Chapter 7

SEVEN

" Y ou know you'll lose, right?" she murmurs at my side, the dark room only heightening my need to feel Fallon. I'm fighting a losing battle, wanting to drag her onto my lap and fuck her right here for all these snotty fuckers to see.

I don't like to share, though, and when Fallon melts for me, which she will, it won't be in front of anyone else.

"Hmm?" I hum, my thoughts focused entirely on her. Every movement is burning into my brain despite the fact that my eyes are on the film premier with every other person here.

"The bet because I'll never kiss you, so you'll lose." She says it so matter-of-factly, I can't help but smile and turn my eyes down to her. She sits stiffly in her chair, the man on her other side laughing loudly at something in the film.

"Then I'll happily lose," I admit.

Her lips purse until she smiles, shaking her head. "You're a strange man, Kage."

"Yes, but aren't you intrigued?" I murmur, making her grin wider, and I feel like I won a fucking war. That smile is for me, just me, nobody else.

My eyes find her in every room, and my soul cries for hers. There isn't a moment of my existence since I met Fallon when I've had peace—until now, with her at my side, smiling at something I said.

She focuses back on the film, but my eyes are only for her. I drag them over her stunning face, burning every inch of it into my memory.

"Eyes on the film," she orders. "It's a masterpiece."

"No, but you are. I'd much rather spend two hours staring at you. Don't mind me though. Keep watching, sweetheart."

I swear a slight blush stains her cheeks, but she doesn't dignify my comment with a response. Instead, she tries very hard to watch the movie for the next two hours while I watch her. I'm absorbed in every minute facial expression that gives her away. When she wants to laugh but doesn't want anyone to know, her lips twitch. When she's sad, her nose crinkles, and when her eyes widen, she's enraptured.

She's fucking beautiful, so much so it hurts.

When the movie is over, we both clap with everyone else, and she greets and speaks to the director and producer as well as some actors. I stand at her back where I belong, letting her shine, and shine she does, bigger than any star.

That's my girl.

The after-party is surprisingly calm. There are tables spread across the fancy hotel with meals and drinks being served. Crew members and actors mingle, laughing as they tell stories from the film and congratulate each other on another amazing movie.

Fallon joins in for a while before sitting at my side and reclaiming some of her peace. I block any attempts of men coming over with my glare, making it look like we are having some stolen moments. She needs just a minute to regroup. Everyone hangs on her, looks at her, or watches her, and it must be exhausting.

"I don't know how you deal with it," I comment.

"With what?" she asks, her eyes finding mine, and I'm glad to see she doesn't seem tired of me, just everyone else .

"All the fawning. Even other celebrities fan over you," I murmur softly.

"They fawn over you too."

I don't respond. I've noticed the looks, but I don't care. I'm here for her, no one else.

She sighs, gazing over the elegant ballroom. "You get used to it." She smiles, but it's humorless. "I have been thrust into these situations since I was young. My entire childhood was spent in parties like this, sometimes doing my homework in the back." She swallows, her eyes finding me. "I eventually realized it was easier to just give in and play the part they wanted rather than fight them. My father taught me to be the perfect guest and always have a perfect smile and response. It's exhausting, if I'm honest, but it's as easy as putting on clothes for me—a habit, although not necessarily a good one."

"Your father taught you that?" I'm not a fool. I know who her father is. Everyone in the world does. Agille was a legendary artist who died some years ago, leaving her and her mother behind before she died too, or ran away—no one knows. I know everything I can about Fallon, but surprisingly, their relationship is secretive. She was seen at her father's side all the time, but to me, she always looked sad and he never looked interested, but maybe I was wrong.

"I spent my entire life being formed into his perfect protégé, but I never quite compared to him. Even now, they whisper about it. My father was a legend. He was good at being a rock star."

"And at being a father?" I ask.

