by K. G. Reuss
I stared at him, not sure who this man was. If I didn’t know better, I’d think I was with Cole with how Ethan was behaving.
“Where are you taking me?” I whispered.
He remained quiet as we cruised along the highway.
“Ethan, answer me!”
“Just fucking ride, Rosalie!” he snarled, shooting me a glare that made my blood run cold. His voice grew soft, “Just…Please. Just ride.”
My heart thudded hard in my chest as he guided the car onto the freeway, heading away from the city. Scared, I pulled out my phone to call for help. Ethan reached over and tried to snatch it from my hands, but I jerked it away at the last moment, putting as much distance between us as I could. The car swerved. I gasped as Ethan growled, righting it.
“You call someone, and it’ll be another mistake, sweetheart.”
“The first being ever trusting you!” I snapped back as he tried to reach for the phone again. I let out squeak of pain as he latched onto my forearm and squeezed. The ache from his hold had me dropping the phone. It tumbled to the floorboards where I lost sight of it.
“You’re hurting me,” I whimpered when he didn’t let go. “Ethan!”
His green eyes flashed at me as he whipped the car onto the offramp, his hold lessening just enough to stop me from crying out again. I gripped the arm rest as he jerked the car onto a side road. Then he whipped down an abandoned road far outside of town. The colors from the autumn forest whizzed past us in the headlights. Dust billowed up around the car as he slammed it into park inside a small clearing in the woods. Night had fallen. He locked the doors when they automatically disengaged.
“Ethan,” I whispered, for the first time feeling afraid with him.
“I can’t do this anymore, Rosalie,” he answered back in a soft voice.
I swallowed as he twined his fingers through mine.
“Don’t make me. It’s making me crazy. I’ve been punished enough. We all have. If you only knew…” His voice cracked.
“This isn’t just about you, Ethan. Or the guys. It’s about me and what’s been done to me. To all the girls.”
“Nothing was ever done to them that they didn’t want, Rosalie!” He stared at me with wide, green eyes. “No one was ever forced. Sure, we were dicks about them, but when it came down to it, we were just looking for you. I can’t say we were just being guys. We were assholes. We all freely admit to it. And yeah, maybe we did a little blackmailing to get you, and even them, interested. But it boils down to us never forcing it. We would’ve never made you if you’d said no. Never, Rosalie. Know that.”
“It doesn’t matter—”
“It fucking does!” he shouted. He released my hand and punched the steering wheel before he unlocked the car and got out.
I watched as he came around to my side and pulled the door open.
“Get out,” he said softly.
“Ethan, please. I’m scared. Like really scared.”
He didn’t offer me an explanation or comfort. He simply held out his hand.
With my body trembling, I took his hand and allowed him to pull me out into the dark night. He slammed the door behind me and pressed me against the car.
“I fucking miss you, sweetheart. I can’t live like this.” His hands traveled to my waist where he aligned our bodies against one another. “I don’t know if I should put you back into the car and drive away with you, never looking back or just beg for you to fucking love me the way I love you. Instead, I’m just asking that you stop torturing me. I’m begging you.”
I stood there, hands at my side as he gave me a desperate squeeze.
“Rosalie, please… Say something. End my torment.” He rested his forehead against mine.
I didn’t know what I could say or do for him. I ached as much as he did.
“I’ll do anything, babe. Anything. Name it. You want the stars? I’ll fucking tear them from the night sky and drape them around you like diamonds. You want my heart? I’ll rip it from my chest and lay it at your feet. Do you want your enemies to suffer? I’ll kill them for you, Rosalie. I’d die for just a moment with you in my arms, telling me you care even a fraction as much as I do. Just tell me what you want from me.”
A soft gasp worked its way out of my mouth at his words, my chest aching.
“Tell me,” he commanded softly, slipping his hands beneath my skirt and cupping my ass.
My breath stuttered in my chest as he used his body to pin me to the car. With his gaze focused on me, he explored beneath my skirt, his fingers brushing against my center.
