Chapter 6

To his great disappointment, she insisted on taking the car she had leased.

"I don't want to put you out when I have to get back." Had been her explanation. He had wanted to argue but had to tread lightly. He was not yet her lover and even so, he had a feeling that Ms. Dani Matthews was a law unto herself.

At least, he did not have to put up with the pretty bastard. He had expected the man to come and see her off with a kiss, but there had been no sign of him.

Pressing a button, he opened the automatic gates for them to drive up the cobbled driveway of the pretty faded pink cottage with the patches of cabbage roses on both sides of the steps that led to a mid-sized porch. Vines were clinging to the structure, lending a delightful appeal to the place.

Alighting, He waited for her to park before moving to open her door for her to get out.

"A cottage."

"I thought it would be more private. I had a feeling you would not have wanted somewhere public to invite gossip."

"You are right." Turning her head, she flashed him a smile that had his heart turning over.

"Shall we?" He had to force his composure as he led the way towards the building.

"No one lives here, I take it?" She inquired as he inserted a key inside the lock and opened the mahogany door.

"Not now. Last season we had a man and his wife passing through who needed work. They were assigned this cottage." He ushered her inside the charming parlor and led the way into the quaintest dining room she had ever seen.

A small fireplace was etched into a corner of the room and the dining table was set with a dazzlingly white tablecloth and linen napkins. A bottle of wine is reposed inside a bucket in the middle of the table.

"Something smells wonderful."

"Our chef is determined to make an impression." Pulling out the chair, he waited for her to sit before taking his place at the opposite end. Reaching for the bottle, he popped open the cork and poured the rich burgundy into two glasses.

"You are very good." He commented as he handed her the glass, careful to avoid touching her. Desire was pouring in alarming speed inside his body, and he was going to have to indulge in as much small talk as possible to take his mind off the beautiful woman seated across from her.

"Pardon?" She looked up from her study of the chicken swimming in a sort of orange sauce to see him watching her.

"Acting. You are very good at it. I was drawn into the scene."

"Thank you." Her smile came again, and he felt the tightness in his loins. This was becoming ridiculous.

"I knew what I wanted to do when I was in high school. I had seen my mother on stage several times and became fascinated at how she could switch from one person to another."

She did not tell him that she wanted to become someone else to get away from her unhappy childhood. "I entered every play in high school and my drama teacher encouraged me to follow my dreams."

"Your mother must have been proud you wanted to follow in her footsteps." He murmured.

"She was something." Her tone was noncommittal and had him reading between the lines.

"Deidre Matthews was not one to tolerate competition, not even from her daughter." She shrugged and sipped some wine. "The reason I decided to major in films in college. I started out doing bit parts in television shows, patiently and not so patiently waiting for a producer to notice that I had talent."

She gave a derisive laugh. "One did of course, but the price he wanted me to pay was too damned high and I told him to go screw himself." His deep chuckle had her smiling, brown eyes twinkling.

"I can just imagine how that went."

"He told me that he was going to sabotage my career and I would never make it in showbiz."

"What did you say to that?" He was fascinated by her sultry voice and the way she had when telling her story.

"I told him that as soon as I make it big, I was coming after him." She shook her head. "I was na?ve and had no idea what the hell I was saying, but I refused to sleep with some sleaze bag to advance my career.

I was about to take a break and do something else when Milton discovered me playing the stepsister of the star of a soap opera and realized that I had ‘raw talent' – those were his words, and I did not want to hear them.

He said I needed to go to take some acting courses and I balked at that at first. I arrogantly thought that my college degree was all I needed, but I was so wrong. Those courses refined my talent and made it even better.

After that, he had me audition for a role in a period piece and I loved it. I played the King's sister who fell for one of his soldiers. The romance was forbidden and besides that, I was betrothed to an old Duke with lands adjoining the palace and it was set in stone.

