Star Struck Read online

  Star Struck

  a novelette

  by Paige Halpert

  Copyright © 2012 Paige Halpert. All rights reserved.

  It took me several years and a lot of hard work, but I was finally making it. I started going on auditions when I was 19, and now at 27 I had my first costarring role in a major feature film, Bittersweet Memories. My costar was Gavin Flynn, one of the biggest up-and-coming actors. He had just recently starred in an indie film that unexpectedly became a huge box office smash. Fame had come quick for him, and even though he had been in the business about as long as I had, he wasn't expecting it at all. At 28, he was on his way to becoming one of the biggest names in the entertainment industry.

  My name is Megan Manning, and I’ve been acting since I was six years old. Back home, it was always on small stages around the community or at school, but when I became an adult, I decided to turn my passion into my career. It hasn’t always been easy- far from it- but I’ve worked hard and have never given up. Getting the lead female role in Bittersweet Memories was a dream come true.

  Gavin and I had become friends quickly on the set, and we had even hung out together when we were off of work on several occasions. We both had similar interests, and both of us liked doing simple things at home rather than going out to big parties or loud clubs all the time. Even though I knew he was interested in me, I didn't want to admit I had feelings for him as well. Things in my career were just starting to go so well, and filming had been amazing so far, and I didn’t want to risk making things complicated or awkward. After all, he was my co-star; if things were to go bad between us it would create tension on the set. I wanted him so much more than I had allowed myself to believe. But he'd been asking me out for weeks now, so I finally said yes. We were only a few weeks from wrapping the film, so what could it hurt? Our first date was absolutely magical.

  We got in his car on a bright, sunny day. As we drove, we talked and laughed, the sound of each other’s voices being more musical than any song that could come on the radio, so we kept it off the whole drive. He drove us out to a beautiful country setting, where the grass was green, the flowers bloomed, and the air felt so clean and fresh that every breath was intentionally deep. It felt like being home again. His smile brought happiness to my heart and made me smile every time I looked at him. I couldn't take my eyes off of him the whole time.

  It was nice to get away from the busy Hollywood scene for a little bit. Being from a small town, it was hard for me to get used to the fast-paced world of professional acting. My agent was always sending me out into the city for auditions, and it took me a while to stop feeling so frazzled every time I had to fight for a parking spot or search through streets for the right address and office to be at.

  I had landed some minor roles here and there, but Bittersweet Memories was definitely the biggest role I had been able to get so far. Mostly I had done a little regional theater out here, some of commercials, and one-line roles on a couple of television shows. I was loving it all, though Bittersweet Memories was the first thing that would actually pay me more than just a week or two worth of bills.

  We stopped next to a pristine lake, and for a while took in the view with a comfortable silence. We got out of the car and placed a plushy blanket on the ground. Gavin looked at me, gestured politely for me to sit down, and made sure I was comfortable. I closed my eyes and drank in the heat from the warm sun as it poured down on my body. Then he said my name melodiously, and my eyes rushed back to him as quickly as they could. He peered at me so intensely that I blushed, certain that he could see every inch of my naked soul as he looked at me. I stared back at him, trying to capture every detail in my mind so that this moment could live on eternally in my memory.

  He smiled that lovely half-smile he does, and leaned closer. My heart skipped a beat, and he kissed me gently, but passionately. His tongue slipped into my mouth, and his hand rested tenderly on my thigh. I placed my hands around his shoulders and I grasped his neck and began to play with his soft, golden brown hair. His other hand snuck around to the small of my back, and we pressed against each other, kissing desirously.

  I lay on my back, pulling Gavin down beside me. As we kissed, our fingers entwined together. The pressure of his body against mine made my blood pump, and at times I had to hold myself back from letting out a little moan. I didn’t want to seem too eager, but I wanted more.

  Time stopped while our lips were tangled together, and slowly the warmth of the sun that once hugged my skin faded away. It was dark, and we looked out upon the lake to see the sparkling reflection of the moon. We got up, he gathered the blanket, and we got back in the car.

  "What a beautiful day this has been," I said.

  "It wouldn't have been even half has beautiful if you weren't a part of it, Megan," he replied as he smiled at me. My heart pounded.

  Gavin started the car and we headed back to the highway. I rolled down the window and let the cool night breeze tickle my face, my right hand out the window, rushing through the wind. My left hand lay in my lap, and as I peered out the window he reach over and took my hand, weaving our fingers together.

  The drive was over before I knew it, and in my head I cursed at time for passing so quickly this evening. I hoped to bribe time to stand still forever, but when I looked into his beautiful eyes- a glistening emerald green with tiny specks of honey hued- it distracted me from all my thoughts, and I couldn’t help but focus on him.

  “Do you want to come in and hang out for a little bit?” Gavin said. He seemed so sincere, so confident, and so comfortable with me. I bit my lip and blushed.

  “Yes,” I said, smiling. “I’d like that a lot.”

  He parked the car, and we got out and walked up to the front door of his house. He turned the key and opened the door for me. I never knew him to not be a complete gentleman, and I respected him for the amount of respect he always gave me.

  We sat on the couch and he put his arm around me.

