking out and accidently Edward Scissorhanding my hair."
Ryker Fox
Ryker's Balcony
As soon as Dexter arrived I invited him to sit with me on my balcony so we could talk. I really felt the need to clear the air about our argument we had regarding Emma Riley. I didn't want him to stop working here, and I had no interest in breaking our weird sort of friendship or whatever it was. But, he needs to get used to the idea of Emma Riley. Because I'm just barely getting started with her.
We sat in silence for a moment while we drank coffee. We were drinking coffee because basically, it was too early for scotch. There's also something about sitting down with a cup of coffee that makes you feel like an adult. I chuckled to myself, noting how silly that sounded.
Dexter sat across from me with his legs crossed and holding his coffee in both hands, stealing glances at me like he still wasn't one-hundred-percent sure of my sanity.
"So I hope you don't expect me to show you my boobs. My rack isn't nearly as impressive." The sarcasm was heavy in Dexter's statement, as he took a very loud sip of his coffee.
I glared at him, knowing he was referring to when I sat out here with Emma Riley, when the..ahem.."incident" happened with the coffee cup.
This annoyed me for two reasons. One, I didn't like hearing another man talk about Emma Riley's awesome tits. Even though I knew he didn't actually mean anything by it. Two, I had just barely got my boner to go away, and this sadistic prick has the nerve to remind me of her "impressive rack."
I finally just laughed, knowing he was just trying to be funny. Good job on him for managing to make two jokes in one day. He's on a roll.
I still hadn't told him about my morning yet, by the way. I was still unsure of how much I should tell him. He already judges me enough as it is.
"You know, you seem a lot more relaxed than usual. You stoned or something? Because no offense but it's about goddamn time. I've been telling you to smoke some weed forever. Calm your hyper ass down real quick." I was kind of joking, but not really.
He rolled his eyes and set his coffee down on the table, leaning forward in his chair. "I got a chance to do a lot of thinking yesterday. Perhaps, I do come on too strong at times." He admitted, sounding remorseful.
"But I hope you know that I wouldn't worry so much, if I didn't care so much. This has..become more than a job for me. I'm sure you know that by now." He avoided eye contact with me, feeling awkward because of the sincere moment.
I remained silent, listening..letting him finish his thought. "I suppose I've been feeling a bit stressed out lately." He continued.
I raised one eyebrow. "'A bit?' You're like the human equivalent of Anxiety." I said, not at all kidding.
He rolled his eyes at me and picked up his coffee from the table. "Seriously though. I think we can both agree you've been working too hard. You being gone reminded me just how much you do for me, and I appreciate it. Even when I don't act like it. You make my life a lot easier." I said, honestly. He smiled, seeming touched by my words.
"That being said." I continued, my voice slightly changing. "I think you've been trying to do just a little too much. It makes you feel overworked and stressed out and it makes me feel resentful. I am a grown man after all, you don't have to look after me every second of the day." I took a sip of my coffee, before I went on. Dexter was listening intently, seeming to agree so far with what I had said.
"What I'm thinking is..maybe we should cut down your hours, just a little bit. Give you some more days off here and there. I'll still pay you the same, but we should loosen the reins, just a tad. For both our sake." He nodded and listened to me until I was finished. When I was done he took another drink of his coffee, before setting it down on the table again.
"I agree. I should probably have a bit more faith in you, anyway." He smiled, seeming as though a weight was lifted.
I took in a deep breath, as we came to the more awkward part of the conversation. "About Miss Riley." I fully noted the way my body reacted to her name. He looked up at his coffee as though I had grabbed his attention.
"She's not going anywhere, Dex. I understand your concerns and I assure you, I won't forget them. But I've made up my mind, and I need you to respect that. Most of all, respect her." I couldn't hide the edge in my voice as I felt both defensive and protective when it came to Miss Riley.
He sighed a sort of defeated sounding sigh, and shook his head. "You really do like this one." He mumbled, not in a question.
"I think she might be different, Dex." I said, quietly...still uncomfortable with admitting everything to him.
He stared down into his coffee cup as he spoke. "Do you think she likes you back? I mean..for real?" He pondered.
I knew what he was really asking. 'Is there any possibility she just wants money or fame?' I couldn't help but feel the need to defend her honor. But I could understand why he had to ask. That's what most every woman wants from me.
"Because that's the only thing I worry about. It's not anything to do with her, she seems nice enough. But a lot of the others did too, before they weren't." There was a protective edge in his voice as he spoke.
"Not only is your heart on the line here, but your career, reputation, and financial stability as well." He folded his hands, seeming nervous at the thought.
