SWNOVELS In Ruins: Chapter 25
I didn’t return to the party. I got in my car and drove home, opting to crawl into bed and stream my favorite show. I couldn’t shake Mona’s words from my mind. The guys had the cute nicknames for me—Rosebud, Sunshine, Sweetheart, Rosie. They tried for more. Hell, they’d beaten up Ian for me. They were protective. They were… perfect… except for the video. The bargaining chip.
My phone buzzing pulled me from my morose thoughts.
Fox: Are you OK?
I chewed my cheek for a moment before shooting off a reply.
Rosalie: Yes.
A moment later my phone buzzed again with a call from Fox.
“Hello?” I answered softly after a moment of contemplation. The prospect of not answering tempted me. At the end, curiosity and sheer desire had me hitting the TALK button.
“Rosalie, where are you?” Fox demanded, the distant sounds of the party in the background making him hard to hear. He must have realized that because a moment later, it got quieter.
“I’m tired and decided to go home.”
“What’s wrong?” The concern in his voice made my heart skip.
“Fox, can I ask you something?”
“Yes,” his voice was breathless, making my heart kick up its pace in my chest.
“If I asked you to tell me the truth about why you guys are really doing this, would you tell me?”
“Something’s wrong. Tell me.”
I fiddled with my blanket for a moment before blowing out a breath. “I just feel overwhelmed. I know you don’t owe me any answers, considering what you’re holding over my head—”
“Meet me tomorrow.”
I stared down at my lap, dumbfounded.
“What? Why?” I squeaked out.
“I haven’t spent any time with you. We probably should.”
“Are you drunk?”
Fox let out a soft laugh. “Maybe. Doesn’t matter. Tomorrow. My place, OK? My dad’s going out of town to work on a construction job. And we still haven’t practiced your song.”
“OK,” I murmured. “Tomorrow.”
“Good,” he answered. “Sweet dreams, Rosalie.”
“Bye, Fox,” I whispered in the phone before I heard the click of him hanging up. I looked to his darkened window, wondering what the hell I was going to do.
FOX’S DAD didn’t leave until after five the following evening. When I heard the crunch of gravel signaling his departure, I hauled in a deep breath and made my way over to Fox’s house.
I hadn’t been in his house since the day his mom died.
“Fox, have you seen Mom?” Kurt asked, poking his head into Fox’s bedroom.
We sat on the bed, munching on popcorn and watching a scary movie.
“She said she had to run to the store,” Fox answered, tearing his focus from the TV to look at his dad.
His dad frowned. “That was a few hours ago now. She’s not answering her phone.”
Fox shrugged. “Maybe she doesn’t have service.”
Kurt shook his head and backed out of the room. “If she calls, will you let me know?”
“Sure, Dad,” Fox said, turning back to the TV. Kurt left the room.
“It’s weird your mom isn’t home,” I commented, reaching for a handful of popcorn.
Fox shrugged. “Mom always takes a long time when she shops. It’s why I hate going.”
I chuckled.
An hour later, we made our way downstairs to the kitchen. Amy still wasn’t home. Kurt was on the phone to someone sounding frustrated.
I was just about to comment my worry when there was a knock on the front door. I watched Kurt go to it and pull it open.
“Fox,” I whispered as two large cops filled the doorway. Fox’s eyes widened. He wordlessly moved to stand behind his dad. I inched closer, my heart clenching.
“Mr. Evans?” one of the large officers asked in a gruff voice. “I’m Officer Bennett, and this is Officer Mills.”
“Yes?” Kurt asked, his voice shaking.
“Sir, there’s been an accident,” Officer Bennett said. Kurt visibly paled, and I moved closer still, worry eating at my guts.
“My wife?” Kurt choked out.
“Maybe you should sit down,” Officer Mills offered gently.
Kurt shook his head, his knuckles white as he clutched the door. “Is she OK?”
The officers exchanged looks before Officer Bennett cleared his throat.
“Mr. Evans, there was an accident. A drunk driver was going the wrong way on the highway. Your wife was traveling southbound when she was hit head on. I’m sorry.”
