66. Rosalie
SIXTY-SIX
ROSALIE
T he music pounded out around us. I was still shocked by the Alex Ryan thing, but Anson seemed happy and excited. I think I was still shell-shocked.
Overall, it was comfortable. Enzo had men all over the damn place. Both inside and out. But I ignored it and focused on the moment.
Ethan looked better. I could tell he was still high, but he was now smiling and laughing with the guys, so I’d deal with it.
“Rosalie, you were incredible tonight,” Enzo said from across the booth as I sat beside Fox. Fox gave my thigh a gentle squeeze and smiled.
“So good,” Cole agreed. “When did you write that one song? What was it called?”
“Which?” I asked, sipping at the fruity drink Fox had ordered for me.
“The one with the lyrics that go, I’ll keep you in the spaces. Between every breath I take. A love that lived… Just a lifetime too late .” Cole’s voice was low, but I heard him just fine.
I glanced at Anson, who inclined his head to me and smiled. We’d been writing that one forever. It just seemed to flow for us.
I cleared my throat. “Ani and I wrote that. It was something that just seemed to come together rather easily.”
“I see.” Cole shot a glare at Anson, who looked down at his glass.
I thought they’d fight, and the guys would be angry about the song. It didn’t mean anything. I knew the lyrics were eerily close to all the issues I had going on, but it wasn’t like that. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself.
Fox took my hand in his and kissed my knuckles. “I loved the song. It’s beautiful. You did well, baby.”
“Thanks.” I smiled at him and relaxed when no one pushed the issue.
Anson looked at his phone for a minute before getting up. “I’ll be right back.”
He didn’t elaborate. He stepped away and disappeared into the crowd.
“I hate that guy,” Cole grumbled.
“We fucking know,” Ethan said. “We haven’t forgotten.”
Cole shook his head, a sour look on his face. I shifted in my seat and spotted Anson coming back with Ryder.
Immediately, I got to my feet and greeted him. I really liked Ryder. He was a sweet guy, and he’d helped keep me safe. It was easy to see why he was best friends with Anson.
I hugged him the moment he stopped at the table. He chuckled and wrapped his arms around me in a tight embrace.
“It’s good to see you,” he murmured, holding me for a beat longer than necessary. He released me and looked down at me.
“It’s good to see you,” I said, smiling at him.
“How you been, Red? Keeping Anson busy?”
“Of course.” I let out a laugh as his eyes sparkled. He looked over my shoulder at my guys.
“Hey, I’m Ryder—Anson’s friend. I don’t know if we’ve met before. I have a terrible memory.” He held his hand out to Ethan, who shook it.
Cole was on his feet already, a muscle thrumming along his jaw as he shook Ryder’s hand. He must have gripped it harder than he had to because Ryder cocked his head and smirked at him.
He turned around, only nodding to Fox since they’d met before.
Ryder and Anson took their seats, Cole following, but I could see hatred burning deep in his baby blues. I wish he weren’t so jealous. It drove me insane.
“How do you know Anson?” Enzo asked.
“Uh, fuck, we grew up together mostly. We met in grade school. He couldn’t shake me,” Ryder said as Anson chuckled.
“Like fucking herpes, huh?” Cole piped up, his eyes narrowed in Ryder’s direction.
“Just like fucking herpes,” Ryder smirked, taking Cole in stride. I shot a quick look at Anson. He looked annoyed but gave me a tight smile.
The conversation seemed to take off after that, and thankfully, Cole didn’t say anything else. I had a feeling it was because Enzo had kicked him from beneath the table, as Cole had winced and swore softly under his breath.
An hour in, I decided I’d had enough alcohol to give me some social lubrication.
Since the guys seemed to be doing well enough, I got up, went to the dance floor, and moved to the music.
I needed a break from reality, honestly.
Getting lost on a dance floor seemed to be the perfect way to be able to breathe for a minute.
I made it through two songs before warm arms were wrapping around me. I knew that touch.
“Enzo,” I murmured as he nuzzled into my neck from behind.
“Sunshine,” he answered softly. “You looked way too damn good out here to be dancing all alone.”
“Mm, I’m sure if I didn’t have four feral men glaring from across the room, I’d not have been dancing alone.”
He chuckled softly and turned me around to face him. He held me at the waist as we moved to the music. Enzo had always been an incredible dancer. He could move in a way that honestly made me a little jealous.
He looked so handsome tonight. Shrouded in black everything and smelling of danger and spice, he was every woman’s wet dream.
He smirked down at me like he knew what I was thinking.
“You’re easy to read,” he said.
I raised a brow. “Am I? What am I thinking?”
“You’re thinking I look damn good tonight.”
I laughed softly at that and nodded.
His grin widened. I relaxed against him. He never smiled like that anymore. I missed that about him.
“I think you look damn good tonight, too, Sunshine,” he said, his voice low and with an edge to it. “I like this black dress. It’s short and perfect for all the dirty things I’ve been thinking about since I saw you walk out in it.”
“Maybe you can show me later.”
“Fuck, you’re in for a long night.”
I rested against him, feeling content. I glanced over to see Cole watching us from the table. Anson and Ryder were at the bar with Fox. Ethan was smoking one of his sugar things. I sighed and looked up at Enzo.
“Are we OK?” I asked.
He stared down at me for a moment before answering. “Yes.”
“Promise?”
