“And we’re in love but can’t be together.”

“But we want to.”

“We definitely want to.” Her words are throaty, causing my chest to go wild.

If I narrowed the space between us any more, it would put our lips touching—a very tempting prospect. So tempting that my eyes drop to her mouth, contemplating it without planning to act on it. I can wait a few more minutes.

I force my gaze back to her eyes. “So what do you say? Are you willing to throw everything into our characters? No holding back?”

“No holding back.” Her eyes drop to my lips too—an undetectable movement so quick I almost missed it. But it was there.

“For the sake of the show,” I say.

“For the sake of the show.”

“We’re ready for you both,” Naomi calls from across the room.

Neither one of us pulls back or looks away.

I think we’re ready for this too.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

JENNA

I thought we were filming the kiss scene.

In my mind, that meant our lips would be locked and loaded within two minutes of, ‘Roll camera!’

Not the case.

We’ve been at it for an hour, filming every last detail that leads up to the kiss, but not the actual kiss.

Don’t get me wrong. That’s all important stuff, and it involved touching. Lots of delicious touching between Cody and me. His hands were on my bare shoulders and arms. His fingers brushed against mine, intertwining with tenderness that was achingly sweet. But all of that just makes me want the kiss even more.

It’s been one hour of foreplay, and if you combine that with the ballroom scenes we filmed all morning, it’s more like eight hours of excruciating build-up. I don’t think I’ve ever anticipated something so much, and yes, I once was a kid on Christmas Eve, waiting for my Felicity American Girl doll. That moment doesn’t even compare to this.

But there’s nothing else left to film.

It’s time, and by the charged glances Cody and I keep exchanging, we’re both more than ready.

“I don’t want to choreograph every last detail of this scene,” Quinton says, looking between us. “I want each touch to feel organic, to build naturally. So stay in character as long as you need. We’ll keep the cameras rolling, especially if you guys are feeling it.”

Oh, I’m feeling it.

Wanting it.

I’ve been suppressing my attraction to Cody for so long, telling myself I can’t give in. But today, I’m supposed to give in. I’m supposed to channel everything Renna feels for Trev and deliver a kiss that has audiences searching it up on YouTube for years to come.

It’s all the permission I need.

“Okay, let’s take it from where we left off,” Quinton directs. “Jenna, your back is against the curtains with one hand on Cody’s chest.”

Cody slips in front of me, and I slowly lift my hand, placing it over his heart. The intensity of his beats matches what’s happening in my chest, and we haven’t even begun filming.

“No holding back?” he whispers as the cameras start rolling. His blazing eyes hold so much passion I wouldn’t be surprised if he were one of those cartoon characters that shoots laser beams every time he looks at something.

“No holding back,” I say as Quinton yells, “Action!”