Little Red String

7.

There are very few times that I have known Jamie Dornan not to have something to say. He's always good for a snarky comment, a sly joke, or even a harsh piece of criticism. But, now, sitting naked on my bed, he is completely and utterly speechless.

Two minutes have passed since I finished my story, and he was still silent and motionless. Slowly and carefully, I sit down on the bed next to him, as if he was a piece of art that I was trying not to disturb. My hand takes his, and he begins to stroke the back of it. He stops on a bruise that has formed and looks at me worried.

"I smacked my hand yesterday morning on the nightstand", I say, able to read his mind just in that moment. His other hand begins to stroke and play with his beard while his mouth opens and closes a few times.

"The last time you were this quiet was the first time you saw me naked", a giggle slips through my teeth and to my success, a smile seeps across his face and he chuckles.

"God, I remember that day so clearly", he says. "You were wearing that yellow sundress. You looked like Belle from Beauty and the Beast. The way the sun danced through your hair took my breath away", he smiles and rubs his chin. "And when you said you wanted to talk to me in my trailer, I didn't really know what to expect. I was so nervous and-", he pauses and then starts laughing. Not just a chuckle but a full, bellowing, laugh. "Do you remember I hit you with the door when you were on your way inside?". How could I forget?

"Jesus dude, is this some weird initiation this you do with your co-stars?", I ask. My head is now throbbing and Jamie is standing in front of me mumbling and stuttering.

"Dakota, I, I, I, I am s-s-so sorry. I will get you some-some ice", he says falling over his words. After meeting him yesterday and now this shit, I may be in a little over my head (pun intended).

I close my eyes and sigh, "I'm fine Jamie thank you", I open my eyes and look around his trailer. It's similar to mine, except his feels a bit more manly. The wood in the furniture is a shade darker than mine. His curtains have no pattern, just a solid navy blue. And instead of watching TV, he has music playing softly in the background. "All of My Love" by Led Zeppelin moved smoothly throughout the room.

"You know", I move to his couch and cross my legs, "my dog's name is Zeppelin. And he has a part in the movie too".

He sits on the opposite end of the couch, as far from me as possible. "What kind of dog?", he asks quietly.

"A little bit of this, a little bit of that. He's a rescue so we're not entirely sure what he's mixed with", my eyes move up and down him and suddenly something inside begins to tingle. I haven't had the chance yet to look and him like REALLY look at him. But, now that we're alone together, the chance to fully examine him is one I'm planning on utilizing.

"I've always been a dog person. Can't wait to meet him", he says as he turns his head. Our eyes meet, and a bolt of electricity rockets throughout my body. It's as if time stood completely still, and it was only him and I in this moment. There have been many great moments in my life, but nothing as spectacular as this one.

The sound of his voice breaks the trance that he put me under. "Now, you mentioned you wanted to go over a few things before we started shooting", he spoke so softly it was almost like a whisper.

"Oh shit yeah", and suddenly, my confident and cavalier attitude escape me. Immediately, I became self conscious and began to regret coming here. "Well, I was thinking that since we have to be", I pause, "-intimate in a lot of these scenes, I just thought", words escape me yet again. He moves closer to me, and my body almost instinctually mirrors his actions. We are now sitting within a few inches of each other, our knees touching. Before I completely combust inside, I manage to squeak out, "-that maybe the first time we see each other 'undressed' shouldn't be on set".