The Sweetest Mistake Read online

Her grip on the couch tightened, and she caught her breath at his first real thrust.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice rough as he moved.

  “Yes,” she said, her breath hitching. “Oh my God, you feel so good.”

  His body curved to hers and he kissed her neck as he thrust. She pressed her hips back against his, meeting each movement nearly desperately. Dominic’s hands moved up under her shirt to the front clasp of her bra. In seconds, her breasts were in his strong hands.

  Juliette moaned when he pinched her swollen nipples. She wanted to feel more of his skin against hers, so she tugged her shirt off and let it fall to the floor. Dominic spun her around, pulling out so fast that she couldn't help but cry out in disappointment.

  “I want my mouth on you,” he explained. “I’ve been thinking about how you’d taste all damn night.”

  His head dipped to her breasts, and he drew one stiff nipple between his lips. She gripped the back of his head, twisting her fingers into his thick hair. When his hand moved between her legs, she welcomed the two fingers he pushed into her. She rode them as he switched sides, teasing her other nipple as well.

  Now that he wasn’t buried inside her, she could explore him. And Juliette wasn’t going to miss her chance. She reached down, wrapping her fingers around the base of him. He really was big, the biggest she’d ever had.

  He was slick from being inside her, so she pumped her fist quickly. He groaned against her skin, and she felt the vibration all through her. He grew even slicker when she ran her thumb over the crown of his cock, and he bucked into her fist for more.

  Juliette hooked her fingers under the hem of his shirt and tugged it over his head. Finally, she could see all of that muscle that had been hidden. Not only could she see it, but she could also touch it. Taste it.

  She leaned forward, smelling the scent of his cologne as she kissed her way down his neck. She flicked her tongue over the pounding pulse point there when he began to rub her clit in lazy circles. Dominic groaned when she nipped very lightly over his nipple.

  “God, Juliette,” he said. “I can’t take it anymore.”

  With that, she found herself swept off her feet again. This time when he dropped her down, it was onto his big bed. She looked up at him as he finished undressing. Her skirt was still rucked up around her waist, but neither of them gave a damn. He braced himself over her, pushing back inside.

  Her head fell back against the pillows as he began to thrust again. He was moving even harder this time, and her breath caught with every rough movement.

  “Touch me again,” Juliette begged. “I want your hands on me.”

  In answer to that, Dominic gripped her hips and rolled over, letting her ride him.

  As she found her rhythm, he began to play with her again. Rubbing her more and more firmly and taking her even closer to the edge than she’d already been.

  Juliette worked her hips, taking him deep and then rising up until only the tip of him was inside her. She did that until he growled in pleased frustration and yanked her down, holding her firmly. Then she began to ride in earnest, keeping him deep as she worked toward her orgasm.

  She leaned forward, bracing her hands on his hard chest as she moved. His jaw was tight, and she could tell that he was working hard to hold back. She pressed her lips to his and got a desperate kiss in return.

  “Juliette,” he said, his voice rough against her lips. “I need you to come for me. You’re so damn tight that I—”

  She interrupted him by going over the edge. Her scream of pleasure rang out as she threw her head back. Dominic grabbed her around her waist and rolled her underneath him, never breaking his rhythm. He wanted to come while she was still clenching around him.

  Seconds later, he did just that. He buried his face in the side of her neck to muffle his near shout of pleasure as he filled her. The orgasm seemed to go on and on, leaving both of them feeling boneless and utterly exhausted.

  When Dominic finally rolled over, he pulled Juliette into him, pressing her back to his chest and wrapping his arm around her slender waist. “You might as well stay here tonight,” he said. “I don’t even think I could walk you to the door, let alone get you a cab.”

  She entwined her fingers with his and closed her eyes. She meant to answer him, but seconds later she was asleep, totally drained from the pleasure they’d just shared.

