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against his neck, breathing heavily in concert with him. The close quarters, the scent of
leather and sex mixing together in their own private cocoon, reminded him of their first
time together in his car.
This has a little more room than Ali, he observed.
Hmm& ? Piper pushed up enough to look at him. She was stunning hair slightly
disheveled, lips swollen, and skin flushed with her passion she looked sated, happy, and
thoroughly fucked. Just the way he liked her.
I was just remembering our first time together.
The night you seduced me into breaking the rules.
Hey. You were doing all the seducing.
She raised an eyebrow at him disbelief.
Okay& we were both doing our fair share of the seducing. He pushed a curl off her
shoulder, caressing the exposed soft skin. I couldn t help myself. From the first moment,
I knew you d be the one to make me throw out the rule book.
Me, too. The rules never seemed to stick when it came to the two of us, she said.
That s because we had to create a new set. Totally custom, for just the two of us.
She nodded. I like the sound of that. Have you figured out the new rule book yet?
Love each other. Trust each other. Have lots of sex.
He laughed at her eye roll and drew her in for a slow, soft kiss with just a hint of
tongue. He pulled back and looked at her, the woman who saw behind the image the
only person he ever wanted to see that guy and he was grateful she loved what she
saw. I think that s all we need.
Epilogue
ONE YEAR LATER.
The Oscars were over the top.
Piper sat next to Mick in the front row of the Dolby Theater, wearing yet another gown
picked out by her lover of over a year. This one, black and full-length with a short,
sweeping train, featured a plunging sheer back with a delicate design of lace barely
covering any part of her skin. Mick made the final decision, declaring that if he lost,
everyone would be distracted from his defeat by his hot girlfriend. He d then dismissed
the sales clerk, locked the door, and made sure they could have limo sex in the dress
just in case the mood struck them again.
Life with Mick Blackwell was anything but ordinary.
It hadn t been easy, either. Lives on opposite coasts had proved to be difficult and the
separation almost unbearable. Finally, two months ago, she d packed up her apartment
and moved herself into the Spanish-style home they d chosen together in the Hollywood
hills. She could write anywhere her new publisher loved what she wrote in fact, she
wrote better when she was with Mick. They hadn t killed each over him squeezing the
toothpaste in the middle or over her subscription to People and were even now talking
about getting a dog. It was getting downright domestic in the Blackwell-James
household.
Hey, are you checking out Matt Damon s ass again? Mick murmured into her ear, his
breath hot and teasing against her skin. She didn t have to turn to know he wore the
sexy, secret grin he wore only for her. Lucky girl.
Yep. It s almost as nice as yours, she murmured back to him, ducking away from the
playful nibble he attempted on her tender earlobe. You need to behave. The cameras
have been on us all night.
Let them film us. All they ll see is that I love you and I m a winner even if I don t take
home the golden bald dude.
Piper looked into his eyes, checking the green-gold depths for any signs of nerves or
worry, but saw nothing except his usual mischief and love. Many had scoffed when his
name had shown up on the nomination list for Best Actor, but Mick had taken it all in
stride with his usual wit and confidence. Only in their most private moments did she see
doubt creep into his eyes as he shared his fears and worries. That Mick, her Mick,
belonged only to her, and she knew how blessed she was to know the man behind the
image.
I m proud of you, she whispered. Your production company, the new projects, and
your new Dark movie. You ve worked so hard. You deserve to be here tonight. No matter
how it turns out.
I Mick began, but his words were cut off by co-hosts returning to the stage.
And now& the nominees for Best Actor.
Piper clutched Mick s hand, returning his excited grin when he glanced at her before
returning his attention to the stage. He was the epitome of Hollywood royalty, dressed in
a custom-made tux and graciously acknowledging the well-wishes from the people seated
around them when his name was read along with the other nominees.
The envelope was opened. A hush fell over the crowd and silence hung like LA smog,
thick and impermeable. Piper felt sick and overheated, her blood pounding and her palms
growing damp with anticipation.
And the winner is& Mick Blackwell, for Regan s Gift.
The next few moments were a blur. Mick bowing his head briefly before standing and
pulling her to him in a tight embrace, a murmured, I love you breathed against her ear
before he headed for the stage, tugging her along with him.
Come on. I need you with me, Mick shouted over the clapping, and she could do
nothing but follow him to the stage, under the glaring lights and surrounded by all those
glittering people. He accepted the statuette, thanked his presenter, and stood before the
microphone.
Now, you all know I never do anything but the way I want to, and tonight is no
different, so you ll have to bear with me. Mick pointed a finger at the orchestra
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