When Harrison and I returned to LA, the news broke about FD and once again, I was in the melee. But this time Alta came to my rescue, my shining knight, to save the day. Their publicity team handled everything, and with Harrison’s company in place, I came out again looking like a bigger star. Only no one will ever truly understand what it was like for me.

“How’re you holding out?” Harrison asks one morning as he pulls me on top of him.

“I’m good. Or as good as I can be. It’s still crazy. I never wanted anyone to know about this and now the whole world knows everything. Everyone is still begging for the real story. Interviews, a book deal—they’ll probably want to make a Lifetime movie too.”

“Sad as it is, people love sob stories. They say they want to empathize, but I think they just want the dirt.”

I lift up and say, “Exactly. That’s what makes me crazy.”

“On another note, be prepared for tomorrow night.” He’s talking about the postproduction event that’s being held.

“Oh, I know. My publicist says she’s already got the lineup for me. I’ll have tons of mics thrust into my face.”

“I’m sure.”

“She’s supposed to be sending over all the requests for interviews today. Oh, and I hope you’re ready. You may have to knock a few people out of the way.” I use my pointer finger to dig into his chest. He grabs and kisses it.

Then he takes a chunk of my hair and tugs a little. “Why would I do that? You’re a star, baby.”

I plant a light kiss on his mouth. “You never know what someone will do.” Then I click my fingers. “Did I tell you who Helen is going with?”

His brow furrows. “No, do I know him?”

I break out into a series of lighthearted giggles. He’s going to die when I break this news to him. “Oh, you know him all right.”

“Well, don’t keep me in suspense. Who is it?”

“Holt Ward.”

“The fuck it isn’t!”

“Oh, the fuck it is.”

He sits up so fast I roll off him like a marble. “You better get back in this bed if you know what’s good for you, Mr. Kirkland.”

He’s out and pacing. Holt Ward is a dirty name around this house, which is why I’ve refrained from telling him that after we finished filming, the movie crew had a little get-together. Harrison wasn’t around that day so Helen came with me. After that awful incident, Holt profusely apologized to me, over and over, for making such a fool of himself. He said he never intended to hurt me, and the kiss wasn’t supposed to happen like that. He just got carried away. He went to therapy and isn’t drinking anymore. Helen met Holt that night and they hit it off.

The truth is Helen saw something broken in him and is now on the path to fixing him. It’s still hilarious to me, considering she knew about all the crazy shit he did to me. She gave him a hard time about it too. Their relationship isn’t exactly smooth sailing, but it’s not my business. They make the cutest couple and one thing is true—she takes zero shit from him.

“I cannot believe Helen would stoop so low.”

“Hang on there, slick. You don’t know what goes on between them and it’s not any of your business.”

He aims a pointed glare at me.

“Don’t give me one of those looks either. I am not one of your employees.”

His eyes immediately soften and he walks toward me. Then two strong arms reach for and pull me against his wall of a chest. “I only look at you one way, and that’s with love. I adore you, Midnight Drake, and don’t forget it. But back to Helen, I thought she ... that is, Misha told me she was on the other team.”

“I think she plays for both sides these days. But I’d like to suggest that you get back in here and give me something to remind me that you adore me.”

His lids drop and the corner of his mouth turns up. “Oh? And what type of reminder do you need?”

I get on my knees, and say, “I hope you don’t have to ask. But if you come a little closer, I’ll give you a hint.”

He steps next to the bed and my hand slides over his cock, which hangs heavily between his muscular thighs. I take it in my hand and drop down so my tongue can tease him a little.

One thing I’ve learned about Harrison is he loves my hair. His hands furrow into it as he grabs it and pulls me close.

“I want more than you teasing me. Suck me, Midnight. The way you know I love.”

I lift my gaze and see his mouth open a little as he bends his neck back. I engulf his cock with my mouth, taking him deep into my throat, as my hand finds his balls and massages them. A husky groan escapes him and that’s all the encouragement I need. Speeding up my motion, I tongue and suck, until he’s close. He’ll let me know when to stop, and he does.

A large hand lands on my chest and pushes me backward until I hit the bed with a whoosh. My legs are spread and his mouth hits my pussy, with no time wasted. At this point, I’m filled with lust for him and all I can think of is his cock sliding in and out of me. But his tongue takes that away and I want to melt on him. Every nerve ending comes to life as his expert tongue fucks me to insanity. How many ways can a man lick a pussy? It’s a question I can’t answer but Harrison certainly can.

“Pussy a la Midnight. Should be an entrée.”

