Page 7 of Hollywood Humbug (The Naughty List)

“You didn’t tell me why you call me red,” she said with a soft smile as she turned in her seat to face me.

I grinned as I mirrored her position. “Do you remember on the last project when the costume designer asked you to choose between a purple and red gown?”

One corner of her mouth kicked up. “I told her not to come near me with anything red.”

I nodded and smiled crookedly. “And I was confused. I didn’t know if it was red clothes in general or just red dresses.”

“You asked me, and I told you I hated anything red. Ever since I was a kid, everyone assumed I liked the color because my name is Scarlet. It drove me crazy, and I grew to hate the color altogether.”

When I said nothing, she cocked her head and huffed, “You call me red because you think it’s funny that I don’t like the color?”

I shrugged with an unrepentant grin. “I also think you’d look sexy as fuck in anything red. But especially something that looks better on the floor.”

Scarlet’s face turned crimson, just as I’d intended, and I touched the tip of one finger to each cheek. “And this,” I admitted. “I can only think of a handful of times when I’ve seen you blush. Except with me. I seem to bring it out in you, and I know it makes me sound like a smug dick, but I love that only I can leave you feeling flustered and off balance.” I glided my finger along her jaw, then down her neck, and traced her collarbone, smiling when she shivered and blushed. “And I’m pretty damn cocky that I can make you flushed with arousal because it means I’m breaking through the mask you wear with everyone else.”

Scarlet blinked a few times; then, she surprised the hell out of me when she climbed over the center console and straddled my lap. “As long as you let me past your walls. Then we’re even.”

My hands rested on her curvy hips, and I squeezed them gently. “Should we see who breaks first?”

She tunneled her hands into my hair, and her expression turned wicked. “You’re on, Remington.”

“Bring it on, red,” I growled before my mouth descended onto hers.

Son of a bitch. The brief whispers of a kiss I’d given her hadn’t prepared me for the explosion of Scarlet’s taste. The combination of chocolate, vanilla, and her own something spicy was nirvana, and I instantly became addicted. My hands moved up her rib cage until they rested just below her breasts and my thumbs rubbed the sensitive undersides. She gasped, and I plunged my tongue fully into her mouth. Gnawing hunger filled me, and a groan escaped my lungs before I angled my head to deepen the kiss.

My cock was hard as a fucking rock and Scarlet stilled for a moment when she’d felt it swell beneath her. Any intention I had to pull back and check on her dissolved into lust when she pressed herself down and rubbed her pussy along the ridge of my dick.

Passion took over and my hands dove under her skirt, shoving it to her waist so I could palm her firm, round ass. I guided her movements, holding her tight against me as I rocked up into her heat. I was acutely aware that only a thin strip of fabric covered her pussy, and if I gave in to my desire to rip away her panties and plunge my fingers into her hot, wet center, I’d be past the point of no return.

Mustering all of my strength, I slipped a hand between us and rubbed her pleasure button while she dry-humped my dick. Seconds later, she threw her head back and cried out as her passion peaked, and she tumbled into an orgasm.

I leaned back and admired the beautiful sight of Scarlet coming on my lap. But there was a burning question I needed answered…I used my free hand to grasp the hem of her dress and yank it up over her breasts. The pretty blush on her cheeks had turned to a fiery crimson, and I swallowed hard when my eyes trailed down, seeing the flush traveling all the way down into her soaked panties.Fuck, fuck, fuck!Swiftly dragging her dress back down, I sucked in several deep breaths as I tried to think about something besides my desire to sink inside her drenched center.

When Scarlet collapsed against me, panting and shaking with aftershocks, I’d successfully calmed myself enough to reclaim my control.

“That was by far the sexiest thing I have ever seen in my entire life,” I muttered as I buried my face in the side of her neck.

I couldn’t sit there with her on my lap anymore if I intended to leave, so I reluctantly grasped her hips and lifted her over the console and back into her seat. She pouted, making me grin before saying, “I want to see you again before you go.”

“Me too,” she readily agreed, sending a bolt of relief through me. Then her brow furrowed as she thought hard about something. I didn’t rush her, figuring she’d tell me once she’d worked it all out in her mind. “Maybe we should keep this casual for a while,” she suggested. I opened my mouth to protest, but she placed her finger over my lips and kept talking. “I’m not asking you to be my dirty little secret”—she rolled her when my lips curved up into a wicked smile—“I’m just suggesting that no matter how serious we might get, we should keep it casual in public. Give the impression that this is a deepening friendship. It will give us time to explore this relationship without public scrutiny.”

Her explanation made me feel vindicated and thrilled to know I’d been right about her. She smiled as her eyes roamed my face, and I imagined I was lit up like a Christmas tree.

“While I don’t like the idea of you being a secret—although, I’m more than willing to explore the dirty part,”—I grinned when she rolled her eyes—“you make complete sense. And I can’t say that I don’t love the idea of having you all to myself for a while.”

Scarlet’s turquoise eyes sparkled, and I couldn’t help curling my hand around her neck to pull her in for one more steamy kiss.

We were both breathing hard when I pulled back and I sighed as I touched my forehead to hers.

“Do you want to come in?” she queried softly.

“More than you know, baby,” I groaned. “But despite what we might portray to the public, this is not casual to me. You are not a fling. So, we will not have sex on our first date.”

“But—”

I raised my head and met her gaze with a firm stare. “Not on the first date, red.”

Irritation flashed across her face, and I snickered. “You called me that just to annoy me so I wouldn’t try to entice you to stay,” she accused, crossing her arms under her ample breasts, pushing them up and distracting me. “Eyes up here, Candy Kane,” she said dryly.

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