Rise

by L A Cotton

  “Your father is right,” Mom finally spoke, tears pooling in the corners of her eyes. “You were always destined to be a star. I just… after everythin’, I’m not ready to let go.”

  “I know, Mom. But this doesn’t mean you’ll lose me. I’ll always be your little girl.” And I’ll always owe you so much.

  “If you want this, baby, if you truly want a future in music, then you have to do it, Eva. You have to say yes.”

  Having Dad’s support was something but having my mom’s support was another thing entirely. A huge smile broke over my face, tears burning my throat. I swallowed them down, swiping at my eyes. “I love you both, so much. And if I do this, you’ll never have to worry again.” I could give them everything, make sure they never had to worry about another bill in their life.

  “Oh, sweetheart, this isn’t about us. This is about you, Eva. About you finally realizin’ that you have a bright and successful future ahead of you. That’s all we want, that’s all we ever wanted.”

  I was finally getting that.

  “I can’t believe you didn’t want to tell them,” Letty whispered as we followed Travis into the swanky LA club.

  “Tonight isn’t about me,” I replied through a tight smile. “It’s about Nikki Denver.”

  Razorsharp Records’ latest signing had just dropped her first album and we were all here to celebrate. Except, I had no idea who Nikki was or what she looked like.

  “There she is.” Letty pointed at a tall willowy girl wearing a skin-tight mini dress, long dark hair flowing down her back. She oozed sex appeal, and it was hard not to shrink into Letty’s side as we passed her. There wasn’t a single guy in the room not drooling in her direction, the band included. Hudson was practically panting as he stood with a group of people I didn’t recognize. I rolled my eyes.

  “Cocktail?” Letty asked as we approached the bar.

  “Something not too strong.”

  “Sure thing.” She flagged down a bartender and ordered for us. I let my eyes roam over the crowd. Unlike the club in Charlotte, most people here were younger, and I knew if Molly was here, she would have been able to pick out the latest pop stars, actors, and television personalities. But Molly wasn’t here, and I didn’t pay much attention to that kind of stuff. Which meant I had to rely on Letty to get me up to speed.

  Handing me my drink, she hopped up onto a stool. “That’s Alistair’s sister,” Letty pointed to a couple of girls at a booth, “and her friend, Skye Madison.”

  “Skye, who?” My expression was blank.

  “That’s it, tomorrow I’m buying you a copy of OK!, Entertainment Weekly, and Rolling Stone, it’s time you got up to speed. Especially if you’re going to be—”

  “Oh, hey, Damon,” I cut her off.

  His brows bunched together as he studied Letty, then me. “What were you talking about?”

  “Nothin’.” A tight smile crossed my lips. “Cool party.”

  “Yeah.” He let out a smooth chuckle. “I just wanted to come see how you’re doing after the meeting today.”

  “I’m okay. Thanks for askin’.”

  “Don’t worry about Hudson, he’ll come around.” He relaxed back against the bar. “It’s nothing personal.”

  “He’s just a grumpy motherfucker.” Hudson appeared out of nowhere, grinning. “Sorry about earlier, Eva.”

  I gave a half-hearted shrug. “It’s no biggie.”

  “Dance with me?” He pouted, offering me his hand. “My way of apologizing.”

  “I don’t know.” My eyes flicked to the dance floor.

  “Ain’t no one looking at you but me, Eva.” His brows waggled. “One dance, come on.”

  “Oh, fine.” I slapped my hand in his, shoving my cocktail at Letty.

  “Atta girl,” Letty gave me a thumbs up, sipping on her drink.

  “Are the two of you goin’ to be okay?”

  “I… sorry, what?” Damon blinked, running a hand down his face.

  “Is everythin’ okay?” He looked pale.

  “Fine, it’s fine.” I glanced to where he’d been looking but couldn’t see anyone except Alistair’s sister and her friend.

  “Do you know them?”

  “Who, Ruby?”

  “Ruby, huh.” I smiled. There was something telling in his voice.

  “She’s Alistair’s sister. There was a thing, we met aaaand it’s not important… go, show my boy how it’s done.”

