Untamed (Thoughtless #4)(80)



Harold’s smile was sympathetic, like he understood. “Yes, that part can be a bit…tiresome. But anyway, the news I have for you will make all the mingling worth it.” Clasping his hands together, he looked between Anna and me with an expectant smile. Since I still didn’t know what the big deal was, I paused in my putt to make an irritated Get on with it gesture with my hand. “Well, as you know from past experience, the VMAs are soon approaching. I was able to get you an invitation and appearance on the red carpet. The real red carpet,” he said, jerking his thumb toward the front of the house.

“The Video Music Awards?” I asked, confused. “What does that have to do with our TV show?”

“Nothing,” he admitted. “But you’re an up-and-coming celebrity, and the show attracts all sorts of guests, not just the musical ones.”

My mind was reeling with alcohol, and his words were slow to process. All I knew was that he was telling me I was going to be on a televised awards show. Sounded like fun. Anna was quicker on the draw though, and she spotted something that I should have seen right away. “The D-Bags will be there.”

Her smile was so bright after she said it, I was sure passing planes would see it if we were still outdoors. My expression wasn’t quite so joyful. Letting go of the putter, I crossed my arms over my chest. “The D-Bags will be there,” I repeated, my eyes only on Harold. He had to have known that when he’d signed us on. I did not want to be anywhere those guys might be.

Before Harold could respond to my statement, Anna grabbed my elbow. “Griff, don’t be like that. Maybe this is a good thing, a way to mend the rift between everybody. I know you miss them, and they miss you too…”

That comment made me scowl. “Those f*ckers don’t miss me, they don’t give a shit about me. They wrote me off. I’m not going anywhere they’re gonna be.”

“You don’t have to see them or make an appearance with them,” Harold interjected. “But it will add extra hype to the show if you’re at the same ceremony as the D-Bags. Everybody will be talking about it, and the more exposure the better.”

The fact that he’d planned this for the hype made me purse my lips. “And if we do meet up, and somebody gets slugged?”

Harold’s face broke into a one-sided grin. “The more exposure the better. You want to be a star, don’t you? And besides, this could help get you on the air faster.”

An irritated huff escaped my lips. I wanted to say yes to his statement and no to his request, but I couldn’t really do that. Anna didn’t voice her argument again, but she squeezed my arm, silently asking me to say yes. “Ugh, fine. You guys win. I’ll go to the stupid awards show.”

His smile widened and he patted my shoulder. “Great! Now, keep on pimping your show. Everyone in that room should know who you are and be excited that they know you.”

Puffing my chest out, I grabbed Anna’s hand. “Yeah, yeah they should.”

Harold opened the doors and left. I was about to follow him when Anna pulled on my hand, holding me back. “Babe…quick question.”

I looked over at her with a raised eyebrow. “Yeah?”

“I’m a little drunk, so maybe I misunderstood, but…when he said the VMAs could get you on the air faster…what did he mean? Isn’t your show airing in September?”

Remembering that I’d purposely not mentioned that conversation with her, I stumbled for something to say that wouldn’t piss her off. She’d call me a liar again if she knew that I’d known about the show being pushed back for a while now. “Yeah…that was weird, huh? I’ll ask Harold about it next time I see him. Maybe he just meant they’d debut it in August or something.” Well, f*ck. There went my personal goal to not lie to her again. I needed the out though, and this gave me time to prep her for the bad news.

Like the awesome wife she was, she completely bought the crap I was selling her…which made me feel like shit. I should fess up, but that would just worry her, and she’s having such a good time right now. I’ll do it later. “Oh, okay…well, should we get back out there? Make some waves?”

She said that with a giggle and a shimmy of her hips, and suddenly going back out to that party was the last thing I wanted to do. Holding Anna in place, I looked back at the office door. Harold had left it ajar, but it was closed enough for what I had in mind.

I pushed her back until the tops of her thighs pressed against the massive desk in the room. Hands on either side of her, I pinned her against the about-to-be-well-used furniture. “You are way too hot to stay in that dress.”

It took her a second to focus on me, and I knew she was buzzing just as hard as I was. “Oh yeah…what are you going to do about it?” she asked. Her finger ran along the deep V of her neckline, emphasizing the breasts I wanted to suck on.

I turned her around so I could get to her zipper. As I pulled it down, I whispered in her ear, “I’m going to peel it off you, then lay you down on this desk and make you come so hard, everyone at this party will hear you. And when they hear you screaming for more, I’ll be a god in their eyes.” The zipper went all the way down the dress, and when I got to the bottom, it practically fell off her.

Heat in her eyes, she turned to face me. “You’re already a god. That’s why just the thought of you in me does this…” She took my hand and shoved it into her underwear. I instantly twisted my hand so I could feel how much she wanted me. She let out an erotic moan as I slid against her.

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