"Now, this is a cozy place," Jack said.
Haley grinned. "I know, right?"
"I thought this was where your family kept broken furniture and things your dad bought from late-night television."
"It was," Haley said. "Then I decided I needed my own space."
Jack walked farther inside and picked up one of the framed photographs from her bedside table. It showed Haley kissing his cheek while he looked toward the camera with a surprised smile.
"You live down here now?"
"Pretty much," she replied. "I still use the bathroom upstairs, obviously. But this is my room."
Jack nodded thoughtfully. "I like it."
Haley smiled, clearly pleased by his approval. "It took me almost a week to clear everything out. Dad kept trying to convince me that Robo-Phil needed his own charging station in the corner."
"That sounds reasonable."
"No."
Jack laughed and placed the photograph back on the table.
Haley walked past him and closed the basement door.
The second the latch clicked, Jack turned around.
He stepped toward her, placed one hand beside her head, and gently pinned her against the door with his body.
Haley's eyebrows lifted.
"Well, hello."
Jack looked into her eyes with a serious expression that did not quite hide the amusement underneath it. "So, tomorrow we're gonna shoot the kissing scene with Emma," he said. "I thought I should let you know."
Haley stared at him.
"Emma already told me."
Jack blinked. "She did?"
"She called me earlier."
"Oh."
Haley rested both hands against his chest. "You sound disappointed."
"I'm not disappointed. I just thought I was being a responsible boyfriend."
"You're a little late, responsible boyfriend."
Jack nodded slowly. "Fair."
Haley tilted her head. "She also told me it's supposed to be a pretty long kiss."
"It's not that long."
"She said there are several camera angles."
"That doesn't make the actual kiss longer."
"And multiple takes."
"Probably."
"And you're supposed to look like you really want her."
Jack stared at her for a second. "You know how acting works."
"I do."
"You're still jealous."
"I'm not jealous."
Jack smiled.
Haley narrowed her eyes. "Stop looking at me like that."
"Like what?"
"Like you know I'm jealous."
"I do know."
"You don't."
"Haley, you nearly removed my tongue at the front door."
"That was because I missed you."
"And because Emma told you about tomorrow."
Haley folded her arms as much as she could with him still standing close. "Maybe I wanted to remind you what a good kiss actually feels like."
Jack's smile widened. "There she is."
Haley shoved lightly against his chest. "Don't get cocky."
"I'm trying not to, but my girlfriend just admitted she wanted to out-kiss Emma before we even filmed the scene," He said with a smirk.
"I did not say that."
"I'm pretty sure you did."
Haley reached up and grabbed the front of his shirt.
"Fine," she said. "Maybe I wanted to leave an impression."
"You did."
"A strong one?"
"My brain stopped working for at least ten seconds, and I got a boner."
Haley looked satisfied. "Good."
Jack's expression softened as he brushed one curl away from her face.
"For the record, it's just a scene."
"I know."
"I love you."
"I know that too."
"And I'm probably going to be thinking about camera marks, dialogue, and whether Christopher wants another take."
Haley placed her hands around the back of his neck. "You'd better be thinking about me at least a little."
Jack leaned closer until their noses nearly touched. "That won't be difficult."
Haley smiled. "Good answer."
She kissed him before he could say anything else.
Jack's hand slid around her waist as she pulled him closer, pressing herself against him with all the frustration of three weeks apart and one upcoming movie kiss she definitely wasn't jealous about.
Definitely.
The kiss grew deeper almost immediately. Haley's fingers moved into his hair, messing up what remained of the expensive GQ styling, while Jack backed her more firmly against the door.
She smiled against his mouth.
"There goes your magazine hair."
"They already got the pictures."
"Good."
She kissed him again, slower this time, dragging the moment out until Jack forgot whatever clever reply he had been planning.
Haley pulled back just enough to look at him.
"You still thinking about camera marks?"
"No."
"Dialogue?"
"Nope."
"Emma?"
Jack gave her a flat look.
Haley grinned. "Just checking."
He leaned in again, but Haley placed one hand against his chest and pushed him backward.
Jack took one step.
Then another.
They moved slowly across the basement, still kissing between every few steps. Jack almost walked into the small table near the couch, caught himself at the last second, and looked down at it.