“S-she’s dead?” Kurt’s voice cracked. Fox took a step forward, his face white as a ghost, his blue eyes wide.
“We’re sorry. She passed on the scene,” Officer Mills murmured, reaching out for Kurt as his knees buckled.
“Rosie,” Fox choked out. “Rosie.”
In an instant, my arms were around him as he collapsed to his knees, a low wail trembling on his lips as he clung to me.
“Rosie.” He repeated my name over and over as tears streamed down his pale cheeks. “Rosie.”
“I’m here.” I wept, holding him tightly. “Fox, I’m here.”
He openly sobbed as his dad tried tearing him away from me. Fox clung harder, shaking his head. Instead of pulling him off me, Kurt wrapped us both in a bone-crushing hug, sobbing.
“Don’t leave me, Rosie,” Fox choked out through his tears. “Don’t leave me.”
“I won’t,” I vowed, his tears soaking through my t-shirt. “I’m not going anywhere.”
GOING BACK TORE OPEN a whole host of old, painful memories. I shoved them aside, wanting to focus on having a decent day with Fox.
He answered before I even had a chance to knock.
“Hey.” His blue eyes swept over me, taking in my black t-shirt and jean skirt.
I fixed a nervous smile on my face. “Hey. Am I too early?”
“No.” He moved aside and gestured for me to come in.
I followed him into the foyer, noting everything had changed since the last time I’d been there, right down to the new hardwood floors.
He strode past me, and I scurried to follow him. I was surprised when he led me to his bedroom. Even that had changed. I guess I expected it. He wasn’t a kid anymore. The Spider-Man posters and comic books were gone. His walls were bare now, and no longer the baby blue I remembered. Now, they were a deep navy blue. His large bed was made, the rest of his room ridiculously clean.
“Wow.” I gave a low whistle as I looked around, taking in all his football trophies and medals.
“What?”
“I guess I didn’t expect your room to be this clean.”
He grunted a response and nodded to his bed.
“Have a seat.”
I quirked an eyebrow at him but did as he said. He grabbed a guitar out of his closet and sank down on the overstuffed chair by his bed.
“Did you warm up before you got here, or do you need to?”
“I warmed up a bit, but I can’t really when Dad is home,” I answered awkwardly.
Fox crinkled his brows at me. “Why not?”
“My dad hates me singing or doing anything related to theater. It’s pretty much a cardinal sin in our house.”
Fox frowned at the information before letting out a sigh. He strummed the first chord to my song and looked at me. “Then I guess it’s good you’re over here sinning and not there, huh?”
“Guess so.” I gave him a shaky smile.
He didn’t return it. Instead, he continued to play through my song, his eyes never straying from me. I shifted uncomfortably on the edge of his bed, wondering what he was thinking. The conversation I’d had with Mona replayed in my mind. I shook my head, as if to clear it.
A knock on the front door had me staring wide-eyed at him, saying a silent prayer it wasn’t Juliet.
“It’s just Enzo,” Fox mumbled. A moment later, I heard footfalls on the stairs.
“Hey, Sunshine,” Enzo greeted me, coming into the room with his guitar slung over his shoulder. His gaze swept over me, a smile curling his lips up. “Always so fucking beautiful.”
I blushed at the compliment, catching the hard look on Fox’s face.
Enzo sat on the bed beside me and grinned wider.
“Looks like we’re working today, huh?”
“Yeah,” I answered, glancing at Fox.
He’d gone back to strumming my song on his guitar, his mouth turned down into a deep frown.
“What?” he asked, reaching the end of the song.
“Nothing. We should practice.”
He leaned forward, his eyes locked on mine. “I know the guys have lengthened your leash, but I’m not them. I say when, not you.”
“They also don’t refer to me as their dog,” I snapped back, hating how fast his moods changed.
Enzo shifted beside me before resting his hand on my thigh.
Fox narrowed his eyes at me. “I didn’t call you a bitch.”
“You sure insinuated it,” I volleyed back.