“I’m sorry. I don’t do this. I never do this, but I need you. Please don’t tell me no, Rosalie.”
I stared back at him as he paused beneath my skirt, his bottom lip quivering. With his eyes locked on mine, he shoved my panties aside and ran his finger along my damp slit. I shivered beneath his desperate touch as he tentatively pushed through my folds and teased my clit.
“Mm,” he breathed out. “Sweetheart.”
“Ethan,” I managed to choke out before his lips met mine, sending my heart spiraling into a place I wasn’t so sure I could get it back from. The same place I’d lost it the first time. But I’d planned this. Well, maybe not this exactly, but he was here with me. This was fate. I could make it work.
His tongue delved into my mouth. He stole my breath, forcing it from my body. He devoured me with his red-hot kiss as he slid a finger inside me. I writhed against him, struggling to swallow the moan clawing its way up my throat as he thrust his finger into me before hooking it in place and pressing the hot spot inside me that made sanity fly out of my mind.
“Tell me,” he repeated against my lips before kissing me again, his finger making quick work of bringing me high on the cliff of euphoria.
Unable to resist, I raked my fingers through his hair. His growl of approval filled my mouth as he rocked against me, his hard length making it deliciously obvious what he wanted as his finger continued its delicious torture.
“Please stop torturing me. I’m sorry,” he rasped breathlessly as he worked his finger faster. “I’m so sorry. Please, Rosalie. If you can’t love me like I need you to, then kill me because I’m dying each day without you. Put me out of the misery of never having you.” He kissed me again as I moaned softly against his lips. “I want you, Rosalie. Tell me you want me.”
“Fuck,” I whimpered as he slid another finger into me.
“Tell me, sweetheart.”
He moved faster until my eyes rolled back, and I clenched around his fingers, the pleasure rolling through my body in waves. I shook against him, my knees buckling as he pulled his fingers from my body. He pulled me into his strong embrace. Instinctively, I wrapped my arms around his neck.
“Please, babe. I need hope or I’m a dead man.”
My heart clenched at a world without Ethan’s sweetness. His kindness. I pushed all the other ugly thoughts away, focusing on that moment with him. Perhaps a moment I’d regret never taking. He’d already given me so much in those few moments. If revenge was what I sought, I knew exactly how to get it from Ethan Masters.
I ran my hands down his hard chest, to the planes of muscle on his abdomen. He let out a hiss against my lips as I brushed my hand against the bulge in his pants.
“Tell me what to do to keep you mine.” His lips brushed against mine. “You win. I don’t want to play anymore.”
He was never in charge. It was always me. That was just how Ethan was, even if he’d tried to play a different part. I owned everything about that boy, right down to his shaky breath and trembling hands. We both knew it.
“It’s yours. Anything you want, sweetheart. I’ll give it to you,” he whispered breathlessly. “Just please make the hurting stop.”
I couldn’t guarantee the pain would leave. In fact, I knew my next move would only bring more, but this was a war where everyone was a casualty. Even my sweet Ethan.
“You’re going to hate me,” I choked out between his feverish kisses.
He pulled away from me and stared me in the eyes. “Never.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you, Ethan Masters.” I cradled his face and took in the tears glistening on his cheeks. “But if you want me. If you want this, then I have. . . demands.” Now was my moment. Either he’d come to me or he’d run. My heart hammered unevenly in my chest as I stared up at him.
“Do your worst, Rosalie Bishop.”
“I want you. Only you. You’ll be mine, and I’ll be yours. No one else.”
He stilled as he stared down at me, his muscles tensing beneath my fingers.
“What about all of us?” He crinkled his brows. “We’re a family, Rosalie—”
“Not anymore. If you want me, that’s my price. I’ll give you time to decide. I know it’s a big decision. I trust you’ll make the right one.”
“Rosalie, no,” he whispered, pain laced into his words. “Don’t make me choose. They’re all I have in the world—”
“You’ll have me, Ethan. All of me.” I brushed my lips along his jaw.
