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“You can still say no,” he says. “Change your mind.”
“Have you changed your mind?” I ask, looking up at him as I press the button. He doesn’t look like he wants me to change my mind…
“No,” he shakes his head, smiling, and we both step in as the doors open.
“Neither have I.” The silence stretches between us, and when I look up, meeting his gaze, there’s this tenderness in his eyes. “But I don’t want to put you in a situation you’ll regret,” I admit, shrugging.
“Being with you isn’t something I’d regret.” His words are spoken so softly, and when he lifts a hand, pushing my hair behind my ear, I lean into his touch.
Staring up into his brown eyes, I can’t help but think of all the times Ren comforted me just by being close. He’s constant, strong, and kind. Sure, he was also cocky, playful, and aggravating, but what fun would it have been if he wasn’t?
I’m about to tell him I feel the same when the elevator jerks to a stop halfway to our floor. For a moment, I assume we’re just picking up more people on the way up. Until the lights shut off, and the elevator makes a terrifying screech.
Naturally, I scream bloody murder and throw myself at Ren. He holds me easily as I cling to him for dear life. “We’re gonna die!” I cry as Ren attempts to calm me, his hand buried in my hair.
“Rosie, stop screaming,” he says soothingly, but it doesn’t penetrate the fog of fear. “Hey, you need to calm down, baby. You’re okay.”
“I’m sorry,” I whisper as flashes of the worst day of my life assault my panicked mind. Screeching tires and broken glass. My twin brother screaming.
“Rose! Rose!” Ren shakes my shoulders, but I just keep losing my shit. Until everything comes to a blinding halt.
Two strong hands push into my hair, tugging my head back. Then Ren’s lips are on mine, hard and insistent. He consumes me, licking and nipping until I open for him. He takes a step forward, pushing me against the wall, my hips pushed into him by the hand bar against my waist.
When his tongue demands entrance, I open for him and melt into his body. Whimpering, I clutch his shoulders, holding onto him tightly. Ren growls as I learn what he likes slowly, and I bite his bottom lip just hard enough to sting.
He tastes like mint and smells like masculine cologne. The fear that choked me before fades away as I kiss Lorenzo. I don’t know how long we stay like that. Kissing each other and trapped between floors, but when the doors slide open I break away from the kiss and throw myself through them, panting. I’m bent at the waist, my hands on my knees, as I gasp for air.
“You okay, Rosie?” Ren asks, and I nod. That kiss? Fuck, that was all consuming. Intoxicating. Addictive. I want more. But… I also never want to see another elevator ever again.
“Yes. I am, now. But I’m not getting back on that metal death trap. I don’t care how long we’re on this ship.” I chuckle, but I’m dead serious.
Life is too short.
Too hard.
I don’t want to waste time being anything less than happy. However that looks.
Me: Let's meet. In person.
Blue: You sure?
Me: No. But life is short, and I think it’s time.
Blue: I would love to meet you, Kitty.
I’m about to invite Ren back to my room when the door across the hall opens, and Nix pops his head out.
I haven’t seen my brother in months. He has somehow managed to dodge me since we stepped foot on this ship. When our eyes connect, he just looks away. It hurts, but I can’t say I’m entirely shocked.
“Ren, my man. You got any condoms? I ran out.” And just like that, Nix ruins the mood.
CHAPTER TWENTY
“At My Best” by Machine Gun Kelly feat. Hailee Steinfeld
ROSE-THREE YEARS AGO
“I’m sorry, did you just say you’re going to Europe?” My voice is screechy as panic tightens my throat, and I clutch the phone to my ear. “I’m literally at the airport waiting for you, Phoenix!” My hands are shaking, and my face heats with anger and embarrassment. Why is my brother like this?!
