A Means to an End

"So, you wanna watch a movie or somethin'?" Craig asked, following Jaime into the room.

"Huh? You really want to just watch a movie?"

"I don't recall sayin' the word 'just'," Craig smirked.

Jaime rolled her eyes and smiled. "Ok, sure. My PS3 is plugged into the TV, so pick out something from Netflix. I'll just slip on some more comfy clothes, if that's alright?"

"Take your time."

Closing the door to the bathroom, Jaime wondered if Craig's offer was a pretense to watch one of her films together. She knew she had them saved to her PS3, so they wouldn't be difficult for him to find. Still, after a moment's consideration, she thought better of it. Craig had refrained from being presumptuous thus far, so she decided to assume the best. Donning a pair of gray gym shorts and a purple spaghetti strap tank top, she rejoined him.

"This ok?" Craig asked.

Jaime's eyebrows rose at seeing the title screen for Raiders of the Lost Ark on the TV. "Yeah! I haven't seen this one in years!" she squealed, leaping onto the bed. "Come join me," she beckoned, patting the spot next to her.

After hitting play, Craig tossed the remote aside and dove onto the bed.

"Nice landing!" Jaime laughed.

"The belly flop is my signature move," he boasted.

"Nice," she smiled, curling up in the crook of his arm. "Thanks for this, Craig."

"This?"

"For picking a real movie. I was worried you were going to want to watch a porno with me, knowing what I do for a living."

Craig kissed her on the forehead. "Hardly appropriate viewing material for a first date, I'd wager."

"You're so sweet," Jaime sighed. "For the right guy, I could definitely get into that, though."

Craig said nothing in reply to that, just enjoying the feeling of Jaime's lithe body against his. For the most part, they sat and enjoyed the movie together, though they did have a few short make-out sessions. But by the time the credits rolled, Jaime was beyond horny. It was the strangest sensation to her. She would have slept with Craig the night before without hesitation, yet he insisted on taking her out on an official date. Even then, he hadn't once made any moves to escalate the situation. Normally she would be worried of the implication that he wasn't interested, but he had already admitted to being attracted to her. She wanted him, more than she had ever wanted any man in her life.

Taking matters into her own hands, Jaime leaned up to kiss his lips as she had done several times that night already. This time, however, she kept her free hand on the back of his neck, pulling Craig to lie on top of her and probing his lips with her tongue. To her pleasant surprise, he didn't resist; she could even feel him grinning as she began to kiss him more passionately. She reveled in the sensation of Craig's hands at last beginning to explore her body. But as she began to give in to her primal desires for him, one last flicker of rational thought entered her brain.

When was my last checkup?! Let's see... crap, it's been almost a month, and I've been with... at least fifteen guys for filming.

Separating for a moment, Jaime looked into Craig's eyes. "Please, please tell me you have a condom," she whispered. Before he could reply, she clarified, "I mean... I'm protected from pregnancy. Got an IUD implanted. But, it's been several weeks since my last check, and there's no guarantee I haven't gotten anything in the interim, so-"

"I'm prepared," Craig said, silencing her with a kiss.

"Thank god..."

As they resumed their kissing, Jaime allowed her hands to begin roaming his back, soon slipping beneath his t-shirt. Craig didn't protest, sliding up onto his knees and allowing her to slip the shirt up and over his head. Jaime flashed a huge smile at what was underneath. Though not chiseled with washboard abs like her costars, he was still in great shape, and she couldn't help but trace the slight outline of his pecs with her fingers. Craig took that opportunity to pull her by the wrists, sitting her up on the bed to continue kissing her.

"Craig?" she whispered between kisses.

"Mm hmm?"

"I want... I want you to take the lead, if that's ok."

"Of course. Any particular reason, or is that just how you like it?"

"Umm..."

"Aww... is this your first time, little lady?" Craig teased her.

"Shut up!" she laughed in reply. "It's just that... I've never had sex just for pleasure before."

"Wow... really?"

"It's the truth. I lost my virginity on a casting couch and I've always had a personal rule of not dating costars. Add that to every other guy in LA being a pompous, self-absorbed douche, and..."

"That'll do it," Craig said. "So I guess you could say this is your first time."

"Yeah. Don't get me wrong; I know what I'm doing, obviously. But this feels... so different. It's not even about the sex. I just want to be as close to you as possible, Craig."

"I think I can manage that." Tugging on her tank top, he asked, "May I even the odds a bit?"

