Jace smirked, eyes glowing faintly red.
'Hard risk, obviously.'
The system flickered.
[ New Side Mission Initialized ]
[ Target: Valentina Ray. Time Limit: 1 week. Reward: Quadruple of $1,000,000. ]
On set, the cameras had been rolling for four minutes. Valentina's breath came hot and heavy. Jace should have moved, but he just lingered above her.
She arched an eyebrow, faint smirk tugging her lips. "What are you doing?" Her voice was smooth, playful. An improvisation, a cue for him to continue.
Jace's hand slid up, cupping her cheek with deliberate grace. He leaned closer, whispering against her ear. "I was just capturing your body… the one that made me hard."
A spark flickered in her eyes. Quick recovery. She chuckled low. "Capturing? Be honest." Her voice dropped into a seductive lilt. "You were mesmerized by my beauty, weren't you?"
His smirk deepened. 'She's good, as expected of an experienced actress. But…'
He shifted, pressing one knee between her legs. His fingers laced with hers, palms flush, knuckles squeezing until their hands locked together.
The set glowed with soft light. Silk sheets shimmered beneath them, shadows cast across the room as if even the air leaned in to watch.
Jace bent lower. His lips brushed hers—slow, patient, almost gentle. Then he pushed deeper. His tongue parted her lips.
Valentina's lashes fluttered. Surprise cracked her composure. That wasn't in the script. Still, she didn't pull back. She hadn't read the revision properly, and the director hadn't called the cut.
Their tongues touched, tentative at first. Then wetter, sliding, mixing heat and saliva until every sound carried across the mic. Valentina endured it. It was still within the bounds of performance.
Then his knee shifted higher. It pressed against her core.
She jolted. Her eyes darted toward Amelia, expecting some signal to stop. But Amelia was riveted, her full focus on the scene. Crew members watched, silent.
Not a single murmur broke the air.
Jace finally drew back, lips parting with a slick string of saliva that stretched, then snapped.
His hand slipped down. The fabric belt around his robe loosened, falling open to reveal the hard lines of his chest.
Valentina's breaths grew ragged. Her lips parted, cheeks flushed with heat from the kiss.
Jace shifted position, knees braced on either side of her thighs. He slid lower, catching her ankle, then pressed a soft kiss on her foot.
Valentina gasped. A ticklish shiver ran up her leg. She'd made men kiss her feet before—but this? This felt new, raw, like sparks racing along her skin.
His hand found the hem of her purple nightgown. He slid under, higher, palm resting just above her knee joint. His fingers moved slowly, the gown folding up, grazing her thighs into view.
Her skin was smooth, pale with a faint sheen under the lights, every inch looking as if it were sculpted for touch.
He pushed further, nightgown riding up, his hand inching near her inner thigh.
Her chest rose and fell quickly, breasts straining against the fabric, nipples hard, poking through. Lust welled sharp and undeniable. 'I should have stopped him beforehand…'
Her breath hitched when his finger brushed the edge of her panties. One more move and the camera would capture them in full view.
But he stopped and moved out his hand.
"Cut!" Amelia's voice cracked.
The silence shattered.
Applause rippled through the set. Crew members clapped, voices overlapping.
"Damn, that improvisation was fire."
"The chemistry was unreal. They looked so good."
"Never seen anyone matching Actress Valentina's improvisation."
"Is Mr. Jace secretly a veteran actor who regressed?"
Laughter rolled, Amelia laughed too.
Jace chuckled smoothly. "Thanks a lot."
But Valentina didn't move. She lay still, chest rising fast, heat still pulsing through her. Amelia's cut and the crew's laughter blurred into nothing. All she saw was him.
Jace caught her stare.
For a moment their eyes locked. And Jace smirked as if saying he knew and stopped at the right moment purposefully.
Then he rose, leaving her flushed, restless, aroused.
Valentina bit her lip, arm draped over her face to hide her burning cheeks. But it wasn't shame.
A faint smile tugged her lips. It was a thrill of experiencing something new, and… forbidden.
Later, inside the van, when Jace was changing out of his white robes. His phone buzzed frantically, screen lighting up with a flood of notifications. Curious, he picked up his phone and checked Whatchat.
Inside, the once-dead college group chat was alive again. Messages stacked, names flashing.
A college reunion.
He scrolled, a faint smile forming as he saw familiar names—classmates who had mocked him for being poor, and Emily, his ex, who humiliated him before the breakup.
Every name on the list confirmed to attend.
Jace leaned back. His smile sharpened into something darker.
That evening, at the Grand Albrecht Hotel.
A line of luxury cars curved along the marble-lit driveway, engines purring under golden sconces that bathed the entrance in warm light. Valets hurried, doors clicked open, women in gowns stepped out to cameras flashing, for tomorrow's headlines.
"A gathering of the rising stars."
Then a low growl cut through the noise.
A car rolled in—sleek, black, its body reflecting the golden light like liquid metal. Heads turned instantly.
"Holy shit… is that the Veyron LXR Limited?"
"Five million at least… and even then, you can't buy it unless you've solid connections."
"Who the hell is driving such a car?"
"Whoever it is, he's got to be ranked in the state's top hundred."
The car stopped at the base of the stairs. Door swung open.
Jace stepped out.
A tailored midnight suit hugged his frame, the cut so perfect it almost whispered its price. His hair fell long and messy, yet every strand looked styled with purpose. His height, his presence, made the crowd pause.
"Damn… that suit's gotta be a million."
"And that watch… at least two mil."
He handed his car key to the valet, sliding a crisp hundred-dollar bill into the man's palm.
The valet stiffened, eyes wide. "T-Thank you, sir! Have a nice day!" He actually saluted, chest puffing as if serving royalty.
Another valet said, "You do know it's evening."
Jace chuckled under his breath.
Whispers followed him up the stairs, envy and awe tangled together.
'I hope my friends(?) are still the same.' His eyes narrowed with a glint of amusement and mischievous anticipation.