Page 57 of Ruthless Rose

He growls a little, deep in his throat. “Just like your eyes.” His hooded gaze holds steady on them.

My heart skips a beat right before he covers my mouth with his, slipping his tongue inside my mouth. He’s just adjusted his mouth and swept his tongue deeper to twist with mine when we hear a shout from the direction of the kitchen.

“Stop sucking face and get your asses in here!” Beau bellows.

My fingers clench at Micah’s forearms. He’s set me off balance with a single seductive kiss.

Micah grips my waist with both hands. “Ready?”

I nod. The kitchen comes fully into view and it’s complete bedlam. Beau is bartending, which I’ve heard is his role at these parties. There are a handful of people milling around getting drinks and more leaking into the two-story open living area. As we walk farther into the kitchen, I can see the majority of partygoers are outside. My mouth drops open a little as I walk closer, staring toward the wall facing the backyard, which is mostly windows. There’s a huge pool area off to one side that connects to a pool house by brick pavers. A rather large hot tub that can probably hold at least fourteen people—ew, people soup—is over at the far side of the pool house, further from the main house.

Oh my God. Listen to me … “The main house.”This is how the Roses live, and I’d best not forget that. Trying to keep from embarrassing myself by ogling Micah’s home, I bring my gaze back to the kitchen area.

Scarlett immediately hops off the stool she’d been sitting on across the island from Beau and pulls me into a hug. “I thought you guys would never get here.”

Over her shoulder, Xander shoots me a wink. “Glad you guys could make it—both of you.”

Beau pushes a red Solo cup across the island to me. “This is Scarlett’s favorite. Give it a try.”

“Oh. I don’t usually …” Biting my lip, I look at the cup that has Sweetness written on it in black Sharpie marker. My lips curve into a tremulous smile.

Beau shrugs. “I won’t be offended if you don’t like it.”

“And she doesn’t have to drink it if she doesn’t want to.” Micah’s voice is commanding.

Beau lifts his hands up palms out. “Just trying to show your girl a good time.”

My eyes widen at his comment, but no one else seems to notice or care that Beau called me Micah’s girl. Funny, because that seemed like huge news to me. But maybe it’s a bigger deal in my head than it is for anyone else.

Just then, Aria, Alora, Farrah, and Danica march into the room, towels draped around their bodies, smelling of hot tub. “We need refills.” They each plop a cup in front of Beau. Alora glances at the full cup in front of me, her left eyebrow quirking up. “What, is the goody-goody too good for a little drinky-drinky?”

Aria and Xander’s gazes connect right before she rolls her eyes at Alora and shoves her arm. “Shut it. You promised.”

I immediately pick up the cup, looking across the island to Beau. “It’s not that I don’t want to try it.” I pivot slightly, giving the cheer bitches my back. “I was going to offer to be the designated driver.” I shrug, meeting Scarlett’s eyes. “I don’t have my car here, but if you and Xander both wanted to drink …?”

Scarlett shakes her head. “Don’t feel like you have to. Xander is hitting the weight room in the morning, so he’s just having the one and then he’s done. And I have that big cross-country meet at Silver Heights Prep tomorrow, so I won’t be getting too crazy either.”

I feel Micah’s hand on the small of my back as I pick up the cup. “Okay, I’ll have some, then. Thanks, Beau.” I take a quick sip. It’s fruity and refreshing, and undoubtedly stronger that it tastes. “Mm. It’s good.”

Beau winks at me. “I’m glad you like it, sweetness.”

Micah groans. “Now I get what Xander meant about you and your nicknames.”

Sliding a second cup over to Micah, Beau laughs. “Yeah, well. If you all are going to hitch yourself to one post, you’ll have to deal with it. I make up nicknames for people who join our circle.”

Xander laughs. “But if you never tame your wild ways, you’ll never find your own girl to give one of your special nicknames to.”

“Fuck that. I don’t need to settle down yet.” He gestures to the cheer bitches still waiting for their refills. “Look at this bevy of beauties available to bang.”

Aria’s sharp laughter gets everyone’s attention. She winks at Beau. “Count me out, fucker.” Her eyes roam over her friends, and I swear I detect the slightest bit of disdain when she says, “Ladies, you can fight over him. I’m going out back.” She heads across the room without another look at any of us.

Xander wraps an arm around Scarlett, takes a swig of his beer, and motions with his head toward the same door, which leads out to the ginormous pool and patio area. I really want to check it out, but I feel a little self-conscious about it when I realize I’m probably the only one here besides Scarlett who doesn’t live surrounded by wealth like this. The life of a Rose. It doesn’t even occur to them that this isn’t the way most people live. I could only dream of having a home like this.

I’m about to follow when Micah tucks his head down next to mine, his voice husky. “Come upstairs with me for a minute?”

Alora must have overheard him because she shoots me a nasty look. A horrible sense of foreboding washes over me and an ice-cold chill slithers down my spine. So much for trying to have a fun night. I’m not sure there’s anything I can do to get her sights off of me. It’s clear she has decided she still wants Micah and thinks I’m the biggest obstacle standing right in her way.

And based on his recent behavior, I’m inclined to think she’s not wrong.

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