"I can't believe we're doing this," Beca laughed, a little tipsy and cheeks red with embarrassment as she opened a web browser on her laptop. "This wasn't exactly the type of movie I had in mind."

"Come on, Becs," Chloe poked her gently in the side. "It's research for tomorrow. Besides, if you can't watch porn with a porn actress, who can you watch with?"

"True…" Beca capitulated and shifted over on the couch to go thigh to thigh with her friend so she could set the screen between them. They looked through some web searches, but nothing really appealed to Beca. Then she grinned and typed Elektra King into a search box on the only adult site she knew of.

The redhead rolled her eyes. "Really? You're searching for ME?"

"Who else?" the brunette laughed. "I want to see your… technique." She waggled her brows and poked Chloe back.

"You make this seem so dirty," Chloe laughed in return. "I keep telling you it's totally all fake."

"DUDE! In fairness, all acting is fake!" Beca exclaimed. "And don't burst my bubble! If we're watching porn, let me watch porn."

"Alright, alright!" They settled down with more beer as Chloe perused the selection of her clips. "Oh!" She touched the screen. "That one!" Beca clicked on it.

"They cut these in the weirdest ways on these sites," the actress commented as the clip started with Elektra halfway through slowly opening her shirt to reveal a lace bra the color of Chloe's blue eyes. "I mean… context, people!"

"Sshhhh…" Beca hushed as she watched. Chloe chuckled and pressed her finger against her lips. Then she took another swallow of her beer.

A man's hand came into view, and he ran a fingertip around and over the hard nipple visible through the bra's lace for a moment before sliding his hand inside. There was a sudden gasp. The camera panned out slowly to reveal a pair of breasts begging to burst of out their prison. Chloe sniggered quietly. "That bra was so uncomfortable. I'm a C cup and they made me wear the smallest B they could find. It chafed like crazy."

Beca glared at her friend and poked her again. "Chloe! Bubble!"

"Right," the redhead sighed as she watched the camera pan out even more, and Elektra's lover ease her lace thong down so he could dive between her thighs. She looked at Beca and saw her throat bob in a hard swallow.

Chloe scratched her neck absently as she just watched her friend's reactions. Elektra moaned loudly and rubbed her own clit as the man tongue-fucked her, then pushed two fingers inside her.

"This is you just acting?" Beca murmured.

Chloe shrugged. "Yeah. It's hard for me to feel much when I'm surrounded by cameras and people giving hand signals and direction."

"But it's still hot." Beca swallowed again, then blushed prettily. "Sorry."

"It's supposed to turn you on, Becs," the redhead chuckled. "That's what it's designed to do; to keep you in the fantasy. And that's what WE'RE going to be creating over the next few weeks." Beca looked at Chloe; looked into her eyes… and then pulled hers away to watch the end of the video. She let out a breath as the actress leaned a little against her and pointed out a couple more videos for them to watch.

"This one is… it seems… real… I…" Beca shook her head. "You're pretty incredible at this."

The redhead looked down, a little smile on her lips as she took a breath. "Thanks. I've been doing it for almost a decade now. Ok… so… I should probably go. We have another early call time tomorrow."

Beca nodded and then eased to her feet. She hadn't realized how warm her friend had been next to her until she'd moved, and she shivered a little, wrapping her arms around herself. "Thanks for coming over, Chloe. It was nice to have fun with a friend tonight."

"Anytime," the redhead replied as she pulled out her phone to call an Uber. Beca noticed a picture of a child on her screen and leaned over to get a better look.

"Who's that cutie?" she asked.

Chloe smiled. "That's my daughter, Bella. She's five."

Beca sucked in a breath in surprise. "I didn't know you have a kid," she said. "She's beautiful, Chloe." The little girl had blue eyes and red hair just like her mother's. "Where is she tonight?"

"Thanks, she's with her dad. We share custody," Chloe replied. "I think she'd really like you, Becs. But she has no idea what I really do for a living so, when you meet her…"

"Got it. What does she think you do?"

The redhead chuckled. "I am whatever SHE tells people I am. I believe I'm a firefighter this week. I was a tightrope walker last week."