“Wasn’t my intention,” he muttered.
It wasn’t an apology, but it was better than nothing.
“We should get this song figured out,” Enzo said after a moment of silence while Fox and I stared one another down. He finally tore his gaze away from me and nodded, going back to plucking the strings on his guitar.
“I was thinking we could switch up a few lines. Make it hit a little harder.” He strummed and sang the new lines, his voice in perfect pitch.
“Wow. That’s good,” I murmured, nodding.
He gave me a quick smile while Enzo made the changes on paper.
“Now you sing,” Fox instructed. “From the top.”
I cleared my throat as he started playing again. When it was time to sing, I belted out the lyrics. Fox kept tempo with me, nodding his head, his eyes fixed on me the entire time. When the song ended, I stared back nervously at him, waiting for his verdict.
“Incredible, Rosie. I’m impressed.”
“Really?” I breathed out, butterflies taking flight in my tummy.
He offered me a small smile. “Really.”
“Just like I said,” Enzo broke in.
I’d been so fixated on Fox I’d forgotten Enzo was with us. He gave my hand a squeeze. When I turned to him, he was quick to press a kiss on my lips.
His warm hand came to rest on my hip as he deepened the kiss. I parted my lips, giving him full access, my heart hammering so hard I could hear it roaring in my ears. With every soft caress of Enzo’s tongue, I waited for Fox to call out for us to stop. When he didn’t, I broke the kiss off and looked guiltily over at him, expecting to see his angry frown. Instead, I was greeted with him leaning forward in his seat, his eyes locked on me.
“Fox,” Enzo called out.
A muscle worked along Fox’s jaw before he rose and moved to sit beside me on his bed, sandwiching me between him and Enzo. My breath hitched when he reached out and cradled my face. So much turmoil rolled across his, it left me breathless.
He leaned in, his blue eyes locked on mine. I sat frozen as his lips brushed against mine in a soft, tentative kiss.
Fox blew out a shaky breath as he leaned his forehead against mine. Time passed by in thick sexual tension.
“Fuck it,” he muttered, diving back into the moment and kissing me again with such force I had to prop against Enzo, who wasted no time in holding me in place as Fox’s mouth worked against mine in a violent frenzy.
I kissed him back, my tongue dancing against his as his hands found their way beneath my shirt. He broke the kiss off long enough to ask, “Is this OK?”
When I nodded, he pulled my shirt off, then dove back in. I leaned into his kiss. Enzo unhooked my bra. Fox quickly pulled it off and tossed it somewhere in his room, letting my breasts spill out into his waiting hands.
Fox’s lips started traveling south, peppering my neck with kisses, then my collarbone before his hot mouth found my breasts.
“Oh my god,” I rasped in a hoarse whisper.
Enzo angled my head so he could take a turn kissing me, his tongue delving deep as Fox nipped and sucked on my breasts. The heat from both of them swept through me, increasing my heart rate. I moaned into Enzo’s mouth as Fox sucked my hardened nipple into his mouth, his tongue swirling around it.
Fox pulled back, causing me to stutter over his distance.
“F-fox?” I breathed out, reaching for him. A muscle worked along his jaw again. “What’s wrong?”
“I—” He stopped talking, his eyes sweeping over my naked torso. His Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat as he averted his eyes.
“Fox, come on,” Enzo encouraged, pressing a kiss to my temple as he squeezed my breast from behind me. ‘She’s here. She wants it.”
“Do you, Rosie?” Fox asked softly, his eyes locked on mine.
I nodded. “Yes.”
Fox moved back to me and cupped my other breast. A storm gathered behind his eyes. Finally, he gave in and pressed his lips to mine. Enzo let out a breath behind me.
I released a soft moan as Fox moved lower, pushing my skirt up, his fingers skimming my panties.
“Lie back, Sunshine,” Enzo instructed softly.
I did as he said, watching as Fox positioned himself between my legs, his eyes dark. I swallowed hard as Fox leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to my abdomen before moving lower.
