When Dreams Come True (The Star Series Book 1) (12 page)

Lissa woke up a couple of hours later. The storm had quieted, but her mind was thundering with what had happened. She didn’t want to admit it, but she knew she’d fallen in love with Will a long time before, and after their lovemaking it was out there in the open. The strange thing was he felt the same way. Sitting up, she wrapped her arms around her knees and rested her chin on them, looking out the window down to the city lights which were blurred from the soft rain still falling.

She wasn’t sure exactly how it happened, but her mind seemed clearer than it had in months. Looking back on how she’d gone from one extreme to the other, she realized it was all in trying to keep her feelings for him at bay. If she pushed them away, then she wouldn’t have to think about what she’d give up in order to be with him. She knew she had to find a balance. Part of her wanted to get up and start making a list, prioritizing and making daily goals on the calendar, but she couldn’t bring herself to move from where she felt him next to her. She did turn to look at the clock above the door, seeing that they only had about sixteen hours left before he had to leave. There’d be plenty of time to plan. At that moment, she couldn’t move from beside him.

The only good thing was that they wouldn’t have to wait another two months to see each other. That was going to be their longest separation for the next year. She looked back at her storyboards and computers, then back out to the view she knew. Her security, where she spent all of her time, where she wrote. The place she’d known for years, where she only had to think about herself and her stories.

She knew she loved spending time with Will, even if it was only on video chats, but she wasn’t willing to give up her independence. Maybe it was from fear she’d become completely absorbed in him and lost herself, putting him first over anything which was good for her. She’d seen her mother do the same thing with her father, completely getting lost and putting her needs aside for his. He was always first; what she wanted was never considered.

Lissa didn’t like to think of her years growing up as an only child. She didn’t even have siblings to lean on when her mother was spending every waking hour making sure her father was happy. In her mind, she flipped through the images of growing up which were burned into her brain, of always feeling like she was on the outside looking in. She learned early on to rely only on herself and to do things on her own, because she was the only one she could depend on.

One of the more shocking images was that of her mother’s high school graduation picture. That carefree teenager looked completely different from the woman who was holding a baby girl just a few years later. Catering to him had already started to take its toll on her. No longer carefree, she looked haggard and exhausted, much older than her actual years.

By the time Lissa was a teenager she spent as much time away from them as possible, which was typical for teenagers. But it was deeper for her. She could see her mother dying and there was nothing she could do about it. After all, deep down, every child just wants to be loved by their mother, and she never felt like she was. She tried to talk to her but was always waved away, once again, like she didn’t matter.

It was the summer between high school and college, and her mother was driving because her father was drunk. Her mother had worked a fifteen-hour shift that day and he called to have her pick him up at the bar on her way home. They said her mother fell asleep at the wheel and wrapped their car around a telephone pole, killing both of them instantly. That was the last time she put her husband’s needs above her own. Lissa wondered on many occasions if her mother was ever truly happy; deep down in the gut, laughing happy. It made her sad knowing what her mother missed out on.

She played with a lock of her hair. Was she doing the same thing? Putting all of her needs and wants aside for Will? If someone looked at how she was running herself ragged trying to keep her feelings for him at bay, then she’d have to say yes. But she lived through what had happened with her parents. She knew the signs, and she felt this was more trying to run away from the inevitable than him consuming her. Lissa knew who she was, what she wanted to do with her life.

She had done extensive research while using the image Will created for his villain for hers. She learned so much about him, and she knew she’d fallen a little bit in love with him then. It was widely known how he treated women, all women, with utmost respect. Their conversations online internet showed how much he respected her. They’d been virtually dating for months, and they’d talk about everything and anything.

They’d even talked of the future, things they both wanted, and plans had begun to be made. She couldn’t believe he’d ever be careless with her when he went out of his way to be kind to people he didn’t even know.

As with anything, there were no guarantees they’d find a way to blend their careers. They’d travel, fight, make up, laugh and cry together. Was she really willing to throw the possibility of spending her life with this man away? Her mind whirled all around, back and forth, while her heart beat for the man sleeping next to her. She sighed with no absolute answer coming as she wondered what the next step should be.

His fingers started tickling her bare back. “Those are some mighty deep thoughts you’re having in the middle of the night.”

Turning to look at him, she saw that he’d propped his head up with one hand. “Aren’t all thoughts born in the middle of a deep night?” she countered.

“It would appear they are. Want to talk about it, darling?”

She shook her head. “I overthink everything and can’t seem to shut my brain off.” Goosebumps spread across her skin as he traced along her back.

“Well then, maybe I could help… you know… shut that lovely brain of yours off.”

“Hmmm… it would appear you are up for the task.”

“That I am. That I am.”

With a wicked grin he sprung toward her and fell on top of her, tickling her sides. She tried to make him stop or at least tickle him back, but he was much too fast and clever to allow that to happen. After the stress of the storm and the intensity of their lovemaking, it felt wonderful to be carefree and laugh.

