The following chapter contains explicit material intended for an 18+ audience ONLY.

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Mickey works too much and I hate it. Between meetings, the gym, the studio, and working in the home office, the only time we're actually next to one another is when we're fucking or sleeping. I've never been in a situation where I found myself missing someone I spend hours with each day, but here I am. The dick has gone to my head.

And the love, or whatever. But mostly the dick.

The clinic is slow today and it sucks. My skin aches when I realize I haven't heard from him all day. I know he's busy, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to talk to him.

Me: Hi baby! 

How's it going?

A full minute passes as I wait for the dots to appear, but they never do. No luck. Yet again.

I really don't want to go back to logging records and loneliness, so I message the person who should be keeping me company.

Me: Hi bestie

The dots appear instantly and I start to feel happy.

Maggie: Hi pretty girl! 

How are you?

Me: I miss you! Work is 

lame when you're gone

Maggie: I knowww! 

How will you survive?

Me: No idea :(

How is Nevada?

Maggie: It sucks a 

bunch of dick ;)

I stifle my laugh in the quiet room. She cracks me the fuck up.

Another text comes through, but it isn't from the person I want.

Mom: Hi my Pretty Penny! 

I hope everything is 

going well in California. 

We haven't talked 

in a while. I miss 

you. I want to hear 

all about your new life. 

Could you call me 

when you have a 

free moment?

I know I should try to make peace, but I don't want to give into her again.

Me: California is 

great. Thanks.

A few minutes pass before my phone chimes again. Hoping it's Mickey, I pull it out only to be disappointed once again.

Mom: I wish you 

would call me 

back. I need tell 

you something.

Another text comes in right after.

Mom: It's important.

Important? So was my move out of state, my graduation, my childhood, my pregnancy and losing my father because of it ... The list is endless, really, but none of those were important enough for her to care. 

Me: I'm sure it is.

Mom: It's about 

Vick and Jerry.

My body goes numb when I see their names. 

It's been years since I've talked to them. A part of me was convinced I never would again. I don't know what to think or what to feel, so I do neither.

I stare at the message for a moment, my thumb hovering over the call button as my curiosity takes over. But if I know anything about my mom, it's that she knows how to manipulate me better than anyone.

When the screen dims, I set my phone to silent and lay it face down on the desk next to me. 

♡♡♡

Hours later, I make it home and hear the soft sounds of exaggerated moans coming from the office. The beautiful sounds of Mickey editing.

I peek my head into the room. "Still working?" He hums his assent as he stares intently at the screen. The flashes of light dancing over his focused expression.

I can tell he's stressed. Editing never seems to slow, which was good news for Lustrous, but it was time consuming for him, especially on top of his planning meetings for the 3M pitches. None of that included his plans to take a hiatus from doing scenes. He would never come right out and say it, but a lower level of exposure made him worry that he would lose his relevance and dominance in the market. He was constantly checking his Google searches and posting to his social media. Just the thought of it all stressed me out, and I didn't even have to do anything.

"I missed you all day, then I come home and you're still working." He keeps staring at the screen, so I step into his line of view to grab his attention. I push him back in his chair, stealing his hands away from his mouse and keyboard.

"Baby," he tries to scold me, but he can't hide his smile. He loves me.

I swing a leg over his and lower myself onto his lap, draping my arms over his shoulders. When he finally looks me in the eyes, I pout at him. "You work too much, Mickey. I feel like I never get to see you anymore."

He gives me a confused look. "We live together. How do you never see me?"

I run my hands along his perfect jaw. "I mean quality time." I lean in and kiss his lips slowly, enticingly. My lips leave his and I pout again when he looks over my shoulder and leans to tap his mouse. "How much longer? I was hoping we could cuddle and stuff."

"Cuddle and stuff?" he asks with a laugh.

I shrug. "I thought that was cuter than saying I wanted you to vigorously fuck me." I reach down and start to unfasten his pants.

Mickey laughs. "I will gladly do that," he says, but stops my hands with his. "After I finish this and meet with the other M's."

I frown. "Meet the M's? When?"