He let out a soft whimper as he angled his neck for me. I kissed down it as his hands tightened on my ass where he held me.
I let my lips brush against his ear as I murmured, “Just like you wanted.”
I pulled away and observed him, feeling like a complete bitch. It didn’t stop me as I pressed on, “But I want you to decide this on your own. Go home. Sleep on it. Get back to me when you’re ready to decide. OK?” I waited, hoping he wouldn’t snap and lose his shit again. If he did, I’d chuck the idea out the window, run like hell, and hope he couldn’t catch me in the trees.
“Fine,” he choked out. “But you promise, Rosalie? If I choose you, you’ll be mine?”
“You’d have to leave Juliet too.”
A muscle feathered along his jaw as he looked at a point over my shoulder. “That won’t be an issue.”
“Then yes. I’ll be yours for as long as you want me.”
His bottom lip quivered as he nodded. “And Ian?”
“Make your choice, and we’ll talk. OK?”
“Fine.” His answer was barely a whisper, but he still leaned down and pressed a kiss to my cheek like the sweet Ethan I knew. “I should get you home. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry I scared you tonight. I just lose it sometimes. I-I really shouldn’t have touched you like that—”
“I forgive you.”
“Thank you, sweetheart. It’s more than I deserve.” He kissed my cheek once more and steered me to the driver’s side of the car and handed me the keys. “I shouldn’t have been behind the wheel. I could have hurt you. I’m so fucking sorry, Rosalie.” His voice cracked. “I’m a fucking mess.”
I cradled his cheek. “It’s OK. We’ll fix it. I promise.”
A tear slipped down his cheek. “At what cost?”
“If it’s worth it, then the cost doesn’t matter, right?”
He blew out a breath and nodded. “Right. The cost doesn’t matter.”
God, I fucking hoped so. We were playing with fire.
Sixteen
I barely slept. The anxiety of wondering if Ethan would tell me no had me curled up in a ball all night. Asking him to leave the horsemen was a big deal. Hell, trying to go against Ian was a big deal. I still didn’t have that issue worked out, but I figured I’d cross that bridge when I got there.
And hopefully set fire to it before he caught me.
When my alarm went off, I hauled my tired ass out of bed and got ready. Bidding my parents a quick goodbye without bothering to eat seemed like a good way to start the day. It beat listening to my dad bitch about whatever he felt like selecting to complain about. I still hadn’t told him about the musical.
I got into my car and drove to school. When I got there, I parked in a space at the back of the lot and sat in my seat, staring out at the sea of students as they went about their mornings. Greeting friends, laughing, kissing their significant others.
My life was nothing like that. In a matter of a few months, everything had gone to shit. Sighing, I got out and wasn’t surprised when Ian found me halfway through the lot and draped his arm around my waist.
“Morning,” he said, giving my side a slight pinch that made me wince. “I feel like we hardly see one another anymore.”
“Good,” I muttered.
If my comment upset him, he made no mention of it, opting to continue the conversation.
“My dad gets out this week.”
I nodded tightly. “I know. And?”
“I want you to meet him.”
“Ian, I really don’t want to do that—”
“Doesn’t matter, Rosalie. You need to meet him. Do you know how good we’ve been lately? Hardly any fighting? I’ve been cool with your lame ass play. I’ve been giving you some space. I haven’t been pressuring you. I haven’t even tried to fuck you. It could get better as long as you’re doing what you’re told. Wouldn’t you like that?” He pulled me to stop and stared down at me. “And I want to meet your parents. I think our relationship here is really starting to blossom.”
Just then, I saw Ethan crossing the lawn. His hair was a beautiful mess, and he didn’t look so tired. I watched as he strolled past the guys without stopping to chat like normal. My heart jerked in my chest.
“Uh, yeah. Yeah. Sorry.” I focused back to Ian, desperate to get away from him so I could find Ethan. “Sure. We can do that. Whatever you want.”
“Mm, I like you like this.” He pressed a kiss to my lips.