Beca laughed and nodded her understanding. "If I'm a friend from work, it means I'm a firefighter this week too. Sweet!"

Chloe checked her phone then. "Car's almost here. See you tomorrow, Becs."

They exchanged a hug and Beca walked her friend to the door. "Seeya, Chloe. Hey, text me to let me know you got home safely?"

"I don't have your number," the actress replied a little sheepishly. "Or else I would have called first this evening, rather than dropping in unannounced."

Beca took the phone out of her friend's hand and quickly added a contact for herself. "Text me, please? Or else I'll worry."

"I will," Chloe nodded. "Promise."

They shared another hug and then the actress trotted down the steps and got into the car. A moment later, it was pulling away and that ache in Beca's chest was back full force. She sighed and closed the door, leaning against it for a moment before heading back to the kitchen to clean up. She was getting into bed, laptop next to her, when her phone chimed, and she laughed as she read the message.

I'm home safely. Had so much fun. We firefighters should do that more often! Although I think we're going to be ballerinas next week.

Beca was just about to respond when a second message came through.

Enjoy your time with Elektra if you're visiting with her again tonight 😈

The brunette swallowed and gazed at the laptop next to her. Then she closed her eyes and shook her head.

I think I'll visit with Elektra for real tomorrow instead, cos I can do that! Glad you got home safely, Chloe. Sweet dreams.

Xx

When Chloe smiled at her and shimmied her shoulders from her position on the bed, Beca wasn't one bit embarrassed, and she suddenly realized that THAT had been the actress's real intention behind their little foray into the adult movie world the night before. Chloe had been trying to make her more comfortable with the whole situation by exposing her to it while making it feel like no big deal. Beca remembered the comment about the chafing bra, and it made her grin to herself.

The DP was suddenly infinitely grateful. She panned the camera around the set, making sure the lighting was correct before focusing it back on Chloe's body. The redhead was truly beautiful, with a slim waist, killer abs, slender hips and perfect breasts. Beca would never have guessed she'd had a baby. She seemed relaxed and not happy exactly, but she had a mild and professional look on her face, even as Armie complained about something or other else not being right. The brunette wasn't sure how her friend was putting up with it. Beca herself now wanted to stab him in the carotid. Or maybe the face. Take him down a peg or eighteen.

"Can I have Armie on set right now please," she suddenly called, surprising the director who was patiently waiting. "We're behind schedule."

"Excuse me?" the actor said, pressing a hand to his perfectly waxed and oiled chest. "I need time to get into character."

Beca swallowed a nasty retort and instead plastered a smile on her face. "I understand, Armie, but can you please be mindful that Chloe is patiently waiting for you?"

Chloe's eyebrows were suddenly in her hairline, and she smiled gratefully at her friend. Armie looked nothing but smug as he approached the bed and ran a hand over Chloe's ass as she settled onto her hands and knees facing him. Then he slapped it, making her jump and scowl. "But I'm sooo worth the wait. Are you ready for me, Darling?" he asked as he opened his sarong and tossed it off set somewhere.

Beca's eyes widened slightly when she saw the lubed-up size and length that was now swinging free, but Chloe just rolled her eyes before looking up at him with a fake-coy smile. "Mmmm… definitely."

"Beca…" Tom, the director, said. "Roll camera..." A clapboard appeared and snapped in front of the lens. "AAANNNDD ACTION!"

Armando's tongue immediately pressed into Elektra's mouth and his hands grabbed her breasts. The redhead moaned softly and reached down to run her hand along his penis, unsurprised when it immediately began to harden. She pumped it slowly and kissed him passionately as he pawed somewhat aimlessly at her as if searching for her nipples. Beca saw Tom lean forward in his seat and frown, but he didn't say anything, obviously deciding to see how things played out.

Elektra eased back and smiled again. "Mmm… you're so big, Armando," she purred. "I think you might ruin me."

Beca swallowed. The vulnerability in the redhead's eyes made her heart clench and she had to remind herself that this was just Chloe's talent as an actress. Then she realized she'd probably lingered on the blue of Elektra's eyes for too long, so she widened the shot and slowly panned out. She eased the camera lower to the ground and moved to her knees to capture Elektra's hands working Armie to full hardness. His penis was honestly huge and almost dwarfed the actress's fingers. Beca wondered what was going to happen next.