"Please do."

It took almost no effort at all for the garment to be peeled off, revealing more of Jaime's milky flesh to Craig. Though she expected him to stop and stare in that moment, Craig wanted to take in her entire body at once. He stood at the edge of the bed and gently slid her shorts and panties off in one motion, leaving her form as nude as the day she was born. Craig now saw that his suspicions were correct: Jaime was a girl of incredible natural beauty. Her body was lithe and thin, yet avoided looking starved, and her skin was the same shade from head to toe, lacking any tan lines. Jaime's hair, now out of its braid, fanned out around her pretty face, enhancing her icy blue eyes. As Craig's eyes traveled down, he took in the incredible sight of her breasts. They were quite small, easily an A cup, yet were also very round and perky, protruding out as she sat back up on the bed. And her pussy... if anything could be defined as inviting, it could. So small and innocent looking, the hairless mound was just begging to be touched and played with.

"Wow," Craig whispered.

"I love the way you're looking at me," Jaime replied. "I don't feel like a piece of meat. I feel like..."

"A dream come true," he finished.

"Such a charmer. Got a favorite part yet?"

"Turn over, please," Craig grinned.

"Ah, an ass man," she replied as she rolled.

"Hmm... you do indeed have a wonderful butt. Firm and perky, yet just the right amount of jiggle," Craig said, giving her a few playful squeezes. "But that's not the reason I wanted you to turn over. And now I know my favorite part."

"And that is?" she asked, turning to face him.

"That you're completely natural. No tans, no enhancements, no tattoos, not even a piercing except your ears. You're just... you. And you are so beautiful."

Jaime could only smile at that, dumbfounded by his compliment. A few moments later, Craig had discarded his shorts, revealing his seven-inch cock for her viewing pleasure. While she was used to guys with a bit more length and substantially more girth, none of that mattered to her in these moments; she wanted him, and only him. As Craig retrieved a condom from his backpack, Jaime couldn't help but massage her clit with her fingers, fully anticipating what was to come. Her breathing only intensified as she watched him roll the condom over his length and crawl back on top of her.

"Wow... you're raring to go," Jaime breathed, reaching down to feel his stiff length with her hand.

"Your fault," Craig grinned. "You ready?"

Planting a long kiss on his lips, she replied, "More than ready. Please, Craig... I want you so bad."

They locked eyes with each other, and Jaime soon felt the head of Craig's penis pressing against her entrance. Her pussy gave very little resistance, as the condom's lubrication and her desire combined for two very slick pelvic regions between them. She gasped as Craig penetrated her, feeling him begin to fill her up. The look on his face was priceless; Jaime's pussy was exceptionally tight, and had him fighting back the urge to climax from the start.

"Holy fuck..."

"Doing ok there?" Jaime giggled.

"You're... so..."

"Tight? Yeah, she's always been that way."

"Ok, I just wanna be sure you-"

Jaime silenced him with a firm kiss. "Don't worry about me, Craig. This evening has already been well worth it. All I want is this moment with you."

Ever so slowly, Craig began to thrust into her tunnel. Gazing down at her nude body, he was completely oblivious to the one thing that many of Jaime's fans loved about her: the fact that she looked like jailbait. She was young and thin to be sure, but Craig could only see her as a woman, not a little girl. She had endured so much, and in spite of everything she did and saw on a daily basis, she had chosen him of all people as her first time for pure pleasure. He loved everything about her, her mind and heart as well as her body.

To Craig's pleasant surprise, Jaime's face was one of pure delight as well. Her eyes were closed, she was biting her lower lip, and her cheeks were flushed with color. Still, he wanted to make sure she got as much out of this as he did. Coming up on his knees, he began to run his hands over her soft skin as he continued his thrusting. Her breasts, though small, were incredibly sensitive, and it only took a few brushes of her nipples to have her writhing in pleasure. His fingers began to work their way down her taut stomach, soon arriving at her pelvic region. While gripping her hip with his left hand, his right thumb started massaging her swollen clit.

"Holy shit!" Jaime exclaimed, her eyes popping open. "Nobody's ever done... that... before!"

"Seriously?" Craig asked, refusing to relent.

"Nuh uh... so many... faked orgasms."

"And tonight?" he replied, knowing the answer.

"All you, buster," she replied with her megawatt smile. "I'm close, by the way, so go for broke. I'll be right there with you."

