Page 23 of The Price of Fame

Eight

KYLIE SAT IN FIRST CLASS, amazed at the luxury and space. She had her iPod on, learning Greek as she stared out the window and thought of all that had happened in the last twenty-four hours. She had called her friends and work to tell them where she was going. Her work had been great, very understanding. They’d said they would have told her not to come in anyway, as they were getting bombarded with media trying to find out info on her.

Gemma had gone nuts with excitement for her, telling her not to worry about anything. She would look after Buddha as if he was her own. When she’d told Gemma that Markus had asked her to marry him, the squeal had been deafening.

Kylie flexed her left hand, feeling the weight of the diamond and sapphire engagement ring. It was stunning and, she thought, way too expensive. But silly her, she had slipped by pointing it out when she saw it and fallen in love, although when she’d seen the price tag, she fell out of love pretty quickly. Of course it was too late. He’d seen her face and her first reaction and bought it, even with her insisting he not.

James was another matter altogether. He didn’t take her calls, resulting in Kylie and Markus’ first real argument. She’d been about to pop out to see James when Markus had asked where she was going, and of course, she’d answered. “I’m going to go have a talk with James.”

“No, you are not, not unless I go with you. And, if that happens, you might not like the outcome.”

She shot a glare at him and tried to reason with him. “Come on, he’s been my best friend for years. I’m perfectly safe.”

“Best friends don’t confess they’re in love with you and kiss you.”

He had a point, but she still felt bad. “He won’t do it again. I—” She didn’t get to finish.

“I know he won’t do it again because you won’t be going to see him without me.”

Kylie had stared open-mouthed at the change in Markus as he turned into an alpha male, clenching her teeth and fists as her body stiffened because he thought he could tell her whom to see. “I have to go and talk to him. I can’t leave it like I did last night. We’re leaving tonight. I can’t go and not tell him.”

“Yes, you can. I’m not having my fiancée going to a man’s house alone, especially a man who’s confessed his love for her and made out with her, knowing she’s in a relationship. No, not happening.”

Letting out a frustrated scream, she stomped to the front door, yelling, “I’m going. You need to trust me. I am not letting my friend learn about our engagement through other people or the friggin’ media.”

She had marched out of the house, only to realize she didn’t have her car. As she paused to figure out what to do, familiar hands grabbed her, and she was thrown over a muscular shoulder.

She squealed. “Put me down now, Markus Pegios. I’m going. You don’t get to tell me who I see. What has gotten into you? You were never this bossy before.”

He chuckled and swatted her bottom. “Yeah, I do get to tell you who to see, especially if that man is in love with you. And I was this bossy before. You just never got to see it.”

He kept her distracted until they were almost ready to leave. Kylie bit her tongue as images of what he’d done flashed through her mind, sending tingles down her spine and straight to her sensitive pussy. She shot a glare at Markus, who was staring at her.

“What? Is something wrong? Why are you staring at me?” She knew her voice was clipped and sharp, but she was still angry at him about the fiasco over James the night before.

“You still angry at me?” Markus asked.

Lowering her voice so the other passengers wouldn’t hear, she whispered, “You know I am. That was a dirty trick you pulled most of yesterday.”

He raised his eyebrow at her words, and she felt her cheeks flush with heat.

“You know what I mean. I’m an idiot because I can’t resist you.”

A huge grin spread over his face, and he captured her left hand, bringing her fingers up to his face as he played with her engagement ring. “I love knowing I can have you whenever I want, that all I have to do is kiss you and you melt into me, or that I can throw you over my shoulder and go all caveman on you. You like that, don’t you, omorphoula?”

Kylie let out a moan and looked around first class, praying no one could hear him. From what she could see of the couple of rows around her, most of the other passengers were relaxing, talking, or sleeping, but a few were staring at them, well, staring at Markus. “Stop talking about stuff like that here. People are staring.”

He shrugged. “Let them stare.” He moved his hands up to her face, leaned down, and brushed her lips with his.

She closed her eyes as his hands slowly moved down her face, leaving a trail of fire, which only he could do to her.

“I want everyone to know what you are to me. I can’t wait to take you home and show you off.”

Giving in and not caring anymore, she kissed him back until finally they pulled apart slightly, panting.

“So, I’m forgiven?”

She looked into his gorgeous face and sighed. “All right, you’re forgiven, but next time, trust me. I could have handled going over to see James.”

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