57

3
RYAN
What a punch in the gut. First, that bullshit with Tinsley and Michael. I knew sex when I saw it and when we all walked in it looked like Tinsley and Michael had just finished up a quickie, not survived an earthquake. And now this, to hear that Dr. Harris Rutledge was about to be killed off. For what?
“Oh man, that sucks. I am so sorry,” said Kai. “But hey, at least now you can go back to kissing all those pretty leading ladies in rom-coms.”
I could tell Kai regretted it the moment he said it. I loved Kai but he had the emotional intelligence of a hamster. Even so the anger, even if it were misplaced, erupted inside of me before I could stop it.
“What the fuck man? Is that supposed to make me feel better? Would it help you? This is going to ruin my career. The leading man doesn’t get killed off. What are people gonna think? I’ll tell you, people are gonna think I did something crazy. They’ll think I sexually harrassed someone or that I’m going to rehab. I’ll be lucky if I ever work again let alone get cast in a damn rom-com,” I said angrily.
“Good, that’ll get the press off my ass for a change,” laughed Lee.
Several people around the room glared at him.
I hated losing my cool in front of people. My job was supposed to be to entertain, not start drama. I wanted to tell Lee and Kai off. Truth be told, I wanted to kick their asses, but instead I walked out before I could say or do something I might regret.
As calmly as I could muster, I stood up, tucked in my chair and headed to the elevator. I knew where to go. Maybe the fake autumn day in the Mainstreet, USA set outside the office would soothe my soul.
As I made my way onto the studio’s walkway footsteps shuffled behind me. What the fuck now?
“Kai, I’m sorry man, but that wasn’t’ the nicest thing you’ve said to me, you know?” I said without even bothering to turn around.
“I know I have a strong presence, but do you really think I sound like Kai walking up behind you? I am a lady, you know.” I turned to see the last person I’d have ever expected would be there to comfort me, Tinsley Cole.
Trying to catch up with me had rattled her just a bit. Her long, shocking red hair had fallen from the prim, and proper style she’d had earlier, her face was slightly flushed. Her silk blouse clung to her chest, and I could just make out the outline of her perfect nipples trying everything they could to escape from the confines of her bra. I remembered every inch of her body and those nipples were one of my favorite parts of her anatomy.
“Oh Tinsley. I guess I owe you an apology too. I’m sorry for losing my cool back there, it just took me by surprise is all.”
“Ryan, that is the last thing on earth you owe me an apology for,” she said softly. She was trying to be comforting but I saw pain in her eyes. Pain that I knew I was responsible for despite the years.
“And that means, what I already knew. That there is something on earth I do owe you an apology for. I’m sorry Tins, I was a dick back in college. I should have called you after. I just didn’t know what to do with my emotions back then.”
“In all honesty, I was a bit shocked by the connection we had and truthfully it scared me a bit. By the time I realised what a jerk I’d been, you were gone, and I wasn’t sure how to reach you,” I said sorrowfully.
I meant every word. She had shaken me back then, but I did owe her an apology. I had for years. I could tell my apology had taken her by surprise. I could feel her whole demeanour shift and soften, not that she had been harsh toward me before. But in that moment, she seemed to shed her professional exterior and I saw the old Tinsley from school in her, carefree and gorgeous.
“Well, now that is the last thing I expected when I came running out to the lot in these heels,” she said with a laugh and looking at her feet. “But thank you. It means a lot to hear you say that after all these years. Do you mind if we take a breather on this bench over here? I underestimated how hard it is to keep up with a six foot four giant when I’m wearing stilettos.”
“Oh crap, yes,” I said, slowing down to better keep pace with Tinsley as we made our way toward the bench. “So, what did you expect?” I asked.
“No expectations, I shouldn’t have said it like that. I certainly didn’t come out here to talk about us. That was just a super tense moment back in the conference room. I’m an empath and I hate to see anyone hurting.