“I’m sure that would go over well.”

“I’d order it.”

“Let me tell you what would be better. Kock a la Kirkland, with cock spelled with a K.”

“Think we should open a restaurant?”

“No, but I do think you should fuck me.”

I get a wicked grin for that comment but I also get what I requested. Harrison isn’t stingy with his cock. He usually likes it from the back—doggy-style or reverse cowgirl. But not today. He slides in from the front, which I’m in the mood for, because I love to watch. He presses down on my pelvis, dropping a thumb to my clit, and commences to slide in and out, stretching me to the fullest. At first, he takes his time with long, lazy strokes. But when I buck against his hips with mine, he chuckles and gets my obvious hint.

“You in the mood to speed it up?”

“Yeah,” I pant. He’s so damn sexy, his corded muscles flexing as he moves. He’s beauty and brawn, all wrapped together in a solid package.

He swivels his hips, slowly at first, then thrusts fast and hard against me. It’s the best sensation, causing pleasure to radiate from everywhere because it hits his thumb every time, giving me a double whammy. I arch my back and grab his knees where they rest next to me, sinking my nails into his skin. This goes on, but not very long because I yell out number two orgasm, clenching his cock with my inner muscles as he moans out his own. He rests his weight on his arms and his mouth tugs my lower lip into his, where he nips and sucks it. Then he kisses me, sensually, completely, to the point where he owns my mouth. It’s raw and sexy and my belly clenches with need.

“Your kisses make me wet.”

“Are you greedy for more of me?”

“Yeah,” I breathe.

“You’ll have to wait a few, I’m afraid.”

I kiss the corner of his mouth. “I love you more than anything. Pussy a la Midnight can wait.”

He grins. Then he slides down my body and sucks one of my nipples into his mouth. It’s stiff as steel and my breast feels so sensitive in his palm. He continues down until he gets to my new ink. It runs across my stomach, much like his. In fact, the same artist that did his did mine. Harrison wasn’t exactly excited about it, but there was no stopping me when my mind was made up. His tongue outlines the letters as I watch.

“Do you still hate it?” I ask.

“I never hated it. I didn’t want it to be a part of you because I don’t happen to believe it’s true.”

It’s the opposite of what his says. Mine says SCARRED.

“But I am scarred. And I’m a better person for it. And only because of you.”

He licks the word again and hovers over me, cupping my breast.

“Scarred or not, you’re mine. So what do you say, will you be mine forever? As in the legal kind of way? Marry me, Midnight. Make me the happiest man alive.” He punctuates the request with a flicking of my nipple. “I can’t live without this, without you.”

I slide my hand into his hair. “Well, I was going to talk to you about that. When all that mess happened in Phoenix, I forgot about my pills and didn’t take them for about a month. I’m a little bit pregnant.”

He laughs. The man laughs.

He touches his forehead to mine. “How much is a little?”

“Um, around ten weeks. I counted back to Phoenix and that’s when I think it might have happened, but I’m not really sure.”

His expression changes. “You’re ten weeks pregnant and you didn’t tell me?” He explodes off the bed and starts pacing.

“Jeez, I didn’t really know for sure until the other day when I saw the stash of tampons at my apartment. I’ve been staying here and there aren’t any in your bathroom. I honestly didn’t think about it. Then it hit me and I had an oh, fuck moment.”

“Christ. What did you do?”

“Went to the pharmacy and bought a pregnancy test. Then I went to Helen’s and freaked the fuck out.”

“And you didn’t tell me? Why?”

“I was scared. Remember what happened to me last time? All those feelings came back and I just freaked. Helen talked me off the ledge.”

“Helen. You went to her before the man you love and the one who loves you.”

“Oh my God. You’re letting your ego get in the way of everything.”

“My ego. You let your fears—” He stops dead, then in two long strides, he’s pulling me into his arms. “Jesus, I’m so sorry. You’re right. It’s not about my ego. And that jerkoff you just glimpsed won’t be coming back out anymore. Forgive me?”

“Everyone deserves a freak-out now and again. I had mine.”

“But not with you and a pregnancy. That was uncalled for. I should know better.” He pauses. “So … we’re having a baby. Have you been to the doctor? Do we need to do anything special for you, as far as care?”

I know what he’s asking, but I have no answers for him.

“I have an appointment next week. Harrison, this one’s going to be fine. I have a good feeling about this.”

“Does this mean you’ll marry me?”

“I would’ve married you anyway.”

“Before or after the baby?”

“Let’s elope. I don’t want a big wedding.”