Long story short- I acted the hell out of the role, changing some of the lines without being told, and somehow made the thing heartbreaking enough to have people shedding tears. It was picked up by several major networks and my career blossomed overnight."

"How did you feel?" he asked her quietly.

"Revved." She laughed and cut into her tender chicken. "Shocked and awed and of course grateful. I was only given starring roles after that, and I got to pick and choose the parts I wanted to play. It was a crowning moment for a black woman, and I did not have to open my thighs to achieve any of it."

"Was your mother proud then?"

She fiddled with her chicken and to her surprise, found herself saying. "She complained bitterly about me trying to outdo her and wanted me to use my so-called influence to get her parts."

"Did you?"

She shrugged slender shoulders. "For a while yes, but I soon discovered that nothing I did pleased her. She wanted bigger parts and accused me of trying to sabotage her. That's when I decided to concentrate on myself.

As soon as I was established enough, I took on the theater because I was fascinated by seeing the audience and interacting with them. It was scary as hell and my agent was against it at first, saying that if I tanked, I would be tanking in front of thousands of people. But I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it."

He was unaware that he had leaned in as he was being pulled into the story.

"Go on." He urged.

A smile dimpled her lips as she took in his fascinated expression. "It was a play about a woman who had lost her son to a tragic accident and the man she thought would be with her for the rest of her life turned his back on her.

Typical heartbreak. It would have been just another tragedy, but I was determined to make it different. I changed up the lines, much to the playwright's fury, and instead of making my character a weak and weeping female, I turned her into someone made incredibly strong during her grief."

She smiled at him. "I could not believe the reactions and outpourings. The play got rave reviews and I received tons of fan mails, mostly from women who could identify with that particular heartbreak."

She shrugged. "Suffice it to say that I had now conquered the small screen and the theater."

"Then you moved onto the big screen." His admiration for her could be heard in his deep voice and it thrilled her.

She nodded. "Yes. But unlike most people in my profession, I was not a fan of the big screen. I did several movies with male co-stars I admire, but I prefer television. To me, it's more intimate."

"You had made your mark."

"Enough for me to insist that I wanted to start producing. That brought on another fight which I was determined to win."

"And you did."

"After many battles and people telling me to stick to acting because that's what I do best. But there is this thing about me – The more people tell me that I cannot do something, the more I want to prove to them and myself that I can.

So as soon as I decided that's what I wanted to do, I added conditions to my roles. Either I get to produce in a small way, or I don't act at all, and I meant it."

"And they went for it."

"Reluctantly." She told him dryly. "I had three strikes against me. I was black, a woman, and all I did was act. I was honor-bound to prove them wrong and inside I was quaking with desperate fear that I would indeed tank. Jason was the only one who encouraged me and stood resolutely behind me. He has always been my greatest supporter."

The mention of the man's name and his importance in her life, had his mood taking a distinct dive.

"More wine?" he asked, forcing his tone into one of cool courtesy.

Dani noticed the subtle changes immediately and knew what caused it. Recalling Jason's words before she left tonight, she nodded and offered her glass. "He is gay."

Taj almost spilled the wine as his hand jerked. "Pardon?"

She smiled at him. "Jason is gay and still in the closet. He is merely my best friend."

Putting the bottle down carefully, he took his time before looking at her. "The kiss- "

"I am an actress and very good at what I do. So is he. We allow the rumors because it suits us to have people believe we are a couple. Jason has lousy tastes in men, and they end up trying to extort him.

I am fiercely protective of him and after the last disaster, I decided enough was enough. He is vulnerable and because of that, people take advantage of him. And I was determined not to have anything to do with the men in my profession. We shield each other."

He shook his head and felt the relief pouring through his body.

"I was going to get it out of the way."

"Get what out of the way?"

Taking a deep breath and a sip of wine, he responded. "I intend on taking you to bed tonight. I am going to insist on it. But I wanted to make certain I was not stepping on any toes. I would also like to say that I would have stepped the hell back if you were involved with him, but I would have been lying."

