UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT Chapter 27

“Mia, you’ve already given it everything.”

I spoke softly, hand moving gently along her back, feeling the warmth of her body. “This industry is dirty, yeah—but you’ve held your boundaries. That’s your pride. Success will come; it just needs time.”

She shook her head. Tears slid down her cheeks and fell onto my arm, searing my heart.

“Liam, I’m afraid I won’t make it to that day… I know exactly what those directors are hinting at, but I don’t want to become what they want. And success… it feels farther and farther away…”

Suddenly she lifted her face, a flash of resolve in her eyes. She cupped my cheeks, rose on her toes, and pressed her lips to mine.

Her lips were as soft as cotton candy—salted with tears, tinged with a young woman’s sweetness—urgent and unpracticed, like a torrent of pent-up hurt.

My mind went blank. Heat roared to my head; desire clawed at my chest like a wild animal.

I moved to push her away, but she pressed closer. The softness of her chest flattened against me; the fabric of her tank top was so thin it was almost sheer, tracing her tender curves.

Her tongue slipped into my mouth, trembling, as if begging for my answer.

My hands slid to her waist, fingertips sinking into her soft skin, feeling the shiver running through her.

“Liam…” she panted, voice hoarse and pleading. “You’re the only one in this business who’s been kind to me… If my first time has to go to someone, I’d rather give it to you than to those disgusting producers and directors…”

Her words detonated in my skull.

I shoved her back, gasping, wrestling my urges down. “Mia, get a grip! You’re just hurting right now. Acting on impulse will destroy you!”

A flicker of hurt crossed her eyes, and the tears started again.

“Liam, do you… despise me? I know I can’t compare to Serena, or Ms. Carter and the others… but I really like you…”

She threw herself into my arms again, looping her hands around my neck, pressing even closer. Her damp lips brushed my throat, sending a jolt through me.

Her tank top slipped off one shoulder, revealing pale skin and the lace edge of her bra—innocent yet dangerous, making my blood surge. My breathing quickened; reason and desire tore at each other. Serena’s face flashed through my mind, along with the fever of that night at the hotel.

“Mia, we can’t…”

My voice was rough. I tried to push her away, but her softness held me like a net.

She lifted her face, eyes blurred with tears, voice barely a whisper. “Just this once… let me feel like someone truly cares about me…”

Her mouth found mine again, the kiss fierce and desperate, burning through what courage she had left.

My restraint snapped. My hands slid under her top, gliding over the smooth warmth of her back, feeling her tremble. Her soft moans skimmed my ear like silk, stoking the fire in my veins.

A soft cough sounded behind us.

I jerked around. Serena stood at the balcony entrance, eyes cold as ice, a champagne flute in her hand. Her gaze sliced through me like a knife.

“Liam. Having fun, are we?”

Her voice was low, edged with mockery, as though passing sentence.

Mia flinched and peeled away from me, head down, wiping her tears. Her tank top slipped further, exposing more of her pale skin. She looked like a startled fawn.

My heart stuttered. My mind went blank. My throat felt full of sand.

“Serena, I—” I started, and realized I had no idea how to explain.

Holding the Line