Page 112 of Now Their Starlet

“Curiosity killed the pussycat,” Everett huffs, his eyes trailing over me as we stop at a stop sign. “In more ways than one.”

“I think it’s just curiosity killed the cat,” I say weakly.

“I said what I said,” he chuckles.

He turns the volume up on whatever electronic music playlist he has going, and I spend the rest of the ride trying to work through the ridiculous jumble of thoughts bouncing around in my mind.

“We’re here,” he says, pulling into a numbered parking spot in the private parking garage of the building. It’s underground so the celebrities who come here can get in and out without being hunted down by paparazzi.

“What’s going through that pretty head of yours, Honey?”

I take a deep, steadying breath, reaching out and gently taking his hand.

“I—I’ve been giving it some thought, and I—I want you to know that I’m not as fragile as you think.”

“Honey—”

“No, I’m serious. Don’t honey me unless you’re doing it in a sexy, way. Not the babying kind of way. I’m not stupid, and Beck and Leo have mentioned enough stuff about you offhandedly for me to get a good idea of what you’re into and why you haven’t wanted to do anything more than kiss.”

He nods slowly, seemingly taking in my words. My shoulders relax ever so slightly, knowing he’s at least taking me seriously.

“I like control, Honey. Need it—to a certain extent. And you’ve just survived an experience where all your autonomy was stripped from you. The last thing I want is to introduce you to a world you’re not ready for.”

“Shouldn’t—shouldn’t I get to decide when and what I’m ready for?”

I’m not sure why I’m being so insistent. Maybe it’s because I can’t stand the sight of him looking like he’s preparing for me to reject him. This obviously means a lot to him, or else he wouldn’t be as hesitant as he’s being now. I’ve never seen him like this in any other aspect of life.

Maybe it’s because I’m a little frustrated at the idea that he thinks I don’t want it, don’t want him, when that’s the furthest thing from the truth. Ever since he walked into that studio, when Beck first showed me his lead single all those months ago, I’ve felt ridiculously attracted to him. And with everything that has happened since, and how delicate he has been with me, I feel like I can really trust him.

“Yes, of course, but that’s not—” he scrubs a hand down his face. “I’m just worried I’ll be too much for you.”

“Look... I know I’m not the most experienced girl in general, let alone with kinky stuff, but isn’t the whole point of that kinda thing choice?”

“It is.” His expression darkens as he takes in the sincerity of my words. “And are you saying you want to choose this part of me?”

“Yeah,” I nod.

“You don’t even know what that entails,” he growls.

“Then why don’t you explain it to me?”

“You need to be careful saying things like that, looking as tempting as you do now.”

I barely have the opportunity to process his words before he’s reaching out and unbuckling my seatbelt so he can haul me over the center console with a large hand at the back of my neck. The pussycat talk from earlier has the imagery of someone scruffing a kitten popping in my mind.

My hand lands on his thigh to balance myself, my hip resting on the center console before his lips fall onto mine. This isn’t like the soft goodbye kisses he’s offered me before going to work. This one is primal. Possessive.

His tongue is quick to lick at the seam of my lips, encouraging them to part for him.

His hand at the back of my neck trails around until it’s resting against the front of it like it’s a sexy necklace. With his free hand, he trails a hand down my free arm until he’s gripping my wrist and guiding my hand to rest on top of his.

I instantly register why when the hand that’s around my neck starts squeezing. I can still breathe, but the pressure makes my blood thrum through my veins, pulsing against my temples. The heady rush makes me moan into his lips. I squeeze his wrist, where he’s holding me, but I don’t pull him away.

I think he’s testing me. Jumping to something he assumes that I’ll tap out of, considering my spotty past when it comes to having an alpha’s hand around my neck. But to my surprise, I feel no fear.

I think I’m too turned on to feel fear, or maybe it’s just that I know he would never do anything to actually hurt me.

My hand on his rock-hard thigh offers him a little squeeze before trailing closer to between his legs. My late-night orgasm sessions with Leo and Beck have made me more feel confident, more…bold. I’m a girl who knows what she wants and when she wants it.