Walking to the white screen with Amelia at my side, looking extremely uncomfortable, we get into several coupley poses that have my entire body tense as she hovers above me and wraps her legs around my waist tightly.
They might as well have caused my own death once they direct me to sit my ass down on the ground with Amelia straddling my torso, one hand around my neck and the other lying on my bare chest, my arms supporting my propped-up body from behind.
As if we weren’t both super tense already from this position, the photographer utters, “Kiss.”
We both freeze as everyone waits around us, thinking we’re dating. Normal couples kiss all the time, but we’re anything but normal, and this is practically digging our graves.
This is what I’ve been waiting for, right?
The first time I lay my lips on hers, I want it to be real. I don’t want our first kiss to be fake because of our current relationship. I want it to be private without the moment being captured for millions of people to see.
I want her to want me, want this, need it.
Not do it because it’s expected of us.
And I’m angry that the decision is being taken from us. Of course we have to kiss now. It would look weird if a couple denied showing their passionate embrace.
I was angry about our fake dating arrangement, but I’m furious that our first intimate moment is going to be ruined.
Why do I even care? I shouldn’t.
Amelia’s erotic eyes bore into my own as she bites her lip, looking nervous as we both feel several pairs of curious gazes pinned on us, waiting eagerly.
A couple of seconds pass between us as we wait for who’ll make the first move, but after a while, I can’t take it anymore. I close the remaining distance between us and hear Amelia’s breath catch in her throat when I brush my lips over her slightly parted ones. She whispers my name before I open my mouth on top of hers and lick into the kiss, battling her tongue with mine. She lets out a quiet, choked whisper.
I can’t stop for the life of me. She’s even softer than she looks, and she tastes fruity, like the ripest fruit on a steamy summer day. Our bodies press together heatedly, and we both breathe heavily. I feel the thud of our combined heartbeats. Her lips move over mine in a possessive, claiming way, and I let myself drown in her arms because she’s the best medication for my heart that this world could possibly offer. Her hand moves from my chest to my neck as I grip her waist tightly, not knowing what to do with my hands. I feel like I’m drowning and she’s my safety boat, pulling me out of my own personal hell.
The clicking of a camera breaks me out of this kiss. Abruptly pulling away when I want to stay more than anything. Amelia tries to follow my lips, but I squeeze her waist, denying my personal heaven.
Denying it for now.
“Oh my God,” she whispers under her breath, sitting straight on my lap as my hard-on aches underneath her bum.
My stupid dick is not hiding his need for the pretty girl on top of us.
“That was amazing!” the photographer yells. “Absolutely amazing. You can feel the passion through the picture!”
I don’t doubt him, not in the slightest.
CHAPTER30
AMELIA
For days, I haven’t been able to get that kiss out of my mind. The kiss that was supposed to be fake but felt anything but that.
The tension in my belly increased astronomically when the pictures came out. I stared. For literal hours. I was sure the entire world was shocked because the picture went viral minutes after its release. I couldn’t blame everyone for their obsession. The pictures were hot. I wanted to print them out and tattoo them in my brain. It almost felt like they shouldn’t have been shared with the world.
My brothers nearly passed out when they saw it, but Trinity was a different story. She was bouncing around the room in excitement and happiness. It was pretty cute. I don’t know how Trinity calmed Leonidas down from going to the studio and destroying everyone in his path, but she somehow made him relaxed enough to be able to think.
I don’t even want to know …
Even I have to admit, this is absolutely insane. People are loving this, eating up our relationship like they’re starved. Most of the comments are positive and uplifting. However, some crazy fans are pointing their fingers at me and making sure I know they’re angry that I’m dating their favorite singer. I knew when the press released pictures of me half-naked, I’d see the worst comments I could ever imagine. But it’s ten times worse. People are acting like they don’t know I’m a human with feelings. They point out my ribs that you can see, my thighs and arms that are too skinny. Everything I am insecure about.
There’s always something to say.
I didn’t even re-download Instagram. I just sneaked into Elijah’s phone and went to my page and read all my comments. I shouldn’t have done that. It’s like I want to torture myself.
Shaking off the bile that feels like its making its way up my throat, I zip up my packed suitcase as our ride to the airport almost arrives. We’re leaving for our concert that’s two days away. I packed everything I could think of, but once I leave, I know I’ll remember something I forgot to bring.
