Page 18 of My Dark Prince
Frankie glanced between us. “Like, biblically?”
Neither of us answered her.
The assistant producer jogged over to me. “Hey, Briar? Weneed to wrap this scene up.” Jaylla yanked the thong from my clenched fist. “Is the thong ready? Scarlett is cold.”
Scarlett. Of course. Scarlett. My actress. The woman currently in a robe, waiting for me so she could complete the sex scene. Come to think of it, Oliver had no clearance to be here. He was another stranger gawking at my client.
“Y – yes.” I turned to Jaylla, mustering a smile. “All good to go. I’ll be there in a second.” I swiveled back to Oliver, finding my voice. Razor sharp. Just like he deserved. “Sir, we do not know each other. You can’t be here right now.”
The words caught Oliver off guard. His smile melted into a surprised gape. “It’s my hotel.”
“It’smyset,” I countered, reaching for a bottle of water and taking a big swig. “And I’ve heard all about your antics, Mr. von Bismarck. I have my clients to think of, and your presence in this room with naked actors is unwelcome.”
“My presence in this roo …” He glared, his mouth dropping open. “Are you really going to pretend we don’t know each other?” His entire face pruned into a scowl.
I blinked, regaining my hard-earned confidence. “I think you have me mixed up with someone else. Not too surprising, considering the number of women you go through.”
Frankie coughed into her fist. “Burn.”
Oliver couldn’t pry his eyes off me. “And you know this because …?” A slow, confident smile began to eclipse his face, showering me with nostalgia.
“I am literate and have internet access. It would be negligent of me not to identify all the potential threats in the vicinity.” I raised an eyebrow. “Now … can you, please, leave? Having a stranger on the set is not good for my naked actors’ psyches.”
It was critical to put space between us. Ideally, three continents and four oceans.
“You can’t kick me out of my own property.”
“Sure can, if you leased it to us.” I grabbed the lapels of his shirt and led him out the doors. “We’re paying customers,and we hired out this entire floor. You are unauthorized to enter the premises during a sex scene.”
Frankie gasped as Oliver stumbled backwards, staring at me like I was a rabid animal.
“Thanks, Briar!” Scarlett squeaked from the master bed at the end of the room. “For having my back.”
“I have to say, this is my first time being escorted out of a sex scene instead of being invited.” Oliver nestled a hand against his heart, feigning devastation. “Have I lost my charm?”
“Ask someone who fell for it,” I lied.
Alone, in the hallway, I pushed him toward the elevators, ignoring the way he stared at me like he’d discovered a new dragon species.
He popped up a brow, not quite fighting my manhandling but not making it easy on me either. “Are you going to drop the charade, now that we’re alone?”
“Nobody is dropping anything in this exchange, Mr. von Bismarck. Your reputation precedes you.”
He shot me a playful wink, grinning. “Your anger sets fire to my loins.”
“That burn is an infection, sweetie. Get it checked.”
“Don’t believe everything you hear, Briar Rose.”
“Ah, he’s a gaslighter, too.” I pushed him harder. “How did I miss all the red flags? You’re a freaking carnival.”
“Well, you’re always invited for a fun ride.”
“I swear to God, if you make a tent joke, I will have to stab you. And no jury is going to fault me for it, considering our history.”
That made him bark out a laugh. “I’ve missed you, Cuddlebug.”
“Don’t call me that.”
