Page 71 of Behind the Scenes

“You want to use me,” I murmured.

Her eyes searched my face. “It’s more than that, and you know it.”

The best present she could have given me.

I could see it then. She hadn’t been ignoring me. She had set this whole thing up. She wanted to test my limits. Test to see just how far I would go for her. What I was willing to risk.

But the answer was and would always beeverything.

“How could I say no to you, my love?” I asked and let my hand trail down her side. “Are you asking me to be your attack dog?”

“I am,” she replied. “You have my hands tied. The footage? The contract? But with this…” She turned the knife around, handing it to me. I released the hand gripping her waist and took it from her. “We’re even.”

I let out a dark chuckle.

“I knew we were meant to be. Take off your shoes and clothes, wouldn’t want to get them dirty.”

Laura gave me a sensual smile.

“I don’t mind a little blood, as long as you help meclean upwhen we’re done.”

“Deal.”

In one swift motion, I stabbed the knife into Julian’s throat.

laura

. . .

Hot blood splattered against my side.

The movement was so sudden, I was afraid she had stabbed me. I should know better. She wouldn’t do that—unless I asked for it.

A warm feeling swirled in my belly.

I knew I could trust her.

Maybe thatwasn’t the right way to put it. I trusted her instinct. I trusted the bond that she felt between us.

The same bond I felt too. The one that slowly solidified in Hawaii and became impossible to deny over the past few days.

I hadn’t realized how hard it would be to be separated from her, even for such a short amount of time.

Getting this to happen with Julian took some planning. He had to believe I was pliant. That I was on his side and we were partners. That I would take the bribe he offered me on that last day on set in Hawaii to betray Harley—one I never told her about.

As if I’d ever betray her. Delusional prick.

Even while I was busy getting things ready for her, all I could think about was her absence.

For the first time in my life, Iwantedsomeonenear me, and while she gave me more pleasure than anyone else had, that wasn’t the only reason.

It was the excitement. The warmth.

Her.

I wanted it all.

“They could trace this back to you,” I warned her. I wasn’t worried about her rashness. That was something I could help her control. I wouldn’t have invited her here if I didn’t know what I was doing.