Naughty November

Chapter 5

FIVE

IGGY

The front door slammed shut. I jumped, my heart doing cartwheels in my throat. Popcorn flew from the plastic bowl in my lap and rained down on the carpet, my clothes, and the couch. On the eighty-five-inch television screen, an enormous spider crept ominously toward its prey in the black-and-white horror movie. Ten minutes in, I’d regretted starting it, but my curiosity had me glued to the screen an hour later, though my skin prickled as if those spiders were crawling over my flesh.

“Iggy!”

I slapped a hand over my chest to calm my racing heart and paused the television. Kieran had finally come home after standing me up. The movie was to distract me from driving myself up the wall, worrying about whether he’d seen my name on the list. I was almost certain that was the reason he’d forgone our dinner “date” tonight. At least in my head, it would have been a date. I loved our date nights.

If only he also knew we were on a date.

Kieran stormed into the living room and flipped on the light switch, and I squinted against the sudden brightness. “Hey! ”

“Sorry,” he muttered. His chest swelled as he inhaled deeply, then let out the breath slowly. “Why is there so much popcorn on the floor? Did you even get any in your mouth?”

“This is my second batch.” My smile wobbled. Why didn’t he mention what I’d done? Had he seen the list yet? What if he didn’t acknowledge my desire at all?

He scowled. “Please tell me that’s not all you had for dinner.”

I shrugged, and the neckline of his gray shirt I wore slipped down my right shoulder. His gaze followed the movement of the fabric, and I sucked in a deep breath. My skin tingled and yearned for more than just his gaze.

“Well, we had dinner plans, and when you broke your promise, I couldn’t think of anything else.”

Kieran ran his fingers through his hair. He looked haggard, dark circles of fatigue under his eyes. With a sigh, he plopped down on the sofa next to me. Silence stretched between us.

I raised the remote to resume the movie, but he took it from me. “I haven’t eaten yet either.”

“Oh.”

“How about I’ll order something?”

“Umm, okay.”

“Is Chinese good, or do you want something else?”

“Indian, maybe?”

“All right. I’ll go order it now.”

He got up, but I grabbed his arm and pulled him back down. “Isn’t there anything else you want to say to me?”

Kieran licked his lips and shook his head. “Nope, we’re good.”

“Kee, talk to me.”

He took my hand in his and squeezed. “What do you want me to say, Iggy?”

“Just say what’s on your mind.”

“So you can walk out on me?”

“Kieran.” I placed the bowl onto the floor and straddled his lap, something I had never done. Never dared to do. “I won’t walk out on you. Tell me. ”

He held me by the shoulders and shook me hard. “What were you thinking? Are you crazy?”

Stunned, I blinked up at him until my vision returned to normal. “What was that for?”

“You had no right to sign your name on that Naughty November list.”

I straightened my back. “Oh no? How old am I, Kee?”

“That’s beside the point.”

“No, it’s not. I’m an adult, not a baby. I can decide these things for myself.”

“This is not the way to lose your?—”

“Virginity. You can say it. It’s not like it’s some sacred word, and that’s why I want to get rid of it. As long as I’ve never had sex, you’ll treat me like I’m made of glass. Like no one’s good enough to touch me.”

“Why are you in such a rush? Don’t you want to wait and find the right guy?”

“In a rush? I’m twenty-two, for fuck’s sake. You were fucking when you were in your teens.”

“That’s different.”

“How different? You’re a hypocrite. I think the Naughty November challenge is fun, and it’d be a good chance to have my first time.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed slowly. “That’s another thing. If you want to have sex, why must it be on camera for all the world to see? Why must it be with one of my actors? You can find guys on Tinder or Grindr.”

“I thought you said all the men on there are pervs who only want one thing.”

“But…” Words got stuck in his throat. He deflated against the back of the couch. “You want to know why I had to cancel our dinner plans, Iggy? Because I had to blow off some steam so I didn’t get furious with you when we talked about this.”

“Why are you mad? It’s not your body. You’re not even my real brother.”

Kieran tightened his hands on my bare thighs. “You’re right. I’m not your brother by blood, so I don’t have to worry about you. ”

“That’s not what I mean.”

He shook his head. “Forget it. Which one of the guys were you thinking of doing the scene with? Hypothetically speaking.”

“I was thinking Milo.”

“Out of the question.”

“Why?”

“He won’t be good at first times. Too impatient.”

“Christian, then?”

“He won’t do. He’s overbooked.”

“Lamont?”

“Nope.”

“Why not?”

“I just don’t think he’s the right fit.”

“Come on, Kee.” I shoved off his lap and paced in front of him. “You’re not taking this seriously. If you don’t let me perform my first time on camera with one of your guys, I’ll go to a different studio.”

With a huff, I flounced off.

“Uff!” An arm wrapped around my stomach and lifted me to the tips of my toes. Kieran pulled me against his body, his front pressed to my back, and buried his face into my neck. “I can’t let you do that, Iggy. If you go to a competitor, how will I know if they’ll treat you right?”

“You’re not leaving me any choice.” I scratched his arm, but he held me so tight my lungs spasmed. I wheezed. “Kieran, you’re depriving me of air.”

He relaxed his hold but didn’t let me go. “You have a choice.” His hot breath warmed my ear. “The only man I know will do right by you and make you enjoy your first time.”

My heart pounded faster than when the giant spider had appeared on the TV screen. Was he going to suggest one of his guys make love to me for the first time? Tears pricked the corners of my eyes, and I blinked rapidly.

Did he not have any feelings for me?

“Me,” he whispered.

I sucked in a deep breath. Had he just said… ?

“Choose me.” Kieran turned me around to face him and cupped my face. “I don’t trust anyone else with you, Iggy.”

“B-b-b-b-b…” I breathed out slowly and made another attempt. “But Max Score retired.”

“I’ll come out of retirement this one time. For you.” He brushed the back of his hand lightly across my cheek. “To make your first time everything it’s supposed to be and more.”

My knees turned to overcooked spaghetti, and I clutched his arms for support. “What about our parents? If they ever catch wind of a video of the two of us having sex?—”

“What? They’re going to shun me? Again?”

“But—”

“But what, Iggy?” He stared at me intently. “This is what you want, isn’t it? To lose your virginity on tape. I can give you that. And a lot more.”

My mouth went dry. His volume seemed to drop with every single word until the last sentence was a hoarse utterance that warmed my inside.

“It won’t be weird for you?” I forced out between stiff lips.

“Why don’t we see?” Kieran tipped my chin upward and settled his lips over mine. My heart stopped, then tripled in speed. Oh. My. God. Kieran is kissing me. He moved his mouth, and I closed my eyes, blocking out my vision, but my other senses came to life in a way they’d never done. His five o’clock-shadow grazed my cheek, making my skin prickle and my nipples tingle.

“Kier—” He swallowed my moan, probing my mouth with his tongue, teasing, tasting. I wrapped my hands around his neck and threaded them through his hair as he deepened the kiss.

Oh god, kissing him was even better than I’d dreamed about. My body hummed from the way we pressed against each other. A hand settled on my lower back, urging me closer, and a thick bulge pressed into my stomach. I stood on my toes but still had to crane my neck to get everything I could out of the kiss.

Slowly Kieran released my mouth. “Does it feel weird?”

How did he expect me to talk? “N-no.”

“Then it’s settled.” He rubbed a thumb over my bottom lip .

“Now?”

He scowled. “Of course not. Remember what I was known for in the industry? You’ll need all the prep you can get in the coming week before I can fuck you.”

A tremor ran through me. “We have to wait a whole week?”

“I told you, Iggy. I’m going to ensure you enjoy every minute of it.”