DISCLAIMER: All events in this story are completely fictional. While some characters are based on actual people, all situations and events are the product of the author's imagination.
"Doncha' Just Love Prince?"
by Nina
Nina Marie Salvatore climbed up the old wooden ladder far in the back corner of the antique book store. She sighed dramatically and went back to work. Her friend and partner, Pagan McClary, kept the shop closed on Sundays and Nina decided it was time to get the place in order. Pagan had spent days discussing the reorganizing the books and it was driving Nina insane. She decided that while Pagan was out doing God only knew she would get the place the way she wanted it.
Three years ago, the two women had begun working together and every damn day added a new challenge. Nina had recently begun an online book-selling venture and sales and research hours had doubled in the three months since the site was up and running. Pagan huffed about the online thing but when she saw the increase she stopped whining about it.
Nina smashed the 'play' button on her CD player and the beat assaulted her ears through the headphones. She dusted the leather covers of the books and bobbed her dark pony-tail along with Prince. You had to love his royal purpleness and Nina sang along with When Doves Cry shaking her hips and swinging her imaginary key chain gliding down the ladder once again carrying a few books with her. She swung the invisible pendant and smiled to herself singing the lyrics at full voice. There was a dusty pile at the foot of the ladder and Nina grinned knowing that Pagan would scream and yell seeing the books all scattered like that. No matter, Nina thought and went back to her singing. Climbing back up the ladder teetering dangerously on the wheeled thing she swayed and sang carrying a few of the heavy tomes back to their proper homes. As the song wound down, Nina sang along with the odd background voices of the Prince classic, she failed to hear the ding of the bell on the door she had forgotten to lock when she got in that morning.
The Harley Davidson came to a stop outside the small shop and the driver removed his helmet and shook his tousled hair. Russell walked up to the store frowning at the "Sorry we're closed. Please come again." He rolled his rich blue eyes at the absurdly polite way to say piss off. He stubbed out his cigarette and pulled on the handle; the door opened with the expected ding of a bell over the doorway. Looking around the antiquated shop, Russell had to smile. It was not really what he had expected from the site he had perused online, but it had a quaint sort of quality that he enjoyed. He shouted a hello in his rich baritone voice and waited patiently for an answer. When none came, he took it upon himself to explore the odd little shop. A circular counter sat in the center of the shop with the antique cash register hiding the high tech computer behind it. Old leather bound books were scattered around the mahogany counter top. A stairway led up toward the back of the place, the landing open with a soft looking leather couch and wing-backed chairs for reading and a very nice roll-top desk for research. To the opposite side of the landing was the door to what looked to be an apartment. The high bookshelves lined the place from left to right and ladders on wheels like in ancient libraries hung on each shelf. From the back of the store, Russell heard a female voice singing and he headed in that direction. As he turned the corner and saw the woman climbing up the ladder he almost laughed aloud. She wore her long black hair in a thick ponytail that peeked out through the back of a black baseball cap. She had on a tight white t-shirt and cut off denim shorts. Russell heard the tinny clinking of the music as it filtered from the headphones and she started singing once again. Prince, he thought to himself, recognizing the lyrics. Oh this was going to be fun.
The cocky New Zealander leaned against the opposite shelf and smiled up at who he hoped was Nina. His blue eyes twinkled in anticipation and he cleared his throat a few times to see if she would hear. Nina laughed aloud at herself once again as she felt her voice crack in her throat as she screamed the last of the "Baby"'s at the end of the song. She turned halfway down the ladder and the handsome man leaning against the book case smiling up at her caused her to lose her footing and come crashing down to the floor.
"Well, God dammit," she cursed getting to her feet and glaring hard at the man she had not yet recognized. "You scared the fucking shit out of me!"
He was helping her to her feet and she shook his hand off. His smile had faded but as he watched her and made sure she was ok, the swearing and the glaring convinced him. The smile and the wicked twinkle returned.
"Are you ok?"
"Yes, dammit, I'm fine," she spat. In the fall the headphones had come off and now rested around her neck and the baseball cap sat sideways on her black hair. "How the hell did you get in here?"
She had turned from him to check that her falling on them hadn't damaged the pile of books and as she asked her question his face popped into her mind. Russell Crowe - oh for crying out loud!
"You left the door unlocked," he answered innocently still giggling.
"I did?" He um-hmmed and she lowered her head. "Shit," she whispered. Of all the stupid ass first impressions. She turned to him and smiled sweetly. He moved toward her and she jumped back a step.
