Born Stars Read online

  Alice forced her eyes into a glare.

  “Trouble is, he’s not that funny.”

  The audience laughed.

  Alice saw Wesley waiting to send her the way of Ella Miles when she leapt back into the routine. “But it’s just an act. He’s gentle and kind and he never forgets. Makes sense. He kind of dances like an elephant.”

  The audience liked that. Alice saw Peter slightly seethe at their laughter. But just slightly.

  “And we were going to show you something you’d never forget. Well, I guess you won’t forget just what went down here.”

  The audience applauded their affirmation of an unforgettable night of live television.

  “And while you’re at it. Remember this.” Alice took hold of Peter’s face and kissed him hungrily. The hollering crowd clapped like mad at the reality of what was taking place right before their eyes.

  When Peter pulled away, he quickly winked. “Alice?”

  “Was it too much?”

  “It was perfect.”

  My Lady

  Alice was happy in the chorus line.

  Risa was the story of a lonely little girl who discovered her ability to read the minds of others and point them towards their true selves at the possible cost of her own happiness. Risa’s various epiphanies manifested as production numbers worthy of Busby Berkeley. When Risa finally found her own happiness, Alice lingered in the wings, always remembering her lines for the next show. She only had three, but Alice had been named in one of the earliest reviews. Other critics said it was only on account of her “Born Stars” appearance. She was able to brush it off and accept the applause when it ultimately came. In recent weeks, she even had the opportunity to play Risa in an understudy capacity. It was nice to be noticed. But Alice already knew the business well enough to know that chances of further success were slim.

  Despite the moment that was the kiss, Porter Cole and Louis crossed the finish line victorious. It was how it should be. They had completed their act and shown what their act would actually look like come Vegas time. Last Alice heard, they were playing to sold out crowds, and even Ned got a chance to join in once Louis felt he had ample rehearsal time under his belt.

  But it wasn’t like Alice hadn’t won.

  She refused the invitation to drinks after “Risa’s” final curtain. Alice took the train and hailed a cab. This time she didn’t leave anyone stranded or demand speed that threatened accidents. The driver took her to the far end of Brooklyn. What awaited her was a mix of mess and pressed linens.

  Peter, home after a gig in DC, reclined among the wrinkles.

  Would he have fared better with Darlene?

  No. Not if she had anything to say about it.

  Alice dropped her bag, climbed into bed, and folded her body close to his. “How’d your set go?” she asked.

  “Everyone keeps asking for you.”

  She had told Peter that she would abandon the show for his gigs in a heartbeat, but Peter wouldn’t hear of it. He told Alice that she had left home to dance, really dance, and he wasn’t about to mess that up for her.

  Alice’s mother occasionally questioned the wisdom of a bit part when she could be a headliner. Alice entertained the idea, but that title hadn’t served Peter very well. He coached her to stay patient and to not repeat his mistakes. It was better to work at things and hone one’s craft. And now he was drawing bigger crowds in the wake of the show.

  “Anyone say anything else?” she asked.

  “Actually, yes.” He moved away from her and reached into his bag. He produced a new notebook and pressed it into her hands.

  “What’s this?” she asked.

  “Just read.”

  Alice flipped to the first page. Her eyes went wide and she gasped when she saw the title in bold black marker.

  My Lady.

  Her gaze went to Peter, and she saw him nod his head as he smiled.

  “What’s it all about?” she asked.

  “Read on.”

  She went to the next page and saw a breakdown of a story that focused on a burnt out comic engaged in a whirlwind romance with a pretty chorus girl. Peter still had them meet on a train. But it was the subway. They disliked one another and soon discovered that they were new neighbors. So they just had to deal with the closeness.

  There were no abused mimes or broken dummies in their path. There were meet-cutes in a laundry room and shared secrets on a rooftop. The space of the story allowed them to deal with her rehearsal schedule when she had promised to catch his show for network execs, and his efforts to see her through a hangover. It was funny and sweet and real. As Alice scanned the pages, she realized that it had the potential to run for more seasons than “Born Stars” could ever imagine.

  “Peter…” She dropped the notebook and kissed him desperately.

  “It’s like a love letter. I got it wrong before. No one cares about me.”

  “I do.”

  “I mean no one cares about just me. There has to be someone else to root for. They’ll root for you. For us.”

