The Last Blues We're Ever Gonna Have

Chapter 10

"Penelope, are you insane? We're already on a stakeout! That's why we're dressed like freaking candy ravers!" Scarlet spoke over the din of the hypnotic techno music. Penelope sighed heavily, turning back to face her teammate.
"Okay, One: I don't think people even say 'Candy Ravers' any more," she pointed out, rolling her eyes. "And, Two: my cover just got blown by that creep. So-"
"Who was he?" Scarlet asked, tossing her hair out of her face and nudging one of the dancing club kids away from her.
"That man," Penelope looked over her shoulder at the direction the man had sauntered off in. She pulled at the hem of her cropped tank top absently. "He's...I know him from a case I worked when I was with the CIA."
"You don't work for the CIA anymore," Scarlet interjected, looking annoyed.
"I know that. That's my point. I couldn't take him out then...but I can now."
"What was the case?" Scarlet asked, her full attention now on her petite teammate.
"Trying to take down a sex slave ring. And that guy?" Penelope paused, a shiver wracking her body. "He's one of the guys who takes the girls. Lures then away from places like this. He's got friends-rich and powerful friends with crazy expensive lawyers that keep getting him out of reach of the law." Scarlet was staring hard at Penelope, her face stony.
"So, what's your plan?" She finally asked. Penelope faltered slightly.
"Um...follow him and...try to...ambush him?" Scarlet stared at her, blinking slowly.
"That is a horrible, terribly thought out, foolish plan," Scarlet grumbled, scrubbing a hand over her face and casting a glance around the crowded warehouse. She turned to Penelope and winked, razor-edged grin pulling up one side of her pretty, red lips. "Let's do it and see what happens." Penelope smiled back, hand absently brushing against the sheathed knife tucked beneath her shorts at her hip, reassuring her that she wouldn't be walking into a fight without unarmed. Kitten, the creep had called her as he'd walked away from her, tipping his whiskey glass at her. Well, this kitty had claws, and she was going to show him how well she could use them.
"We'll just have to make sure Jem never finds out that we went off target," she muttered.
"Clint," Wendy interjected and Luxe stared at her in confusion for a moment before realizing her mistake.
"Fuck. Sorry. Lemme do that like again," she groaned, exhaling and schooling her face to the hardened expression she'd worn while caught up in the scene.
Jem watched as her eyes flitted momentarily to were he stood, off set, her cheeks coloring ever so softly. He kept his face neutral, but his stomach flipped inside. Luxe fell back into the scene, saying her line again, using his character's name instead of his, and Wendy followed with her scripted reply.
They were filming in an defunct warehouse for this scene, the set-the entire space-filled with extras hired to be party goers, all dressed up like stereotypical rave kids. Even Luxe and Wendy. Jem wanted to thank whoever came up with their wardrobe design. Luxe's hair was tied up into high pigtails, blonde hair swinging in ringlets and brushing her cheeks, with cutoff denim shorts that hugged the perfect curve of her ass and a sinfully tight, day-glow orange crop top that showed the tight muscles of her stomach. She'd been strategically splattered with glow in the dark paint, just like everyone else that was part of the scene, that was nearly incandescent under the strobing black lights.
It was her most revealing outfit worn on the show to date, a far cry from the buttoned blouse and slacks she'd worn when her character was first introduced. And Jem was having a problem. His dick had been semi hard ever since he'd seen her walk out onto the set, noticeable enough that Beck had already given him shit about it. He'd nearly gotten it under control...until Luxe had let slip his name during the scene. And then locked her eyes on him. Jem now stood with his hands jammed in his pockets, like some fucking prepubescent boy. Just fucking perfect. And to make matters worse, he had scene coming up with her.
"Dude, you better get that under control before your scene," Beck chuckled as he stood next to Jem. Jem clenched his teeth.
"Fuck off, Beck," he grumbled. He closed his eyes, trying to think of something-anything-besides Luxe. Or her tight fucking shirt. Or the way her mouth moved when she'd said his name. Fuck.
