“Damian,” she gasps. “Oh my god.” Her hands find my wet t-shirt and she grasps the fabric in her fists. “There’s no high like your eyes on me. Your hands on me. Your dick inside me. Fuck. You’re the only man I want this from ever.” She looks down at my hand inside of her and then up at me. “There’s no one I trust more than I trust you.” She swallows and she looks away immediately and when I grab her face with my other hand the look she gives me is full of vulnerability.

  “This…” I tell her pointing back and forth between us even as I continue fucking her with my hand, “is real. We talk. Communicate. Nothing comes between us. Ever.”

  She shakes her head. “No. Never.”

  I feel her sex clenching around my fingers and then her body is against mine, rubbing against me as best as she can while my fingers are inside of her. I increase my efforts, knowing that Kent will be here soon and I am curious about what Paxton has to say. I still need to tell her that I’m leaving. I grab her breast with my other hand and pinch the nipple gently, rolling it to a hardened peak. “You want to come?”

  “You know I do.” She lets her eyes flutter shut and watching her climb towards her climax while I’m fully clothed with only my fingers touching her has my dick thickening in my jeans. I know cum has to be leaking into my briefs.

  “Fuck, I’m there,” she says grabbing my wrist to hold it in the position she wants it and begins rocking her hips against it.

  That’s so fucking hot.

  “Oh god!” She drops her head back and I watch as her breasts jiggle in that delicious way they do right before she orgasms and then she does long and hard. Her cunt flutters against my hand and I wish like hell that I had time to feel it around my tongue and my dick. She rides out her orgasm on my hand, writhing and whimpering as she comes down from her high and I slowly pull my hand out of her and lick my fingers clean.

  Her eyes are hooded, but when she reaches for the button of my jeans, I take a step back shaking my head. She puts her hands on her hips and cocks her head to the side. “Still like my irritated look?” she sasses and I chuckle in response.

  “I have to run out for a bit. Kent is coming to sit outside.”

  “Wait what? Why? And where?” She takes a step towards me as I get out of the shower. I already know she’s going to follow me so I hand her a towel. “Why can’t I come?”

  I raise an eyebrow at her. “Since when do you want to come with me when I’m just running out?”

  “Ummm I follow you to the guesthouse when you’re just getting clothes. Are you new here? I’m actually your shadow.” She begins drying herself, and I resist the urge to do it for her because I know it’s the quickest way for my tongue to wind up inside of her.

  “Well, no you cannot come, but I’ll be quick,” I tell her.

  “Can you tell me where you’re going?” She begins to apply her lotion and I try to avoid looking at her because I’m trying to get my dick to calm down and watching her rub her nipples and her pussy is not the visual I need right now.

  “Just on a run. I need to check out a few things.”

  “Is this about Jeremy?” she asks as she pulls her shower cap off and her hair out of its loose ponytail.

  I shake my head “No. It’s not. I promise.”

  “You wouldn’t lie to me, would you?”

  “No,” I tell her and while I may keep things from her, I’d never lie to her face.

  “When will you be back?”

  “An hour tops.”

  “Okay…” she gives me her lips and I plant a wet kiss on them. When I pull back, I see the stars in her eyes and I’m glad I affect her as much as she affects me.

  She’s in as deep as I am.

  When I make it to the entrance, Paxton is already there. It’s relatively dark and he’s not in his usual car nor does he have his security with him which is a huge red flag.

  “Where is Jackson?” I ask, referring to his head of security. “He knows you’re out with no security?”

  “I’m fine. We need to talk about Shay and Jeremy.”

  I cross my arms over my chest and lean against my truck. “Go on.”

  “There’s been some talk…”

  “Okay?”

  “Look I don’t know how reliable the source is but it got back to me and—”

  “Spit it the fuck out.” I don’t know what he’s about to say but I do know that if it’s what I’m thinking, I’m going to be longer than the hour I promised Shay.

  “Apparently he was drunk the other night at some dive bar across town talking some shit about how he’s fucking her or has fucked her, I don’t know.”

