Through Thick & Thin

Confusing Tension

I look in the make up mirror at myself, practicing my composure. Closing my eyes I take deep cleansing breaths, my grip on the wooden desk loosening as I begin to relax.

That is until I felt hard muscle contained in silky fabric pressed against my back. Not fully, but enough to be aware of the obviously male body against my own.

Hot breath fans over my right ear as I tense up. With a deep, raspy chuckle, a voice that unmistakably belongs to Robert reaches me. "What's got you all hot and bothered sweetheart?"

He leans in ever so slightly, the feeling more prominent against me; his slight stubble barely scratching my jaw. How in the world does he manage to sound innocent and guiltily sexy at the same time??

I wait until he's no longer touching me before I turn my body to face him. I maintain as much composure as I can muster, seeing as how he still stands about two inches from me.

I gulp, slowly looking up into those chocolate-y amber orbs. "I-I'm not used to being in the spotlight, Mr. Downey." I look down, eyes straight ahead, however aimed at the buttons on his chest. He's at least a foot taller than my 5'1" frame.

"Now," he starts, pausing to slowly tuck some hair behind my right ear, "How many times do I have to tell you not to call me Mr. Downey?"

I take a shaky breath before smiling slightly. "About a million more, considering the fact that I've been working for you for five years." I giggle at that, mentally slapping myself for sounding like a twelve year old.

At this point he's standing an acceptable distance from me. He clutched his heart super dramatic style at my comment, face scrunched in a grimace as he says, "but it makes me feel so ... OLD." he complains.

I roll my eyes at his antics. He's such a silly heart. "Well, by most people's standards, you are."

He steps closer. "And what am I considered by YOUR standards, sweetheart?"

I think back to my previous statement and realize the hint I just dropped unknowingly. I softly groan, noticing his eyes dilating further. I gulp, but no words come out. I blink and turn away before my eyes give anything else away.

I walk briskly towards the exit. "Now, you have a press conference tomorrow at eight am, so it'd be best to leave the hotel by six-thirty if we want to make it on time for touch ups and the usual backstage havoc." I can feel him following me, since my nerves are still on edge after that little scene in the makeup department. Damn he looks good with nerd glasses and tight black slacks... Mmm.

After saving myself from nearly walking into a rack of clothing, Robert chuckles. "Got a lot on your mind, lately?" His left hand find its way to the small of my back as he guides me towards the exit. After adjusting to the electrical currents currently running through my spine, I give him a playful glare, letting him know I'm not going answer.

He chooses to ignore this before pressing on. "Is it your mystery man? Ooh I think it is. You know, you never did tell me who it is.. I guess I'll have to investigate."

I groan, "please don't."

"Well you don't feel like explaining."

I roll my eyes. "So, you don't really wanna know anything about him probably."

"Hmm let me guess, you don't really like him, you just think he's sexy. You just want a hot fuck and then he'll be out of your system."

I gasp and stop walking, slapping his stomach with the back of my hand. Holy ab muscles! Gah.

"Robert, what the hell?! And if you must know, I find him equally as nice and funny as I find him sexy. It'd take a lot more than one fuck to get that out of my system."

This time I get to smirk devilishly as he pauses to compose himself. Eyes almost completely black, he's speechless for once in his life. I take this momentary victory to finish walking to the exit and hail a cab for us. I can't believe I just spoke about my feelings for Robert to himself, ESPECIALLY like that.

We rode in the cab in silence. I had one earphone in, just so I didn't miss anything he said, while finishing up some agenda details in my calendar app. God bless iPhones.

After I was done I scrolled through Instagram, laughing under my breath at my friend Riley's post. All of the sudden, I notice Robert gesturing at me. I look up, and see that he's asking to see my phone. I look from him to my phone one more time before finally taking out my earbud and giving it to him.

He opens the camera on Instagram and we end up taking a really goofy selfie and he types something about heading back after the interview, and being hacked by @robertdowneyjr.

After posting it he gives my phone back and I inspect it. I laugh to myself.

"What is it?" He asks, eyes full of amusement.

I glance at him before chuckling. "Oh nothing, I just noticed that you're really caught up on your "lingo" there, hehe."

He rolls his eyes. "What else do I need to do to prove to you that I'm not so old?"

I roll my eyes back at him. "I never said you were old.. Why do you care today anyway? Everyday there's millions of girls of all ages willing to jump your bones. Why does this opinion matter to you so much?"

I watch him as he looks at his lap, sort of chuckling into a sigh as he smiles sheepishly. "Haha ahh I don't know. I guess, I don't want the one person who's a constant in my life to think I'm un-relatable."

I must've given him a strange look because he continues. "In all fairness, everyone else in my life comes and goes, but not you. Hell, my marriage didn't even last as long as you have."

He rubs his neck with his hand and sighs, looking over at me. His hand drops to his thigh as a smirk grows on his face. Ah, he may have noticed the red tint to my cheeks right about now.

"What, what is it?" He inquired.

"I guess- we haven't really shared a moment this serious since the divorce." I shrug, fiddling with the air conditioning to cool my cheeks and to avoid eye contact.

He laughs. "I guess you're right. I'm not one for seriousness." He smiles at me before running a hand down his face.

"Well, I have to agree with you on that one. Laughter is key to a long life. I don't think I've laughed nearly as much as I have since you hired me." I end with a chuckle. I can hear his own laugh from next to me, yet it feels so far away. I lean my head on the window as I stare out, slowly spacing until..

Until I feel his calloused hand under my chin, forcing me to face him. I look into his eyes, laugh lines clearly evident on his face. It's something I've always loved about him. It makes me want to take my sketchbook and draw him, smiling with the humor he's portraying right now.

Smiling wide, with an amused lilt to his voice he says, "Glad I can be of service to you."

We both laugh, unmoving, and I start to get lost in his eyes. I haven't looked away, and he hasn't removed his hand from my chin. The soft pad of his thumb is slowly tracing my cheek bone, as if wiping away imaginary tears.

I realize with a panic how close our faces have gotten, and my breath hitches. So many worries and concerns cross my mind, but I can't seem to fight temptation. My eyes start to close when-

RIIIIINNNNGGGG! RIIIIINNNNNGGG!

Damn you iPhone! I pull away and sigh, reaching for my phone. It's one of the producers calling. I pick up, listening as he reminds us of tomorrow's surprisingly short schedule.

I nod and give encouraging sounds, but my entire body is on the brink of a melt down. I just almost kissed my BOSS. I feel his presence, notice him staring out the window looking troubled before surfing through his phone.

As I end the call, I sigh, lean back, and wait for this eternal ride of damnation to end.

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