Page 26 of Pretty Obsessed

“Only with me?”

“I love when I read about a character and they are unexpected, you can’t predict them. I love writing them. I’ve never met anyone like that in real life.” I grew quiet. Giving away hints of intimacy to this person. Would he appreciate them?

He grabbed my wrist and kissed each one of my knuckles. “I think that is the nicest compliment anyone has ever given me. Thank you.”

“You’re going to keep me blushing all night.” I felt my cheeks turning.

“Good.” He leaned closer to brush his nose over the color. “I want to see how far it extends.”

“Right now it’s down my neck,” I admitted with a gulp.

“I want to see if your chest turns this shade,” he whispered over my throat nipping at the skin there.

“I’m starting to imagine it’s impossible to say no to you.”

He lifted his face, letting me see his smile. “I hope so.”

The car came to a stop, interrupting us, and I was grateful. I needed a minute to breathe.

“Before we get out, expect photos and questions. I should have alerted you to the possibility before we left.” He stared at me getting serious.

“I understand. Is that going to…be bad for you?”

“I don’t plan on being all over you in the lobby, so I hardly think anyone will notice. They will speculate about who you are and figure it out pretty fast, but we have enough of an entourage in and out with us, I don’t think the speculation will turn into anything untoward for either of us.”

“So I’m going to be seen as a hanger on?” I had to laugh.

He smiled. “Since you’re quite famous in your own right, I don’t think anyone would believe as much.”

“You think they’ll put together who I am that fast?” I asked.

He reached over and tapped my bag. “Don’t put your name on your bag if you don’t want people to know.”

I glanced down and laughed. It was a gift from my publisher for hitting the NYT bestseller list. “Shit. I forgot that was there. But still, you’ve never picked up your phone. How would you know how well I sell?”

“I told you, I’ve read you.” He turned and opened the door, slipping out to a flood of flashes leaving me reeling and trying to collect my thoughts.

We walked out into a sea of cameras, blinding flashes from every direction.

I put up a hand, the flashes already making it impossible to see. Authors rarely got to this level of attention. I couldn’t imagine what it was like to live like River did, where this was his normal. He wasn’t even fazed by it. He walked through the line of photogs like it was nothing. He didn’t even duck or put his head down like I’d seen so many celebrities doing in photos. He smiled and paused and waved. A couple people ran up to him and pushed paper into his hands. He signed everything he was handed while still walking. So fluid and not bothered. He took photos and smiled.

I felt—well, disheveled. I wouldn’t be ready for fans if I was ambushed in my hotel before a signing. I signed things but rarely outside of an organized event.

I couldn’t imagine having the mental energy or time to do this every day. What a strange existence. I followed behind him, not acknowledging the press. It was easier that way. They weren’t interested in me except as a friend of River’s. And this would be the last time we were seen together. It was pointless to engage.

River walked past the normal elevator to a private one in the back. I breathed again when we were behind the closed door.

“Is it like that everyday?”

“More or less. There are times it’s worse and that’s usually when I’m with Iris or Caspian. I don’t think our location has been widely leaked yet.” He leaned against the wall at an angle and crossed his ankles.

He stared at me. The intensity the same as it was in the club. He had fuck-me eyes. I couldn’t look away. I wished he’d come over here and kiss me, but maybe it was too forward. There were probably cameras.

I licked my lips. “Was it hard to get used to?”

The writer in me wanted to know everything about him, or maybe that was the excuse I used.

“Wow.” He let out a soft groan.

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