  My blood runs cold. Even though I know it’s a lie, just the mere thought of another man inside her infuriates me. Even the fact that the man in front of me has slept with her sends a spike of rage through me. “What?”

  “It may have just been him talking shit but he did say that he couldn’t believe she was fucking her bodyguard now.” He gives me a look. “So…that might potentially come out because it got back to me. I pretended I didn’t know anything when they told me but who knows who else they told.”

  I shake my head knowing that Shay is going to be crushed that he outed us on top of everything else. “This guy is the fucking worst. You know he told her he’s always had feelings for her?”

  “I knew it. I fucking knew it.” He groans. “At least you had the decency to hide your feelings for the most part.” He scoffs. “I always hated that Shay couldn’t see through that ‘we’re just friends’ bullshit.” He shakes his head. “Look, I want no part of this. I’m sharing what I know, but I don’t want it to be said that you heard this from me, okay? I’m telling you so you can get in front of this.”

  “Why’d you call me instead of Shay?”

  He shrugs. “I thought she wouldn’t take my call and…above everything I do think you care about her and want the best for her. And I wanted to give you the opportunity to handle Jeremy.” He sighs. “I fucked up with Shay.”

  “You’re just now realizing that?”

  “No, dick.” He grumbles. “Don’t be stupid like I am.”

  “Well, I don’t plan to stick my dick in anyone besides her, but thank you for the advice,” I say sardonically and he narrows his eyes at me.

  “You’ll see.” He snorts. “You’re not even famous, but when you go public with Shay, you’ll have women lining up to fuck you.”

  “I don’t want that. I want her.”

  “I didn’t either.” He shrugs. “I just wanted her too, but shit…you get caught up and things just happen and before you know it you’re in too deep but it feels too good and you always think the last time is going to be the last time until it’s not.” He drags a hand through his blonde hair and rubs the back of his neck. “I’m not making excuses. I fucked up. Hard stop. And it cost me her. Just don’t trust anyone.”

  “I don’t trust anyone but her.”

  “Good.” He sighs and looks back at his car. “If you hit that asshole Jeremy, hit him once for me too, alright?”

  I wake up the next morning to light streaming through the curtains. It’s a rare Saturday morning when I don’t have anything to do, so my alarm didn’t go off at the usual seven-thirty. My body immediately knows I’m alone in bed as Damian and I are usually intertwined even in the mornings. Either he’s wrapped around me or I’m practically on top of him.

  I listen for the sounds of him in the bathroom but I don’t hear anything and when I reach for my phone, I notice the note on my nightstand.

  Morning, gorgeous

  Went to get breakfast.

  Be back soon.

  I mentioned in passing a few days ago that I’d been craving almond croissants from this bakery I used to go to with my mom every Saturday but I stopped going because it reminded me so much of her. I had forgotten about them for a long time until I randomly got a craving for them I haven’t been able to shake. I smile because though I’m not sure, I wouldn’t be surprised if he showed up with a box of them.

  I press the note to my chest thinking about last night. We’d made love until the point of exhaustion, his body on top of mine, his hard dick slowly rocking into me giving me orgasm after orgasm while he whispered how much he loved me in my ear. I’d fallen asleep wrapped in his arms, my head on his chest letting the sounds of his heartbeat lull me to sleep. I’ve learned it’s my favorite place in the world and the place I feel the safest.

  I grab my phone, not wanting to wait any longer to hear his voice and dial his number. It rings and rings and I can’t remember a time he didn’t answer on the first or second ring. It rolls to his voicemail and I end the call before it gives me the option to leave a message.

  Me: Morning! Got your note. Can you get a vanilla iced coffee too? Love you thank youuuu

  I make my way into the bathroom to do my morning routine but I can’t stop the nagging feeling in the back of my mind that he didn’t immediately call or text me back.

  Is this me being clingy?

  I frown because I’ve never been this girl. With Paxton, we’d gone days without talking when we were on location and while I noticed, I wasn’t climbing the walls like I am now.

