I narrowed my eyes at the box of chocolates. “What would we get out of that?”
“Well, it’s a small example of the power dynamic. For me, I love knowing that my submissive is enjoying her treat and I get to think about her pleasure at the exact moment it’s happening. I get to imagine her expression, imagine her smile as she bites half, allowing the chocolate to melt over her fingers so that she can lick it off after.”
“Yeah… but the box is right there,” I said, pointing at it. “We could also just each enjoy a caramel now. Instead of imagining my face enjoying it, you could actually see my face enjoying it.”
“And as a Dom, there might be times I choose to do that.” His voice dropped, husky like he’d just taken a mouthful of cigar smoke. “But we are in a time where pleasure is a constantly running spigot. Any time you want, you can stick your mouth over that overflowing water and gorge yourself in pleasure. In a world of instant gratification, you could absolutely eat those caramels now. Or you could wait. Eat only the two I tell you and indulge in the flavor, knowing that’s all you get tonight. Knowing that I am pleased by you following the order. And knowing that in those moments, I am picturing the way that tiny string of caramel fell over your bottom lip as you took a bite. By withholding, that pleasure will intensify with the second caramel.”
My mouth went dry, but other more important areas were completely wet. “You can’t know that,” I managed to rasp.
He nodded. “Oh, yes, I can.” The tip of a pink tongue darted out, running along the seam of his full lips. Did he know the effect he was having on me? Did he know that the mere sight of that tongue nearly drove me to my knees?
I shook myself out of the Jude Fisher fog. This was absolutely out of the question. “And what about Omar?”
“Tell him,” Jude said, sitting back against the bench once more. “Tell himeverything. You have to both be on board. Your needs and comfort are the most important. Which is why, if you want Omar there by your side, I can arrange that.” Relief flooded me. Jude’s care and caution and respect for both Omar and me only made me like him more. “If you agree, I’ll bring you into my world. I’ll be trusting you with a side of myself not many people see.”
“But that’s going to change,” I said. “As soon as this movie premieres, people will know… Or at least, suspect.” His face tightened.
“Not necessarily. In theory,mostpeople will only think I am a talented actor.” He leaned forward, humor flashing in his eyes. “Only you, Omar, and I will know what a real hack I am,” he whispered with a wink. “If you decide to learn my lifestyle, I’ll show you what it is to relinquish control of a situation. We’ll do trust exercises. Role play different Dominant/submissive behaviors, rehearse the callback sides. But absolutely no sex.”
I arched an eyebrow. “No sex, huh?”
“No. Even if you were single and interested, as soon as actors fuck in real life, all chemistry on screen is lost.”
I never believed that urban legend. It was ludicrous. Just because you were together in real life, didn’t mean you couldn’t act like new lovers as well. Hell, it was what acting was. But the fact that Jude Fisher seemed to buy into that mindset was curious. “You and Layla were together for years. And you acted in films together and—”
Words weren’t needed to silence me. One look from Jude’s green eyes and I snapped my mouth closed. Those eyes, which moments before had been heated, froze into an icy glare. I cleared my throat, desperately wishing I had a bourbon in hand to keep myself busy. Instead, I twisted my hands in my lap, bouncing my knee. “Oh,” I whispered. “So, you’re offering to help me because—”
“Because if I have to act alongside Layla, one of us may not live to wrap the movie. And I honestly think you’re the better actress,” he interrupted, voice sharper than a knife’s blade.
“Thank you,” I whispered. I was dying to know the whole story about Jude and Layla, but I also knew better than to pry.
“The only question is… are you up for this? Method acting isn’t easy. And it’s not for everyone.”
There was a little voice in the back of my brain screaming to run in the opposite direction. To get the hell away from Jude and this audition. But my gut was saying something entirely different. I trailed my gaze around the club; no one seemed to be watching. No one seemed to care that I was sitting here all alone with an actor I had just auditioned with, while my ‘fiancé’ was off somewhere in the bar on his own. Kyle was going to kill me when he found out about this.Ifhe found out about it.
“If I do this, no one can know.No one.”
Jude nodded, tilting his head to the side. “If anyone finds out about this, I’m in just as much shit as you are.”
He pushed to his feet, smoothing a palm over his pants. I stood too, my gaze drifting with his movement, powerless to stop where my eyes roamed.
“Tomorrow night, meet me at Daisy’s Diner on Kings Ave at 10:30 pm. If you accept my help, come with a week’s bag packed. I’ll be there waiting.” He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a business card. “If you eat that caramel tonight… text me. Let me know how it felt, what your thoughts were. And if I don’t see you tomorrow night at Daisy’s, I’ll understand. And I’ll be rooting for you at the callbacks.”
From over Jude’s shoulder, Omar approached. He stood a handful of inches taller than Jude, with massive shoulders that were beyond what any normal man would need. And yet, with the two men side by side, Jude’s figure set my body on fire, while Omar’s did nothing for me.
“Jude Fisher,” Omar’s voice boomed, handing me the bourbon and sliding his hand around my waist. “This is a surprise.”
Jude grinned, taking Omar’s hand. He didn’t flinch, didn’t cower; didn’t back down the slightest bit in Omar’s presence. Impressive. Most men, no matter what their status, quaked at least a little around Omar. He was that kind of guy.
I caught the glint in Omar’s eyes and smirked. He had noticed it too, that lack of flinch in Jude.
“I saw you both come in and I wanted to congratulate Marly on her audition.”
Omar nodded, sipping his pint and squeezing my hip. “I heard you already congratulated her… with a Rolex.”
Jude smiled in a rehearsed way I was beginning to recognize. It was his camera smile; not the real one. Not the one that crinkled his eyes and caused divots in his cheek. “Yes,” Jude said, pointing playfully at me. “And I want that back after your callback.”
Omar pressed his lips in a slow, lingering kiss behind my ear and I wiggled, nearly giggling at how much it tickled. Jude’s eyes stayed fixed on me, narrowing at the moment between us. Shit. I needed to learn how to do this fiancé thing better, because right now? I sucked at it. With a silent sigh, I leaned into the kiss. When Omar pulled back, he offered me a content smile and brushed his thumb over my bottom lip. His gaze shifted to the opened box of caramels and he grinned. “Already dug in, huh?” Then, looking to Jude, he added, “She can’t resist those.”
