May 15

  Billy was sitting, w ily og out the details. These days, he enjoyed being at the mansion in Los Angeles, feeling the wind on his face as he carefully reviewed every line he drew or wrote. The sense of fulfillment from seeing everything e together brought him pure joy.

  The doors opened, and there stood Monica, who had e unannouo spend the afternoon with her lover. Her silhouette was as captivating as ever, exuding that fiery charm that was so uniquely hers. The way she moved, sensual and deliberate, carried a look in her eyes—eyes that spoke of longing, of passion waiting to ig was her way of finding release.

  -I spent eleven hours traveling, and all I could think about was having you in my bed to rest. I even foolishly imagined you'd meet me at the airport, but it seems I was mistaken. It’s disheartening to feel repced by a few sheets of paper, - Monica said, kissing Billy gently on the . She had a way of expressing her love with small gestures that proved her beauty defied the ordinary. Billy pulled her slender hips close and kissed her with the fantasy-filled passion that only she could evoke. Seeing her, with her grad fiery esseook his breath away.

  -My sweet aiful woman, this house feels so empty without someone like you around, - Billy replied, holding Monica tightly as she charmed him with her affe ale caresses. Her eyes urged him to take her to the bedroom, to share their love in a way that was as intimate as it was mutual.

  -Put me down! Oh my God, you're like a child. For a moment, I almost felt like a wife ing home after a long day at work, - she teased, ughing pyfully. She often had a way of dismissing things with a radiant, crest-moon smile that lit up her face.

  -My wife has had a busy day, - Billy said, kissing her neck. Monica’s eyes trembled at the way he called her that.

  They tumbled onte sofa, where Billy kissed her cheeks and vished her with affeonica, as always, moved to her rhythm, their love binding them in ways both grounding and transdent.

  -Do you want to eat here, or should we go out for dinner? - Billy asked, notig the glimmer of love in her eyes. She oing out, her lips brushing against his in a soft kiss.

  -I slept through most of the trip. First css is something, but my bad neck hurt a little. There was some turbulence, and the time zone ge gave me a slight headache. I need lots of water and a sad. Though tomorrow, I wouldn’t mind having that berry sauce dessert—or apple pie. It would be delicious. That sauce, it’s divihough I wouldn’t say no to pie, either, - Monica admitted. She had a weakness for sweets when she was tired, and her filming schedules ofte her pletely drained.

  -Berries are one of yreat weaknesses, - Billy said softly, pnting a kiss on her lips, filled with character and longing.

  -They always have been, - Monica replied, her gaze lingering. - Even more than you. -

  Billy kissed her again, a kiss that felt like ice melting into warmth, bridging the spaces that sometimes separated them. They kissed deeply, filled with tenderness and passion, fortifying their love with every touch.

  -I'm jealous of the berries now. I want them too, but only if I taste them from your lips, - Billy murmured, kissing her again, each kiss a serene and deliberate act of e.

  -Let’s stay like this. Tomorrow, you owe me a tour of all the pces you haven’t takeo yet—I deserve it, - Monica said, kig off her heels as she sashayed toward the bedroom, her hips swaying rhythmically, seductive, and full of life.

  Their luggage y nearby as they settled in, their movements a mix of grad ease. Uhe covers, they watched a few movies until nightfall, sharing a light meal of fruit sad and pasta. They reveled in the pleasure of being together before drifting off to sleep, ed in each other’s arms until m light filled the room.

  May 16

  With little work to do, they indulged in ara day of rexation, basking in the warmth of the weekend. The rehearsals with Kate had gone exceptionally well, yielding fruitful results.

  -Winona is ing to see us, - Monica murmured, her signature tone carrying across the room. - She’ll be here around noon. We’ll cook something and head out iernoon. That’s better, don’t you think? I think we’ve earned a couple more hours of rest. This bed is so warm, and my breaks feel as long as they should have always bee’s indulge in ziness—after all, with so much rest, my routine feels so intense. You’ve rubbed off on me, you know, with your tireless work ethic. -

  Billy kissed her forehead before heading to the shower. He had unfinished work—a project demanding his attention.

  The uping release of Altered Carbon was immi, as was The Expanse, adding to the growing list of novels he was ing out. He was nearing the clusion of the first arc of Hunter x Hunter with Chapter 58, where Gon rescued Killua from his family and the quartet parted ways. Simirly, the initial 20 chapters of Yu-Gi-Oh! were nearly plete, ready to transition into a pause as an animated series took shape under Olm Inc. The workload was relentless, yet Billy persisted, driven by his creative ambitions.

  Monica closed her eyes and drifted back to sleep.

  Three hours ter, Winona arrived, her presence marked by the subtle st of her perfume. Though Los Angeles was her current base, she much preferred Atnta. The midday heat pressive, hinting that the summer of 1996 might be one for the books—or perhaps just the beginning of a long, scorg season.

  -A gss of poison or a cup of work? I’ve been reviewing scripts. What’s on your mind? - Winona asked after their greetings had passed, and Monica, from a distance, casually mentioned she’d soon take a shower, sav the luxury of rest.

  -Your James Bond movie? - Billy asked.

  -That’s sted for 1999. Those produs are exhaustingly long, oer the other. I wouldn’t typically accept it, but you’re right—it’s about finding the baween art and ther ercial roles. Right now, I feel ready to take on films of that scale. Protagonist roles be g in design, and produs don’t always feel anic, but they’re still remarkable in their way, - Winona replied.

  -Would you like something to drink? - Billy asked, swiftly moving to pour her a gss of water when she deed the e juice he had in his other hand. They took the opportunity to share ideas and discuss uping projects while preparing lunch.

  -Pickles aren’t bad, but I prefer them brined, - Winona said as she sliced them for a cold sad. - If I had the time, I’d love to create my movie, fog on produg more than ag. But both are equally captivating. Each draws me in differently, whether it’s watg something take shape or being part of the process. -

  It was a surprising shift for her, sidering she had never beeo take on a Bond movie or simir projects. The closed, petitive circles of Hollywood made every opportunity a fight, each space a prize.

  -What a surprise, - Monica said, entering the room in a pair of snug shorts that emphasized her figure and a tight white shirt without a bra, her entire presence exuding effortless allure.

  -It’s so good to see you! - she excimed, leaping forward to embrace Winona. Billy tinued anizing his ic drafts, i on finishing the final Yu-Gi-Oh! Chapters in the weeks to e.

  -It has been a while, hasn’t it? You’ll see some things you’ll like ter. I made a stop in Rome for some shopping, Monica said, shooting a look at Billy, who was filled with unspoken promises.

  -I brought pie, - Winona added.

  -You’re seous, - Monica said, kissing her on the lips before settling on Billy’s p. Whispering into his ear, she teased him with a request for steak and Texan-style potatoes. "Cook for me. I want that mashed potato dish, and I’ll leave the sad to them."

  ...