She glances at me, her eyes dark with something unfathomable. "Like I said, he was good at being a rock star. It was his life, which became mine. Being a good father had nothing to do with it. I was an extension of him, just like his guitar, something else to use, not like they will ever know that. The world worships my father and puts him on a pedestal, but no one knows the real him. Only me."

"Yet you say nothing?" I ask.

"What would speaking about it do? He's dead, they love him, and I will be compared to him until the day I die."

"Fallon—" I reach for her. She looks so alone right now, so lost, that it makes my heart hurt. She inhales sharply, and it's so out of the blue my eyes track hers to find what she's watching.

"Is that?—"

"My ex-husband," she answers, her throat working as she watches him. "And his new girlfriend."

"What is he doing here?" I ask.

"She's the producer's daughter. She's trying to make a name for herself," she replies. "She's a pretty young actor, making her way up. She's just someone else for him to cling to. It's the closest he'll ever get to fame and he knows it."

Our eyes go back to him as he works the room, holding her arm proudly, but I see what she sees. He's a leech, butting into conversations and hanging onto his girlfriend's fame. She looks awed by him. She's young, just like Fallon said, barely twenty, with straight blonde hair hanging to her waist. Her round face is turned up to his as she gazes at him with worshipful eyes. No doubt he has love bombed and preyed on her need to feel a connection, yet he never once looks at her.

Poor girl.

"How long has it been since you've seen him?" I ask.

"A year." She glances at me, smiling. "I kicked him out the moment I was home. I didn't see him after. Why would I? He broke my trust and ruined our marriage. There was nothing to see him about. In all honesty, I expected to run into him before now."

"Are you okay?" I question.

"I thought I would feel something, but I feel nothing when I look at them. Doesn't that make me twisted and cruel?"

"No, it makes you, you," I murmur as I lean in. "My Fallon, who doesn't let fools like that have her heart or tear her down. He never deserved it in the first place, and you knew that. That's why you never truly loved him. Deep down, you knew he wasn't worth loving. It was never a relationship, it was a transaction, and you were always paying the higher price. There can never be real love when you aren't equal. He used your name and your money, and part of you hated that about him." She looks at me, her eyes wide. "Tell me I'm wrong. Tell me you didn't use that inequality as a way to keep him at arm's length because it's easier when they owe you something than it is if they don't."

For a moment, she just stares at me, her eyes so wide I could drown in them.

"Who says I'm capable of love?" she counters, unwilling to focus on anything else I said since she knows I'm right.

"I do, and I can't wait to feel it," I murmur.

The entire world disappears, and for a moment, my heart stops as she leans in, glancing at my lips, and my head starts to scream at me.

Fallon is going to kiss me.

She's finally going to kiss me.

"Still not letting you win," she whispers with a cruel grin as she leans back.

I release a shaky breath, my heart racing a million miles an hour as she picks up her drink and casually takes a sip. Meanwhile, I'm left reeling, but I can't swallow the smile that curls my lips. Fallon is playing my game. She's talking to me, and she's here with me.

All my dreams are finally coming true, and before she knows it, she will be mine, and I'll show her just how capable of love she is, and if not . . .

I'll love her enough for both of us.

"I need the bathroom." She stands, and with a dismissive turn, she heads past her ex and his new girlfriend. He turns as if feeling her, his eyes seeking her out, and I know then he came here on purpose.

He might have cheated on Fallon, but he never wanted to be discovered. He wanted to keep the kingdom she built, and he's here to try and get her back, the fool. Downing my drink, I stand, ignoring the women and fans calling to me, and then I follow after her.

Fallon is mine. Maybe it's time I made them all aware of that, including her.

I'm going to lose the bet, and I can't fucking wait.

I pass him, but he's too busy staring after Fallon. "Baby?" the young actress calls, laughing self-consciously as she tries to get his attention. "Don't you agree?"

"Oh, sure," he replies, looking at her and forcing a smile .

