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There were zero responses.
I cringed.
Linda ground her teeth together. “Well then, I suppose that’s it. Thank you all for attending.”
As we all rose from our chairs, the entire room of journalists did so as well. They began to shout questions at Augustus and me, though I couldn’t understand any of them due to the cacophony. The way they were acting, I was afraid they would cause a frenzy.
I had to get out of here.
I raced from the room. “Take me home,now,” I shouted at anyone who would listen.
Augustus took a tight hold of my elbow and guided me to his car.
I froze. “No way.”
Augustus got into my personal space and glared down at me. Then, gritting his teeth together, he ordered, “Get in, Sienna. This is no time to argue.”
We glared at each other for a few moments before I slid into the passenger seat.
I jumped at the flashes as he drove us past the reporters who had spilled out onto the sidewalk, desperate for a comment or an exclusive snap.
All I wanted to do was disappear into the ether.
“I don’t think bringing me back to your house is the smartest move, Aug. Don’t the press know where you live?” I asked as the car approached his Hampstead Lane mansion.
“They do. However, my house has a state-of-the-art burglary system, a strong stone fence with security cameras, and personal guards. You live in a terrace house that’s split into pitiful, one-bedroom and studio apartments. The press doesn'tknow where you live. Let’s keep it that way.” Augustus sailed his sports car through the automatic gates that closed with a satisfying clang behind us.
His head bodyguard was upon us as soon as we parked in the garage. “Sir, I’ve heard there’s been an incident at the press junket. May I ask exactly what occurred?”
Augustus filled the guy in, and together, the two formulated a plan to keep us out of harm’s way. He pressed his hand to the base of my spine and guided me into the house. “I’d much rather you don’t go home tonight in case the paps try to track you down. You’ll be safer with me.”
“Are you sure about that?” The sarcasm was my pathetic way of putting a wall up between myself and Augustus. Because dammit, I was in the belly of the beast once again, and my resistance to him had been nonexistent so far.
“Positive.” I didn’t miss the hint of desire in his tone.
I sighed and changed the subject. “I don’t understand what happened back there. It turned nasty so quickly.”
“It was supposed to be an invite-only press junket. If you weren’t on the list and from an approved media outlet, you weren’t allowed in. It turns out the fellow was from a shitty tabloid. I’m not sure how he got inside. Perhaps he snuck in. It happens.” Augustus shrugged as if what happened was no big deal.
He was so used to this kind of life, of being in the spotlight. It was something that concerned me. I wasn’t sure I wanted to be known by the press. However, given what I’d taken part in, I guess I had inadvertently consented to be a part of the limelight.Did I expect to do the shoot and not have people want to know about me?It was a naïve notion, for sure.
“Well, I guess if I’m staying here for the night, I ought to get comfortable,” I said, stepping out of my heels. “What have you got to munch on while we watch some shitty, mind-numbing TV?”
Augustus smiled. “How about some crisps and a marathon ofHotels From Hell?”
I grinned. “Perfect.”
“If you’d like to get out of your dress, I could probably find you something far more comfortable.” His eyes roamed freely over the entire length of my body, and I squirmed.
“I hope you don’t mean lying around in my underwear because I’m dying to get my bra off.” I squirmed and arched my back, pushing my boobs out.
Augustus smiled with a raised brow. “I’ll gladly help you out of it.”
“You’re so predictable,” I replied with a chuckle.
“Go and freshen up in the downstairs bathroom here,” he advised as he nodded in its apparent direction. “I’ll have something for you when you’re out.”
The smile I gave him felt forced, and I headed to the bathroom between the kitchen and a spare bedroom. As soon as I closed the door, I eagerly shed my dress and underwear, then walked into the shower that took up half the bathroom. As the water flowed over my body, I tried to push any thoughts of the press out of my mind. I was safe now in the home of my closest friend in London.