"Relax," he cooed. Her knees went weak as that voice penetrated her. He touched her cheek with his fingertip and smiled at her. "Dust bunny," he scolded and shook the fuzz from his fingers. She saw the mischievous twinkle in his sky blue eyes and pursed her lips and raised her dark eyebrow at him.
"So, Mr. Crowe..."
"Jesus, Mr. Crowe is my fucking father," he said rolling those eyes and laughing, "Call me Russell." He stuck out a large callused hand and Nina shook it introducing herself as well. "I was hopin' that was you up there," he jerked his head toward the ladder she had just fallen from. "Would hate to scare the hell out of a complete stranger."
He laughed again and she turned her back to him. "Yes, I imagine you would," she snapped smiling in spite of herself. She spun to face him, "So, Russell," she said and he smiled broadly. "Pagan says you are researching a role or something?" He nodded. "Well, how can I help?" Nina smacked the dust off her jeans and lifted the still lopsided cap from her head.
"Lunch," Russell said.
"I'm sorry?"
"Let's go eat," he quipped casually turning away from her. She watched him walk, all brashness and arrogance.
"You know," she shouted after him, "I do have work here?" she shook her head.
"I'll have you back in no time, trust me," he called. She heard the bell on the door and she shook her head again. She glanced up at the ceiling wondering if Pagan was upstairs. She dropped the cap and pulled the ponytail free shaking the dust from her long black hair. She looked down at the dusty stained t-shirt and the old cut offs. "Not really going out clothes..."
"You comin' luv?" Nina couldn't help but roll her eyes.
"You're buyin', Crowe," she shouted. What the hell, this was Hollywood, right?
"Whatever, let's just go," he shouted as she rounded the shelves. He exhaled a plume of gray smoke outside the door as he looked her up and down. With the cap gone and her long hair hanging over her shoulders she was truly a beauty. Nina slipped out of the shop and turned her back to him locking the door.
"Kind of an interesting place you have there, Nina," he quipped handing her a helmet. She took the helmet and nodded slipping it over her head. He laughed again as she struggled with the damn straps. "Kinda expect goblins and such," he said close to her face as he tightened the straps of the helmet.
"Well," she said sliding onto the big black and silver Harley Davidson behind him, "There is a vampire sleeping upstairs," she quipped wrapping her arms around his waist as he kick-started the Harley. He laughed and she giggled knowing the half-truth of that statement. Pagan was a night person and if she was upstairs she was sleeping like the dead. The couple sped through the city and she screamed and giggled as he took corners a little too closely. She heard the deep timbre of his voice over the roar of the Sportster but had no earthly idea what he was saying to her. He pointed at something and she nodded again not knowing what she had agreed to. He peeked at her in the rear view mirror and winked one of those cerulean eyes. Nina smiled and held tighter to his waist. The bike roared to a stop outside a posh LA restaurant. The brunch crowd had begun to filter in and Nina looked at Russell in abject fear. He tiled his head and she glared at him with the helmet still on. She shook her head and he shook his. He shrugged and the two climbed back onto the bike and roared out of the parking lot. Nina pointed to the side and Russell guided the bike to a stop in front of a tall apartment building. The bottom floor housed a dingy looking but cute neighborhood diner called Riff's. Nina climbed off the bike and unsnapped the helmet straps. She shook her long hair free and ran a hand through it smoothing the knots out as best she could. She started for the restaurant.
"Well, are you coming?" He watched her walk away and glanced up and down the backs of her legs. Say what you will about a stair-master, this girl had great legs from climbing those ladders all day.
She turned to him and caught him looking. Russell winked again and Nina waved a hand at him as she entered the tiny diner. She slid into a booth and he slid into the opposite side. He lit a cigarette with his eyes not leaving Nina's and then offered her one. She nodded and he lit the end for her. The waitress came to the table and stared hard at the man that sat across from Nina. Deciding that he was just a dead ringer for the handsome Aussie actor, she took their orders and left the table.
"So," Nina said exhaling and pulling her legs up into the seat beneath her. "What is this role you are researching?"
"Well," he began with a dramatic exhale and glanced between the ashtray and Nina's dark eyes as he explained the role. "Supposedly, they want me to play a preacher." Nina laughed. Russell scowled and even in jest the scowl seemed fierce. Nina shifted in her seat under the hard gaze. She nodded for him to continue. The waitress brought coffee and he lifted the steaming cup to his lips. "Don't like this shit," he said taking a sip of the bitter liquid, "But you can't get decent tea in this town."