Shaking my head, I head down the corridor and to the wooden bathroom door. I know he'll follow her, and I'm going to make him realize she's not his anymore.

I push through the wooden door, finding Fallon drying her hands in front of the marble vanity. For a moment, I just stare, and her eyes raise in the mirror, narrowing on mine.

"Kage?" she says, turning to me.

I cover the four steps in one big jump, and she flinches.

"I lose," I snarl as I grab her perfectly coiled hair and pull her to me, crushing my lips to hers. I swallow her gasp. Her hands beat my chest before they slow and then grip my jacket, and I grin in victory.

I back her up until she hits the sink, my tongue sweeping inside her mouth to taste her. My groan echoes around the room as I hold her tightly. Her taste burns into my brain, as does the softness of her lips and the catch in her breath.

I could kiss her forever, and I know now that I can never let Fallon go.

It has never felt like this . . . never been like this.

I try to get closer, to merge our mouths into one, but she pulls away, panting. My chest is rising rapidly as I stare into her wide eyes. I rub my thumb across her lips, smearing her lipstick even more, liking that out of place perfection that makes her real.

I hear footsteps. "Play along, sweetheart."

I crouch down, pushing her dress up and covering her crotch with my face so it looks indecent just as the door opens. She gasps, and there's a curse.

"Fallon?" he says.

"Little busy."

I can't help but smirk as I place a chaste kiss over her panties and lift my head, licking my lips as her ex gapes at me and then her.

"What the fuck are you doing? She's mine!" her ex blunders, his face turning red as I smirk at him. My eyes go to Fallon, whose eyes are wide. Her smeared lipstick makes it very obvious what we were doing.

"She doesn't feel like yours." I grin at him as I lean in and inhale. " She doesn't smell like yours." I lick my lips as I grin at him. "She doesn't taste like yours."

"You bastard!" He storms across the room, and I stand to meet him. I don't lift my hand, even though it would be easy to hit him back. I let his fist hit my face.

The corner of my lip splits, and my tongue dips out, lapping at the blood there as I grin at him. "Oh, I'm so scared. Remind me who you are again?"

"I'm her husband," he hisses.

"Ex," she retorts, moving to my side.

"Ex-husband. A nobody, right? The only thing interesting about you was Fallon, and now she's gone and you're a nobody. Let me tell you who I am." I step closer, and he steps back. "My name is Kage, and I'm an international rock star with more bank accounts and houses than you could even imagine. My name is screamed around this world. I am something, and Fallon? Fallon is everything. She is the reason I'm here. She's the reason I am who I am. You are nobody. You are nothing. Insignificant." I back him out of the bathroom as he pales. "Just somebody who was lucky enough to be plucked from the crowd to be at her side. But us? We are celebrities, and we are perfect together, so hit me again. I dare you. Hit me. I don't even need to lift a finger to destroy you."

I wait, and I see the moment he decides. He abandons logic when he looks at her, his jealousy and need to be number one taking hold, and he swings. His fist is caught midair by a hand with black-tipped nails—a familiar hand, one I have to hold. She steps into my view, thrusting him away so he hits the wall, and the look of cold hatred she aims at him makes me rock hard.

Her chin is jutted out as she glares down at him like he's a peasant at her feet. Fuck.

"He might not hit back, but I will. You have no right to claim me. I was never yours. You were just a passing amusement, and you have passed. He's right. You are nothing—a failed painter, a failed husband, just a failure—and if you ever try to insert yourself in my life again, you won't have to worry about him. I will fucking ruin you, and you know I can. You know what I'm capable of." She reaches for him, and he flinches, but she simply straightens his tie. "If you ever hit him again, I will cut off your hand, which might be the only worthwhile thing about you, and I'll display it in my house." She pats his chest. "Understood?"

"Understood," he whispers, staring at her like she's a complete stranger.

This is the Fallon I've always known and fell in love with.

She is the one who saved me all those years ago.

This is where my obsession started.

