The last time they had seen each other was the evening of February, twenty third, two thousand and fourteen. It was a few hours after Sam Johnson had poignantly yelled, "Cut! Print it!" The cast and crew had applauded, yelled and hugged each other in jubilation. A lifetime ago.

Dakota's pacing around the polished marble flooring released nervous tension. She had barely been at the airport ten minutes but nearly eight months of silence, of waiting, was culminating in that moment.

She was wearing a very short form fitting, off shoulder, black leather dress that flared out after hugging her slim waistline. As she looked up to check flight arrival screens for possibly the hundredth time, she saw Jamie walk towards her in faded blue designer jeans and pale blue shirt. The first two buttons of his shirt were undone and sleeves rolled up to show off muscular arms decorated by a network of veins. The custom fitted casual look showed off Jamie's masculine, athletic, physique.

"¡Santo cielo!" she muttered 'Oh my goodness!' in Spanish under her breath as her heart lurched at the sight of him. "Be still my beating heart," she admonished herself silently.

"Hey Jamie, welcome to Santa Monica," Dakota exclaimed as she stepped closer then suddenly stopped uncertain before reaching him.

His exposed pulsating muscular arms made Dakota's blush, unconscious muscle memory at the pleasure she had felt being held in those very arms. To distract herself, Dakota mentally envisioned the Periodic table and taking a deep breath silently recited some elements, "hydrogen, helium, lithium, beryllium, boron, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, neon..."

The chartered plane had landed at one of the private air fields. Since the release of the movie trailer three months earlier on July, twenty fourth, two thousand and fourteen, the two of them were facing increasing media attention. The two and a half minute movie trailer had become the biggest online launch in history!

Dakota had chosen a private airport with security that kept paparazzi away from executive clientele. Her parents often used that airport for privacy from autograph seekers. How times had changed! With new media, intrusion on celebrities was a lot more pervasive than when her parents were A-list Hollywood celebrities. Dakota thought Jamie would appreciate a meeting without the jostling and flashing bulbs of high definition cameras.

After eight months, he was with her, in the flesh, exuding raw masculine sexuality. How she had missed him. Now that the hour had arrived, Dakota was rooted to the floor she was impatiently pacing just seconds before.

Jamie's raised an eye brow at Dakota's muted welcome. His relaxed demeanour, familiar comedic facial expression made Dakota dissolve into giggles that reduced some of the nervous tension at seeing him again, in the flesh.

"Your giggles bubble over like a fresh water stream," he remarked laughing. "And contagious too," he added in his deep, husky and distinctive Irish drawl.

That voice sent a thrill through her central nervous system. Why did that voice send a frisson of white terror in her at the same time, make her want to encircle her arms around his neck and her legs around those hips...hmmm. Dakota's lips were suddenly dry. Her tongue fleeted out to moisten them. "And you Jamie, could have been a poet."

"Ah yes, we Northern Irish have the gift of the gab."

"You sure do," Dakota said smiling broadly. It was months since she had heard that sultry, rich, deep voice or been lost in his dark blue eyes with hazel star burst that fired up and smouldered when they were intimate. Dakota pushed away delicious thoughts of what it felt like being naked in Jamie's arms.

Jamie put down his carry-on bag and closed the distance between them, his arms outstretched. Dakota remained rooted to the polished airport flooring as Jamie's clean shaven face brushed against her cheek and his muscular arms wrapped tightly around her slender body, pressing her soft feminine curves tightly against his hard muscular body, full length for a lingering moment.

Jamie stepped away noticing the rosy blush infuse a delicious burst of colour in Dakota's cheeks as she exhaled releasing air trapped in her chest. Her face could display a wide range of emotions but Jamie found her present expression inscrutable.

"Where's the rest of your luggage," she asked glancing at the single bag. She would not look at his face until the blush that heated her face lessened. His embrace was like the warm glow of returning home to loved ones after years of a frosty solitary existence.

