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DREW
I felt ridiculous,but if Kate liked this look, I'd try to channel my inner bad boy. The bad boy that was locked away under so many layers, I didn't know if I'd be able to pull him out without seeming pathetic.
But Kate's eyes seemed to linger on my arms more than they had in the past…so maybe this getup would help me in the long run.
Feeling encouraged, I drew in a deep breath and stood with as much confidence as I could muster. Bad guys were usually über confident.
I ran through the scene in my mind, trying to embrace Treven's character. I really did want this to be helpful to Kate, so I’d do my best.
"He's gone." I pretended to open a door and walked through it before walking up to Kate and pretending to unlock imaginary chains from her wrists. "I'm sorry we have to keep you locked up like that."
Kate's face turned to stone.Wow, she’s really good at this.
"Are you really?" Her voice was full of hatred. "If you were sorry you wouldn't keep locking me up."
I slouched, hoping to put off a defeated vibe. "I’m sorry." I reached for one of her wrists and pretended like I was feeling along her chains. And when I looked into her eyes, something took over me. I felt light and confident, like for the first time in my life I could actually move through a scene without overthinking it.
Kate was a girl I'd kidnapped. She was scared. She'd been ripped away from her family and friends, held hostage by me. I had no right to think she could forgive me for this. But when I was with her, I wanted nothing more than to take her in my arms and make her feel safe again.
"I'm trying to keep you safe. You need to just trust me," I whispered.
Kate ripped her hands away and clenched them in fists at her side. "How can I trust you when you're the reason I'm here in the first place?"
I scrubbed a hand over my face the way I imagined Treven would. "I know it started out wrong, but you don't know what he's holding over me. Maybe if you did, you'd understand that I want what's best for you. I just don't know how to stop."
"What are you talking about?" Kate asked. "If you wanted to get away from him, you could just leave."
I took her hands in mine again and ran my thumb along her knuckles—such soft, delicate fingers. "It's not that simple. Give me time and I'll get you out of here. I promise."
Kate's eyes shifted their focus from side to side, reading my eyes. I pushed as much warmth into them as I could.
"So what made you change your mind?" she finally said.
I slid my hands up her arms to rest on her shoulders. "Youchanged me. You changed everything." My gaze dipped down to her lips then back to her eyes.
This would probably be the time for Treven and Misty to kiss.
I slid a hand from her shoulders to rest behind her neck while the other traced the line of her cheekbone.
I swallowed.Just follow through. Just go for it,I told myself.
"Do you want me to finish the scene?" I asked, my heart pounding so hard in my chest.
Her lips parted, and she nodded before whispering, "You probably should…for research."
My stomach muscles tightened. But I nodded too, and said, "For research." Then I closed the distance between us and kissed her slowly and tentatively. At least, I tried to go slow, but the moment our lips touched, I was breathless and hungry for more. I worried she'd shy away from the kiss, but she didn't. Her lips parted, and she deepened it.
Every inch of my skin tingled as I pulled her closer to me. I smoothed my hands across her back, resisting the urge to press her firmly against me.
How many times had I dreamed of that stolen moment on the couch in her parents’ basement? So many times. But even though I'd relived it over and over again, trying to forget while trying to remember at the same time, I was surprised at how much I had forgotten. The sensation I remembered was just a ghost of what it was like to kiss Kate now.
She slipped her hands slowly up the contours of my chest, before resting them behind my neck and pulling herself closer. I didn't know if she was still just doing research for the scene, but I didn't care. Even if this wasn't coming from a real place with real feelings, I'd take it. I'd kiss her as long as she'd let me.
"What would Treven and Misty do next?" I asked, breaking the kiss for a moment, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath.
She looked up into my eyes, and the blue reflected a desire I hadn't seen in them since I was in college. Was it possible she wanted this to be real as much as I did?
"You did say Treven would probably trap Misty in a corner and make-out with her, right?" Her breathing was as shallow as mine. "It might be a good idea to test that theory and see how it goes."
My insides surged at her suggestion. Before I could talk myself out of it, or break character, I walked Kate backwards until her back was against the wall and we were kissing again.
