Chapter Twenty-Five
Rosalie
I’m groggy, weighed down with sleep as my limbs shift heavily under my duvet, but I know something isn’t right. Even in my state, I remember the last words Roman spoke to me before we all headed off to bed.
Don’t forget to lock your doors.
I did. I locked my bedroom door and my balcony door out of fear. It doesn’t matter if I have nighttime security, because I still don’t know if I can trust them.
The handle to my balcony door wiggles, making a muffled sound, and my heart slams as my eyes shoot open.
I bolt up in bed, my heart sinking when I scan the area.
It’s dark outside, but it doesn’t shroud the tall, black figure leering behind the double glass doors.
What’s even more terrifying is the neon mask over the figure’s face.
It’s illuminated green with Xs over the eyes and a stitching pattern that covers the mouth. I can’t see beyond it, but somehow, I know whoever is on my balcony is staring at me.
The breath escapes past my parted lips as I stare at the intruder. Danger and fear mix like gasoline and fire, igniting my bloodstream. I want to scream, but I can’t. Making one wrong move could cost me my life.
A dark, gloved hand reaches for the balcony handle again. When it doesn’t give, the person slams a fist on the glass, rattling the door and causing me to gasp as I backpedal until I hit the headboard.
Those long, thick fingers unwind from a fist until an open palm rests over the glass. My eyes bounce around every inch of the man outside of my door, hoping to connect some discernible feature that will tell me who he is.
When my gaze trails to his neck, the only light I have is the green glow of the mask, but it’s all I need. The edge of a familiar raven tattoo pokes out of the collar of the thick jacket he’s wearing, and there’s only one person I know who has that inked onto their skin.
Maddox.
My heart calms as the blood rushing past my ears settles. My first response is anger, and I want to throw the door open and push him off my fucking balcony for scaring me like this. But then another idea strikes, and I can’t help myself.
I don’t know what game he thinks he’s running, but two can play at this. His little stunt in the car earlier is like fuel to me as I slide down the bed until my feet touch the floor and I’m perched on the edge.
“You really want in here, don’t you?” I taunt.
He tilts his head, staring into me.
No answer.
“Too bad,” I mock pout. “I guess you’ll just have to watch from out there.”
I’m glad I chose my nightie to sleep in tonight.
It’s cute with a lacy black trim around the bust and a side slit that rides up over my thigh.
It’s pale pink and flatters my shape in every way possible, and I feel tantalizing as I spread my legs wide and prop myself up with a hand behind me.
My other dips under the silk material, but I’m careful not to flash him as I pull my panties to the side and find my clit.
I let my head roll back onto my shoulders as I stare at him with half-lidded eyes. Desire and danger dance together, mingling to create something electrifying and hot.
Maddox’s hand presses into the glass as he watches me, the deep rise and fall of his chest the only indicator that he’s being driven wild by my erotic display.
“Aw, do you want in?” I coo.
His other hand lifts to the handle, pulling it so hard it might break.
“Be a good boy and watch,” I command, my voice sultry and so unlike me that I sound different to my own ears.
This is dangerous.
The power I wield over the men from my past who harbor wanton need and arousal for me makes me feel like a fucking goddess—a commander of their fates as I hold them in the palms of my hands.
This is all insane, but that’s another problem I can deal with later. Right now, I want to make Maddox suffer.
He can see the way my hand moves under my clothes as I stroke my hardened bud. Each pass of my fingers over my sensitive flesh is only heightened by his searing gaze focused entirely on me. I’m a fucking mess, arousal drips from me at the intensity of it all, but I can’t stop.
My climax reaches me swiftly, and it’s because I have him watching the whole time with bated breath. My whole body shudders with my release, and my core begins to ache for something to fill it.
Would he be rough with me?
Pin me down and fuck me so hard that I’m begging for him to stop or keep going?
Would he cover my mouth with those thick gloves to keep me quiet as I scream in pleasure?
