Speak Now

Chapter 2: Sparks Fly

The next day was the perfect opportunity to put my little plan into action. We had a bed scene. I took it as a sign, for it had been years since our characters had had a bed scene.

I grinned to myself. This was going to be good—real good.

"What are you grinning about, Settle?" Kelly asked with a grin as she gently nudged me.

I hadn't seen her come over. I grinned at her. "I just saw we have a bed scene today."

Her eyes lit up. "I know, right? Are you as excited for this as I am? It's about time Rufus and Lily got busy!"

I nodded. Or you and me. "I know! I mean, the kids are having more sex than we are," I teased.

Kelly laughed. "I hear ya!"

"I wonder what you're gonna wear that I get to take off!" I said, wriggling my eyebrows up and down.

"Well, you'll soon find out, for I'm about to head into wardrobe," Kelly said with a smile and a wink. She ran her finger slowly up my chest. "I'll be quick."

I knew she was referring to changing, but I decided to be cheeky. "That's right. I'm so good in bed, you're definitely not going to last long."

Kelly laughed. I loved making her laugh.

"I bet you are." She looked me in the eyes.

I tried not to get my hopes up. I could swear I saw desire in her eyes, but it could just be my mind making it into what I wanted it to be. Or, Kelly could just be putting herself into character as Lily. Either way, my heart started to race.

"I'll be back in a bit!" she said, patting my chest, then giving me a quick peck on the cheek before heading off to her trailer.

I sighed. I wanted her more and more with each passing second. At least one thing was for sure—I'd have no trouble acting when it came to our bed scene. Actually, the only trouble I'd have would be containing myself.

I headed into my trailer. I'd worry about that when the time came.

~'Cause I see Sparks Fly whenever you smile~

As it turned out, "Lily and Rufus" were to wear their normal attire. We were to undress each other, and then reveal what we were wearing underneath. Of course Rufus was just wearing a pair of black silk boxers, and I wasn't quite sure what Lily was going to be wearing. I had a feeling it would be something sexy if I could go by the two bed scenes we've had in the past. I had enjoyed those immensely. Now that I knew Kelly even better, and was starting to develop even stronger feelings for her (they were always there since the day I met her), I knew this bed scene was going to drive me crazy.

According to the script, Rufus and Lily were supposed to be talking about how it was nice to have the house to themselves again. Rufus liked it, but Lily felt lonely. Rufus was to tell her there were advantages of having the house to themselves. Lily was to smile and ask like what, then Rufus would show her exactly what he meant.

We took our places where the director wanted us to be, then, when the director called "action," we began filing our scene.

"Well, now that Charlie's gotten her own place with Serena, we have the place to ourselves again." Lily sighed, and leaned into my arms. We were sitting on the couch.

"Why do you sound so sad?" I asked, kissing the top of her head.

She sighed again. "Oh, I don't know. It just feels kind of empty in here now. We've always had someone with us. First, it was Jenny, Eric, and Serena. Then, it was just Jenny and Eric. Then, it was just Eric. Then, it was Charlie practically as soon as Eric left for college. Now that she's gone, it's just us."

I used my index finger to tilt her chin upward. "What's wrong with it just being us?"

Lily shrugged. "Well, nothing, I suppose. It just feels kind of lonely sometimes, not having the kids come home to us. I mean, sure they stop buy for visits, but only for moments at a time. It was just nice when they lever left for good, you know?"

I stroked some hair out of her face. "Well, I can kind of see how you feel." I gave her a suggestive look. "But there are big advantages of having the place to ourselves, you know."

She grinned, and stroked my hair out of my eyes. She raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Like what?" She smirked, letting the viewers know she knew exactly what Rufus was talking about.

"Well, we can make love, and we don't have to be quiet anymore. We no longer have anyone in the room below us. We can be as loud as we want, and no one will be here to here to complain." I wriggled my eyebrows up and down suggestively.

Kelly grinned. "Well, that is quite a nice advantage." She moved closer to me on the couch so that she was practically sitting in my lap. "Speaking of advantage, maybe she would start taking advantage of that fact?"

I grinned too, and we kissed. Then, I picked her up, and carried her up the stairs.

"Cut!" the director said. "We'll shoot the bedroom scene now."

"Hell yeah!" I said.

Kelly laughed, still in my arms, and kissed my cheek. "I can hardly wait."

"Me neither," I told her, kissing her cheek in return. She had no idea.

