Chapter 8 — Lights, Camera, Action

Imani Brennan’s eyes were daggers striking the unfortunate recipient of her words. She was half the size of the men surrounding her. Her gown was elegantly stitched but simple gray, light in fabric so her petite form won’t be dragged down. The rising rage that drew her body taut made it seem she had spikes on her person, and her glare to the person she was speaking to meant to slice him into pieces.

Through the screen, Karina watched the seething outrage, command and sympathy Imani showed with every word she spoke. She shook her head, impressed yet again by the performance of the actress. As Imani and her partner in the scene, Rich Camden, exchanged harsh words, the crew was enthralled, amazed at getting to witness something this amazing with their own eyes. Seconds after the last lines were spoken, Karina was still awed and astounded at the consistent excellence they were giving.

“Cut!” She called out.

Imani let out a big sigh of relief, the harshness of her expression softening while Rich laughed and led the other actors and crew in applause, nodding at her. “Oh, stop kissing my ass!” She exclaimed, flushing. Everyone laughed and clapped even louder.

Karina stood up from her seat but before she could take another step, Parker was in front of her, phone against his ear. He looked anxious. “Karina, you only have three hours before the premiere. Jay just called and he ordered me to get you in the car whether kicking or screaming.”

She groaned and rolled her eyes. Jay was making too much of a big deal of her first foray into mainstream film through Runner. He had scheduled her for interviews in magazines and newspapers months in advance so they would be printed just in time for the premiere. In the last two weeks, she also did some hard-core talk show tours. Being in front of the camera was not her favorite place to be and she liked being stuck in a chair, made up, her eyes nearly getting plucked out by a pencil just so she would look somewhat okay. There was also the matter of Jay having to hunt down designers that made clothes catering to her proportions. She had the height of a model, but she was muscular and broad. Somehow, he found one, Dena. She had a playful style that mixing tradition with the unexpected. Fashion watchers have taken note of Karina’s tailored suits paired with graphic t-shirts, finished with either ultra-feminine stilettos or rock-and-roll booties.

“Alright, alright, I’m going, I’m going,” Karina grumbled as Parker handed over her studded black leather satchel. “But I have to—”

“You don’t have any meetings after the shoot. And I asked the assistant directors to take care of the post-production work after today.”

“Yeah, but—”

“Don’t worry about us, Karina,” said Roy Black, shooting her a thumbs-up sign.

“Let’s go, let’s go,” Parker insisted. Karina threw up her hands.

“That was great, everyone! Alright, that’s it for today! Until tomorrow!” She called out as Parker started pulling her out of the studio. She snatched her arm away and glared at him. He shrugged, unrepentant.

“Kay, it’s a big night for you, come on.”

“It is. I don’t know why I have to be primped and all. Who’d be looking at me?” She pointed out as they went out. A chauffeured car was waiting for them, provided by the studio behind Runner.

“Get us to the hotel as fast as you can,” Parker told the chauffeur as he slid in beside Karina.

“Usually, he’s a lot nicer,” Karina remarked, shaking her head at Parker. He flushed. She nudged him with her knee. “Look, if Jay’s threatened to castrate you because I’m late getting to the hotel, you tell me now. I’ll castrate him myself with the shit he’s been making me do! I’m a director. I should always be behind the camera.”

“You’ve always been behind the camera. Don’t you think it’s time people saw you?”

Karina narrowed her eyes at him. “Alright. Just how good is the sex with Neena that you’re no longer my quiet assistant?”

He turned red and suddenly stammered, “A-A g-gentleman has the right to remain silent.”

“Oh. It’s that good? And you’re still having sex?”

This time, Parker rolled his eyes. “We’re having fun.”

Karina grinned then laughed. “Hey, no judgment. And I’m just joking. I like this new assertive Parker Payne. But I have a question. Does Imani know?” Imani was Neena’s mother.

“Like I said,” he sounded exasperated. “We’re just having fun.”