  I pick up the phone and call him again and it rings and rings again before going to voicemail. This time I leave a message. “Hey, I’m not upset or anything but you usually answer right away…I could be lying in a ditch somewhere.” I chuckle nervously. “I’m not! But…I’m starting to worry. Should I worry? Can you call me back? I love you.”

  My fingers immediately start fidgeting and a feeling I haven’t felt in years hits me at full force. Before I can convince myself that he’s fine and I’m overreacting I’m pressing the call button.

  “Do you know what time it is?” Veronica asks with a groan.

  “Eight-thirty. Does Max ever not answer you?” I ask immediately.

  “Huh?” she says and I know she’s still half asleep.

  “When you call Max, does he ever not answer?”

  “No, of course not. Why? Is Damian not answering?” She yawns. “Did you guys have a fight? Maybe he’s just not answering his girlfriend, not the woman he’s protecting.”

  “Veronica…” I warn and I hear talking in the background, assumedly Derek.

  “What? Where is he anyway? We have the morning off and we don’t have to be at the table read until five so I’m surprised you aren’t doing it all over your house.”

  “He went to get me breakfast and now he’s not answering.” I take a deep breath realizing it’s been twenty minutes since I started calling him. “What if something happened to him?”

  “Damian is indestructible. He’s fine,” she says over the sounds of running water.

  “Then why isn’t he answering?” My heart is starting to accelerate, growing more aggressive with each passing minute. She doesn’t answer and I hate how loud the silence is. I’m trying my best to keep my mind from going there, but the tragedies I’ve endured make me assume the worst every time. It is fucking exhausting but unavoidable. “There’s no reason why he wouldn’t take my call, V. He’s my bodyguard. Even if he was pissed at me, he’d answer. And he’s not pissed at me! He went to get me breakfast!”

  “Okay, I’m coming over.” Probably in response to the shrill tone of my voice.

  That was the thing about Veronica. I never needed to call for her, she just came. She knew if she asked me, I’d tell her no. I’d tell her I’d be fine and it’s early and I’m sorry for waking her up and she should go back to sleep and not worry about me. Instead, I hear her grabbing her keys. “Let me just get Max and I’ll be over in a few.” Veronica lives in a different community a few miles away. “Want me to stay on the phone?”

  “No.” I shake my head. “I am being ridiculous. You don’t even need to come.” I put her on speaker and drop my phone to my bed as I start going through the list of scenarios that would explain why Damian hasn’t answered that isn’t him lying in a ditch somewhere.

  “Shut up, I’ll be there in ten minutes, but I swear to god if he shows up, right when I get there, he’s making me breakfast.”

  A beep indicating a news alert about me breaks me from my thoughts and I open it and tears immediately rush to my eyes. “Oh my god. Oh my god.”

  “What what,” Veronica says and I hear the slam of her car door. “Get there fast, I think something’s wrong,” she says to someone. “Shay, talk to me.”

  “The…” I stammer, trying to get the words out. I’m suddenly freezing and when my teeth start to chatter I briefly wonder if I’m going into shock.

  “Shit,” Veronica says and I take it to mean she’s seeing what I’m seeing which is a news alert reporting that both me and my bodyguard were in a car accident. There aren’t any pictures but it’s my Range Rover and there are ambulances and firetrucks and my truck is literally on fire.

  “Oh…”

  “Come open the door, Shay. I’ll be there in five.”

  I don’t know how I move my feet but somehow, I get downstairs and open the door, leaving it wide open. I immediately sink to the floor in front of it and sure enough, Veronica and Max are coming through the door moments later.

  “Hey,” she says kneeling down in front of me so we’re at eye level. “We don’t know anything.”

  “False. We know I wasn’t in the car but HE WAS! That’s my car and he’s the only person that drives it.”

