Los Angeles Lights: A Hollywood Billionaire Alpha Shifter Romance Read online

  “Anything for you, dear. I'll have the chef whip up your favorite meal,” Zack said.

  I smiled. He knew just how to please me. I must be the luckiest women in Hollywood to have someone like Zack standing at my side. Never did he stand in front or behind, but always at my side where his presence mattered most. I couldn't wait to get home and show him how thankful I was to have him in my life. We hadn't made love since the night before the premiere, and that had been nearly a week ago. Our busy schedules didn't allow for much necking. Many times, we found ourselves fooling around in the back of the limo or getting heated in the doorway of the bathroom out of sheer carnal desire. It was intensely arousing to have him pin me against the wall.

  I found myself getting excited in the dressing room and told Zack to hurry up because I was growing tired. As soon as we got home, I undressed from my professional clothes and pulled on a robe that would keep me comfortable until we had to go downstairs for dinner. I watched him from the mirror of my vanity as I took out my earrings and tousled my hair. He smiled at me from the bed.

  “You always look more beautiful to me here when you're relaxed,” he commented.

  I blushed.

  “Zack,” I said, turning away from the mirror. “Thank you.”

  Standing from the bed, Zack unbuttoned his silk shirt and tossed it to the ground while walking towards me. I watched his muscles flex as he moved, admiring the way his skin stretched and accommodated for his chiseled structure. Every inch of his skin was glowing in the dim light of the bedroom and I wished for nothing more than to get lost in the landscape of his body, to rise over his bold form, and to have him dive deep into the valley between my legs. But it had to wait.

  I stood to accept his embrace and then kissed the nape of his neck lovingly. The scent of fresh food wafted through the door, signaling the hour for dinner and prompted us to get ready to go downstairs. My simple nightgown billowed behind me as I walked and Zack held my hand until we reached the table. Our night was filled with laughter and delicious food, our own private dinner date that we hadn't had in such a long time. The wine filled me with warmth and the food satiated my appetite. It was so wonderful that I never wanted it to end.

  3.

  After dinner, Zack and I rushed up the stairs and jumped into bed, making haste to remove the barrier of our clothing. Hands slid over my skin and up to my neck where they traced my jaw and outlined my lips. Painfully slow, he rubbed the head of his erect tool against my silky opening, watching my face as he teased me. The aching tension between us built as he lifted my legs and trailed kisses over my ankles.

  “Please,” I begged as he rubbed my thighs. “Get inside me.”

  Zack chuckled at my request and leaned forward to greet my lips, carefully pushing his member between my rose petals and smiling as I gasped. A hand shimmied underneath me to arch my back and make it easier for him to penetrate my silken hole. Within minutes, he was rocking me back and forth on the bed, skin meeting in joyous union for the first time in a week. I absorbed the feeling of him, relishing the intense sensation of being filled by his enormous girth. All thoughts became superfluous but one, that of having him pound me into a fit of shakes and moans.

  The brutal strength of his passion made me shiver, my hands gripping his shoulders as he slid in and out. Every bit of my body begged for him to fill me up and I bayed loud as he explored the texture of my fields. He pulled my leg up over his shoulder to plow deeper, burying himself deep in my sweet heat. It caused me to hyperventilate as my climax came hard. The waves of heat crashed over my body and cooled immediately, skin twitching in response to his clever hands. Shaking violently, I parted my lips to echo the sound of my release. He came in the same instant and gripped my hips as he nourished my insides with his delectable seed.

  Spent from our intense passion, Zack collapsed on the bed sheets next to me and stroked the hair from my face. I turned and draped my leg over his body while giggling.

  “As always, that was a joy,” I whispered before pecking his lips.

  “It's my pleasure to please you,” he said.

  I giggled.

  “How did I find you?” I asked rhetorically.

  “We just happened to come across each other, I believe,” he said while pushing strands of hair behind my ear. “We're simply meant to be.”

  “Really?” I asked with a smile.

  It still baffled me that this wonderful man was in my arms, in my bed, and in my kitchen every morning. The fact that I lived in a mansion in LA instead of that crummy apartment in downtown was a strange, yet comforting realization every morning. I found my own little piece of heaven here on earth and I never wanted to lose it.

  “Yes, darling. Always,” he reassured me. “And you can ask as many times as you want. I will tell you the same thing.”

  “I love that about you,” I said. “It's the best part aside from your support.”

  Zack smiled wide and pulled me into his arms.

  “You're the best,” he whispered.

  He inhaled as if he were about to speak, but no sound came. I wondered if it was just a passing thought or if he was simply trying to catch his breath. After a few minutes, he began to speak and I couldn't believe the sentences that were forming.

  “I've been meaning to talk to you about this. I'm going to have dinner with Rita next week to go over our terms and make sure everything is smooth. That last encounter months ago was such a mess,” he explained. “And I just want to make sure everything is going the way it should.”

  The words rattled me. He wanted to have dinner with Rita? Of all the people that he could go see – a client, his mother, one of his cousins – he had to choose the one woman who he knew pushed my buttons more than anything else in this world. I simply wouldn't have it. My mouth opened and closed in shock as I attempted to form my own sentences, stunned silent by what seemed to be a request for approval.