~'Cause I see sparks fly whenever you smile~

The thing about a love scene is, taping it isn't nearly as romantic as they show it on TV. What the viewers don't see is the bright lights hanging above you, making you start to sweat. Then of course there are all these people watching you, and cameras all around you at every angle. It kind of made it hard to pretend that I was actually about to get intimate with Kelly. But, being the professional actor I am, I was able to pretend that I was completely comfortable, and that Kelly and I were the only ones in the room. After all, I kind of had to.

Even so, undressing Kelly didn't take much acting. I really was into her, and didn't have to pretend to be into someone romantically that I was not.

I closed my eyes as I kissed her, and ran my hands up the sides of her shirt. I had to silently will myself not to cry out "Kelly" instead of "Lily" as my hands melt with her warm, soft skin.

I lay her backwards on the bed, and pulled her shoes and stocking off, then, I kissed all the way up her left leg.

Next, I slipped off her skirt and dropped it tot he floor, then moved my hands up to unbutton her shirt, kissing all the way up from her stomach to her black lace bra. My gosh, she was only in a matching lace bra and underwear set.

I then took her face between my hands and kissed her passionately on the lips.

She rested one hand over the back of my neck, and the other hand over the back of my head as she kissed me just as passionately.

I moaned, a little embarrassed that the moan had slipped out. I hoped everyone would just assume I was getting into the part.

"All right, I want more hunger. Look like you can't stand to have each other's clothes on for another moment! Intensify those kisses!" the director ordered.

If you insist... Did I ever mention how much I love the director?

I ran my hands down Kelly's body, enjoying the feel of my fingers against the naked flesh of her sides, and then her thighs. Hey—it was director's orders.

Suddenly, it seemed that Kelly was ad-libbing, for she quickly moved us so that I was flipped underneath her. She unbuttoned my shirt, kissing all the way down my chest as I had done for her, even ever so gently nipping at the skin with her teeth here and there. I sucked in a breath as she unbuckled my belt, and unzipped my zipper, immediately pulling my pants down after she got them undone. She took off my shoes and my socks, dropped them to the floor, then slipped my pants completely off and to the ground with them. Next, she made me sit up so that she could finish taking my shirt off. She threw it to the floor with the rest of my clothes.

I could feel my eyes fill over with hunger for her. I tossed her down on the bed so that she was beneath me again.

She looked up at me, her eyes looking just as desire-filled as I knew mine must be.

Then, she took my face between her hands, and kissed me hard, actually letting her tongue slip into my mouth.

I moaned in surprise, and took it as permission to let mine slip inside her mouth as well.

Our tongues played together, fighting for dominance for who knew how long.

It wasn't long enough for me.

"Cut!" the director called.

All right, I was starting to love him a little less.

"Get under the covers now," he ordered. "It's time to simulate the lovemaking portion of the scene."

Okay, yeah. I was back to loving him again.

We did as instructed, slipping under the covers.

"Matthew, stay positioned the way you were with Rufus on top of Lily," the director ordered next.

I had no problem getting back on top of Kelly and picking up where we had left off.

At first, I was hesitant to go back to kissing Kelly so passionately, but, when her tongue slipped into my mouth again, I let mine meet with hers again. And, when her hands tangled in my hair, I let my hands wander down her body.

"Start the simulation now," the director ordered.

He didn't have to tell me twice! I took it upon myself to move one of Kelly's legs up to my side.

She bent her leg, and wrapped it around my waist, then wrapped the other one around my waist as well.

I moved my kisses to her neck, and moaned against the side of her neck as I moved my body up and down over hers. I nipped at the space right where her neck meets her shoulder.

She arched her back and moaned, which completely turned me on.

She tightened her grip in my hair, as well as her legs around my waist. I wasn't complaining.

We didn't have any dialogue, for they were just going to play some music track over the scene. Still, it didn't stop either of us from moaning every once in a while.

I was glad I wasn't the only one to moan.

We continued to kiss for a few moments, my left hand running up and down her leg as I continued to move my body over hers.

She continued to hold me tightly to her, her back still arching, and her head still thrown back from time to time.

"Finish it up!" the director ordered.

I was too into the moment to feel silly as I quickened my rhythm over her.

She kissed my neck, nipping at my skin as I had hers, and then she threw her head back, her mouth opened wide, and her eyes rolled to the back of her head as she jerked her body.

Talk about a good actress!

I followed suit, letting my body jerk over hers seconds after she had jerked her body. I let my own head fall back with my mouth open, mirroring her actions. Then, I kissed the side of her neck, then up to her jaw.

She took my face between her hands and kissed me passionately on the lips.

"And...cut! Great job, guys. That was fantastic! You really made it look believable," the director praised.

I grinned at him. "Thanks!" I looked at Kelly. "It wasn't hard to act when I have such a beautiful costar to work with."