  “Like she could ever out dance me.” Hudson yanked me toward the dance floor, and I swallowed all the questions I had for Damon. “Ready to make magic, Starshine?” He pulled me into his body, but I jerked back staring at him.

  Nobody called me that except Rafe.

  “If you could only see your face right now,” he said. “Let’s give my boy a little motivation, shall we?”

  I didn’t know what the hell he was talking about, but when Hudson spun me and my eyes found Rafe across the room, I knew I’d play along with whatever plan he was hatching. Because Rafe was standing with a female, dressed in even less clothes than Nikki Denver, and she was pressed up against him, hanging onto his every word.

  And all I could think was, that was supposed to be me.

  Rafe

  “Just go over there and ask her to dance,” Damon grumbled, nursing his sixth or seventh beer of the evening. I’d lost count, there had been so many, which wasn’t like him at all.

  “You know I can’t do that.” My eyes slid to his and I shook my head.

  “Why not? She’s spent the last hour dancing with Hud and Levi.”

  Didn’t I fucking know it? I’d watched with jealousy swimming in my veins as they twirled her and hugged her, laughing and having fun with her. At one point, Eva had even tried to teach them a line dance. The crowd had loved it, whooping and cheering as my brother tripped over his own damn feet more times than he got the steps right.

  “I just can’t.” I jammed my fingers in my hair. I wanted to. I wanted nothing more than to be the one twirling her around the dance floor, letting everyone know she was mine. But that wasn’t our reality.

  “What did you say to Hudson earlier?” Damon asked. “One minute he was ready to walk and then next he’s apologizing to Eva and asking her to dance.”

  “I told him what he needed to hear.” Hudson was never going to walk. He just couldn’t handle the idea that something—or someone—might come between the band. But none of this was Eva’s fault; it was mine. It wasn’t fair for Hudson to resent Eva for things out of her control.

  Things she didn’t even understand.

  “Looks like you’ve got an admirer.” Damon tipped his head over to where Kiki Felps stood, making no secret of the fact she was imagining all the very dirty and kinky things she wanted to do to me. I only knew because she’d whispered them to me earlier.

  A shudder rolled through me. “Never going to happen.”

  “Does she know that? Because from the way she’s watching you, it looks like she already staked her claim.”

  “Seriously, you think I’d go there?” I gave him a pointed look, and Damon held up his hands.

  “Chill, I’m only messing with you. But between Riley and Kiki it isn’t any wonder Eva’s trying to make you jealous.” His brow lifted and the asshole smirked.

  “What the fuck are you…” Damn, he was right. “I don’t blame her,” I sighed.

  “It’s a dangerous game you’re both playing. Push too hard and eventually one of you will detonate.”

  Maybe that’s what we needed—to combust. Maybe then we could find a way to move forward.

  Changing the subject, I asked, “What’s with you and the wannabe actress anyway?”

  “Who, Skye Madison? Hell to the no.”

  I reared back. “Well, I know you’re not digging Ali’s sister because he would hang you out to dry by your balls.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Damon,” I lifted my head, “what the fuck did you do?” I’d
seen him watching the two of them for most of the night. But he didn’t seem interested... he seemed cagey.

  “Nothing for you to worry about.” He pressed his lips together, and it didn’t surprise me in the least he had his own secrets. Damon was a dark horse who kept his private life locked down.

  “I know it sounds weird, and don’t hit me or anything, but I already can’t imagine not having her around.” He was looking at Eva now. It wasn’t in a sexual way, but the kind of way a brother might watch his sister. Protective and caring.

  His words hit me like a wrecking ball. I hadn’t considered she might not stick around. We didn’t need Alistair to confirm what came next, we all knew the drill. No way, the label wasn’t going to try and sign her now Masterpiece wanted her.

  “You know, I heard on the grapevine she only took the gig because of her parents,” he said, eyeing me carefully. My expression must have said it all, because he let out a soft chuckle. “What, did you really think she said yes just to see your brooding ass again?”