"Some of us travel light," he smiled broadly at Dakota. She had that reserved look about her, as if her mind was preoccupied. Had it really been eight months since they wrapped up filming Fifty Shades of Grey? Jamie had convinced himself that time and distance had cooled his physical reaction to her. It had not. He was fighting an almost irresistible urge to touch the deep rosy blush on her cheeks and full lips.

Jamie held back his attraction for Dakota and the camera had picked up on it. Most of the movie was edited and it was time to re-film some of their emotionally driven scenes, including the ones with nudity. Sam the visionary Director and Erika the perceptive author may not always see eye to eye but Jamie did not dwell on the occasions when there were raised voices and objects flew when ironing out creative differences on the film set.

Despite arguments, Sam and Erika agreed on two things. First they expected the kind of professionalism that meant demonstrating more than affection and sensuality on the screen. Secondly they demanded palpable sexual intensity that would be felt by audiences on the big screen and small screen alike.

Jamie recently married and a father, considered himself a man with a healthy sex drive, yet he was being thrown into the naked arms of an attractive younger woman for months at a time. Almost five years earlier he was working as a model and lain almost naked in the arms of lingerie clad Eva Mendez, but that was a photo shoot over a few hours with clothing despite the controversy about the overtly sexual content of that Calvin Klein Fall marketing campaign.

Being in little or no clothing when in physical contact with Dakota, someone he considered a friend, over several months was temptation personified. He wondered if Sam and Erika fully understood the ramifications of what they were asking of him!

Dakota was nothing like classic cat-walk beauties Jamie was used to modelling with. Although her beauty wasn't conventional, she had a natural body that begged for a second look. Sexually provocative without trying. Her rosy lips took him on a different high with every kiss. The colour of her eyes were a combination of simmering blue sea and sparkling sapphires. Dakota's naturally rich silk hair was a warm brunette, perfect for his manly fingers to either run through or wrap around his hands. Her girl-next-door look and charm had unexpectedly wormed its way through his solid defences. They could talk for hours going over lines for the next day and sometimes fell asleep on the sofa. It felt like time dissolved unnoticed when he was in Dakota's company.

He was not alone. Ten months ago, during filming, a member of the film crew had told E! News about the onset bust ups between Sam and Erika. They let it be known that Dakota was nailing her role as Anastasia Steele and everyone on the film set loved her. The unnamed source was quoted in articles disseminated around the world, "Jamie Dorman is really protective over Dakota. She is very friendly and talks to everyone [crew, security, etc.] Jamie stays to himself and does not talk much. Jamie thinks Dakota gets really distracted, because she is so nice to people and so he will walk over to who she is talking to and try and end the conversation. He is nice about it, but he does ask them to leave her alone." It was supposed to be a closed film set but they were as leaky as WikiLeaks!

Dakota's voice interrupted Jamie's reverie.

"What do you think of my ring," Dakota asked lifting up her finely manicured left hand.

Showing off the single stone clear diamond engagement ring set on a white gold band threw Jamie for a loop. Rather than assess his feelings, he focused on her fingers. They were delicately feminine. He remembered interlocking his fingers against her left hand and squeezing it. He relived the rush of affection from the simple act of holding her hand. The memory was more vivid than the naked ones they did together. He did not have to hold back the flood of emotion that seeped through every fibre of his being when he was with Dakota and they were fully clothed.

"Careful how you wave that gigantic rock. Diamonds that size reflect colours so brilliantly it could blind someone," he joked trying to wear a serious expression even though a smile played at the corner of his lips. How did she do that? She stoked up his passions only for reality to dash them.

Dakota burst out laughing. She had missed his quirky sense of humour and distinctive Irish drawl.

"So you're really going through with it," he deduced from the ring. Their closeness had already led to Jordan Masterson ending a long term relationship with Dakota. The extra media attention especially articles speculating that Dakota was more attracted to her co star than her long term boyfriend were too much for Jordan to bear. Dakota was more distressed about the break up because it affected the relationship with her one of her closest friends Jordan's sister, Alanna. Jamie found Matthew Hitt more understanding of his unusually close working relationship with Dakota.