"Your career can't handle another scandal. That's why I want you to focus and study that script I left for you on your desk. It's a once in a lifetime kind of role, and we need to remind the public the reason you got to where you are in the first place. You're good at what you do. You haven't even gotten a chance to show all that you're capable of yet." I couldn't help but smile at his encouragment. It was nice to know that even after everything, he still believed in me. I haven't had too many people like that in my life.
Where I'm from and how I grew up, nobody really expects you to go on and make a name for yourself. So when I said I wanted to be an actor, most people just laughed at me. I didn't really ever have a big support system, until I met Dexter. I suppose as time went on and my success grew, I've become a bit jaded. Dare I say, spoiled.
So many people want to kiss your ass, it's hard to not get a big head. That's why having a person like Dexter around that will tell you the way things really are is important. When a celebrity doesn't have that, that's when they lose their way.
He clasped his hands together and looked at me with worry in his eyes. "When you have scandal after scandal like this, you know what happens? People stop taking you seriously. Someday soon, you might stop getting asked to do these roles because they will decide you're more drama than you're worth. Now, would be the worst time for this thing you have with Miss Riley to go sour. I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't make sure you understood that. Does that make sense?" He sounded genuinely concerned he would offend me with his bluntness.
I smiled, trying to ease his mind that I wasn't upset. "You're right, Dex. I know you are. I promise I'll be careful, okay?" I took a sip of my coffee as he continued to study me.
"There's something else you still haven't considered." He mumbled, his mouth buried in his coffee cup.
I rolled my eyes, hating when he added vague little comnents like that. "Like?" I prompted, urging him to continue.
"Let's say this girl is different and isn't after fame. That doesn't mean she's not going to get it. If you get too close to her, it's only a matter of time before her name and face gets out. People are going to talk, and we both know it's hardly ever nice things." He warned, staring at me gravely.
I cringed, knowing he was right. I hadn't thought of that. I honestly had no idea how she would feel about the attention, but she didn't seem like the type that would be too comfortable with it.
He continued."I'm not saying don't go after her, if you truly like one another. But just make sure you're both ready for what is sure to follow."
Emma Riley
Curl Up & Dye Salon
The Mall
"What are the freakin odds?!" Gina exclaimed as she picked up her hair dryer to dry my hair. "God! That bitch gets passed around more than a joint!" She shook her head in disapproval, and I couldn't hold in my laughter.
"The crazy thing is, she recognized me first." I shouted, trying to be heard over the hair dryer. "I wonder if she looked me up on Facebook or something." I asked.
Gina turned off the hair dryer and began fluffing my hair with her hands before picking up the hairspray. She silently nodded to herself in approval as she looked over her work on my hair.
"I gave you some layers throughout your hair, to give you a bit more volume" She said, turning me around in my chair and handing me a mirror to look over my hair myself.
I had to admit, I looked a lot better than when I came in. "Yay! No more sex hair!" She said just a little more louder than necessary as she clapped her hands together.
If it wasn't so hard to find a new best friend on such short notice, I would kill her. I looked around the room, hoping no one had heard her. She rolled her eyes and gestured as if saying she didn't care if anyone heard.
"I hope you have better sense than to listen to anything that Maria slut says. She's clearly jealous of you." She said as she took off the black cape from around my neck. "Ooo, if I had been there I would have dragged that bitch." She had an angry edge to her voice, and I one-hundred-percent believed her.
I couldn't help but smile, grateful to have a friend who's so protective of me. "I don't think she's jealous of me, Gina. You should have seen how pretty she was." I admitted, trying to hide the sadness in my voice.
"You're fucking crazy. Look at you!" She gestured in the mirror like I was missing something obvious. "Not only are you crazy hot with killer curves that she would have to pay to have, but you got not one but two men in her life's attention..without being the biggest hoe on hoe mountain. Why the fuck wouldn't she be jealous?"
I let out a very obnoxious laugh as I stood myself up. "'Hoe mountain?!" I airquoted, raising one eyebrow.
"Shut up, just go with it. The point is your hot." She said, still fluffing my hair. "In fact..you know what?" Her face lit up as if she got an idea.
I groaned, afraid to ask. "What is it?" I looked at her weary.
"You've gotten way too comfortable in those sweatpants. We need to dress you up and take you out. Remind you that you still got it." She did a crazy little dance as she spoke, and my eyes widdened..as I realized what she meant.
"That's right, Riley!" She said, reading my face. "Tonight, we're taking you out and getting you drunk!" She clapped her hands together, excitedly.
Help me.
author's note: please don't forget to vote if you enjoyed this chapter! :)