Jem spun on his heal and walked away from the set, needing to get some space. He headed for the food table, already finding some relief at putting some distance between himself and the object of his desire. His eyes swept over the platters of sandwiches, muffins, and assorted fruits, trying to decide if he was even hungry. It was well past midnight, they'd started taping late because the scene called for it to be dark outside. He'd just decided that maybe a handful of strawberries was something he could snack on, reaching his hand out to the plastic container, when his hand brushed against someone else's hand. He looked down beside him to see Luxe standing next to him, reaching for the same thing. Shit. He'd stood there so long that Luxe and Wendy must have finished with their scene.
"Sorry," she told him, smiling shyly.
"Uh, no, go ahead," Jem said, clearing his voice and motioning for her to go first. He watched as she hesitated for a moment, her eyes regarding him, before reaching forward and plucking several strawberries out of the container.
"You, uh...," Luxe flicked a curl out of her face. "You...ready for the next scene?" She brought one of the strawberries to her mouth, biting into it and Jem tried not to stare at her lips. He swallowed thickly.
"I guess?" He replied, wrenching his gaze from her mouth back to her eyes. "Why?" Luxe took a deep breath.
"It sounds stupid, but, I'm a little nervous." Jem blinked.
"Nervous, why?" She exhaled slowly.
"This is going to be my first On Screen Kiss," she huffed, taking another bite of her strawberry.
"Have you not ever played a romantic role before?" He asked her, trying to gauge her body language. Her body seemed relaxed, but her eyes were wider than normal, shifting from one spot to another.
"No, I've done several. I mean, I've kissed someone on stage before, but after weeks of rehearsals, it just kinda becomes robotic. We, uh," her eyes finally met Jem's again. "You and I haven't, uh...rehearsed the kissing part of this scene-the next scene, um, the scene we're about to shoot." Her cheeks flushed and she brought another strawberry to her lips.
"So, you're nervous," Jem began, tongue slipping between his teeth to moisten his lips. "Because you and I haven't rehearsed our kiss?" He watched as those green eyes zeroed in on his mouth.
"Uh," she started, voice breaking. She cleared her throat. Her eyes drifted from his lips back up to meet his gaze. "Wh-what did you ask me?" Jem smirked at her. Luxe was giving him the perfect opening, and he couldn't wait to give Beck shit about getting the first shot at starting the game. He stepped closer to her and she tipped her face up to look at him.
"I asked if you were nervous because we never rehearsed our kiss?"
"Yes?" she answered, voice barely above a whisper. Jem tilted his head.
"Is that the only reason you're nervous?" His grin sharpened when her cheeks pinked once more. Her mouth opened to reply and Jem leaned down, pressing his lips to hers. She gasped and he took the liberty of dipping his tongue into her mouth, grinning at the taste of strawberries on her tongue. When her eyes drifted shut, Jem felt her respond to his kiss, opening her mouth more and teasing his bottom lip with the tip of her tongue. Jem felt her hands clenching the front of his shirt and he very nearly groaned into her mouth. He lifted his hand to her face, tilting her head back and pulling her harder into his kiss.
"Hey, save that shit for the camera!" Luxe gasped and pulled herself away from Jem at the sound of Beck's voice. Jem narrowed his eyes in annoyance at him as he stood at the other end of the food table. Beck grinned and winked at him.
"You're a prick, Beck," Jem growled at him, no real heat in his voice. Beck laughed. Jem turned his attention back to Luxe, who stuffed an entire strawberry into her mouth. "Still nervous?" He asked her. She turned incredulous eyes on him.
"Nervous that my cast mate is gonna take advantage of me," she grumbled around her mouthful of fruit. Jem chuckled and leaned down to speak into her ear.
"You kissed me back, princess," he told her. "Keep eating those strawberries. They taste good." He stepped back, smiling at her stunned face, and walked past his best friend.
"Dude," Beck hissed, spinning and following Jem as he walked away from the food table. "So not fair."
"What's not fair was your fucking cock block," Jem grunted. Beck laughed.
"Sorry, man." Jem eyed Beck as they walked. He didn't look fucking sorry. "Wendy and Gigi were totally watching you two."
"Nothin wrong with watching," Jem needled.
"No, There's nothing wrong with just me watching. But I got a problem with other people watching," Beck grumbled. "So? How was it?" Jem smirked.
"Sweet."
"Sweet? That's all you got for me?" Beck monotoned, nudging him with his elbow.
"Sweet, like strawberries. And she's really fucking responsive." Beck groaned.
"So not fair."