“Plus, since you mentioned your career outlook and the ramifications. Well, I’m a PR girl. I thought I might be able to talk you down just a bit at least in that regard and give you some next step that you can talk over with your agent,” she said.
“Next steps would be great,” I said. “I really have been looking to pivot for a while.”
“I know you have your concerns, but you have to trust me that this type of thing happens all the time. You would be shocked if I told you some of the people I’d helped turn their careers around after something like this.”
I took a long look at her. Tinsley Cole, the only girl that had ever thrown me out of whack. I thought about the night we’d spent together. How open she’d been with her feelings and emotions. She had been going through a bad break up back then and I’d wanted nothing more than to be there for her. I had never expected it to go any further but then it did, and it was incredible.
It was seared into my memory. Not just because the sex and been so amazing but because of the connection we’d shared. I had never felt true intimacy with another person like that since. I’d had lots of surface relationships but nothing serious. And as far as friendships, it was basically just Kai and Andrienne. It was almost as if I didn’t know how to be close to anyone else.
It was part of why I had been so scared to reach out to her after that. Growing up the way I did, knowing from a young age that your conception was a mistake, it did something to a kid. My parents had tried to make it work but eventually that imploded too.
Being shipped back and forth between a mom and dad that never really wanted you in the first place and then divorced because of you, well, that kind of upbringing wasn’t exactly a breeding ground for emotional superiority.
Tinsley had tapped into something that night that I hadn’t even known had existed up to that point. I had been able to be vulnerable with her. I’d shared things with her that night that I’d never shared with anyone. We’d
talked, laughed, kissed and then I had lost my virginity to her. Although of course, I didn’t tell her that.
Tinsley had assumed I was an experienced playboy back then and I had allowed her to live out that fantasy. The night had been perfect. It had seemed like the beginning of something real in my life for once. But then I’d gone and fucked it up by not calling.
“Tinsley, I’m worried,”. I felt my walls start to come down. I knew I could tell her the things that scared me now, just like I had been able to on that night all those years ago.
“Talk to me, Ryan. I’m a fixer, so let’s fix this,” her radiant smile saying more to me in that moment than her words. She looked at me like I’m a prize to be won and I wanted so much to prove to her that I was worthy of that level of appreciation.
I let it all out. The concerns I had about my career, how much I hated romantic comedies, how I hoped to tap into my skills a bit more and become a more dramatic actor instead of just the “hot leading man.” I left nothing unsaid, except how I felt about her.
How could I tell her those things? What kind of creep fell in love with a woman in one night only to blow her off and never call her again? And then proceeded to stay in love with her for nearly a decade despite having had zero communication with her.
“Wow, I had no idea you hated those rom-coms and action movies as much as you did. I always thought you were an incredible actor in them, in everything you’ve done. I mean I’ve watched I Hate You, I Love You at least a dozen times. It’s my go to movie after a super crappy date when I need a pick me up,” Tinsley confessed.
“Wait, you’ve seen all my movies? I didn’t know whether to be flattered or embarrassed.”
“Maybe I’m the one that should be embarrassed. Admitting the way, I’ve followed your career I sound a bit like a stalker when I say it all out loud like that,” she giggled.
“Not at all,” And I truly did feel flattered. I thought that she would hate me, and want nothing to do with me. I never expected her to care enough to follow my career. Maybe, just maybe there was a chance for us after all.
“Ryan, I have to be honest. This is the perfect next step in your career. Yes, you’re being killed off but we can spin this, it’s what I do. We’ll make it sound like a mutual decision between you and the studio that allows you
to focus on more dramatic roles that have been calling to you for some time.”
“We’ll say you haven’t had time in your schedule to pursue these special projects because of the strenuous scheduling of the Dr. Falconi franchise” she said, and instilled a confidence in me that had all but drained the moment I had heard Adam’s announcement.
“You really think it will work?” I asked, feeling hopeful.