  “Fuck you,” I nudged his shoulder. I’d assumed she’d said yes because this was her dream. A chance to make something of herself. Although she had hinted at having ulterior reasons.

  “For real, you heard that?”

  “Something about them needing money and Alistair making the offer too good to refuse.”

  My eyes went to Eva again. “She told me she was sick.” The thought hit me out of left field. “Back in Camdena, she told me that. You think it has to do with that?”

  He shrugged. “If it was something serious, medical bills would soon mount up. She never told you what was wrong?”

  “No.” But now he’d mentioned it, I couldn’t stop imagining Eva sick, lying there in a hospital bed, the life draining from her eyes. The thought made my stomach churn. “She must be better,” I said. “If it was something ongoing, Alistair would have told us.”

  “Whoa, I don’t know where your head is at right now, but Eva is fine, man. Look at her, she’s a picture of health.”

  He wasn’t wrong there. I watched Eva as she waved my brother and Hudson off, making a beeline for the bar. Letty handed her a drink and Eva gulped it down, smiling, her eyes twinkling with happiness. My girl was flourishing.

  My girl.

  Jesus, it was impossible to think of her as anything else.

  But we still needed to talk.

  I still needed to figure out what the hell I was going to say.

  One thing was certain though, I wasn’t sure how much more of watching her with my brother, I could take.

  “Rafe, there you are.” Kiki Felps stepped in front of me, blocking my view of Eva. “I’ve been hoping to talk to you again.” She laid her hand on my arm, curling her fingers around me possessively. “These parties are always fun but I prefer something a little quieter.” Suggestion laced her words.

  I got the message loud and clear, I just wasn’t in the least bit interested.

  “Actually, Kiki, I’m a little busy right now.” I went to move around her, but she stepped into me, making out as if I’d stumbled into her, knocking her off balance.

  “Oopsie.” She gripped my shoulders to steady herself, making a show of laughing. “I really must be more careful.” Kiki smiled up at me, hunger glittering in her eyes.

  Just then, something caught my eye over her shoulder, and I saw Eva’s retreating form. “Not right now,” I clipped out, removing Kiki’s hands from me. “I need to be somewhere.”

  Eva.

  I had to get to Eva.

  She dashed by Travis, disappearing into a darkened hall. I knew this club pretty well, and I knew that area wasn’t open to the public. I took off toward where Eva had disappeared into the shadows.

  “Whoa there, Hunter,” Travis growled. “Eva wants some space.”

  “I only want to make sure she’s okay.”

  “You sure that’s all you want?” His brow went up.

  My jaw clenched. I didn’t want to go head to head with Eva’s bodyguard, but I was getting to her whether he liked it or not.

  “Do me a solid, yeah, and let me see her. She needs me.”

  He hesitated for a second. I went to move around him, but his hand slammed into my chest at the last second. “I’m watching you.”

  “Wouldn’t expect anything less.” Understanding passed between us and Travis relented, letting me slip past. The hall was lined with doors, all locked, except for the last one which was slightly ajar. I slipped inside. The sound of the door clicking shut startled Eva. It was some kind of storage room, littered with broken chairs and tables, and other discarded stuff.

  “Go away, Rafe, I want to be alone,” she said, lifting her chin defiantly.

  I prowled toward her, my heart pounding in my chest, eyes fixed on every bare inch of her skin. I didn’t know where to look first, where to touch. “Are you sure about that?”

  “I need space.” She let out a weary sigh. “I need to catch my breath and I can’t breathe with you here.”

  “That’s tough luck, Eva, because I can’t breathe without you.” My eyes dropped to her lips.

  “Rafe, the party...” Her wild gaze darted past me to the door.

  “Can wait,” My body collided with hers, pushing her against the wall. Eva’s hand flew to my chest, but she didn’t push me away. Instead, she stared up at me through her heavily made up eyes, her red pouty lips almost too good to kiss.

  “If anyone finds us...”

  I dipped my mouth to her ear and whispered, “No one is going to find us, Starshine.” Travis might have let me through, but he knew to keep everyone else out, and he wouldn’t disturb us unless it was important.

