The Fighter's Prize by Jessa Kane

Author:Jessa Kane [Kane, Jessa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-07-29T18:30:00+00:00

6

Maxim

My question turns Whitney’s cheeks pink. She opens her mouth and closes it again.

And I have my answer.

She thinks to kiss boys now that she is mine?

“It’s acting, Maxim. There are no feelings involved.”

My laughter booms through the bedroom, but there is no humor involved. In fact, there is now a vise around my skull and it’s cranking tighter, tighter. I think of another pair of arms beside my own around Whitney, another mouth descending toward hers, and I tear myself away from her sweet body with a choked sound, beginning to pace the floor. “You will no longer do this. Acting is over.”

She jackknifes on the bed. “What? No it isn’t.”

“Oh yes it is. You would have me commit murder against every one of your costars?”

Her gasp brings my back up. “You wouldn’t.”

There is madness in my eyes and I let her see it. Let her understand. “Oh. I would.”

She visibly regroups, gathers herself. “Acting is my job. It’s how I make money to pay for Scout to go to school. It’s how we eat!”

“You have me for that now!” I jerk my pants up around my waist and draw the zipper. “How much is school? I write a check.”

That catches her off guard. “I…I mean…I didn’t expect you to do that.”

“Why is this surprise to you, Whitney?” I tear at my hair, wanting to pull it out by the roots. “Do you not understand by now that I am going to take care of everything for you? All of your life.”

“I would never just assume someone else would pay for Scout’s tuition.” A line forms between her brows. “I mean, Banner offered, but—” She cuts herself off, nervous eyes flying to mine. “N-never mind.”

“Banner.” My blood singes the walls of my veins. “How badly he wanted what is mine. I should have fucking killed him. Maybe I will ask for rematch.”

“There is no need,” she whispers, sliding off the bed and wrapping her arms around my waist. “I’m here, Maxim. I only want you.”

I breathe in through my nose carefully, out through my mouth, trying to calm the storm of jealousy. “Then you will quit this acting?”

“No.”

The thunderheads of my storm darken to black. “Kotik…”

Her arms drop away and she straightens her dress with jerky movements, seeming to gather her thoughts as she does this. “I’m not totally naïve. I realize if we’re going to be together, you will be…helping me and Scout. You made more money last night than I’ll see in a lifetime. But I’m not just going to sit around the house like a kept woman. You picked the wrong girl if that’s what you were expecting.”

“And you picked wrong man if you thought I’d let you kiss anyone else.” I grip her chin, tilting up her face, dark feelings seething inside of me. “Do you know what it does to me? Imagining such a thing? I would rather claw my fucking eyes out than watch it!”

A humorless laugh puffs from her lips. “You’re being ridiculous.

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