Rise by Cassandra Robbins

 

 

 

 

GIA

Past – Eighteen years old

Chicago, Illinois

I can’t look away. He owns the stage, ensnaring me with his voice. I reach for my camera. Tonight is different and I want to capture every moment of him.

Rhys is different. I look through my lens and zoom in so that all I see is him as he does what only a handful ever can.

He loves them. It’s in every note, every word he sings.

This. His music: that’s his real love and he adores it. My body feels as if I might have a fever even though it’s freezing outside.

“Ms. Fontaine.” I bring my camera down slightly so I can turn to Rafe, but before he can spew anymore of his bullshit, I snap numerous shots.

“Are you done?”

“With you? Yes.” I turn back to the stage. BT walks up with headphones for both me and Rafe, and Rafe, of course, waves his off.

“I’m not the enemy, Gia. In fact, if these last couple of performances were brought on because of you…”

I turn to him. “An hour ago, you bought me a plane ticket,” I yell over Nuke’s drums. It’s so weird that Rafe never seems to yell but you can always hear him.

“Yes. Keep that.” He brings out his phone and starts typing. I guess he’s done. Such a shame he’s a complete ass. He is fucking hot in his own way.

Not hot like Rhys, but hot. I see him with a ton of women, but same as the boys in the band, he seems to have a new one at every stop.

“Why do I need to keep the ticket?” And I want to kick myself for playing right into his game. God Gia, you’re slipping. Never show weakness.

“For when all this comes to a brutal and ugly end.” He motions with his phone to Rhys.

I straighten my shoulders. “And what if it doesn’t? What if Rhys and I are actually happy?”

He looks up from his phone, his blue eyes pinning me to the floor.

“This will end. You will not be able to live the life that he needs, and he’ll not be the man you need.”

If he had slapped me, I think I would have liked it better. No matter what Rafe has achieved or whatever his goal is tonight, those might be mere words, but they sting, and my chest hurts as if I’m already preparing myself.

Bad juju.

“I guess we’ll see,” I say and aim my camera at the crowd, completely putting up a mental shield against this man. He’s testing me, waiting to see if I’ll falter, or at least stumble.

“Yes, hold on to that ticket.” I don’t see him walk away but know he’s gone by the way my body relaxes.

“Fucking asshole.”

My eyes pass over the horde of groupies drinking with the roadies. It’s a whole family in a fucked-up way.

These people spend more time together than they do with their spouses. I look back at the stage and my heart skips a beat.

He stands with a spotlight on him, and I reach for my chest as he sings my favorite song of theirs. It’s a ballad and Rhys’s gravelly voice makes goose bumps travel down my arms and my legs.

As he lets the words flow out of him, not just singing them, but feeling them, he’s breathtaking. Cash walks up and takes over as he lets his bass sing.

When Rhys looks over at me, suddenly I can’t breathe. I may pass out because he’s coming for me. Like a dark god he moves, determined and fierce. His energy is electric and so intense that I take a step back.

Breathe.

I need to breathe because he’s coming for me. Holy fuck. I might pass out at the way his eyes look at me.

One.

Two.

Three.

He doesn’t stop. There’s no hesitation. He takes my face with both hands, and then he kills me.

I’m lost as his mouth claims mine. I cling to him as I let his fierceness consume me. This is not just a kiss; it’s raw and primal, stealing my very soul. My lips are tender. Groaning into his mouth, I allow his tongue to twist with mine.

“I’m gonna fuck you now.” He lifts me up. My legs wrap around his waist and I lean into his neck. He’s sweaty, and I want to suck and lick it off of him. His body heat seeps into me and I barely recognize my own voice.

“Yes,” I groan. I’m spinning. My back hits the cold concrete wall and he takes my lips again.

This is insane.

I try to look around, but his hand is already lifting my dress, and before I can even mention that we might get caught, his fingers are inside my panties.

“Fuck yes, Gia, look how wet you are for me.” It’s a growl but he’s right. I’m soaked as he finger fucks me hard, rough.

“Rhys,” I murmur, digging my nails into his neck.

“Spread your legs wider.” I do as he rubs my clit hard, and I’m gone, soaring as I come.

I open my eyes. He’s not holding me anymore. My hands slap the concrete as I watch him undo his jeans and push them down. Grabbing my left leg, he thrusts himself deep inside me.

I think I scream but can’t be sure. All I hear is music. I have no idea what happened to my headphones.

“Christ.” He freezes, letting me adjust to his giant pierced cock. “Fuck. This tight cunt is mine,” he rasps into my mouth.

“Yes,” I chant.

He pulls out and thrusts in again as I claw at his chest. He grabs my chin roughly. “I’m gonna fuck you hard.”

I can’t respond as his tongue fills my mouth and I taste the Jack he must have been drinking earlier. His other hand holds my legs so I don’t fall over as his cock pounds in and out of me.

“Fuck,” I snarl, reaching up to bite his lip. He ruts into me as my body contracts.

“Who do you think is watching me fuck you?”

My eyes jerk open as my core pulses. I try to stop it, but I’m gone, soaring as I cling to him.

“Yeah, that’s it. I’m gonna fill this cunt up.” He thrusts into me hard, then stops as his body jerks.

“Christ.” He kisses my forehead. “I couldn’t wait.” Our breathing is harsh as if we’re in sync.

I nod, trying to piece together that I just got fucked, standing up in the middle of his concert.

“You’re so cool.” He looks down at me and raises an eyebrow as I laugh, our mouths inches apart.

“You have to get back onstage,” I say, trying to sound fierce as he pulls out of me, then buttons his jeans.

I straighten up, only to discover my panties are soaked. I should probably take them off, but I’m trying to get my mind and legs to work.

“You stay where I can see you at all times.” He takes my lips again.

Unsure if I can stand alone, I hold on. Somehow I put one foot in front of the other. He leads me back to where I was standing before he wrecked my life. Because after that, I’ll never be the same. After that, I know for a fact that I’ll love him till the day I die.

My bag is on the ground, along with my headphones, but that seems like a lifetime ago. In seconds, my world has changed, and I’m never going back.