Wild Love (The Wilde Brothers #1)

Chapter 13

13

SCARLETT

W e spent the weekend cleaning out the theater, which consisted of dusting and clearing things. We planned to use the space for both practices and the performance. That way, the kids would get used to the stage and the lights.

Chance, Eli, and his brothers joined us. That made the work go that much faster. We dusted and aired out the place.

Then I went through the costumes and props to see if I could salvage anything for our play. Marigold's play was about a few animals in the forest who were fascinated with a little girl that seemingly understood their language.

It was adorable, and I couldn't wait to see the kids act it out for the first time. Marigold had sent out sign-ups, and we already had thirty kids interested in parts, sets, and lighting. We could use all the help we could get.

"What are you doing in here?"

I startled, dropping the wooden staff I'd found in the corner. Eli stood with one shoulder leaning against the door jam.

"You scared me," I said.

Eli moved into the space. "I didn't mean to. "

I waved a hand at him. "I was lost in thought. Thinking about what we need for the performance, but I'm not sure there's anything here that could work with Marigold's story."

"Let me know what you need, and I'll get it."

I shook my head. "You're not the producer. You don't need to do that."

Eli picked up the staff and leaned it against a nearby table where I'd laid out the costumes. "I want to help. You should be in charge of the kids. I'll handle the sets and costumes."

I just gave him a look. "You would do that?"

He waved a hand at the stage. "Of course. I'm excited to see this play."

I rolled my eyes. "It's silly. We're using a novice writer and director."

"Well, I think it's going to be amazing." Eli's voice was full of confidence.

It was nice to have someone in my corner who didn't have an ulterior motive for me to stay. "Thanks for believing in me."

"I saw you teach that class. Trust me, seeing is believing."

I winced. "That's sweet. But I'm still worried we won't be able to pull everything together in a few short weeks."

"This is just the start."

I frowned. "Is that what people are saying? I told Marigold it would be just one production. Maybe she could find someone who's interested in a full-time, unpaid position."

Eli shifted on his feet. "Right."

He didn't say that it wasn't likely. He didn't have to. I just had to focus on making this one production great. Then I could say I did something on my hiatus from acting.

"Can we go over what you'll need, and then I can order it?" Eli asked, pulling out his phone to take notes.

"I don't want you spending a lot of money. This is just for fun."

His forehead wrinkled. "Let me worry about that. "

"For starters, a few animal costumes. Whatever you can find. But try to avoid ones that cover their face. We'll want to see their facial expressions."

"Got it."

"We'll need to build a set with trees and mountains." I put anything we could use in a storage box and the ones that weren’t salvageable in a trash bag.

Marigold popped her head in. "Pizza's here."

"Oh, good." I finished putting away the items, then washed my hands in the small bathroom off the stage.

When we went to the auditorium, everyone was sitting on the edge of the stage eating a slice of pizza.

I grabbed one and sat in one of the cushioned seats in the front row.

"What do you think?" Marigold asked, plopping down next to me.

"It's dusty." It was like everywhere I went, a cloud of dust followed me.

Marigold waved a hand in front of my face as if she could ward off my words. "Ah. We'll take care of that. What do you think of the setup?"

"It will work for what we need it for." I wanted to say it would be perfect. But I didn't want to fall in love with this place. I spent too much time imagining it was mine. I could do whatever I wanted with it. I could plan the plays we'd perform, encourage more kids to love the theater. It sounded amazing. But I didn't have enough money to buy a theater. Eventually, whoever owned this place would probably sell it to someone who'd turn it into a restaurant.

I was just temporary, a means to fill a gap. I wasn't needed here. Or at least, that's what I kept telling myself. This job wasn't my future. "Eli said he's going to help us get the costumes and props we need and direct the set crew."

"Why's he taking such an interest in this? "

I was wondering the same thing. "He appreciates the theater?"

"I have no idea. But this place has been sitting empty for years, and then when you come home, someone buys it and allows us to use it without paying rent."

"We're just lucky, I guess." I'd received a message this morning from Steve telling me not to bother inquiring about other jobs. He'd already blacklisted me. I didn't know if that was true, but he knew I was asking around. He probably had said something to tarnish my reputation. Leaving town wouldn't be as easy as usual.

I had to find someone who didn't know about Steve. He was fairly recognized in our circle, so that meant working with an up-and-comer. Someone who didn't have experience or a big budget behind them. It would be like starting over again.

We threw out the pizza boxes and finished cleaning. We left the windows open to air it out. But when we left, we had to close everything up again.

When we headed out to our cars that were parked in the small lot behind the building, Eli asked, "Can we go over what you need tonight? We don't have much time."

