This time, KC just looked like she wanted to cry.
This time, Yuki was no longer able to contain his amusement.
When he started to laugh, KC’s head jerked up. “W-what’s so fun—-”
Broad shoulders rocking with laughter, he told her, “I was only joking, senpai. I haven’t fired anyone.”
A moment of silence, and then she jumped to her feet. “You bloody—-” She stalked around the coffee table to reach him, green eyes blazing, and obviously not realizing at all that she was doing exactly what her boyfriend wanted.
Yuki waited patiently, and when she was close enough, he simply grasped her hand and tugged her to him. She fell onto his lap, and when she gasped again, he took advantage of her parted lips and kissed her. Deeply, roughly, and with a passion that spoke of his experience, which was far beyond one of his years—-
KC’s sexy little whimpers made Yuki’s desire burn hotter for her, and he drew her closer, his hands moving to go under her blouse—-
At his touch, KC stiffened and then she started pulling away, protesting weakly against his lips, “Yuki, the meeting—-”
“Let’s not bother with it,” he whispered back even as he nibbled on her lips. “Since it’s sure to be a flop—-”
This time, KC managed to pull away from him, and she demanded in a hurt voice, “Why would you say that?”
He gazed at her steadily. “But isn’t that what you think?”
Looking almost offended, she denied, “No!”
“Are you certain?” Yuki pressed. “After all, you’re already second-guessing yourself about your casting choice. You think the others were right, that your casting choices—-”
“Are perfect,” she finished vehemently for him. “I don’t care if they’re stepsiblings or not. I just know they’re perfect, and if I have to use the g-girlfriend card again, I won’t hesitate and—-mmph!” His hard kiss cut her off, and with his tongue inside her mouth, her brain was pretty much cut off from the rest of her body as well.
When Yuki pulled away, he smiled at the hazy look of passion in his girlfriend’s eyes, but his tone was serious and quiet as he murmured, “You can use the girlfriend card as often as you want, senpai.” Slowly and gently, he assisted her off his lap and when they were both on their feet, he kissed the top of her head. “So stop worrying, okay?”
Hiding her face against his chest, she whispered, “Okay.” Her arms twined around his neck, and when he drew her close, she mumbled, “Do you really think I’m doing the right thing, casting stepsiblings as a couple?”
He murmured against her hair, “I always believe in you, senpai. Always.” Pulling away, Yuki asked, “Ready now?”
She hesitated.
His eyebrow lifted. “Senpai?”
“It’s that other girl, the one casted as Raven. I’m just not sure about her.”
“Ah.” The corner of Yuki’s lips turned up. “I’m afraid that was one major concession we couldn’t avoid. The director you wanted was initially against your casting choice, but in the end, he said he’d work with us if we agreed to hire his choice for Raven.” He tipped her chin up. “You didn’t voice any objections while watching her audition tape so…”
KC bit her lip. “I know. And I also know I’m being silly, but it’s just a feeling I have.”
“Do you want me to fire her?”
Letting out a sigh, she squared her shoulders and said with determined brightness, “Never mind.”
Yuki watched her march to the door.
“The important thing is we got our leads right—-”
The urge to tease her returned, and he slotted in, “Or wrong.”
His girlfriend reacted the way he anticipated, tripping on her way out.
Chapter One
“Once again, thank you for agreeing to work with our company.” Yuki Himura bowed, and beside him, his American girlfriend Katerina, who was also the mangaka, bowed as well.
While Seri bowed in return, she also simultaneously inched towards the door, hoping to be the first one to leave. Even now, her mind was still reeling, unable to comprehend how it was that a project of this scale could actually take such a risk, casting—-
No.
Don’t go there, Seri. Not until you’re alone. Not here. Not when he can see you reacting.
As she inched closer to the door, she felt a pair of eyes burning through her back and almost stumbled. B’lyad. She wanted to think she was imagining it, but she knew she wasn’t.
He was staring at her, silently commanding her with his gaze to stop and wait for him.
No way!
She hurriedly reached for the knob and had already opened the door when she heard the young Russian-Japanese scion call out to her, “Ms. Devereaux?”
D’err mo.
The others started to leave, and for one moment Seri seriously considered bolting anyway. She could always pretend she hadn’t heard Yuki Himura call out to her. He would have no reason to think she was lying—-
Seri took another step towards the door.