Kelly blushed, and smiled at me. "And you're hot as hell, so my job wasn't exactly hard either." She winked at me.

"You guys are great for now. Take a break. We'll film your final scene in a bit," the director said.

The cameramen started moving their cameras, and, before long, Kelly and I were alone on the bed. Neither of us had moved from each other's side.

"You really were amazing," I told her, facing her with my head propped up by my elbow.

"You were too!" She tapped my nose. "You're so incredibly sexy, I couldn't help but get into it."

"As always, you're a good kisser!" I told her.

"As are you," she said with a grin.

"Well, we've had a lot of practice on each other. Rufus and Lily kiss almost every episode we're both on now," I told her.

Kelly nodded. "True. They need to add more sex scenes though. That was fun." She grinned, and raised her eyebrows up and down suggestively.

I laughed. "I think I'm starting to rub off on you."

She placed her hand on my cheek and quickly pecked my lips. "That's not so bad," she said with a flirty smile. "I'm gonna go change back into Lily's regular attire. Feel free to stay in that. I like looking at you like that," she joked as she got up out of bed, and grabbed her clothes.

I grinned. "And you drive me crazy, seeing you like that," I told her, nodding at her black lace bra and underwear getup.

She smirked, and raised an eyebrow. "In a good way, I hope."

"In a very good way," I told her.

She winked at me, then blew me a kiss. "Back at ya," she said before grabbing her clothes, and heading off to change.

I sighed, and lay back down on the bed, directly on my back now. One thing was for sure, Kelly was one heck of a woman!

~'Cuz I see sparks fly whenever you smile~

The last scene was just Lily hugging Rufus from behind as we talked to Charlie about her date with Nate. She had come back to pick up a dress she had accidentally left behind, and told them about her date upon arriving.

Then, she got her dress, said goodnight to us, and left.

"It feels good to know someone in the family still likes to tell us about their dates instead of telling us it's none of our business," Rufus said, once she had left.

Lily grinned. "I know. It feels good, doesn't it?" she asked.

Rufus nodded, then grinned over his shoulder at her. "Speaking of feels good, you were amazing earlier. Care to pick up where we left off?"

Lily grinned too. "You were pretty amazing yourself, Humphrey!" She walked to the front of me, and rested her arms over my shoulders as she played with the back of my hair. "I say, let's go for it. Do you think you can be as good as you were earlier?" she asked with a smirk and a raised eyebrow.

Rufus grinned, then promptly picked up Lily.

Lily cried out in surprise, and laughed.

"I'm up for the challenge!" Rufus said, wriggling his eyebrows up and down with a grin.

Lily grinned too, then they kissed the whole way up the stairs until they were no longer visible.

"And...cut!" the director called out. "That's a wrap! Great job, you guys, as usual."

"You can put me down now," Kelly said with a grin as I still carried her in my arms even after the director had called a wrap.

I smiled. "Do I have to put you down? You're so sexy, my arms really wouldn't like it."

Kelly grinned, and nuzzled her nose against mine. "You're good for my self esteem," she said.

I shrugged. "Hey, I just speak the truth!" I set her down.

"Well, you're pretty sexy yourself, handsome!" She placed her palms flat down on my chest. "I'm really glad I have someone hot to work with. If you had long, white, wiry hair, and a long, white, wiry beard to go with it, and if you wore dirty clothes, all like the Rufus in the books, I'd find it a little harder to do love scenes with you." She winked.

I laughed. "I never read the books, but I heard about what the book Rufus looks like. Gosh, I'm glad I don't look like that!"

Lily laughed as well. "Me too, believe me!"

"Even though I don't know what the book Lily looks like, I'm sure you're way sexier than she is too," I said with a smile.

Kelly blushed. "Matthew, stop it! You're making me blush."

"I just call it like I see it!" I told her.

She kissed my cheek. "You're sweet."

"So, what are you doing tonight? Do you have the kids?" I asked. I briefly contemplated asking her out to dinner, but I would have to see what her plans were first, and if they included a grey-haired lawyer or not.

She smiled at the mention of her kids. "Yeah, they're with the nanny now. I'm gonna go back and cook the kids and I some dinner, then maybe take them to the park. It's a warm night out, and we probably don't have many of those left before it starts getting colder, being November and all."

"You're lucky you get to have custody of them. I don't get to see Aven as often as I'd like," I said, a little sad at the thought.

Kelly placed a hand on my shoulder. "I know how you feel. Daniel gets Hermés more than Helena. It's hard having to give him up to my husband. I like having both my kids with me. And when they are both with Daniel, it's pure torture. But, even though our marriages didn't work out, at least we both know that your ex and my ex are good parents. That is all that matters—that our kids are always safe and looked out for, right?"

