crowd have some opinions.” She shrugged and tried to send Carly a reassuring smile. “Just part of what makes live theater unique. I think you might actually like it.”
Something unexpected happened. Instead of smiling back, Carly’s eyes brimmed with tears. “Sorry,” she said, trying to find her voice that seemed strangled and not entirely available. She paused to wait for it to return, and Lauren’s heart squeezed. She slid her hands up to the outsides of Carly’s thighs, trying to bring them closer. Her instinct was to shelter Carly in any way she could, even physically.
“Hey, look at me.”
Carly did, though her bottom lip quivered.
“I’m right here. It’s just us. You don’t have anything to apologize for.” Lauren had talked actresses down a million and nine times, but not a single one of those conversations had affected her as potently as this one was. She had a lump in her own damn throat.
“It’s just”—Carly wiped her eyes—“there’s always been this little part of me that’s wondered if my success in film was because of how I look, you know? That my talent mattered less when they could send a makeup artist onto set to touch you up every five minutes, and give you fifteen takes to make a moment work. Here…” She shook her head and sighed. “It’s so raw. There’s no smoke and mirrors. It’s going to be me just standing there, acting, sweating, and crying, and I’m pretty sure that’s not going to be enough.”
Lauren gathered Carly’s hands in hers. “I don’t know who in the world has gotten in your head and made you think that you’re not talented outright, but let me be the one to set you straight. Can I be brutally honest?”
Carly laughed. “I feel like you’re always honest. But yes, let’s toss in brutal, for God’s sake.”
“I wasn’t thrilled when I heard they’d cast you in this show.” Carly nodded, taking it in. “I’d read that you were unreliable, into partying, and held up production with your antics.”
“Most of that was true,” Carly admitted. “Not all. But most.”
Lauren wasn’t finished. “Never once, however, did I doubt your talent or ability to completely master this role in every sense. Not for one second.”
Carly blinked. “Really?” She touched Lauren’s cheek. “Come on. That can’t be true.”
“Except it is. I’ve seen many of your movies and have always admired your work.” She inclined her head from side to side. “I mean, if you think about it, the reason they put up with you in Hollywood for so long is because you’re good. Otherwise? You’d have been blacklisted years back.”
Carly laughed, and that felt like progress. “I never looked at it like that.”
Lauren straightened. “That’s me. Voice of reason.”
“Isn’t that the damn truth?” Carly said. “Come here, please. Let’s see if some of that reason will rub off.” She leaned in, her gaze dipping to Lauren’s lips. Lauren, as if pulled by that ever-present magnet, met her halfway. “Hi,” Carly whispered, just before kissing her softly. Lauren drank in every sensation that kiss brought with it. She’d learned to revel in each shiver, flutter, and hit of pleasure that came her way from being near Carly. If those things worried or scared her before, she’d now embraced the power that Carly had over her body. Touching her only intensified the effect times ten. Lauren joined Carly on the couch, first sitting alongside her as they kissed like lust-starved teenagers, then welcoming Carly into her lap as she straddled Lauren and cradled her face as their mouths battled and explored. With her hands on Carly’s ass, she wanted nothing more than her out of those pants. She imagined Carly naked in the same position and had to pause their kissing to ensure she received enough oxygen for basic survival.
Carly waited while she took several necessary breaths. There was the air, slowly returning. “You okay?” Carly asked.
Lauren nodded. “Sometimes it feels like we combust.”
“So I’m not the only one, then?”
“I don’t know if you experience what I do, but I can tell you it’s more than a little intense.”
Carly nodded and traced the line of Lauren’s collarbone. “You know something else?”
“Tell me.”
Carly shook her head but held her gaze on the progress her finger made, not meeting Lauren’s eyes. “I really like you. It’s not just the attraction. It’s…everything.”
Lauren took a minute to absorb Carly’s words because it was apparent how closely she held them. They heard voices of their castmates passing Lauren’s dressing room and for a moment,