Chapter One

His kiss would be the death of her.

“Oh, darling.” Michael’s breath panted hot and moist against her ear.

“Mmm.” She rubbed her body over his, giving the performance of her life. Her hands tightened on his broad shoulders, his soft hair just brushing her skin. His earlobe was soft between her lips.

“Bedroom?” His tone was strained.

Reaching down, she slipped her fingers between his hard stomach and jeans then pulled him by his belt buckle. She kept the barest of distance between their bodies while walking backward. The bedroom lay at the end of the hallway.

Once inside, their legs tangled, and they fell upon the blue satin quilt. His hard body pressed into her softness. The bed quivered.

A crack and a snap filled the air and then air filled the space between her and the mattress. She didn’t even have time to let out a scream as the bed collapsed beneath them.

“Cut.” A commanding voice yelled.

Nicki Masters laughed as she lay under her co-star. The bright lights almost blinded her, and the chuckles from the filming crew floated in the air.

“This isn’t funny.” Michael Levin pushed to his feet before holding a hand out to her. His dark hair was mussed from her hands, his expression stern.

She took it and allowed him to pull her upright. “Lighten up, Michael.” Nicki reached up and smoothed the lines on his forehead.

He frowned. “It’s taken us all day to get to this scene. I don’t know about you, but I’m having a hard time keeping in character.” He captured her hand in his.

“True.” Nicki rubbed the small of her back with her free hand. After being sandwiched between Michael’s muscle-bound frame and the bed, she was going to have a bruise on her backside. “But I really think the bed collapsing is hilarious.”

“Damn it. What next?” the director, Adam Bainbridge, asked. He marched over to the pair, his glance landing on her and Michael’s entwined fingers. “Anyone hurt?”

“Just my pride,” Michael said.

“Pride, my ass. Your libido is more like it.” She let out another laugh. Michael and Adam were taking this way too seriously. “I think we should leave the scene in, add a little humor to this movie. What do you say, oh mighty director?”

“Aw shit,” Michael whispered.

Adam’s mouth opened and closed. His gaze narrowed in on her, and a shiver chased up her spine. “This picture, in case you’ve forgotten, Ms. Masters, is a serious drama. Humor doesn’t play into it.”

The room temperature dropped below freezing at Adam’s words. He was one of the most wanted directors in Hollywood, and all six-foot two inches of him were commanding. A brilliant and authoritative director in the power body of a movie star. He was also egotistical, stubborn, and bordering on emotionless.

God help her, despite his shortcomings, she still wanted to get into his pants. Outrageous for her, considering the man didn’t have a sense of humor. He was too uptight, too unfeeling. His nickname around Hollywood was Stoneface. So why couldn’t she match his indifference? She glanced at his left hand. The gold band was still firmly on his third finger. Her heart stuttered. He was still wearing it? What did that mean?

Nicki fought not to reach for her neck. She’d taken the necklace off before coming out to the set. She couldn’t do a love scene if she was wearing her wedding rings on a chain.

“Sorry, Mr. Bainbridge, but I’ve never had a bed collapse under me before.” Her voice dripped with honey, and she batted her eyelashes at him. Stuff that and smoke it.

“That’s not what I hear, Ms. Masters.” He spun away from her. “Fix this bed. Now,” he bellowed at the hovering stage crew.

Adam walked away, and a smile crept over Nicki’s face. He’d heard the rumors about her love life from the tabloid rags and believed them. Good. Let him. Better to have him angry at her than giving her those sexy, devastating smiles of his.

“Keep it up, Nicki, and he’ll fire you.” Michael released her hand and snagged her around the waist, holding her lightly in his arms.

“He won’t fire me.” She laid her palms on Michael’s forearms. Why couldn’t she be attracted to him? He was safer than Adam, but then when had she ever chosen safe? Besides, Michael was totally committed to his fiancée, Kelsey. “And only the executive producer can fire me. It’s written into my contract.” She had wondered why Chris had insisted the clause be in her contract at the time, now she wondered if he knew he’d have to hire Adam as the director.

“Why do you keep needling Adam? The man has a short fuse with you as it is.”

“I didn’t make the bed collapse.” She extracted herself from Michael’s hold. There was only one man’s arms she wanted around her. But he was off limits.

“Don’t play innocent with me. All you have to do is flash a smile and bat an eyelash or two at one of the prop boys and presto, the bed falls down.”

Her laugher rang out across the set. “You give me too much credit.” She turned. “I’ll be in my dressing room.”