  We were all alone.

  Finally.

  “The brunette,” Eva said. “Who is she?”

  “No one,” I breathed, brushing the shell of her ear, unable to resist nipping the skin there. Eva shuddered, pressing my chest slightly, trying to put space between us.

  “She wasn’t no one. She was all over you.” Her voice was tight.

  “Did it make you jealous, seeing her touch me?” It had fucking disgusted me. But after watching Eva dance with my brother or best friend most of the night, I couldn’t deny part of me wanted her jealous. I wanted her to feel what I felt every second of every day. Watching her and never being able to touch her.

  “I wanted to rip her hands off.” Eva’s eyes flared, her fingers twisting into my shirt. She’d had a couple of drinks, the sugary sweet scent of strawberry liquor on her breath. I brushed my nose over her cheek, my lips hovering at the corner of her mouth. “Now you know how it feels. I watch him touch you and I want to hurt him, Eva.” My body trembled with the weight of the words. “I have never wanted to harm my brother, ever. Do you get that? Do you see what you’re doing to me?”

  Her indignation melted away giving way to regret. It clouded her eyes making her seem so sad I wanted to spend my life trying to make her smile. “I didn’t... that’s not what I wanted to do. I never wanted to come between the two of you, Rafe.”

  Too late.

  My eyes shuttered as I said, “You’re already there.”

  “What are we going to do?” Her hands slid up my chest, tugging my collar, erasing the sliver of space left between us. I could feel Eva everywhere. She invaded my thoughts, my desires, my every fucking waking moment. But seeing Levi make her laugh, seeing him so at ease with her, so happy, it affected me in a way I wasn’t prepared for.

  Part of me wanted to step aside, to let him sweep her away with his misunderstood bad boy routine. She could fix him, or at least, she could be the Band Aid he so desperately needed. But for the first time in my life, I chose the selfish path.

  I chose Eva.

  I chose me.

  And it was going to lead me straight to hell. But she was worth it.

  What we shared was worth it.

  “All I know, Starshine, is that I’m going to kiss you now,” I whispered against her lips.

  “Okay.” The wor
d was a gentle sigh I felt all the way down to my soul.

  The second our lips touched, I felt it. The cosmic shift. This wasn’t wrong; it wasn’t some selfish mistake. It was two souls reuniting.

  My hands slipped down to Eva’s thighs and I hoisted her against me, pinning her to the wall. She wrapped her legs around my waist, the material of her skirt bunching up. “I thought we were going to talk,” she chuckled, raining tiny kisses all over my lips, my jaw, down my neck.

  We were impossibly close, only our clothes separating us, and yet, it still wasn’t enough.

  It would never be enough.

  “We can talk later. I’ve missed you, Starshine. We’ve missed you.” I rolled my hips into her, letting her feel just exactly what she did to me. Not that she needed any reminder after earlier in the van. “I’ve imagined that night so many times.” My words fluttered over Eva’s skin, making her shiver.

  “Rafe...” she moaned, tipping her head back to let me trace my tongue over her skin.

  “Tell me it’s me you want, Eva, say it.” I need to hear you say it.

  “You, it’s you.”

  A possessive growl rumbled deep in my chest as I smashed my mouth down on hers, stroking her tongue with mine. I didn’t just kiss her, I devoured her. I wanted to bury myself inside her and never leave.

  One of Eva’s hands dropped between us, working my shirt up so she could feel my skin. Her touch burned me from the inside out.

  Nothing else existed when it was like this—just me and Eva and the overpowering connection between us.

  “I need you, Rafe,” she whispered, her words shattering my chest wide open. “I need to know this is real.”

  “Eva, we shouldn’t—”

  “Don’t you dare walk away from me again,” she snapped, grabbing my jaw. “This, us, it’s real. Tell me you know it’s real, Rafe.”

  The desperation in her voice had me wavering. If we crossed this line, there would be no going back. It would only be a matter of time before the truth came out. But I was defenseless against her advances. Deep down, I knew the second I’d followed her in here, I’d already made my decision.