Maneuvering Jaime to the edge of the bed, Craig stood and began to pound her little pussy with everything he had. Jaime's moans were music to his ears, and the sight of her hands playing with her nipples only furthered his arousal. Both were pleased at how long he managed to last at this pace, but the end was approaching all the same. Taking a firm grip on her slim waist, Craig pushed his final few thrusts into her, at last exploding with a groan of ecstasy. As he filled the condom with his semen, Jaime's own orgasm struck in full force, the walls of her pussy tightening around his cock as she came. Eventually, they came down from their highs, and Craig slipped out of her pussy. After tying off the condom and disposing of it, he joined Jaime under the covers.

"Wow... you really are something else..." she breathed.

"Ditto," he agreed, kissing her on the forehead. "Ready for lights out? Past two in the morning, so might ought to call it a night."

"Sounds great. Hmm... another first."

"What's that?"

"First time actually falling asleep with a man," she grinned.

Switching off the lamp, Craig replied, "No complaints here."

*****

Jaime awoke the next day to sunlight peeking in through the curtains. Rolling over, she smiled at feeling Craig still slumbering next to her. After a few kisses to his bare chest, she felt him begin to stir.

"Morning," she cooed.

"Mmm... morning." Slowly opening his eyes, he said, "Damn, that's a beautiful sight to wake up to."

"No complaints here," Jaime giggled in reply. "Last night was so amazing, Craig. Really, thank you for my first time."

"Aww, no biggie."

"Yeah, it actually is. You didn't fuck me; you made love to me. I can't tell you how special that makes me feel, Craig."

"Well, you are special," he replied with a sweet kiss.

Just as Jaime was about to move in for a more passionate kiss, her phone started ringing on the nightstand. After putting a finger to her mouth to tell Craig to shush, she saw it was Alexis calling.

"Hey, girl. Kind of early for you to call. What's up?"

"Hey, girlfriend! It's not that early; eight in the morning. I've been on set an hour already. Did you oversleep?"

"Wow, guess I did; it's already eleven here!"

"Good vacation, then?"

"The best," Jaime giggled.

"Sweet! Hey, are you able to FaceTime for a few? I've got someone here who wants to talk to you."

"Um, sure. Just give me a second."

After donning her pink satin robe, Jaime sat at the small table in the corner, making sure Craig was out of view as he dressed for the day.

"Ok, what's up?" she asked, starting the FaceTime call.

"So, I'm on set, as you know, and one of my costars wanted to talk with you for a few minutes. I'm gonna hand the phone to her now."

The picture wobbled for a few seconds before the face of a striking blonde in her late fifties appeared. Jaime was absolutely speechless at who she was now talking to.

"Hi Jaime."

"Oh my god... Ms. Hartley!"

"Oh please, we're both professionals. Call me Nina."

"Um... i-it's an honor to meet you. I've admired you f-for so long," Jaime stammered.

"Well thank you, my dear. I've seen your work as well; quite impressive, I must say. Everything Alexis has said seems true; you are just a little sweetheart."

"Thank you," Jaime said, blushing a bit.

"You're very welcome. Now, the reason I wanted to talk to you is simple. Alexis and I were chatting a couple of days ago, and she was telling me that you had a little incident with Mr. Rocco Macho, is that right?"

"Oh, uh, that was... that was nothing."

Nina's face became one of complete skepticism.

"Jaime, you are lying to me, and most importantly, to yourself. Sadly, this sort of thing happens all too often in our line of work, and it's become a bit of a crusade for me. There are more good directors than bad ones nowadays, but assholes like Rocco Macho still persist. If you'll let me, I want to help you."

"Really? But how?"

"I think you need to take legal action against him. I've spoken with my attorney, one of the best there is if I do say so myself, and explained the situation to her, keeping all names out of it for now. Based on everything I told her, if it matches up with your side of things, she's agreed to represent you pro bono in this case."

"But there's no physical evidence! It would just be my word against his!"

"I explained that to my attorney as well, and she didn't seem concerned. Jaime, take it from someone who knows firsthand: you can't let something like this just slide. What Rocco Macho did to you is disgusting, deplorable, and illegal. There is no place for it in any business, and especially one with as many vulnerable young women as ours."

"Come on, Jaime. You know it's the right thing to do," Alexis chimed in, sliding up next to Nina.

"I don't know..."

"You know they're riiiiiiight," Craig teased her from the bed.

"Shh!"

