“You were gone for five years, Rosebud.” My voice cracked. “And I never survived a single day of it. Parts of my soul died each passing minute. Do I love you? I love you so fucking much that the stars would weep for the hole in my chest that losing you left me. If there is only one thing I do in this life, it is to prove to you that I am worth it, Rosalie.Weare worth it. So yes, I love you. I adore you. I will fucking worship you on my knees for eternity because you are my goddess. Whether you’re mine or not, this kind of love will not die. Only I will if I never have you.”
She surged forward and crushed her lips against mine.
I didn’t hesitate. I dragged her into my arms, my tongue tangling with hers. I didn’t give a shit that Ass Hat was watching. I wanted the girl, and if it meant I had to play nice with him, so be it.
Rosalie was worth it.
Ellis was worth it.
They were everything I’d always wanted. There was no goddamn way I’d ever throw it away. I would give up everything for them.
In that moment, I knew I would. I’d walk away from it all.
I slowed the kiss, my heart soaring. Ass Hat hadn’t punched me, so that was a good sign.
I rested my forehead against hers.
“Anson?” I called out, my voice rough.
“Yeah?” he answered.
“I really want to fuck your girl, man.” I looked at him, my heart in my throat. “If I go get us some wine and sweet-talk you, would you be open to something like that?”
Anson narrowed his eyes at me. “What kind of wine?”
I let out a soft huff of laughter. “I don’t know, man. Some rich bitch bullshit Enzo keeps collecting.”
“Wow me. Then we’ll talk,” he said, smirking.
I couldn’t believe he wasn’t giving me shit. I’d have punched someone if they’d asked me what I was asking him.
“Really?” I asked.
“Get the wine, Cole,” he said. “You’ll need to liquor me up to get me into bed with you.”
I snorted. “Same, bitch.”
I kissed Rosalie once more before releasing her. I rushed downstairs, grabbed three wine glasses and three different bottles of chilled wine in case one of them sucked. I raced back upstairs, praying silently that this worked out.
I had to get Anson wasted in case I came early. I hadn’t fucked a woman in half a goddamn decade. Or at least, not that I remembered, since I didn’t recall Rosalie and my night together. If I blew my load too early, I knew that fuck would never let me live it down.
Rosalie was sitting on the edge of my bed with Anson when I returned. Immediately, I put the wine and glasses onto the small glass coffee table in my bedroom in the sitting area near the electric fireplace. I never turned that damn thing on, but I did in that moment. I wanted this to be perfect and cozy.
Anson and Rosalie said nothing as I went into my walk-in closet, brought out an armload of blankets and pillows, and set everything up.
“There,” I said, gesturing to the soft mounds of blankets and pillows in front of the fire. “I made us a cozy spot.”
Anson stood and took Rosalie’s hand. He led her over, and she took a seat on the blankets. I sat beside her and poured some wine as Anson took the spot on her other side.
I gave him a glass of wine.
“Here’s to hoping,” I said, offering my glass for a toast.
Anson chuckled, and Rosalie smiled as our glasses clinked.
“Not bad,” Anson murmured, taking a sip of the wine. “LeeLee, what does it remind you of?”
“Mm, Italy. The night on the water.”
