One Wild Night (Hollywood Chronicles #1)(33)

With me.

I offer her an encouraging smile in return. “Ready?”

Wit is her trademark, and I'd expect nothing less from her in this moment. “As I'll ever be.”

“Then let's do this.” I slide out of the back seat carefully, never dropping her hand. The moment my feet hit the ground, the yelling, screaming, and flashes of light begin. I raise my right hand to offer the press a short wave as I help Kaylee exit the car as gracefully as possible in a floor length fitted gown.

She pulls herself tightly to my side as she puts a giant smile on her face. She's made for this. Her red lips are pulled to perfection as her eyes twinkle in the light bulb flashes.

“Kaylee!” The yells begin for her now. Security ushers us slowly down the red carpet to the step and repeat backdrop where we’ll stand for pictures.

“Keep smiling, Kaylee. This is where I want you to focus on one thing and don't take your eyes off it. The lights will blind you if you try to look at the cameras.”

We step up to the wall, standing in front of a giant image of my face from the movie poster. Kenneth stands off to the side, waiting to take us to the press line.

He arrived in a separate car just ahead of us. A clipboard pressed tightly to his chest, he smiles proudly as Kaylee does exactly as she's been told. Kenneth works the press line like a pro, getting me in and out in less than ten minutes.

“That wasn't so bad, was it?” I growl in Kaylee's ear as we're ushered to our seats in the theater.

With a small laugh, her lips pull upward. “Maybe for you. For me it was pure torture.”

“Get used to it. This is the first of many,” I respond, reassuring Kaylee that this is exactly where I want her. By my side. Tonight. Tomorrow. Forever? I shake the thought from my head and turn my attention to the screen just as the lights begin to fall.



The applause is startling…humbling actually. Cheers, whistles, and hoots fill the theater as the credits roll. My heart pounds and my cheeks flush at the standing ovation. Kaylee leans in and presses a sweet, long kiss to my lips. “Simply amazing,” she says, her soft lips brushing mine as she speaks.

“You think so?” I ask, and she nods her head swiftly.

“Except for that part where you were naked in bed with that—”

My laugh cuts her off. “I like it when you're jealous. It's cute.”

“Not jealous, just—” She pauses, thinking about how she's going to position this.

I answer for her. “Jealous. And I love it.” I've been throwing that love word around a lot today, and it's totally unlike me. She rolls her eyes and smirks. Kenneth weaves through the crowd, his head bobbing up and down through the mass of people. When he finally reaches us, he wraps his hand around Kaylee's arm, tugging her gently toward him.

“I'm going to take you with me to the green room. Everyone wants to congratulate Pax, and it's safer there.”

I know exactly what he means by safer. Safer from the press. Safer from Kendall, who's lurking nearby, and safer from the overwhelming atmosphere that movie premiere's entail. Kenneth senses Kaylee’s unease, and honestly, the faster I can bullshit with these people, the sooner we can be out of here. The people can be stifling. I appreciate Kenneth looking out for Kaylee, and I shoot him an appreciative glance.

I pull Kaylee to me, wrapping my arms around her waist. Her entire body hums at my touch. I can't wait to be buried inside her again in a couple of hours. I grow hard thinking about the way her entire body quivers when she comes, or how her back arches when I slide into her.

I drop my forehead to hers, and she closes her eyes. “Go with Kenneth. I won't be long.” She sighs and kisses the side of my mouth. “And in no more than two hours, I want those lips wrapped around my cock again.”

“Pax,” she hisses and slaps my chest jokingly.

“I'm serious. I want all of you, Kaylee.” Her lips, her body, her heart. What the fuck has happened to me?

“Then all of me you'll have.” She pulls back, her eyes finding mine. She could tell a million stories with those eyes. I see her fear, but also her sincerity. She's like no one else I've ever met. Kenneth reaches for her arm, pulling us out of our moment.

“I'll take good care of her. Now go mingle.” He pats her arm and waves me off. I watch him guide her toward the side exit of the theater, and I’m anxious to get this over with so I can get back to my girl.





Chapter 17





Kaylee





“I hope you’ll be comfortable in here. Paxton shouldn’t be too awfully long.” Kenneth hovered at the green room door, as if he were torn between staying there to watch over me and stepping back out with Paxton where he really belonged.

I threaded my fingers together. “I’ll be fine, thank you.”

He gestured with his chin toward the elaborate wooden buffet that was set up against the far wall. “Help yourself to whatever you need. And if you need anything else, call.”

Warmth spread through my chest, and I nodded back as a small smile touched the corner of my mouth. “Thank you for watching out for me. I truly appreciate it.”

With a curt nod, he exited the room and let the door fall shut behind him. It muted the bustle of voices and laughter that filtered in through the main room. Voices and laughter that vied for the attention of the man who had somehow managed to steal all of mine.