Page 119 of Worth Every Moment

He leans his elbows on his knees and stares at the water. He’s clearly not going to say anything else, so I raise what’s been on my mind. “About this fake dating—”

He turns abruptly, shedding all signs of whatever was bothering him. “Fake?”

I smile at him to show I’m kidding, but he doesn’t smile back, which unsettles me. “We were going to end it after the wedding. We’re technically in our final twenty-four hours, and I want to be really clear on this.” I glance down at my hands then back at him. “We’re not doing that anymore. Right?”

He gives me a ‘don’t be stupid’ look. “Lefroy, if you think we’re ending this, you’re fucking insane.”

A nervous giggle bursts from me. “Really?”

“I’ve had a picture of you in my bathroom for seven years. I’m obsessed with you. Have been since I first saw you. This relationship is not ending now. No fucking way. It’s just beginning. If you think I’m going to let you go…” He smiles, shaking his head at me. “You’re delusional.”

Pulling back, he surveys me as I lie on the lounger in a tiny string bikini. “Wow,” he mouths, and heat fires in his gaze, shifting from admiration to desire like the changing images on a slide-show.

He crawls up the lounger towards me, kissing my skin as he goes, and liquid heat pools between my legs. He presses tiny kisses up my legs, my thighs, my stomach, my chest, my throat, until he reaches my face. He cups my cheek in one hand, his touch so tender that it makes me ache.

“You are so wonderful,” he whispers. “Are you mine?” He kisses the tip of my nose. “Say you’ll be mine.”

“Yes.”

“All of you?” He strokes my cheekbone with one finger, sending a shiver down my spine.

“Mmm,” I concur.

My phone buzzes, but I ignore it, letting it ring out.

His finger continues to my chin, trailing down the side of my neck. “Is this mine?” I nod, hardly able to breathe as he trails his fingertip over my skin, running down my shoulder until he reaches the strap of my bikini. “This?”

I swallow. “Yes. All yours.”

The phone rings again, and Seb glances at it where it lies on the ground at the side of the lounger.

“Don’t stop,” I murmur, but he leans over and grabs it.

“I think you’re gonna want to answer this one,” he says, flashing the screen at me. TheTaming the Beastcasting director’s name is on the display.

“Oh, fuck,” I mutter, bolting upright and snatching the phone from Seb’s hand. “Hi,” I answer. “Erica Lefroy speaking.”

“Erica,” comes the casting director’s excited greeting. “How are you?”

“Great. Good. I think.” I give Seb a worried glance, and he gives my thigh a reassuring squeeze.

“Well, hopefully your day’s about to get a little better. We’d love to offer you the role of Vannessa.”

I squeal, slamming my free hand over my mouth. “Oh, wow. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I will give this my all. Oh, thank you. You have no idea what this means to me. I am so, so grateful that you’re taking this chance on me. I will absolutely do this role justice. I’ll be—”

Her laughter cuts me off. “You’ll be wonderful. We were all in agreement that you’re a perfect fit. Congratulations. We’ll be in touch with more details soon.”

We say our goodbyes, and when I hang up, I let the phone fall to my lap, hands trembling.

“I got it,” I tell Seb.

“I know.” His excitement mirrors mine, blue eyes bright and smile wide, dimple on full display. He leans across and hugs me, and I’m enveloped in his scent, his warmth.Wonderful. Better, even, than getting the news about the movie. Being held by Seb is the best thing in the world. “Well done. You deserve it.” He kisses me and it’s a kiss that is filled with love, making mefeel worshiped and adored with the slightest touch of his lips to mine. “You’re going to be a star. You know that, right?”

“Yes.”

“My girlfriend is going to be a movie star,” he says, puffing his chest. “I like the sound of that.” He kisses me again. “You’re amazing. I’m so happy for you. We can celebrate tonight, at the wedding. Champagne—sparkling water if you prefer—and canapes, and we can tell everyone about it.” A devilish smile breaks over his face. “Now, where were we?”

“About… here,” I say, reading his intention and pressing my finger to the strap of my bikini.