  Chapter 5

  The incessant beeping of two cellphones going off woke Juliette the next morning. She rolled over to grab for hers and blinked in confusion when it wasn’t on her nightstand. Then she realized with further confusion that the nightstand in question wasn’t hers. A muffled curse from a distinctly rough male voice shook her out of the remainder of her sleep fog.

  Juliette turned over just in time to see Dominic push the covers back and prop himself on one elbow. His back was to her so she took a moment to admire the long, lean lines of it. He was the tallest man she’d ever slept with, and she wasn’t sure that she’d be able to go back after him.

  The more closely she eyed his back though, the more she realized that there were a few lingering marks on it from the night they’d shared. She felt her cheeks warm up when she remembered leaving them there. No one else had ever made her come like that.

  “Do you remember what I did with my phone?” he asked as he pushed his hands through his dark blond hair, making it stand up in wild spikes all over his head.

  Juliette shook her head. “No, I don’t even know where mine is.”

  With a sigh, he rolled out of bed and then dropped to the floor, following the sound. Juliette’s phone had stopped ringing, so she stayed where she was. Dominic propped his elbows on the edge of the bed and pressed a few keys on his phone. Then he groaned, letting his head fall forward onto the mattress.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “They want us at the studio at noon,” he said, his voice slightly muffled by the comforter.

  Juliette made a face. “What time is it now?”

  “Ten thirty.”

  She jumped out of bed with a shriek that had him on his feet in no time. “What?”

  Dominic’s gaze slid down her body, suddenly revealed in all its glory from the tangle of sheets she’d been wrapped in moments before. He knew that she wouldn’t appreciate any compliments in that area right now, but damn, she was sexy. Especially when she was in motion. He hadn’t known that a woman could move with frantic grace, but she was managing it as she practically flew around the apartment gathering her clothes.

  “Where’s my other shoe?” she asked, whirling to face him, her dark hair whipping around and over her shoulders.

  “In the living room, I think,” he said, tugging his jeans on and moving across the room after her. “What’s the big rush? We’re only twenty minutes away from the studio here.”

  Juliette resolved to ignore how good he looked in nothing but denim. She forced her gaze to his face instead of his chest. His sultry eyes and morning stubble were still distracting, but not quite as much.

  “And I look like this,” she said. “I have to somehow get all the way back home, take a shower, and look presentable in less than two hours.”

  Oh God, she wasn’t going to be able to do it. Tears threatened, and she swallowed them down. She was not going to cry like an unprofessional idiot. Not in front of Dominic Hawk!

  He caught her upper arms and drew her against him.

  “You know,” he said. “This is a pretty modern apartment.”

  “That’s a weird thing to brag about at this moment,” she said, her face still pressed to his chest.

  Dominic laughed. “My point is that you could shower here.”

  She pulled back and looked up at him. “I suppose I could,” she said. “Do you think that the outfit I wore last night would be okay?”

  He glanced at the crumpled skirt. “Honestly?”

  Juliette sighed. The shirt was no better—it was so wrinkled that nothing short of an iron would correct the problem. She
seriously doubted that Dominic had one of those lying around, modern apartment or not.

  “Well, at least I’ll be clean.”

  “It’s better than nothing,” Dominic agreed, spinning her around and pointing her in the direction of his bathroom. “Take your time,” he said. “It won’t take me long to get ready.”

  Fueled by equal parts nerves and resignation, Juliette stepped into the bathroom. It was just as nice as the rest of the house and just as impersonal. There was no tub, not that she would have had time for a relaxing soak anyway, and the shower was a massive glass box at the end of the room.

  She turned the water on quickly, letting it heat up. Maybe she could hang her shirt up in the bathroom while she showered. It wouldn’t get all the wrinkles out, but it would be better than nothing.

  Wrapping herself in a towel, she ducked back out of the room. Dominic was on the phone.

  “Yeah,” he said. “That sounds right.” Then he paused. “I don’t know. Take Maria with you, she knows this kind of stuff.”

