by Xavier Neal
The elevator doors close with us inside and I ask, “Why was Emerson searching for news on me?”
“Typically she only searches for the latest in sports news. Lately though, she's made a habit of checking on you. She may not look it, but she's a little over protective sometimes.”
I offer her a smirk. “Good friend.”
“Don't let her hear you say that. She doesn't like to admit it.”
“Just one thing about that, Minka,” I start as the doors open.
“Yeah?”
“Don't believe everything you read on those sites, okay? We agreed we wouldn't assume shit about each other, which should include the things you see on the internet. Can you do me the courtesy of checking with me to see if it's fact or fiction first? Like you just did.”
My girlfriend grins brightly. “Of course.”
Add that to the reasons why she's amazing.
“Now...brace yourself because it's about to be a long day....”
The first couple of hours of the convention are filled with more information than I have ever wanted to know about formatting, editors, and promotional packages.
It was like being in an English class on steroids. Pretty sure I learned to sleep with my eyes open.
Minka assures me as we start our path around the room, the rest of the event will be lighter and less learning.
My girlfriend pulls me in closer as we pass a short, stout woman in big blonde curls. “See her...”
I give the woman a quick glimpse over my shoulder. “Yeah.”
“That's Dolly Adams. She's basically one of the Godmothers, founding mothers of classic romance fiction. She's made...millions. Do you know how many of her books have become over the top, dramatic Hallmark movies?”
Hearing Minka gush makes me smile again. “What kind of stuff does she write exactly?”
“You're typical old school stuff. Princes. Dukes. Oh! Pirates....very sexy pirates.”
I link her hand with mine. “You do know in actuality most pirates actually engaged in same sex, right? I mean think about. Months at a time on ships. You're horny. Guy next to you is horny. Your hand is only going to hold for so long. Did you know they were also some of the first to allow their same sex partners to receive their belongings in light of their death?”
Our destination to the snack table is almost complete. “Really? A pirate history lesson from the vampire?”
I shake my head, biting back a chortle. “You watch the show. I'm the intelligent one.”
“And to think I thought that was just T.V. magic...”
Her playfulness gets an eye roll before I assess the snack table divided into two sections. Healthy and antithesis.
I grab an apple while she grabs a candy bar. “I will take you anywhere you wanna go for dinner if you put that back and eat anything from this side of the table.”
Minka purses her lips together in debate. “Anywhere?”
“Anywhere.”
“Deal.” With a seductive smirk, she drops the candy bar and grabs a banana instead. “Better?”
Seeing the phallic shaped object in her hand causes me to groan uncomfortably. “Not exactly.”
She snickers as she peals it. “No?”
The minute the fruit is exposed, she wraps her tongue around it slowly, having a bite so soft, I can practically feel it on my cock, which is now straining against my khakis. Watching her swallow only further paints the erotic imagine of her swallowing something else creamy.
I've never regretted encouraging someone to be healthy before.
Minka wipes away the small piece from the corner of her lips. “I hope you learned your lesson.”
“Yeah,” I mumble under my breath as we start walking again. “Never fuck with your girlfriend's snack choices.”
Her giggling abruptly ceases at the woman directly in front of us. “Shit.”
“What-”
“Minka!” The woman who looks like a baby doll with her round cheeks, long eyelashes, and bright blue eyes squeaks. “I'm so glad to see you!”
“Hey Hope,” my girlfriend's voice tries not to nervously shake. After a brief hug, she says, “How are you? How was the flight in?”
“Private flights are always good,” she giggles back and cradles a tablet. “However, since we've been here we've run into two of our other authors and let's just say Astin hasn't exactly had enough cocktails yet to be the friendly ray of sunshine they keep hoping for. I think she made one of them run to the bathroom to cry.” When Minka chuckles, Hope's eyes scan me over. “Do you know there's a tall, dark, and handsome stranger following you?”
“Well now she does. You blew my cover,” I joke, which makes the woman smile.
“Hope, meet my boyfriend Pierce. Pierce this is Hope. She's my publisher's assistant.”
“So you're what secretly keeps everything from falling apart.”
Hope nods proudly. “You can definitely say that. Nice to know there are others that get that.”
“I have an assistant too,” I quickly say. “And...without her I'm not sure more than me getting showered and shaved would get accomplished.”
She glances over her shoulder at the woman ending a call. “Are you a writer too?”
“Just a supporter.”
“Good,” the other woman states sharply. “It's already a flooded market and the last thing I wanna hear is one of my best author's trying to pull strings for a friend.”
