ONCE MORE, WITH YOU

Summer Preston

It's safe to say the premiere was an incredible success. After the screening, countless people approached me, raving about the film and expressing how eager they were to see it again in theaters.

The attention felt rewarding, especially after all the time and effort my team and I poured into making sure every detail of the movie was perfect.

As the venue began to empty, only four of us remained—Solené, Adrianna, Nolan, and me. The caterers were packing up their equipment while a few staff members helped clean up.

"Summer, I can finish up here. Go handle whatever you need to," my assistant said, stepping toward me with a reassuring smile.

"Are you sure? I can stay—it's really no problem—"

"I've got it covered. Enjoy your night, Summer, and congrats on the movie." She pulled me into a quick hug.

I hugged her back and stepped away, smiling. "Thank you."

The four of us made our way outside, where Solené's arm draped around my waist as paparazzi cameras continued to flash around us.

"What's next on the agenda?" I asked, leaning into Solené's touch, earning a playful smirk from Adrianna.

"Did you forget about the after-party?" Nolan asked, raising a brow.

I pressed my lips together, stifling a laugh. "Honestly, I kind of did."

"Let's head back to the hotel, get changed, and then meet up for the party," I suggested, arching an eyebrow. Everyone agreed, and we split into two groups—Nolan and Adrianna taking one car while Solené and I climbed into hers.

Solené held the door open for me, and I stepped inside, offering her a small smile of thanks. She followed, settling in beside me and smoothing out her pants.

"I'm so proud of what you accomplished tonight," she said, glancing at me. "I'm glad I could be here to see it."

I met her gaze, warmth rising in my chest. "I'm glad you were here too."

Our eyes locked, and the world seemed to fade away. Slowly, we began to lean closer, her breath brushing against my face.

She cupped my neck gently, her touch grounding me. "Summer," she murmured, her tone laced with hesitation.

"Solené," I replied, mimicking her tone with a teasing smile.

"Are you sure you want to—"

I didn't let her finish. Closing the gap, I pressed my lips to hers. Her lips were impossibly soft, and I couldn't resist leaning in for more. The kiss deepened, her hands finding my waist as she guided me onto her lap. I gasped at the movement, granting her an opening to slip her tongue into my mouth.

Her grip on my waist tightened, and I felt her slowly guiding me against her, our breaths mingling as the kiss grew more intense. When I finally pulled back, I smiled, catching the matching expression on her face.

"Why'd you stop?" she asked, her hands sliding up and down my arms.

"I didn't want to get carried away," I admitted, feeling the blush rise to my cheeks.

She chuckled, her voice low and enticing. "I wouldn't have minded."

Before I could respond, the car rolled to a stop. We both stepped out, and I quickly smoothed out my dress and wiped the smudge of lip gloss from my lips.

We walked into the building and parted ways. "When you're done, text me," I said, stepping into the elevator.

"Yes, ma'am," she replied with a playful grin, heading in the opposite direction.