  "Would you like anything to drink? Want me to make us some dinner?" he asked.

  "There's nothing in the kitchen that I could possibly want more than I want what's on this couch," I replied, and kissed him.

  His hands danced along my body, mine along his. We both knew where we wanted things to go, and my only regret was in the fact I had denied dating him sooner. My hand slipped down to his hips, down to his knees, then back up between his thighs, and I felt him harden. He pulled back slightly, and I blushed.

  "I don't want you to do anything you don't want to do," he said genuinely.

  "Oh, I won't, I assure you," I said firmly as I stood up.

  I took his hand and led him into the bedroom, and it felt comfortable and right. We embraced tightly and our lips locked again. I pushed him away just enough to get my hands between the two of us and started unbuttoning his shirt, all while not letting our lips part. His shirt fell to the floor, and he slipped his fingers under the bottom of my shirt and lifted it over my head, brushing his hands against my skin. I ran a finger down along his naked chest, traced the muscles on his stomach, then continued down and unbuckled his belt, unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans, and let them tumble to the floor.

  Our lips waltzed together, and the taste of his breath and the heat of his bare skin drove me wild. He stood there in his boxers as he unfastened my bra. I slid it off my shoulders, down my arms, and threw it to the side. He leaned down and affectionately kissed my collarbone while his hands rested on my hips. Then he unzipped the back of my skirt, and in one swift move he sent my skirt and panties to the floor. The feel of his masculine hands on my bare skin was mesmerizing, and his touch was firm yet tender. I could tell how bad he wanted me, and I wanted him just as badly.

  He stood back up and kissed my lips again as I r
eached to glide his boxers down. We stepped back and out of the clothes that were now down around our ankles and took a moment to soak in the view of each other’s naked bodies. He was perfect in every way, gorgeous as much on the outside as he was on the inside: it was as though he had been sculpted carefully by the hands of a Greek god just for me. Freckles lightly speckled his torso, every muscle was highlighted, and not a hair out of place. His penis throbbed, and pointed right at me. We both looked up and down each other, and it was only a few passing seconds before the desire to touch overcame us and we dashed back into each other's arms.

  He laid me down gently on his bed and ran his fingers through my hair as he looked into my eyes.

  "You're so beautiful," he said and lovingly kissed my forehead.

  I pressed my mouth against his neck and softly sucked. My hands wandered along his body and I drew him in as close to me as I could. He touched every piece of my body again and again, quickly. When his hand reached my outer thigh I spread my legs and pulled him on top of me. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the feeling as he sank inside of me, and opened them again to look up at his handsome face. We locked eyes, and he brushed my cheek with his hand.

  We began to move in sync with each other, as though it was a choreographed dance we were born to perform. I listened to his breathing, and felt his heart beat in time with mine. He took his hand and held my hip, and I clutched his butt, both of us trying to get our bodies as close together as humanly possible. Gavin filled my body, emotionally and physically, and I wanted him deeper- I wanted to show him the innermost depths of my soul and look back to see his.

  It felt marvelous, and I could feel myself pulsate within. I moaned quietly, and he kissed my cheek. I wrapped my legs tightly around him and kissed him hard on the lips, and as we kissed as our bodies moved together. His tongue swam around my mouth, and mine explored his.

  Once again time stood still for me. Being here with him, feeling him inside of me, delighted me beyond words. Our connection to each other as friends had been strong before, but now it had become unbreakable. I knew that this day was the changing point for my world, and I finally could truly understand the phrase “the first day of the rest of my life.” Being with him made me feel whole, and I knew this was something that would last forever. My heart was happy, and my body was blissful.

  His hand glided up my body to my breast, and he fondled me and held me even closer. Sweat began to bead on his back, and my moaning grew louder as I soared through a sky of harmonious pleasure. He grunted, and began to thrust himself quicker. I could tell both of us were close to climaxing, and as I hoped, we both came together. It was the most intense orgasm I ever felt- I had been swept up into a fierce utopian felicity, and from the look on Gavin’s face, I hadn’t been the only one.

  He stayed on top of me, and I put my hand on his cheek and kissed him. We looked into each other, and I couldn't remove my stare from the tranquility of his piercing green eyes. His fingers swam through my hair as he looked down at me and smiled.

  When he went soft, he pulled himself over and we got under the covers. He turned of the light and wrapped me in his arms, and I placed my head on his shoulder. We talked for a few moments, kissed, and then fell into serenity. Before I went to sleep, I reflected upon the day, perfect in every way, and I cursed time again when the morning came.

  In the morning I awoke alone in bed. At first, I worried that Gavin must have left without telling me. Perhaps he had somewhere important to be. I’d never done anything like this before, and I wasn’t quite sure what to do. Should I stay and wait for him, or would it be better if I just gathered my things and left? It worried me to think that after such a wonderful day and amazing night that he would just leave without even telling me he was going somewhere or waking me to say goodbye. Was this all an act? It terrified me to think about it.

  And then I smelled the pancakes, and all my worries dissolved. The bed was so warm and cozy, but I just had to go out and see him. I got up and noticed he had laid out one of his shirts on the foot of the bed where my feet had been, so I put it on. It was big, comfortable, and smelled like him. I felt strangely sexy wearing nothing but his shirt, which hung just below my butt.