  He lowered the phone. “What size dress do you wear?”

  Juliette paused in reaching for her crumpled clothing. “Why?”

  “Emmett can have something over here in about an hour,” he said.

  She blinked. “Who’s Emmett?”

  “My personal assistant,” Dominic said. “The only reason anything in my life ever gets done. He’s going to be the reason that you don’t wear wrinkled clothes today, too. But only if you give me your size.”

  “Oh. A four,” she said, chewing her lip. “I can pay you back—”

  Dominic waved her off. “Just mention me in your memoirs when you’re rich and famous,” he said. “Go ahead and shower. Your stuff will be here when you get out.”

  She ducked back into the shower. When she came back out into the bedroom, there was a gorgeous silk sundress spread out on the bed. A pair of sandals sat on the floor below it.

  “You look great,” Dominic said.

  “I’m wearing a towel,” she said with a grin.

  He reached out and tugged it away. “Not anymore, beautiful.”

  Juliette laughed and reached for the dress. “You’d better go shower or you won’t have—”

  Dominic stepped forward and tugged her against him. He tilted her chin up. “I could make it quick.”

  “So romantic,” she said with a wry grin.

  His mouth curved just before his lips met hers. “I like this,” he said when their lips parted.

  She rested her hands on his chest and looked up at him. “I like it too,” she said, stretching onto her tiptoes to kiss him again. And then again.

  Dominic groaned low, his hands sliding down her back to cup her ass. “This part isn’t exactly what I mean,” he said, pulling back before he got too carried away. “I like talking to you, Juliette.”

  “I like talking to you too,” she said, stepping back out of his grasp. “I think it’s a good sign. We’ll work well together.”

  “We worked well together last night,” Dominic said, giving her that movie star handsome smile from the bathroom door.

  Her laugh followed him into the steamy room.

  Chapter 6

  “Good morning,” Edward said cheerfully when Dominic walked into the studio. “How are you doing?”

  “Great,” Dominic said. He nodded hello at Juliette who was already on the stage—they’d arrived at the studio separately so as not to raise suspicion. “Ready to get started!”

  Edward smiled. “Me too. Okay,” he said, handing them each a script as Albert Price walked into the room. “This is the scene that I want to see. Take a few seconds and go over it. Then let us see it.”

  Albert took a seat beside Edward. Juliette could feel the producer’s eyes on her as she walked to the opposite corner from Dominic and began to read over the papers she’d been given. It was a good scene. The characters were having an argument that ended with Dominic’s character yanking Juliette’s character close to him.

  There was no kiss at the end of the scene, but the tension would be there. At least, it should if they did their jobs correctly. Dominic would be fine, she was sure. In addition to being staggeringly good-looking, he really was very talented.

  It was herself that she was concerned about. If she did well, this could be the film that launched her entire career. If she didn’t, she’d go back into near obscurity. No pressure.

  “Are you ready?” Albert asked impatiently, checking his watch as he spoke.

  “Sure thing,” Dominic said.

  Juliette put her papers down and walked over to him. Her heart was pounding so hard that she couldn’t believe no one had commented on the sound by now. Surely there was no way they could miss hearing it. Dominic had the first line. Juliette didn’t even remember what the hell she was supposed to say after it. She felt like she was on the verge of swallowing her tongue.

  “Damn it, Megan,” Dominic said. “Don’t you listen to anything I say?”

  Sudden calm suffused her—like sinking into a warm bathtub after a long day. All of her training and experience rushed to the fore.

  “Of course, I listen to you, Jake,” she replied, making her voice cold yet still shaken. Her character had been lost for several hours at this point, wondering how to get back to Jake. “But I’m smart enough to understand that we need food and sitting around on our asses building signal fires won’t help much with that!”

  They sailed into the argument, moving closer and closer to one another as they traded insults. Then his hands shot out, his fingers wrapping around her upper arms as he dragged her close. She tilted her face up as he lowered his.