Haley laughed. "Smooth."
"I'm distracted."
"By what?"
He looked her up and down. "It's a mystery."
Haley grabbed his shirt and kept pushing until the backs of his legs reached the bed.
Then she gave him one last shove.
Jack dropped onto the mattress, bouncing slightly against the pile of pillows. Before he could sit back up, Haley climbed onto the bed and straddled his lap.
Jack rested his hands on her hips and looked up at her.
"Well," he said. "I like your new room."
"You haven't even seen the best part yet."
"Is there another television?"
Haley stared at him.
Jack smiled. "Sorry. Continue."
She leaned down and kissed him again. His hands tightened gently around her waist as she settled closer, clearly pleased with the effect she was having on him. She could even feel his boner through his pants.
After a moment, Haley pulled back and brushed her thumb along his lower lip.
"I've been wondering…"
Jack raised an eyebrow. "About what?"
Haley tried to sound casual, though the question had clearly been sitting inside her head for a while. "Do actors practice kissing before the real scene?"
Jack stared at her.
Then he laughed.
Haley immediately frowned. "Why are you laughing?"
"Because no."
"No?"
"No," Jack repeated, still smiling. "It just happens when we shoot the scene."
Haley studied his face carefully. "So there's no rehearsal?"
"We rehearse the movement."
Her eyes narrowed. "What does that mean?"
"Where we stand, when we move closer, where the camera is, which direction we turn so we don't block the shot." Jack shrugged. "Boring technical stuff."
"But you don't practice the actual kissing?"
"No."
"Not even once?"
"Haley."
"I'm asking a normal question."
"You're sitting on top of me while conducting an investigation into workplace kissing."
"That doesn't make the question less normal."
Jack laughed again and pulled her a little closer. "No, we don't secretly make out behind the set to prepare."
Haley tilted her head. "So there's no behind-the-scenes little action or anything like that?"
Jack went still for a second. Then his eyebrows lifted. "Did you watch those behind-the-scenes porn videos?" He asked.
Haley's mouth fell open. "What?!"
"That question sounded suspiciously specific."
Haley tried to laugh her way out. "I have never watched those."
Jack gave her a look.
"Okay," Haley said quickly. "Maybe once."
He kept looking at her.
"Twice."
"Haley."
"It was research!"
"For what?"
She gestured between them. "Relationships. I just wanted to learn new positions and try out new things."
Jack started laughing so hard that his head dropped back against the pillows.
"Hey!" Haley smacked his chest. "Stop laughing!"
"I'm sorry."
"You're not sorry."
"I'm really not."
She hit him again, though she was laughing now too.
Jack caught her wrist gently before she could do it a third time and brought her hand to his lips.
"For the record," he said, kissing her knuckles, "movie sets are way less exciting than whatever you watched."
Haley calmed slightly. "Really?"
He nodded. "Oh yeah. There are thirty people standing around. Somebody's fixing the lights. Somebody's checking focus. The director is watching a monitor. There's usually a microphone hanging over your head, and somebody's waiting to yell cut."
"That does sound less romantic."
"It's incredibly unromantic."
"And tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow will be the same."
Haley traced one finger along the collar of his shirt. "Well, since you're gonna kiss my bestie, you better do it right." She leaned in and kissed him once.
"Huh?!" Jack was surprised by what she just said.
"I just want you to do it right without worrying about me. People are gonna watch. Give them a perfect show, because at the end of the day, you're mine," Haley said as she touched his lips. "Those girls will fall for you sooner or later. Dakota and Willa still have a crush on you... Emma will also fall for your charm after the kiss. Heck, most of my friends have a massive crush on you. But sadly, they can't have you..."
She rocked her hips on his boner.
"...All they can do is dream and masturbate."
Jack moved his hands and grabbed her butt cheeks, giving them nice squeezes.
"Yes. They can dream and masturbate all they want," Jack said before flipping her over and grabbing her chin. "But they ain't gonna get a piece of me because you are my one and only, Haley Dunphy."
Haley wrapped her legs around his waist and smiled, "Prove it..."
--[This is it for this week. 5 chapters released. And I'll be taking a week off to stock up. See you soon.]
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