VICTORIOUS (A Quantum Novel)(59)

I pose with the other nominees in this year’s class, and the picture probably starts hitting social media before we leave the room.

After the luncheon, Natalie and I return to a suite upstairs, where we’ll spend tonight after the Oscar Nominees Night party at Spago. I’m exhausted after the restless night without much sleep as well as the two glasses of Bowmore I had at the luncheon.

Natalie presents her back to me to unzip the dress. She’s got another dress, a black one this time, hanging in the closet for tonight. She made a joke on the way into town that God forbid she show her face in Hollywood wearing the same dress at two different events on the same day.

I kiss her shoulders and the side of her neck. “How’re you feeling?” I ask, really wanting to know if her period has arrived.

“I’ve still got cramps, but otherwise I’m fine. You?”

“Tired. I couldn’t sleep last night.”

“Do we have time for a nap?”

“You’re reading my mind, sweetheart.” While I remove my suit, she goes around closing the blinds. It occurs to me that every other woman I’ve ever dated would want to spend this afternoon by the pool, using me and my celebrity to see and be seen. Natalie is proving once again that she is exactly perfect for me—and with me for all the right reasons.

We remove the rest of our clothes and crawl into bed together, coming together in a tangle of arms and legs. Though I’ve yet to make love to my gorgeous bride today, the need for sleep is trumping my need for sex. “I love being naked in bed with you, even if all we’re doing is sleeping.”

“Mmm, me, too. Before I met you I didn’t like being naked in the shower,” she says with a laugh that makes me laugh, too. “Now I feel like I spend half my life naked.”

“Want to go for three-quarters?”

She kisses me and runs her fingers through my hair. “Get some sleep while you can. It’s going to be another late night.”

I close my eyes, breathing in the scent of my love, and fall asleep, thinking about the special surprise I have for her tonight.





I’m putting on the jewelry Flynn gave me before the Golden Globes when he comes into the bedroom carrying a small gift bag.

“For you.” He holds out the bag, which I eye with trepidation.

“That had better not be anything sparkly.”

“It might be kinda sparkly.”

He is boyishly handsome in yet another well-cut suit that shows off his broad shoulders and trim waist. Looking at him is one of my favorite things to do. It doesn’t matter if he’s fresh out of bed or turned out for a night on the town, he’s always stunning.

I take the bag from him. “I reserve the right to return this if it’s too much.”

“Okay.”

I remove a small package wrapped in pink tissue paper, revealing a tiny piece of cloth. All I can see are the jewels encrusted on the fabric. “Those had better not be diamonds or anything in the diamond family.”

“They’re crystals. Hold it up.”

I remove the item from the paper, and that’s when I see it’s not jewelry. It’s lingerie. Very fancy panties. A thong, to be more specific. “It’s beautiful.”

“Will you wear it for me tonight?”

“Sure.” I’m eager to please him even if I’ve never been a big fan of thongs. “Where did you get it?”

“A high school friend of Ellie’s runs the most exclusive lingerie shop in Beverly Hills. That’s where I get everything.”

“And you trust her to keep your secrets?”

“Delany keeps everyone’s secrets, which is why her business is booming.”

“When did you go shopping?”

“I didn’t.”

“Let me guess—you made a phone call.”

“Yep, and this one didn’t involve Addie.”

“Thank God.”

“So you’ll wear that tonight?”

“Yes! Now go away and let me finish getting ready.”

“Yes, dear.” He kisses me and leaves the room, Fluff trailing behind him. They seem to have gotten past their spat, which is a relief. Flynn didn’t blink an eye when I brought her with me today. He certainly has people on his payroll who could take care of her for me, but I don’t want others caring for her. Not when I can do it.

I reach under my dress and remove my panties and step into the thong. The string settles between my cheeks, which I normally don’t like, but after having worn a plug for hours, the thong doesn’t bother me as much as it used to. I finish getting ready and load the clutch Tenley said would go perfectly with the black dress. I take my phone, tampons (just in case) and lipstick.