“Or did you?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean you stuck to your beliefs, right? You dressed how you wanted and stuck to the kind of music that you wanted to play and people accepted you as you are because you’re genuine. You didn’t try to fit in with what was in fashion or make the kind of music that was in vogue and rightly so, you got your reward.”
“For someone who doesn’t listen to my music, you seem to be well aware.” Arsen raised a brow.
“Well, the internet is a magical thing,” Rory smirked, not revealing anything more, leaving Arsen to wonder about it on his own.
“Maybe you’re right,” Arsen said after a few moments. “Maybe they accepted me ‘cause I stuck to my guns. But it is no fun bleeding for your dreams, I tell you. I remember going to sleep hungry at night. That, most certainly, is not fun.” He was trying to joke about it, but Rory could tell that the thought still gave him nightmares.
“And now you are here at this wonderful party, in this lovely villa and it is all about you. Isn’t that a great rags-to-riches story?” Rory clinked his glass and Arsen smiled in return.
“Quite a motivational speaker, aren’t you?”
“Hardly,” she replied. A motivational speaker who can’t set her own life straight.
“I was feeling pretty blue since this morning. The usual band troubles… you know. That’s the reason why I’m not out there. I was afraid I’d end up getting into a fight with Mickey. But talking to you has made me forget the color blue. Thank you for that.”
Arsen lifted her hand and turned it over, kissing the palm of her hand softly. Rory was not expecting it and neither was her body. An unexpected jolt went through her as Arsen’s soft lips and coarse stubble caressed her fingers gently. She froze in place and felt that now-familiar heat come alive in her. He raised his eyes and looked right at her, a smile slowly spreading on his face. Does he know what I’m feeling?
Rory was sure that her face was flushed, but she instantly tried to compose herself and change the topic. Thankfully, she didn’t need to.
“And what about you? What is it that you are willing to struggle for?” Arsen asked.
His question took her by surprise. After all, it was not a question that she was asked often. Rory stared out into oblivion as she thought of how to answer such a question. A part of her was tempted to unload all of her troubles on him and tell him of all the problems and the worries that she lived with on a daily basis.
But she looked up at him and Arsen was staring at her with a calm, content look in his eye. He looked like a man who was happy in the current moment. Much unlike the weary man she had met on that rainy night.
She was tempted to confess all of her troubles and fears. After all, he won’t be around tomorrow to remind me of this. But she couldn’t get herself to do that. Not when he stood there so happy and content.
“I’ve got nothing to struggle for,” she replied finally.
“Of course. Pretty girls have nothing to struggle for. They have it easy,” he joked. Although a part of her took offense at his assumption that it all came easy to her, Rory could not help but focus on the fact that he had once again referred to her as pretty. This time she decided to confront him.
“You live in LA. You’ve probably had affairs with countless actresses, models, singers, and whoever else. You are constantly surrounded by some of the most beautiful women in this world and you are calling me pretty?”
Arsen just smiled a knowing smile. The question didn’t bother him like it may have other men. Neither did it put him on the defensive.
“Beauty is not just about what is out here…” He caressed her face gently with the outside of his hand, sliding it slowly down to her chin. “But about what is in there.” He tapped twice on her heart with his knuckles and stared straight into her eyes. If there was a doubt in her mind about his words, she didn’t feel it because in that moment, staring into the eyes of one of the biggest rockstars in the world, Rory knew that what he just said was not a lie.
“Tell me you have not felt one spark and I will call you a liar,” he continued in a low voice, taking steps that took him closer to her, sending a chill of awareness down her back.
“Tell me you don’t see what I see in your eyes in mine, and I will call your bluff. Ever since that morning, when you walked into that living room of yours, where I had slept the night… I have only had eyes for you. Could you not see it?”
When did our faces come so close together, Rory thought. Unlike how it happened in romantic films, she couldn’t feel his breath. But there was a heat between their bodies. His fists were clenched and Rory knew that he was itching to grab her in his arms. Rory knew that she wouldn’t stop him if he did. Dear God. He’s right. There is not just a spark but a whole damn explosion waiting to happen between us. Rory, just get out of this room. You don’t need this.
His body inched closer to hers and his hands unclenched, rising up to hold her by the arms. Rory ordered herself to move, but her body stayed still. No words were necessary. She could see what he meant; all she had to do was look in his eyes and in this breathless moment, they were mirrors that reflected her own affection.
Finally she felt his breath on her skin. His lips were a whisker away from hers and she felt thunder strike her heart. As she opened the eyes she had closed unknowingly, she heard the sound of someone opening the door. From the corner of her eye, she saw the tall blonde Tanya Cox striding right in.
“There you are, Arsen. We’ve been looking all over for you.”
Arsen let go of Rory’s hands slowly.
“For what?” he said without turning around.