Acting Witchy (Witch Hunters) (3 page)

Chapter Four

Mystique flew
to New York and returned.
While there, she did
an interview for a television entertainment magazine about her guest appearance on her friend’s show
Strange and True
. It didn’t take long for the questions to turn the status of her spat with Sean Savage. She even had paparazzi following her for much of the trip. It gave her the
unwelcome
feeling of being hunt
ed. Her first night in the city
s
he had gone out with her friend
Sharon Smythe to dinner and a club. But the club had quickly become a crush. Neither she nor Sharon had bodyguards so there was no one to keep reporters from snapping pictures of her or hounding her with questions. The bright flashes of light in an otherwise dark room were disorienting. Her polite answers to their queries were met with sneers and contempt. They didn’t believe her and were not afraid to call her a liar and worse. After that experience, she had left her hotel room only for filming.

She’d hoped to have the situation with Sean ironed out while she was away. One conversation with Marielle dashed those hopes. Sean’s newest demand was
a private meeting with just the two of them
. He didn’t want to do this through their agents or managers. What choice did she have but to give in?
A quick web search for her name was beginning to bring up more vitriol than she would have expected. Also, Marielle had noticed a sharp decline in the number of scripts being sent her way.

She had Marielle schedule a lunch meeting. He wante
d to meet for dinner, but Mystique
refused to budge on that point. She didn’t want to be seen with him at all. Lunch seemed the most innocuous.

He chose the restaurant, an intimate Italian spot with soft lighting. Even in the day, the darkened interior gave the impression that it was night. She gave her name to the maître d’ and was imme
diately escorted to a
table in a secluded corner.

Sean, devastating as ever in a black tailored suit, stood to greet her.
His sexy grin mocked her.
“Thanks for agreeing to meet me here.”

With a stiff nod, she took the seat he held out for her. His thumbs brushed the tops of her shoulders in a casual caress. Mystique suppressed a shiver. “So where’s this script you wanted me to see?”

He made a tsking sound. “No pleasantries? And here I thought you were going to be all Southern charm.”

“I save the charm for when it’s warranted.”

His eyes glittered dangerously. “It’s warranted,” he said gravely, handing her the script.

A waiter came to take their orders. Mystique ordered a caramel macchiato. Her stomach was tied in knots. No way could she eat anything in his presence. Sean arched a brow but didn’t say anything. He ordered pasta. His food and her coffee delivered quickly. While he ate, Mystique used the time to
flip through the script
. She took a deep breath, hoping he couldn’t sense her unease at being alone with him even in a public place. He was finally getting what he wanted, the big bully. She hoped he would be gracious and just leave her alone now. She glanced up at Sean. “
I need more time to study this.
I’ll get back to you.”

He grinned. “Be sure that you do. I’m really interested in hearing your opinion. My personal cell number is written on the first page.”

She finished her coffee. “I should go.” She stood. “I’ll call.”

“Mystique, I’d like to hear from you. Not your agent.”

His gaze was intense. She cleared her throat and stared a point over his shoulder. “I’ll call,” she repeated.

****

Mystique frowned as she finished Sean’s script. Not because his writing was bad. Th
e script was actually quite superb
. She’d been up half the night reading it and had picked it up first thing in the morning. It wasn’t an action film l
ike so many of his recent works
but a romantic comedy.

It was as yet untitled. She stared blankly
into her almond amaretto coffee
as she contemplated the ramifications.

There were only three significant parts for women in the script. One was his sister. Though she was pale enough that people often guessed at her biracial heritage, she wasn’t going to pass as a full
-
blooded sibling. The other two parts were his lovers. She bit her lip. She doubted he wanted her to play the part of the female bartender or the
receptionist
as the characters would have a scene time of maybe two minutes. He wouldn’t have badgered her so long over such a small part. So that left his lovers. She couldn’t bear the thought of his hands on her.
An image from last night’s dream surfaced. Sean’s hands parting her thighs and then continuing upward… She squashed the memory with ruthless determination.

The ex-girlfriend role had the least amount of contact with him. She would have to kiss him but it involved far less interaction with his character than the part of his current love interest. She would have to make do.

With shaky fingers, she dialed his cell. He picked up on the first ring. “Hello?” She shivered and held her breath as his deep voice washed over her. Damn it, no man deserved to be that sexy.