Then she closed her eyes as Elektra's mouth closed around it. Without realizing what she was doing, she jerked the camera back and got to her feet, looking away. Chloe and Armie were still in shot and no one seemed to have noticed, but her heart was beating so fast she felt lightheaded, and her stomach rolled. But she pushed her sudden revulsion down and forced herself to open her eyes, relieved that Elektra was back to using her hands. Jesse was there then, slowly and quietly moving around the perimeter of the set toward her.

"You want me to fuck your pussy?" Armie said in his baritone voice, and it made Beca's skin crawl.

"Oh my gosh, yes, fuck my pussy!" Elektra exclaimed as she lay on her back and let her legs fall open, red patent leather high heels reflecting the lights above her.

But still, Beca did her job, making every shot perfect and instinctually panning, lowering and zooming in all the right places as Elektra flipped over and Armando began pounding her from behind. Then Beca noticed something. Elektra was looking right at her. She blinked and moved the camera slightly. Elektra's eyes moved again, and the brunette realized that Chloe wasn't looking into the camera at all. Then the redhead smiled reassuringly. She was being pounded to the point where she was almost overbalancing, breasts bouncing, fingers digging into the bed underneath her, but she was still offering reassurance to Beca that she was ok.

It brought tears to the brunette's eyes. Chloe in that moment, even with the look of fake pleasure on her face, had infinite softness in her eyes for Beca… only for Beca… and she was the most beautiful thing the brunette had ever seen. Their eyes met again and, this time, held. Beca was barely paying attention to the shot now, as captured as she was by Chloe's eyes. And then those eyes were darkening; their pupils dilating, and Elektra bit her bottom lip, moaning softly. "God," she groaned. She was breathing harder and Beca got the impression that she maybe wasn't faking it. But Chloe was a great actor, so Beca dismissed that thought and just kept eye contact with her, watching as her pupils dilated even more and Elektra's hand came up to caress her own breast.

Beca swallowed hard and zoomed in on Elektra's hand pinching her rosy nipple. Then she realized she needed to actually give Armie some screen time, so she zoomed out and captured the scene perfectly. Elektra was balanced on one arm with defined triceps tensed, caressing her nipple with her thumb and pushing back rhythmically to meet every one of Armando's thrusts. She was moaning louder now and still, Beca kept eye contact with her.

"Fuck…" Elektra moaned, forcing a faster rhythm. "Harder, Be… Baby." But she seemed to have given up on the lines the brunette was pretty sure had been planned for this scene. Tom stood and gave a hand signal. Armie closed his eyes and thrusted harder and faster, clenching his jaw. Elektra put both hands back on the bed and took it, but still her eyes never left Beca's and then… with a gasp and a loud cry, Elektra portrayed an orgasm that shook her body, unlocked her elbows, and crashed her forehead into the bedsheets.

Armie kept going and Elektra lifted herself back onto her hands, chest heaving and moaning as she went through lines of dialog that the brunette didn't care a thing about. And then Armie was pulling out and ejaculating all down Elektra's back with a long, deep groan. It was a lot and Beca closed her eyes again as he kissed the back of Elektra's neck and rubbed himself against her ass.

"AAAANNNDDDD cut!" Tom called, applauding them as Chloe immediately got up and got into her robe. She seemed… distant… away… and she just nodded.

"I'm going to shower."

Beca moved to check on her, but Chloe wouldn't look her in the eyes and just ducked past her to flee into the bathroom and close the door behind her.

Jesse suddenly appeared and he gently elbowed his old friend as she just stood there, blinking like a deer in headlights. "She's wasted in this industry," he said very quietly. "She could do so much more."

Beca nodded. "She… she's special."

"Are you ok?" Jesse asked. "You seemed a little uncomfortable for a while there until Chloe made eye contact with you. It seemed to relax her too. I've seen a lot of Elektra King performances, but I think that one might have been one of her best. She actually seemed to enjoy herself for once."