I nodded. "Yeah. It's still hard to spend time away from them though."

Kelly sighed. "That is true."

"So, is Marcus going with you tonight? How does he feel about the park?" I hated to ask it, but I wanted to know. I hated the thought of him acting all stepfather to her kids. He wasn't their father, and never would be. True, neither was I, but they had known me longer, and I'd like to believe they loved me as much as I loved them, which was to the moon and back. Heck, I loved her kids as if they were my own.

"Marcus loves the park. He finds it peaceful." She shook her head, but tonight is the night his meeting was rescheduled to, so, no. He won't be joining us. It will be just me and the kids, but I don't mind. I love spending time with my babies!"

This was my chance. I was not about to let it pass me by. "Do you mind if I join you? Leyla works evenings a lot, and tonight is one of those nights. It's kind of boring at home with no one to go out with."

Kelly grinned. "Sure! I know the kids would love to see you. You know what? There's always plenty for dinner. Why don't you come over for dinner, and we can go to the park from there?"

I grinned too. Mission Accomplished. "I'd love that! Are you sure there's enough? Should I bring anything?"

"I'm positive. All you have to bring is your sexy self!" She winked at me. "Come over at six, okay?"

I nodded. "I'll be there." With bells on.

"She you tonight!" She kissed my cheek.

I kissed her cheek in return. "Tonight," I agreed.

She then left, and I watched her until she disappeared.

I sighed happily. Today was turning out to be an extremely good day.

~'Cuz I see sparks fly whenever you smile~

I rang the doorbell, glad that the weather was holding up. There was nothing worse than being outside when it was freezing cold.

Kelly opened the door, and I handed her the ceramic vase of fall lilies I had picked up for her at the flower shop on the way there.

She smiled. "Matthew, you didn't have to do that! Thank you." She kissed my cheek, then stepped back. "Come on in."

"I got you lilies. I figured that was an appropriate flower," I said as I stepped in, and she shut and locked the door behind me. I winked at her.

Kelly smiled, and kissed my cheek. "They're perfect! Very sweet. I like that they are already in a vase with water. Saves me the trouble." She brought them to the kitchen. "Make yourself comfortable," she called out. "Dinner will be ready in a moment."

"Hi, Matt!" Hermés said, running over to me. He hugged my legs.

"Hey, Buddy!" I picked him up so that we could talk face-to-face. "How are you?"

"Good. I got an A in art," he informed me.

"Really? That's great! What's your favorite thing to do in art?" I asked.

"Painting! I can finger paint and use a brush!" he said proudly.

"That's quite impressive! You'll have to paint me something sometime," I said.

He grinned. "I will. I promise!"

"I'll be looking forward to it." I set him down, and he ran off to the kitchen.

I walked further into the room, and saw Helena playing with one of her dolls on the couch. She was brushing the doll's hair.

I sat down beside her. "That's a beautiful doll. What's her name?" I asked.

She looked over at me and smiled. "Hi, Matthew!"

"Hi, Matthew? That's her name?" I teased.

She giggled. "No, Silly, her name is Chrissy!"

I grinned. "I like that name a whole lot better."

She smiled, and gave me a hug.

I hugged her back, and kissed the top of her head.

Kelly smiled at us from the entrance way, her arms crossed over her chest. "You're a hit!" she said.

I smiled at Helena, and gently stroked her hair. "She's a little princess—just like my Aven."

Kelly smiled even brighter. "Dinner's ready now. Come on into the dining room."

"Come on, Darling! Why don't you let Chrissy take a nap on the couch while we go eat?" I suggested to Helena.

Helena smiled up at me, and nodded. "Okay." She lay her doll down on the couch, then put her hands up for me to hold her.

I picked her up, and carried her to the table. I set her down on the nearest chair.

Hermés came running into the room then, and handed me a sheet of paper.

I looked at it. It was a really good painting of dog. Of course it wasn't like looking at a photograph, but it was still a really good painting for a five year old. I looked at him. "This is really good! Is that Oliver?"

Hermés nodded proudly. "Yeah! That's what I got the A for."

"You're going to be a painter when you get older. I just know it!" I told him.

He grinned.

"All right, go hang that back on the fridge, then come back in for dinner. Did you wash your hands?" Kelly asked him.

Hermés shook his head. "No. I will." He ran back into the kitchen. A moment later, the kitchen sink was running. Then, the sink stopped after a moment, and he ran back into the dining room, and sat down next to me. "I want to sit next to you," he said to me, smiling up at me.

