Page 7 of Princes of Hollywood

Fuck, after that, I better get the job. Even the tips of my ears feel hot.

He gestures to the bathroom. “Good to go.”

I duck my head and go into the bathroom, leaving the door open a crack. Pressing my cold hands to my hot face, I feel like screaming, but that would be inappropriate. Instead, I release the breath I’m holding and get ready to pee in a cup.

Suddenly, it’s too quiet. I can literally hear Aiden’s breath in here.

“Performance anxiety?” he asks after a few long minutes.

“I swear this never happens.” But sitting on a toilet holding a cup between my legs while one of the hottest actors stands outside waiting to hear me pee is just a step too far for my poor bladder. “Can you maybe sing?”

His dark chuckle makes my insides warm. “Not even if you paid me to.”

“If I turned on the water—”

“Not an option.” His voice goes away and then comes back. “How about a monologue?”

“Anything.” To cover the silence and awkwardness of this moment.

He takes a breath and begins the lines from one of the superhero movies he starred in. The words flow from him like water, and for a minute, I forget the strip search and pat down. Better yet, I relax enough to pee. Thankfully, he doesn’t even pause at the sound and continues going on about the way of the world.

Setting the cup on the counter, I finish and stand without flushing. My cheeks heat as I call out, “Done.”

The door opens and he nods at the toilet. I flush and move to the sink to wash my hands. He passes behind me. My breath catches at his nearness. I can still feel the ghost of his hands running over me.

He pulls out a test strip and dips it in my urine.

“Now what?” I dry my hands on the towel.

He leans against the counter. “We wait for the results.”

I nod and sit on the edge of the tub. “That’s from my favorite movie.”

He smiles and dips his head, making his curls fall over his forehead. “It’s most people’s favorite movie.”

“True.” I kick my legs out in front of me. It was the movie that launched him into superstardom. “But do most people go as the character for Halloween?”

He raises his eyebrow like I’m foolish to ask.

“As a gender-bending version of your character?” I grin, remembering Chad being disgusted that I didn’t go as the female lead character to his male superhero.

“More than you think.” The corners of his lips quirk up in a sly smile. He glances at the test strip.

“How does this work?” I’m curious, and we have a few minutes alone.

“The drug test or this arrangement?” He cocks his head to the side as he maintains eye contact.

“The arrangement. What do you expect from your personal assistant?” I straighten the hem of my shirt, and his gaze drops to my breasts for a second. My face burns, and an urge to cover my breasts flows through me.

“You’re in charge of making sure I don’t crash and burn again.”

I bite out a sarcastic laugh. “So no pressure?”

He gives me a half grin that makes him seem approachable. “You keep me away from alcohol and drugs. The other parts are mostly what the guys need. Someone to make sure our house is taken care of while we work fourteen-hour days on set. Make sure we have food in the fridge and on the table.”

“Will I need to go to set with you?” I’ve never been on a film set before. It feels odd even asking.

“Sometimes.” He shrugs. “You’re here to keep me from wanting to drown myself in substances.”

---