The Bad Boys of Summer Anthology(150)

Trace’s soft hand captures mine and gently leads me beside the bed. He climbs on and holds the sheet up, indicating for me to join him. Once I’m situated in his arms the way Marcus described, I no longer feel apprehensive, just undeniably turned on. He rubs his hand up and down my arm, but the goose bumps spread across my body aren’t because I’m cold. In fact, it’s so warm in here I can feel the sweat beginning to form.

“I think they want us all hot and bothered,” he jokes, obviously trying to make me feel at ease.

“Mission accomplished,” I say, smiling back at him. Not that the temperature in the room has anything to do with it, I think. I stare up at those mesmerizing blue eyes and a surge of electricity is shared between us.

“Okay, guys,” Marcus says and I startle to find his face suddenly in front of us. Shit, I already forgot we have an audience.

“Say something before you fucking put your head in our faces,” Trace says in a clipped tone. Marcus gives him a confused look before shaking his head and giving us our final instructions. Before walking away, he makes a joke—something to the effect of how far it goes is up to us.

The thought strikes me that the first and maybe only time I kiss Trace will be watched by roughly twenty-five people, scrutinizing our every move. I don’t have time to dwell on it though because a second later, Marcus yells, “Action!”

Trace’s arms encase my head and my body automatically responds by inching closer to his. As his leg weaves between mine, his full lips begin to brush across my cheek, trailing over to my ear. My hands freely move to his toned muscular back, pulling him toward me. He grazes my earlobe with his parted mouth and I can hear and feel his rapid breathing, making me even more aroused.

The sheet slowly starts to descend as our hands and legs move around each other’s bodies. Trace’s long fingers spread through my curls as his lips tentatively linger above mine. He gently pulls my lower lip between his teeth and then kisses it tenderly, while reaching his hands behind my back and expertly unhooking my bra. His fingers slowly pull the straps down each of my bare arms, keeping my body firmly against his as he tosses it to the floor. Our kiss becomes more urgent and he slips his tongue in between my slightly parted lips. I open fully and my tongue quickly unites with his. As we gradually shift closer, I can’t miss the way his body responds to mine—one part of his body, in particular. I have no doubt he can feel how wet I am, since there are only a few thin pieces of material separating us.

I can’t get enough of him—I want more. My free hand reaches down and grabs his ass, pulling his hardness into me. A moan escapes his mouth but he doesn’t pull away. Instead, he begins to circle his hips slowly and I let out a whimper, imagining him doing the same thing but without any barriers between us. Our mouths never leave one another while our hands and bodies remain in constant motion, exploring.

“CUT!” Marcus screams and I jolt back, realizing we just did all that in front of a captive audience. Heat rapidly consumes my body and not from the warmth of Trace but from embarrassment. Trace pulls me back against him abruptly.

“Hold up, Taryn. Just wait for the robe.” I feel his slick, sculptured upper body against my breasts and his hardness pressing against my stomach. “Please,” he adds softly. I nod my head and stare up into his eyes. “See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” He smirks and I nod again. Somewhere between ’action’ and ‘cut,’ I appear to have been struck mute.

When Caprice rushes over with my robe, Trace holds up the sheet and looks away so I can put it on in privacy. After I stand, I see him casually adjust himself before putting his robe back on. Marcus approaches us, gushing, “That was great guys. Got it on the first take.”

“All of it?” Trace asks and the disappointment in his voice is evident. Hell, I feel the same way.

“Yep, you guys are good to go. Trace, we film your solo scenes tomorrow and Taryn, I’ve got you scheduled for the next day.” We both head toward our respective dressing rooms, though I can’t help but sneak one quick peek at him before I enter mine.

Shit, I think I’m hyperventilating. I literally cannot breathe. That was the single best kiss of my life. Like the Grand Ole Opry of kisses. A tingly sensation hits me thinking about how hard he was—and holy hell, he was huge! I collapse into a chair, smiling at myself in the mirror like an idiot.

“What the hell was that?” My mom bursts in and I quickly lose the smile as she throws her hands on her hips, glaring my way.

