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His lips curled into a smile, our proximity letting me taste his breath. “Let go of me, or I’m undoing the rest of them.” This wasn’t a game. Aspen always kept his word.
“Do you want pictures of this?” I said with a barely audible exhale.
“I don’t give a rat’s ass who sees us. Do you?” He pressed into my fist, bringing our bodies a breath apart. “Are you ready for the rumors? You’re playing with fire, and I’m not the one who’s going to get burned.”
I didn’t want it all over the gossip sites, but my ego wouldn’t let me release him either. I wouldn’t give him a win so easily. “I thought there wasn’t anyone here, which is why Sebastian could drink?”
His lips curled into a smirk. “Say what you want to say, Royal. What should I not do anymore?”
“The—skirts.” Like some sort of masochist, I had to know how long this torture would go on.
“Maybe I will do it forever. It’s selling albums, isn’t it? Our album is back at number one. It’s lining your pockets; it’s selling concert tickets. What’s your problem?” Aspen fished like he wanted me to say something.
“Is that all this is? A stunt?” I didn’t know if that would be better or what it meant I was feeling. “Are you torturing me for a stunt?”
“No, it’s a benefit.” He wasn’t giving me a fucking inch.
“Of what? A thing you’re going through?”
“An expression of my moods. I like to dress up. I like the high I get from it...” he trailed off, getting a faraway look in his eyes. “Torture? Why would it be torture?”
Fuck. Did he not know?
“What did you think this was about?”
“Your stupid homophobic ass hating me for making you uncomfortable.” Aspen didn’t mince words.
“I hate you for this, but not because I have a problem with it.” My voice strained, and it hurt coming out. It hurt to admit. My heart thudded in my ears. I couldn’t admit any of this. Not where anyone could hear.
“Are you… Are yougetting offon this?” Aspen dropped his voice to say the last, but I didn’t think it was quiet enough for Sebastian not to hear.
How did he know? Was I that fucking transparent? “Fuck off.”
He nodded, his grin spreading. He looked so goddamn smug about it too.
“Just because the entire world wants to suck your dick doesn’t mean I do.” The threads of my calm disintegrated under his swagger.
His hips found mine, and he could feel how hard I was. I shoved him back, but the damage was already done. I saw it in his eyes.
He didn’t say a word, back pressed against the bar, shirt mostly unbuttoned and a rumpled mess. He picked up his drink and shot it, eyes never leaving mine.
I didn’t need words.
I knew my best friend.
This was war.
And he’d burn us both down before he stopped.
I had two choices: surrender, or we’d both go up in flames.
NINE
Aspen
He.
Was.
