through her nerve endings and a feeling of euphoria consumed her as her body remained wrapped around Luke’s. She could tell he was close to his own release. His hands, still digging into her hips, were urging her movements faster and faster until he threw his head back in ecstasy, groaning into the thick air of the dressing room.
Elle collapsed onto him, her heart pounding out of control, sweat running down her back. Luke wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a tight embrace. After a quiet moment spent in one another’s arms, Elle slid from the chair. She attempted to stand, but found herself clutching the counter. Her legs felt like jelly, and she was having trouble getting her bearings. She’d never had orgasms like the ones she had with Luke. Their intensity was simply incomparable to anything else she experienced with any other lover.
“Well, that was hot.” Luke sat in his makeup chair, looking spent. Elle handed him his boxer shorts, after she found them draped over a lamp in front of the expansive mirror on the wall. “We should do that more often. I don’t know what came over you, but I like it.”
His tone of voice was playful. He was teasing her. Clearly, her intentions were more than obvious.
“Don’t be a smartass. You know what came over me.” An image of Gina popped back into Elle’s head and she remembered the insinuation about a publicist. “By the way, she said you have to make a decision? Something about her publicist and needing an answer . . .”
“Oh.” Luke ran his fingers through his mussed-up hair, and his nose wrinkled slightly as he licked his lips. “That. I wanted to talk to you about that, but we haven’t seen much of each other lately.”
“What is it?” Elle hoped it was nothing serious, nothing that would jeopardize their budding relationship.
“There was such a great reaction to that Perez Hilton thing that her publicist thinks we should have a showmance.”
Elle’s jaw dropped. She had no idea what to say. Luke sighed. “It’s this thing where we pretend to be a couple—”
“I know what it is, Luke. I’m in the business, remember?”
“So what do you think? It wouldn’t be real. Just like two or three months of being seen in public or whatever to get the tongues wagging.”
“Is this really what you want for yourself? Fake romance to boost your career?”
“Well, when you put it that way—”
“And where is the line drawn? Will you be kissing in public? Making out in restaurant booths, what?” Aggressively, Elle slid her panties up her legs as aggravation threatened to change the tone of their discussion. Gina’s lips on Luke in the studio was difficult enough; the last thing she needed was to see them on gossip rags and websites.
He rose from his seat, stood before her, and ran his hands down her arms still beading with sweat. “I like when you’re jealous.”
“I’m not jealous.” Elle slid her bra back on her thin frame. Luke tipped his chin and raised his eyebrows. “I’m not!”
“Okay, okay, whatever you say. But for the record, it’s hot as hell. And I like this side of you.”
She crossed her arms in front of her chest, widening her stance. “And what side is that?”
Luke wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close, nuzzling her neck with his nose. “The side of you that reacts. Instead of being all stoic and strong, you took what you wanted. And I was more than happy to give it to you.”
“You’re changing the subject.”
“That’s because I’m trying to keep you on your toes.”
“And what does that mean?”
“I’m telling her no, Elle. I was always going to tell her no. I just wanted to see how you feel about me . . . how you really feel about me.”
Elle’s lips parted. “Seriously? You have no intention of going along with it?”
“Absolutely none. I want to make a name for myself the right way—with my work. But you have to admit you’ve been pulling away from me. One minute, we’re having a great time, the next you’re somewhere else completely. I had to know how you really feel.”
Elle’s voice came out in a whisper. “I’m crazy about you . . . obviously.”
“It’s good to hear.” He shrugged, his eyes sincere and vulnerable. “I know you’re seeing him, I can feel it.”
“W-what? How did you . . . I mean—” Elle rambled, taking several steps back. How did he read her so well?
“Look,