"You know Matt. He wouldn't take 'no' for an answer."

Jamie remembered sucking the full length of her ring finger during filming and his groin twitched at the memory. "I'd find it impossible saying 'no' to that sizeable rock nestled on your finger."

"My answer had nothing to do with the ring," Dakota said quietly, looking away. She had become uncharacteristically sensitive to comments from friends that the couple's relationship was doomed because it had blossomed in the shadow of Jamie and Fifty Shades of Grey. So what if she was attracted to Jamie, she was in a relationship with Matt and detractors would be proved wrong.

She deftly changed the topic. "I'm sore at you," she began.

"Now why would you go do a thing like that," he looked into her sapphire blue eyes that shimmered in the light. Dakota smiled holding his penetrative gaze. Jamie looked years younger and his features were so much more distinctive when he was clean shaven. Her eyes kept drifting to his face as they spoke.

"The Wedgewood dinner set you and Millie bought us is my favourite engagement gift. I would have preferred having you, Millie and Dulcie at our engagement party though."

"I did email."

"Did you now," Dakota replied sceptically, "social media can be rather impersonal when you want to look into a friend's eyes or reach out and touch them." Deep down she thought Jamie sent an email to avoid talking to her. It seemed like his way of distancing himself from her, amid conflicting media speculation of a sexual relationship and animosity between them. If only they knew. The truth of what was between them was more than could be understood by main stream media.

"Why don't we talk it over a pint? There's a special bottle of Irish whisky for later."

"There's a name for that," Dakota smiled impishly at Jamie.

"As if I'd placate you by plying you with alcohol."

"The thought did cross my mind. Just one pint though, since I have our day planned out."

"You are very strong willed for someone playing the role of a submissive," he joked.

"If I was submissive, I would make the Dominant wrestle for top position," Dakota held Jamie's gaze knowingly at the double entendre. The air around them crackled with the frisson of sexual tension.

She wasted no time throwing down the gauntlet. This was a challenge and there was no mistaking it. "Is that what you've planned for today," Jamie asked unnerved by the jolt of arousal that coursed through his body from the sexual innuendo. They were walking alongside each other towards the exit of the private airport and Jamie was all too aware of her presence next to him.

Dakota had phoned his cell phone twice and left messages in March to discuss the negative critical reviews for the Fifty Shades of Grey movie and to congratulate when he won Best Actor for 'The Fall' from the Broadcasting Press Guild. In April, she phoned again. Jamie had won the Irish Film and Television Awards for Best Lead Actor and Rising Star for 'The Fall'. His reply had been a deafening silence. She knew Jamie enough to acknowledge that BDSM naked scenes in the movie had left him conflicted even guilty about their physical contact.

She was a regular visitor to Jamie's temporary home in Vancouver. Millie and Dulcie were also regular visitors to the film set. In the four months of filming, Dakota had forged a great friendship with them. Dakota convinced herself that she was professional enough for physical contact with Jamie was so choreographed that it was no different from any acting task. It was perfunctory nothing more, nothing less.

The opposite was true of Jamie that had just become a recent father. He was so protective of Dakota being naked and vulnerable with so many eyes watching their intimacy that he sometimes had Dakota wear underwear that would make her appear nude even though she wasn't in some scenes. Preserving her modesty was important to Jamie. By his expression and actions after each scene, no one was in any doubt that Jamie was fiercely protective of her. But the camera had picked up his emotional conflict and detachment in their romantic and naked love scenes.

It became impossible to overlook Jamie's detachment at the end of March when the first footage of the film was shown at Las Vegas CinemaCon. The reaction from critics was 'luke warm'. They described the film and the love scenes as 'very PG-rated'.