Better to get away now, before she acted on the desire coursing through her veins—desire to corner Adam and have her way with his gorgeous body. Fighting her feelings for Adam was getting harder each day, and they’d only been filming two weeks. She and Adam couldn’t have a future together. Not even in bed.

Nicki crossed the set and into her dressing room. Who would have thought Nicole Masters, scream queen from twenty B-grade movies, would ever do a drama? Let alone one directed by Adam Bainbridge, the golden boy of Hollywood, and her former lover.

She pushed the door shut, strode over to the small refrigerator, and pulled out a bottle of water. She grabbed her cell phone before plopping down onto a chair. Swiping her finger across the screen, she went to the picture gallery and scrolled through the pictures until she found the one she wanted.

She stared at the happy couple in their wedding day finery. Her stomach clenched, and her heart skipped a beat. It had been a lovely day. The sun was bright, their families were being civil, and they were happy. Happier than they ever thought they could be. And it had lasted all of nine months.

Nicki sighed and set her phone down. This wasn’t the time to dwell on her failed marriage. She had a job to do. But her emotions kept getting in the way, as well as fear. Fear that the press would get a hold of one tiny fact.

She and Adam were still married.

****

Adam slammed the door to his office, causing one of his Golden Globes to teeter close to the edge of the shelf. Damn Nicki with her venom-spiked voice and sensuous body. And damn him for wanting her so much.

Taking the director’s job on this movie had been a mistake. Why hadn’t he done more research on the actors in the movie before he accepted the job? Maybe because Chris assured him they were top notch. Not that they weren’t. He’d seen Michael’s commercials and guest TV appearances. But Nicki?

His jaw clenched. Her scream queen days were behind her with her movie featuring a dramatic roll. But her attitude had put him on edge from day one. Nicki had never done anything quietly. She’d showed up with all the fanfare of a top-notch star—not a second-rate scream queen.

He sat back in his chair, thinking back to her arrival that first day. She’d emerged from the white limo in back stiletto shoes accenting her slim, delicate ankles. And the view only got better from there. Skin tight black pants encased long, shapely legs, a black silk blouse clinging to every curve. Dark sunglasses concealed her sparkling blue eyes. Her blonde hair brushed her shoulders.

She’d cut her hair, had been his first thought as he’d fought to take a breath. He’d loved her long hair and the way it had brushed against his body as they made love. His cock tightened. Why had she cut it?

His fist slammed on his desk, causing pens to dance over the wood. He needed to stop thinking about Nicki and what they’d had together. Their marriage was over. But it didn’t stop him from wanting her. He spun his chair around and gazed out the window.

Maybe having the film shot on his Oregon property was a mistake. He loved the huge studio he’d built, and the coast was perfect for outdoor shots. But today, not even the panoramic Oregon coast line could erase Nicki from his mind. Where had things gone wrong? Too many places was the sad truth. Their jobs took them to opposite ends of the country and then there was the baby… His heart stopped. Had it only been six months?

Seeing her in Michael’s arms was a torture of its own. There was nothing between the pair except the friendship that comes with being co-stars and co-workers. But the knowledge didn’t stop his jealousy from rising to volcanic proportions.

He grabbed her contract from the folder on his desk. What the hell had Chris done to make Nicki take this part? Not that the role wasn’t perfect for her, but there had to be something. She was acting like she wanted him to fire her.

Twenty minutes later, Adam strode back onto the set to find Nicki holding court with the camera crew. Her blonde hair flittered around her shoulders, and her expression was animated. His blood pressure rose when she bestowed one of her most flirtatious smiles on the guys. She didn’t need to butter them up; they already loved her. His gut clenched. His dominant side flared up. During their marriage, they’d had the full Dom/sub relationship, but he'd messed it all up when he’d left her. Now, he wanted her to flirt only with him.

“Masters,” his voice boomed over the set.

Her smile faded, and a mask took its place, one he was beginning to hate because she only wore it around him.

“You bellowed, oh powerful director?” Her saucy tone heated his blood and had his cock twitching.

“Damn right, I did.” He motioned to her. “It’s time for us to have a talk.”

She stopped in her tracks several feet from him with a frown. “About what?”

He put his hand on her lower back and led her away from the cast and crew. “This movie.” A lock of her blonde hair fell over her eyes, and he brushed it back without a second thought. “These delays are killing me. I want you to stop playing around.”

“I’m not.”

“Who caused the bed to collapse?”

