MasukLet them chew on that. Plant the seed that maybe the ape was the problem, not Liam. That maybe Lauren was being controlled by this aggressive boyfriend who didn't want her working with other men.Clark said carefully, "Did he threaten you?""He grabbed my wrist." Liam held up his arm, though there were no marks there. Nothing visible. "Pulled me away from Lauren. Told me I was 'hurting her' when I was just performing the scene as written. His behavior was very aggressive and inappropriate toward me. Maybe I should be the one pressing charges."Clark made more notes. "Let's go back to the physical contact. You said you grabbed Miss Gardener's arm as part of the scene?""If that's what the script called for, yes. I don't specifically remember. I was in character, focused on the emotional truth of the moment. That's how method acting works. You become the character so completely that you're not thinking about the mechanics anymore. You're just... being.""And you don't recall gripping he
The knock on the front door came at 8:47 AM.Liam had been awake for hours, sitting on the edge of the sofa, staring at his cracked phone screen. Planning his next steps. Running through scenarios of how to remove the ape from Lauren's life without leaving evidence that could be traced back to him.He got up and looked through the peephole, he saw it was the police. Fuck.He should have known they would come eventually. Had prepared for it. Had his story straight, his expression practiced, his lawyer's number ready to dial. This was that ape's doing.Three more knocks, harder this time."Mr. Carr? NYPD. We need to speak with you."Liam checked his reflection in the mirror mounted near the front door. He looked tired, dark circles under his eyes, stubble shadowing his jaw, but that worked in his favor. The concerned artist, losing sleep over a misunderstanding. The dedicated actor, devastated that his craft had been misinterpreted.He opened the door, two uniformed officers stood in th
Liam sat in his car down the street from Lauren's building, his hands gripping the steering wheel so tight his knuckles had gone white.That kiss.That fucking kiss.The ape had put his hands on her. Had claimed her mouth in front of everyone. In front of him. Like Liam didn't matter. Like what he and Lauren had meant nothing, when they meant everything.His Lauren. His beautiful, perfect Lauren, letting that Neanderthal defile her with his touch.Liam's chest felt tight, his breathing coming in short, sharp bursts. The rage was building again, that red haze that made it hard to think, hard to focus on anything except the wrongness of what he'd witnessed.She'd kissed him back. That was the worst part. She hadn't just stood there and tolerated it, but actually kissed him back. Her body had melted into the ape's, her hands had come up to grip his shirt, and for those few seconds, she'd looked... happy."No, that can't be right." Liam muttered, shaking his head. "No, that's not real. He
The police station was depressing as far as Lauren was concerned. She had been here before, but the police hadn't wanted to do anything... They had told her Liam hadn't crossed a line and just couldn't take no as an answer. He would come around.Wyatt's hand never left the small of her back as they entered, his other hand holding his phone where he'd taken multiple photos of the bruises already forming on her arm. Angry red marks in the clear shape of fingers, already darkening to purple at the edges.Lauren had texted the photo shoot coordinator from the car, apologizing profusely, explaining there'd been an incident and she needed to reschedule. The coordinator had been understanding, told her not to worry, that they'd find another time this week and get back to her.One more thing Liam had stolen from her. One more professional obligation disrupted because of his obsession."Wyatt." A familiar voice called out as they approached the desk.Nate stood near the entrance to the back off
Wyatt's hand pressed against her lower back, grounding her, reminding her she wasn't alone."Sir, I'm afraid you'll need to wait out here," the receptionist said apologetically. "Only actors in the audition room.""Actually," Wyatt said, his voice pleasant but carrying an edge of steel that brooked no argument, "I'll be accompanying Lauren inside."The receptionist blinked, clearly thrown. "I but… we don't typically allow—""I understand." Wyatt's smile didn't reach his eyes. "But I'm going in with her regardless."Lauren saw Liam stiffen in her peripheral vision, his expression darkening. He didn't like that Wyatt wanted to be with her.The receptionist looked helplessly toward the audition room door. "Let me check with—""It's fine," a woman's voice interrupted. Jenna appeared in the doorway, the casting director from yesterday. Her eyes moved between Wyatt's immovable stance and Lauren's pale face, understanding that something was going on. "He can wait just inside the door.""Than
The next morning Lauren walked into the kitchen wearing Wyatt's t-shirt from yesterday and her sleep shorts. The shirt hung to mid-thigh on her, the fabric soft and smelling like him. It gave her comfort and made her feel safe.Wyatt was already up, dressed in jeans and a black henley, standing at her stove flipping what looked like perfect golden pancakes. Lauren paused in the doorway, just watching him.He glanced over his shoulder as if sensing her watching him and, in fact, caught her staring, and his lips quirked. "Morning.""Morning." She moved to the coffee pot, bless him, he'd already made coffee, and poured herself a cup. "You cook?""I'm a man living alone. It was learn to cook or live on takeout and protein shakes." He plated the pancakes, setting them on the counter along with butter and syrup. "Eat. We're hitting the gym first thing."Lauren slid onto a barstool, pulling the plate toward her. "Any particular reason we're going so early?" Mornings were so not her thing if
On the other side of the locked door, Grayson pressed his forehead against the cool wood, one fist clenched at his side. His heart hammered in his chest, adrenaline still coursing through his veins from their explosive encounter and the shock of recognition in her eyes when his mask had fallen."Re
Grayson stared at his phone, Morgan's two little words echoing in his ears. "I'm pregnant." "I'm pregnant."He felt like he had just been thrown a hand grenade with the pin pulled and that any second now it would explode in his face."What did you just say?" He didn't know why he was asking; his he
"I've been thinking about this all day," he said, his voice roughening. "About you kneeling for me, about claiming you."Honey knelt before Sir, her pulse thrumming with anticipation as she gazed up at his masked face. The heat in his eyes sent ripples of desire through her body, making her nipples
Thursday, October 12th, 8:37 AMThe elevator opened on her floor. Honey stepped out, shoulders squared, chin lifted despite the throbbing ache in her cheek. She'd done her best with makeup, having gone back into the bathroom before leaving the penthouse to see if she could make it less noticeable,







