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And God, did I try. My phone still in my hand from Rogue’s text, I’d fumbled to record him again the other night when he showed up on my doorstep, full of threats. It hadn’t worked. All I’d gotten was white noise. And the one incriminating thing that came out of that whole conversation other than him blackmailing me had nothing to do with Rochelle Kitt at all.
“I remember,” I say as I levitate toward Rogue. “I read about it.”
“The statement on Rebel’s socials,” he says since that was the only information the family had put out at the time. Nevertheless, news outlets had picked it up and ran with it.
“Yes.”
“Alec threatened Summer.” He expels a breath as he takes my hand. “You probably heard the recording. Summer put it online.”
“I…I did.”
“I don’t know why he has his panties in a wad, but he does. You need to be aware of that. He’s dangerous and as long as he’s getting away with it…I don’t want you to be on his radar.”
I almost cry out. The kind of pained laugh that comes with reality being so twisted. Oh God, is he pushing me away? Is he going to tell me he’s done with me when we’ve only just found our way to each other? It feels like a chasm ripping through my chest. I don’t dare breathe. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that I think we have to be careful. Keep you away from the cameras. The less the media knows about you, the less anyone does, the less chance that bastard will target you.”
My breath races through my body. I manage a smile. “Now you’re talking my language.”
“Good.” His lips tip up in the corners. “I’d have to kill him if he hurt you.”
Rogue would kill him. Rebel would bury the body. Or vice versa.
“You’re mine now. My girl. My reason.” He tugs me down on his knee and then lies back so I’m straddling his hips. “You’re part of my world. Your family might not be the mafia, but my family…I will do anything it takes to keep my family safe. If someone hurts them or you…then they have to fucking pay.”
Some people talk like that and their words are shallow. Unmeaningful. Some people will go further than words to look after the people they love. But Rogue and Rebel and Riot; they’re a step beyond that. Rebel’s already proven how far he’s willing to go when he put Alec in the hospital. And the blue squall in Rogue’s gaze tells me that I can trust in what he says.
It scares the shit out of me, but it also…makes my insides clench. Is it weird that it turns me on? That he’s so possessive and strong and unafraid to be lawless for the right cause.
Except, is that warning meant for me? Aren’t I the one hurting his family right now? Gathering intel for my brother. Keeping the kind of secret that will destroy us if I’m not careful. But it has to be this way. Until I find the key to bringing Alec down, I have to keep Rogue in the dark. And pray that he will forgive me when the time comes.
“Baby?” He’s staring up at me, his gaze clouded with curiosity. “What are you thinking?”
“I never would have thought hearing someone threaten to fuck someone up for me would be such a turn on.” I roll my hips and grind down on the hard length of him between my thighs.
“Damn, baby.” He groans as he grabs my hips and pushes up against me. “You’re killing me with this neediness tonight.”
“You don’t like it?” I ask, sweet and innocent, even though there’s no pretending that I can’t feel how hard he is. I can only imagine it would be like humping a concrete sculpture, only…harder.
“I fucking love it.” He levers up under me and grips the side of my neck to bring my mouth to his. “And I get that you’re not ready yet…”
“I want to be.” I want to go all the way with him. At this point it seems fairly moot to hold onto my V-card like I’m waiting for something special when I’ve already found everything my heart wants.
Only…have you ever felt like you’d be truly wrecked if you took out that one little boundary that doesn’t even make sense away? It’s literally nothing. It has absolutely no bearing on who I am or what we’re doing. And yet it feels like the one Jenga block left between my feelings for Rogue and the secrets I’m keeping from him. If I move it and I crumble…
“I’m not pushing. I’m cool with the wait. Kind of like it actually. It’s a tease.” He winks at me before he kisses me again. “And I want you to be certain of me. Of us.”
“I am.”
“You’re not, but that’s okay.” He keeps my hands together on his chest. “You will be.”
I swallow the sudden taste of saltwater in the back of my throat. Nod. What else can I do but agree? He’s not wrong about it. I’m not certain of what will happen between us. Or whether I’ll survive it.
He coils both arms around me and holds me close enough that I can hear the strong, steady beat of his heart as we fall into silence and our separate thoughts.
Even without Alec’s threat looming over me I’d still be uncertain. He’s Rogue freaking Maddox. He’s wildly famous and wealthy and charming. I’m the girl who has spent her entire life avoiding people like him and situations that would pull me into public scrutiny to the point where magicians really should call me to explain how the trick works.
And still I want everything we are and could be. And I want his cock too. Even if I’m not ready to leave my walls and my virginity behind just yet. I smile against his neck before I grip his lobe between my teeth.