Soon things changed from lighthearted to serious as he captured her lips with his, the fingers which brought laughter changing to bring her pleasure. Up and down each other’s bodies their hands roamed as they discovered each other again. That time, their lovemaking wasn’t as gentle. They battled for dominance, both wanting to take and give more than the other. In the end, they both won.

“Excuse me? You did what?” Lissa tried to keep her voice calm.

“I’m making your life easier. You need to start taking care of yourself, and that means I’m taking care of you,” Will said from his chair while looking over the top of the newspaper at her. He went back to reading.

She marched over and pulled the paper down. “Taking care of me? I’m not some lost puppy.”

Will sighed. “No, you are not a lost puppy. Darling, you have to understand I love you. I want to make sure everything you could ever need is given to you before you even think of it. I need to make sure you can focus on what is most important to you and not worry about anything else. I need to make sure you are eating, sleeping, and safely going out.” He pulled her down onto his lap. “If you won’t do it for yourself, do it for me. Think about me worrying about you from thousands of miles away, on set, and knowing if you needed me I’d never be able to get to you quickly.” He grinned at her. “Besides, think about me being distracted on set thinking of you. Depending on the movie, I could end up missing my mark and getting hurt.”

“Oh, now that’s low.”

“I know. Did it work?” He twisted his fingers in hers.

“Maybe. But Will, so much… did you have to do so much? I can take care of myself. I’ve done it for years now, you know.”

“Really, I didn’t do much. A cleaning crew who will also do the shopping, a personal chef who will come in five times a week to make lunch and dinner, and security. And yes, I know you are perfectly capable of taking care of yourself, but should that mean I should just allow you to do it? Look at it this way. If you had the opportunity to do something, anything, for me and you knew it would make my life easier, or even just as simple as by you doing this one little thing, I’d know you love me? Wouldn’t you do it? In fact, don’t you do it all the time for the people you love in your life now? I’ve seen it first hand with Hannah. You don’t think she isn’t capable of doing it. You’re just doing something to make her life easier, to show her you love her. It’s nothing different, darling.”

“But… but…”

“You do have a nice butt.”

Lissa groaned. “Don’t change the subject. It might be nothing to you but to me, it’s so much. It’s always been Hannah and me. For years, we’ve been able to keep up and now… it’s too much.”

“Melissa, your life is going to change. Your books are selling more and more, and you already have at least one movie in the works.”

“This has happened to other authors, and they haven’t had to make so many changes.”

“They aren’t you. Besides, you
do
remember what happened at the market the other day, right? That’s just the first of many to come. It just so happens the house next to yours was available to rent. As you are the last house on this street, anyone who wants to come to your house has to go past the rental house, which is where the security team will be. That way, you don’t have to worry about them in the house with you. It’s my little way to make sure you’re safe.”

Resting her forehead on his, she knew where he was coming from. Hadn’t she done similar things for her friends? Not on the same scale, but as her income increased the more she was able to do for them. But that wasn’t the only thing bothering her. “Will, I’m so scared you’ll break me.”

“No, darling. I would never break you.” He framed her face with his hands, making sure she looked at him.

“Not on purpose, no. I don’t think you’d ever do that. But I care too much, I feel too much.”

“Have you ever stopped to think I might just happen to be in the same boat? You hold my heart in your hand.” He grabbed her hand and placed it over his heart. “You can rip it out of my chest and stomp on it, set fire to it and bury it in the deepest pit, but it would still belong to you. That, my darling, will never change.”

“What am I going to do with you?”

“Oh, I have a few ideas.” He pulled her closer to him on his lap and started kissing her neck.

“I know what your ideas are but remember, you’re the one who wanted to go swimming.” She tried to wiggle off his lap, wanting to have a distraction from all the thoughts flowing through her brain.

“Oh, no, you don’t, Miss Loring. Don’t make this harder than it has to be.” He nipped at her neck.

“I’m not sure that’s possible, Mr. Martinsson.” Somehow, she wiggled off his lap and raced out of the room with Will hot on her heels. Since it was her house, she knew exactly how to hit the corners for maximum speed and minimum skid, but his long legs ate up the distance and he was right behind her most of the time. He almost caught up to her on the stairs, but she jumped from the last landing and was out the back door, skidding to a stop in front of the pool before she turned to face him. She could see the gleam in his eye and he didn’t slow down. He grabbed her and spun in the air so his body hit the water first and they went under.

He surfaced with her in his arms, grinning like the Cheshire cat.

“Was that necessary?” Lissa asked, shoving her hair out of her face.

“Completely.”

They were startled when towels and swimming suits plopped down on the deck from the upstairs balcony. “No skinny dipping in the pool,” Hannah called from above.

“I don’t see that rule anywhere.” Will grinned up at her.

“Oh, it’s in small print.”

“Ouch. Well then, I guess it’s best if we don’t do that.” He looked up at Hannah. “Is it okay if we get naked in order to get into our swimming suits?”

“I suppose,” Hannah answered.

“Well, the clothes we have on right now are soaking wet. I’d hate to bring that all into the house.”