"They'll be here soon. I told you about this last night."

"You did?" I give him a confused look. "Was that before or after I came?"

He rolls his eyes with a chuckle. "After, obviously."

There is a knock at the door, and I sigh heavily with frustration. "I hate this. I see you for five fucking minutes before something else steals you away."

"I know, baby. I'll make it up to you, I promise." Mickey refastens his pants as I stand and walk out of the room.

"Yeah, you better." I open the door to the other M's and muster up as believable a smile as I can manage. "Hey guys."

Matty quickly pulls me into his thin arms. He's such a sweetheart, and I honestly adore him. He's so smart it makes him a little awkward and abrasive in conversation, but I can see past it to his soft, gooey center. "Hey, girl," he says flamboyantly. His flawless, dark skin glistens under his tank top, and his California-white teeth shine as he smiles at me.

"Hey, boy," I say back.

Miranda leans on the door as she waits. "Hi, Penny," she smiles at me. Her accent is so light, I only pick up on it occasionally when she says my name. 

"Hi."

Her eyes trace Matty as he goes to greet Mickey. "I never got the chance to apologize to you. I feel as though I upset you during my last scene with Mickey."

"You didn't upset me." That would imply I actually give a shit about you, I finish in my head.

"Oh. Well I'm glad. Mickey has never backed out of a scene before. You affect him in a way I've never seen." I look at her, but don't know how she expects me to respond. "I'm happy he found you. I'm happy you found each other."

Bitch, you must be happy. You won't shut the fuck up about it! "Great. Thanks."

"Ready?" Mickey asks her. She nods. "We'll be downstairs at the café," he tells me.

"Okay." I press my lips to his and linger longer than I should. "I'll catch you later."

The three of them leave and I'm left alone with my frustration.

♡♡♡

I jerk awake. Mickey's strong hands slide over my skin as he pulls himself closer, pinning his body against my back. His delicious scent overtakes the air I breathe in. "There you are," I greet him with a hoarse voice. My eyes find the clock, and it reads 1:42. "Finally."

"I'm sorry I've been working so much, baby."

"Oh, I'm so mad at you for chasing your dreams and aspirations," I say sarcastically into the pillow.

"But guess what." I hum a response rather than speaking actual words. "We got a meeting with cable. They're going to hear us in two weeks!"

"Yay ..." I really meant that to sound excited, but I'm tired.

"You tired?" he asks. He slides a hand into my panties and runs his fingers against me. "You can't be that tired," he teases when he finds me a little wet. He spreads my legs slightly and pushes a finger inside me. I sigh as he coaxes it slowly in and out. "We should take a trip," he whispers into my ear as if he's talking dirty.

"A trip?"

"After the pitch, good or bad, you and I go somewhere to celebrate."

His finger swirls inside me then presses against my g-spot. I moan quietly. "Celebrate what?"

"Well, it will be October, so hopefully us getting a deal with one of the networks, and you know ..." he starts to say coyly. "Our anniversary."

I immediately start laughing. We still joke about this. "Our anniversary is not in October."

"Yes it is." He hugs me tighter, pressing his erection against my ass. "So what do you say?" He nips my earlobe with his lips, seducing me into agreeing.

"I don't have a lot of time off work, I just started."

"Then we can take a long weekend, or you can take unpaid time off." His fingers withdraw. He pulls my panties down to my knees and rustles around behind me. "Why are you arguing against going on a vacation?"

I smile into my pillow as I stretch my hips towards him, excited to feel him inside me. "I'm trying to make you angry so you fuck me really hard."

"Oh," he says with a smile as he looks down at me. "You know you could just ask."

I grin. "May I please have it rough?"

"Yes ma'am," he growls. He lifts my leg and pushes a hand against my back to arch my ass towards him.

I barely feel him at my entrance before he enters me in one quick, rough thrust. I moan loudly as my pussy clenches around him then quivers as it tries to acclimate to his presence. My eyes roll back as pleasure spreads over my core in a cold rush.

He withdraws completely and does it again. I moan even louder. "Like that?" he asks me.

"Yeah," I whimper.

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