They reached the Sonden Hotel in fifteen minutes. Parker handed her the key card as he told her the room number. The make-up people and the stylist were already there. Karina grunted under her breath about wishing to go back to indie films as they left the car. As they entered the lobby, his phone rang.

“Hello? Oh, Antonio. Yes. She’s here.”

Now Karina was blushing.

She and Antonio have been together for ten, wonderful months. Their relationship was not exactly a secret, but they made the decision early on to be discreet about it. Both had a severe dislike for the paparazzi as well as the entertainment rags that published their photos. Though some articles have noted of a possible romance between the director and the actor, the absence of any photo made this doubtful. Jay and Anthony had also hired a public relations team to control the press regarding their relationship.

With both of them highly visible due to their current and upcoming projects, they were being interviewed a lot. Too many times Antonio had been asked about his romance with Karina and his reply was always a terse, “No comment.” Through Anthony and their public relations team, it was soon filtered to the media that any personal question was not going to be entertained and Antonio had the right to cancel the interview.

The scrutiny was not as bad for Karina, however. The absence of photos made their relationship a mere rumor, so she was mainly asked about her projects. Once or twice, a reporter tried to trip her up and, as Antonio taught her, she declared, “No comment.”

They didn’t sneak around, nor did they stay home most of the time. They went out a lot, but it was often to quiet neighborhood places. Karina’s height made it easy for her to pass herself off as a man—she only had to put a baseball cap over her limp dark hair, dress in her usual jeans and t-shirts and she was just another tall guy. They loved diners, and people in diners always left them alone. This gave them the freedom to kiss and hold hands in public—or just be affectionate without being conscious about it.

Karina had never been in a serious relationship before. Antonio had had two serious girlfriends, but he broke up with the last one long before the accident. Though they have not really spoken of it, each was aware that something was different this time. For Karina, she supposed it’s because this was the first time she was in love.

The early months were not the easiest for them. She trusted Antonio without question but in the back of her mind was the fear he would one day snap out of the dream and leave her. She made it clear to him this was her problem. He was doing great, often better.

Antonio was a man of action. He was brash and impulsive, he expected immediate results. She knew it was difficult and frustrating for him too so, despite hating having to revisit that time of her life involving John’s cruel ex-girlfriend, she told Antonio. This was only the beginning.

She told him about a boy in college who pretended to like her but was only doing it as an initiation stunt of bringing the ugliest girl to the party. There was also the harassment she'd had to suffer through as a young female filmmaker. On her twenty-fifth birthday, she got drunk, went to a bar, picked up a guy who more drunk than she was. He was the bartender and they had sex in the storage room, her on top of a crate. She didn’t remember the guy, but she remembered the pain.

It was enough to put her off sex for a few years. When she felt herself ready to do it again, it was with random guys. The kind she would never see again. She never brought them to her place. It gave her some power, at being the one able to leave.

Antonio was the man she couldn’t walk away from. Nor did she want to. It was still disconcerting being at the receiving end of his tender yet smoldering looks. But she no longer stiffened when he put his arms around her at night, kissed her and murmured he loved her. She looked forward to mornings, roused by the warmth of his hand on her breast, sitting next to him at breakfast and exchanging kisses tasting of coffee and maple syrup. She used to trip over the three words barely able to fight the onset of an anxiety attack. Her heart still raced but she looked in his eyes now and said firmly, clearly, “I love you,” when they went their separate ways for the day. Antonio lighting up encouraged her to say them often.

Her room was on the twentieth floor. She let herself in, dreading being stuck in the chair again. With a pained look on her face, she stared, unimpressed, at the elegant furnishings of the suite. Hey, she was proud of Runner. She just wished she could get ready in her usual way instead of with professional stylists and make-up people. The important thing was the film, not what she was wearing.

She tossed her bag on a couch, looking around and deducing quickly the suite was empty. She entered the bedroom and sat down at the foot of the king-sized bed, puzzled.

Suddenly she heard the door open and Antonio calling for her. Confused but pleased, she hurried out to meet him and found herself quickly in his arms. He grinned just before taking her lips in a deep, ardent kiss.