Her heart gave a curious bump as she stared at him. "What would you have done?"

"Sleep with you to prove that I am the better lover."

She almost spilled her wine at his bluntness. "I see. And you are confident you would have succeeded?"

He grinned at that, suddenly feeling light and buoyant. "Positive."

She eyed him for a few seconds, taking in the honey-blonde hair that tended to curl and the tanned, handsome face with a very beautifully strong bone structure. He was wearing a plaid shirt opened at the throat over faded denim and he looked magnificent.

"So, will you?"

"Will I what?" She was so distracted by his potent sexuality that she had lost track of the conversation.

"Sleep with me?"

"Will we be sleeping?"

A slow smile curved his sensuous lips and upped her blood pressure several notches.

"No. Perhaps for a few hours to give us time to recharge."

"I see." She fiddled with her baby potatoes and realized to her surprise that she was nervous.

"Let's go for a walk and then come back for dessert."

"Dessert?" Her head snapped up to look at him.

"There is a plum pudding complete with whipped cream and a pot of coffee.' He gave her a knowing smile that had her lowering her lashes.

"A walk it is." Trying desperately to recover her composure, she put the glass down and pushed back her chair.

*****

"You are troubled," Jane murmured as soon as he climbed into bed next to her.

"Is it that obvious?" He did not immediately reach for her as usual but stacked his hands behind his head and stared up at the ceiling.

"Yes." Rolling on her side, she placed a hand on his chest and relished the warmth of his skin. "I have seen glimpses of the cast and crew members while they were driving into town. I heard you invited them over for dinner."

"We did. Or rather, Dad issued the invitation."

She gave him a curious glance. "I am sensing if it was up to you, they would not be here."

He shrugged, the argument with his son still fresh in his mind.

"Taj is – he is interested in the girl."

A smile curved her lips as she stared at him. Theodore Byrne was a complex man. He was a gentle soul, but his heartbreak over losing his wife had made him hardened somewhat. Jane had fallen helplessly in love with him.

She knew she would never be the epic love of his life, the way he was for her, but she was willing to accept anything he offered her. She also knew he was guilty about their relationship and felt as if he was cheating on her memory, but she was also willing to live with that for now.

"And you don't approve."

Turning his head, he gazed at her, his expression softening. She was longsuffering and never asked him for more than he was prepared to give. He enjoyed her company, not just her selfless lovemaking, but the fact that she was always ready to listen to him.

"No." He said "You know what happened before."

"You think it's the same thing. Or she might be like before."

"I don't know her. But I don't want my son getting hurt again. He is heading into this thing too quickly. That woman will be out of here when the shoot wraps up."

"I never had the satisfaction or privilege of bearing children, but as an observer, I can say that your son is a very smart young man, and you are going to have to allow him to make his own mistakes. You are going to have to trust him enough to believe he knows what he is about."

A smile touched his lips and his eyes twinkled. "Smart and beautiful." He murmured, already forgetting his worries as his gaze wandered over her soft, inviting lips. "Quite a combination, which is irresistible." He reached for her, and she went into his arms willingly.

*****

To prevent himself from taking her hand as he was yearning to do, he shoved them into the pockets of his light jacket as they strolled along the rugged landscape.

"I love the fresh air."

"And the quiet?" he asked teasingly. The breeze was sifting through her thick dark brown hair, and she looked as if she was enjoying herself.

Sliding him an amused glance, she pretended to think about it. "I am used to lights and the sounds of vehicles whizzing by. I live in a townhouse complete with a stunning view of the city and near theaters, museums, galleries, and such. Exactly the way I like it."

"We do have all of that here."

"No kidding." Her laughter tinkled out and had him almost reaching for her. The longer he spent with her, the more he realized how much he wanted to make love to her.

