The photographers go nuts as soon as we appear, immediately starting to screech.
“YOU LOOK STUNNING BRIAR, WORK THAT DRESS!”
“GIVE US AN OVER-THE-SHOULDER, BRIAR!”
“WHO’S THE LUCKY MAN!?!”
“TO YOUR LEFT, BRIAR! LEFT! TO YOUR LEFT!”
“GIVES US A SMILE, HONEY!”
Cameras flash all around us as we pose against the logo-studded backdrop. I glance down at Briar, checking for any signs of anxiety, but she seems relaxed enough. She looks stunning tonight. She’s wearing this glimmery rose-gold gown that dips low in the back. Her hair is loose, falling in soft, pale-blonde waves, and her makeup is light and shimmery. There’s a deep flush on her cheekbones, and her lips look wet and pink.
Overall, she looks unbelievable.
Briar notices me studying her and tugs my elbow. I dip so she can put her lips by my ear, gritting my teeth as her sweet scent washes over me. She smells like sugar and vanilla. It’s not the kind of perfume I’d expect a grown woman to pick out, and for some reason, that just makes it sweeter. She’s wandering around these events, glaring at people like a cold-hearted bitch, but her hair smells like cupcakes.
“Are you okay?” She murmurs, her lips brushing my skin.
I blink. “Yes. You?”
She nods.
“COME ON LOVEBIRDS!” One of the photographers roars. “GIVE US A KISS!”
“KISS HER! OVER HERE, FACE THIS WAY!”
“GIVE US A NICE SHOT OF YOU TOGETHER!”
Briar sighs against my neck. “That okay?”
“Sure,” I mutter, and she tilts her head, brushing her lips over mine. I hold still as the photographers whoop and cheer and snap away, trying to ignore the softness of her breasts and stomach against my body as she presses closer.
Far too soon, she pulls away, turning back to the crowd without a word. I close my eyes for a second, readjusting my pants to try and hide the growing issue between my legs.
My earpiece suddenly fizzes.“We have a problem,”Kenta mutters in my ear.
I frown, automatically coming to stand closer to Briar. She glances up at me as our bodies press together, licking her lips slightly. “You seen him?”
“No. But Colette just dinged me. X has posted on Princess’s social media pages.”
“That’s good. It’ll give the cyber team something to go off.”
“No,”Kenta says slowly.“He postedonher pages. He hacked into two of her accounts and postedasher.”
Shit.
Briar drifts a few feet away to get some solo shots, and I hook my phone out of my pocket, quickly navigating to one of her socials. My heart drops into my stomach. “The goddamnpervert,” I growl, staring at the stumpy, swollen penis on my phone screen. Underneath is a message:
Good evening, my darling. I love the lipstick you’re wearing tonight. I can’t wait until I finally get inside that pretty mouth. X
I glance around the carpet. Half of the reporters have their phones out. I see one journalist turn to her cameraman and point right at Briar.I’m not surprised. Every news station here will have alerts set up for when the stars post tonight.
There’s another roar from the photography pit as the next celeb walks out, and Julie hurries me and Briar off the carpet. Briar takes one look at my face and sighs. “It’s X, isn’t it?” She says flatly.
I nod.
She pushes forward, leaning over my arm to see my phone. When I pull it out of her view, she frowns, glaring at me. “Tell me. This is my safety we’re talking about. Mybody.I have a right to know if I’m in danger.”