  “No,” I said firmly while sitting up. “That's completely unacceptable.”

  “It wouldn't be anything formal. Just a light dinner and a conversation,” he assured me.

  “I don't like it, Zack. Not at all. This is going to send the wrong message to the public,” I said.

  “No, darling. I wouldn't dare allow that. It would be the perfect way to show the people that we're simply friends and nothing else is going on,” he claimed.

  “And what of the cameras? You know those people love to twist stories. Oh, the headlines, Zack! Rita and Zack reunited once again!” I cried, tossing the sheets at him dramatically.

  I stood from the bed as he pleaded behind me. I headed for the bathroom in order to splash my face with water to wash away the horrible feeling that he was up to something. I must be drunk. He must be drunk. What was coming out of his mouth? We hadn't had more than two glasses of wine each, so there was no way this was some drunken banter. If only it was, then perhaps I wouldn't be as irate as I am at this moment. I pulled the towel over my face as he continued to speak. All I wanted to do was calm the blood pounding in my ears.

  “Baby, this is good for us. I'm just checking and I would rather not do it privately,” he said with confidence.

  That was true. If he had wanted to hold a private engagement with her, then I'd really be angry. It was better to be in public where her moves would be caught with the shutter of a nearby camera. What a scandal it would be to see the ridiculous articles that were sure to come. I would be pestered by every journalist in town about this affair. It would be insane.

  “Let me come along,” I begged. “My presence will assure people that you two aren't doing this behind my back.”

  “Of course, darling. It wouldn't be behind your back at all. I'd be glad to have you next to me,” he said. “You'll see. It'll look like we're all working on something new and it would boost the public's confidence in our work.”

  “What day are you planning to do this?” I asked.

  “The twelfth of this month should work as long as--”

  �
��I have an interview that day!” I exclaimed. “You did that on purpose!”

  “Skye, please,” he begged.

  I shook my head. This was a rotten idea. I didn't want to see it through and I certainly didn't want it to be on a day when I had something going on. As Zack came up behind me to take me into another embrace, I pushed him aside and started to pull on a pair of lounge pants. I threw a large bohemian top over it and pulled my shawl around my shoulders, announcing that I was going out for a walk.

  “But darling, it's nearly midnight. You might--”

  “I'm going for a walk,” I said sternly. “I need to clear my head before sleeping. Having Rita in my brain just makes me...”

  I groaned.

  “I'm shaking, Zack,” I informed him while heading for the door.

  “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you,” he explained carefully. “I love you.”

  I sighed in the doorway. I was being such a bratty, melodramatic starlet. It wasn't my intention to hurt his feelings for he was doing his best to smooth things over. I was just being selfish. But what he had suggested hurt me. I wouldn't deny that. He should have picked a more appropriate time than post coitus. Shaking it off, I closed the door behind me and headed down the stairs where I turned and headed for the back door. The maze would provide clarity. It always did in times of stress.

  I just hope he doesn't have ulterior motives.

  4.

  Out in the expansive yard, the moon shined down upon the dark green maze and beckoned me to get lost within its leafy walls. I inhaled deep the scent of the azaleas. It smelled like it had rained recently, a common occurrence in LA. I studied the sky briefly before walking towards the entrance of the maze, recalling all the titillating moments Zack and I had shared within its labyrinth.

  I trailed my fingers along the leaves as I meandered through, thinking about the argument we had just had. My response to the situation wasn't incredibly unwarranted, but I felt a pang of guilt in my stomach as I recalled how he had tried to reason with my logical side. They weren't going off to do anything sexual. A public dinner was definitely better than a private dinner, but how could I be sure? It felt like he was trying to get away with something right before my eyes. How could he be so insensitive?

  While Zack had admitted it was the wrong time to bring it up, I thought about the busy weeks ahead and tried to imagine him bringing it up over dinner. The subject was Rita. There was no way I would be more receptive to the idea over lunch or during a trip to the shops downtown. At any point in time, it would agitate me.

  Why did he have to do that after sex? I thought as I sat on a bench towards the center of the maze. He had done that deliberately while I was relaxed in hopes that I might be amicable.

  My head was starting to ache. The wine and the sex and the wild emotions following had exhausted me into a fit of pain. He knew better than that. From somewhere beyond the tall wall, I heard a growl and then huffing. It sounded like Zack was going out for a run to clear his mind as well. I didn't blame him for wanting to shift into his wolf form and take flight over the plains beyond our beautiful mansion. The night air had calmed me enough to return, but I knew Zack wouldn't be in our bed, so I found it pointless to move.

  I rested my chin in my hand and stared at the ground, watching the white moonlight glitter over the leaves strewn on the moist earth. Soil stained the edges of my toes and I curled them. I should have worn slippers. The temperature was beginning to drop and winter would be coming soon. It wouldn't snow in the starry eyed city, but it would definitely get a little colder as December drew near. I wondered what we were doing for Christmas.

  After an unknown amount of time, I decided to go back inside and warm up in the silken sheets. I debated drawing a fire in the fireplace of the bedroom, but decided it might get too toasty if I did that. Besides, Zack would be home soon from his run and he would be covered in sweat. The last thing he would want is heat.

