Plus One

Part 5 - Clearing the Decks

Tom grabbed my hand and pulled me inside, closing the door firmly behind me. I had a brief second to notice he'd showered and changed, damp curls clinging to his scalp as snugly as his tee clung to his torso.

"What the hell are you playing at?" I rounded on him, stomping my foot and clenching my fists at my sides. "How dare you complain to Josh about how I've been treating you...that is so...I've treated you with exactly the same courtesy and respect I give the other cast members. I listen to your suggestions, I...God! You are unbe-fucking-lievable!" My whole body was shaking. "How am I supposed to act toward you? Fawn all over you like an obsequious, toadying sycophant? Is that what you want? Is your ego really so inflated that you can't stand that I'm not panting after you like all your little fangirls? You tossed me aside like yesterday's newspaper and suddenly I'm meant to worship the ground you walk on? You know what? Fuck you, Hiddleston!"

"Sam..."

"And now you're trying to ruin my career – is that it? Because that's what could happen – if word gets around that I'm difficult and don't work well with actors I can kiss my career as a producer goodbye and it's barely even started and I so want to...no, never mind. I'll be writing scripts forever, if someone will even hire me, or I'll end up having to work with Susan and Bobby," I shuddered. "And all because you...you...what? What is it? I don't even have a clue why you're doing this to me. What did I ever do to you to deserve...to..." Tears spilled from my eyes as I yelled and I swiped at them with an impatient hand.

"Don't cry, please love." Tom took a step toward me but I backed away.

"I'm not crying, I'm just...leaking water from my eyes, is all." He gave a little half smile and my gut clenched. No Sam, stay strong, stay angry. He may be just as gorgeous as ever but think of what he said to Josh. "And how dare you go behind my back and speak to Josh – if you have a problem with me, you could at least have the decency and courtesy to come to me first, and I would have...done something; I don't know. That was underhanded and deceitful and...and...unworthy of you. People think you're this really nice guy, sweet and kind and thoughtful and...well, you've sure got them fooled. I guess you really are a world-class actor. And you had me fooled too; I thought you...and then you...well, it's...but what the fuck, Tom?! You've even got me saying fuck and I never say fuck and now I've said it half a dozen times and...oh fuck!"

Chest heaving, I blinked through my tears, totally unprepared for what happened next; Tom came and wrapped his long, strong arms around me, pulling me tight to his chest. "What...what are you doing?"

"Hugging you."

"Why?" My world was spinning topsy-turvy and I couldn't even think coherently enough to pull away.

I felt lips touch my hair then his voice said, "Because I've missed you so much and I couldn't stand another second without having you in my arms."

What???

I squeezed my eyes closed then opened them again, expecting to find this had all been a dream and I would wake up in my sweats on the couch with the TV still blaring...

"Sam, I...that day, at your flat, I...I wanted to ask you...I wanted to say..." I waited, ears straining to hear him over the pounding of my heart. "I didn't want...us...to end, I wanted to ask if we could try, despite being apart for months and me being so busy, if we could try to..." He squeezed me tighter. "Try to...have a proper relationship, not just a...a fling."

"But you...you said..." I thought back over his words and realised I could have misconstrued them; I'd thought his excuse about it being an incredibly busy press tour was his way of blowing me off, but in hindsight... "You weren't...I thought..."

"I didn't get the chance to finish, you patted me on the chest and basically said it was over, so I...I assumed you didn't reciprocate my feelings, that you didn't want it to be any more."

Oh God, I'm such an idiot!

"Feelings? You have feelings for me?" I tilted my head back to look in his face – that sweet, lovable face. His eyes were like pools of cerulean sparkling at me, his lips pulled up in the sexiest, most adorable smile I've ever seen. He smelt like a gentle summer breeze sighing through the trees and over lush green pastures.

"I'm in love with you, Samantha Levin. Completely, utterly, unashamedly heed over heels."

He loves me? "Tom..." Tears formed again as I brought a hand up to cup his cheek, my thumb stroking gently over the lips I intended to kiss any second now. "I love you too." My hand moved to his damp curls and brought his head forward as I claimed his mouth with my own, drowning in the taste and feel of him, my world tilting on its axis as I struggled to accept what was happening.

"I was so miserable without you," he murmured when we came up for air, breathing heavily. "I couldn't eat or sleep, I had trouble concentrating." Pressing a kiss to each of my eyelids, he continued. "When I saw Robert he said you'd lost weight and looked like you hadn't slept and I began to hope...then when I got back and saw you—"

"Hang on – Bobby said that?" He nodded. "I haven't seen him since your birthday; how could he...oh my God; he's got a spy." I pulled back a little as my mind raced. "He has someone close to me feeding him information – it must be someone working on the set. That sneaky rat bastard! No wonder he and Suz weren't pestering me with questions about you...they...wait till I get my hands on...oh, I could kill him!"

"Darling," a gentle finger lifted my chin, "Does it matter?''

"Not right now, I guess," I conceded, "but it will next time I see him." Tom chuckled and kissed my nose. "Sorry – carry on – you were telling me how much you missed me."

"Yes. Well, as I said, Robert gave me hope but then, when I saw you again you were distant and polite—"

"I was protecting my heart," I interrupted, kissing his jaw.

"Then that day in my make-up trailer—"

"Oh God, I wanted you so badly; you don't know how hard it was to keep my hands off you." My hands weren't keeping off him now; they were slowly exploring arms, shoulders, chest and back – skin so soft with firm muscle beneath, the hint of power intoxicating.

"Oh, I rather think I do." He nuzzled my neck, sending shivers down my spine. Hands ran down my back and over my butt, squeezing gently.

"Tom, I...wait – if you...you love me, then...what was all that with Josh? Why did you tell him those things?"

He dipped his head, cheeks blushing a faint pink and looking like a little boy caught with his fingers in the cookie jar. "Well, I...after that day in the trailer you were so distant, it was like you were avoiding being alone with me..." Yes, well... "And I despaired of getting you to myself to try to gauge your feelings and ask if we could try again...so I...knowing you have a passionate nature, I, um, well, I made those things up in the hopes that you would come storming over here..."

"You did what?" I stared at him, incredulous, hardly able to believe what I was hearing and feeling the rage begin to boil again.

"I'll talk to him first thing tomorrow, love, I swear – I'll explain everything."

"You manipulated me? You threatened my career and my future just so I'd come over here because you...you didn't..." I pulled myself roughly out of his arms, stunned once more by his behaviour, seething with indignation. "You are unbelievable!"

"Sam...sweetheart..." He reached out an arm but I took two steps back, staring at him aghast.

"What the fuck, Tom?" And before he could react I whirled around and wrenched his door open so hard it slammed against the wall. Without waiting another second I ran for the stairs, my face flushed with fury as I pounded downwards, ignoring completely the sound of his voice calling my name.