Page 129 of By His Rule

“No. You can get out here and soak all that up. Jamie can take me around the back or something.”

I chuckle. “Absolutely not. You’re walking in on my arm whether you like it or not.”

She harrumphs, keeping her eyes on the crowd.

“You’re not nervous, are you, Temptress?”

“Pfft, never. I just…I’m no one. They don’t want photographs of me.”

Jamie opens the door, and the excitement from outside immediately fills the limo.

Sure, we might be no one compared to the celebrities Kieran manages to get to these kinds of events, but still, I have every confidence that our photos will grace plenty of news outlets come sunrise.

“I strongly disagree.” Without another word, I move toward the open doors.

Cameras immediately begin flashing before I hear my name murmured in the crowd.

Leaning back into the limo, I hold my hand out for my plus one. I didn’t want to mention it, but the only reason people are interested in my arrival is to know who I’ve brought with me.

I’ve been connected to numerous high-profile women in the past, so they’re probably expecting someone they know. Someone like Sasha.

Well, they’re about to get a shock.

Tingles shoot up my arm the second she slides her small hand into mine, and it only gets worse as she emerges from the car.

No one here knows her name, but that doesn’t mean she’s any less than any other woman who’s walked in her shoes. If anything, she’s more, and that thought is fucking terrifying.

“Kian, who is your date?”

“Turn this way.”

“Kian?”

“What’s her name?”

The second Lorelei is standing, I wrap my arm around her waist and pin her to my side as the volume and excitement around us increase, along with the incessant camera flashes.

“This is insane,” she whisper-shouts.

Ducking my head low, I brush my lips against her ear, letting everyone make what they want of the intimate move as we continue toward the entrance.

“Welcome to my world, Temptress.”

She shudders against me, and my hand tightens on her waist.

We make our way down the red carpet, turning each way for photos before someone else arrives behind us and steals our attention.

“Oh my god,” Lorelei gasps the second we’re inside the venue for tonight’s event. “That was insane.”

“Ow,” I complain when she suddenly slaps my arm. “What was that for?”

“Why the hell didn’t you warn me?”

“I wasn’t aware I had to,” I say honestly. She may not have grown up in his life, but she’s been friends with Tate for long enough to know she attends these kinds of events.

"Unbelievable.”

Another couple steps into the building—the woman immediately locks eyes with me, and I nod politely.She’s an actress, one that Lorelei would recognize if she stopped glaring at me for even a second.

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