There was no way to not melt against him. Despite being taller and heavier, Antonio didn’t stagger nor loosen his hold on her. She clutched at his face with both hands, and one of her legs rose on its own accord to wrap around his hip. Antonio chuckled between kisses, and she blushed, realizing how wanton she was being. She was still shy, still unused and surprised by the feelings awakened by him. She thought it strange that he seemed charmed and turned on by it.

“You’re here,” she murmured but still sounding surprised. Slumberous eyes gazed back at her as he smoothed the hair from her cheek.

“So, I am.” His smile was gentle and really happy. He really was happy with her. She kissed his palm. When she looked back at him, there was an odd sheen in his eyes.

“What is it?” She asked, putting a hand on his chest.

Antonio blinked and shook his head, smiling. “It’s nothing.” When she remained unconvinced, he kissed her quickly on the lips. “I promise. It’s…I’m glad we’re together, you know?”

“Yeah.” She nodded. Their thoughts were aligned, despite their different personalities. “I do.”

The smile on his face turned into a mischievous smirk. Her cheeks burned as he reached for his belt, his prosthetic providing some assistance but his left hand doing most of the work.

Antonio’s love had become a part of her life in a way that the life she had prior to it was a blur. There was not a single day where he didn’t amaze her with things about her he loved—including the bits that he himself told her were not very lovable but because it was her, he loved them too. It was only supposed to be parents to love you unconditionally. Antonio was teaching her this was not true at all.

But she was still not used being found desirable. Kisses and touches, often inappropriate and delightful (she’d die first before admitting it), came from Antonio at every opportunity. He loved sliding his hand under her clothes whether in bed or she was at work in front of the computer. When they were out, her hand was clasped in his, easily holding her much bigger one. He teased her for her blush, pressed kisses on her every single day. He looked at her with both admiration and lust.

His eyes burned as he watched her blush and breathe quickly and harshly through her nose as he loosened her belt and worked on the zipper of her jeans. She was shaking and though she was standing, she couldn’t feel the floor under her feet.

“P-Parker said I had to get ready,” she whispered as her pants parted open.

“So he did. And you will.” Antonio said casually. He knelt in front of her and started unlacing her sneakers.

Karina hummed, realizing that it had all been a ruse for Antonio to spend some time with her before the premiere. She blinked several times, still unable to grasp that someone like Antonio Blake wanted to be with her, in the way he was going to be with her shortly. He smiled up at her, flashing those dimples she couldn’t resist, his gaze longing.

“Care to help me out?” He murmured, hand and prosthetic sliding up the sides of her jeans before he urged her to bend a knee to slip off one shoe, then the next.

“J—Antonio, the premiere,” she whispered as he pulled her jeans and panties down, touching her gently to lift one leg at a time to completely discard them.

“Has been moved to a later hour. Anthony told me. Jay told Parker because you were busy. No, no, nothing about the film. It’s fine. No technical problems of any kind,” he assured her as her eyes widened and she visibly tensed. He rubbed his hand up and down her thigh, making her shiver in pleasure. “There was a prior event, and they weren’t able to dismantle or get it ready on time. Nothing you have to worry about. Now,” he continued, grinning, “where were we?”

“This,” she whispered, taking his right shoulder in her hands. Keeping her eyes on him, she loosened the false arm. Antonio took it from her and flung it to the sofa.

“I missed you all day,” he told her.

It should be ridiculous; she should feel ridiculous standing half-naked with a man as handsome as a god at her feet. But his hand and shoulder gently rubbing up and down the sides of her thighs rendered her incapable of feeling anything else but anticipation for what was to come. Then he started kissing her thighs, dragging his even teeth across the firm muscles to suck briefly. She watched as his dark head nuzzled her muff of dark curls as if they were soft. He inhaled deeply, as if it was a sweet-smelling bouquet. Her knees began to buckle.

“How was work?” he whispered as he pressed kisses on the sensitive creases of her pussy.