They had now scheduled a few days in October to overcome barriers to their on screen performance eight months before. After all Fifty Shades of Grey was an adult movie project like no other. There were millions of fans with high expectations about the magnetic attraction and racy love scenes between their favourite characters, Christian and Ana. If the success of the first movie trailer was any indication, the movie had the potential to propel their careers into the stratosphere. Jamie had already noticed a change in how the cast and crew interacted with him. Gillian Anderson teased that Jamie's increasingly sexual pin up status was distracting. They didn't mind the extra media attention on the set of 'The Fall'.

Thinking about Gillian's comment brought Jamie back to the present. He hadn't yet responded to Dakota. Taking a deep breath challenging Dakota back playfully, "You can certainly try to wrestle for top position," Jamie.

"Let's see if that can be fitted into our ride. But since you offered me a free drink, we should start by stopping at a bar a few minutes from here," said Dakota as they walked towards the exit.

They emerged from the cool air conditioned airport concourse to a sunny bright, October day with a warm breeze shaking red and gold leaves free from the branches of trees. Dakota pointed to two charcoal coloured Arabian horses tethered just over a hundred feet away from the landing strips, in a green meadow with wild flowers to add flashes of colour to the landscape.

"Sure," Jamie agreed unflustered by her plans for the day or unexpected mode of transport. He watched Dakota's slender but curvaceous hips sway gently in that short leather dress captivating his attention.

He fastened the single piece of luggage on to the saddle. Before he could give Dakota a leg up, she swung herself gracefully onto her saddle. There was a flash of shapely naked legs and thighs from the short black leather dress as she straddled the horse beneath her. Jamie watched her feminine hands expertly gather the reins and set off on a trot.

Dakota was temptation personified. She made something as mundane as mounting a horse, erotic. Jamie swung unaided onto his saddle and spurred the spirited filly he was riding into a gentle gallop, quickly catching up with Dakota. The flash of leg, without any stockings straddling her mount was visually tantalising.

"Been thinking about the first time we met," Jamie initiated casual conversation.

"The audition, why," said Dakota making a sideways glance at him. She was striking as her tussled brunette hair billowed in the breeze.

"Auditions are my Achilles' heel, I rarely get called back," he smiled knowingly. Human beings had finely horned survival instincts that functioned on an unconscious level. They sensed danger when he was in the room but rationalised their fears with more rational explanations like a successful modelling career affected his ability to act or more recently that he played the sexiest serial killer on television. Rather than say that, Jamie said, "Yet after sending in a video of 'True Romance' not hearing anything for two or three months, I finally got the call while watching 'Storage Wars' on TV, my heavily pregnant wife having already succumbed to sleep. According to the media, your acting is getting special attention."

"We both asked for acting direction and each time you were advised to be an enigma for Anastasia Steele to unravel. When I first met you, you were incredibly calm and have a sense of humour that matched mine. I think your Bafta nominated performance on 'The Fall' gave you an edge over the competition. You're perfect to portray another sexy, intimidating and muscular character with a kink for bondage."

It was unnerving how right Dakota was, Jamie thought to himself mischievously but said, "Now that I've physically hit you, and hurt you enough to require medical attention...I won't lie about having some doubts about clinching the part."

"Don't you do far worse things on 'The Fall'?"

"I don't have months of intense, naked, love scenes on 'The Fall' even I though I am a little physical with Aisling Franciosi. The thousands of online anti-abuse petitions about what I do to you on Fifty Shades of Grey caught me off guard."

"Sam has an artistic vision that I trust. The movie is a romance first. Fans and critics will find the film has been tastefully adapted and empowers women. I'd not be surprised if you come out of all this an even bigger international success than you already are," Dakota laughed off Jamie's concerns about being typecast as a serial offender who preyed upon women.

The predator in him was bound to be found out. How would fans react when they found he put Dakota in hospital? Bless her cotton socks she was generous enough to turn a compliment about her into one about him. She worked prolifically balancing numerous acting projects, with modelling ones and celebrity appearances when she didn't have to.

