Rise (Rock God 1)

Inhaling, I breathe in his clean scent. I’m addicted to that scent; I’m addicted to him. It’s gone beyond loving him. I need him. He’s my everything. Without Rhys, I’m not sure I know who I am.

I had a goal. It was clear: I was going to marry Rhys Granger.

I guess I’m weeping. I didn’t think I was crying, but he’s setting me on the couch and kneeling between my knees, and I don’t even remember getting on the elevator.

“Gia.” His voice is demanding, but his touch is gentle as his thumbs wipe away my tears. The tears that signified what made me, me. The very tears that are forcing me to grow up. Not everybody gets what they want no matter how hard they fight, claw, and try.

The tune “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” bursts into my head as I look at him. My hands run through his thick, wavy hair, and I let him take away all the shit his dick has gotten us into.

His full lips kiss my eyes with soft, light kisses that make me cry harder. Is he trying to get me to forgive him? I haven’t even comprehended that this is happening. The damage is in play, and even if she’s lying, it’ll be months before we find out.

Months of her hanging around making us miserable.

Fucking months.

“It’s not mine. She’s trying to get money and fame by saying it’s mine.” He pulls back. “This is not the first time this has happened, Gia. It sucks, but we’ll get through it.”

I nod because when he says it like that, it sounds right. “Yes. I’m sure it’s not yours.” I sigh into him as he takes my lips gentle and slow, so different from our usual kisses.

“I need you.” His hand drifts to my neck as he holds me still, allowing his tongue to lick and suck at his leisure.

I can’t seem to stop crying. Rhys is being gentle, loving. Like he worships me. Any other time I would love it, cherish it, but right now it makes me feel like he’s apologizing and guilty.

“Christ, Gia.” His tone holds a warning, all the gentleness melting away. He stands, anger flashing in his eyes, and my core becomes wet. This is what I want, need. I can’t handle tender right now. I need… I don’t know what I need.

My head is throbbing as if I’ve just been knocked awake with a brick. He may be a father. And then Rhys will be connected to that woman forever. He’ll experience one of the greatest things in life: having a child.

And it will be with her.

I’m devastated. God, I’m so pathetically naïve. I truly believed Rhys was everything—everything but flawed.

“Was this what you were dealing with today?” I raise my chin.

He ignores my question, which makes me assume it’s a silent yes. He reaches into his pocket for his cigarettes and sits down. The elegant, giant wingback chair makes him look like a king or a god. As he lights his up, he narrows his eyes on me and inhales.

Goose bumps cover my skin. The look he gives me is almost contempt, like he’s the one who’s been burned instead of me.

“Clothes off,” he says. His full lips latch onto the tip of the cigarette so he can unbutton his jeans.

I lick my lips. Rhys has been demanding and domineering, but this is different.

“Clothes off now, Gia,” he commands. His tone is so cold. Kicking off my boots, I can barely get a full breath in as I toss off my sweater and bra, then shimmy out of my jeans. I look at him and almost sink to my knees. He’s so beautiful, and for a moment, he was mine.

“Take your panties off and crawl,” he demands. I freeze, then slowly let my G-string slide down my legs and step out of it.

“What?” I croak, wiping away my tears.

“Crawl. To. Me.” He leans forward, resting his hands on his knees. Slowly I lower myself to the ground.

My nose is stuffy, and I’m sure my face looks scary with all the crying I’ve done. Yet the way his eyes change as I start to crawl on all fours, naked, makes me scared that we’re entering a dangerous game.

A game I know nothing about. A game that might break me, but I obey and crawl to him anyway.

“Look at me, Brat.” My eyes jerk to his and I arch my back, watching his nostrils flare as if he can smell my arousal.

“You want me to fuck you, don’t you?” he says, his voice thick.

I move in between his legs and nod.

“Use words, Gia. Tonight you might need them.” My heart leaps.

“Yes,” I snap. “I want you to fuck me hard.” He grabs my chin and I almost whimper. The tears have finally stopped. Only our rage fuels the room. My hands fall forward on his thighs.