“G-God,” she moaned, her head suddenly too heavy for her neck as it fell back, drawing her throat into an arch. She thought she heard and felt him chuckle before a hand was wrapping around her thigh to gently part it from the other. Then a long finger began to enter her, first carefully, gauging her wetness. She reddened hearing the squelch from her pussy, squeezing her eyes as she felt the moisture slide down to her thighs.

“Babe,” Antonio’s voice was soft but playful. The gently entry of his finger became firming pumps. “How was work?”

“Seriously?” She gasped. She felt her nipples tighten painfully under her shirt. Her clit stiffened between her sodden folds.

“Ah. There’s my girl,” he murmured. Because her eyes remained closed, she didn’t see him grin before kissing her clitoris firmly.

“Antonio.”

“I’ll tell you how mine went,” he offered. “But open your eyes. Come on. Look at me. Yes. Your eyes are so beautiful, have I told you?”

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak. He smiled at her then resumed covering her pussy with soft, deep kisses except where she really wanted him to. She reached for his shoulders while his hand and shoulder continued caressing her thighs.

“I’ll tell you how mine went. There was a long scene about how guys aren’t generous with giving women oral. Got me thinking about us.” His finger returned inside her pussy, joined with another. “Started thinking about my woman.”

“You’re—you’re great at it,” Karina grunted, trying to close her thighs around his fingers.

“Aw, thanks. You know I can’t get enough of this.” Antonio’s tongue swiped at her clitoris and she groaned loudly, holding him tightly. “Can’t get enough of you. Couldn’t wait to get home and worship my goddess.”

She made a sound between a laugh and a moan. Antonio bestowed another kiss on her clit. “Antonio.”

“You’re so sexy.”

“Please,” she begged as he fucked her, his fingers speeding up.

“Hmm. Also, can’t get enough hearing you beg. So hot. Tell me what you want.” He might be worshipping but Antonio was completely in command.

“Fuck me,” she moaned. “Antonio.”

She squeezed his fingers and wailed, yanked to her tiptoes and her eyes falling closed. A spark went off in her pussy that seemed to dance and twist languidly before disappearing. As the soft high of her release began to dissolve, Antonio pulled his fingers out. She was immediately bereft, her eyes flying open and a whimper leaving her lips. He stood before her, his eyes dark and his jaw set.

He suddenly grabbed her by nape and kissed her roughly on the mouth, sure to bruise her and make her fuller lips look bigger. She kissed him back, arms flinging around his shoulders and her body collapsing heavily against him. This time Antonio staggered but held on, his right arm strong and secure around her waist before hooking under her knee. His erection, hard and warm under his jeans, bumped against the widened lips of her pussy as he opened her up, holding on to her leg pressed against his wide.

He couldn’t carry her, but he definitely knew how to move her. Still kissing, his feet began to lead her, as if in a dance, because her body was draped against him. One step, two steps, more, until the bed hit the back of her knees and she happily sat down, her eyes glittering. Antonio grinned and tugged at her shirt, which she was more than happy to dispense with. He tossed down his jacket, dragged his t-shirt over his head while she attacked his jeans. She pushed them far down enough to his knees. She walked her arms on the bed until she lay fully on it, blushing yet her legs open, giving him a tempting a view of her sodden curls and glistening slit.

Her eyes hungrily roamed Antonio’s body. He would always be conscious of his missing arm but in her eyes, he couldn’t be more perfect. He was beautiful with his thick, dark hair, though now trimmed instead of the shoulder-grazing grunge-y style he wore after shooting Runner. She was enthralled by the brilliance of his eyes, at his dark skin and the lean muscles. She gazed at his shoulder, and yes, though she didn’t know him at the time it happened, she too felt his loss. But he was so much more than he imagined himself to be. For all his snark and sarcasm, Antonio Blake had a complexity very few people were aware of. She was one of them and considered it a privilege to be included in the tight circle that knew him better than most.