  “You have to let me keep you safe,” he said, his voice rough. “You’re all I’ve got left.”

  “Yes!” Edward said, punching the air as Juliette slowly drew away and Dominic pushed his hands down into his pockets. “That’s absolutely perfect! The parts are yours.”

  Before either of them had a chance to rejoice, Albert held up his hand. “There’s paperwork to sign first,” he said. “Come with me.”

  Dominic rolled his eyes when the producer’s back was turned. Juliette hid her smile by pretending to brush her hair back. It had gotten messed up when Dominic had pulled her close.

  “It’s a fairly standard contract,” Albert said, sliding a copy to each of them over his desk a few minutes later. “There’s just one clause that I want to go over with you both.”

  “What’s that?” Dominic asked, his brows drawing in sudden suspicion.

  “This one here.” The producer turned a page of his own copy of the contract and said, “Section fourteen.”

  Juliette’s eyes found the section and her lips parted as she read the words. Dominic read them out loud in clear shock.

  “If the lead actors are discovered to have embarked on a relationship with one other during the course of filming, they will each forfeit two-thirds of their salary.”

  Dominic stared at Albert. “Are you serious?”

  “Oh, I’m quite serious,” the producer said, leaning back in his chair and looking at both of them with a level gaze. “It’s not in the contract, but you should know that in addition to cutting your pay, I will personally do my best to make sure that you do not work in this town again.”

  “I…” Juliette trailed off.

  Edward rubbed the back of his neck. “Is this really necessary, Albert?” he murmured. “It seems a little—”

  “You remember the shitshow of the last movie,” Albert said crisply. “I won’t run those risks again just because Dominic Hawk thinks he’s God’s gift.”

  “I’m right here,” Dominic said, a muscle beginning to jump in his cheek as he clenched his teeth.

  “I’m aware. And I’m making it clear,” Albert said. “You do not dictate the rules on one of my productions.”

  “And what if I won’t sign your contract?”

  The producer gave a small, tight smile. “That’s up to you. I’m more than happy to find anothe
r actor to work with Ms. Dietz.”

  Edward made a small gesture, and Dominic looked his way. “I don’t want another actor. It’s only a small clause,” the director said, his embarrassment clear as he spoke. “My only concern would be that it would stifle your creativity. There are some…intimate moments in the film.”

  “Oh, but we’re dealing with professionals,” Albert said with a wide smile. “Aren’t we, Dominic?”

  Juliette glanced at him. His eyes seemed much darker suddenly. Fear flashed through her. What if he refused to go along with the idiotic clause?

  She knew that she was talented, but she also knew that she was there because Edward had thought that the two of them were perfect together. Would he still want her for this role if Dominic was out? Would he get her a new co-star or would he simply cast the next couple in line?

  “I don’t think it’s a problem,” she said. “I’m not interested in anything more than a professional relationship with Mr. Hawk.”

  Juliette didn’t miss the look that passed over Dominic’s face. Was it surprise? Or was there something else in those dark eyes?

  He cleared his throat. “You heard the lady,” he said, turning back to face Albert and Edward. “Now that you know that she’s not in danger of falling for me, can we get to discussing the production schedule?”

  As he spoke, he signed his name on the contract in bold, black script. He didn’t look her way again as the director and producer began to speak. Somehow, as she signed her own contract to secure the job she’d always wanted, Juliette felt less elated than she’d expected.

  Chapter 7

  “You’re back!” Tami said excitedly when Juliette finally walked into her apartment nearly a full twenty-four hours after she’d left it. “Hang on, that’s not what you left wearing.” Tami frowned slightly. “Or is it? Has pregnancy brain already gotten started on me?”

  Juliette collapsed onto the couch and nodded in affirmation as she held up the bag with her other clothes folded into it. Dominic’s assistant had pressed them and folded them more neatly than she’d ever folded anything in her life. It was no wonder that Dominic always looked so put together on the red carpet and in pictures from parties.