“Swear it. I love you. I hope tonight was good, even though E had his issues.”
“It’s fine. I worry about him.”
“Then let’s not, OK? He’s doing good right now. He just had a moment. He has therapy tomorrow. He said he’s going.”
I nodded, feeling relieved. I felt like his therapist had been helping him.
“And the drugs? He’s high a lot.”
“I know,” Enzo said grimly. “But he’s working on it.”
I knew he was trying, so I’d let it go. Again. For now, at least. I thought maybe I should try it myself to see what the big deal was. Perhaps I’d be better equipped with a frame of reference. From what I understood, it was just like weed.
We danced through another song, Enzo grinding against me in a way that had me panting for more.
I knew this was the prelude to what he wanted to give me tonight.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t interested.
I needed to tell him about Alex and the meeting tomorrow.
He kept distracting me with his hands, lips, and hips, though.
“I have to tell you something,” I said as his lips brushed against mine.
“Is it going to upset me?” he murmured, his hands on my ass.
“I hope not.”
“Tell me.” He bent down and kissed my neck. I groaned softly against him. “I’ll keep your secrets just like I used to.”
My heart clenched at his words.
“There was someone from Trackmaster Records at the show tonight. He wants to meet with me tomorrow. I agreed.”
Enzo froze, his body tensing.
I swallowed hard as he stopped moving. “Enzo?”
He pulled away, his dark brows crinkled. “You’re going?”
I nodded.
His lips twitched until a tight smile formed on his face. “OK.”
“Really?”
He nodded, his body still tense. “I’ll come with you?—”
“Ani is coming. He invited us both.”
“Oh.” He looked somewhere over my shoulder for a moment before speaking again. “Then I’ll ensure my men are watching over you from afar. I want you to be safe.”
“You’re letting me go?”
He looked down at me. “I never want to stand in the way of your dreams. Ever. If you can get this, then I’ll be at your side.”
My heart inflated, and I threw my arms around him tightly.
He let out a soft laugh and held me closely.
“I thought you’d tell me no,” I said, holding him against me
“Mm, I know you deserve this. I promised you’d have your career.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing from him. I’d been so scared to tell him because he seemed against everything lately. He really surprised me.
“I don’t want the guys to know yet,” I started.
He silenced me with a soft kiss. “We won’t tell them. Go to the meeting and see how it goes. When you decide, you can tell them, OK?”
I kissed him back, earning a soft growl from him before I pulled away.
“I drank too much. I need the bathroom.”
He chuckled and let me go, his dark eyes sparkling.
I quickly made my way through the crowded club and went into the empty ladies’ room.
I did my business and washed my hands before staring at myself in the mirror.
My curls hung around me, and the black dress Cole had bought me hugged my body in all the right places.
The V in the neck was deep and had made me uncomfortable at first, but I’d put it on and went with it.
I figured my stage personality should be different than my regular personality.
The door to the bathroom opened, and I caught Cole’s reflection in the mirror as he approached me.
“What’s wrong—” I turned to talk to him, but he silenced me with a kiss, his hands on my hips as he pushed me against the sink.
“No talking,” he said against my lips as he slipped his hand up my dress.
“Cole, someone could come in?—”
“Good. Fucking let them see me claim every inch of you.” That was all the warning I got before he had me up against the wall, my panties pushed to the side, and his cock buried deep inside me.
I clung to him as he railed into me, his blue eyes locked on mine.
“Fucking beautiful. I couldn’t stop staring at you and Enzo on the dance floor. My dick was hard the entire time, Rosebud. All I kept thinking about was taking you in front of any motherfucker who wanted to watch.”
I let out a soft cry as I came hard on his dick, my body trembling from his rough intrusion.
“There you go. Such a good girl for me. Fuck. Your pussy is heaven, baby, and I’m the fucking devil out to claim it.” He rutted into me harder. Faster. I came again, clinging to him and breathing hard.
He groaned softly, breathlessly, as he filled me with his release before going still.
“I still can’t seem to help myself around you,” he whispered. “My Rosebud. I love you so fucking much.”
“I love you, too,” I answered as he pulled away.
“I really am trying to work on this. It’s just sometimes I can’t control myself around you, and the fucking monster inside wins.” He put me back on my feet, adjusted my dress, and then fixed my hair, a smile touching his lips.
I smiled sheepishly at him before sliding past and going to a stall to clean myself. He chuckled softly and waited for me. When I came out, he let me wash my hands before twining his fingers with mine and leading me back to our table.
Anson’s gaze skirted over me, a muscle popping along his jaw. I momentarily looked down at my feet before Cole pulled me onto his lap and joined Enzo and Ethan in conversation. I sat, staring at Anson.
He was upset.
I hated all of this and wished there was something I could do to make it better for everyone.
Ryder nudged him, and Anson followed Ryder’s gaze. I glanced over to see two pretty women sliding into a booth. My heart clenched when Anson smiled and got up with Ryder. They didn’t say a word as they approached the women.
My heart sank when they slid in next to them.
Ethan squeezed my hand. I looked at him and gave him a quick smile.
“It’s OK,” he said gently before kissing my palm.
I nodded and caught Fox’s eyes. He gave me a sad look but didn’t say anything else. It didn’t matter. Anson was my friend, and I wanted his happiness, even if it wasn’t with… us.
At least, that’s what I kept telling myself.