She opened her arms and he put himself there. They fit like a pair who have always been together, or maybe they always were but have been lost from each other for so long. He mouthed her breast, taking the small mound before raining kisses around it, driving her mad, driving her to near tears before kissing her nipple. The fat tip was now tight and red, eager for deeper, harder kisses. Antonio delivered, gave it his all. She spread her arms over her head, pawing at the padded headboard then realizing there was nothing to grasp. Antonio was too busy sucking her nipple, making it harder, making her pussy wet again, to notice her blush even more at her awkward move.

She wrapped her long legs around his waist, crossed at the ankles then turned, pushing Antonio on his back and her on top. His eyes lit up in surprise, followed by a smile as he stared at her chest. Leaning over him, her breasts hung like small but ripe fruits. His grin got positively wicked before opening his mouth to take her other nipple in his mouth, coaxing it to voluptuous tightness. She moaned, gasped, panted, ruffling his hair, her hands fisting the sheets. His hand and shoulder slid down her sides, palming her ass, urging her to straddle him wide.

With her the lips of her slit spread open, her clit was in direct contact with his dick. They growled together as the tender, pink nub pressed against the warm, velvety column of his erection. His shoulder kept her flush and tight against him as he kissed and suckled her nipples noisily. As she felt herself once again approaching her peak, she felt Antonio’s fingers brushing the divide of her buttocks. Her spine stiffened and she gasped, knowing what was going to happen and trying not to be too eager for it because it still embarrassed her—but only a little now. Then his finger was there, gently pumping in that forbidden crevice and she couldn’t give a moment’s fuck to shame and what was proper. Antonio was kissing her. Antonio’s dick was rubbing against her clit. Antonio was teasing her in the ass.

And oh, she loved it. Everything he was doing to her.

“Kay,” he grunted against her ear. “Take me inside. Now.”

She grasped his dick, rubbing it more for herself so she could watch his jaw slacken but pleasuring him even more to the point that he was pretty close to embarrassing himself. Holding it firmly, she guided herself down on it, grunting and sweating because he was huge and her entire body was yelling that she should fuck herself hard. Her discipline prevailed, forcing her hips to roll languidly against his.

“Karina.”

“Antonio.”

Her wish to draw it out lasted a few seconds before their bodies were battling each other. They were both strong and muscled, equal in strength in some aspects and not in others. Antonio took her hips and guided her up and down his dick in a rough, furious pace that had her seeing stars. She gasped, stunned at how glorious it was, how glorious it always was.

The headboard rattled against the wall. The hinges of the bed squeaked and whined under the violence of their act. Sheets were dragged off the mattress. Hair was pulled. Lips bitten. Karina was sure she was going to have to sit in ice for the entire night with how hard she was fucking herself on Antonio’s dick. Screw that. He felt wonderful.

She came with a scream of his name, tightening around so powerfully around his dick his eyes nearly exploded out of their sockets from the unbelievable pleasure. He shouted her name next.

They were still panting and flushing minutes later. As the silver chimes of the suite’s buzzer rang, Karina’s eyes widened. “Antonio, what if—” she couldn’t speak it. It was alright for people like Parker, Jay and Anthony to know about them but not the others. No. She couldn’t—she couldn’t face that. Not yet.

Antonio put a hand on her hip and squeezed. She expected annoyance, not amusement.

“Don’t worry about it. Help me get dressed and I’ll get the door.”

* * *

The stylists remarked on Karina’s dewy and flushed skin as they got her ready. If they only knew, she thought as the final touches of her make-up were applied.

It had been Parker at the door, come to warn them about the imminent arrival of Karina’s stylists and their equipment. Karina was disappointed that their afternoon idyll was over but at least they managed to spend some time. Given the buzz of the premiere and the time being pushed back, there was definitely more interest now. Interviews at the red carpet will be a minimum of thirty minutes, the movie was an hour and eighty minutes long, then the after-party where there will be more press wanting more interviews and even a sound bite. They won’t be finished until way past midnight.

“Alright, Karina,” Neena said, stepping away and nodding with a smile. “Look at how incredible you are.”