“It wasn’t me.” She stepped away from him and wrapped her arms around her waist. “I’ve done some goofing off, but I didn’t cause the bed to fall. And it isn’t my fault you can’t control your temper. That’s causing a lot of our delays.”

“My temper has a lot to do with you.” His gaze focused on her face. Her high cheekbones were a camera man’s dream, and her complexion was so fair and smooth she only needed minimal make-up. Her blue eyes…they were dark like a storm, but when she was happy, they were light blue. Then there was her hair. So soft and silky. Unable to help himself, he trailed his fingers through her tresses.

“Why did you cut your hair?” he asked.

“What?”

Seeing the confusion in her eyes, he repeated the question. “Why did you cut your hair?” But it pleased him when she didn’t pull away from his touch as she once had. His fingers slid down her neck then he drew them between her breasts.

A small gasp left her lips, and her tongue swept out to wet them. He started to lean down, and her eyes widened.

“Adam,” she whispered.

Her mouth came closer to his then male laughter caused him to pull back. The sensual haze cleared from his mind. This couldn’t happen—not here. He gazed down at his wife, wanting nothing more than to sweep her into his arms and take her away from prying eyes.

“Adam?”

“You’re driving me crazy.” He cupped her shoulders, fighting to get his desire under control, but his body had other ideas. It always did around Nicki.

“If you’d just loosen up and relax…” She squirmed under his hold.

“Behave yourself.” His grip tightened. “I want to know about the firing clause in your contract.”

“I had nothing to do with it.”

“Chris isn’t about to fire you, is he?” Jealousy and failure welled in him.

“No,” she admitted. “Chris and I understand each other.”

“I bet you do.” His lips strayed to her ear, remembering the stories he’d read in the tabloids. “How long did it take you to go from my bed to his?”

Her body stiffened. Her hands rose to his chest and she pushed. Taken off guard, he stumbled back, releasing her shoulders.

“Bastard,” she whispered before spinning away from him and sprinted across the room.

“Come back here,” he yelled, raking a hand through his hair. Then he heard it—deafening silence.

The crew stood gapping, and Adam swore under his breath. What was he doing? While the crew wouldn’t talk, they knew better, he didn’t need to air his dispute with Nicki in public. Scrubbing his hand down his face, he went after her.

****

Nicki slammed the door to her trailer, locking it behind her. She paced seven steps to the bedroom door and then back to the front. How dare he? She’d been faithful to him, but the damn man wouldn’t believe her. What had she done to make him distrust her so much? She needed to calm down; otherwise, she’d never be ready to go back on the set.

Adam’s jealousy would always stand between them. It was like having a third person in their marriage, always there and always causing trouble. She sighed. Adam wasn’t going to change, but that didn’t stop her from hoping.

A knock on her door caused her to jump. Hand over her heart, she took a deep breath and called out, “Yes?”

“It’s Adam.”

She sighed and unlocked the door. He was perfectly capable of standing out there and banging on the door all day. It would be better to get this over with so she could move on.

Adam opened the door and walked in as she retreated to the other end of the trailer. His gaze sought her out with a wary glance. She almost laughed. Only once had she thrown something at him after he’d made a snide comment, and it had been a pillow. Given what he had just said, he probably figured on something more lethal.

“My hands are empty.” She held them up as proof while trying not to laugh at the surprised look on his face.

“I had no business saying that about you and Chris.” He closed the door and stepped up into the trailer.

“You of all people should know not all the rumors you hear or read about are true.” Nicki’s stomach turned over as he shrugged. “I should have found a way out of this picture when I found out you were directing.”

She wrapped her arms around her waist. In her small trailer, Adam’s fresh scent filled every inch, a reminder she didn’t need. She carried one in her heart every day.

“This is your big chance.”

“Some big chance.” Bitterness filled her mouth. After years of being a scream queen and doing bit parts on soaps, this part had come up. A part she could sink her teeth into and show her worth. A part that could put her career into overdrive, yet it was more a matter of pride, to be near Adam and not fall apart. Her fingers itched to touch his rough skin, to run her fingers through his silky hair, to trace the veins on his cock and drive him wild. She wanted to have the special power exchange they’d had before their marriage had collapsed.

“This is what you’ve wanted,” he said. “A lead role in a drama.”

“No, Adam.” She marched up to him. “It’s what you always wanted. You wanted me to legitimize my acting by doing a real movie.” He just stared down at her, and she spun on her heel. “Why did I let Chris talk me into this?”

She’d been at the lowest point in her life when Chris had come up with the idea for her to audition for the part. Nicki had only said yes to get Chris off her back, thinking never in a million years she’d get it. After reading the script, she wanted the part, but at that point, Hans Wagner had been the director—not Adam.

