Page 11 of Beyond the Red Carpet

She shouldn’t be enjoying this so much. Shouldn’t crave the taste of Kate’s mouth or the way Kate’s body melted against hers. This was meant to be an act - a performance for the cameras. But with each passing second, as Kate’s hands roamed across her back and their bodies pressed closer, the line between pretense and reality blurred.

Kate’s hands slid up her back, pulling her deeper into the kiss. The heat of her touch burned through Vanessa’s silk blouse, igniting something primal and hungry within her. She shouldn’t want this. She shouldn’t crave the soft sounds escaping Kate’s throat or the way Kate’s body arched into hers.

But she did.

The realization hit her like a slap in the face. She wasn’t acting. Not even close. She was kissing Kate because she wanted to. Because the first kiss had awakened something inside her that she couldn’t ignore. Something that had nothing to do with headlines or narratives.

Guilt crept in.

Kate was playing a role, following their agreement. But Vanessa’s response was real, embarrassingly so. Her body thrummed with desire. What would Kate think if she knew?

Vanessa broke the kiss, her chest heaving. The taste of Kate’s lips lingered, a reminder of lines she shouldn’t cross. This was meant to be an act - not whatever her thumping heart suggested it had become.

Movement caught her eye. The photographer had abandoned his hiding spot in the bushes, now standing on the sidewalk several yards away. His camera hung from his neck as he checked through his shots, making sure he’d captured every angle of their encounter.

“Get in the car.” Vanessa’s voice came out rougher than intended. She opened the passenger door, grateful for the excuse to put space between them.

Kate slipped into the leather seat without argument. The sound of the door closing echoed in the quiet street.

Vanessa rounded the hood of her car, aware of the photographer’s presence. Her hands trembled as she gripped the steering wheel. The engine purred to life, and she pulled away from the curb.

In her rearview mirror, she watched the photographer sprint toward his parked car. His camera bounced against his chest as he ran, no doubt eager to be the first to break this story.

The street lights cast alternating shadows across Kate’s face as they drove. Vanessa’s grip tightened on the wheel. She focused on the road ahead, because looking at Kate right now would force her to acknowledge what had happened back there and what it meant.

6

Kate’s mind raced as she tried to make sense of the events that had unfolded. She had always admired Vanessa from afar, but never in her wildest dreams did she think she would end up sharing a passionate kiss with her.

Her heart still pounded in her chest as she sat down on Vanessa’s sofa, trying to calm herself down. She barely had time to process the kiss that she’d been crazy enough to initiate, for appearances sake, never mind the kiss that Vanessa had started before they’d gotten into Vanessa’s car. That had completely taken her by surprise.

Kate couldn’t help but replay those moments in her mind. The way Vanessa had looked at her, the way their lips had met, and the electric energy that had coursed through her body. The way Vanessa had taken control, pinning her against the car door… It was all so surreal.

She knew that they’d just been putting on a show for that photographer, but it was hard for Kate to remember that after the way that Vanessa had kissed her.

Kate closed her eyes for a second, trying to steady her heart rate. Up until this point, she’d just been focused on getting tosafety. She couldn’t think about the kiss when they were being aggressively chased. She couldn’t think about anything other than getting to safety.

“Hold on,” Vanessa had said, her voice surprisingly steady as she accelerated through a yellow light. The car’s engine roared as they weaved through traffic, taking sharp turns down side streets Kate hadn’t known existed.

Kate couldn’t tell her that she lived only ten minutes away from the restaurant, because she knew that Vanessa would want to get back here, to the safety of her own home.

And even though she was safe in Vanessa’s living room, Kate’s hands still trembled. She’d seen paparazzi encounters in movies, but experiencing one firsthand had been terrifying. Her heart rate was only now returning to normal.

The reality of her new life hit her. This would become her normal too. Photographers hiding in bushes, car chases through the city, every moment of intimacy potentially captured and splashed across tabloid pages. Kate’s chest tightened at the thought.

Vanessa’s heels clicked against the hardwood floor as she entered the living room, her phone illuminating her face. “He’s still out there. Sitting in his car at the end of the driveway.”

Kate’s shoulders tensed. The photographer’s persistence made this all too real, although thankfully, Vanessa’s home was secure. The driveway was long and windy and the tall electronic gates at the foot of it would mean there was no chance of him making it any further.

“I need a drink. Would you like one?” Vanessa’s composed voice cut through Kate’s spiraling thoughts.

“I’ll have whatever you’re having.” Kate watched as Vanessa left the room.

Kate stared at the pristine white walls of Vanessa’s living room, her mind drifting to tomorrow’s headlines. The photoswould be everywhere . Splashed across gossip sites, social media, and tabloid covers. Their kiss in that alley would be the top entertainment story of the day, dissected and analyzed by millions. Their kisses. Kate swallowed. Those two moments would be all over the internet tomorrow.

Her throat tightened. But this was exactly what they’d planned. What Elliot had wanted for Vanessa. Yes, the timeline had just been accelerated, but it was what they’d wanted.

And yet…

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