2. Luca

2

LUCA

S oft brown eyes pierce the depths of my core, igniting something foreign inside of me.

Desire.

The lust raging through me is a fantasy I haven't felt since I was a teenager. Movies rule my life, and the money I use to make them demands the bulk of my attention. There's no room for love, lust, or anything of the sort. Yet, here I am with a vision of beauty, a woman I shouldn't let my fantasies run wild for. The kiss we share is something beyond what's written on a page.

My fingers yearn to get lost in her curly hair. Holding her close is a breach of professionalism and my restraint wanes with every passing moment we spend together. Reality settles around me as I get back to what I do best, producing films.

Aside from my attraction to Josephine, she's not a bad fit for this role. I'd love nothing more than to play the leading man for her in this movie, to rehearse this scene repeatedly, every kiss more passionate than the last.

The way her words linger will curse my mind to replay them over and over.

…Anything you want, Mr. Devlin.

"Let's do the next take and start from right after the kiss," I tell Daphne and Austin. The subtle breath of disappointment from Josephine is only noticeable to me. Josephine allowing me to touch her, kiss her; once is enough to sate my desire for now.

Daphne gives us direction from her seat. "That's a great place to pick it up, Mr. Devlin. Jo, in this scene, Bryan and Amber have shared the climactic kiss, very good performance from the both of you, by the way. I really felt the angst of love unrealized. The silent tension between these two characters is ripe. Even though neither of them believes Amber's going to die, the kiss is the last physical piece of intimacy they share before Bryan goes out to search for her and discovers her body torn to shreds."

As one of the best directors of my Stream Scream Horror films, I trust Daphne's vision implicitly. She's already out of her seat to position us for the scene. These horror flicks aren't blockbuster productions which sell out theaters, but they get views in the millions from digital screens across the globe. It's enough to give the appearance my studio is successful from these movies alone.

In her role as director, Daphne doesn't have any discomfort moving us around. "Mr. Devlin, I want you to grab Jo by the wrist as she tries to leave and yank her back into your body. Hold her close, gaze into her eyes, and Amber says…"

It's slightly jarring how tiny Josephine's wrist feels in my hand. I imagine both of her wrists in one of my palms while my other hand dips below to uncover what makes that tight little body of hers squirm in delight. Dark denim jeans hide where I picture my hand traveling, and the loose cotton shirt she wears gives me a mere glimpse of her breasts.

Minutes.

All it takes are a few minutes for me to become infatuated with Josephine Hansen.

"Action!" Daphne shouts.

Josephine tries to walk away from me. I grab her wrist to pull her back against me, staring down into her eyes where something real sparks between us. The room morphs into a bubble once more. Something like the kiss, it's only about us. There's no audition, no director or casting agent, only us. However, she breaks the hold when she reads her lines.

"Bryan, don't kiss me again. It'll feel too much like goodbye. Let me go, Bryan. Let me go so I can come back." There's a hint of pain in her eyes as the words play off her lips.

"Brilliant. Cut." Daphne's eyes beam with excitement. "Jo, you're perfect. At least, with Mr. Devlin, you two are perfect together."

I wonder how right Daphne truly is.

"You said two more takes, right?" Josephine asks, once again breaking me out of the trance her gaze holds me in. The way her scent of lavender and cherries teases my senses makes me wonder if her skin tastes as sweet.

"Yes," I tell her.

Josephine moves a step away from me. She turns away from us, touching her lower lip lightly before tossing a glance in my direction. Soft hues of red creep into her cheeks, along with curiosity.

Yet, I'm the one curious to know more. I'm desperate to figure out if there's more to my surging lust or if my interest in her stops short with her talents and tits. My thoughts and plans to get to know her after this audition are interrupted when a commotion erupts right outside the door.

"Special Agent Shaw, please, you can't barge into that room. There are auditions taking place," a Production Assistant shouts as the door bursts open.

A tallish woman with an attitude that uglies her beautiful face, storms into the room in a navy-blue suit, carrying a folder in her hand. Special Agent Quincy Shaw's been a nuisance to me and this studio for the past few weeks. I know what she's looking for, but she's not going to find it.

