Lustfully Ever After Read Free Page A

fired for this.”
    Without a word Blanche nudged Rosa back inside and closed the door. “Wow,” she said. “Just, wow.”
    “Asshole,” Rosa bunched her fists. “The union will make him eat his balls for breakfast if he tries it.”
    But at night, when she let Bear in, everything outside the apartment fell away, and he was all Rosa cared about. She’d never had a lover like him—one who concentrated solely on her, even ignoring Blanche who often stayed to watch while they made love. Whether she was there or not, it was always the same. Bear made sure Rosa was exhausted with pleasure by the time he slipped back out into the cold dawn, and she’d drift to sleep, carrying the memory of his eyes into her dreams.

    Sometimes he was fierce, fucking her hard and long, slamming his cock into her pussy until the entire world shrunk to just that one amazing point of contact and she exploded into orgasm. Other times he was tender, loving her slowly, touching, kissing, licking, sliding into her with infinite care or rolling so she was on top and could take him at her own pace, in her own way. Then there were the nights when he took one look at her and suggested a game of poker if Blanche was around or a movie if they were alone.
    It was always right. Somehow whatever she needed on any given night, he willingly, ably, supplied.
    On the mornings after a night of sweaty, limb-tangling, balls-to-the-wall sex, Rosa would be energized, raring to hit the street running. After one of the slower, dreamier nights, she woke up mellow, able to take everything in her stride. How much better life seemed with Bear in it—more balanced, easier to handle.
    He made her feel indomitable.
     
    Spring approached, along with opening night. The theater was chaotic but Rosa moved through final rehearsals with confidence, despite a number of run-ins with David Short. They were all silly incidents, like him getting angry when she told him his phone, which he’d left on a seat while he spoke to one of the grips, was ringing. Or the day he pushed past her on the stairs and tripped. She’d instinctively grabbed and stopped him from falling, but he’d still bawled her out for inadvertently tearing his shirt while she did.
    The director called Rosa aside one day.
    “I don’t know what you’ve done to Short,” he whispered, obviously not wanting anyone else to hear, “but you better watch yourself. He’s talking up your understudy, nitpicking about your performance.”

    A chill of fear careened through her veins. The part was her big break, her first lead in a production of this size. “Are you thinking of replacing me?”
    “ I’m happy with you—think you’re doing an excellent job—but I don’t hold the purse strings.” Raking his fingers through his hair only made the strands stand up even more, and the nervous energy emanating from him was palpable. “I wish the other partner, Dean, was handling this project. Word is he’s far easier to deal with.”
    He didn’t say any more but the inference was clear. Short could force Rosa out if he really wanted, and the director couldn’t—or wouldn’t—protect her.
    When she told Blanche, her friend was horrified and recounted her own problems with Short.
    “He’s been constantly questioning everything I do. Worse, today I accidentally caught him and Daria in the prop room, fucking.”
    “He’s screwing my understudy?” Rosa had the urge to punch something.
    Blanche nodded, “Yep, and apparently doesn’t care who knows. They weren’t even discreet.”
    Rosa dropped her head into her hands. “Between that and the incident with the snowbank, we’re screwed. If we both lose our jobs, we’ll be in shit for sure.”
    That night Bear was later than usual, and anxiety sparking under her skin wouldn’t let Rosa sit still.
    “Calm down.” Blanche checked her watch and picked up her clutch purse. “I’ve never seen you so keyed up. I almost hate to leave you in this state.”
    Rosa