Chapter 18

Kane

As the elevator doors slide open, I look around, and not seeing anyone nearby, I take Sasha’s hand in mine, interlacing our fingers, and pull her behind me. I lead her out a back entrance, and the next thing we know, we’re walking down a crowded sidewalk.

“Want to get some lunch?” I ask, slipping my sunglasses on and pulling my ball cap further down my face, hoping no one recognizes me in the crowd.

Sasha looks up at me, a little smile pulling at the corners of her mouth. It’s super sexy, but also a bit sweet. I like it.

“That sounds great,” she says, and I can tell she means it. There’s something different between us. I don’t get the same vibe from her like I do with all the other women who are attracted to me because of who I am or how I can make them feel when I get them naked.

We find a corner cafe with tables out on the sidewalk, and we snag one that’s sort of hidden behind a giant plant because the smaller the chance of someone recognizing us, the better.

After a server takes our drink orders, I sit back and observe Sasha. She looks young and sweet in her jeans and t-shirt, but I know she’s anything but innocent. She’s a dirty little girl, and I fucking love it. I want more of it. I want her all to myself every single night. But I’m not quite sure how to swing that just yet.

“So, tell me about what it’s like to have an Oscar winning superstar for a father,” she says.

One corner of my mouth quirks up. “Not at all how one might imagine,” I reply.

Leaning forward, Sasha knits her brows together. “How so?”

It’s like she really wants to know. It’s so refreshing, so completely freeing, to have someone actually care about getting to know the real me.

“It’s actually pretty tough at times.” I give her a wistful smile. “I feel like I’m constantly trying to prove myself. I want people to recognize that I’m successful in my own right. That I’m not just some famous actor’s son, riding on his father’s success. I want to prove that I have talent. That I’ve earned my position, not had it handed to me.”

Sasha rests her chin in her hand and gazes at me thoughtfully. After a moment, she says, “I don’t think that at all.”

“Yeah, well, not everyone can say that.” I know it sounds a little bitter, but I can’t help it. I’ve felt this weight on my shoulders my entire adult life. I’ve fought to get out of my father’s shadow so that I can use my own fame in a way that means something to me.

“Why is this so important to you?” she asks. It’s like she can almost read my mind.

I smile and edge my chair a bit closer to hers, reaching for her hand across the table. “Well, I have plans,” I begin, and I can see the curiosity on her face. “Part of the reason why it’s so important that Manhattan Reign is successful is that I want to leverage the visibility I’ve gained on the show to produce independent films.”

“Oh wow,” Sasha replies, her eyebrows lifting. “I had no idea.”

I smirk. “Yeah, not exactly fitting with my image, is it?”

She considers that. “I wouldn’t say that exactly. I just had no idea you were into independent filmmaking.”

Nodding, I lean forward, excited to talk about this. It’s one of my passions. Probably the one I care about the most. “Yeah, indie art is really important to me. I want to support it in any way I can. If I can use my fame to draw attention to it, then that’s even better. I think it’s important that people have a way to express themselves through art. Art is for everyone. Not for the elite few. Not just for the people who have pushed hard enough to make a career with it. It needs to be more accessible. I want to make that more widely known.”

Sasha leans forward, too, and I realize we’re only inches apart now. Her eyes flash with excitement, and I can see my words have struck a chord with her.

“I absolutely agree, Kane. That’s kind of how I feel about acting. I know a lot of people think actors are just searching for attention and fame. But for me, it’s art. It’s self-expression. And most importantly, I want to use that to make people feel something. To actually feel something real and not be so passive.”

I squeeze her hand tighter, and then reach up to brush my knuckles along her cheek. This woman is even more incredible than I imagined.

“Do you think that’s possible with a show like Manhattan Reign?” I ask.

“Absolutely.” She nods vigorously. “Maybe especially with a show like ours. The world needs more love, and that’s ultimately what we’re giving them. Even if it seems like all we’re doing is turning people on, it’s still important. We’re making them feel something. And when people feel something, that sparks passion and love.”

I smile. “Just making the world a better place one sex scene at a time?”

She laughs. “Exactly.”

“You know,” I muse, “it’s not just the audience that needs more love. We do too.”

Sasha meets my eyes, and I wonder what she sees there, because she grows more serious again. “Everybody does,” she says carefully.

“Sasha,” I say, unable to stop myself from saying what’s been on my mind for days. “I don’t just want you as a fuck buddy. I want more. There’s something about you. You just get me. I’m pretty sure you feel it too.”

Biting her lip, Sasha nods, then quietly says, “I do.”

A wave of relief washes over me. This gorgeous, sexy girl does want me just as much as I want her, and not just for a good fuck.

“I really want to see what this is. What we have between us. I want to try to have a real relationship for a change. With you.” I don’t take my eyes from hers, wanting her to know I mean what I’m saying.

“We’ll have to keep it secret,” Sasha says, and I nod.

“Definitely. I don’t want to jeopardize your career. But I also can’t stand not being with you.”

“So where do we go from here?” she asks.

I pull out my phone and tap it to open up my calendar app, and then input an entry, sending her an invite. “How about our first official date?” I turn the screen toward her. “This weekend.”

The smile that breaks across her face is full of excitement. “I think that sounds perfect.”

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