Page 115 of Naughty November
“Danny, it’s been a while. What tricks are you up to now?”
Danny laughed. “Why am I not surprised this one belongs to you? You were always ahead of us in scouting for talent. Name your price.”
Kieran scowled. “You can’t afford him.”
“Try me. I have a feeling I wouldn’t lose if I invested in him.”
“You can’t afford him because he’s not for sale. Back off, Danny.”
“I thought you were big on consent. Why are you taking that away from him? Shouldn’t he be the one to tell me no?”
Instead of answering Danny, Kieran took me by the shoulders and steered me away. He blew a kiss to me.
“Don’t look back.” Kieran tugged at my arm. “Or are you really thinking of fucking that scum? Get it out of your head, Iggy. It’s not going to happen.”
I pursed my lips. “I wasn’t going to, but he was right. It’s my choice to make, not yours.”
“You promised if I brought you here, you would stay out of trouble.”
I dug in my heels, and he stopped. “All I was doing was minding my business, waiting for you to finish talking to Ms. Chest Inflation over there.”
“Iggy!”
“What?” I raised my chin defiantly. My thoughts might have been mean, but I hated all the time he’d given the actress.
“I think we’ve had enough of this party. Let’s go.”
“But what?—”
“Let’s go, Iggy.” He caught my chin and tilted it, his gaze boring into mine. “Be a good boy now for your stepbro.”
My breath hitched, and my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth. This wasn’t Kieran talking. This was Max Score—the sexy, bi actor, famous for the attention he lavished on his partners and the sweet way he talked to them, making every viewer envious of his co-actors. I’d watched every video he’d done, and I’d recognize Max Score’s voice anywhere.
“Let’s go.”
And just like that, Kieran took over again. Dammit. Max, I probably had a shot with, but Kieran—never. I’d made peace with it. Kieran was the overprotective stepbrother who wanted to lock me up in a glass tower to keep me safe.
But I needed Max, the man who would be gentle and caring as he took my virginity.
TWO
KIERAN
Iggy swept into the kitchen with his head high but without his usual cheery greeting. Where was my bright smile? My hug? The kiss he would place on my cheek?
I sighed.
That determined look on his face and I were well acquainted. He was still pissed that I’d led him away from the Pleasure Pulse after party two days ago. It was all my fault. Despite his cajoling, I should never have taken him there in the first place. An award show for people who had sex for a living was not the right place to bring a virgin as a plus-one.
“No ‘good morning?’” I asked. “We haven’t seen each other in almost forty-eight hours. And you wouldn’t accept my calls.”
Immediately after the award show, I’d had to catch a flight to Houston to film some casting videos. I’d gotten the earliest flight possible back to Cummington to catch him before he went to class.
Iggy opened the fridge and took out a jug of orange juice.
“I brought you breakfast.” On the way from the airport, I’d pickedup his favorite breakfast items. I knew he would forgive me eventually—he always did—but this way was faster.
“No, thanks.”