I tensed as his warm breath blew over my most intimate area, his hands hastily dispensing of my panties. My face heated as Fox stared down at me, his lips parted.
“You’re so wet,’ he murmured, sliding his finger over my center.
“Bet she tastes delicious,’ Enzo said, the sound of his zipper in my ear.
“I’ll let you know.”
I let out a soft moan as Fox swept his tongue up my slit.
“Fuck, Sunshine, I love that noise,” Enzo growled, taking my hand in his and guiding it to his hard length, now free from his jeans. I moved my hand up and down with his guidance, causing him to breathe in short gasps.
Fox’s tongue delved between my folds, finding my sensitive bundle of nerves and whirling over it. I arched my back in response, which only caused him to tug me by my hips back down to his mouth, where he ate like a man starving, his fingers threatening my slick channel.
Enzo lifted my head as he moved forward.
“Suck my dick, Sunshine,” he commanded softly.
Eagerly, I obliged, parting my lips for him and allowing him entry. He let out a soft hiss as I tried to take all of him into my mouth. I gagged as he hit the back of my throat.
“Need more practice,’ he chuckled softly, fisting my hair.
“She’ll get it,’ Fox said from between my legs as he inserted a finger into me. “She’s so fucking tight. Damn.”
All their talk had me panting hard as I struggled once again to suck all of Enzo into my mouth. He thrust his hips, helping me out. I licked and sucked, wanting to impress him.
“So good, Sunshine,’ he moaned as his length thickened in my mouth. “Faster.”
I obeyed, sucking him harder.
Fox picked up his pace, and before I could so much as moan, the tingles took over, my pulse roaring through my ears.
“That’s it, baby. Almost,” Enzo breathed, thrusting faster. With a groan, he spilled into my mouth.
I swallowed it down as he pulled out, my eyes rolling back in my head as the sensations soared to new heights.
“Fox,” I called out as euphoria slammed into me, sending me careening over the edge of a place I never knew existed.
He growled his approval, his hands like vices on my thighs as he continued his onslaught.
When I was breathless and boneless, Fox finally pulled away, his lips glistening with his accomplishment and his eyes shining with something I’d never seen in them before.
“How was it?’ Enzo called out, tucking himself back into his pants.
“Everything I’d dreamed,’ Fox murmured back, his eyes locked on mine. He held his hand out for me. I took it and sat up.
“What about you?’ I asked nervously.
“You’ve given enough, Rosie.” He placed a gentle kiss on my lips. “Let’s get you home, OK?”
I nodded wordlessly, exhaustion taking over me.
Enzo moved forward and handed me my bra and shirt. I quickly put them on.
“I’m going to take off,” Enzo called out. “I have to go see Cole.”
“OK,” Fox said easily from his spot next to me.
“Sunshine, you’re amazing.” Enzo pressed a deep kiss on my lips before whispering in my ear, “You belong to all of us truly now.”
He pulled away and grinned at Fox who managed to smile back.
“Ethan’s. Tomorrow.”
“See you there,” Fox said. They fist bumped. Then Enzo left, leaving me and Fox alone.
Fox cleared his throat. “I hope that was OK, Rosie. I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“I-It was amazing,” I said. “Thank you.”
He gave me a tentative smile. He opened his mouth to say something else, but his phone rang. A growl slip past his lips as he looked at the screened. Stuffing it back into his pocket, he looked over at me.
“I should get home,’ I said.
“OK.” Fox stood, and I followed him downstairs and out the front door. Neither of us said anything until we reached my front door.
“Thanks for tonight,” I said.
He smiled at me. ‘It’s probably me who should be thanking you.”
“Why?” I crinkled my brows in confusion. “Um, you didn’t get to… you know.”
He chuckled softly and leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to my cheek. “You were more important, Rosie.”
My face heated at his words. He reached out and squeezed my hand.
“I’ll see you later.”
“Bye, Fox,” I said as he stepped off my front step. He gave me one last smile before turning and walking back to his place
I watched him go, deciding in that moment that Fox was the one I could lose myself in, and I didn’t mind in the slightest belonging to him and the guys.