UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT Chapter 31

“Liam...”

She was breathless, her voice hoarse and tinged with a plea. “Don’t stop...”

Our rhythm quickened; sweat mingled, and our breaths and low moans echoed through the room.

Her back arched as if bracing for a storm, damp hair splayed across the pillow—sensual as a spellbinding portrait.

When the climax hit, her body trembled, taut curves unfurling in my arms. I was swept into the same surge, my mind flashing to white.

Afterward, we lay in silence on the bed.

Sated warmth still lingered on her face; her eyes were hazy, like someone drifting out of a dream.

I wrapped my arms around her from behind, fingers combing through her hair, feeling the silk of each strand slide between them. Her scent, sweet and salted with sweat, set my nerves on edge.

After a pause, she spoke, her voice low and layered with something complicated:

“Liam, you won’t be satisfied with just me, will you?”

I froze. Maya’s innocence flashed through my head, Chloe’s teasing, Lisa’s sultry smile.

I stayed quiet for a few seconds, drew a deep breath, and murmured:

“Sophie, I’ll grow. I’ll gain enough power to protect you and the people I cherish. I’ve realized that only by standing high enough can I hold on to what I want to keep.”

She turned to me, a flicker of tenderness in her eyes. Her red lips brushed my forehead in a light kiss, and she smiled like a sly fox.

“Then prove it to me. If you really can...”

She paused, gaze turning playful and suggestive. “I actually don’t mind sharing.”

Her words landed like a bomb, sending a tremor through my chest.

I stared at her, mind buzzing.

Love ran deep beneath her smile, a net that left me nowhere to escape.

Only then did I realize how much more she felt for me than I’d imagined—enough to compromise for me—enough to move me and weigh on me all at once.

I pulled her closer and whispered, “Sophie, I won’t let you down.”

She smiled, rested her head on my chest, and her breathing evened out, soft as a sleeping child’s.

I stroked her back while a storm rose in my mind.

Her compromise, her love—they were like a drug: something I craved and feared.

I knew this industry was an abyss, but I had to climb higher—not just for her, but for myself.

When I left the apartment, sunlight poured over my face—sharp yet warm. I clenched my fists and told myself:

Liam, you need to get stronger. Fast.

Otherwise, you won’t even be able to hold on to her heart.

Back at the agency, the air still crackled with excitement. Starry Love kept surging online, and Sophie’s name was a fixture on the trending lists.

Mr. Warren, unusually, gave me a rare smile and clapped my shoulder.

“Nice work, Liam. Sophie’s blown up, and you’ve done your part. Now focus on guiding Maya—don’t let her fall behind.”

I nodded, though my feelings were tangled.

Maya’s image flickered through my mind—those clear eyes and the kiss on the balcony—like a thorn pricking at my heart.

In the rehearsal studio, Maya was dancing, sweat trailing down her neck. A fitted tank top traced her budding curves—fresh as a flower just opening.

She saw me, a flicker of panic in her eyes. “Liam, about that night... I’m really sorry.”

I waved it off, keeping my tone light.

“It’s fine, Maya. Let the past be the past. You’ve got a long road ahead—keep working.”

She bit her lip, resolve flashing in her gaze.

“Liam, I’ll prove myself. I don’t want to disappoint you again.”

Higher Ground