“We can find a way to work together.”

“Can we?” She faced him again only to find he was almost next to her.

“Yes.” He took her hand in his. Warmth radiated up her arm and through her veins. His touch comforted her, and she didn’t want to fight with him. “We can treat each other as friends.”

“Can we be friends?” She shivered as his thumb caressed her knuckles, sending delicious erotic sensations up her arm. Her nipples tightened as she remembered all the times he would caress them just like he was now doing with her knuckles. All he had to do was use his Dom voice, and her knees would grow weak.

“I can if you can.” He grinned, and the impact of his sexy smile went clear to her toes and other points south.

“How long do you think we can maintain a friendship?” She was weakening.

His smile faded at her words. His hand released hers and he touched the scar on his face. “I’m not perfect, but I can maintain some type of friendship with my wife.”

Nicki pushed his hand away from the scar and covered the scar with her own hand. She hated how his scar affected people’s perception of him, especially his family. People needed to see the man behind the scar. The sexiest man in the world.

“None of us are perfect. I only meant…”

Adam’s hand covered hers over his cheek. Holding her still, he turned his head and placed a kiss in the center of her palm.

Her knees weakened. “Adam, I don’t think…”

The words died on her tongue as his lips trailed over her palm to her wrist. His other arm snaked around her waist, pulling her against his hot, hard body before his lips traveled up her arm.

A path of fire followed. She missed his strong embrace, longed for his middle of the night caresses, and most of all, she missed him. He guided her to the small sofa and lowered them both down onto it while his lips nuzzled her neck.

Nicki drew in a deep breath to call a halt, but instead, she inhaled his scent Enrapture. The aftershave she’d given him at Christmas. He still wore it, and her heart clenched. Her resistance was fading fast, but then it always did when Adam turned on his brand of loving.

His fingers unfastening her blouse brought her to Earth with a jolt. They couldn’t do this—not here, not now. “Adam.”

“Mmm.” His lips continued their study of her neck, working their way down as he freed another button.

Oh God, she didn’t want to stop him. She wanted him to unfasten her blouse, her bra, pin her arms above her head before nipping and sucking her nipples. He’d remove the rest of her clothes, unzip his pants, his cock would be hard and glistening. He’d sling her legs over his shoulders and fill her on the first thrust.

Her hands pushed against his shoulders. Even though every part of her craved his touch, the price was too high. Her heart couldn’t take it if he broke it again. “Firebrand.” The word slipped from her lips.

Adam froze and stared down at Nicki. The soft contours of her face were hard, her blue eyes wide. Her breath came and went in short pants. And she’d used her safeword. Never in their entire relationship had she used it until now.

With a groan, he forced himself away from her soft skin. He would never break her trust after she said her safeword.

He’d missed her so much in the last six months, and it wasn’t just the sex. He missed coming home to her to discuss their days. He missed their fights and how they’d make up, and he missed her voice and the soft touch of her hand on his skin. He missed her. He needed Nicki in his life.

He turned away from her trying to control his need, his want, and his desire. “Why?” His voice was husky.

“We can’t do this.”

“There’s no reason we can’t.” He took several steps away from her, and then faced her.

Her hands shook as she fastened her blouse. “There’s a million reasons we can’t.” She finished with her blouse and lifted her head to stare at him. “We’re due back on the set.”

“I’m the director.” He reached out and stroked her cheek with the back of his hand, noting her swift intake of breath. “I can cancel the rest of today’s shooting, and we can spend the afternoon here in your trailer or in my bed or our playroom.” A ripple of shock shot up his spine at the bold words his mind hadn’t wanted to speak, but his heart had won. The movie was his first priority, but he was more than willing to take the heat for losing the time to be with Nicki.

She shook her head and skittered away from his touch.

“Why not?” he demanded.

Her chin came up and she crossed her arms over her breasts. “Because I refuse to let everyone think I’m your plaything.”

“My what?” Where they hell had that come from? He let out a husky laugh. No one could ever accuse Nicki of being a kept woman. She had an independent streak a mile wide.

“It’s not funny.”

“Everyone knows we’re married.” He almost pulled her into his arms and kissed her senseless, but he backed off. She’d come around. “And you could never be anyone’s plaything. You’re too smart for that.”

Fighting every instinct within him as well as his raging erection, he marched over to the door. If she wouldn’t play, then it was time for him to go back to being the hard-assed director. “I expect you on the set in five minutes.” He pushed the door open before looking back at her. “If you’re late, you will be punished.”

