Page 71 of Rebel

“I definitely will.” I reach over and grab my flute of Champagne, taking a sip of the expensive bubbly. “Hell, after, I’m even going to introduce myself and fangirl a little.”

“I didn’t take you as a Fallon fan,” he comments.

“Are you kidding me? I grew up on her. She’s only like five years older than me, but she was performing when I was a teenager. Her songs are like my soul.” I nod seriously.

“She is good at evoking emotions and world building. You see the guy next to her?” he asks.

“Smoking hot, dark, and handsome?” I tilt my head.

“That’s the one. He’s a newish pop singer coming up through the ranks. He exploded last year and has quickly become one of the top artists. Rumor has it, though, he’s a diva. I bet she hates sitting next to that spoiled brat.” He grins at me.

Leaning in, I let my breath blow over his ear. “And what about the rumors about you? Should I believe them?”

“Definitely.” Chase winks as he leans in and sips my Champagne. “I warned you about who I was when we met,” he flirts. His hand lands on my thigh under the table, squeezing and moving higher as he leans in again. “How about I show you?”

“I thought you said to watch out for cameras.” I swallow my own desire.

Chase Reed is devastating, and he knows it, but I can’t be another casualty in his path to the top.

“Let them see, pretty girl. I don’t care. Let them gossip and whisper about how obsessed I am with you.” I jerk my head around to his, meeting his truthful eyes. He swallows hard. “How we are all obsessed with you, despite our best efforts.”

“And the winner is Western Road!” the host’s voice interrupts, and I turn and clap, smiling brightly at our tablemates, who won the best newcomer award. I congratulate and hug them, and we whistle the loudest as they get on stage. When we sit back down, I still don’t know what to say to Chase’s confession, so I lean into Kolton.

“You cheer that loudly for everyone?”

“Nah, but I remember what it’s like to be new and have no one cheer for you. Everyone needs someone in their corner, babe,” Kolton explains, and I nod, feeling even more confused.

My eyes flit over the crowd, and I notice hardly anyone else is cheering. I get it. They’ve been here, and they know what it feels like, so they want to encourage and show others that people care.

It doesn’t align with the type of men who would help my sister up onto that bridge, but I remind myself people can be many things, and not all of them are good.

My eyes catch on Fallon for a moment. The pop star is whispering in her ear, and her eyes narrow on him in annoyance. Smirking, I look away, knowing Chase is right. She’s going to eat him alive.

THIRTY-THREE

\The award show is way too fucking long and boring. If it wasn’t for the drinks and Beck at my side, then I would have left hours ago, even with Rachel’s ruinous glare haunting me.

Maybe it’s my boredom, or maybe it’s just Beck sitting so close, smelling and looking so fucking good, but I can’t resist. I want to tease her like she teased me all last night.

Her eyes are on the stage as they drone on and on about the perfect music industry, ignoring all of its flaws, and I see the annoyance in her eyes. Using the darkened room, I slide my hand from my thigh to hers. Her dress has gaped open, exposing her left leg, and she startles at the touch, swinging her gaze to me.

Smirking, I focus on the stage even as I feel her eyes burning a hole into the side of my face. When she looks forward, I slide my hand higher, caressing her super soft skin and wanting to rub my stubbled face against the perfection to mark it up.

Hell, I’d even get on my knees right now to do just that if I didn’t think she would kill me.

She lets me touch her, so I slide my hand higher, but when I reach the top of her thigh, her own hand slaps down on top of mine and squeezes, making me look at her to find her glaring at me.

“What are you doing, Chase?” she asks.

“Just having some fun,” I murmur, glancing back at the stage. “Thought I’d liven the place up a little. Besides, you got to tease me all last night, pretty girl. I’m just returning the favor.”

“Stop it,” she demands. Trav spares us a look but just shakes his head and goes back to watching the speeches.

“No one is looking, no one is even paying us attention, but I’m looking, pretty girl. I’m looking right at you. All my attention is on you. Do you want me to stop? Tell me,” I demand, and her hand softens on mine for a moment. Her eyes hold mine before she lifts her hand and looks back at the stage.

I hide my smile by leaning in and inhaling at her neck. “Good girl,” I tell her. “Now be quiet about it or we are going to have a whole lot of news reports in the morning and will definitely be punished for misbehaving.” I lay a gentle kiss over her pulse and sit back. I keep one hand on the stem of my glass and my eyes on the stage as my other hand slides higher on her thigh.

I feel her legs part for me, the greedy girl, and I reward her by sliding my fingers inside her tiny thong and stroking her pussy. She gasps slightly and grabs her drink, sipping it before holding onto it for dear life as her legs part farther.

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