  My feet felt heavy from walking on the chilled soil outside. I stopped at the staircase and stared up at the dark pictures decorating the wall. Behind me, I heard the sound of the door creaking open and turned to find my familiar beast walking towards me with his head low. I rubbed the fur behind his ears.

  “Let's go to bed,” I whispered.

  He licked my leg and then followed me up the steps, changing once the door was closed. We climbed into our bed and wrapped the sheets around us. The warmth coming from his sweating form comforted me. I tangled my legs in his while playing with his chin-length hair, inhaling the scent of flowers and dirt from his skin. Within moments, I was soundly asleep with no other worry clouding my mind than him seeing Rita.

  Morning came quickly following our brief slumber and I rose feeling worse than the night before. The memories flooded my mind and I tried to find a solution that would ease my discomfort, reminding myself that nothing shady was going on. When Zack left for the day, I went through a few Hollywood contacts and got in touch with a private investigator who had been referred to me by Maya.

  His name was Jonathan Jones and he had been working in the LA area for the past fifteen years. Much of his experience came from working for the most affluent celebrities, forming a collection of knowledge unknown to the world. He knew everyone's business – and proved it by mentioning the tape that Rita had threatened to release. I gasped, shocked that anyone else actually knew about that ridiculous scandal.

  “Don't fret, Mrs. Ryder. I have no desire to release your secrets. What is it you wish to uncover?” asked Mr. Jones.

  “I want to know if Rita Royce is up to anything with my husband,” I replied.

  “That would be quite a scandalous affair,” he commented.

  “Don't remind me. How much would it cost to have you investigate her intentions?” I asked, tapping my teal nails against the vanity.

  “I charge $100 per hour,” he replied. “So, it depends on how long you want me to dig.”

  “Dig as much as possible, Mr. Jones. Don't contact me until you reach a conclusion,” I said.

  “Yes, ma'am. I will report to you before the end of the week,” he responded.

  The line cut off before I could say a farewell. I set my cell phone down on the vanity, staring at my reflection in the mirror. Guilt came again. I brushed out my hair and tried to forget about the awful thing I was doing to my own husband, but then again I just needed to be sure that Rita wasn't trying to do something foul again. I couldn't handle the stress. Perhaps I needed a break.

  I called Maya again who was getting ready to go for coffee and she invited me along. In her posh new car – a silver Acura – she explained that she had gotten a huge settlement out of the assault from four months ago and wanted to treat me to coffee.

  “I know you're going to worry about this until you get good news,” said Maya while driving. “But I want you to relax. Jones is a great investigator and he's helped me dig up dirt on previous boyfriends.”

  “I'm just afraid Zack will cheat on me,” I explained while rubbing my hands.

  “Your husband wouldn't dare cheat on you,” she said while pulling up to the coffee house. “You're an incredibly strong woman who has a solid moral code. There's no way he would get away with that and not get crucified by the public.”

  “I just can't stand the fact that he's even going to have dinner with her,” I said.

  “I think this might be something you should let go. Relax. Let Jones handle it,” she said as we walked inside.

  I ordered my usual venti caramel cappuccino and we sat near the window to chat more.

  “So, how's everything going with you?” I asked before blowing on my beverage.

  “It's going pretty well. I met a guy named Steve. He works in the lighting department at the studio across town. He's a handsome guy,” Maya said with a wink. “I'd love for you to meet him.”

  “You should have brought him to the premiere! It would have been great to get together there,” I said.

  “He was busy that evening
with some extra work. We had a blast anyway. That movie blew me away! I'm excited to see how it will do in theaters this week,” she said.

  “I'm glad you liked it. I value your opinion more than any critic in the city,” I said. “Well, most critics.”

  We both chuckled.

  “Well, here's to your success,” she said, raising her coffee cup.

  “And here's to your new beau,” I said while raising mine.

  After tapping our paper cups together, we sipped our beverages and chatted a bit longer until Maya had to leave. She drove me home and got out of the car to give me a long hug, something I didn't realize I needed until she wrapped her arms around me.

  “Keep your head up, girl,” she said. “And let me know what Jones says.”

  “Of course. Love you, girl. Be safe getting back,” I said.

  I waved as she pulled out of the driveway and headed in the direction of town. That was some much needed girl time. Now I could focus on brainstorming the next script to continue the first movie or perhaps even start a different film entirely. As I walked up the steps and greeted the butler at the door, I wondered when Zack would come home.

  I definitely needed his affection now more than ever.

  5.

  A few days later, which happened to be the day of the nationwide premiere of my movie, I met with Mr. Jones at a cafe outside of downtown. I wanted this to be as discreet as possible. I took the old car I used whenever we met Rita in the fields and dressed in some old clothes that weren't particularly fashionable. Donned in a sun hat and shades, I shook hands with the private investigator before sitting down. He handed me a vanilla folder full of pictures and a typed report of his findings.

  “It appears your salacious starlet hasn't been up to much with your handsome hubby,” explained Mr. Jones. “My sources didn't reveal any foul play. You should feel relieved.”