“This is Mystique.”

“Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. What did you think?”

She was reluctant to compliment him on his work. He was already so full of himself. The truth was that if it were anyone else, she’d be eager to have a part in this movie. “It doesn’t matter what I think, does it? I’d like to read for the role of the Daphne.”

There was a long pause on his side. “I want you to be Zoe. And you don’t have to audition. The part is yours.”

“The casting director—”

“The casting director is Cathy Fullerton and she’s been made aware that you are starring in this film. I not only wrote the script, but I’m also one of the producers.”

“I don’t know if I have the time to commit to being Zoe.”

There was an uncomfortable silence. “Is Mystique your real name?”

“Yes.”

“Mystique, I really want to work with you. All the bullshit aside, you’re really talented and it would be an honor to have you in a film as my co-star.”

She closed her eyes. He sounded so reasonable. It was dangerous to accept even the smaller part of Daphne. To portray Zoe would take months. Months of working closely with Sean. Despite what she knew to be true about him, she was attracted to him. She was still having the dreams. She’d dated actors before and found them to be self-absorbed and inconsiderate. With Sean, there would also be the added public attention. They’d get one of those annoying ubiquitous monikers like Bennifer.

What was she thinking? Sean wasn’t interested in dating her. She may not have been the sort that read gossip magazines, but Sean’s romantic liaisons were chronicled all over the place. This year alone, he’d dated two swimsuit models and a model turned actress who had starred in a movie with him last year. Instinct told her that the attraction was mutual. She could see it in his eyes, but that didn’t mean he wanted to act on it.

She wet her lips. “Let me think about it. You might change your mind after a screen test.”

“Trust me, Mystique, the chemistry between
us is too volatile
for you to play my ex.”

Her sex clenched. Damn him! No man had ever had this effect on her.

His husky laugh sounded tortured. “Don’t tell me I’m the only one who feels it?”

She swallowed and refused to answer. “Have someone call Marielle to schedule the screen test.” She disconnected before he could say anymore. Dear God, how was she supposed to work with him?

****

Mystique was dismayed to find that Sean had decided to be present for her screen test. Not only that, but he wanted to read with her. As she played out the scene with him, she couldn’t deny that he could act. She paused when the script called for them to kiss. He leaned in, a predatory smile on his lips. She stepped back. “Isn’t that enough?”

“You’re going to have to do it sometime. Might as well be now. You say you want to be Daphne. If we’re burning up the screen, I can’t have you playing my ex. It’ll ruin all verisimilitude.”

She looked to the director, Steven Reed, a short balding man. He was the most laid back director she had ever seen. He seemed to be more interested in his nails than anything the two of them were doing. Cathy, the casting director, was on her cell.

Sean grinned, one eyebrow arched. “Is it really such an awful task?”

“Let’s just get it over with.” Still, she braced herself and barely kept from flinching as his lips brushed hers. She shivered as he came back for more. He kissed her again and again with more pressure each time. His arms came up around her, pulling her closer and forcing her head back. Her lips opened and his tongue swept in for a taste. The teasing sensation of his tongue sliding over her lips and into the cavern of her mouth had her knees weakening and her pussy pulsing. He moaned low in his throat. She whimpered and tore herself out of his embrace.

She placed trembling fingers to her lips while Sean stared at her, his pupils huge in his blue eyes. Hunger was apparent in his gaze as he watched her. She took a shaky step backward and looked to their audience. Steven and Cathy were watching them in stunned silence.

“So,” Sean said, his voice husky, “You’ll be my Zoe.”

She didn’t trust herself to speak. She left the audition area, retrieved her purse from the chair where she’d placed it, and simply fled the building for her car. Sean followed her, calling her name. Ignoring him, she didn’t stop until she had her key in the ignition. She dropped her head onto the steering wheel of her Audi Q7.

The passenger door opened and Sean dropped into the seat. He licked his lips. “Well, that’s a pretty strong reaction to my kiss. And I wasn’t even trying that hard.”

She glared at him. “Don’t you ever stick your tongue in my mouth again!”

“Where would you like me to stick it?”

She slapped him, stunning both of them. “I’m sorry.”