"Where is Starlight of the Sea?" she demands, without acknowledging anyone else in the room. Josephine steps further away from me. A reminder her world is nothing like mine. She doesn't belong in a place where the monsters are real, and I'm associated with some of the most gruesome to ever walk this city.

My hands aren't clean either. There are plenty who'd lump me in with the kind of men Agent Shaw is trying to put away. Hell, I am a man she's trying to put away.

"In the can," I tell her. "The film has been delayed in its release."

"Release?" She glances at me from her folder. "According to the documents I've seen, not only was it not released, but there’s also no evidence of it ever existing. No actors or actresses, sets or designs. All I have are invoices and not a single line item of this film can be validated."

"Of course, the invoices can be validated. You're actually standing in front of the starring actress of the project." I tell her with my gaze shifting to Josephine.

Agent Shaw spins on her heels, eyeing Josephine from head to toe. "A little young for you, Devlin."

"She's not for me. This is Jo Hansen. She used the stage name, Ruthie Strafford, for the project." The lies fly out of me before I can loop Josephine into what's happening. Fortunately, she doesn't need much direction.

Josephine steps forward, tuning into her improv acting skills. "I didn't want my first film to be a burden on my family. My son's still in grade school and doesn't need the attention or the scrutiny."

A kid?

She doesn't look old enough to be anyone's mother. I'm even more curious.

"I want to see this film, Devlin, with Miss Strafford, Hansen, whatever her name is as the leading lady," Agent Shaw demands, glaring around the room.

"It's still in post-production. I told you there were delays," I tell the FBI Fraud investigator. She could be FBI, but I'm certain she said she was working with the IRS, too. She flashed a badge and credentials, so I let her into my ledgers and accounting. If everything goes according to plan, this investigation of hers is going to add up to a monumental waste of time.

Agent Shaw huffs, pinching the bridge of her nose. "There's plenty of time to get it out of post-production, Devlin. I want to see that film and every other film in this ledger of expenses. You, Mr. Brisco, and every other associate of Mr. Armande Marzano will be hauled in and brought up on charges if you don't."

"What charges?" I ask her in a tone of nonchalance. I won't let this Fed get to me.

"Racketeering Influenced Criminal Organization, Devlin."

"RICO?" I try to be as convincing as I can, feigning confusion. "There's no way you're trying to bring me, a model citizen, in front of a grand jury for a RICO case. This isn't New York or Chicago, Agent Shaw. You're reaching for the stars."

"No, I'm reaching into the bowels of this city and gutting the corruption levied on it by the mob, and all of the mob's known associates," she sneers, slamming her folder shut.

"Daphne, write that down for one of our future scripts," I tell my director with a cocky grin. Still, I won't let the agent say whatever she wants. I tell her, "Watch yourself, Agent Shaw. That's slander. I know you have a job to do, so you'll have a copy of every movie on that ledger, along with the accounting to justify the astronomical expenses it takes to put a movie out."

Agent Shaw rolls her eyes. "Oh please, Devlin. Your movies go straight to those free streaming sites and apps."

I hold a hand up to stop her from speaking. "When you become a producer of films and television shows, you can tell me how to pinch my pennies. Until then, please allow my Luca Brisco Studio liaison to escort you back to the conference room so I can get back to work. Time is money. And don't worry. There will be an invoice in this film's financial portfolio to document every minute you've wasted."

Agent Shaw's irritation is enough to etch a grin onto my face as she leaves. There's panic in Josephine's eyes, while Austin and Daphne are used to Agent Shaw's hysterics by now. Once the agent is out of sight, I peer around the room. "Can you give me the room to speak to Miss Hansen, please?"

They nod and leave me alone with Josephine. Her gorgeous brown eyes dart away from me, reminding me of the bottoms of autumn leaves or sticks of cinnamon.

"I think a formal introduction is in order, Miss Hansen. My name is Luca Devlin." I hold out my hand to shake hers, giving me a reason to touch her again, easing the apprehension in the air.

"Luca, as in Luca Brisco Studios?"

I nod.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Devlin," she says.