With dread, Karina turned to look at herself in the mirror and froze.

No limp, rough-looking hair on her head for a change. Tousled hair framed her cheeks. Neena had worked on her face for what felt like hours, but it didn’t look like she was wearing make-up at all, except for her red lipstick. She looked at her friend doubtfully who grinned at her.

“I didn’t have to do much. But I thought a no-make-up look with a bold lip color would be best for you. I was right.”

Karina was still uncomfortable about wearing make-up, but she still looked like herself. Neena didn’t try to make her look attractive because there was no hope of that, but she emphasized Karina’s amber eyes. Looking at her own eyes in the mirror, she imagined that Antonio was with her right now, saying knowingly how beautiful they were. Of course, he knew.

She glanced at her outfit then back at the stylist, Lilith Lee, and her agent, Jay Dalmer. Jay clapped his hands. “You look amazing.”

“’Absolutely,” Lilith said.

“You’re giving me second thoughts about being straight,” Neena told her with a wink. “Dammit, Karina, you’re hot.”

“You really look great,” Parker added.

“Shut up,” Karina muttered, blushing furiously.

Her jumpsuit was blue. She didn’t mind the color. She didn’t mind jumpsuits either. But it was sleeveless with a deep, plunging neckline that almost reached her navel. She worried about popping out, though her breasts were practically non-existent. Lilith promised that the magic of tape would keep her modesty intact. “What modesty,” Karina retorted as she was helped in the jumpsuit earlier. It was so revealing. Her nipples were still tight and straining from Antonio’s kisses.

“You shut up,” Jay stood beside her in the mirror and gave her shoulders a reassuring squeeze. “Ah, look at you. Let’s hope there’s more breasts on toast than no breasts, eh?”

“Jay!” Karina growled, slapping him hard on the arm while everyone laughed.

“Relax,” Jay told her, rubbing his sore arm and rolling his eyes. “And ow.”

“History will be made tonight,” Neena declared as she put an arm around Parker. “The movie’s spectacular, and the director has a nice pair of breasts. That has never happened.”

“Alright, one more word about my breasts and someone is getting thrown out the window!” Karina warned them.

Silver chimes played in the room again. “That’s Antonio,” Parker murmured, turning to get the door. Karina and Antonio were going to the premiere together. Nobody would suspect anything despite the rumors.

Antonio followed Parker in the room and Karina couldn’t stop from gasping. Boy, when Antonio cleaned up, he really was the master. Dark hair styled, dark eyes bright, and a charcoal gray suit and immaculate white shirt that was just perfect on him. Karina felt her pussy flutter and she blushed. God, all it took was a glance at Antonio for her ovaries to get worked up.

“Ah, there’s my favorite director in the world,” Antonio announced. He was smiling but his eyes were absolutely predatory taking in her appearance. It was clear he was going to try something in the limo on the way to the premiere and it got her blushing even more.

“If we can have the room for a while, please?” He asked everyone. Jay and Neena shared a knowing look and left, taking the others with them. Antonio closed the door then leaned against it, staring at Karina.

She held up a warning finger. “If you’re going to kiss me, make sure you don’t ruin the lipstick or Neena will have both our heads.”

“Thanks for warning me,” Antonio told her, pulling away from the door and standing at his full height. “God, Karina. Look at you. You look marvelous.”

She managed a small, hopeful smile. “Really?” She made a face at her heels. “I’m so much taller.”

“More magnificence, in my book. I’m so proud to have you at my side tonight. How are you?”

He put his hands on her waist. He was still looking at her hungrily but right now, her comfort was his concern. Karina’s fingers fluttered lightly on the collar of his shirt. She was so much taller than him right now but for the first time in her life, she didn’t feel compelled to slouch.

“I feel like throwing up, actually,” she admitted. “My god, Antonio. This is it. My first mainstream film.”

“Yeah. It sure is.” He told her. “Do you want me to get you some ice? Maybe water?”

“I’ll be fine. I’m like this at every premiere but it’s like, double now.”