“I know it will and I’m just the gal to help you,” she said, squeezing my hand. The intimate act caught me by surprise, but I didn’t hate it.
Feeling suddenly very vulnerable I deflected, as I had a tendency to do. Quickly changing the subject I said, “Tins, I gotta go back, I Hate You, I Love You, there are some pretty racy scenes in that movie. You know, I got to help develop those sex scenes myself?”
She blushed. “Ryan, this is definitely gonna make me sound like a stalker but why do you think I love that movie so much? I have very fond memories of some of those moves of yours. Especially the one where you pull your leading lady in close, kissing the nape of her neck. Moving your mouth slowly down her body, biting, nipping, kissing. Let’s just say I’m not just watching your movies for the comedy.”
“Oh really,” I purred, suddenly overcome and took her in my arms. “Is something like this what you had in mind?” I began kissing her slowly but deeply. She melted into my embrace with a comfort that made it feel like we had been doing this for years. I pulled her to her feet. “If I’m going to do this right, we need just a touch more privacy.”
“Wherever it is, take me there, now,” she said in a sensual whisper that had me as hard as rock.
I led her into the general store looking building that we all knew served as a supply storehouse. As soon as the door closed behind her I closed the space and pinned her body against it. I did as she instructed me to do, copying the scene from the movie and our night together to a tee.
I began by kissing the nape of her neck, slowly moving my tongue down to her collarbone replicating my moves from both the film and our first encounter.
Her moans of pleasure had me coming undone. Gently, I began unbuttoning her blouse as I continued to kiss and lick. She smelled incredible and I remembered the scent from back in school, a mixture of jasmine and gardenia.
Her blouse fell around our feet, and I wrapped my arms around her to remove her bra. Once I liberated her breasts, I gave them all my attention cupping them as I sucked on her nipples, licking and massaging with my tongue.
“Fuck Ryan, that’s so hot. I want more. I need it.”
Her wish was my command. I kissed down to her waist and slowly removed her skirt. I could see how moist she was through her tiny, lace thong.
“Are you this wet for me baby?” I gently pulled down her panties.
She answered me with a low, guttural moan and it’s all the confirmation I needed to continue. I pushed one finger and then another inside her soaking wet pussy.
“Tinsley, you’re so fucking tight.” I shifted her legs apart and began lapping at her clit, I wrapped my free hand around her backside and pulled her in closer so she could ride my face and hand. As I sucked on her clit, I fucked her with my fingers. I felt her body start to tense and she cried out in sweet release, nearly collapsing.
“Oh my God, that was incredible. It was everything I remembered only better. No one has ever been able to make me come as quickly as you,” she said as I licked her sweet juices off my fingers.
“You don’t know how much I’ve missed that gorgeous pussy of yours. I’ve had dreams for years of you riding my face. I was starting to think I was a freak for letting one night rock my world so intensely. I’m glad to know I wasn’t alone. I just wish I hadn’t fucked it up back then.”
She didn’t say anything to that, just smiled at me. I watched her bend over to retrieve her clothing from the floor. Her ass called to me and I walked up behind her to let her feel the strength of my erection against her body.
“Holy fuck, you are so hard.” And suddenly she got on her knees before me, she started to rescue my cock from the confines of my jeans when her phone alarm chimed.
“Damn, I’ve got to go. Promise me I can return the favor soon?”
“I’m going to take you up on that.” I said watching her dress herself and then she was back to being professional Tinsley.
“You’d better. I miss the feeling of your dick in my mouth and it’s an urging I don’t intend to fight any longer,” she said as she walked out the door.
“Oh and Tins,” I said to her before she could leave the storehouse.
“Yes Ryan,” she said looking back at me with those emerald green eyes. “Thank you for talking me down. I really appreciate it. I think your
ideas will really work,” I said shyly.
“Well thank you for that. It’s just what I needed,” she said with a wink as she walked out the door.
Holy fuck! What a woman!