She must be the empress.
Her thin chocolate brown hand extends. “Astin Anderson.”
“My publisher,” Minka meekly says beside me. “The CEO of the company. The woman who gets the final say or nay. The single most important person who pulls the strings of my livelihood.”
Our hands drop. “Pleasure. I'm Pierce.”
She gives me a short smile before turning to Minka. “Will you stop that? You know you're my favorite. I would fight tooth and stiletto to keep publishing your work. You're one of kind, Minka. I tell you that every time you publish a novel. And since we're on the subject, are you ready for your next release?”
My girlfriend's face gets the familiar uncertainty I've come to find adorable. “Ready? I...I...I don't know. What if it flops? What if everyone hates it? What if my entire fan base builds a bonfire and sets them on fire?”
A bonfire. Can she hear herself?
“First of all,” Astin starts, handing Hope her phone. “I've read it. It's probably the best book you've written to date. Then again I say that every time you give me a polished manuscript. Second of all, I don't publish flops. You know this. Finally, I want you to go over to Derek Semore's shoot and check out his latest group of models that are posing. Besides him desperately waiting to see you, I have a feeling two of his latest talents would be a good match for your current WIP.”
“We will go there next,” Minka rushes to say.
Joy.
Astin offers her a genuine grin. “Good.”
“Crisis,” Hope speaks up from beside her, pushing the phone back at her. “Dani's betas are giving her back what she's declaring is 'overly critical' feedback. She flipping out and threatening to fire them.”
“She can't fire them,” Astin snips shutting her eyes. “That's...not..her...job...” A deep sigh comes out as her eyes pop back open. “If you two will excuse us, I have an author to try not to fire. Again. It was nice to meet you Pierce. Minka, go see Derek and enjoy the rest of your time here.”
Hope gives us a quick wave before following Astin towards the exit.
The moment they're out of ear shot Minka says, “I bet she would've been on the side of letting them eat cake.”
“You do know she never said that. In fact that phrase was written in a letter that pre dates her birth by at least 18 years.”
She has another bite of her banana. “And I'm the nerd?”
Don't take her side on this one.
“Just because I'm intelligent on the show, means I can't be off?”
“Never said tha
t. I just think you're random history lessons are weird.”
“Says the girl whose English class I just sat through.”
We share a good snicker, kiss, and start walking towards the photographer her boss insisted we visit. By the time we make our way to the other side of room where the photographers are set up, we've finished snacking and started holding hands again. Against the wall is a photography session in progress while the aisle beside it has other photographers stationed, showcasing their works or having their male models flex to show their capabilities.
Can't help but feel like I'm not going to enjoy this part.
Minka slows her steps until we're lingering to the side, watching an overly muscular guy flex his tattooed body for the man snapping the photos. My eyes relocate to her, curious of her reaction. Surprisingly, she simply tilts her head the way she does when she's in contemplation with herself.
It better not be over anything sexual.
The camera stops flashing and the delicate bald man behind it glances our direction. Immediately he claps his hands together. “Minka!”
My girlfriend really is famous.
“Hi Derek,” she innocently coos in return.
He tosses his hands around her, air kisses her cheeks, and exclaims, “Ohhhh I was hoping you would swing that pretty face of yours by and check out my latest work. You know all I want is another one of my photos on a Minka Knight novel.”
Mega famous? Damn. Kinda jealous my fame isn't as low key as hers. Wait. Is it low key? Every few feet we go other authors stop to talk, question or praise her. The modest acceptance and casual conversation as if she has no idea the pedestal they put her on are a major turn on. She's confident yet not cocky. Well spoken, yet not pretentious. She's radiating so much pride and effortless elation, all I wanna do is pin her underneath me and give her another reason to keep it. What can I say? The unusual combination of shyness and self-assurance turns me the hell on.
“Come, come.” He tugs her away from me. “I want you to meet Andre.” Lingering behind, I listen as he makes the introductions. “Andre! This is Minka Knight.”
The tatted muscle idiot clomps over the props and fumbles as he says, “Good to meet you. I've heard so much about you.” His eyes dip across her in a sexual fashion. “God, you're a goddess.”
Calling my girlfriend a goddess in front of me? Not smart.
“If there's anything I can do, I mean anything to get on one of your covers.” He wets his lips at her and my feet move before I can stop them. “Just tell me what it is.”
My arrival beside her startles the flamboyant pale man. “Oh! And who is this that should be in front of my camera instead of to the side of it?”
“Minka's boyfriend,” I damn near growl, eyes glaring at Andre.