“Poor baby. I’d kiss you but I would like to spend, I don’t know, the next eighty years of my life and longer with you, so…” he took her hand and kissed it like a prince would in a fairy tale. “A kiss for the loveliest, most amazing girl in Carlton.”

She giggled. Antonio opened his arms, and she gratefully sank into them.

“I wouldn’t have done the movie without you,” she whispered, hugging him.

“Likewise.” Antonio held her tightly. “I love you, Karina.”

She didn’t see stars. She was sure she was right in the sky with them.

* * *

The media outlets and paparazzi on the red carpet were quick to take note of Karina’s red face as she emerged from the limousine after Antonio. Her eyes rivaled the brightness of all the flashbulbs going off right that very moment. One reporter would note in her review that “the stoicism that has become synonymous to Karina Jones as her gritty, unapologetic character explorations in film was noticeably absent. But who wouldn’t be? Runner is easily one of the best films of the year, if not the best. It is likely to have a spot among the hundred best in Windmere. Who wouldn’t have stars in their eyes over having a place in history and on your first Windmere film? Karina Jones had stolen them all.”

If they weren’t looking at her face, it was her racy jumpsuit that told the world that while Karina Jones was not conventionally attractive, she made tiny breasts look sexy and classy. And how tall was she again?

Antonio and Karina held hands as they walked down the red carpet, preceded by their agents, publicists and other handlers. Anthony ruled the media on the red carpet. He led his brother and Karina to reporters from the best entertainment shows, magazines, film columnists in newspapers.

A reporter for The Herald wanted to know what it was about the role that drew him out of retirement.

“In the hands of a good writer, even the simplest characters have complexity. My character in the movie is not simple at all—I think he’s the man for whom the word ‘complicated’ was coined. Alan Crabtree did one hell of a job in taking this character apart to know what he’s made of and dangling it as some kind of treat through the script for my character to pursue it and become the man he is by the movie’s end.”

Karina, standing next to Antonio, had to deal with a question like this from The Daily Reader:

“How did you approach this film as a woman?” He asked.

Karina narrowed her eyes at him. “Is there another way of approaching it?”

“Well, of course. A man would approach it differently, won’t he?”

“Here’s something I hope people know more of beginning today,” she said, annoyed. “The way we approach anything in the world will always be as women because that’s what we are. We have the pussy and “the uterus to prove it—” she had to fight off the smirk as the reporter gasped. “Following this thought, male directors take on a story and shooting a movie because they have the dick and the balls. It’s different but the same, and no approach is better than the other. Directors should be judged not for whether they direct movies with their dicks or pussy but whether they are able to tell excellently, through the visual medium, a story of the human condition, whether in triumph or tragedy.”

Antonio overheard and shot the reporter a murderous glare. As the reporter slinked back, he looped his arm through Karina’s and together, followed Anthony and Jay down the red carpet.

There were more questions. Most were insipid and very few could be called insightful. Karina was almost relieved when they were in the cinema. Since the interviews were done, now they could interact with people they really wanted to be with. Neither strayed far from each other’s side and would exchange smiles or heated looks while conversing with other people.

They sat together. It was a quick, almost-nothing kiss but Karina felt it right to her core. Also, a reporter quick with her camera phone managed to snap the precise moment Antonio Blake took her hand and kissed it. The lights in the cinema dimmed right after.

That brief contact of his lips on her hand slowed the frantic beating of her heart. It picked up again as soon as his lips left her. Karina was taking deep, quiet breaths when she felt Antonio’s lips on her shoulder. Her heart rate then slowed down.

“Karina?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you for hauling my ass out of Brightwood.”

The opening credits flashed on the screen. The little light from them showed the pinkish-red glow of her cheeks.

“You’re welcome.”

About ten minutes in the movie, Karina suddenly turned to him.

“Antonio?”

“Yeah?”

“I love you.”

She sat back and enjoyed the rest of her movie. They held hands the entire time.

An hour and eighty minutes later, thunderous applause and whistled shook the walls of the cinema.