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I blink up at his big, broad back. The muscles ripple as he moves. “You crash sometimes, don’t you?”
I saw it when he visited his mom while I was at the retreat. He’s this larger-than-life, always charming, funny guy, but when he’s alone it all fades away.
He smiles down at me. “Yeah, sometimes. This place was supposed to be my sanctuary. A place to recharge. But I ended up spending all my time at the house while Rebel was in prison. But that’s over, and pretty soon we’ll expose Alec Hawthorne for the piece of shit he is.”
“Oh?” I don’t dare look at him as I play dumb.
“You’re going to find out what they’re telling Marty Kendall about me,” he grits out between clenched teeth. “That bitch was supposed to be on my side. They poisoned her against me.”
“Maybe she could see that you’re in the wrong.” I try to steel my voice but it wobbles anyway. That you’re the monster here, not Rebel or Rogue or any of them.
“Don’t fuck with me, little sister. Remember, I saved your life.”
Is it wrong that I almost wish he hadn’t? No, I’m stronger than that. And every day that I have with Rogue is worth the fear I feel around Alec.
“Find out what I want or I’ll tell the world what really happened to Christian Dakota.”
My voice shakes. “Is that why Marty Kendall was at your brother’s place the other night?”
His jaw bulges as his gaze narrows on me.
My heart skitters. I swear he can see right through me.
“Did Marty talk to you?” There’s so much cool anger in his tone.
“N-no.”
“You don’t sound sure.”
“No, she didn’t. We didn’t meet. I recognized her from the internet,” I explain. There’s something about his brittle tone that makes it seem like she was important to him. “Did you date her?”
“Date Marty?” He chuckles. “Fuck no. Rebel did.”
“Oh, I…” haven’t a clue what to do with that information, now that I have no reason to feel jealous. “It’s none of my business.”
“She’s great at her job,” he says. “Which is why Ro and Rebel are trusting her with their story. But personally…she put him on blast to get a foothold atHollywood Juice. Told the world about his struggles with substance abuse and our mother’s mental health and other things that she only knew because they were dating. They were still together when she told the world his secrets. After that she was persona non grata. Don’t talk to her. Don’t let her fool you into thinking she’s your friend.”
“I don’t think it’ll be a problem,” I say. “I’m not interesting to her. I have nothing to do with the interview. I’ll probably never see her in the wild again.”
“If I have anything to do with it, you won’t.” He grasps my hips and lifts me onto the counter. His lips seek out mine; tasting, teasing, insatiable. Until I’m breathless.
He crowds me until my back is at the same angle as the cup earlier, and I’m squirming for all the hard heat I want between my legs.
“Pick a restaurant.” His mouth vibrates against my throat as his fingers sink into my thighs and drag me to him. “Before the only thing getting eaten tonight is you.”
I curl my fingers into the first piece of paper within reach. Lift it up between us. “This. One.”
“Vietnamese?”
I bite my lip. Nod. How can I care about dinner when he’s threatening to devour me? “Yes, please.”
Chapter Five
Rogue
Hot, black coffee zings on my taste buds. I cradle the white ceramic in my hand as I stand in the doorway to my bedroom. Sleeping beauty is still dead to the world. Her naked body is stretched out in my sheets. Her skin is so creamy against the dark cotton sheets that barely cover her. The tangle of her russet waves is splayed on my pillow, leaving her scent so that—whether she’s next to me or not—when I lay my head down at night she’s the only thing I’ll be able to think of.
It's been days since I brought her here. Days of living like hermits. Of pizza and head. Oral and Vietnamese. Orgasms and tacos.