"Please, call me Luca. I want to offer you the lead role in the film, Starlight of the Sea. It's about a beautiful siren who shifts between her human form and a vicious mermaid to lure young men to their demise. The men are all guilty of heinous crimes, until she runs into one whose crimes were all to protect and rescue innocent people."

"That sounds like a beautiful love story."

My head tips to the side, remembering the kiss between us. "I never pictured it as a love story. I was going for our typical horror or thriller."

The way her eyes light up when she speaks makes me want to talk to her all day. "Dark horror romance that would play out beautifully on screen. Would I have to do a lot of underwater scenes?"

"I think our post-production and set designer can handle those scenes in a way where you won't have to get wet."

"I don't mind getting wet, Luca." She bites her bottom lip, stepping closer to me. With the door closed, restraint flies out the window as I wrap my hand around the back of her neck, pulling her close to steal a kiss.

Josephine has no idea how much I want to see her wet, dripping for me, and begging me to make her come. My tongue swirls around her mouth. Her moans don't stop me this time. Instead, we move together in the kiss until Josephine's against the wall while my mouth captures hers. When I feel the blood surging through my body, heading straight to my cock, I pull away.

I can't walk out of this room with a hard-on. "Fuck, I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Luca. Like I said." She licks her lip. "I don't mind getting wet."

"You're perfect." My heart's racing and I can't get enough of her, but I need to reel this thing between us back in before it's too palpable for others to notice. "You're perfect for both these roles, Josephine."

I see her thinking it over, saying, "A leading role sounds like a lot of long hours."

"Aren't you an actress? You don't want long hours? Aren't you in the union? You'd get the SAG union rate."

"Long hours are fine if I didn't have a kid to look after. My, um, help has recently scattered in all directions. It would be hard for me to get a consistent babysitter. I don't want to hold up production. Especially since it looks like that woman wants the film ready as soon as possible."

"You're right. Agent Shaw is being impatient, but since she already believes you're the leading actress, and this audition shows me you can be the leading actress, I want you, Josephine. I only want you," I tell her. "Promise me you’ll think about it. I'm the producer and can make it work for your schedule. We can stick to weekends, but they'll be long shoots. Your kid can be in it, or they can hang out on set."

"That's all really nice, Mr. Devlin."

"Call me Luca."

"That's all really nice, Luca. Still, I have to give it some thought."

"Do you have plans for the rest of your day? I'd like to convince you over lunch." My hand brushes against hers. When she nudges her fingers against mine, I let my fingers wrap around her small hand, rubbing my thumb across the top.

She shivers, pulling away gently from my grasp. "I don't know about that. Somehow, I feel like we'd talk about everything but the movie."

"We can talk about whatever you want, Josephine."

A soft moan escapes her lips as Josephine blinks, then her eyes lock onto mine. "I'm sorry. I made plans with Monique for lunch."

"Don't apologize, Jo. You never planned on meeting me and I never planned on intruding on your audition or stealing that kiss. We'll cross paths again." I grin and step back, shoving my hands in my pockets to ensure I keep them to myself.

"You're so sure of that?"

"Well, of course I am. You've already landed the role of Amber in this feature film, and after about two days of thinking, you'll be ready to take on Cadence the Siren."

She smiles, laughing and taking steps to leave the room. "Oh really? Two days? That's all it's going to take for me to commit to this part?"

I nod. "Yeah. I'd say you have to run it by your boyfriend, kid, babysitters and all of that. But I can tell that people who care about you will go out of their way for you."

"That's a crazy assumption to make."

I shrug. "I wouldn't be the businessman I am if I didn't make a few crazy assumptions. Besides, you're going to need those two days to remember your promise to me."

"What promise?"

"Your promise that you'd do anything I want, Jo," I tell her, repeating what she said. I'll do anything you want, Mr. Devlin.

"That's not fair, Luca. That was about this audition and doing multiple takes, multiple kisses. A promise like that taken out of this room and out of context could lead to careless decisions, especially when you look at me like that."

"How am I looking at you, Josephine?" I ask her, knowing very well what I want her to see.

"Like I won't regret doing anything you want."