Chapter Twenty-Seven
Rosalie
That night, I hear the sharp sound of my balcony door. Again. I groan into my pillow, pulling the duvet over my head as I ignore Maddox. I spent the rest of the afternoon alone in my recording studio, working on lyrics and completely disregarding all three of my bodyguards.
I wanted peace, and sleep seemed like the most reasonable way to get it. I’ve been wrong before.
“Go away!” I shout into my pillow, my voice muffled by the plushness.
There’s another rattle, and I grumble as I drag myself out of my warm bed.
Maddox is dressed the same, with his dark attire and neon mask, as he waits patiently for me to reach the door.
His head rolls back slightly when he thinks I’m going to let him in, only for me to yank the curtains closed and slide back into my bed.
As I drift off to sleep, I don’t hear his receding footsteps. It’s silly to think he’s still out there, but somehow, I know he won’t leave me. Not tonight.
A sharp pain pierces my temple as I fix my morning smoothie. I lift my hand to my head, my brow creasing as I watch the liquid mix in the blender.
I checked my blood sugar this morning, but the reading was normal.
Maybe I’m getting a migraine?
The lights don’t seem to affect it, and I settle for taking some medicine to help with the ache. I’m going to need a clear head for tour rehearsals today, and this day already isn’t seeming too promising as it is.
I head to the dining room, only to stop in the entrance as I stare at the table. The events of yesterday make a blush paint over my chest as I turn on my heel and head in the opposite direction.
I can’t even look at my perfect, vintage table anymore without remembering that.
I sip on my smoothie distractedly as I walk towards the stairs and nearly bump into Kairo. His hands shoot out, catching my biceps before I can tumble, and a current shoots up my arms.
“Where’s the fire?” He smirks, the events of last night playing like a film behind his steel eyes.
I shake his hands off of me before side-stepping him. “I have rehearsals in an hour. Be ready.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He salutes before sauntering into the kitchen. He whistles lazily, and I roll my eyes as I head back to my room to get my bag ready.
As I pack an outfit to change into after practice, my temple throbs again, and I stop as I lift a hand to my head. “What the fuck…”
I grab my glucose monitor out of my bedside table before sitting down and pricking my finger. I wait for my reading, my head beginning to feel a little fuzzy. When the number ninety-two blinks across the screen, I toss it into my bag.
It’s normal.
I think I’m stressed…
That would explain my mood swings and irritability. I could also be getting close to my cycle. I’m supposed to start in a few days.
I shrug it off before changing into some navy bike shorts and a cropped, long-sleeve compression shirt. I pull my hair up into a high ponytail before grabbing my bag and shoving a glucose pen past the zipper. I slip on my white sneakers before heading back downstairs.
Roman is already at the door, dressed in his usual jeans and a dark t-shirt as he checks the time on his watch. His inked arms are on display, and my mind circles back to last night.
The way he held me, and how those fingers stretched me to capacity. The stinging slap he delivered over my ass before diving into my pussy like he was starving…
And then the kiss—something I haven’t been able to stop thinking about. Whatever weird hold he has on me is beginning to mess with my head.
I shouldn’t be thinking about this right now.
Maddox comes out of the kitchen, serving as a distraction, but a horrible one as he bites into a fresh peach and juice drips down his chin and onto his shirt. His lips glisten with the nectar, and my mouth waters against my better judgment.
“We can’t take you anywhere without you ruining your clothes,” Kairo scolds his friend as he pushes past him with a breakfast sandwich in his hands. He holds the toasted bread and cheesy egg concoction out to me in an offering. “Bite?”
It looks so good, but I shake my head. Having bread first thing in the morning is a sure way to throw my blood sugar off, and I don’t want to blank out with them watching me.
“Did you eat breakfast?” Roman asks, sounding a little snippy.
I roll my eyes. “Yes, daddy. I had a smoothie.”
His head whips up to me, his eyes a little wide as something heated passes behind them.
Was it something I said?
Kairo chokes on his sandwich, slapping a hand over his chest. “Oh, fuck. Don’t say that, Thorn. You’re gonna get him going at seven in the morning.”
Embarrassment punches through me, my words stammering. “I-I wasn’t meaning it like that!” I push past Roman, my head tucked as I stare at the ground. I can’t even meet his eyes as I trudge out to the SUV.
Hands grab the bag’s strap over my shoulder, and I look up to see Maddox taking it gingerly from me as he shoulders it.
I get perfect flashes of last night—the way Maddox cupped my cheek softly and the desire in his eyes. It all comes rushing back, and I feel nerves circling my stomach.
This is going to be a long day.
“Thanks,” I mumble sheepishly before we all pile into the car and head for the studio.