Undeniably Yours (Torn, #3.5)(2)
So, in my high emotional state, I took a chance yet again, even though what happened eight months ago almost obliterated me.
Simply and Utterly Mesmerized By You
How it all began…
“Bass Cole!” someone yelled my name. I didn’t bother turning around though, because the pap would ask me the same question; am I dating Lydia Cornwell?
Since I had watched her fashion show the other night, people were now curious. Was I dating her? That remains to be seen. Had they asked me if I was sleeping with her, then the answer would’ve been an easy yes.
Life had been shit lately. Sleep had been hard to come by and I had been relying a lot more on alcohol to lull me to bed. Alcoholic I was not, though I certainly enjoyed a glass or two during meals.
The last couple of months had been horrid thanks to my parents. Top that with my hectic shooting schedule, demanding agents, other work commitments, promotional tours and a busy turnaround on my love life, it was a blessing I hadn’t gone mad amidst this turbulent lifestyle of mine. Yet alas, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Movies were my passion and acting my life’s force.
Without them, life would be meaningless.
For the past month, I’d been feeling out of sorts, like there was a gaping hole in me and, no matter what I did, the cavern got bigger. So, instead of pondering away an entire night while nursing a glass of wine as I went through my favorite fifties films, I caved when a few of my party friends had called to go clubbing tonight.
These were merely party friends; people I enjoyed drinking and engaging in fun activities or conversations with. The real kind, though, I had only one—my best friend—Taylor. Apart from him, the rest were all social peers. Not one of them knew the real me.
It was a shallow way of living, but it was the Hollywood life. These smiling faces were conniving ones. I had learned a few lessons with betrayal from these folks. At the end of the day, it was all about the image; one where I’m grateful that I had been appreciated through my acting chops and not how I looked, though I must admit that my appearance had helped out once in awhile.
My plan was to stay an hour or two then bounce to the Laugh Factory on Sunset, however that changed the second I spotted her.
From afar, it appeared that her friends were toasting her. The way she smiled gave away that she had probably just recently broken up with her boyfriend.
“Dude! I heard you’re doing a film with a lot of nudity? You sure you like a role like that? You don’t want to be remembered as the guy with a nice ass like Brad Pitt did in Troy. Each time I recall that film, his ass pops to mind.” Wes grinned as he sniffed a bit. He was a decent actor, but his cocaine addiction might get in the way of his dreams. Another downfall in the entertainment industry was the drugs.
“Well, I hope my ass will be just as memorable then.” I shook my head as I took hold of a bottle and poured myself a glass of brandy.
Missy stood up and came over to my side of the booth, trying to sit on my lap, but I placed my arms there so she settled at my side; practically gluing herself to me. “Your ass is memorable, baby. When do I get to enjoy it again, huh?”
I hid my grimace. Missy was a result of too many drunken nights where I had ended up sleeping with her twice. She was brazen, easy and did what I wanted her to do, yet for some reason, she wasn’t doing it for me. Not tonight. “You’re far better off without it. Trust me on that.”
That was how I fought off women, but sometimes I went less than subtle. Missy was a nice woman, though, even if she was somewhat of a gold digger. Let’s just simply say that two nights with her had ended up costing me over a hundred grand in presents since she had a great fixation with imported sports cars.
I think Missy made a retort, but I barely heard her because the woman I had been watching now got up to go dancing with a friend.
She wasn’t my usual taste, but I stood up anyway, as though my body was just automated to do so, willing to see her up close.
“Excuse me. I need to speak to someone.” I barely glanced back as I headed towards her dancing form.
Standing a few feet away from her, I watched.
Fascinated.
Enraptured.
This woman—a stranger—held something I wanted. What that was, however, I had no clue.
I felt it, though—that thing—the buzz, the electrifying jolt, the shockwaves, that pulling connection that simply called upon me.
The crater was ebbing away… I felt jerked awake, seeing things for the first time. Appreciative.
Inching closer, I took the chance and stood behind her back before I managed to take hold of her hip and pulled her against me. My head pounded, my blood rushed everywhere as I inhaled the scent of her hair. The entire time, my mind was telling me to back off, that I was truly losing my mind and I would be in the headlined tomorrow as a perverted stalker. I didn’t care. Not right now. I felt that need—that pull—that I hadn’t felt before.
“Can I dance with you?”
It was strange. I was curious why I was reacting the way I was. It was just then that she spun around and our eyes connected for the first time.
She had cornflower-blue eyes which held something good inside, but what captured me more was how unguarded they looked. The blonde had innocent eyes. Yes, the rejection and hurt were all evident in there, too. It was true what they said about the eyes being windows to your soul because, right at that moment, I had met someone that titillated me.