"If you weren't such a famous movie star, I would take you into town to prove that we are not the least bit unsophisticated. Or if that doesn't suit you, we have a helicopter and a private jet."

She flashed him a smile. "Trying to impress me, Mr. Byrne?"

"Am I doing a good job?" He countered.

"You are," She turned to face him, forcing him to stop. "And it's yes."

His heart slammed painfully against his ribs at the look on her exquisite face.

"You are going to have to be more specific." He told her huskily.

"Yes, to the lovemaking."

He went still, his body becoming painfully hard.

"Cat got your tongue?" She whispered.

"The words seem to have been lodged inside my throat." He admitted hoarsely. "I want to kiss you. No, scratch that, I am dying to kiss you."

"Are you asking permission?"

"I guess I am."

"Permission granted. I want to be kissed."

"In that case- "His hands lifted to cup her face, fingers shaking. Her nearness was intoxicating, and his guess had been accurate. Her skin was like satin. Lifting her chin, he marveled that she was so petite she barely came up to his shoulders.

Bending his head, he brushed his lips against hers, his senses reeling as her sweet breath redolent of the wine they had with their meal collided with his labored breathing. Her lips parted willingly, allowing him access to her tongue.

"Dani." He breathed out her name without even being aware of it. His thumbs caressed her cheeks as his tongue drifted into her mouth slowly as if waiting for her to become accustomed to its invasion. When her arms came around his neck and she angled her body against his, he felt a surge of emotions so strong, it threatened to overwhelm him.

Lifting his hands from her face, he curved them around her narrow waist and then her taut buttocks where he brought her flushed against his throbbing erection. He swallowed her surprised gasp, with a shaky laugh before plunging his tongue into her mouth.

Her fingers moved restlessly from his shoulders to tangle in the thick strands of his hair as she pressed herself closer to him. His hands were roaming restlessly up and down her back, the kiss taking on a wildness that swept over them like a violent storm.

He finally found the strength to stop, his knees trembling as he lifted his mouth to stare at her. "It has to be now." He did not recognize the voice as his own, nor could he comprehend the emotions storming through his body.

"Yes," Dani whispered, her slender body vibrating with a passion she had never felt before.

"Oh God." Lifting her head, she crushed her mouth to his. With a tortured groan of surrender, he claimed her sweet lips, his tongue driving into her mouth. A few long minutes later, he ended the kiss, his breathing labored.

Forcing himself to calm down, he took her hand and had to stop himself from dragging her back to the cottage. They did not utter a word on the way back. Pushing the door open, he slammed it shut and locked it.

"We have dessert- "

"No. Where is the bedroom?" She asked huskily.

The relief he felt at her mutual desperation to get with him almost sapped his strength.

"It's here." Moving ahead, he led the way into a beautifully appointed bedroom of cream and pink with a delightful wallpaper of cabbage roses printed all over the creamy background. The bed was in the middle of the room, neatly made up with a colorful quilt.

"I am sorry." He muttered.

"Whatever for?" She asked, turning to look at him.

"I cannot wait." Sweeping her into his arms, he carried her to the bed, where he laid her down and hastily took off her boots.

Dropping them on the hardwood floor, he started on her dress pants, becoming frustrated when the zipper got stuck.

"Let me help- "She started laughing, when their fingers tangled up and made it worse.

"Got it!" he cried triumphantly as if he had achieved a major feat and at that moment it felt as if he had. Pulling over her hips, he sucked in his breath at the sheer beauty spread out before him. She was wearing black panties, sheer delicate black lace that was completely transparent.

Dropping the garment on the floor, he slid his hands slowly upwards, starting with her feet, the toes painted a bright red, fingers toying with them. Lifting his eyes to hers, he worked his way up her feet, feeling the muscles tensing as his fingers caressed her flesh.

"You work out."

"Yes." His fingers on her skin were making her yearn for more.

"I can feel it."

"Taj- "The sound of his name in her sultry voice had his cock swelling even more.