Would he—
As the door handle wiggles again, I’m sent hurling back to reality. The realization of what I’ve just done washes over me, and my morals decide to kick in.
I just made my high school bully watch me finger myself to completion. I shouldn’t be doing this.
The me of the past resurfaces for a moment, that broken girl who wanted to end it all, causing shame to wash over me. She would have hated this. She would have been so disappointed in me…
I close my eyes before removing my hand from my nightie and standing.
I walk over to the balcony doors before grabbing the curtains and balling them in my fists.
I stare at Maddox, my expression hard and unforgiving.
“Get the fuck off my balcony.” I draw the curtain, closing him out before I slide back into bed.
“Where do you think you’re going?” The warden’s voice causes me to roll my eyes.
I grab my purse and keys from the stand by the front door, ignoring Roman’s presence altogether.
“Rosalie,” He growls.
“I have an appointment,” I snap, flinging my purse strap over my shoulder as I grab the door handle. It barely opens an inch before Roman’s stupid, big hand pushes it closed.
“You don’t go anywhere without at least one of us with you,” He says.
Ugh.
After last night, I’ve done a pretty good job at avoiding all of them.
I tried to sneak away to do my morning workout until I almost walked into all three men in my home gym, their bared chests glistening with sweat as they lifted weights and ran on the treadmills.
I was able to slink away before they noticed me.
I also decided to drink my morning smoothie in my recording studio while I worked on lyrics.
It’s been peaceful, but now, the last thing I want is any of them following me to this appointment.
“I’m not bringing you to my doctor’s appointment,” I wave him off, but he doesn’t budge.
“That’s not your choice,” He bites, glaring down at me.
Fuck if it isn’t.
I cross my arms, returning his displeased look. “You’re. Not. Going. Do I have to say it slower?”
His jaw grinds. “You try to walk out that door without me, and I will throw you over my shoulder, Rosalie.”
“Like hell you will,” I mumble before doing the exact opposite of what he wants me to do. “I’ll see you later—OH, MY GOD!” I shriek as he flings me over his broad shoulder and uses a foot to close the door. I ball my fist, pounding on his back as my legs kick. “Let me go!”
He brackets an arm across my limbs, stalking towards the living room where Kairo and Maddox are seated. Both men look up when Roman trudges past. Kairo’s face lights up while Maddox lifts a brow.
Roman sets me down in front of them, turning me to face them as my cheeks catch fire with a raging blush. “She was just about to leave without us.”
Kairo tuts. “Now, you know better than that, Thorn.”
I bury my face in my hands. “I don’t have time for this! I have twenty minutes to get there!”
“I’ll drive,” Maddox says as he closes the book he was reading and stands. We make eye contact, and his gaze darkens. He’s remembering last night. I just know he is.
I shift slightly, a war waging in my head over the dynamic that’s happening between all four of us. I stayed up for most of the night, tossing and turning as I mulled it all over in my head.
I’m attracted to them, and I shouldn’t be. Don’t even get me started on the fact that I can’t seem to focus my attention down to a single one of them. All three are like a beacon to me, and I don’t know why.
I hate them.
What they put me through was cruel, and I shouldn’t feel anything besides disgust. Yet my body responds as if my anger is moot, and it pisses me off.
They know nothing about me and what it took to get me here.
They have no idea what I still have a hard time getting over—the trauma that’s embedded in me and the way it affects me.
It’s why I don’t want them to go to this appointment.
They’re going to see what I’m like afterwards, and the thought terrifies me.
What if they use my vulnerability against me again?
What if they take advantage and shunt me right into a day terror I can’t escape? My triggers have become manageable over the years, but it doesn’t erase the trauma. Nothing ever will, and if they see that…
No. I have to go.
I don’t have the time to sit here and think about the possibilities. I need to get there as soon as possible.
I feel defeated and numb as I head towards the door. “Let’s go.”