"She doesn't…" Beca replied distantly again. "Ever."

"Maybe today was the exception," the producer said gently, then ambled away.

Beca just looked at the bathroom door and sighed. Then she went to prepare for the next day's scene. She didn't see Chloe again for the rest of the day. Even her texts that night went unanswered.

Xx

A few more days went by, and the shoot continued, but Chloe didn't seem herself. She was withdrawn and the brunette couldn't understand why… especially when, during every scene, their eyes couldn't help but meet and hold. After the fifth day, when Chloe had finished showering, she wandered back onto the set, dressed in jeans and a Scooby Doo t-shirt, to meet Beca, who was coming back from a dentist appointment and had left the morning's camera work to one of her guys. The actress's red hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she was makeup free, but she was still wearing her contact lenses. Her eyes popped even more without her glasses and, as always, the brunette was captured by them.

Hey," Chloe said softly as Beca slowed down to meet her. "Um… just so you know, Jesse isn't happy with today's dailies, and honestly neither am I. I'm pissed at Armie, and it comes across as hesitation on the screen. We're gonna reshoot the scene tomorrow."

The brunette nodded, then reached out and caught Chloe's hand as the actress tried to escape again, running her thumb over her skin. "Talk to me," she said. "What's going on?"

The redhead blinked. "What do you mean?"

"You're not ok, Chlo," Beca said gently. "Is it something at home?" Her face hardened then. "Did Armie cross a line? I'll fucking stab his dick off if he…"

Chloe couldn't help but grin affectionately. "Armie hasn't been any worse than he's been all along."

"Then why the sub-par performance today?" Beca asked frankly. "What's going on?"

The redhead shook her head. "I… I'm not… I don't know…"

"Dude, you do know. Come on."

"Beca… can you just…"

"Come on, Elektra King… big time adult movie veteran. What the fuck is…?"

"I MISSED YOU, OK?!" Chloe exclaimed loudly, balling her fists at her sides as frustration seeped from her every pore. "I miss you."

Beca recoiled a little but then relaxed. "So… why have you been so distant then, Chlo? I'm right here."

"It's not… as simple as that, Becs," the redhead said, tears welling in her eyes. "God, this is so fucked up." She turned away, grasping the back of her neck with one hand while wrapping her other arm around her middle.

But Beca just moved around her to face her again. "What is?" she asked gently.

Chloe bit her bottom lip. "I… I can't perform with him, Beca. He repulses me so much that the only way I was getting through it was to focus on you, to look into your eyes. But you weren't here today, and the whole thing sucked. I've been so embarrassed about everything that I've… I've just pulled away. I'm supposed to be a professional, for God's sake."

"Oookaaayyy…" Beca said softly. "Take a breath, Honey. Why is needing me here so bad? I'm here to support you. If you need to look into my eyes, look into my eyes."

"But…" Chloe bit her bottom lip again and the brunette could tell something was still left to be said.

"Chloe, I promise, you can tell me anything," Beca said, nodding a little in encouragement.

The actress closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "When I look into your eyes… he becomes… you and…" Her cheeks colored and Beca suddenly put one and one together.

"Chloe…" she said as her stomach swooped in sudden anticipation. "Tell me."

"My orgasms have been real," Chloe replied, voice small. "It's like I'm having sex with you, not him." She closed her eyes. "I'm so sorry," she added.

Then, to the actress's surprise, Beca pulled her into her arms and hugged her hard. "Is that what's been bothering you? That you're fantasizing about me?" she asked softly into her ear. "I don't care. In fact, honestly, I kinda love it." She rubbed the redhead's back, and Chloe melted into the embrace, sniffling a little. "Chlo, can I ask you something personal?"

A little laugh sounded, and the actress sniffled again. "I think we've crossed every boundary possible already," she chuckled.

"Not this one… can I?"

Chloe eased back, wiping her nose on her shirt sleeve, and then grimacing. "Sure."

"Honey, are you gay? Is that what this is about? Is that why you won't do girl on girl?"