“Oh poo,” Derek pouts. “That means you're straight.”
She covers her mouth to cover a snicker, which washes over me, fizzling out the sizzling anger.
“Very much.”
After she finishes her laughter, she links hands with me again, and says to Andre, “While I'm flattered by your enthusiasm, I suggest you keep it more professional before your career ends because my boyfriend put a fist in your beautiful face.”
It's not that beautiful. He looks like a painted man whore.
Andre gulps and steps backwards.
“I've got Andre on the docket today and Al who is on the other end of the event, shirtless, handing out my business cards.”
“Best marketing ever,” Minka giggles again.
My grip on her hand tightens to express my non appreciation.
“Go ahead and send me cleaned proofs of Andre and any others you would like me to look at in the next couple of weeks. I'm cover hunting around then, so that'll be your best chance.”
“You've got it.” He air kisses her a final time. “Back to work I go. These models aren't going to film themselves.”
“That would be porn,” she jokes.
Unhappy again with the choice of phrasing, I clear my throat and slightly pull her the opposite direction of further photographers.
A few strides away, she stops, and folds her arms firmly across her chest. “Hold up tall, dark, and pissed off.”
Unconvincingly I grumble, “I'm not pissed.”
“Well you're not happy. My sore arm could tell you that.”
“Did I hurt you?”
“No.” She shakes her head. “But you're obviously not happy.”
“Do you fucking blame me?” Surprise fills her eyes forcing me to push out through gritted teeth, “Sorry.”
“You wanted to come, remember?”
“I did. And I do. I wanna be here with you. I just don't want half-dressed under talented strippers, throwing themselves at you when I'm two feet away.”
For a moment the two of us simply just stare into each other's eyes.
Fuck. Did I mess this up?
Despite the fact I should get a pop to the face for being a dick, Minka does just the opposite. She grabs my hand and warmly smiles. “You're jealous.”
“Extremely.”
“Have you ever been jealous before Pierce?”
My mouth drops to say one thing when I realize it's just the opposite.
I guess I've never really faced this issue before. Most women I've dated I haven't cared enough about to be exude this emotion.
Timidly, I admit, “No.”
A proud smile crosses her face seconds before she places a soft kiss on my lips. “I kinda like you jealous. Makes me feel...I don't know...special?”
“You are.” Minka's face threatens another grin, which is when I add, “And if you didn't know that before this moment then I'm doing something wrong. Very, very wrong.”
She wets her lips and shake her head profusely. “You're not doing anything wrong...I'm not sure you ever could.”
A crooked smile tries to join my face.
“Now, let's go get you a drink before you threaten to hulk out again.”
Maybe that's really what pisses Bruce Banner off. The idea of the woman he loves being hit on by every asshole with a set of eyes. Now I don't blame the guy for constantly being a snarling green psychopath.
**
Flopping down against one corner of Minka's couch, after the best enchiladas I've probably eaten in my entire life, I let out a satisfied groan and stretch out my legs across it. “I think I ate too much cheese.”
“No such thing,” she argues, sliding down into the same spot opposite of me. Minka leans against the arm of the couch and swings her legs to stretch out beside mine. “Dinner was wonderful. Thank you again.”
“Thank you for letting me tag along today and putting up with my um...”
“Tantrum?”
Chuckling, I agree. “Tantrum.”
“It wasn't terrible.” Her foot strokes against me. “It was cute.”
My eyes lock with hers, hope and passion intertwining alike. “Time for dessert?”
Minka flirts, “What'd you have in mind?”
“Something involving chocolate and vanilla.” I gently stroke the top of her foot. “The hotter the better.”
Her bottom lip slips briefly between her teeth giving me the green light I've been waiting for weeks. “Yeah?”
“Oh yeah.” I prepare to move my body to blanket hers as I state, “And you have nothing to worry about. I'm completely clean.” Straddling her, I begin to lower my lips. “I don't have condoms, but I use EA-”
She braces her hands against my chest. “Wait. What's EA?”
“It's a shot you take. It ramps up your immune system to kill any STDs that may try to slip their way in. For women it also prevents unwanted pregnancies.”
She's got one of those weird girl things wedged inside her so she can't have kids without consenting. Forget what they're called, but hey, no kids before we're ready works for me. Yeah I said we. You think J.J.'s the only one who's ever wanted to be a father?
Skeptical, Minka sits completely upward, which forces me
back to my side of the couch. “That doesn't sound real.”
“It's real.”
“It's not real.”
“It's very real.”