"Of course." I'd never been the one in charge of set design or costumes, so it was nice to have help. I couldn't do this on my own. I was just an actor not a director or a producer. I wasn't used to marketing or ordering supplies.

At the lodge, we agreed to meet on the rooftop. It was quickly becoming one of our favorite places. When I arrived, dinner was already on the table covered with various lids.

I opened one, then another, until I found something that was appetizing, then filled my plate with chicken, salad, and pasta.

I sat next to Eli who had his laptop out. "I checked with the shop in town, but they don't have children's costumes. She referred me to a place online that might have what we need."

"That would be amazing. The kids will enjoy practicing in costumes." The props would help them get into character too.

"Now, what do you need?"

"Whatever we can get that will show the animals, ears, tails. I don't care. We need a few trees. Marigold's play has the trees singing and dancing. So whatever we use has to be able to move with them."

Eli glanced from his screen to me. "I thought the trees usually just stood there."

I laughed. "Not in Marigold's story. Everyone is involved. I think she has bad memories of being Tree Number One standing in the back."

I ate while he asked more questions, then tilted the screen so I could see what he was looking at. When we were finished eating, we moved to the loungers in front of the pool. Someone came and cleared the dishes.

“I think we have everything we need,” I finally said.

Eli was doing too much for me. He was going above and beyond, and my heart was squeezing.

"I just want to make sure,” he said as he put away his laptop.

My heart squeezed. "They will."

I reached over and squeezed his hand.

Eli smiled. "How do you like directing so far?"

"Honestly? It's a lot of dust, and I could do without it.”

Eli chuckled as he stretched out on the lounger, his arms folded behind his head. "It sure was."

He wore swim trunks and nothing else. With his eyes closed, I was finally able to admire his sculpted chest, chiseled abs, and thick thighs. For being an office guy, he sure spent time in the gym and the outdoors.

When I finally got to his face, I discovered he was watching me. "Like what you see?"

My face flushed.

Before I could answer, he stood up and dove into the pool. He was like a fish in the water. He easily kicked up to the surface, smoothing his wet hair out of his face. "Are you going to join me?"

I removed the white wrap and tested the water with my toe.

"It's heated," Eli reminded me as he swam closer to the edge of the pool.

I stepped into the water. When I kicked up, I was next to Eli. We were in the deep end, so he banded me tight against him. His hard against my soft. Everything inside me heated.

He lifted me higher, and my legs naturally went around his waist.

"What are you doing?" I asked him as he moved my hands to his neck. Now my breasts were pressed against his naked chest. My nipples were hard points, and I felt the ridge of his cock next to my pussy. I wanted more.

He rubbed against my pussy, and all rational thought left my brain. There was just need and want.

I tugged his head down so his lips met mine. I strained against him, needing more friction, while we kissed.

"Is this what you want?" Eli asked roughly against my skin.

I'd been dreaming about this moment. I wondered if he'd ever make a move, and he was finally kissing me. But I wanted more. "Chance can't know," I managed to remind him.

A flash of disappointment disappeared from Eli's face so fast; I thought I'd imagined it.

"He wouldn't approve, and I won't be around long enough for it to matter."

"Right," Eli said, but I thought his reaction was a little chillier than a few seconds ago.

He backed me up until my back rested against the ledge. Then he tipped my hips so that his cock was lodged where I needed him the most. "You want me?"

"How could I not?" He was irresistible. He was sweet, kind, and so hot .

"If we do this, there's no going back." His lips hovered over mine.

"I wouldn't want to."

Finally, he took the challenge and lowered his mouth to mine. This time his hand drifted between us and under the band of my bikini bottoms. His thick fingers glided between my folds, and I bucked from the sensation.

I whimpered when he teased my entrance with his fingers. Then he kissed me as he worked his finger inside. Eventually he tugged down my bikini triangle and sucked my nipple into his mouth. I felt like a live wire about to spark at any second.

"You're so responsive." His scruff abraded my breast.

I couldn't remember ever feeling this way. I'd never gotten so hot for anyone. And it could have been the time we spent together or the friendship we'd formed. But I had a feeling it was just him.

The scruff on his face abraded my breast; his teeth scraped my nipple. When he added a second finger, I careened toward my release. I spasmed around him as sparks exploded in my head.

"You want to do this here?" He cupped my ass, my hips tilted so that his cock was hard against my folds. The only material separating us at this point was his swimsuit because mine had been pushed aside.

"I don't care." I was all instinct and need at this point. I wasn't thinking about anything practical.

He lifted me, walking toward the steps, and out of the pool. He grabbed a towel and threw it over my shoulders. The cool air nipped at my bare skin.