Jamie wondered why when Dakota was not busy getting to know all the cast and crew, she completely immersed herself with work. She was more driven than many broke aspiring actors he knew. Yet she had individual wealth. Others in her position would most likely not work at all or if they did, would do minimum work.

"Have you been able to get a pet pig yet," he asked suddenly curious about what was happening in her life.

Throwing Jamie a surprised look Dakota sighed, "My filming and modelling schedules are gruelling," She didn't mean to be so open. "I mean, I'm rarely home. Zeppelin will have to wait sometime for a travel companion," she sighed. "By the way, the closest bar to the hiking trail only serves cold beers. Not the room-temperature variety you like."

"Been there before?"

"Sure! Actually, all the time with my parents, siblings and Matt."

"He's lucky to have you," Jamie said genuinely happy that she had someone.

"I'm lucky to have him. I don't know many men who stand by their partners after media speculations about infidelity and the prospect of seeing a lover's naked bodies exposed to millions," she thought out loud.

"You know me and I would stand by my wife," he paused before adding, "Remember when you'd come back in the evenings after a full day of filming, go over the next day's lines then collapse on the sofa with Millie and I in Vancouver."

"Sure, I especially remember how we would talk all night," her voice was soft and nostalgic, "Sometimes curl up by the fire in front of the flickering TV while you did late night runs for Millie's weird and wonderful food cravings."

In unison they said, "Mint chocolate ice cream on chicken drumsticks," they both burst out laughing at the memory.

"Millie regaled us with tales of starring in the BDSM movie 'Quills' at the tender age of seventeen. Quite radical for a seventeen year old and that was fourteen years ago," Jamie spoke with admiration in his voice. "My mates back home might never stop teasing me about getting my kit off and starring in an adult movie though," he smiled at her quizzical expression.

Dakota was relieved Jamie had not asked her if she had been affected by the anti abuse campaigners. She would not worry him about her recent security arrangements. Neither could she bring herself to say that her mother, Melanie did her first raunchy, butt naked love scenes in 'Night Moves' at the age of seventeen. That was thirty nine years ago! Before Jamie was a gleam in his father, Dr. Jim Dornan's eyes.

"I bet your mates won't laugh, if our movie is a box office hit."

"Aye, if we make a mint, I would be the one laughing all the way to the bank."

Dakota giggled at Jamie's typically British humour, "When that happens, I want someone special standing by me so it's two of us against the world."

"Freudian slip," he asked.

"What is," she answered his question with a question.

"You said, someone special standing by you. You didn't say you want Matt to stand by you."

"You know what I meant."

"Do I? When I was engaged, I never referred to my fiancée as someone," Jamie looked at her and added with a tone of concern, "Dakota you should think of marriage as a life sentence. You get to spend the rest of your life, the good times and the bad with your fiancé." He almost said 'ball and chain' but the expression was loaded with BDSM connotations. He didn't need more sexual stimulation as the air around them charged with the pheromones Dakota was releasing in the air. With his strength he just could literarily rip the leather dress off Dakota body with the ease of a sheet of paper and fulfil the fantasies setting off the physical manifestations of her sexual response.

"Don't do that," Dakota exclaimed.

"Do what? Voice doubts already in your subconscious?" Impatiently, Jamie changed the subject, "Is Matt joining us this weekend?"

"No, he's busy recording," she knew Millie wasn't going to be joining them straight away, "Will Millie and Dulcie join us later on in Vancouver?"

"Not unless she changes her mind, a fact she constantly reminds me is a woman's prerogative. I left Millie composing for her new album and showing Dulcie the ropes."

"Yeah, she mentioned something about that when she was here a few weeks ago. My mom began working on commercials at the age of nine months old, Dulcie's in good company."

"She's growing into an adorable little musical diva," Jamie smiled as any proud father would.

"Talking on Skype or FaceTime isn't enough, I miss seeing her grow," she conceded with a smile.

"You should have one of your own after you sort out your on and off relationship with Matt. Millie thinks that you're with him because he looks a little like me especially when clean shaven like I am now."