"I know," she said smiling and filling her coffee with sugar and cream. Russell smiled at her ministrations and wondered why even bother if you were gonna just drink sugar and milk.
"The role, Russell," Nina urged him. "It's one of those end of days things, you know," he continued and she nodded having seen the Schwarzenegger film from last year. "They want me to play some kind of para-psychological priest thing..." He shook his head raising his eyebrows. "I think they don't even know what the fuck they want," he snapped and then suddenly became very interested in the oily rainbows forming on the top of his coffee.
"Yea," she said, "I've read that about you."
"What's that luv?"
"You know, work with a director with vision," she quoted, "If you don't know what you want, don't fucking call, that sort of thing." He nodded.
The two ate lunch and discussed the evils of Hollywood at length. Russell became very animated at one point nearly tossing a ketchup laden French fry onto a passing nurse. Nina laughed and Russell hung his head and grinned sheepishly. At some point, Nina must have mentioned that she lived in an apartment in this building because the conversation all but stopped as the veiled innuendo of the statement floated between the two of them. Russell just smiled and winked. The waitress returned and placed the check face down onto Russell's side of the table. She stared hard at the handsome man and then glanced back at the kitchen staff.
"OK, handsome," she said. Nina nearly fell out of her seat and she looked to Russell who winked and nodded his thanks to the woman. "So, are you him or not?"
"Who?" Russell answered and the waitress clucked her teeth and shook her head. Nina eyed Russell warily.
"You know," the self-conscious spokesperson for the wait staff answered, "Him."
"Who do you think I am?" Russell's voice was intoxicating and the flustered waitress was not at all prepared for the battle of words.
"Well, Bobbi over here was saying that you were that Sid 6.7 guy," she began babbling and jerked her head toward the younger waitress sitting looking bored at the bar. "And I say you just look like him," she explained hoping like hell she was right, because if not she had really just insulted the guy. "So, which it is it?" She finished eyeing him hoping he would save her from further embarrassing herself. Nina watched Russell as he nodded, taking in her words.
"Well, now," Russell glanced at the younger waitress and flashed a playful smile. The girl sputtered nearly spitting her drink out and turned away from him. "You're right, luv," he quipped in a highly dramatic adaptation of his Australian accent. "Just a look alike," he smiled and slapped a $50 on the check without looking at it.
He held a hand out to Nina and she smiled and took it and the couple walked out of the place. As they left the older waitress and the younger one were still debating over who was right. Once outside the couple eyed the sky gauging the distance of the clouds over the ocean and then climbed back onto the bike and headed back to the shop. Russell decided to take Nina on a little spin before it rained and after two hours on the rumbling Harley, Nina's legs hurt and her knees were sunburned.
As she climbed off the bike at the shop he watched her eyes. "My ass hurts," she complained hopping in place and stomping her feet. Russell giggled at the girl as she whined about the ride. She whined, but her eyes gleamed and her face was flushed. Her dark hair hung in tangled waves. He moved to her and gently covered her full dark lips with an unexpected kiss. His lips tasted like salt and nicotine. She licked her lips as he moved away from her and tasted him again.
"What the hell was that?" He glanced at her and raised an eyebrow. She shot him a look. "Sorry," he said. "Wanted to do that all day."
She shook her head still licking her lips and unlocked the door. She felt him move into the shop behind her and this time made sure the door was locked. She leaned over the counter and flipped a switch turning on the stereo. Russell flipped the loud music off behind her and Nina turned and glared at him. He smiled and she felt suddenly very self-conscious. She averted her eyes and he moved close to her again. She moved a step away and he missed getting a hold of her by inches.
"Let's find that book you wanted, shall we?" Nina was not above casual sex, but she was not one for the drop right down on the counter and go for it thing. Russell followed behind her and further explained that the role would require some working knowledge of exorcisms, spirits and possession, etc. Nina rolled her eyes at the overdone format for movies. "What?" He asked as he saw the expression. "Just think the whole demon-possession-Linda-Blair-Split-pea-soup-thing is so overdone," she answered. Russell laughed and shrugged. He had thought the same thing but it sounded good on paper and he told her as much.