I kept my eyes open, watching Ethan enter the school. When Ian pulled away, we continued our trek.
“Looking good, Rosebud,” Cole called out. “You’d look better over here though.”
“Piece of shit,” Ian growled, his arm tightening around me.
“Just keep going,” I whispered. “Please? I don’t want you to fight.”
That wasn’t entirely true. I’d like nothing more than for someone to beat his ass, I just didn’t want it at that moment because I needed to talk to Ethan and stopping to break up a fight would slow me down in my quest.
Ian gave a grunt but didn’t say anything as we passed by Fox, Cole, and Enzo. I could feel the weight of their gazes on my back until we entered the school. Either Ethan had snapped again, or he’d made his choice. Judging by how put together he looked, I was beside myself with the possibility that he’d made up his mind.
Giddy with excitement, I strode to my locker, Ian in tow.
“I can handle getting to class,” I muttered, casting a quick glance around the hall to see if Ethan was nearby. I ground my teeth when I didn’t see him.
“Suck my dick first.” Ian’s hot breath on my neck as he kissed along my jaw made me want to gag. “The nook. I’m stressed the fuck out and could use some relief.”
Asshole. What happened to no pressure?
“Ian, no.” I tried to play coy and timid. “If we get caught, I’d get in trouble and maybe lose everything. And you just got done bragging about how you’ve chilled out on this stuff.”
“Think about it like this, Rosalie.” He pressed a kissed to the pulse point on my neck. “If you don’t, you could get into trouble too. I bet my punishment would be worse than anyone else’s. That much I can promise you.”
I swallowed my anger and raked my fingers through his hair. “I’d rather suck your dick when I can enjoy it too. I won’t be able to if I’m worried about being caught.”
“You mean that?” he breathed out.
All I wanted to do was roll my eyes, but I gave him a nod and my most innocent, wide-eyed look. “I do. I-I think I’m starting to like this arrangement between us.”
“Fuck,” he growled, hunger in his eyes. “Tonight. My place.”
“OK.” I leaned in and pressed my lips to his, wanting to make my show believable.
He bought it because he hauled me against his body and deepened the kiss. When he broke it off, he backed away and eyed me again before turning and leaving me there.
The moment he was gone, I swiveled around, wiped my mouth, and stuffed a piece of gum into it.
“Don’t look so excited to get away from your fuck boy,” Fox growled from beside me.
“Go away, Fox.”
“We need to talk.”
“You always think we need to talk. What we need to do is have you fuck off somewhere else and leave me alone.” I made to shove past him, but he grabbed my arm and tugged me to a stop.
“We need to rehearse our lines.”
I untangled myself from his hold. “No. You need to rehearse your lines. I actually know mine.”
“What if I admit I don’t give a fuck about the musical and am only doing it to be close to you?”
“Then I’d say that’s the first piece of truth you’ve said to me since I’ve known you.”
He let out a soft chuckle and twisted one of my red curls around his finger. “Trust me, Rosie. It’s not the first truth. I want to tell you everything. You just don’t want to hear it because then you’ll realize what a fool you’ve been about this whole thing.”
I glared at him. “If you want me, Fox, come and get me. Right now, all I see is a scared little boy, wondering what my next move is. How about you make the move this time? Or are you too afraid?”
He leaned in, his lips near my ear. “My next move involves you bent over the hood of my Jeep while I fuck you from behind.”
I shivered at his words, trying to internally talk myself down from asking him when and where.
“Mm, that’s what I thought. You do want me.”
“I really don’t.” My words were hoarse and didn’t sound a bit like the truth as they trembled on my lips.
“You come get me, Rosie. I’ll be waiting. Just like I’ve always been.” His lips brushed ever so slightly against my cheek, his blue eyes locking on mine as he backed away, no humor on his handsome face. He was serious. He knew how to play this game. He knew how much I still wanted him.
“It’s you, Rosie. Always will be.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat as he reversed and made his way down the deserted hallway.
I had to up the ante, or I was going to get eaten alive by the horsemen. I needed to find Ethan.