Chloe nodded, tears welling again. "Yeah… I… Sorry… I should've just told you…"

But Beca just hugged her again. "You don't have to explain or justify anything to me," she said. "And you don't have to pull away just because you're human. Honestly, Chloe, I'm super flattered that you're attracted to me."

"So… we're good?" Chloe asked uncertainly. "You're not mad or anything?"

The brunette smiled affectionately. "Of course not. You're my friend, Chloe. Now, can we get back to how we were before?"

"Come to my house for dinner tomorrow night and meet Bella," the actress replied. "If you don't have any other plans?"

Beca nodded immediately. "I'd love to. What occupation do we have this week?"

"Yeah, she decided to go with the ballerina thing. Better wear wings and tights," Chloe teased.

And the brunette heaved a mental sigh of relief. HER Chloe was back… and things suddenly felt right again.

Xx

The next morning, Beca was making final adjustments on set when Chloe stomped out of the bathroom, with her robe tightly pulled around her and a scowl on her face. "Can I talk to you for a second?" she asked.

Beca exchanged a look with Tom and then Jesse. "Uh… ok…" she said and then followed the redhead as she headed back to her closet-sized dressing room. "Dude, are you…?"

"I'm early," Chloe interrupted disgustedly.

Beca blinked. "Huh?"

"My period, Beca. I'm early."

"Oh!" The brunette nodded. "Oh… shit…"

"Right, it was supposed to start AFTER we'd finished shooting this section but…" She sighed and shook her head. "We're going to have to pause filming my nude scenes for at least five days."

"So, you… don't take birth control pills to schedule it?" Beca asked curiously.

"No… I can't take them. They give me migraines." the redhead explained sheepishly. "And I have an IUD for birth control."

"Oooohhh… that's kinda ironic," the younger woman stated. Chloe just shrugged and quirked a brow. "I'm just going to have to tell the boys that it is what it is."

"YOU'RE going to?"

"Yes," Beca nodded. "As your self-appointed assistant and official DP, I'll let them know. Now relax until I get back."

Chloe beamed a smile at her friend and then leaned in to kiss her cheek affectionately. "Thanks, Becs."

Beca left Chloe's dressing room and then called Jesse and Tom aside from the rest of the crew. "Um…" she said. "Uh… Chloe's unable to continue for now. She started her… um… started menstruating earlier than expected."

Jesse nodded. "Got it. Ok... can we change the schedule up a bit? Are there any establishing shots or stuff we can do without Chloe being undressed?"

Armie wandered over to see what was up. "Where's Elektra? What's going on?"

Tom just shrugged. "She's on her period. We're going to change the schedule up."

"Oh," Armie shook his head. "Shark week. Dun dun." He tilted his head then. "Maybe that explains yesterday's issue."

Beca shook her head, biting her lip to keep her savage retort inside. She wanted to scream at him and maybe Jesse saw that, because he took her arm and gently guided her away. "Let's talk about the shots, Becs."

"I swear," the DP muttered. "One of these days..."

"Chloe can take care of herself, you know," the producer smiled. "She doesn't need a Beca in Rusted Armor."

Said Beca blinked. "What do you mean?"

Jesse rolled his eyes. "You're protective of her, Becaww, and I think it's because you like her."

The brunette frowned. "Of course I like her. She's my friend."

"That's not what I meant."

Beca's frown deepened, then she suddenly got it and lifted a hand, scoffing a little. "What? No. I d... not like... I don't feel... I'm straight, Jesse!"

The producer chuckled softly. "Ok, Beca. So... let's cover those shots with Tom."

"Uh... just give me a sec, ok?"

"Sure, come find us."

Beca headed for Chloe's dressing room and knocked on the door. "Y'decent, Chlo?"

"Never!" the redhead called back, and she giggled softly when her friend stuck her head in and rolled her eyes. She was fully dressed and sitting on her tiny couch. "How'd they take it?"

"Fine. We're going to switch up the schedule and film anything we can without you, or with your clothes on. I need to talk to Jesse and Tom about it, but I wanted to check in on you first."

Chloe nodded. "You're sweet but I'm good. I just hit half a million followers on Insta." She held up her phone. "Cool, huh?"

"Very," Beca smiled. "Catch you later, Chlo!"