Then he lowered me to one of the cabana cushions. We were covered by the canopy. Not that anyone could see us unless they were in a helicopter. But I felt protected. Safe. The heater nearby kept the air around us comfortable .

My body rested on the towel as he lowered my bottoms and pulled them off. He nudged my legs apart. "You're gorgeous."

I reached behind me and untied the bikini top. I threw it to the side. "You are too."

His eyes were black with need and his muscles tense with restraint.

He prowled over me, and I should have felt vulnerable, his body dripping water over my bare skin, but instead I felt protected in the best of ways.

I tugged the waist band of his trunks until he got the hint and pulled them off. "Do you have a condom?"

He rolled off cushion and returned with a wrapper in his hands. I didn't ask where he found it. Maybe he'd planned for this to happen tonight. Or he hoped it would. I didn't care as long as this was happening.

It might have been impulsive. But I enjoyed spending time with him, and I loved that he was helping with the theater. He was already more than a one-night stand.

He ripped the wrapper and smoothed the condom over his cock. I licked my lips as he placed one knee on the cushion and braced a hand by my head. With the other, he guided his dick to my entrance. I widened my legs, welcoming him inside.

When this cock nudged at my pussy, he kissed me, and I was lost in the sensation of him filling me and his tongue stroking the inside of my mouth.

I whimpered when he powerfully thrust. It hit a spot inside me that I didn't know existed. I was racing toward another orgasm. My heart beat wildly. I wasn't sure I'd survive this one.

"I got you," he said as he kissed down my neck and latched onto my nipple again.

The sensation sent zings of pleasure straight to my clit. The combination of the angle of him inside of me and his mouth on my nipple, had me exploding before I wanted. I wished I could make it last. But I was lost to the sensations. There was no logic or reasoning.

He lifted himself slightly, cupping one of my ass cheeks, and thrust harder. The feeling was unbelievable. I wanted to watch him go over the edge. I wanted to see him lose control. He was always so tightly wound.

He thrust one more time, then stilled before releasing into me. He groaned into my neck. "You're fucking impossible to resist."

The words tickled my collarbone, sending a tingle down my spine. I had a feeling he was talking about my brother and my off-limits status. But here those concerns didn't exist. There was just us and the never-ending sky of stars.

I didn't care what anyone thought as I held him to me. No one could take this away from me. He finally shifted so that he could take care of the condom. Then he cradled me to him. He lowered the canopy so we could watch the stars, then pulled up a thick blanket to cover us. It was perfect. I was naked and warm in a man's arms, admiring the stars on a roof.

It was magical, an experience I wouldn't soon forget. I had no regrets. No one could make this feel bad or wrong. I'd felt cherished when he was holding me and whispering sweet words against my skin.

He held me until we both drifted off. When I woke the next morning, the canopy covered us, and he was getting dressed. His expression was apologetic. "I have an early morning call."

The sun was just coming up. I pulled on my cover-up, not bothering with my bikini, ran my fingers through my hair, then drifted over to the wall that surrounded the deck. He rested a hand on my hip, standing close.

"It's gorgeous, isn't it?" I said.

"Not more beautiful than you," he responded.

"You do and say all the right things."

"And that's bad? "

"You're too good to be true, and you know what they say about that." I nudged him out of the way, hunting for my flip-flops.

He frowned. "What do they say?"

"If something is too good to be true, then it probably is." I slipped on my shoes, catching the golden glow of the sun rising.

"That's not reality. Not what's happening between us." He hooked a hand over my hip and pulled me against him. "A cliché doesn't cover what this is."

His lips lowered. Then he kissed me, morning breath and all. It was a beautiful morning and a gorgeous moment. I didn't want to leave and break our bubble. But we didn't have a choice. He had work, and I had a play to plan.

"I'll see you tonight?" I asked.

"Mmm. I hope so."

We stayed a few minutes longer to watch the sunrise and then headed back to our rooms. By the time I arrived in mine, breakfast had been delivered. I sent Eli a picture of my spread and thanked him. He was the sweetest guy, and if he wasn't careful, he was going to spoil me for life. Because this wasn't real. It was a fantasy that wasn't mine. I didn't get things like this.

It was meant for other people who wanted the white picket fence, the kids, and the dog. I just wanted to feel like I belonged.

My heart skipped a beat. In my theater groups, I didn't have to think about fitting in. I just did by virtue of being a cast member. But when Steve pursued me, I'd panicked. The crew and cast had viewed it as special attention and resented me. In the end, they weren't good friends.

And now, I was drifting; I didn't belong to anyone or anything. I didn't even have a home. My heart ached because it took Eli for me to see it.

If we got in any deeper, what else would he show me? What else was I missing? Did I want to find out?