My woman sighs as she places her forehead against the window of the passenger seat. I look over at her briefly. Her lips are pursed and she’s squeezing down on her leg.
I caution myself to turn back to the road.
The sight of her fingers buried in her flesh gets my need stirring again, my balls aching. My body, far from being satisfied, demands more and more now that I’ve had a taste of her.
She makes me insatiable, ravenous.
“Not happy to be back in the city?” I ask.
She laughs drily. “How could you tell?”
“Oh, just the general poutiness.”
She giggles and shoots me a look. “Out there, we could pretend it all didn’t exist. Like I didn’t walk out on my job and Lisa isn’t going to be furious with me. And you didn’t abandon the show. But it’s not like we can pretend anymore, is it?”
“No.” I sigh. “You’re right. We need to fix this.”
“Has Jack been in contact?”
I nod. “When you were in the shower this morning… the shower, by the way, it took all my willpower not to interrupt.”
“I wanted to,” she says, placing her hand on my forearm. “But seriously I don’t think I could’ve handled it again.”
I smirk. “I know. It’s okay. I’ve worked you pretty hard, haven’t I?”
She tightens her grip on my arm. “That last time, this morning… did I look silly?”
I clench my jaw when I remember how I rolled over and she sat atop me, her hands clasping mine as she bounced up and down on my rod.
“You looked incredible,” I tell her honestly. “You never have to question that with me.”
“Thank you,” she murmurs. “And sorry if it seems like I’m fishing for compliments.”
“Seems like?” I tease. “You mean you’re trying to say you’re not?”
She laughs. “So what did Jack say?”
“We discussed a tactic that might work. The whole point of the show was to show the public I’m not a grumpy bastard. Well, that failed. Think about it. I was never interested in those women, to begin with, but before I laid eyes on you, I thought I might be able to pretend. But after that, there was no damn way. I knew you were the only one for me. The show was doomed.”
“So what are you going to do?” she asks softly.
I swallow as uncharacteristic nerves tighten my gut. “I can’t say.”
“Okay, Mr. Mysterious… Why not?”
“Do you trust me, Kyra?”
“Yes,” she says without pause. “I do. Completely. Maybe that makes me crazy or maybe it doesn’t, but there it is.”
“If you trust me, I need you to wait until we’re at the studio.”
I bring the car to a stop in the heavy traffic on the bridge, giving me a chance to look over at her. She’s staring at me in that classic captivating just-Kyra way, with her eyes wide and her lips shaping something between a smile and a frown.
“Is it good?” she asks.
“I hope so.”
She lets go of my arm and places her hands in her lap. “I just hope, whatever it is, it makes Lisa calm down a little. She made it clear when she gave me this job that she was doing me a favor, giving me a chance to show her I’m serious about wanting to work in this industry.”
“I hope it does too,” I say. “But even if she decides to hold a grudge, I’ll support you. You’ll be able to follow your dreams. Do you want to go to film school? Or do you want to get started straight away?”
“I’d love to go to film school. I’ve got the grades. My career counselor said it would be a perfect fit for me. But obviously…”
“Money isn’t a problem for you now,” I tell her passionately. “It never will be again. Give it some thought. Do some research. I’m with you every step of the way.”
We drive in silence for a time, as the traffic eases and I’m able to drive us through the city. That clamping feeling in my gut won’t go away, a tight ball like a fist, as I think about the show later. It’s going to be the most significant thing I’ve ever done.
Jack was all for it when I told him, and then he asked me if I’m sure I want to do this. “What if it’s too much, too soon?”
“She means everything to me. She’s the only woman I’ll ever want.”
That was all the answer he needed.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Kyra
Lisa stands at the rear of the studio with me as the set designers rush around, spreading rose petals all over the floor. They leave a section of the stage clear for where Kayden is going to stand.
I slide my hands over my stomach, risking a look at Lisa. She’s hardly spoken to me since Kayden and I arrived, though she’s made a point to stay close to me, as though she wants to prevent me from doing any more damage to the show.