Page 17 of Forbidden Access

Thorn took a breath and lifted her gaze to his. At first, she saw resistance, but then his expression softened. The steely resolve in his eyes melted into something warmer, more intimate, and she felt her pulse quicken in response.

What was he doing? And why did it feel like her stomach was suddenly filled with butterflies?

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she whispered, trying to keep the tremor out of her voice.

“What?”

“You know what.”

A slow smile curved his lips, one that sent a shiver down her spine. “I’m just getting into character. Isn’t that what we’re supposed to do?”

She inhaled sharply, irritated by how easily he could get under her skin. This man! He was infuriating.

But damn it, he was right. That’s exactly what she should be doing too.

“Don’t forget to smile,” Amelio reminded her.

She forced her lips into a smile, feeling the tension in her cheeks.

“That’s it!” Amelio gleefully snapped about a dozen more shots before checking the screen on his camera. “I love it. You guys are such a beautiful couple.”

Somehow, she doubted that.

“Now kiss her,” Amelio said to Damian. They both turned to stare at him.

“What?” Thorn blurted out.

“We have to take one of the kiss,” he insisted, coming over and pushing them together. “It is the most vital photograph of the collection. One you will remember forever. It’s the one you will show your children and grandchildren.”

She was going to be sick.

“Shut up and kiss me,” Damian murmured, his voice low enough that only she could hear.

Her eyes flew to his face. “You can’t be serious.”

“Let’s just do it, then we can go inside.”

She sucked in an exasperated breath. “Okay, fine.”

“Ready?” Amelio called.

“Yep.” Damian lowered his head, his arms closing around her back, drawing her toward him. Thorn braced herself, trying to keep it professional, but the moment his lips touched hers, everything shifted. His mouth was warm, his touch unexpectedly tender. It felt real, and that realization hit her like a punch to the gut.

Her eyes fluttered shut, and she leaned in, waiting for Amelio to say, “cut,” or whatever it was photographers said. But the words didn’t come, and she found herself lost in the sensation of Damian’s lips on hers.

Eventually, Amelio’s voice broke through the haze. “Okay.”

They broke apart, both taking a step back, as if they’d been caught doing something they shouldn’t. Thorn’s heart was pounding in her chest, and she had to remind herself to breathe. It wasn’t supposed to feel like that. It was just a kiss—a fake kiss.

“Again!”

No.

Horrified, she turned to Amelio to object, but he was shaking his head. “I can’t feel the love.”

No kidding.

She was about to say they’d had enough, that the shots they had would have to do, when Damian took matters into his own hands. He grabbed her arm and pulled her toward him. Before she had a chance to react, he’d claimed her lips with his own.

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