  Alice settled against the pillows and saw the endless episodes that Peter had at the ready to script. “I like it,” she said.

  “You’re not the only one.”

  She was up on her elbows and grabbed his face. “Peter, I am so proud of you!”

  “I wrote Amelia with you in mind, but they’re looking for a bigger name.”

  “And what did you say to that?”

  “I didn’t put up too much a fight. Second chances are hard to come by.”

  He returned her kiss and pressed her against the bed as her hands curled around his necktie

  “Besides, I wouldn’t want you in the role.”

  Alice’s hands stopped playing with his tie. “Oh really?”

  He could still be a jerk when the mood struck him.

  “I want you all to myself.”

  His hands glided under her tee shirt, and she ignored his teasing insult as she felt his hands surround her breasts. When his fingers pressed against her nipples. Alice relaxed into the squeeze and ran her hands though his hair.

  “Why? What did you have in mind?” she asked, knowing full well what he wanted and sharing the need for him to bring the scene to life quickly.

  Peter didn’t need another cue. He scrambled out of his coat and let it fall to their bedside as Alice went for the buttons and found his chest.

  She kissed all the skin her sight slowly, carefully. Peter wasn’t going anywhere. Even the nights when he was on the road ended with his voice passing through her cell phone as he talked of how much he missed her, how he couldn’t wait to see and touch her again.

  Peter kept Alice on the phone until they needed sleep and reluctantly pressed her away when drowsiness overtook their longing.

  They weren’t apart now.

  “But she’s me,” Alice said. “I… I inspire you?”

  Peter answered her question with a long kiss that unfurled into a tight hold around her back. The man who came to her attention as a competitor to be feared was gone. In his place was a lover that wanted nothing but her even as his star was finally rising. Everything else was a bonus. And what a bonus.

  Peter laid her down and stripped her naked. Alice liked his eyes on her, and he lowered his head to her stomach and kissed her sweetly. His hair was bathed in the scent of smoke, but Alice had grown to enjoy the aroma more and more because it was his. She reached for him and held him close as Peter’s hands took their time over her nude body.

  “Is that a yes?” Alice teased.

  She felt him nod as his lips ran down her legs. When his hands stopped at her hips, Alice moaned lightly and spread her legs slowly. Arching his body forward, Peter eased his body into her eager opening, and Alice ran her fingers down his arms as she stared deeply into his warm blue eyes. As he pulsated within, Alice took his hands and clung to them tightly.

  His thrusts paused, and he smiled down at Alice as her chest heaved in anticipation.

&nbs
p; “But you know what’s the best part?” he asked as his hand moved down her face.

  Alice could only murmur in response, and Peter rested his body against hers and gently kissed her hair.

  “We film right here. No more road trips. And I’ll come home to you every night.”

  Without question, that was the icing of the sweetest cake. As Alice giggled in agreement, Peter extended his body up. Resting her palms on his chest, Alice touched him lightly as she felt his desire increase to the point where she needed him closer. Lifting her body from the pillows, Alice unfurled her arms around his shoulders. Holding on tight, Alice felt Peter fill her, and she cried out as her head went back. Peter guided her face back to his and kissed her hard at the moment of climax.

  When their lips parted, Alice rested her head against Peter’s shoulder and kept him in her arms as they slipped back to the bed.

  Peter kissed her breasts as the moments that brought them to this most perfect place flashed through her mind. Alice Rogers took a chance and a train to become a star. Nothing mattered more than applause, but that need was slowly replaced by a single set of blue eyes that made her feel like a star with each and every glance. It was everything she wanted and nothing that she had ever expected. Funny how that worked out.

  “Peter?” she whispered as she caressed his face.

  “What?”

  “One thing. I call dibs on the stage version. And you really don’t have a shot at the lead then.”

  He stroked her legs and asked why.

  “Because you really can’t dance.”

  He laughed and kissed her again.

  “I can do other things though. Right?”

  Alice offered no objection as she melted into his embrace.

  The End

  Thanks for reading Born Stars. If you would consider writing a review of Born Stars on Amazon, I would appreciate it greatly. The feedback I receive from readers would be helpful as I continue to write other titles.

  You can leave a review by visiting:

  http://www.sarahooperbooks.com/bornstars

  These are some of my other Romance Books.

  Flames From Embers

  The Langley Brothers

  Love KIA