Page 56 of Finding Her Leading Man

But Trevor…

He maneuvered around her in one quick step, stalking toward Jasper.

Jasper stumbled backward until his back bumped into the wall behind the make-shift stage.

“Trevor,” Samantha said, tugging on the back of his jacket. “Stop. Please.”

Trevor leaned in close. “Donotsay another word about Samantha. Donotspeak to her again. You don’t touch her unless she allows it. The next time you pull that shit, forcing yourself on her, I will be right there to jack your skinny ass upbeforeI have you arrested for assault. I don’t give two shits about you or your fame. You can’t hurt me.”

Trevor turned, narrowly missing running into Samantha, before taking her hand and marching out of the ballroom.

She took long strides to keep up with him. Everyone else catered to Jasper because he was box office gold. Every show he starred in sold out.

Finally, someone stood up to him. She grinned. How in the world was she going to let Trevor go?

20

He’d almost lost his shit. Trevor remained silent during the ride back to their hotel and into the elevator. Samantha had tried to carry on a conversation but failed. He needed some headspace to get Jasper’s sneer and look of triumph out of his mind.

It was on repeat. The kiss. The way the man’s weak hands had held onto her even when she tried to pull away. Her expression, just for a split second, of fear before it’d turned into disgust.

He understood the job. She was an actress. He knew how the industry worked. But that wasn’t acting. That was a man out to prove a point that he was entitled to whatever he damn well wanted.

That may be true on every other level but not when it came to Samantha.

Sam was his.

Where would she be if he hadn’t met her? Still, hiding out in Statem? Coming back to the mean world of Broadway politics to face it alone? Getting her emotions jerked around by Jasper? She was strong. Stronger than she knew, but she didn’t have anyone in her corner. No friends. No family. No one willing to stand up to the asshole.

No one to remind her that she’s worth more than Broadway could ever pay her. More than her awards or reputation.

And what would happen in the future? Trevor would walk away, leaving her in a couple of weeks. It had to happen. There was no way around it. Promising her long-term and then not seeing her for three weeks or more made him as shitty of a partner as his parents had been to him. He’d been in that position, the one there waiting, wondering when they’d return.

He wouldn’t do that to Samantha. She deserved more than he could give her.

But he was there now. Tonight.

He opened the door and walked in behind her. She turned. “We’re in the same room?”

Trevor relaxed his hands and set the key card on the table beside the door. “Yes.” He undid the bow tie and tossed it on a chair with his jacket, the action releasing a wave of tension with it.

“Okay.” The small word meant so much more with the way her brown eyes darkened. She reached behind her back.

“Don’t.”

Her eyes widened a touch. Seeing her undressed would throw out his promise that he wanted to take his time. And kissing had to wait, as well. Once he started, he never planned to come up for air until the sun rose. A tux wasn’t an outfit that worked well for these situations.

He unbuttoned his shirt, tossed it on the chair, and then his belt. He took off his undershirt and left on his pants. Those were his last line of defense to slow down and take his time. Rushing anything tonight was out of the question.

“Now, your turn.” He closed the distance between them. “I’ve had to watch you, all night, in this dress.” Gently, he pushed one strap off her shoulder and kissed his way along the edge of her collarbone. She’d added a perfume, something that a real woman wore. For a brief moment, he missed the way she smelled after helping Becky bake her pies. Like a dessert just for him.

Her chest rose and fell with a deep breath. Nerves? Excitement? Impatience?

He wanted her begging for his touch before this night was over. That took time to build.

“So much beautiful skin to taste.” He kissed her shoulder, then across to the other side, his hand pushing that strap down as well. “And touch.” His fingertips slid up and down her arm. He found the top of her zipper but didn’t pull yet.

He stepped backward, toward the bedroom, leading her along. His mind raced for a half-second, picturing where the condoms were that he’d grabbed before leaving Statem. “Stay here,” he whispered and walked to his bag in the corner, found them, and then tossed one on the table beside the bed. He smiled to himself. He’d brought six. What the hell he’d planned to do with six of them in one night, he didn’t have a damn clue.

---