“I think you just lost your father. You need to process that and not take it out on your mother,” Rose implied.
“You defending her on this?” she queried, her brows going up in question.
“She’s grieving. She made mistakes, and she is human,” Rose countered.
Minx didn’t want to hear that shit. She wanted to be angry, and she needed someone to take that shit out on. She had this gaping hole inside where her father used to be, and painoverwhelmed her, making it hard to breathe. Minx stared off ahead at his house and the land surrounding it.
“This is a nice place,” she muttered. “You feel like giving me a tour?” she asked, and he gave her the cutest simper.
“Yeah, come on.” He urged her out of the car and walked around to her side of his truck to help her out.
Grabbing her hand in his, he ushered her toward the front door and used his key to let himself inside. It was a big house with very open space once they stepped into the foyer. Rose hit the lights in the living room. Everything was plain, very bachelor style. He needed a few other personal touches, but Minx was impressed with the space. She stood in his living room at the fireplace, where a single photo sat in a frame. Minx reached for it and brought it toward her so that she could get a better look at the picture. It was of her and Rose when she was about fifteen. He stood beside her, arm draped over her shoulder while he brought her close, and they both smiled big.
“Two peas in a pod,” Minx said, sensing him come up behind her.
Rose planted a hand on each hip and brought her back against his chest.
“Always been the other half of me,” he conveyed.
She clung to his arms and closed her eyes. The way he held her brought comfort. Minx heard Luna and Finn come inside. Finn already sparked a blunt, and it dangled from his lips as he paused in the entryway.
“What y’all doing in here?” he asked, taking a drag before he passed it to Luna.
“Nothing. Pass that bottle.” Minx pulled away from Rose.
“Let’s play cards. How about strip poker?” Luna suggested.
“Shit, I’m with it. Ready to see you and Minx in nothing but ya underwear.” Finn snickered, stepping past Luna with a bottle of Hennessy in his hand.
“Nah, fuck that.” Rose shook his head. “Y’all can keep your asses down here, and we going upstairs.” He grabbed Minx’s hand and tugged her toward the door.
“Shit, if y’all hear screams just mind ya business,” Finn joked as Rose pulled Minx up the stairs.
His home smelled masculine, like him, and she was sure it was the mahogany teakwood candles that he spread around on different decorative tables. The first door was left ajar, and he pushed it open and allowed Minx to walk in ahead of him. Rose hit the light switch, and bright light filled the room. There was a large poster bed in the center of the room and a black and white rug underneath. His entire bedroom set was black and silver, but he didn’t have anything on the walls at the moment. Rose closed the door behind them and kept his back pressed against it. Minx took in the rest of his room, nodding as she paused at the foot of his bed. He had a master bathroom not far off from a walk-in closet as well. It was obvious he hadn’t been here long.
“Could use a few personal touches,” she said, spinning so that she was facing him.
Rose smirked and took her in. She was fine as hell, but her beauty went beyond that when he looked into her eyes. Taking a few steps forward, he opened his arms and looked around his room.
“You got the keys to the kingdom. You already know that.” He stretched his arms, placing each hand on her waist as he drew her closer to him.
Minx’s entire body was warm from his touch. She closed her eyes and stood on her toes so she could kiss him. His hand gripped her chin gently, and he stuck his tongue down her throat.
“Mmm,” she moaned into his mouth.
Rose brought his arms tighter around her, and together, they dipped down into his bed. With their legs entangled and theoutside world disappearing, Minx and Rose tore at each other’s clothes. Before long, Minx was in her bra and panties while Rose came out of everything above the waist. Minx knew she was ruining her Victoria’s Secret panties, but she didn’t care. Rose’s touch, his lips on hers, it was all so suffocating she could barely keep up with what was happening. She pressed her palm against his square pecs and nudged him back, sucking in a deep breath. “Rose?—”
“Hmm,” he replied, attacking her neck with kisses.
Minx closed her eyes. His lips were so soft and felt damn good against her flesh.
“Can we… take a breather, just for a second?” she suggested, and Rose paused to look into her face.
He sat up beside her and searched her mesmerizing eyes.
“We can take this however you want, shorty,” he assured her, hand resting on her hip. “You wanna have a drink and smoke something? It ain’t no rush, Minx. I want this to be right for you. You already going through enough,” Rose insisted.
“It will be right because it’s with you,” she voiced, making his heart soften as he peered back at her with nothing but love and admiration.
