The moment he walked into the vanity van, Elliott paused and turned, sending his manager a sharp look-only to have the door close right in his face as the man escaped with an apologetic look.
For a beat, there was silence. Then came the soft click of the lock. His frown deepened. Skylar had actually locked the door from outside! That fool!
Just then, a low voice came from behind him, "I'm so glad you haven't changed into your regular clothes yet..."
He went still. A faint warmth touched his bare back, fingers gliding up the exposed skin where the fabric ended. Her hand followed the curve of his spine in a slow, unhurried line that made his breath catch.
"It's only been two hours since the press conference. And you've already sent everyone into a frenzy."
Elliott closed his eyes for a moment. The feel of her hand against him lingered, making him feel things he had no business feeling.
This woman reallt had a habit of getting into his personal space and touching him as if she owned him. He turned suddenly, caught her wrist, twisted her sharply and pressed her against the wall and heard her shocked gasp.
Good. She hadn't been expecting that.
"What are you doing here?" His voice came out low, almost quiet, but it carried the heat of restraint.
She tilted her head and sent him a look over her shoulder, "You didn't think I'd stay away after that performance, did you? I had to see you personally in the clothes I chose for you."
And then, she pushed back her hips against him and asked," What do you think, Elliott. I chose the clothes for you personally... Even the underwear... Is it comfortable? Let me see if I got the size right..."
Elliott felt his face heat up. Dam* it! He had never met someone as bold as this woman. She could even make him blush.
Hurriedly, he let her go and then, and without turning to expose his back, stepped away from her... She turned around and smiled at him. He cringed. She was definitely going to say something more audacious.
But before she could, the vanity van lurched forward. He lost his footing and he fell forward...
His body slammed into hers, chest to chest, and the impact made both of them stumble as she was pushed back agains the wall.
For a moment, they stayed pressed together, Elliott's hands braced against her shoulders as he steadied himself.
Heat radiated through him, and he could feel the softness of her chest against the hardness of his. The contrast sent a jolt through him. He'd had countless models and actresses throwing at him, their bodies thin and 'fit'. But Vanessa Grant was all softness and curves... that he could feel against him...
She gasped lightly, the sound caught between surprise and something else, and he felt the warmth of her breath against his neck and a lot lower.
As if not wanting to miss the opportunity, her hands immediately came around him and settled on his lower back... He stiffened.
Dam* it! She seemed to have marked that place... Why was she always touching him there...
"What are you doing?" he asked sharply as he felt her hands slipping into his belt...
"You tell me," she whispered brushing her cheek against his, and whispered in a teasing voice, "You're the one pressed against me."
He cursed and stepped away again, and this time, he took several steps backward, without turning. The moment she was out of the vanity van, he was going to get rid of this shirt!
But at that moment, he realized that they were headed to the Starlink building. And if she alighted from his vanity van from there, then... that would an altogether another scandal.
"Why are you here?"
He watched as she smiled and then walked closer to him," I came to bring you this contract. I've helped you so many times now... I am sure you don't want to keep owing me."
He looked down at the file she placed in front of him and read the papers. It was a marriage agreement. He frowned. She'd mentioned a contract marriage at the dinner, but he had not expected her to be serious about it.
"You really want to marry me? Why?"
She smiled then and sat down," Because you are beautiful."
He stiffened. What kind of an answer was that? "Miss Grant. If you want me to say yes, then you have to give me an answer."
Vanessa smiled," Why have you not left the entertainment industry yet, young master Ross. Or at least left Starlink. You certainly can afford to."
Elliott stilled. No one knew his identity as the younger son of the Ross Empire. So, how could she have found out..."
He looked at her smiling face and wanted to curse out," Are you trying to blackmail me?"
Vanessa's smile vanished in that instant," No. Marry me, Elliott. And we can keep each other's secrets. I need a husband and you need a protector without having to reveal your true identity... So..."
Elliott's felt his lips kick up at the words...'true identity.' The woman had no idea. He was not Elliott Ross at all.
He picked up the marriage agreement and gave it a glance... Then, with a flourish, signed it.
She stood up then and picked it up, signing her own name on the contract. She then smiled down at him," Looking forward to doing business with you."
He nodded his head at her, expecting her to leave but in the next moment, she leaned over the table and bent down, getting close to him," Since we are now engaged, I think we need to seal the contract with a kiss."
And then, for the first time in his life, Elliott Ross had a kiss stolen from him...