Rise (Rock God 1)

“The fuck are you doing?” Nuke stands up.

Dorothy grins. “My job.” She glances at her phone, which is blowing up. Pursing her lips, she flips it toward us, eyes twinkling like she’s won the lottery.

“This was just announced. Look who’s the sexiest man alive this year.”

“Stay on Granger,” I hear Hunter tell Sebastian, and I’m ready to punch him.

“As a band, it’s got to be hard that Granger seems to always steal the spotlight. Now he’s the sexiest man alive.”

I stand and reach for my cigarettes. “Go fuck yourself. We’re a band, and they’re my brothers. Write whatever shit you want.” My eyes follow Gia as she shakes her head and turns to leave.

The room explodes with Cash going off on her along with Nuke. Rafe moves in.

But I’m done.

I don’t look back and slam open the door. “Gia.” I reach for her and swing her around. “What the fuck is happening?”

“Everything, Rhys. Jesus Christ, it’s insanity being around you.” She starts to speed walk.

I grab her arm and move her toward the elevator.

“Just stop, Rhys.” She sounds tired.

I maneuver us past the stunned faces. People point and whisper excitedly. Pushing the elevator button, I ignore the animated crowd. Thankfully, the door dings open as a couple of guys exit.

Gia stays quiet as we ride up the elevator, my hand sliding down to her cold one.

“Let’s go.” I pull us into my suite. Leaving her, I head straight for the elaborate bar and pour us bourbon in large quantities. Grabbing the glasses and bottle, I step over to where she stands staring out the window.

“Here.” I shove it into her hands.

She turns toward me, and there’s my girl. Her eyes sparkle with anger. When she shoots the whole glass, I raise an eyebrow. Her eyes water and she starts coughing.

“What the hell are you doing?” I can’t help but laugh because what the hell? I pull her into my arms and rest my chin on her head as she wheezes, her forehead resting on my chest.

“Another?”

She pulls back as I shoot my full glass, barely feeling the sting.

I look down at her and pour myself another. “Why are you running again?”

“Because I can’t do this. I hate feeling… like this.” Her green eyes are watering from the residual coughing and bourbon, but her honesty makes me bring the glass to my lips and throw back another shot. Taking her glass and mine, I set them on the table but keep the bottle.

“You have to know you can’t leave.”

“So they say,” she says dryly.

“Not because of the contract. I couldn’t care less about that.” I wrap my hand behind her neck, bringing her close. My eyes caress hers.

“I need you to stay.” My lips hover around hers. “You’re my muse, you know.” My thumb rubs her lips.

Her eyes close as if my words are too painful for her to hear, but she was honest, so I’m gonna give her my truths.

Trust her.

“Open your eyes, Brat,” I growl into her mouth.

She does, and all I need is in her eyes. My hands tighten on her hair, and I take her lips. I want to be gentle, to cherish her. But the moment her mouth opens, and my tongue finds hers, I’m lost.

Suddenly it’s different, frantic, as if we’re both scared to stop for fear it will end. Dropping to my knees, I push her back against the glass window. The bottle hits the floor with a thud.

“I need to be inside you.” I grab her delicate ankles and toss off her ballet flats. Christ, my hands are shaking as if she’s my drug of choice and my body is going through withdrawal. Jerking her jeans down, she lifts her leg so I can toss them behind me. My hands scan her flat stomach.

“Open your legs.”

She obeys me, then shivers as she runs her hands through my hair.

“Your ass cold, baby? Or are you just aching for me to fuck you?”

She looks down at me. “I want you to fuck me.”

When I stroke my thumb against the flimsy fabric at her crotch, her head thuds against the window.

Slipping her panties aside, I push her legs farther apart and suck her fucking nectar. She’s slick and wet. I insert two fingers deep inside her, causing her to moan.

“I’m gonna finger fuck you hard and fast.” I stand and start to fuck her deep with my fingers, then pull them out to rub her swollen nub hard. Her hands grab my forearm, and as she looks at me, her eyes change when her cunt pulses and jerks. She clamps onto my two fingers and orgasms.

Pulling my fingers out, I unbutton my jeans, kicking them next to hers. She opens her eyes to watch.

“Take your shirt off, baby. I want those fucking tits.”

She tugs it off and gasps, covering herself when she looks down to the sidewalk below. “Holy fuck, I can see them. If they looked up they would see us—”