Page 9 of The Price of Fame

Three

TWO WEEKS OF MORNING WALKS, weekend dancing, and showing him some of the close-by sights. They’d even driven to Sydney and spent a full day in Darling Harbor. But tonight she’d agreed to go on a date. Markus organized dinner and a movie, trying to keep it simple. He needed public places so he didn’t throw her over his shoulder and take her back to his place and ravish her. As much as Markus wanted to do that, he knew in his heart Kylie was the one, and he wasn’t going to treat her like one of his groupies or a fling. He wanted Kylie forever.

Feeling like a teenage boy going on his first date, he sat in front of Kylie’s house in his car, wiping his sweaty palms on his jeans. “Keep it together, Markus. Be yourself. She likes you for you. She has no idea you’re a superstar.” He said it out loud, hoping it would help his current terrified state.

He walked to her door telling himself he could do this. If he could perform in front of thousands of people, he could get through one date without ravishing her. She deserved better, and Markus wanted their first time together to be special.

Before he could knock, Kylie opened the door. She had dressed in a simple pink and white dress with swirling patterns and black flat sandals. She wore no makeup, and her hair was in a messy bun. She looked adorable.

“Hi. I’m ready to go.” Kylie grabbed his hand and shut her door with the other. He smiled down at her as they walked to his car.

Markus couldn’t get over how different she was compared with all the other women he’d dated. She was so fresh and easygoing. Kylie didn’t complain when he’d told her what he’d organized, or that the restaurant wasn’t the best or the most popular place.

After getting in his car, they drove to the restaurant, which was close to the cinemas. They found a spot to park between the two and walked hand in hand to the restaurant. Markus listened as she talked about her day and what she and her friend Gemma had gotten up to the night before. She asked his opinion on what she should do with her art work, if she should get a new car, and even about what she should cook. He loved that she asked his opinion on things that affected her life and asked about how his own day went.

Markus didn’t talk about his work with her, scared he would say something to give away his identity. He told her just enough to keep her happy. She must have realized that his work was a no-go zone. At the restaurant they were seated immediately and ordered their meals. Once the waitress left, they sat in silence for the first time since the start of the date.

Kylie stared at the brightest, clearest blue eyes she had ever seen. They mesmerized her, and she wondered how many times in the last two weeks she had drowned in them. Kylie had painted and drawn them again and again. She took her time, adding in his strong, masculine, olive-skinned face.

Markus was beyond beautiful.

He was her dream and all she thought about. Her body acted as though it had awoken from hibernation and gone into overdrive. Every time he touched her, a fire started and continued to build. After seeing him in the mornings, she always retired to her room to let off some steam with the ladyfinger vibrator Gemma had bought her as a joke for her last birthday. She still needed a cold shower afterward as her body craved the real thing, something she found odd because she’d never had the real thing.

Markus cleared his throat loudly and, in an almost growly voice, said, “If you keep looking at me like that, I won’t be held responsible for picking you up and throwing you over my shoulder. Then I’ll take you back to my house and strip you naked.”

She clenched her fists and squeezed her legs together as the image came to life in her head. “S-sorry, it’s just…” She shook her head to clear it.

He nodded and looked away, giving her a chance to gather herself. Then he turned back and let his shoulders drop as he leaned back in his chair. “What are you doing tomorrow night?”

“I’m working until seven. Covering for a friend. This is our first date. You might find out after tonight you just want to stay friends.”

Markus let out a big belly laugh and leaned across to hold her hands. “Oh, omorphoula, there is no chance of that happening. I have been getting to know you for two weeks, and technically, this isn’t our first date as I took you to the Reptile Park, and we had that day in Sydney, and all the other times we’ve been together when you’ve shown me around.”

She stared at him, open-mouthed. The corners of his lips curled in a wicked smile.

“You are special to me.” He picked up her hand, kissing her knuckles, and then whispered some words in Greek.

Slowly closing her mouth, she tried not to freak out over his words, but it was hard. She had been alone for two years, distancing herself from a lot of friends, scared of losing more people she loved. The only reason she wasn’t all alone was because James and Gemma had never taken no for an answer. Her other friends were more like acquaintances now.

She listened as Markus told her about his brothers and sisters and their antics on his parents’ farm. Could she fall in love with this man? She groaned to herself as she realized she could easily love him. She probably had started to already.

She told herself he would leave, and she needed to get out before he hurt her, but as she listened to him speak about his family with such love, Kylie knew she was a goner.

She tried not to laugh as Markus sat through a sappy chick flick for her. He was probably the only straight guy in the whole cinema. She watched him as he rolled his eyes and huffed, speaking softly in Greek. She decided, in that moment, that tomorrow she would start learning Greek.

When the movie finished, she giggled as he let out a loud sigh of relief. Leaning over, she brushed her lips against his. “Thanks for going through that torture for me.” She felt him smile as he pulled her mouth back to his, and this time his tongue tangled with hers while his hands trailed up and down her back.

He pulled away, panting. “Anything for you. But I think you owe me.”

She laughed and got up. “Come on, let’s go. Before they put it on again.”

He jumped out of his seat, almost dragging her out of the theater.

At the car, she thanked him again, standing up on tippy-toes as she let her mouth trail over his, licking the seam of his lips before seeking entry. Pressing her body to his, she rubbed against him, letting her hands smooth over his well-defined and muscular chest.

Groaning into her mouth, he gripped her to him, palming her ass. A car horn startled them apart, each trying to catch their breath.

“Thanks for taking me to the movies and sitting thought the chick flick.”

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