Page 5 of Finding Emotion

Skylar stepped closer. “It doesn’t have to be a lie. I’m always up for a quick fuck.” Her eyes flicked down his body. “You’re not my usual type, but you are hot.”

There was a dismissiveness to her look that cooled his ardor and made him irritated instead. “I don’t like to be quick.”

She threw back her head, her laughter surprisingly joyful. Her metal-clad fingers wiped at her eyes. “Oh, you are adorable.”

“I thought you called him a tiger,” Jimmy said, his more typical smile back, but Damon was surprised to see his fists clenched at his sides.

Skylar shrugged. “I don’t remember exactly what I said. I was all worked up after the kiss.” Her lips pursed to blow one at him. “I like a guy letting me be in control.”

Jimmy looked away. “That’s why this will be another hit to his reputation. The stalker stuff already revealed him as a wimp.”

Damon flushed, but couldn’t dispute the accusation.

“So you really have a stalker?” Skylar asked, her humor fading. “That’s shitty. I’m sorry.”

She looked serious. Damon had no idea what to do with actual sympathy from someone like her.

She snapped her fingers then, startling him. “That’s what that story was! Fuck, whatever they were saying made you seem dickless. Even I lost interest.”

“You were interested?” Damon asked. His cheeks heated again when she smirked at him.

“You’re hot. That’s enough sometimes.” She shrugged. “Look, I can help with the wimp stuff. No way would I fuck someone limp in the sack, and I’ll let everyone know how awesome you are at getting me off. You just tell me if I need to take the heat for a breakup or if you want to continue with the lie for a while.”

The idea of linking his name with hers, even in a lie, didn’t bother him as much as it should have. Not after he’d seen her with her fan the night before. “What if I really am a lousy lay?” Damon asked. His last girlfriend had accused him of it, even though he doubted the pulsing he had felt deep inside her had been faked like she said. “Wouldn’t that hurt your reputation if it comes out later?”

Skylar shrugged. “I’ll just take the credit. I’m awesome in bed.”

“Skylar,” her manager cut in. “I’m not sure we should continue this long-term. You’re already taking some heat.”

Skylar shrugged. “Haters gonna hate.” She raised her arms above her head in a stretch before waving one of her hands between their managers. “You both look at the numbers later and tell us what to do. I’m used to disappointing people, and this is all on me, so we’ll just make sure I’m the one falling on the sword or whatever.” She started toward the stairs. “Come on, Mandy. I’m craving something sweet before we head toward the plane.” She looked back at Damon with a wink before clomping her way down the TV station’s stairwell.

Damon moved to the railing, his eyes following her progress. It was ridiculous that her teasing had made him hard again. The lower-level door clanged as it opened and shut behind her.

Jimmy had moved up beside him. “You lucky bastard. She totally wants to fuck you. Pisses me off.”

Damon glanced at his manager, but he didn’t seem to be kidding. “I—”

“Whatever, man. No way Skylar would ever glance twice at me.”

Damon took in Jimmy’s dapper outfit. His manager always looked more like the typical hot rock star. “What are you saying? You look better than me.”

Jimmy's hand tightened on his phone, but he continued to scroll, his eyebrows drawing together. “She’s right about this helping. Already you’re hotter. I’ve been telling you, you need to fuck around more. Can’t be a sex symbol living like a monk.”

The term made Damon think about his friends back home. He was sure to hear about it from them. With the flight later, maybe they’d all drink together in person that night.

“I should go change.” Damon turned back to the door they’d initially come through.

“I don’t know, man,” Jimmy said as he followed while still looking at his phone. “With how viral this is, your normal layman’s costume might not work. Maybe we should book a private plane for once.”

“We’ll figure it out.” Damon wondered how someone like Skylar traveled. She was so dynamic, he doubted she ever blended with crowds. Meanwhile, he could take out his contacts and hide his platinum hair under a ball cap and gazes passed over him. If she knew exactly how dweeby he’d been as a teenager, thinking about fucking him would have made her laugh in a different way—and then she’d probably run.

Chapter 4

Skylar drank down more of the disgusting protein shake as she lounged on a sofa, wishing the drink was something sweeter, like she’d teased Damon. Outside the window, another plane meandered down the runway. They always seemed to move so slowly.

Mandy paused the video she was rewatching over and over. She sat ramrod straight in the opposite chair despite the sink-into-me cushion. “You’re such a fibber. Proud of yourself for today?”

“Very.” Skylar tipped the last of the sludge back, glad it was over. A very specific diet had to be maintained so that she could flaunt a body with curves as well as a flat belly. The last time she had cheated had been when her sister had visited, and she’d been sick the next day.

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