"Is that why you shaved," she smiled giving him the 'thou dost protest too much methinks' expression.

"Of course not," he replied pretending not to have any idea about what she was suggesting. Characteristically, she instinctively hit a raw nerve and had him on the defence.

"Some people make me feel like the long suffering TV character Molly Hooper who got engaged to a man who looked and dressed uncannily like Sherlock when Sherlock didn't return her feelings. Matt is nothing like you," Dakota spoke whilst bringing her spirited horse to a halt, dismounting and tethering it by a drinking trough. Matt could never make her feel exhilarated, terrified, sexy, funny, giddy, unsure all at the same time. "Do you want to know what I think?"

"Go on, tell me," Jamie said doing the same to the three year old filly he was riding.

As they walked into the bar together, Dakota said, "You and I just happen to have a lot in common. We both make a living from fashion modelling and acting. We're both in a relationship with a professional musician. We're simply two people with remarkably similar interests and happen to be attracted to the same kind of people..."

"Don't forget that I was a musician and in a band called 'Sons of Jim'..."

How could she? Dakota thought to herself. The sound of the deep timbres in Jamie's voice were a turn on. Where ever they went, men and women openly stared at him. When he spoke, it was like a hush descended on the room as ears strained to hear the vibrating, base enhanced voice. What defence did mere mortals have against such sex appeal?

When Jamie glanced at Dakota, he noted the fiery challenge in her sea coloured, sapphire blue eyes. If she chose to enter a long term relationship with Matt, to do it armed with the facts. Dakota struck Jamie as lonely especially as she licked her full lips accentuated by lipstick and erect nipples pressing against the tip of her figure hugging dress. Dakota may not be conscious of it but she was desperate for sexual attention.

"I promised you a drink and I'll be back before you know it," Jamie placed a masculine hand over hers a moment before rising to get their drinks.

Dakota walked to the juke box and selected a melancholy, slow rhythm, country number. The haunting strands pulsated in the small bar echoing her mood. She waved at Craig, who was tending the bar and serving several customers. Dakota saw Elspeth serving a meal to a family table. She went over to give Elspeth a warm bear hug and kiss on both cheeks. Even at the height of her mother and step father's fame, the family had privacy in the bar of her life long friend's parents and amongst the locals.

Jamie who bought their drinks, carried them to the table furthest away from the entrance. He found her alone at the table sombre and contemplative. "Dakota, I am a plain speaking man. You've given your heart to Matt and that should be enough."

Why did Jamie saying just what she wanted to hear hurt even more? He was married and out of reach except when they were working. "Is that your way of apologising," she smiled challenging him to say otherwise.

He merely smiled enigmatically as if his life's experiences gave him knowledge far beyond Dakota's comprehension, "Let's toast to Matt and our reunion."

"To Matt and our reunion," she echoed.

"Cheers," he said as they clicked their glasses.

"Did you know I could ride," he asked conversationally.

"I have it on good authority that you ride well," Dakota smiled conspiratorially, "some of the most beautiful sights here are best enjoyed on horseback."

Jamie smiled at this. The most beautiful sight he had seen that day was Dakota sitting astride a spirited horse. Just then, Jamie's cell phone rang. She pointed towards two men having an animated conversation by a mechanical saddled horse.

Jamie remained at the table, cell phone pressed to his ear engrossed in a conversation with London based PublicEye communications. Jamie was consulting his press representatives about the gathering momentum of the abuse campaigners, film and marketing advertisement campaigns timed to follow them in Vancouver. His eyes sought and picked out Dakota from a small gathering of people.

What Jamie saw made him shoot to his feet, his jaw literarily dropping to the floor in shock.

Thanks for stopping by and reading this chapter. If you enjoyed it, spread the word by voting, commenting below...if you can, tweet and blog about it too!

Want to keep informed of updates as they happen, add @Love Scenes to your reading list. Love y'all! AS x