"Good boy, now run back to your cash cow." She takes my hand, threading her fingers through mine as she turns to me. Her eyes land on my lip, and she leans in, her tongue darting out to lick blood away.

"Let's go." She tugs me after her, and I follow willingly.

My soul cheers in victory, my heart overflows, and my hand is clutched in hers, where I belong.

I'm Fallon's man, and she just made that clear.

"Why'd you kiss me?" she asks. She's been quiet since we got in the car. She didn't even bother to tell people goodbye, just left with my hand in hers. She let it go in the car, and I curl it into a fist to maintain the warmth. If this is the only time she touches my hand, then I will count myself blessed that my goddess even offered me that. "Was it just to make my ex jealous?"

"No." I smirk. "That was just a bonus. I didn't like the way he was looking at you."

"What do you mean?" She furrows her brow adorably, and I smooth the lines with my thumb.

"Like you were still his." I reach for her hand, gripping it in mine despite her trying to pull it away. "I've wanted to kiss you since the moment I met you, but I knew you wouldn't let me unless you gained something. That's fine by me. You showed up your ex, and I got what I wanted, which was you. "

"You know, you're kind of terrifying," she says, but her thumb darts out and wipes my bleeding lip. "Why didn't you hit him back?"

"He isn't worth it." I smirk as I lean into her touch, but all too soon, she drops her hand. "I didn't need to sink to his level to ruin him. I could do that for you without even blinking."

"Why me? I don't get it. Why are you doing this for me?" It's clear my girl still doesn't understand.

Her brows draw together in confusion, and my heart skips a beat like it always does around her.

"Because I like you," I answer honestly, knowing she needs me to be direct. "I like you so fucking much."

I want to say I love her, but I know that won't go over well.

"Don't, it won't end well for you," she whispers.

"I don't care. I like you." I move closer, invading her space, and for once, I see her retreat in fear. "I like you a lot, and I don't plan to stop, so do your best. Push me away, hurt me, use me, wreck me, just don't stop. Don't turn your attention away from me. Good or bad, I want it. Direct all that ire and all that fucking anger at me. I'll eat it all up. I'll crawl at your fucking feet just for a chance," I murmur, watching her mouth part.

"Why?" she whispers, genuinely shocked and maybe a little scared.

"Because under that ice-cold exterior is a kind, caring, amazing woman who was hurt too many times. I see her all the time, and I want her. I want to protect her and make her happy. In order to do that, I have to keep pushing. Shove me away all you want, I'm not going anywhere," I promise as I lift our joined hands and kiss hers. "You are stuck with me, Fallon, like it or not."

She stares at me before looking away, but she doesn't take her hand back, and I take that as a win.

All too soon, we arrive at her place, and I reluctantly release her hand to help her out. I take it back as I walk her to her door, and she hesitates in the open doorway. Her eyes narrow on me with determination, and I know the next few moments of my life are going to be the hardest I've ever had.

"Do you want to come in and spend the night?— "

"No." I kiss her to soften the blow as she bristles at my interruption. Before she can pull away at the rejection, I grip her face. "Look at me, Fallon." She does, and I grin. "I refuse to be one of your fuck boys you spend one night with and toss aside, and that's what you're trying to do. You want to gain the upper hand and get this out of your system. The truth is, sweetheart, there is no getting me out of your system, so even though I would give anything to spend just one moment in your bed, not tonight. This is different, Fallon. We are different. I'm saying no, but I will spend the entire night with my hand on my dick, imagining what could and will happen when you let me into your bed with the understanding that it isn't for a night, but forever." I kiss her, and before she can protest, I push her inside her house. "Goodnight, sweetheart. Dream of me." I shut the door, and I don't leave until I hear her locks click into place.

Good, lock me out.

If she isn't careful, I'll go back on my word, break down the fucking door, and beg her for the night she offered, even though I know it was a tactic.

I'm not playing for a night. I'm playing for forever.