The cheating game - and other steamy romances

*Alicia*

"Byron Carter Chase... I am not going to kiss you, so move your tiny ass and let me do my job". I look up, getting annoyed at the tall man blocking me in.

He is grinning in the most cheeky way and his blue eyes have a mischievous glint to them. "Come on Alli.. I know you want to... let's just get it over with".

Honestly I feel a bit cornered... as I am literally standing in a corner of the makeup trailer, my back against the wall... his slim muscular frame blocking me, one long arm and big hand on each side, resting next to my head.

"This might be a new concept to you Byron, but not all women want to kiss you". I duck under his arm, pointing at the chair with a stern look. "Now sit".

Harry Hudson, one of the other stars of the movie, is laughing heartlessly from the other chair, where he is getting his makeup done. "Sorry Byron … I think you should just give up mate".

"Oh no Harry, I ain't giving up … she will give in and kiss me". Byron sits down, grinning widely before winking at me.

I just ignore him, and start on the makeup that will turn him into Hades the cheeky God of the underworld ... which I am starting to feel is much closer to reality than anyone seems to think.

Byron is flirting blatantly with me the entire time I am working, which seems to amuse everyone else … especially Harry ... maybe because it isn't working at all ... I keep ignoring him.

When I am done, only Byron and I are left in the trailer ... I look at him. "You better hurry over to costumes".

He stands up ... the change from sun kissed, ginger-blonde, always smiling Byron to dark haired, pale and sulkingly sexy Hades is almost scary, even though I was the one who did it.

He leans down to whisper in my ear ... doing his character voice and letting his lips brush my ear. "Believe me Alli, I never give up on a bet … you will give in ... actually I dare say that you will beg to kiss me".

I grind my teeth, annoyed that his voice sends little chills through my body. "Do you really believe that yourself, Byron ?"

"Oh I know my pretty … you and me later ?" He is grinning as he leaves the trailer, and I feel like throwing something at someone ... preferably a certain cheeky actor.

Arg that man is so freaking conceited … but okay I guess it's hard to blame him ... I mean most women would probably have given in to his charms pretty fast ... just not me.

It is the stupid bet ... why on earth did I agreed to such foolishness ? And who was the idiot who put that note in the bowl ?

The game had started during the filming of the first movie in the series ... we call it 'The cheating game', everyone puts their name in a bowl and in the other bowl is different dares.

Then two names are drawn and a dare ... you have to cheat your partner into doing the dare first ... it is usually something like getting drunk as a skunk, sleeping in and being late, singing loudly on set or something else silly.

It is usually pretty fun and innocent, even if people tend to get really competitive at times ... but hey everyone is friends again when it is over ... it has always been just fun and games after all.

We were a small group, who had gotten together the first evening. Everyone who was back on set for the third movie ... mostly people working behind the camera and then Harry and Byron.

I let out a sigh when my name was drawn with Byrons and he had winked at me. "Uh Alli, no matter what the dare is, you know I got you ... you could just give up now".

"Really Byron, do you actually believe that yourself ? I won every dare so far". But I happened to know that Byron had also won every one of his bets and he wouldn't be easy to fool … he is pretty smart.

Then Harry pulled our dare … laughing so much he nearly couldn't get the words out and I felt all colour disappear from my face. "A passionate kiss".

"That is almost too easy … I kind of feel like I am cheating here". Byron had said, smirking at me.

I had raised one eyebrow at him. "Oh… so that's what you think, smart ass ? Good for me, that you are so not my type, and by the way … what will your girlfriend think ?"

"Ouch, so you think I am not your type ? Wonna bet that I can change your mind on that ? And her ? Well what she doesn't know ..." He sent me a very naughty grin and shrugged.

I shake my head, suddenly the game doesn't seem so fun ... I don't want to kiss Byron and I don't want to try and get him to kiss me ... also I do have a boyfriend at home.

But I can't just pull out ... it would be as bad as losing ... even worse actually and I hate losing ... also, I would never hear the end of it from Byron.

The first three days we have been watching each other ... trying to find the best way to attack ... to cheat the other into doing it ... his first real try had been this morning in the trailer.

I shake my head again, I am 29 years old and a makeup artist for a huge studio, I love my job ... and I have worked with Byron several times now ... I actually like him, as a friend I mean, but he is just not really my type.

I pull my dark hair into a ponytail and send my green eyes a sad look in the mirror, before grabbing my makeup bag ... I have to get on set to be ready to keep his makeup tip top during the shoots.