Mark

Lara’s so pretty walking beside me in the fading sunlight. The trees cast speckled shadows over everything and occasionally a breeze freshens our faces. It smells like rain and the promise of fall touches us on every other gust.

Her hand has been in mine or on my arm most of the afternoon, and it’s so easy walking and talking with her.

“Will you go to the police academy now?” Her pretty blue eyes meet mine, and a touch of worry is in them. I don’t want to be stupid and think she cares if I leave… but maybe?

I pull open the theater door, and we enter through the dark lobby. “Going to the academy costs money. More than I have right now.”

She stops and faces me in the empty hall. “What will you do? The crew usually leaves once the set work is done.”

I rub my forehead, thinking about what Gavin said. His knowledge of my uncle… my limited knowledge of what Rick did, how he died… My creeping sense that working for Gavin would make me one of the bad guys.

Then I see her pretty face.

I saw her beautiful body two nights ago… But she’s not like the other girls. When she’s with me, it doesn’t feel like she has an agenda. She’s just sweet and smart and a little shy.

Shoving my concerns aside, I decide to stay. “Gavin wants me to do some work for him. He said he’s starting something new.”

Her brow lowers, and she touches my arm. “You need to be careful with him.” Her face is serious, and I take her hand, holding it in my bandaged ones.

She cares, but I have no reason to believe it’s more than friendship. Or gratitude.

“I get that feeling.”

Our eyes meet, and she steps closer. When she stands in front of me, she seems so small.

“What did you want to do?” My voice is soft, and I reach up to lightly slide a curl off her cheek. She blinks slowly, thinking.

“Since I was young, I always wanted to be a singer.”

“You have a beautiful voice.”

“But once you go down this road, it’s like you can’t seem to get off it.”

My chest tightens, and I lift her small hand in mine. “Sounds like we’re both making critical decisions.”

I won’t leave her to take this step alone. The pull in my chest is too strong. I have to keep her safe from things that would hurt her, from the men who come here, from the way the crew talks about the girls. From the way some of the girls see themselves…

“You’re so good.” Her voice is soft, and she traces her finger along the bandage before lifting her blue eyes to meet mine. “Thank you for buying me lunch. For saving me…”

Without warning, she steps forward and wraps her arms around my waist, pressing her face against my chest, and I don’t hold back. She fits perfectly in my arms, and I inhale the sweet scent of her hair just before I press my lips to the top of her head.

Her voice is muffled against my shirt. “It feels so safe here.”  

“Lara,” I whisper in her hair. “I want to keep you safe.”

She pulls back, and I loosen my hold. But she doesn’t leave. She puts her hand against my cheek, lifting her chin as she rises higher on her toes. Hell if I make her work for it.

Leaning forward, I capture her lips. They part, and our tongues meet, curling together as I hug her closer to me. She exhales a little noise, and her fingers thread in the sides of my hair. I trace a line with my lips to her ear.

“I want you so much,” I whisper.

She turns, searching for my mouth, and I kiss her. She fists my shirt in her hands, pulling it up and placing her palm against my bare stomach. I groan deeply, and my hands slide under her ass. I lift her against my chest, and her legs go around my waist. Our kisses are wildfire, fast-moving, lips pulling, hungry for something more. Something just within reach.

She moves subtly against my waist, and the blood rushes downward. I’m hard and she’s riding me, stroking my erection with her crotch.

“Lara,” I groan.

Her lips still, and she holds my cheeks, looking into my eyes. “That night on the catwalk… The way you looked at me…”

My brow collapses at the memory. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

“I only want you to see me.”

Her lips are pink and swollen from my kisses. I lean forward and kiss her again, tasting her like she’s water in the desert. She exhales a little noise, and it’s a charge straight to my cock.

I love her lips. I love her mouth. I want more. I want all of her.

She’s so pretty walking beside me in the fading sunlight. The trees cast speckled shadows over everything and occasionally a breeze freshens our faces. It smells like rain and the promise of fall touches us on every other gust.

Her hand has been in mine or on my arm most of the afternoon, and it’s so easy walking and talking with her.

“Will you go to the academy now?” Her pretty blue eyes meet mine, and a touch of worry is in them. I don’t want to be stupid and think she cares if I leave… but maybe?

I pull open the theater door, and we enter through the dark lobby. “Going to the academy costs money. More than I have right now.”

She stops and faces me in the empty hall. “What will you do? The crew usually leaves once the set work is done.”

I rub my forehead, thinking about what Gavin said. His knowledge of my uncle… my limited knowledge of what Rick did, how he died… My creeping sense that working for Gavin would make me one of the bad guys.

Then I see her pretty face.

I saw her beautiful body two nights ago… But she’s not like the other girls. When she’s with me, it doesn’t feel like she has an agenda. She’s just sweet and smart and a little shy.

Shoving my concerns aside, I decide to stay. “Gavin wants me to do some work for him. He said he’s starting something new.”

Her brow lowers, and she touches my arm. “You need to be careful with him.” Her face is serious, and I take her hand, holding it in my bandaged ones.

She cares, but I have no reason to believe it’s more than friendship. Or gratitude.

“I get that feeling.”

Our eyes meet, and she steps closer. When she stands in front of me, she seems so small.

“What did you want to do?” My voice is soft, and I reach up to lightly slide a curl off her cheek. She blinks slowly, thinking.

“Since I was young, I always wanted to be a singer.”

“You have a beautiful voice.”

“But once you go down this road, it’s like you can’t seem to get off it.”

My chest tightens, and I lift her small hand in mine. “Sounds like we’re both making critical decisions.”

I won’t leave her to take this step alone. The pull in my chest is too strong. I have to keep her safe from things that would hurt her, from the men who come here, from the way the crew talks about the girls. From the way some of the girls see themselves…

“You’re so good.” Her voice is soft, and she traces her finger along the bandage before lifting her blue eyes to meet mine. “Thank you for buying me lunch. For saving me…”

Without warning, she steps forward and wraps her arms around my waist, pressing her face against my chest, and I don’t hold back. She fits perfectly in my arms, and I inhale the sweet scent of her hair just before I press my lips to the top of her head.

Her voice is muffled against my shirt. “It feels so safe here.”  

“Lara,” I whisper in her hair. “I want to keep you safe.”

She pulls back, and I loosen my hold. But she doesn’t leave. She puts her hand against my cheek, lifting her chin as she rises higher on her toes. Hell if I make her work for it.

Leaning forward, I capture her lips. They part, and our tongues meet, curling together as I hug her closer to me. She exhales a little noise, and her fingers thread in the sides of my hair. I trace a line with my lips to her ear.

“I want you so much,” I whisper.

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