UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT Chapter 15

Her body was pressed against me, soft curves flattening on my chest, the thin camisole nearly letting me feel her heartbeat.

My breathing quickened, desire roaring like a caged beast inside me.

I gently pushed her away, my voice hoarse. “Maya, I’m just glad you’re okay. From now on, I’ll protect you.”

That night, I lay in bed with nothing but Maya’s embrace in my head.

Her innocence made me want to both protect and possess her, a contradiction that tore me up. I closed my eyes and imagined her in my arms, her delicate curves blooming in the lamplight.

My phone buzzed. A message from Serena:

“Ethan, come to my place tomorrow. We need to talk.”

Her tone was cool, but it made my heart clench.

I knew she’d probably heard about Maya.

How was I supposed to face her tomorrow?

Serena’s invitation was a ticking time bomb that kept me tossing all night.

The next day, I showed up at her downtown Manhattan apartment. When I pushed the door open, she was standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows in a silk robe, her silhouette hinted at in the morning light.

The robe hung open at the neckline, revealing a deep valley of cleavage, the edge of lace tracing a sensual arc.

Her gaze was complicated, tinged with anger.

“Ethan, I hear you’ve been getting close to Maya?”

I froze, not expecting her to be so direct.

“Serena, I’m just looking out for her. She’s new—someone has to show her the ropes.”

“Looking out?”

She gave a cold laugh and stepped closer, her perfume thick and sweet, making my head swim.

“Don’t play dumb. That young woman is as innocent as a blank page. Are you telling me you don’t feel anything for her?”

Her fingertip slid across my chest, her nails grazing my shirt, sending a shiver through me.

I swallowed and tried to explain.

“Serena, that’s not what I mean. I just want to protect her. This scene is filthy.”

“Protect?”

She leaned in, our bodies almost flush, the softness of her pressing to my chest, her breath hot in my ear.

“Ethan, you can barely protect yourself—how are you going to protect anyone else?”

Her lips brushed my earlobe, her voice low and poisonous. “Did you forget the night we had? Or do you prefer Maya’s innocence?”

My heartbeat hammered like it would explode, desire sweeping away my reason.

I gripped her waist, my fingers sinking into her soft skin. The robe slipped, revealing a pale shoulder and the swell of her chest. I lowered my head and captured her mouth, urgent and fierce, my tongue sliding past her lips to taste her sweetness.

Her hand slipped under my shirt, roaming my back, nails biting into my skin and leaving trails of heat.

We stumbled onto the sofa, her robe torn open, her body laid bare. Her chest rose and fell as if inviting my touch.

I kissed her throat, her collarbone, her abdomen, every inch of her skin burning under my lips.

She murmured, voice like silk, “Ethan, don’t stop…”

Her hand slid to my waistband and tugged, sending my blood surging.

Just as I was about to go further, the doorbell shrieked, a splash of cold water on my head.

Serena pushed me away, fixed her robe, her eyes complicated. “That’s the delivery. Go get the door.”

Panting, I straightened my clothes, opened the door, and grabbed the takeout.

Serena had already regained her calm, sitting on the sofa as she lit a cigarette.

“Ethan, we can’t keep doing this. You have your path, I have mine. We both have to learn restraint.”

I froze, the fire in me half-doused by her coolness.

“Serena, what do you actually want?”

She exhaled a curl of smoke, her eyes tired.

“I don’t know. Maybe I just wanted to prove I can still hold on to something.”

She paused, her voice low. “Ethan, be careful. Christine Shaw is interested in you, and Mr. Grant won’t let you off easy. This scene is a deep abyss—don’t let yourself sink too far.”

Velvet Abyss