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Unable to resist any longer, Sam closed the remaining distance between them. The first touch of their lips was electric, sending a jolt through Sam’s entire being. Natalia made a small, hungry sound low in her throat that inflamed Sam’s desire.

The kiss deepened, their passion swelling like a wave about to crest and break. Sam poured all her love, trust, and longing into the kiss. Natalia responded with equal fervor, clutching Sam tightly, as if she was her anchor in a storm.

Sam was turning Natalia toward the couch but hadn’t gotten as far as pushing her against it when her phone rang. If she hadn’t assigned Lola and Adriana their own ringtones, she wouldn’t have bothered stopping for a call.

Sam broke the kiss reluctantly as the sound of Lola’s ringtone cut through the haze of passion. Keeping one arm around Natalia, she fished her phone out of her pocket.

“It’s Lola,” Sam said when Natalia looked at her, silent question hidden in her face.

Natalia nodded and slipped out of Sam’s grasp. From the hardening of her expression, Sam understood that whatever Lola was going to say was going to put an end to their doubts about Lilith’s future.

Lola’s voice came through the speaker, unusually somber. “Sam, I’m so sorry, but Black Forge refused to budge on changing directions.”

Sam’s stomach plummeted even as Natalia gave her a reassuring squeeze.

“But the good news is, we got your rights back with minimal penalty,” Adriana chimed in.

“What?” Natalia blurted, color rushing over skin. “What do you mean? What about the liquidation clause?”

“I’m sorry, Natalia, I know you didn’t want me to, but I called Carmen.” Lola’s smile was broadcasted from an interstellar satellite. “She led the charge with her mother and Louise Silver. It took six hours, but we broke ‘em.”

Sam let out a shaky breath, flooded with relief. “Thank you both so much. I know how hard you worked on this. I’m sorry that it didn’t work out the way any of us hoped.” She put her arm around Natalia and pulled her to her side.

“We’ll start looking for another production company who actually gets your vision and wants to tell Lilith’s story authentically,” Adriana vowed.

The moment they hung up, Natalia was on her phone, thumbs flying. “Fuck that. We’re not giving anyone else a chance to destroy this. Crowdfunding is huge right now. I have so much fucking talent in my stable. Roxy alone will bring in massive crowds. Yes, that’s the way… a benefit concert. Very retro.”

Sam dropped onto the couch, her body exhausted from the roller coaster. Questioning whether she was still asleep, she watched Natalia talk exclusively to herself while frantically doing something on her phone.

“If Brandon Sanderson can make forty million dollars on Kickstarter, I can fund a damn movie.” Natalia was only picking up momentum while Sam waited for her to address her.

“Natalia—”

“A few influencer endorsements, launch some exclusive backer perks, add in a star-studded live stream Q&A...”

“Babe,” Sam tried again, a little louder.

“I’ll call in every favor owed to me in this town if I have to,” Natalia muttered, more to herself than Sam at this point. “We’re making this movie happen, with or without the establishment. The establishment,” she mocked herself. “Who the hell needs them anyway? Indie is it. Look at Kate Bush, almost three million in a month after?—”

“Natalia,” Sam said in her loudest teacher’s voice.

Gaze shooting up from her phone, Natalia furrowed her brow like she had no idea what Sam’s problem was. “What?”

Sam stood. “I love that you’re so driven and feel so passionately about this project?—”

“But?” Natalia raised both brows, her mouth tight and intimidating. Impatience swirled around her like a tornado, but Sam was undeterred.

“Remember when we just talked about doing things together instead of you taking on?—”

“Don’t patronize me,” Natalia snapped. “If you want to break up?—”

“What?” Sam leaned away from her. “Why the hell would I want to break up? We’re just talking.”

“But you’re unhappy with me,” she countered.

Sam tipped her head to the side and softened her tone. “I’m not unhappy with you, but we did just agree to be partners about things. I want to make decisions together, that’s it.” She cupped Natalia’s face. “I know you want what’s best for me, and I can’t tell you how beautiful that is?—”

“You don’t have to blow smoke up my?—”