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If her name is going to be linked to anyone else's in the press, I want it to be mine. Not Abel Clarke's, not some other actor, but mine. The man who fucking worships the ground she walks on. I'm in love with her, and I want everyone to know it.
Until the day I got trapped in that fucking trailer, I never cared what people thought about me. I did what I wanted to do, and I didn't make apologies for it. But I've spent the last ten years caring too goddamn much. Now, I'm frozen by inaction when it counts the most, terrified that Laura's reputation will take a hit if she's linked to me.
But her reputation is already taking a hit, isn't it? She's already suffering, isn't she? People are already saying vile shit about her. And still, I'm letting their opinions shape our future. I'm allowing what they might have to say dictate what I do.
It's bullshit.
People don't have to like me. They don't have to think I deserve her. I don't care if they tear me to shreds in the papers or say she can do better. Maybe there are a thousand other men out there who look better than I do. It doesn't matter because not a single fucking one of them will ever love her harder or worship her like I do. That much, I can guarantee.
Let them do their worst. It won't change a fucking thing.
I'm claiming my girl. It'll be my name linked to hers or no ones.
Anyone who doesn't like it can get fucked.
Chapter Eight
Laura
"Whoa. Who is that?"
"Is that…Kaiden Huxley?"
I glance up from the script to see Kaiden barging through the space like a bull in a China shop, his eyes locked on me. He's wildly out of place amongst the rows of costumes, standing head, and shoulders higher than everyone else. The intense look on his face steals my breath.
"Hi," I whisper, my stomach turning flips when he reaches my side. "Are you done for the day?" I'm not filming my first scene until tomorrow, but he has some training stuff today, so we're here for the duration.
"Not yet." He leans down, brushing his lips across mine.
The collective intake of breath is sharp enough to suck the oxygen from the room. Everyone goes silent, and I know all eyes are on us. Oh, my goodness. What is he doing? We didn't talk about this. Not that I'm objecting. He can kiss me anytime, anyplace. But there will be no hiding our relationship once this gets out. And it will get out. Some gossip is too juicy to ignore.
"I missed you," he murmurs, something dark and wicked in his eyes. Possession.
I shiver as it rolls over me in a hot wave. "I missed you too."
"Do you need anything, princess?" he asks, cupping the side of my face. He keeps his back to everyone else in the room, using his body as a barrier to shut them out. But it's so quiet you can hear a pin drop. They're hanging on every word. It'll be all over the set in a matter of hours. It'll be all over town by the end of the week.
Does he know what he's doing?
Judging by the steely determination in his eyes, he does. He wants them to talk.
This crazy, beautiful man is…claiming me.
He's the Grinch, but my heart grows three sizes.
"No," I whisper, shaking my head. I place my hand against his cheek, covering his scar with my palm. "I don't need anything."
"Are you feeling okay?"
"Kaiden, I'm fine." I haven't been nauseous at all today. In fact, I've felt fantastic. Hiding the truth from him for the past few days has been tough, but now that it's out, I feel so much better. I've been worried about him, but that's all.
He presses a kiss to my forehead, lingering there for a moment. "I'll find you when I'm done this afternoon."
"Can I come with you?"
"You want to watch me work?"
I nod eagerly. Watching him work is far more enticing than running lines and watching Edie sew any day. He's so sexy when he's being all bossy and commanding. I love how confident he is and how controlled. He doesn't second guess himself or his decisions. He trusts himself and his instincts fully. He's teaching me to trust mine too. Well…he's trying to teach me. We usually end up naked after an hour or so when he trains me. My instinct tends to be to jump his bones at every available opportunity. It counts as cardio, right? Right.
He takes my hand, helping me up from my chair.
"I'll finish getting this stuff ready for you," Edie says, offering me a bright smile. Her gaze darts to Kaiden in curiosity and then quickly back to me. There is no malice in the look, just genuine curiosity. I've never worked with her before, but she worked on Luca's last film. I think he brought her on for this one. I like her. She's warm and friendly and has gone out of her way to put me at ease.