“Acting—just like you told me to do,” I remind her.

“Taryn, a song and a video is one thing. Whatever that was…well, that’s entirely different,” she says, gesturing toward the door.

My only response is to grab my change of clothes and walk behind the partition.

“Taryn!” she yells and I continue to ignore her. “You’d better talk to me.”

“There’s nothing to say. It was acting, Mom. I guess if the singing thing doesn’t pan out, I have something to fall back on,” I lie. I don’t think an Oscar winner could have pulled off that performance.

“I’ve seen acting, Taryn, and that wasn’t it.” Her phone rings and thankfully I’m able to change in peace while someone distracts her. It only lasts for a minute though because the second I’m dressed, she pulls me out the door. I don’t see any sign of Trace or his entourage as I walk through the main room and into the hallway—he must have already left. Although I shouldn’t be, I’m disappointed he didn’t stop long enough to say goodbye.





Chapter 10

Trace



After a shower to get my sweaty ass under control, I emerged from my dressing room to find that Taryn had already left. What did I expect, that we were going to pick up where we left off after the cameras stopped rolling? Maybe not, but I didn’t think Taryn would just up and leave right away either.

“Ace, that was fuckin’ hot, my man,” Quinton says, slapping me on the back. “Who knew the brother had moves like that?”

“Yeah, now I see why he gets all the women,” Xavier grumbles.

“Bro, it ain’t got nothin’ to do with his moves. Are you forgettin’ the money this man pulls in on a daily basis?” Dre chimes in.

“And are you motherfuckers forgettin’ that I’m standing right here?” I demand.

“Ooh, he’s touchy. No doubt it’s those blue balls you’ve got after filming a love scene without the lovin’. We need to take you out so you can get that taken care of,” Xavier offers.

“Hell no, I’m tired as fuck,” I say. “We ain’t stopped since we got back. Plus, you heard Marcus— I’ve gotta film in the morning and who knows what the hell else Jay’s got lined up for me to do. Speaking of which, where is that bastard?”

“He and Caprice had some catching up to do,” Dre says, waggling his eyebrows. Good to know my manager’s got his priorities straight. Although I’m not complaining, since at least he’s not breathing down my damn neck.

Marcus joins the group, putting his arm around my shoulders, saying, “Great job, Ace. I’m not sure I’ve ever filmed a scene like that in one take before. You guys were fuckin’ hot.”

“That’s what I told him,” Quinton says, “and now my boy here’s trying to get out of going out tonight because he says y’all gotta film tomorrow.”

“We do have to film, jackass,” Mark states and I silently thank him, “and he can’t be rollin’ into the shoot with a hangover. In fact, all y’all need to get some rest.”

“And you don’t think we should be callin’ you St. Mark, huh?” Xavier teases him.

“I’m no saint, motherfucker,” Mark says under his breath. Alrighty then.

“Hey, let’s get out of here—we’ve got plenty of time to hang,” I say. “Don’t forget the release party the label’s throwing in a couple of days. We gonna rock the shit outta that shindig.”

They immediately begin chatting about the party like a group of teenage girls, and I’m grateful I managed to redirect their attention. Giving Mark a wink, I head toward the door where Cal is talking to some of the security team while he waits.

In the car on the way back to the hotel, I finally have a chance to think about Taryn. There is no way that I was the only one feeling it when we were filming that bedroom scene. In fact, I’m pretty damn sure we both forgot that we were supposed to be acting. Hell, I forgot that there were people watching us. Holy shit—that’s probably why she took off the way she did. I’ll bet my ass her mom dragged her out of there so fast her pretty head was probably spinning. Even a mom like hers doesn’t want to watch their “cute and classy” daughter getting it on with some black guy, no matter how much money he’s got. Guess there’s only one way to find out. I pull out my phone and send her a text.

So you gonna kiss and fly? ;)

Nothing. Complete fucking radio silence. Sitting in LA traffic for the next hour with nothing to do but wonder why she isn’t responding is making me feel like I’m losing my mind. It’s a good thing I’m not driving or I’d be hell on wheels right now.