She smiled and before he could get to her she had climbed the ladder out of his reach. Russell sighed and a thunder-clap and lighting flash killed the power in the building. "Shit," Nina looked around in the inky blackness at the back of the shop and slowly eased her way to the bottom of the ladder... And into his arms. She struggled for a moment and then tasted the smoke-stained saltiness of his lips as they pressed against hers. His arms wrapped around her waist and she leaned up into his kiss. She ran her hands up his arms feeling the muscles move beneath his tanned skin. Nina's hands ran over his shoulders and up his neck and caressed his unshaven face. She felt the prickle of the short 5 o'clock shadow against her palms as she pressed closer to him. She felt him move against her and she took a tentative step back. She collided with a low stack of books and the two fell in a heap against the bookcase. Nina let out a small whimper as her head smacked into the books and Russell moved back away and with his eyes adjusted to the darkness helped her to her feet.
"Son of a bitch!" She scolded herself and the books. She smiled up at Russell and rubbed her head. He took her hand and turned from her taking her quickly through the shop to the more well-lit section out front. Outside the door the wind blew papers and trash across the street and the thunder and lighting crashed and flashed. As he moved ahead of her Nina smelled the smoke and the faint hint of a delicious cologne on him. He turned to her and jerked his head toward the bike still parked outside; she nodded.
The wind assaulted the bike buffeting the heavy thing across the pavement. Nina kept a tight hold on Russell's waist as he flew toward the brick building that housed Riff's and Nina's apartment. She climbed off the bike just as the rain began to fall and she unsnapped the helmet handing the bulky thing to him so she could unlock the door. From the windows of the diner, the waitresses watched the couple struggle with the door. Nina had lived in the building for 4 years and they had rarely if ever seen her with a man...let alone with one that good-looking. The debate over whether or not the girl's new beau was in fact a movie star began anew as they couple entered the building.
Nina threw the door open and once inside she grabbed his hand and led him to the elevator. She mashed a button and as the door slid shut, she attacked him pressing her body against his and threading her fingers with his. He purred against her lips and she moaned into his mouth as he slipped his tongue past her lips. The elevator door slid open and then closed again. Nina broke the kiss long enough to slid a hand between the closing doors and force them open again. She fumbled with the key to her apartment as Russell's lips played over the flushed damp skin of her neck under her thick hair. He lifted the tangled mop of black and placed gentle kisses and teasing bites along the tops of her shoulders and down the sensitive V on the back of her neck. She shivered and felt him smile against her skin.
"You live alone," he purred, "I hope?" She um-hmmed and leaned her head back into his voice.
Once inside, she turned on him pressing his back into the door forcing it closed. He buried a hand in her hair and pulled her head back exposing her pale throat to his hot kisses. She gasped as he teased her with his teeth. She toed off her Keds and renewed her attack on his lips. He turned her suddenly pressing her back to the door and lowering his hands to her waist, slid them beneath her shirt and lifted it over her head. Beneath the tight cotton, Nina wore a pale, silky and very see-through bra. Russell smiled feeling the silken material and Nina gasped as his hands covered her breasts and massaged her nipples to perky points. She followed his lead and slid her hands down his chest pulling at the buttons on his faded denim oxford. She slipped the shirt over his broad shoulders and ran her hands across his tanned chest. Her hands again capped his shoulders as his kisses moved down her chest. She felt his breath through the satin bra and felt his teeth nip at her flesh. His hands moved up her bare back and unfastened the clasp holding the silky material in place and slipping the bra down her arms. Nina leaned back into the door as he pulled her nipple into his mouth and circled the tender pink bud with his tongue. Russell's blue eyes flashed up at her as he kissed his way across her bare chest and down her fluttering stomach. He winked and lowered himself to the floor. Kneeling in front of her he slowly circled her navel with his tongue and his hands moved up her thighs to unfasten the buttons on her shorts. Nina held her breath as Russell's fingers hooked the waist-band of her shorts catching the thin strap of the thong beneath them and pulled both to the floor. His bare chest pressed against her thighs as he covered her now bare abdomen with kisses slowly moving lower to the tuft of fine black curls between her thighs.
Nina moaned and leaned her head back against the door as his fingers slipped into the trimmed curls between her legs. She looked down into his eyes and watched as his hand slid beneath her thigh lifting her leg over his shoulder. His eyes twinkled and he purred throatily as he inhaled deeply the scent of her sex and her sweat. She moaned as his fingers massaged the hard rise of flesh beneath the curls. He grinned up at her and Nina leaned hard into the door feeling his fingers slip into the slick opening. He leaned into her and flicked his hot tongue across the hard bundle of nerves and she gasped again gripping his hair and pulling him closer. Her pelvis rocked involuntarily as his tongue traced the curves beneath the curls and his fingers slowly slid in and out of her. She gripped his hair and pulled him back up her body. He touched each part of her exposed skin with his moist lips and as Nina pulled him to her lips she tasted her salty wetness mingled with the smokey sweet of his lips. His fingers slipped from inside her and her leg dropped slowly back to the floor as Russell got to his feet.