He sighed. “No, I’m sorry. I was out of line—in both instances. The minute my lips touched yours…I lost control. I wasn’t expecting that. Look, now that I know what to expect, it won’t happen again. Please, say you’ll play Zoe.”

He’d given her little choice. She didn’t want him campaigning once more. The sooner this was over, the better. “Yes. Now get out of my car.”

“If all goes well, shooting will begin in six weeks.” He opened his door and grinned at her, his eyes flicking over her. “I can’t wait.”

“Why so soon?”

“Interest in a film starring the two of us is at its peak right now. So clear your calendar.”

Chapter Five

The trip from L.A. to Wilmington, NC had been a little tiring but mostly uneventful. Filming began tomorrow. They had offered her a sweet deal that was much better than she would have expected. Sean obviously didn’t want her to have a reason to back out. The salary they were paying her was twice her usual asking price. A limo had picked her up at the airport to transport her to the Hilton. They were also paying for her hotel suite and giving her a personal trailer onset. A bouquet of a dozen white roses and a bottle of champagne had been waiting for her in her room. She was raving to Marielle on the phone about the royal treatment she was receiving when she heard a knock.

“Hold on a sec, Marielle, there’s a knock at the door.” She peered through the peephole to see a courier holding a thick brown envelope. She placed her phone on an end table and opened the door.

He scanned the package and handed it over to her. “Please, sign here, ma’am.” He held out an electronic pad. She signed her name and winced at the results. The pads never picked up her signature correctly. Surely, her handwriting was not that hideous. She thanked him. He declined her offer of a tip.

She ripped open the package to find a script with Sean’s name on it. There was a note attached with a paper clip informing her that there had been some rewrites.
Ian’s Heart
was printed at the top. Sean had finally given the movie a title.

“Marielle, are you still there?”

“Yes.”

“It was a courier. Sean’s editing his script already.”

“Well, better now than after filming starts.”

“I suppose so,” she said, suddenly unable to shake a feeling of dread. “I’ll look it over and get back to you.”

She skimmed the script. Most of it was the same. She was beginning to think that there was some mistake when she found the difference between this script and the one she’d received originally. Sean had inserted two love scenes. “Fucking bastard,” she whispered. They’d already negotiated her deal and he knew she wouldn’t agree to onscreen nudity.

Furious, she called Sean. “What’s the meaning of these new scenes? I told you I won’t do nudity.”

“Mystique? The producers called for more steam. R-rated romances have doing better of late
—”

“You told me you were going for a PG-13 rating.”

“Is this really going to be a problem? I mean, do you object to it for religious reasons? Or is this about you and me?”

“I don’t know what insanity you’re talking about. There is no you and me.”

He sighed. “Forget the nudity. It’s not required of you. What you’re afraid of is that if I take you into my arms and simulate sex with you that you’ll want the real thing. Am I wrong?”

She shivered. “Go to hell.”

He chuckled. “Can’t wait to have you beneath me, your legs spread wide, wrapped around my waist. I won’t be inside you, but you can bet I’ll be hard and ready for you. I’ll dry hump you into a soft mattress for hours. You know how long these shoots can take. Guaranteed this one will take a while. I may forget my lines over and over. I won’t be able to help it while I’m between your sweet thighs.”

Her hands trembled so badly she could barely press to disconnect the call. What the hell had she gotten herself into? She felt the overwhelming urge to flee.

Instead she stripped off her clothes and took a chilly shower to cool her overheated body. His words played over and over in her head. She was attracted to him and she hated it. She was in an untenable position. Giving in to her desire for him could change her life forever. She wasn’t even sure if she liked him.

She was still on edge when a knock sounded at her door a short time later. Dressed in a plush white robe and drying her hair with a towel, she peeped to see who was in the hallway. She released a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding when she saw a young lady holding a clipboard. She’d feared it would be Sean though she’d been told that he wouldn’t be there for the first few days of shooting. He was doing last minute reshoots for an action flick sequel.

She opened the door. “Yes?”

“Hi, I’m Neva Nyugen. I’ve been assigned as your personal assistant by Mr. Savage.” She showed her a badge with a picture of herself. In the photo, her hair was purple with white streaks. Currently, her hair was styled in a short bob with the two long locks remaining at the front that curved around her jaw. It was dyed a severe black with the tips of the longest tresses colored a bright hot pink. “I came by to introduce myself and see if there’s anything you need.”

