My Actor, My Love

how many times she told herself it meant nothing, the memory of Noah's hands on her

ve with Noah," she whispered under

ated the words, she

ught her relief. Instead, there was an odd weight pressing down on h

onger forced. Free from the fear of being scolded or dismissed,

fresh linens, his eyes trailed over her f

n the couch, "that uniform of yours

she kept her expression carefully neutral. "Thank you,

hifted in the a

ey laughed. She forgot, just for a moment, that he was a celebrity and she was just

he

hat?" he asked, echoing something they'd joked about mome

close enough that she could

nd her waist. Her bre

head, and the worl

mured. "I don't know what's

t have to say that," she whispered. "Not

idn't waver. "

barely a nod, b

ging, and it stole her breath away. His touch traveled down her arms, then lower, lea

l of discipline, now felt

lic figure. She was no one. But in

he told herself. "It won't mean

r as if trying to memorize every inch. She gave herself to him, swept

in the afterglow, he lea

sel pul

. With practiced ease, she composed herself,

. Shame crawled over her skin. Her body still remem

't summon

her staff member to serve

on was loud

at this was, she told herself. Don't b

herself, she

place tonight?" she

the line, but Rassel brushed

with gossip-Noah had left g

ne exc

luxury perfumes, gift cards, handwritten thank-you n

ore than s

ainment, she thought bitterly

or the night, her eyes landed on a sleek bla

as N

playing tricks on her. But then the window rolled d

g yourself?" s

ted to pick you up. Figured you mig

d to turn around and run. But so

go

ame easily-too easily. They talked about nothing an

r to the door. The night air was cool, but his h

in his eye, Noah leaned in.

exactly what that means." She

this time-unrushed, tender. The

no uniforms. Just skin and trust and somet

ed, he leaned in and whispered, "Your g

n, he w

losed, unsure if any of it had been real