Page 19 of The Devil of Hollywood

Cold. My insides were ice as I held in the hate that wanted to ooze free at her admitting the truth. A truth she was well aware of, and yet did nothing to end.

“We can’t change the past, doll.”

“Please don’t call me that.”

A tear spilled, and I reached up, caressing it across her cheek. Our eyes held, and like fire to a fuse, my body exploded to life. A mass of different emotions returned with an impact that nearly took my breath away. I wanted her pain suddenly so much I couldn’t stand it. My cock hardened, and I felt myself step into her. I slid my hand down, cupping along her jaw and pushing my fingers into her hair as I eased her even more into me.

“I can’t call you doll? But that’s who you are to me. Who you’ll always be.”

“Drayton, please.”

Another tear raced down her face. A faucet of regrets… just for me.

I glanced over, pretending to look down the corridor, but all I saw was the camera in my peripheral.

“I know you didn’t mean what you said that night. You were confused.” Closer, my lips moved to hers. “I waited for you, Marian. For years.” Instinct. Rage. They collided and my fist tightened in her hair. “I still wait. Why didn’t you come back? Why didn’t you come home?”

A sob. Just as her hands pushed against my chest so she could break free, I surged forward, crushing my mouth to hers. Her lips were hard, but her body immediately melted into my hold as I looped my free arm around the back of her waist. With the other, I angled her head further back, forcing my tongue into her mouth in a kiss that fed the detonation waiting to go off.

Hands added pressure again, and Marian seemed to catch herself and wiggle, trying to break free. The whimper only had me sucking against her bottom lip.

“D-Dray⁠—"

“Shh.”

“Drayton.” Harder she pushed. “You have to stop.”

“You were kissing me back so good. Don’t ruin it now. We used to kiss for hours.” I dove back in, latching to her neck as Marian’s head turned. The taste of her skin nearly did me in.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

My smile was immediate. I flattened my hand on Marian’s back, still not letting her go as I moved my face in close, half nuzzling my nose against hers. With a small nip, I bit into Marian’s cheek.

“I think we’ve been caught, doll. Oops. I guess we should have gone to your room after all.”

“Let go of my fiancée.”

I did turn to face Bastian, then. “Or what? I do believe she was my fiancée first. She said forever. She meant it.”

I took in the two guards, looking back to Quinton and Penny who were just entering the hall. Marian tried adding resistance, but she couldn’t break free.

“Both of you stop.” Marian’s shaky hand flattened on my cheek, turning me to face her. When I met her stare, there was no mistaking the red-rimmed lids or how bloodshot her eyes were from the constant tears that kept pouring down her face. “I’m sorry. You have to let go.”

Let go? Did she know what she was asking?

My hands dropped, and I put them in the air, smiling at Bastian. The smile was anything but nice. I suddenly couldn’t fake the emotion with all the hate that rested within me.

“Drayton.”

“Marian?” I mimicked.

She swallowed hard. Had I expected her to run back to Bastian. She hadn’t moved from where I’d freed her. She was still close. We were still touching.

“Forevers die when the people who promise them perish. We died the day they took me, Mr. Sinn. The couple we used to be, those people don’t exist anymore. You have to know that.”

“Maybe.” I licked my lips, glaring up to Bastian, hearing his accusations filter through my mind. “Or maybe,” I said, finally turning to meet her stare, “we prove everyone wrong and test the theory ourselves. We’re not kids anymore. We make the rules. One more kiss, doll. Just meet my lips and you’ll never have to see any of them again.”

Marian quickly took a step back. Panic. Longing?