Yes, I literally was swiftly casted due to the blatant fact that it would jeopardize a lot of the production crew, time, and costs if they waited to cast the female lead. Nevertheless, I was grateful for the opportunity and couldn't wait to tackle this new character that I would be portraying.
Kells was in New York, so it was Anton and I who celebrated through lunch. After researching who Juan Torres was, we were both became the giggling idiots when we found out how drop dead gorgeous Spanish the actor was. They weren't kidding about dubbing him as the next Antonio Banderas. Basing from the pictures of him scattered all over online, he closely resembled the Desperado Antonio Banderas, hair and all, and I was sure the accent would just be as sexy too.
"Holy sweet fuck, you'll be bumping uglies with this Spanish macho? My pussy would be moist and pulsate with this bitch." He began to fan his reddened cheeks, riled up from his own conjured lurid fantasies. "I don't condone cheating, but if you do … I won't judge you, Sprinkles. This guy is hot as fuckkk!"
Cheating? Like hell I would dare think such garbage. I was in a serious-mind you, a very serious-relationship. I had no time for cheating.
"Sure, this Juan dude looks gorgeous, but my man's enough to get my juices flowing. So please, don't talk like that when River's around, or when he asks you for an opinion, 'cause I need my relationship intact after the eight weeks is up."
"You're right; River's way hotter than this Spanish guy." He nodded before I saw his face contort. "Although, eight weeks is a fucking long time to be without your sexy beau, so try to find time to see your man and get all the lust out of your system before you shoot nude scenes with this Spanish dynamite." No one could fault Anton for being subtle with his words. The man went straight for the kill.
The nude scenes. The thought of it alone made me shiver with anxiety. I had been too nervous to even dare inquire about it when Addison had asked me if I had any reservations about the impending scenes. I had just given off the impression that it didn't faze me at all, and so my agent was confident that I wouldn't suffer from any bouts of shyness. However, I was suffering a great deal, yet I was too prideful to voice it out loud. Such circumstances, in my opinion, should be dealt alone and privately without having other people muddy my already down rotten emotions.
Even if this Spanish actor was hot, I wouldn't dream of putting myself in a position where River would distrust me. He and I fought so hard to get where we needed to be. I wasn't willing to throw that out the window just for some short Mediterranean fling. My love for River ran deep and no handsome man could ever dissuade me from my loyalty.
That same day, luckily for me, Kyle called to invite me for dinner after my late workout session. Carmen wasn't there, but she didn't forget to text me to work on my kicks and punches so I had better chances at beating her next time.
River arrived Thursday night just as I was preparing dinner in my apartment. I had never seen him so utterly exhausted. The man had dark circles from the continuous traveling. I couldn't help gently wrapping my arms around him, welcoming him home while feeling downright awful that Ari and his label were making him work so hard. There were work commitments and then there was this.
I knew he had to prove his worth in a new industry, but this was beyond the realm of normal. I wasn't sure what bothered me the most: the fact that his management was forcing him to exhaustion or the blatant fact that he didn't mind being pushed to the breaking point. He wasn't a damn machine.
"I hope you're hungry. I'm making dinner." Smiling at him, I helped him off his leather jacket. He looked so scruffy and evidently in dire need of TLC. "Do you want wine, water-anything at all?"
A sexy smile formed on his lips as he lovingly gazed down at me, relieved to finally see each other after almost a week and a half of absence. "Water sounds good. No more drinking for me, not for a while." He raked through his hair before I felt him reach out to cup my bottom as he kissed the base of my neck. "I've missed you … " His voice held a promise of what kind of wicked things he would be up to tonight. And boy, was I ready.
My body lightly shivered upon his touch before I let out a languorous sigh, contentment and utter happiness running through me. "I hope you're done with promoting for some time. I'm leaving for Minorca next week, and I'd like to spend as much time with you as possible."
He looked pensive, eyeing me with scrutiny before murmuring, "You're really doing it, huh?" As if there were any concession.