Page 57 of My Rose

He broke the kiss and stared into my eyes as he caressed my jaw, the rest of his fingers wrapping around the back of my neck, keeping me close to him. “Hell no,” he finally answered. He kissed me again as I went languid in his hands. “I just want him to leave you the fuck alone. And he has impeccable timing. That’s it.”

“So I’m not some girl you’re using to get back at August for what he did with your ex?”

“How'd you know it was him?” he asked.

“August admitted it. It’s amazing how much he didn’t care.”

Briggs scoffed, not amazed at all. “No. You are not just some girl to me. Not to use, not to manipulate or make anyone jealous.” He rolled his eyes dramatically, then smiled weakly as he stared back at me. I felt a renewed warmth flood through me at the way his face softened and at the way he was still holding me—firm, yet gentle all at once. “I would never do that to you.”

He reached over for the blanket and wrapped it around my back, then pulled it tightly to him so that we were both covered as my body pressed to his. “I don’t want you to feel like you are anything less than what you are. Not with me.” He pulled the blanket taut, pressing my body completely to him. “That asshole made you feel like that too often. He never valued you.”

I decided against telling him that August had been a good friend at some point in time because, just like when Jasmine asked mewhyI was into him, I had no evidence to support that claim. August never proved to be a good friend, and I didn’t realize that until I found people who did treat me right.

I let my body go limp against his, melting into him as he rubbed soothing circles on my back under my shirt.Hisshirt. A shirt that was now rather wet in the front. “I think I need another shower. Or maybe an entirely new shirt.”

He chuckled as I twisted away from him to keep him from getting wet, but he locked his arms down, keeping me there. “I like you like this.” His fingertips slid down and dug into my ass. “But if you want me to join you in the shower again after this movie is done, I’m up for negotiations.”

“Spoken like a true businessman.” I felt him go still for a second, his breathing stopping before I brushed a kiss to his neck.

“I guess,” he replied quickly.

“What would you do if you didn’t…if you weren’t…”

“Theheir apparent, you mean?” His brow cocked as I pulled away to meet his gaze. “I heard your grandfather through the phone.” He smiled, but it wasn’t his true smile. I sat up straighter, placing my hands on his cheeks and pushing them back until he gave me arealsmile.

“Yes,” I said. “That.”

He sighed through his nose, and I released his face. “I didn’t know how much you knew about my family and our business.”

“Well, I know that your dad is an aggressive asshole, that he makes more money than a king, and that your car is worth way too much money to drive, so he must just flaunt cash like it’s no issue. Yet, you don’t seem to be the same way.”

“You know all that, huh.” His jaw worked, and he glanced behind me at the movie before replying, “Did your grandparents tell you?”

“Uh-uh, you didn’t answermyquestion. That’s how this works, right?”

“Yeah.” He cupped the back of his neck as he thought. “I don’t know what I’d be. I used to like writing in school.”

“Before he stopped letting you go?” He nodded, his fingers brushing my skin like I was too delicate to hold. I noticed then that his sweats were still down, so I pulled them up and tapped on the waistband over his semi-hard cock. He smirked. “I’m going to answer your question so I can ask one more. Yes, my grandparents told me because I hate watching the news and didn’t know you were…well,newsworthy.” I felt my nose scrunch up. “But you’re, what, twenty-three? Can’t you leave?”

His soft touch spread up to my waist. “No, Rose. I can’t. Not permanently, at least.” His eyes darkened as he seemed to get stuck on the thought, like maybe he had tried to leave before, and it didn’t work out. My chest ached for him once more—he was either being forced into staying and had no other options or hadn’t found something that would make him choose another path. Maybe he had to be a certain age to make the decision to go, and twenty-three was still too young.

“Is there something you were waiting for?” I pressed. I wanted to know—tohelp. I couldn’t help if I didn’t know what would fix it.

“If I answer this question, that will make it two for you. Does that mean I get two later on?” My eyes fell between us to where his sweats couldn’t conceal how he still felt and heat rose along my neck. “Two questions, I mean,” he clarified, clearly seeing where my thoughtshad been going, and I blushed harder at the realization. Though both questionsandorgasms were welcome.

“Sure. That works for me.” It wasn’t like my life was that interesting to begin with. Although his interest in my life made itseemmore interesting lately.

“You.” He reached up to brush my hair behind my ear, and I leaned into his touch. His face softened, then twisted like he was confused before he righted it again, pressing his forehead to mine. “I believe I’ve been waiting for you, Rose.”

Chapter 22

Rose

“In our play we reveal what kind of people we are” ? Ovid

“Where are you taking me now?” I asked as his fingers held the tips of mine, pulling me down one of the long stretches of hallways in his estate. If I believed I was in a museum before, seeing the hallways had only strengthened the belief. Every few paces there was some form of expensive, untouchable artwork. Iwondered if his father put them around the house, or if his mother had since she was the one who had been reading Ovid.

“It’s a surprise. Something I think you’ll enjoy more than you did the first time.”

---