they kicked the old guy off the show because Daniel came around. I watched, he sucked anyways.'
'Try to talk about anything but that,' Avaline said. 'We spend all week dealing with it.'
Just then, a knock came at the door. Everyone gasped, except Avaline who rolled her eyes and went to answer it.
Daniel stood in the condo hallway, looking different than she was used to seeing him. He had on the typical celebrity sunglasses, but he was clad in loose jeans and a grey tee-shirt, his hair still wet from out of the shower and his jaw freshly shaven. Makeup free and in modern clothes, it made her smile at how… normal he looked.
But then, she looked the same. Bare feet and grey sweat pants complimented her black tank top and pony tail hair. She was also makeup free, her face fresh and looking years younger than the normal glamazon she was made up to be.
'Hey, come in,' she smiled, holding open the door with one arm. Her other reached out and wrapped around him and he returned the hug with a happy sigh. He smelled freshly of soap and aftershave, and she inhaled deeply.
'Mmm. Not set smell.'
'Ha,' he pulled back, presenting her with a bag. 'I wasn't sure what to bring so I just brought…'
'Everything?' She looked into the bag, raising an eyebrow. There was chips and dip, fruit salad, regular salad, and much more. 'Come in, you goofball.'
She led him through the hallway, to the living room where her friends were sitting.
'So, guys, this is Daniel. Daniel, this is Lily, Riley, Cole, Michael and Sarah.'
'A pleasure,' he shook hands all around, although everyone noticed he was a bit awkward about it. When Avaline went to the kitchen for plates and cups, he followed her back and forth, until she turned, laughing.
'They aren't going to bite you,' she said, and he smiled, taking the cups from her.
'Is it too much to believe that an actor can be shy?'
She paused, and then gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
'No. But you're OK here, you're safe.'
She exited the kitchen, letting him choose when to follow. When he finally emerged, he looked much more relaxed than before.
The first game that Avaline brought out was a fan favourite, Dice Capades, a game that had them doing everything from complex math equations to charades, depending on what section of the board they moved through. When it came her turn, she picked up a card and then grinned.
“OK, everyone close your eyes.”
“Nooo,” groaned the rest, knowing what was coming. Turning to the person on her right, which was Daniel, as the card instructed, she showed him what she had picked.
Act out a scene from a movie. If they guess, 10 points to both of you, and 5 to the guesser.
He raised an eyebrow, and she leaned her lips to his, whispering quietly her suggestion.
Laughing, he rose, holding his hand out to her. She stood up, pushing back her chair and beckoning the others to look. Taking a deep breath, she backed up, and then, to everyone’s surprise, took a flying leap into Daniel’s arms. He lifted her over his head.
“DIRTY DANCING!” called Lily, and the rest of the team groaned. Daniel’s muscles rippled as he slowly put her down. “Now, why didn’t you do God of Lightening?” she asked. Daniel laughed.
“Because the acting in that movie was shit.”
Laughter erupted around the table as they settled back down. Avaline squeezed his hand, winking. It seemed he was getting along fine with the rest of them. He seemed to be loosening up as well, his words flowing easier and his jokes coming with speed. Avaline sighed, watching him. If only he could be like this on set. But then, if only the others could be this kind to him on set, perhaps things would be different. He never got the chance to show off his personality like this, not with nasty comments baiting him at every opportunity.
'You can stay, if you want,' Avaline said to Daniel, as he bid goodbye to the company.
'I don't want to impose,' he replied and she shrugged.
'I was just going to order a pizza and watch a movie. If you have somewhere else to be though…'
'I most certainly do not,' he assured her, reaching for his phone. 'Allow me to at least pay for dinner, Avaline, you've been too kind already.'
'Oh, if the paparazzi could see us now,' she teased him, cleaning up the table while Daniel made the order.
When the pizza arrived, they curled up on the sofa, Avaline paging through Netflix.
'You used to do a lot of action, eh?' she inquired, as many of his movies popped up. 'What happened? Got boring?'
'Uh-' he picked up another slice of pizza. 'Yes. But I also fell from a set and broke my leg in 6 places. Never quite worked the same since.'
'I'm sorry,' her face fell in sympathy. He waved his hand.
'No, it was a blessing in disguise. I was looking for an out anyways, I prefer to play characters with a longer run.'
'Like now, with TV,' she continued to click.
'Or even theatre would be lovely. But this is fine. Stop,' he leaned foreword, squinting. 'Is that your face I see?'
'It is,' she clicked on the thumbnail of the film. 'I didn't have a single line in it, or more than 2 scenes. But they skanked me up and had me do a fashion show that ended in a pole dance and suddenly I'm a big star,' she grinned at him and he raised an eyebrow.
'Are you alright with doing nudity in films, then?'
'Um… I don't know yet,' she spoke after thinking a moment, taking the question as professional.
'Are you?'
'I have,' he said as she came to sit on the couch beside him, Netflix forgotten. 'But I haven't found it particularly wonderful for my career. It's of course, up to you my dear, but I would advise steering clear of it if you could.'
'Something to consider,' she grinned as she curled her legs up under her. 'There's a big difference in doing it just because, and then doing it because the story needs it, like a sex scene.'
'Mmm,' he growled pleasantly, low in his throat. 'We have a sex scene next week.'
'Do we?” She quirked an eyebrow, surprised and delighted. Her hand travelled to his, which rested in his lap, and his eyes glanced below her neck line, just for a moment.
'We do. Its supposed to be after a drunken night of passion. I've read bits of it, it's very…'
'Raunchy?' she asked, squeezing his hand, and he nodded. Her foot travelled to touch his leg, and she moved a little closer. 'Well, that's what you do when you're a pretty young female actor.'
'You do yourself a disservice, Avaline,' he whispered, his hand going to her face. 'You are much better than most of the dolts we have on the show.'
'What do you think happens between our characters?' she asked. 'They seem like they are on the verge of a relationship, but not.'
'Hmm,' he stroked hair away from her face and his thumb trailed down her cheekbones, touching her soft lips. 'I don't know. It could go either way.'
Avaline drew in, then, having had enough of games. She wasn't forceful about it, but it was clear he was just as eager as she was. Their kiss was soft, nipping each others lips as if it were disallowed, and drawing back just as contact had been made.
She drew back after several moments, a devilish grin on her face as she stood up. He opened his mouth to protest, but quickly closed it as she pulled off her pants, revealing lacy red underwear and legs that went on forever. She pulled her shirt over her head, and let down her hair, and suddenly in front of him, he saw the model, the goddess that she once was, with her toned body and high breasts.
“You are beautiful,” he whispered as she drew near, swaying her hips in the way only a woman could. She crawled back onto him, her breasts rubbing against him, and it was too much for him.
He pushed her back onto the couch, shedding his pants and with a groan, unsheathing his manhood. His fingers traced the line of her panties, and then slipped underneath, delighted to feel her wetness. She groaned,