Nina paused and his eyes locked with hers. She again felt very self-conscious as his eyes traced the curves of her bare body. She looked away from him and he raised her chin with a fingertip. He gently moved closer to her and she lunged after his lips losing her self-consciousness in the passion of the moment. She ran her hands down his back and then around to the buttons of his jeans unfastening them expertly and feeling the soft fuzz beneath the open V of the jeans. She stroked the fine hair with the tips of her fingers and sucked eagerly at his full bottom lip. He purred against her lips and pressed closer to her. Nina slid her hands under the waist of his jeans and lowered them to his knees. He giggled a throaty lustful sound as he attempted to toe of his boots. Nina giggled as well watching him struggle with the unruly hikers and he glanced wickedly at her.
"You laughin' at me luv?" Nina burst into a fit of girlish laughter and nodded innocently.
He smiled and lunged at her after successfully kicking off the boots and jeans. His chest was broad and firm and pressed into hers as he covered her lips with a deep kiss as he slid a hand beneath her thigh, lifting her leg to his hip. Nina moaned feeling his hard cock demanding entry. She bucked her hips and bit at his lip as he slid into her. He held tight to her leg as she rocked against him. Nina wrapped an arm around his broad shoulders and he buried a hand in her hair. She kissed and bit at his shoulder and neck tracing circles along his raised flesh. Her back smacked hard into the door and the rickety thing rattled on its hinges as the enamored couple rocked hard into each other. Nina moaned and her muscles tensed. She moaned deliciously and gripped his back and her short red nails dug into his shoulder blades as her body spasmed and her juices flowed over him. He smiled into her neck as he heard and felt her relax and he slowed his tempo teasing her. She tightened the slick passage around his straining cock and he pulled her earlobe into his mouth and bit hard as he came deep inside her. She whimpered feeling the hot fluid overflow. The couple's breathing slowed and Russell gently lowered Nina's leg again placing gentle kisses on her neck and ear slowly moving back to her lips. She eagerly accepted his tongue and lips and she purred as she felt him slip from inside her. Nina leaned back into the door and smiled at him running her hands over his chest and then pulling him into another deep kiss. He smiled against her lips. She sighed deeply and stretched her arms above her head smiling at him and licking her lips.
"Got a shower?" He asked watching the sheen of sweat glisten on her body as she stretched; studying the curves once again. She nodded and glided past him toward the small bathroom. On the way she lit a cigarette and tossed him one. He lit the end and stood leaning in the bathroom doorway watching the woman search beneath her sink for a towel. She turned to face him and blushed.
"What?" She snapped and tossed the towel at him.
He exhaled as the towel came flying and laughed again. He shook his head and she turned on the water moving past him as she exited the bathroom. As she moved past him, he ran his hand along her back finally catching hold of her elbow and spinning her into him again.
"Join me, will you?" She purred, eagerly snubbing out her cigarette and climbed into the shower, pulling him beneath the warm water. He watched her as she lathered her ebony hair and smiled as she hogged the shower.
"You invited me in here," she snapped, grinning and tossing a handful of bubbles at him. "Right," he said flatly letting her slip under the shower and rinse off, "Now get out," he snapped playfully.
She pouted and hopped out. Fifteen minutes later a clean-shaven Russell emerged from the steaming bathroom and searched the room for the brunette. Behind an Oriental screen in a far corner he caught a glimpse of her tanned legs. He walked to the screen with the towel over his shoulders and caught himself before he spoke. Her eyes were closed and her breathing steady. She was half covered with a sheet and her wet hair hung over the pillow with a dark ring of wetness surrounding her head. He shook his head and towel dried his short locks before climbing into the bed beside Nina. She stirred as he moved in behind her and wrapped an arm around her waist kissing her cheek gently.
The rain fell outside and the lighting flashed overhead knocking the power out in the small apartment as well. Russell lay in the dark thinking about how in the hell he was going to leave this woman in a few days. Oh well, he thought finally curling in beside her and gently stroking a strand of damp hair from her cheek, think about it in the morning, mate.
To Be Continued...of course!
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