Page 18 of Rocked By the Alpha
“Good luck everyone,” Ash says flatly, frowning at the auto cue, before ripping open the golden envelope in his hand with a sudden swipe. Tugging out the card inside, his eyes move across whatever is written there, and he pauses, frowning harder, then lifts his eyes to the audience. “And the winner of best single is …Sweet Desire.”
The words bounce around in Ruby’s ears and after that everything around her swims in slow motion. Ryan hugs her and screams words she doesn’t hear. Natasha throws a fist into the air and Tanya rises to her feet. Ruby does the same, her legs suddenly jelly and her heart skipping in her chest. She concentrates on placing one foot in front of the other on the steps leading up to the stage. The lights up there burn down on her head, momentarily blinding her and she squints out at the audience, wondering if her parents are watching.
She tries not to breathe, but his scent curls into her nostrils anyway, and it smells so damn good. Her hands bunch into fists, her nails dig into her palms as she controls her movements. Slow, steady steps.
Natasha saunters across the stage and grabs the award from Ash’s waiting hand, giving him the finger before striding to the microphone. The audience whoops and cheers her gesture, and the two Alphas scowl in her direction, their faces smouldering with fury. Tanya emulates her lead singer, flipping them both the bird, and joining Nat by the microphone.
That just leaves Ruby. She had no idea Nat was going to do that. Was it planned? Or did she do it in the moment?
Ruby lifts her gaze and meets West’s Alpha eyes, swirling with passion and snaring her completely. Her heart pounds even harder, her gland straining in her neck. The space between them vanishes, though she doesn’t remember walking across the stage.
What should she do? His usual smile is absent. He watches, clearly waiting to see what she’ll do.
His scent strengthens with every step closer, overpowering her sinuses so that all she can smell and taste is him.
His hands rest on his hips. He makes no move, although Ash has already turned and strode off the stage.
She keeps walking, right past him, not stopping, not acknowledging him, although he must be able to smell how aware her body is that he’s near, responding to him, even while she tries to keep her disinterested facade.
“Congratulations,” she hears him whisper for only her ears and her heart stutters in her chest.
Then she’s moving past him to stand alongside Natasha as her friend begins the speech she’d prepared. She delivers it with more passion and pazazz than when she’d practised and Ruby marvels at her friend’s ability to put on a show. There’s no doubt about it, Natasha was born to be a showman.
Natasha thanks their fans one last time and blows the camera a kiss, and then an assistant in the wings motions for them to go.
Ruby turns, but the stage is empty. West has already gone.
Chapter 7
Fuck!
That dress! He might tip into a full blown rut just looking at her in it. Black silk clinging to her body, the long skirt cut to her thigh and the neckline slashed all the way to her navel, revealing soft stomach and a hint of cleavage.
He knew she would be here tonight, of course. But he’d resigned himself to be on his best behaviour and keep his distance.
What he hadn’t counted on was her winning the award he was announcing — Kim failed to mention that useful bit of information — and that he’d get an up close and personal view of that dress and a lungful of her sweet Omega scent.
Shit! If she didn’t smell even better than usual! His mouth waters just thinking about it.
Nor had he been expecting that fucking reaction when they handed over the award. Usually, it’s all hugs and air kisses. Flipping them the bird had irritated the hell out of both him and Ash. And they’d had to stand there and take it like a pair of pussies.
His lead singer has already sent a flurry of angry messages to his assistant and the management team. Neither of them appreciated looking like idiots out there. Someone had set them up and Hunter has already vowed to beat the living daylights out of whoever that was. It’s not good for their image, even if it’s bound to be the news story of the night.
Fuck those girls.
Fuck one in particular.
He watches her now from the corner of his eyes as some record company executive chews off his ear about the changing nature of the industry. He nods along, throwing in the occasional observation, but every chance he gets his eyes flit to the other side of the ballroom.
Ruby stands chatting to her friends, laughing and smiling away, people stopping to shake her hand or give her a hug. There’s no sign of the boyfriend.
A large hand slaps West on the shoulder and he twists his head to find Ash behind him, his Omega, Layla standing next to him. She’s wearing a red halter-neck cocktail dress and her hair has been twisted into a messy bun.
West shakes the record executive’s hand and turns to his friend.
“We thought you might need rescuing. You were glancing around as if looking for someone to come save you,” Layla says, leaning into Ash as she speaks. His friend’s hand rests on her waist and he’s struck once again by how good that looks.
West laughs. “Ahhh, it wasn’t that bad. But I could’ve done with rescuing up there on the fucking stage though. I nearly had a heart attack when I read the nominees’ names. Kim never even told meSweet Desirewas in the running!”
