Page 32 of Going Viral for Christmas
“So…” His smooth voice pitches so low and deep, my back arches slightly, “what were you thinking about just now in that pretty head of yours?”
The panic sets in. “Lighting,” I lie. “The...warm tones. Great ambiance. Excellent food. Stellar drinks.” I take a sip of mine. It’s tart. Hints of cloves and spiced pear—comforting in theory, but strong enough to tear through the anxiety thickening in my gut. Not strong enough to take the edge off, though.
“Oh, too bad. I could’ve sworn the flush creeping up your neck meant you were visualizing me... and you... doingverynaughty things.”
My stomach flips. My ability to form proper words shuts off. “I-I wasn’t,” I stammer, too fast, too high-pitched.
Soren chuckles. “Well, I for one have thought about it. I thought about it five times today, actually. Once before the panel, twiceduringthe panel. Again, in our little meeting with Camille and Renata. Then in the shower, right before I came down here.”
My brain is buffering. All I manage is a wide-eyed stare as my entire nervous system goes offline, then comes roaring back online, sparking up like I’ve licked an electric fence. The clatter inside my brain persists as my thoughts circle themselves.
Is he joking? Is he serious? Who says that out loud? Who says thatto me? And why is my face suddenly ten degrees warmer?
He said shower.
He saidshower.
Which means he…
I say nothing. How the hell can I?
Soren smirks. He knows exactly what he’s doing–throwing mewayoff base. He’s proud of it.
Well, fuck him very much. Soren Pembry will not get the best of me.
Squaring my shoulders, my voice becomes the same sugar-dipped blade it was at the panel. “Let me put this into words you’ll understand.”
Soren crosses his arms, bracing, a smile tap dancing across those perfect lips.
“I wouldn’t think about you if it meant ending a thousand-year curse and restoring my orgasms in the process.”
His grin widens, infuriatingly cocky. “Good thing curses aren’t real, huh? But orgasms? Those I can help with.”
I nearly choke on my drink. “In your dreams, Pembry.”
Soren laughs, the sound softer this time. “Relax, Bells. I’m messing with you.” He tilts his head. “You’re easy to ruffle. And might I add, you’re gorgeous when all riled up.”
A warm and traitorous feeling slithers through my chest. The compliment lands so unexpectedly, I don’t even realize I haven’t breathed in a few seconds.
I’ve got to get out of here.
Pushing my chair back, the loud scrape of the legs against the floor reverberates through the air. I grab my purse sitting on the table and toss my hair over my shoulder as though I’m a woman who storms off in stilettos and high-budget confidence, not one who’s barely holding her composure together.
Inside, I’m a tornado of emotions—full-body static and a pulse that won’t quit. I don’t have a plan. I’m not thinking. I’m moving because right now, motion is the only thing keeping me from exploding in place.
Soren’s utterly confused. His brows pinch, brain rewinding the last sixty seconds, like a play tape he can’t untangle.
Little does he know, I’m caught in the same mental spiral, replaying every second of his compliment, my reaction, the heat in my chest, the way I bolted with every cell screaming, “Get the fuck out!”
I stand quickly. Before I can storm off, his hands grip my waist with a firm, careful touch, and he yanks me into him so his mouth is near my ear.
“There are dozens of influencers and press people in here right now,” he whispers, breath dancing across my skin. “They’re all about to pick up on yoursuddendeparture. The angry scowl on your face. And the steam pouring from your ears. That’s not the image we signed a contract to portray.”
“Get your hands off me,” I whisper, my voice cold enough to crack glass.
Soren immediately releases me and slides his hands into his pockets. Jaw tight, concern feathers across his face as a flash of softness appears beneath his usual smirk. He wasn’t expecting me to sound so cold.
This charade feels very close to standing on a tightrope over a canyon with molten lava running through it.
