“Pleasedon’t look at me with those eyes while I’m trying to recover from something like that.” His hands pulled at histrousers uncomfortably. “It’s like you’re asking me to come undone right in front of you. Again.”
She cleared her throat. Her eyes became skittish as they couldn’t decide where to focus: his eyes, hands, orpants.“Um…where will you be the entire night? Will I be able to find you?”
He gave a weak smile. “I’ll find you.”
She gave him a look.
“I’m an investor in the film,” he revealed. “My appearance tonight is not just for pleasure. And it won’t seem odd for me to talk to you because of it.”
“Wait…” One finger was held up by her as she registered what was just said. “You invested in my movie?”
Emily didn’t need to be given a verbal confirmation by the way he froze. “You did.”
He gave a compelling smile as he drew her into him. “Don’t be angry.” She blinked. “It was only to ensure that it had as much financial support as needed?—”
“What more financial support would it need?”
“You’d be surprised. I just took the necessary precautions. It’s nice to move into a new house, but what’s the point if the roof over your head isn’t sturdy enough? I wanted to provide that…insurance for you in case of anything.”
Her mouth opened, but he continued. “If I said the decision was entirely about you, I’d be lying. I was being selfish too. Your name carries weight, and I’m well aware of how much buzz this movie got just because you were cast. I wanted to benefit from that success, so I invested a small percentage. Strictly business.”
It was adorable. His excuse.Oh, Nico.
Her lips found his sweetly. Her heart raced with how moved she was. He deserved this kiss and a thousand more with how thoughtful he was.
Her mind engraved every movement as if it was the first time, her skin igniting as much as her soul.
Kissing Nicolas was like being given a one-way ticket to heaven.
She suddenly erupted into laughter against his lips. “I don’t know whether to be amazed or concerned by how you can go from smoking hot to downright adorable in seconds.”
“Adorable again? Really, Em?”
Her mouth pecked his before pulling away. “Consider it a talent.”
“Yeah?” he mused.
“Yeah.”
His thumb swiped across his mouth. His brows raised at her lipstick stain on his fingers. “God, I can still taste you in my mouth. Absolutely mind-blowing.”
Emily gasped. “Oh no! Jamie is gonna kill me if I ruin this look!” Her feet rushed to the full-length mirror in horror.
“Who’s Jamie?”
“My designer and makeup artist, you brute!”
“I get called a brute after you’re the one who seduced me?” he grumbled. “You drive a hard bargain, wife.”
As said,Emily took a separate vehicle from Nicolas to the event. It saddened her to great depths, their incognito relationship status hitting harder than ever. The moment her limousine pulled up, the cameras pointed towards it. The red carpet was littered with reporters.
Don’t Break My Spiritwas one of the year’s most anticipated films, so it was no surprise they turned even the wrap party into a spectacle.
Instead of nausea like the last time, the blinding lights brought a sense of excitement. When she stepped out, it had caused an eruption. Cameras flashed, screams sounded, people gasped and gathered close.
Emily had been waiting for this moment for so long. A moment in which she enjoyed having eyes on her again. And something to back it. As if it was second nature, the actress elegantly waved to the paparazzi and onlookers.
Reporters were so eager to get to her that they tripped over each other. Before any triumphant ones could even get close to her, Talia made an appearance.