This was another first. Playing smaller parts put less pressure on her, but it didn’t have the perks of a starring role. She’d never had her own assistant or her own trailer before. “Come in. I was freshening up a bit.”

“Nice room,” Neva commented. “Love the view.”

“Thanks.” She glanced over her shoulder where the large window overlooked the Cape Fear River. It was captivating.

“So is there anything you will need me to stock your trailer with? Something you can’t live without? A specific brand of bottled water, candy, flowers? ”

“Whatever’s there will be fine, I’m sure.”

“OK, but let me know anything you need and I’ll make sure you have it.” She pulled a card off the clipboard. “My number’s on there. Call me anytime. I always have it with me. I look forward to working with you and I’ll see you in the morning.”

Mystique thanked her and saw her out. She called Marielle, informing her of the script changes. “I’m sorry I didn’t call you sooner. I didn’t feel calm enough to talk about it at first.”

“The added love scenes don’t mean they expect nudity from you.”

She debated repeating Sean’s words, which bordered on harassment. “My naked behind aside, I’m worried about the level of realism Sean is expecting.” Her heart sped up at the thought of being in bed with him. Could she remain professional while he was covering her, simulating sex with her? She closed her eyes, trying to dispel the steamy images that thought provoked.

“Do you want me to fly out there?”

“No, I’ll be fine.” She felt guilty for taking up so much of her friend’s time. She wasn’t her only client.

****

The first few days of filming without Sean were bliss. The cast and crew were all friendly. They dined together the initial day of shooting. But when Sean came, the vibe changed. Everyone was as friendly as ever with the exception of Sonya Rivers, the actress playing Sean’s other love interest. Previously, when they’d been introduced, the blonde had given her a hug and enthused that she thought they would be the best of friends. But from the moment Sean arrived, she snubbed her. Mystique tried to ask her to lunch to discuss it but the other woman actually walked away while she was in the middle of a sentence.

“What was that about? Did I say something to offend her?”

Neva looked up from her clipboard and shrugged. Mystique noticed that she carried it with her everywhere. She wondered why she didn’t replace it with a tablet computer. “Don’t worry about it. There’s one of her on every set.” At her puzzled look, Neva answered, “She’s got a crush on Sean. And he hasn’t made it a secret that he’s hot for you.”

Mystique blushed. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“We could hear him this morning after the scene was over. Either he forgot about the boom mi
c
or he didn’t care.”

Her blush deepened. They’d been filming the initial meeting between Zoe and Sean’s character Ian. There was plenty of romantic tension in the scene but no touching. Deep down, she had to grudgingly admit that she enjoyed working with him. His talent kept her on her toes to hold her own. Looking at him made her want to ask their maker why he’d spent so much lavish attention on creating him. His beauty practically took her breath away. And he knew it, too. The minute the scene was complete his usual grin had stretched his lips. And then he’d asked her to dinner. At her no, he’d assured her that she would agree sooner or later.

“He must really like you. I’ve never known him to ask out a co-star.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

“You can’t believe the tabloids. He’s not nearly as wild as they make him out to be.”

“How long have you worked with him?”

“About five years.” She stopped to smile. “I’m usually his assistant. He loaned me out to you, which tells me how much he thinks of you.”

Her mouth dropped open. And she’d begun to really trust Neva. She realized that she’d never be able to speak openly to her. A change of subject was in order. “So, um, when am I needed onset again?”

Neva flipped a couple of pages. “You’re done for the day. Keep your phone on, of course, but you can go back to the hotel if you want.”

“Thanks.”

She decided to hang out for a while. Food was provided onset so she ate off the buffet and then watched as Sonya and Sean played out a verbal altercation. He was really intense. It amazed her how fast Sonya could go from shrew to delicate flower. When the director called cut, she laughed and hugged Sean. Mystique admitted the two would make a striking couple. Sean was tall and dark. Sonya was petite with platinum curls and large baby blue eyes.

“Have dinner with me tonight?” Sonya asked him with a cute toss of her blonde mane. Sean grinned down at her. Mystique didn’t stay around to hear his response.