Page 40 of Knot Their Starlet

“You’ll be okay! It just tickles a bit.” The makeup artist lets out a little huff when I turn in the chair to offer him a reassuring smile.

The returning smile he flashes me is worth it.

My eyes remained glued to the mirror in front of me, giving me a prime view of when Beck steps out of the changing station in nothing but his boxers.

There’s a stereotype that omegas and alphas are like two peas in a pod. It makes sense. We’re biologically wired to want each other.

But Beck isn’t an alpha. He lacks the heavy shoulders, big bulk, and muscle mass commonly associated with any alpha who spends a minute breathing in the general direction of a gym.

Instead, his body is all sleek lines.

And I wouldn’t be able to hide the way my perfume sweetens in the air if my life depended on it.

His gaze jerks towards me as his nostrils flare when he catches it.

Whoops.

Everyone in the room is under ironclad NDAs not to discuss the events of this shoot without approval. It’s just how the industry works, especially because this campaign is happening before Beck and I have made our first public appearance as a couple.

But I think the way my scent acts as a bright neon sign pointing down at me, broadcasting how hot I think Beck is will probably reduce the number of people who think we’re faking it.

I’m sure the layers of airbrushing and foundation cover the flush I can feel across my face.

“I’m going to talk to Knight’s team,” Stuart says, resting a hand on my shoulder as he passes me.

“Okay,” I say, fighting the urge to brush his hand off me.

Beck’s expression shifts in the mirror, his gaze locked on Stuart’s hand. I guess Stuart being a bit creepy is the perfect distraction for getting airbrushed for the first time.

“Wow,” Beck says, once he’s done. He moves to my side, resting his own hand on my shoulder. The same shoulder Stuart just touched. “How do you not get overstimulated?”

His burnt caramel scent soaks into my bones. All I can focus on is where his touch feels like it’s burning through the thin silk fabric of my robe, branding my skin. I wish I’d been more conscious the other night to really soak in the glory that is Beck’s touch.

“Hmm? Oh,” I say, shaking my head and bringing myself back to reality. “I’ve been doing this a long time. You kinda just have to get used to it, or you’ll drive yourself insane.”

“Damn,” he says, unable to hide his wince.

Part of me feels bad for him. He’s Mr. Popular now with his music career blowing up the way it is. He’s going to have companies champing at the bit for a piece of him. He’s probably going to find himself on a lot of sets like this.

“If you don’t have the blessing of an excellent conversation partner,” I say, my lips quirking up in a smile as I wave dramatically down at myself. “I recommend a good audiobook.”

“This way, Mr. Knight,” his makeup artist says, gesturing to the other makeup chair beside me.

He lets out a breath that almost sounds... reluctant?

“Audiobooks, huh?” he asks, settling in his chair. “What kind of audiobooks do you listen to?”

“Oh, a little bit of this, a little bit of that.”

Exclusively romance. But he doesn’t need to know that.

“Come on, you can tell me,” he teases. “I won’t judge.”

“I think finding out what books I listen to is like third date material, Mr. Knight,” I say, fighting the urge to bite my lip and ruin my lipstick.

“Well, then I’ll just have to get on that.” He flashes me a devastating wink that has the two makeup artists glancing at each other.

I don’t blame them.