  My phone starts ringing and I’m glad it’s Cooper so he can get a handle on this. “I wasn’t in the car,” I say instantly, tears forming in the back of my throat. “D—Damian went to get me breakfast.” I think I’m still in shock because my entire body feels numb and I’m not in full-blown hysterics like when I lost my parents. Maybe subconsciously, my body knows he’s still alive. Please, baby, my mind thinks.

  “Okay,” he lets out a breath. “I’m glad you’re okay. You’re alone?”

  “Veronica just got here.”

  “Do not leave your house until I call you. Is there any security there?”

  “I think Kent is still here. Damian had him stay in the guesthouse last night,” I say and I’m glad Cooper doesn’t question it because I really don’t have the energy for the conversation regarding where Damian slept if Kent was in the guesthouse.

  “We’re releasing a statement that you’re safe and at home. Stay off the internet, Shay, I mean it.”

  Veronica takes the phone from my hand and stands up. “Find out what is going on, Cooper.” she says and I can’t hear his response but she looks at me. “I will take her to the scene myself. Damian is…you know how important he is to her.” I’m still sitting on the ground and when I look up at her she’s looking at me the way a mother would look at their child in pain. She hangs up just as another call comes through.

  “It’s unknown,” she says holding out the phone for me. I answer it, hoping it’s Damian but somehow knowing it’s not.

  “Hello?”

  “Shay Eastwood?”

  “Ummm, who’s calling?” It isn’t often I get random calls. My phone number is pretty protected; I’ve only had to change it a few times over the years, but I still know better than to confirm my identity before I know who’s calling.

  “This is Nurse Greene from Lakeland Hills Medical Center.” My heart drops and Veronica immediately moves to grab my hand.

  The tears begin to slide down my face instantly out of fear and sadness or maybe relief that they’ve figured out that I’m important enough to him to receive this phone call. How did they find me? I sniffle. “How is he?”

  “First and foremost, Mr. Hunt is alive.” Veronica lets out a sigh of relief. I try to but I hear the but in her voice. “He was unconscious when they brought him in and he is in surgery.” She doesn’t say anything further. “Are you there Miss Eastwood?”

  “I’m here,” I whisper, my mind racing and full of intrusive thoughts that have me believing I’ll lose the love of my life on the operating table.

  “Can you get yourself here safely?”

  I’m immediately moving up the stairs to change into more than just Damian’s t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants. “Yes, I have someone that can drive me. May I ask how you knew to call me?”

  “Mr. Hunt has you listed in his phone on his emergency contact as his employer.” It stings hearing myself referred to as that.

  “I see.”

  “We will see you soon, Miss Eastwood.” I quickly brush my teeth, shed the sweatpants, and replace them with leggings, leaving on his t-shirt as I pull on a leather jacket and grab my bag completely forgoing makeup. I grab a pair of sunglasses and a baseball hat and pull it on, knowing that it’s the most incognito look I have time for before I’m bolting down the stairs.

  Kent is stationed out front and nods at me. “Cooper said he didn’t want you leaving.”

  “Cooper is not the boss, contrary to what he thinks,” I tell him. “I need to be with Damian. I know you know we’re together. So, you can either drive me, or Max can.” I say pointing at Veronica’s security.

  Kent drags a hand over his goatee and I can tell he’s at war over what to do. “Let’s go.”

  Surprisingly, there isn’t a bunch of paparazzi around my gate but there’s a ton around the gate to the main entrance of the community because people know I live inside. “Get down. You too Veronica.” Kent tells us so we aren’t spotted through the front windshield that isn’t tinted. We make it through the crowd with only a few flashes since they’re not sure who’s inside.

  We make it to the hospital in record time with Kent going much faster than the speed limit and I’m fairly certain he ran more than a few lights. The car has barely stopped before I take off running for the doors and the paparazzi lingering outside go fucking nuts. Veronica is right behind me and both of our details trail us, trying to keep the paparazzi out of our faces, but at this moment, I couldn’t care less about what I look like or who is taking pictures. I’d leak a sex tape if it could get me to Damian faster or for the promise that he is alive.