Her yell of outrage made him grin. He wasn’t bluffing, he would punish her in the ways most pleasurable. Five minutes later, he walked onto the set and no Nicki. He waited.

She sauntered in three minutes later, acting as if she didn’t have a care in the world not a hair out of place, clothes crisp, and a professional smile.

He looked at his watch then back at her. “You’re late.”

“So punish me,” she whispered when she passed him, her fruity shampoo teasing his senses.

Feisty, tantalizing woman. He shook his head. Time to think about work. “Let’s get back to work, people. We have a film to make.” If everything went as planned, the scene would be finished and they could call it a day. Once they finished, he could look at the rushes and adjust as needed. He wanted everything to be perfect.

****

Three hours later, Adam hollered, “Cut.” He threw his hands up and launched from the director’s chair.

“Thank God,” Nicki whispered, rolling onto her stomach and pulling on a shirt and shorts, covering the sheer body suit before standing.

They’d been working on this love scene forever. Sheets were fully placed, concealing their private parts but also trapping the heat coming from the set lights and their bodies. Beside her, Michael stood up and slipped on his shorts, a scowl on his handsome face. He was pissed, just like Adam, and it was her fault. But she was too hot and too tired to care. All she wanted was a cold shower. Nicki let out a sigh.

Adam stomped across the set toward them. “What’s the problem?”

“It’s just not working,” Michael said.

“Can’t you—”

“Don’t yell at Michael,” she interrupted Adam. “It’s not his fault, but mine.” There was no way she would let Michael take the heat for her.

Adam turned his glacial gaze on her. “Then what is your problem?”

You! She almost shouted the word at him. If he hadn’t taken her in his arms, hadn’t touched her, hadn’t threatened to punish her, then she could concentrate on Michael and not feel like she was betraying her husband by being in another man’s arms.

“I can’t relax.” Her skin was on fire for the brush of only one man’s skin against hers. Right now, that man looked ready to kill her and half the crew.

“What will it take to help you relax?” He took a step toward her.

Michael stepped in front of her. “Give us a few minutes,” Michael said to Adam before turning to her. He motioned with his head for her to go to her left.

Nicki walked over to the chairs and waited. “Calm down, Nicki,” Michael said, taking her hand in his.

“Don’t ever put yourself in the middle between Adam and myself.”

“If we’re going to get anywhere on this film, someone has to get between you two.” He squeezed her fingers. “Arguing with him won’t make him stop filming.”

“I know.” She sighed.

After her encounter with Adam in her trailer, all she could think about was him, and his threat of punishment. She’d made sure she was just a few minutes late. But so far, his threat of punishment hadn’t appeared. Unless this was it. Damn, her body stiffened each time Michael embraced her as if she were betraying Adam. She wasn’t. It wasn’t real.

“Look, if you need to visualize me as your husband to get this scene done then do so.”

Nicki jerked her hand away from Michael’s. “You want me to…?” She couldn’t get the words out.

Michael nodded. “The entire crew knows you and Adam were married. None of us know the reason for your break up, but it’s no one’s business. I figured this film was a way for you two to work out your differences.” His palms slid over her shoulders.

Did Chris think that, too? Nicki closed her eyes then reopened them and stared at Michael. He was a handsome man with dark hair, forest green eyes, and a killer smile. But he didn’t make her heart beat speed up or her pussy clench with desire.

“I know,” continued Michael, “you’re not interested in me. Besides, I’m taken with my Kelsey. So, do what you need to do to get us through this scene.”

“If you two are done,” Adam yelled from his director’s chair across the room, “I’d like to finish this scene before midnight.”

“Another minute,” Michael yelled back. “Don’t tense up,” he said to Nicki as his fingers massaged her shoulders. “Shut your eyes.”

Nicki did as he asked and waited.

“Your husband has just come home after an extended leave. You’ve been pining away for him.”

“I’ve never pined for a man in my life.” A grin crossed her lips. Between Michael’s calm voice and his massaging her shoulders, her muscles relaxed.

“Whatever,” he muttered. “It’s just you and him alone. Now go with the emotion there. Ignore everyone else and go with what you’re feeling.”

Michael released her and stepped away.

Nicki followed him back to the set. She could do this. Taking a deep breath, she took her mark, closed her eyes and visualized the scene she wanted.

Then she opened her eyes and looked at Adam. He was staring at her. His mouth set into a straight line, his eyes hard. “I’m ready.”

“Action.”