  I walked out into the kitchen and Gavin was standing there, making pancakes, and wearing only red plaid pajama bottoms. He turned toward me as he flipped a pancake.

  “Good morning, beautiful. How’d you sleep?” he asked.

  “Wonderfully,” I replied. “Last night was amazing.”

  He looked and me and grinned in agreement.

  I walked over and sat down at the kitchen table. I ran my fingers along the dark, solid wood as I watched him cook. His pajama pants clung to him perfectly, showing the curves of his rear handsomely, draping around his legs, yet hiding enough of him to leave my imagination wanting more. The sunlight rippled through the window and grazed his body, and I couldn’t help but admire the definition in his shoulders, arms, and back.

  He got out two plates, stacked up a few pancakes on each, picked up a couple of forks out of a drawer, and then grabbed the syrup out of his pantry before joining me at the table. I giggled at his balancing act when he almost dropped the plate of pancakes as he set it in front of me.

  He sat on the other side of the small table, and we began to eat. We talked cheerfully and flirted, and never took our eyes off of each other.

  “So… Do you have any plans for today, Megan?” he asked.

  “Nothing in particular. Filming doesn’t pick up again until the day after tomorrow, you know,” I replied.

  “Yea, it’s nice having some time off.”

  “What about you, Gavin? Do you have anything you’re doing today?” I asked.

  “I have a meeting with my manager at 3, but nothing other than that. I should be home around 7,” he looked at me shyly. “Will you be here when I get back?”

  I blushed.

  “If you want me to be, I will,” I said.

  “Very much so,” he said, looking straight into my eyes and smiling.

  “If you don’t mind, though, while you’re gone I want to run home and get some things,” I said. “Do you have a spare key I could borrow?”

  “Yea, of course.”

  We stared into each other eyes, and I reached across the table and stroked his hand softly.

  “Do you mind if I get myself something to drink?” I asked.

  “Can get it for you? What would you like?”

  “It’s okay, you made breakfast. I can get myself a drink of water at least. Just tell me where the cups are.”

  “They’re up in the cabinet over the sink,” he pointed.

  I got up and walked over and opened the cabinet. The only thing I could see were the plates on the bottom shelf, some cookware in the middle shelf, and some really fancy looking glasses on the top shelf.

  “Are you sure? These are rather fancy.” I tried to reach up, but not being very tall made this quite a chore.

  “Yea. Reach higher,” he said.

  I kept reaching, a bit surprised that he hadn’t come to offer me assistance yet. When he again encouraged me to keep reaching, I realized that the shirt had lifted up over my nude butt. Embarrassed, I stopped reaching and pulled the shirt down to cover myself. He laughed at me, pleased with himself for tricking me into exposing myself, then got up and opened the cabinet next to the one I was looking in. In there, on the bottom shelf, were some more glasses.

  “Here, you can use these,” he said. I smacked him playfully on his bare chest and he laughed at me again.

  While he got me some water, I sat down on top of the table and moved the dirty plates aside. He walked over to me and handed me the glass. I took a sip, and then placed it on the table.

  He put his hands on my hips, and I ran my fingers under the elastic of his pants, feeling the touch of his warm skin. He kissed me, and I pulled him closer. I slid my hand up and around his back, while my other hand slipped into his pants. I started rubbing his shaft and felt it gr
ow in my hand. His hands wandered to my back and he held me tight. I pulled his penis out through his fly.

  “I want you inside of me, I need you,” I whispered in his ear, and then I bit it gently.

  He glided inside of me and kissed my neck passionately. I let my head fall backwards and gripped on to his arms tightly as he continued to thrust himself back and forth. Our breathing quickened and grew louder, and I basked in the warmth of the body heat between us.

  I ran my fingernails lightly down his sides and felt goose bumps form along his skin, and he lightly moaned. Then he scooped me up in his arms and carried me back into the bedroom, while not letting himself slip out of me.

  He lay down on the bed with me on top, and I started moving up and down and back and forth. He placed his hands on my knees and slowly let them drift up my legs, over my thighs, up my hips, up my sides under the shirt, and cupped my breasts. I leaned down toward his face and kissed him. His scent caught me, and I took in his sweet musky aroma, committing it to memory. I knew from now on I wouldn’t be able to smell his scent without becoming aroused.

  We were at it for quite a while, rolling around in the bed, switching back and forth between positions, touching each other so much that sometimes I lost track of where our hands were.

  When we had both finished, we laid next to each other, kissing, and stroking each other’s hair.

  “I can’t believe how amazing these last two days have been,” I said.

  “I can’t believe I’m lucky enough to have you here, lying next to me right now,” he replied.

  He smiled his glorious half-smile, and my heart melted yet again.

  “I think you’re going to have to get used to it,” I said, “This is just the start.”

  We lay there, just looking at each other. Gavin stroked my hair, and I traced my fingers around his neck and chest. The peaceful silence blanketed us.

  He smiled at me, and gazed into my eyes.

  “Tell me something,” he said.