"Jaime, who was that? Is someone there with you?" Alexis asked with a grin.

"Oh, just... a friend."

"Oh my GOD! You found a guy down there! AAAHHH!" Alexis squealed in excitement. "Who is he? What's his name?"

"Not now, Alexis-"

"Hi, I'm Craig," he said, plopping down next to Jaime as he came into the picture.

"Oh my... Jaime, you have excellent taste in men," Nina purred.

"Can we focus, please?!" Jaime laughed, now beet red with embarrassment.

"I agree with them," Craig said. "Think about it this way: do you think you're the first girl this Rocco character has gotten rough with?"

"No," Jaime admitted.

"And do you think you'll be the last?"

"No," she sighed.

"I completely agree with that assessment," Nina said.

Craig nodded and continued, "Since it's reasonable to think that this ass is a repeat offender, you've got more than yourself to think about. For every girl he's beaten into silence and every girl he has yet to beat but will someday, you have a responsibility to stand up and say something, Jaime. It ain't just about you."

"I like him," Alexis giggled. "Can I have a turn?"

"He's mine! Back off, bitch!" Jaime laughed back.

"Ooh, I love it when she gets all feisty," Alexis said to Nina.

"Jaime, I think Craig is right. Who knows how many other girls Rocco has done this to? You need to do something about this, or nothing will change. What do you say?" Nina asked.

Jaime sighed in resignation. "Ok, you guys are right. I'm purchasing a ticket back to California right now."

"Wonderful! I'll let my attorney know you'd like to meet with her. See you soon, Jaime," Nina smiled.

As the call ended, Jaime turned to Craig. "Buttinski," she teased him.

"It worked, didn't it?" he grinned.

"I guess it did. Shit... I need to pack if I'm heading back to California."

"Yeah, your flight leaves soon," Craig sighed, moving to the door. "Guess I'll leave you to it."

"Craig, wait up," Jaime replied, wrapping him in a hug. "Seriously, thank you. If you hadn't been a buttinski, I might not have agreed to do this."

"You're welcome."

"Now it's my turn to try and help you," Jaime said, turning back to her bags. "I want you to start thinking about your future, Craig. You're such a talented musician and I'd hate for you to be stuck in this Podunk beach town forever. You should consider moving back to Nashville."

Craig blinked twice at this. "Podunk town?" he whispered to himself.

Without missing a beat, Jaime continued, "I mean, this is a great vacation spot, but living here long term? Craig, all your talent is wasted in this little town. You have so much to offer the world, but not if you stay here. You really need to get out of this place."

Craig's stomach turned in knots, and he had to lean against the wall to keep steady. As he opened his eyes, he watched in horror as Jaime's hotel room disappeared, replaced by his mom's hospital room. A moment later, the redhead leaning over a suitcase on the bed had become his dad. The broken man could no longer keep it together as he held his wife's hand. She lay in the bed, weakly trembling and working to breathe, yet wore a tiny smile on her face.

"It's almost time, Steve," she whispered.

"No... Lynn you can't leave," he choked out through his tears.

"I've got to... the Lord's callin' me home. I can hear him."

"But what about your family!? What about me and Craig?!"

"You boys will do alright together. I'll have my eye on you," she chuckled. "Family comes first. Isn't that right, Craig?"

"Yeah, Mom," Craig heard himself say. "Family first. No matter what."

Lynn used what strength she had to kiss Steve's hand. "I love you, Steve. I love you so much that... I want you to love again."

"No," he replied firmly. "No, you... you're my one and only."

"I see... Craig?"

"Mom?"

"You look out for your father, you hear?"

"I will, Mom. Family first..."

In a flash, he was once again in Jaime's hotel room. She hadn't even noticed him spacing out; she was too busy stuffing clothes into her suitcase. The sound of her voice shook Craig completely back to reality.

"So what do you think?" Jaime asked with a grin.

"No."

"Hmm?" Jaime asked, looking up from her suitcase.

"No, I won't leave this Podunk little beach town," Craig spat, his tone becoming harsher by the second. He could feel his inner fear begin to grip him, yet there was nothing he could do to stop it. "You're askin' me to leave my dad, the only family I got left! Mom's cancer nearly killed him! I can't leave him too! You wanna talk about my talents? I got a talent for keepin' my dad sane and functioning in the aftermath of Mom's death. And you call that wasted?! Maybe y'all out in California don't understand the value of family, but I do. And I ain't givin' it up for nothin'!"