Rise (Rock God 1)

This is not some college boy I can boss around. He sits in the darkness with only the headlights from the passing cars allowing me to see him staring at me.

Holy fuck, he looks like he wants to eat me, devour me whole. His signature smirk tells me he must know my panties are drenched for him.

It’s so hot. He’s hot. Jesus, his whole persona screams nasty, filthy, sexy…

No wonder women lose their minds around him. He’s the most exciting man I’ve ever been around. And that’s saying something if you knew my brother’s friends.

I wish I had a cigarette, or something to help my nerves, because holy fuck, he’s everything I’ve dreamed about.

Clearing my throat, I cross my legs, knowing he’s watching. I search my mind for something dazzling to say.

He smiles as if he knows what he does to me, which kind of bugs me, but I can’t seem to speak. Until I can stop my pulse from racing in sexual excitement, maybe it’s better if I remain silent.

“How do you know Nuke?” His voice is seriously amazing. I’ve been listening to it since as long as I can remember, but tonight… tonight it seems more deep, intense, like caramel dipped in dark chocolate. Wait, did he just ask me how I know Nuke?

I turn slightly so I can see if he’s serious, willing my brain to work since the champagne is making me somewhat dizzy.

What the?

My mind races. I sense the power of his impatience as he waits for an answer. Is he serious? Does he seriously not know it’s me? The way his eyes hold mine in the darkened vehicle, I have my answer.

Shit.

I never dreamed he wouldn’t recognize me. Okay, there are two ways of handling this. I tell him the truth, or…

I smile and say, “We go way back.” He reaches for a strand of my hair and twirls it around his finger. His eyes scan my face, then dip to my breasts.

“Oh God,” I whisper. My nipples harden and I lean back into the cushioned seat again, this time to get ahold of myself.

“You a liar, beautiful?” He reaches for my breast, his thumb roughly rubbing my nipple and I almost moan out loud.

“No. I’m an old friend.” This time I do kind of moan.

As he continues to rub and pinch my nipple, his other hand wraps around my neck, bringing my face inches from his.

“I know all his friends, and trust me, I’d remember you,” he says gruffly, and if I wasn’t so freakin’ ready to grab his hand and shove it in my panties, I’d laugh.

Thankfully, the SUV saves me from myself and slows in front of his hotel.

“Granger, do you want me to clear the lobby?” The hot bodyguard turns to look at us and my cheeks turn hot. Rhys brushes my lips with his, then lets me go as he opens the door and steps out.

I clear my throat and pull down my dress. God, the bodyguard doesn’t look fazed at all. Clearly this is not the first time he’s witnessed this.

“I’ll take it from here, Ace. Thank you.” He holds out his hand for me.

I slide out and decide that if I’m going to make this work, I can’t be getting jealous. There are going to be a million women throwing themselves at him. Again, that voice in the back of my head makes me hesitate, if only for a second.

Am I doing this wrong? I feel like I’ve been telling a lot of white lies, starting with my mom. Is karma going to slap me in the face?

“Holy shit, it’s Granger,” a group of men in suits call out, making me push aside my thoughts and focus on my future. His hand lies firmly on the lower part of my back. Nodding, he moves us fast. I barely glimpse the gorgeous lobby when the elevator door closes on the few people brave enough to have followed him.

“This is crazy,” I whisper.

His tall, hard body pushes me against the glass wall. “Welcome to rock ‘n’ roll, beautiful.” In a moment, his lips are on mine and I cling to him, opening my mouth to let his tongue take mine. He tastes like smoke with a hint of citrus. My head is spinning, and every single cell is buzzing with need.

This goes beyond wanting him, or fantasy about the famous Rock God. I’ve never felt anything close to this before.

He grips my chin, forcing me to allow his tongue more access. His other hand roughly jerks my dress up, and my leg wraps around his thigh.

“Fuck,” he says into my mouth as he rubs his erection on my wet panties.

The elevator dings, but Rhys reaches over to stop it, and like the dark magician I suspect he might be, he pushes aside my underwear and thrusts two fingers into my wet core.