Chapter 21

I 've never felt so out of control! The tears were ready to leak out of my eyes as soon as he hit me with those parting words. This is real. Life is full of unexpected surprises. He has no fucking idea. I grab another wad of toilet paper and wipe my cheeks.

"Asshole," I mumble.

I've never had a cast member put me in a position like that. I'm still shaken up. Live television and he made me look like an idiot. My boss is going to kill me, but not before I kill Sully for that stupid stunt. I'm mad— big mad —and I will make sure he knows it. I hurl the ball of toilet paper blotted with mascara in the trash and throw the door open. Where the fuck is he?

At six-foot-five, he's easy to spot in one of the prep rooms, unhooking his mic. I stride over to him and grab his arm, yanking him into the attached hallway, out of sight.

"Don't you ever do that again!" I whisper-yell. "Your behavior reflects poorly on me. I could lose my job for that, Sully. Do you get that?"

He has the nerve to roll his eyes, as if I'm being overly dramatic. "They wouldn't fire you." The jerk turns his back to me and reaches back to unclip the battery pack. "You're a fantastic producer," he mutters. I grab his arm and wrench him back, getting a little rough.

"They should fire me! I couldn't control the character on my own fucking set!"

I glare up at him towering over me. He doesn't look very happy with me, but I gulp down any fear I have. He glances at the empty hallway, then steps forward, and I step back. He encroaches until my back is to the wall. Shit.

"What are you doing?" I ask, my chest rising and falling.

He braces a palm on each side of my head and lowers himself until he's eye level with me. It's intimidating as hell, but I stand my ground.

His right hand brushes behind my ear, and I shiver. So much for looking unaffected.

"You command every part of my life. I can't focus. I can't talk to other women without thinking about you. I want you ." His thumb grazes up and down my neck, making me shiver for a second time. I hate the goose bumps spreading from that area. "How does it feel? Not being in control?"

I narrow my eyes at him, and he covers my neck with his giant palm. I swallow and raise my chin defiantly. "Sully—" I warn him to back off, but my voice comes out a lot more breathy than it was supposed to.

"Not very fun, is it?" He tsks. "All that desire floods your senses and makes it impossible to function. Impossible to think. Everything is within reach, so close you can touch it with your fingertips… but no matter how badly you want it, you can never seem to grasp it." He presses his thumb to my bottom lip and pulls it down. His eyes are on my mouth. I'm full-on panting.

Footsteps are coming from around the corner, so I dart my eyes away, and he shoves off the wall, walking away without saying another word.