Page 131 of Rebel Romeo

But then, anguish replaces the indifference, the pained expression tightening his features. “That’s what Laurie said to you,” he whispers. “That’s how she got that performance out of you. She asked you about our opening night of Remy and Julie, didn’t she?” He pauses to exhale and rakes his hair out of his face. “Laurie is playing a dangerous game.”

“She’s playing a winning game,” I say. “She did it. She got me to act that scene in a way that may get us nominated for the Tonys.”

“But at what cost? Katherine, there’s a reason I didn’t push you like that in rehearsals. What we—no, what I did to you back then was atrocious. Traumatizing. And I’m not a therapist. Laurie isn’t a therapist. Pulling at a loose brick can make the whole foundation crumble.”

“But maybe that’s what I need in order to rebuild.” Or at the very least, it’s what I need to be the actress I want to be.

He reaches for me, his deep voice weaving into my body, burying inside of me. The taut line of his clenched jaw overshadows the heat pouring into his amber eyes. “If you’re going to find your anger for Zach every night by remembering your anger for me, then I will apologize to you every night after the show.”

The torment in his voice tugs at my heart and I shake my head as I meet his gaze. “That’s not fair to you?—”

“Apologizing every night? It’s more than fair. If anything I’m getting off easy. Especially if it means I won't lose you again.” He pauses to cup my jaw. “Katherine, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry I fucked up so royally five years ago. I’m sorry I gave you the single most painful moment in your life. I’m sorry that I’m the reason you’re able to pull from experience and access the most incredible acting performance I’ve seen from anyone in a long, long time. You’ve always been a wonderful actor. But that performance we just witnessed? It was brilliant.”

The back of my throat burns and I wet my lips despite the thick stage makeup staining them. Blood rushes to my cheeks and I ignore the heavy thump of my heart against my breastbone. “Thank you,” I say. The anger that has been consuming me crumbled like an old shed in a hurricane, collapsing into a pile of wreckage. With it, tension rolled off my body like droplets of water.

“And as for the whole spotlight stealing,” he starts to say, but I cut him off with a shake of my head.

“I know you don’t mean to?—”

“No,” he snaps. “I do mean to. And I’m not going to stop.”

I gasp like he’s struck me. “What?”

“I’m not going to dull my performance so you can shine and you shouldn’t either. With a show like this, we each need to bring our A-game and fight for it every night.” He pauses only briefly enough to lean forward and rest his hands to the makeup counter, caging me in against it. “You think I’m stealing your spotlight? Then reclaim it, Katherine. Fucking steal it right back from me. For once, don’t ask for what you want… take it.”

A shiver clasps my body.

Take it.

His golden gaze challenges me and the noise he makes at the back of his throat is a cross between a growl and a moan. Though he isn’t touching me, his mere presence holds me captive. Thicker than any bars, it’s a prison I’m not in any hurry to escape.

With my back pressed against the counter, the laminate edge biting into my lower back, I launch forward, taking his lips in a kiss that leaves my toes curling in my LaDuca character shoes.

His mouth is hot, wet, and pliable against me and his groan of approval is drowned by my own moans when his tongue sweeps into my mouth, his teeth capturing my bottom lip.

“It’s always been you, Katherine,” Holden murmurs against my mouth. “And it will always be you.”

I push forward, claiming his lips once more.

Claiming them forever if he’ll have me.

“Kate?” A baritone, raspy voice tears us from the kiss and I look over Holden’s shoulder to find my mother and father standing there behind him.

“Dad? Mom?”

Holden winces and whispers a curse so quiet, only I can hear him. He looks up at me, a twinge of regret wincing in his eyes as he weakly says, “Surprise.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

“Surprise?” I mouth to Holden from over my dad’s shoulder as I give him a hug.

Grimacing, he shrugs.

My dad squeezes me tightly, hugging me for longer than he ever has in his whole life.

“My turn, my turn! Holden called me the other day to arrange our visit, wanting it to be a surprise for you and I just couldn’t say no.” My mom takes my hand, pulling me away from Dad. Leaning in, she takes her turn to hug me. “Fix your lipstick, sweetheart,” she whispers to me before pulling out of the hug.

With a quick glance in the mirror, I see the mauve shade meant for stage makeup did not hold up to real makeout sessions.

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