I grinned. "Awesome!"

"Me too!" Helena said, moving so that she was in the chair on my other side.

Kelly sat across from me.

"They love you," she said with a smile.

"And I love them," I assured her. "And you." I winked. If only she knew how much.

"Back at ya!" she said, giving me an air kiss.

I smiled, and pretended to catch the kiss on my cheek.

The kids giggled, then started giving air kisses too.

Soon, Kelly and I were both laughing as well. I felt like we were all a family, and I kind of liked it. Actually, I kind of loved it.

~'Cause I see sparks fly whenever you smile~

The park was fun. We took turns pushing the kids on the swings, for they wanted us both to push them. Then, we took turns going down the slide with them.

We even played tag with the kids.

At one point, Hermés caught me by the leg. I tripped, and fell tot he ground. He giggled hysterically, and jumped on top of me. Then of course Helena saw and felt she had to jump on top of me too. She giggled with her brother, and it seemed each other's laughter kept making the other laugh harder.

"Ah! You got me!" I cried out.

They laughed some more.

I wasn't out of the game yet! I tickled their ribs one hand for Hermés, and one for Helena.

They giggled so hard they had tears in their eyes. Then, I whispered something to them.

They looked at Kelly (who was just watching us, shaking her head, and grinning), and giggled.

Kelly smiled. "What?"

"Get her!" I yelled out, popping up like a jack-in-the-box.

The kids popped up too, and we all ran to her and tackled her to the ground before she knew what was happening.

"Ah!" she screamed as she toppled to the ground.

I fell down beside her with her in my arms, and Hermés and Helena jumped on top of her.

Then, the kids and I tickled Kelly until she was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes.

"All right, all right! I give up! Uncle!" she said.

The kids and I stopped, but the kids were still giggling.

Then, Kelly gave her kids a look, and they looked at her, then at me, big grins on their faces.

"I don't like that mischievous look," I told them.

"Get him!" Kelly cried out.

Soon, they were all on top of me, tickling me.

"Hey, no fair! That was my trick!" I said, laughing so hard I was tearing up. "Okay, I give! Stop, please!" I said.

The kids got off me, but Kelly stayed. She straddled me, and continued to tickle me. "Say the magic word. We're with the kids now. You must show them your manners. They repeat what they hear."

"You didn't have to say it!" I protested, squirming.

She smirked. "I don't have to—I'm their mother."

I raised an eyebrow. "Somehow, that doesn't make sense."

She tickled me harder.

I laughed. "All right, all right! I give in! Please!"

She raised an eyebrow. "Please what?"

"Please stop tickling me!" I practically shouted.

The kids were watching and giggling.

Kelly smirked, her head bent down low, her face, close to mine. "All right. Since you asked me so nicely."

Our lips were so close, I just wanted to pull her down and kiss her. I was actually contemplating it, figuring, I could always play it off as just harmless flirting, as usual. You know, not make it a sensual kiss or anything—just a long, hard, loud, over exaggerated peck on the lips. However, sadly, before I could get the chance to do so, she stood up.

"I guess we better go. It's getting late." She was blushing, and seemed a little flustered to me. It could have been my imagination, but I didn't think I was.

I stood up too, reluctantly.

"I guess we'll take a cab home," she said.

"All right. I think I'm gonna just walk home. I'm not far from here," I told her, even though I wanted to go home with her.

"All right. I'll see you in the studio." She kissed my cheek. "Be careful. Have a safe walk home."

I kissed her cheek as well. "I will. See you soon." I turned to the kids and said goodbye to them.

"Goodbye, Matthew!" they both said, hugging me.

"I'll miss you," Helena said to me.

I smiled. "I'll miss you too, but I'll see you soon, I promise!" I winked at her.

"I'll give you a picture next time I see you," Hermés promised me.

"Sounds like a deal," I said, playfully messing up his hair.

Kelly hailed a cab, and it pulled up. She turned to me quick. "Call or text me when you get home so I know you got home safe," Kelly said to me.

"I will," I promised. I waved to her, and she waved back, then she and her kids got into the cab.

I turned and left once I was sure they were safely in the cab.

I couldn't help but smile to myself on the way home. Kelly had wanted to kiss me when we were laying like that on the ground. I could see it in her eyes, and tell by the way her cheeks had flushed. I was willing to bet money that she wanted me as much as I wanted her. She was probably just scared, which was normal of course. I mean, it was a risk, two friends going into a relationship. I had no doubt that we could make it work though. All we needed was a shot.

I sighed, contently. Today, for not having a fire or a candle around, I sure had seen a lot of sparks fly.