EXTRAS
BEAUTIFUL BROKEN RULES scene - Cole's POV
BEAUTIFUL BROKEN RULES scene - Quinn & Cole
I’m having that dream again. The one that makes me want to sleep forever. The one where Quinn is mine to touch freely. If I die in my sleep, I’d die a happy man.
I know that I’m in my bed but Quinn is here too. I keep my eyes squeezed shut because I love what she always does next. Her body is on fire above mine and I groan out loud when I feel her hands running up my chest.
“Good, you’re finally awake,” her soft voice says, thick with sleep. Fuck, she’s never said that before in the dream…
When I feel her naked chest against mine, my eyes snap open because this is too real to be a dream. She peeks her head out from under the sheets and just like that, I see my Angel. She’s lying on top of me with the sexiest look in her eyes. Immediately, I lift my head to look for Emerson because I remember her coming to bed with us, due to the amount of alcohol she drank.
“Jax came and got her last night, remember?” Quinn recounts softly. Slowly, she moves up my body and damn that sweet, sweet friction. She crawls up so we are eye-level and whispers in my ear, “I love you.”
I wrap my arms around her petite body and groan. “Are you real?” I whisper. “Because I’ve loved you for so long.”
“I’m real and I’m ready for you, Cole,” she says into my chest while she makes her way back down.
“Babe, we don’t have to rush anything. I’m not going anywhere. Ever.” All I want to do right now is finally sink deep inside of her, but I don’t want her to feel that we have to jump right in to things. Yesterday after the game, I raced her home and we explored each other under my covers. It was agonizing and mind-blowing all at the same time, but we still haven’t had sex.
“Seriously, Cole? I think we’re past the getting-to-know-you phase.” She lifts the sheet with one arm and eyes me from down below.
Thank God, because I’m already in pain with anticipation. When I see her look further down my body, I know what she’s aiming for. In the next breath, I’m suddenly surrounded by hot, wet heat. I sure as hell wasn’t expecting that.
“Quinn! Quinn, Quinn. Baby, you can’t fucking do that.” I scramble to pull her up, even though my body is screaming obscenities at me for removing her. “Shit…” I take a deep breath. “ Babe, you almost set me off just then.”
“I think that’s the point,” she says, licking her lips. Damn, damn, damn.
“Yeah, well I don’t think you understand how long I’ve fantasized about this, and never mind the fact that guys are geared to go in the mornings.” I pull her up and flip her underneath me. My turn. As I start kissing my way down her lean body, she moans out loud shamelessly. “Not fair, Cole,” she pouts.
The little vixen slips out from underneath me and slides over to the edge of the bed. She pulls the drawer of my nightstand open and I cringe. I hate that she knows those are there. She’s had to watch me bring home girls and I wish I could take it all back. However, her beautiful, seductive smile makes all of my worries cease, and I don’t think I could love her more than I do right now.
“I don’t need foreplay, Cole. I need you. Now,” she demands.
That’s exactly what I needed to hear. I snatch the foil packet from her hands, rip it open, and hastily put it on. She giggles as I pull her back down under me, but all laughter halts when I position myself between her thighs.
“I’ve got you, baby,” I whisper against her lips. As I begin to push inside of her warmth, I feel her body trembling and I freeze instantly.
“Quinn?” I try to seek out her eyes but she buries her face in my shoulder. I decide to retreat, cursing myself because I knew that we should have waited longer to take this step. Her nails dig into the skin of my back, halting my withdrawal and dragging a groan from my chest.
“Quinn, what’s wrong babe? I need to hear your voice or I’m stopping this,” I say, my voice strained.
“I can’t believe this is finally happening,” she exhales.
At her words, I submerge completely and she feels like fire. An excruciatingly pleasurable kind of fire. “I never want to leave here.” Once she’s finally adjusted to me, she begins to moan and whimper. With her legs in the air, I push forward and move in and out of her. When I pick up the pace, we moan together. Holy shit, her sweet voice moaning is going to be my kryptonite.
I push one leg up higher than the other, hitting her soft spot with the next thrust, and she screams… loud. I doubt my roommates are sleeping anymore.
“Cole…” she says, breathlessly.
I want this to last all damn day. I want to pull out, tease her for hours, and bury myself back in her. My plans change quickly when she drags her nails down my back, begging for it harder. Without warning, pleasure shoots up my spine, I feel her clenching around me, and we come together.
She starts kissing my lips, then my cheeks, my nose, and my eyelids. She can’t get enough and I let her do it. I pull off the used condom and reach over without separating her lips from my skin. I open the table drawer and pull out a handful of square packets.
When I rip one open, she looks down at me. “Again? Already?” Her face lights up at the possibility and I love how impressed she looks.
“Babe, I have two years to make up for,” I say, dipping my head down to kiss her. “So don’t plan on leaving this bed for a long time.”
I know that I’m in my bed but Quinn is here too. I keep my eyes squeezed shut because I love what she always does next. Her body is on fire above mine and I groan out loud when I feel her hands running up my chest.
“Good, you’re finally awake,” her soft voice says, thick with sleep. Fuck, she’s never said that before in the dream…
When I feel her naked chest against mine, my eyes snap open because this is too real to be a dream. She peeks her head out from under the sheets and just like that, I see my Angel. She’s lying on top of me with the sexiest look in her eyes. Immediately, I lift my head to look for Emerson because I remember her coming to bed with us, due to the amount of alcohol she drank.
“Jax came and got her last night, remember?” Quinn recounts softly. Slowly, she moves up my body and damn that sweet, sweet friction. She crawls up so we are eye-level and whispers in my ear, “I love you.”
I wrap my arms around her petite body and groan. “Are you real?” I whisper. “Because I’ve loved you for so long.”
“I’m real and I’m ready for you, Cole,” she says into my chest while she makes her way back down.
“Babe, we don’t have to rush anything. I’m not going anywhere. Ever.” All I want to do right now is finally sink deep inside of her, but I don’t want her to feel that we have to jump right in to things. Yesterday after the game, I raced her home and we explored each other under my covers. It was agonizing and mind-blowing all at the same time, but we still haven’t had sex.
“Seriously, Cole? I think we’re past the getting-to-know-you phase.” She lifts the sheet with one arm and eyes me from down below.
Thank God, because I’m already in pain with anticipation. When I see her look further down my body, I know what she’s aiming for. In the next breath, I’m suddenly surrounded by hot, wet heat. I sure as hell wasn’t expecting that.
“Quinn! Quinn, Quinn. Baby, you can’t fucking do that.” I scramble to pull her up, even though my body is screaming obscenities at me for removing her. “Shit…” I take a deep breath. “ Babe, you almost set me off just then.”
“I think that’s the point,” she says, licking her lips. Damn, damn, damn.
“Yeah, well I don’t think you understand how long I’ve fantasized about this, and never mind the fact that guys are geared to go in the mornings.” I pull her up and flip her underneath me. My turn. As I start kissing my way down her lean body, she moans out loud shamelessly. “Not fair, Cole,” she pouts.
The little vixen slips out from underneath me and slides over to the edge of the bed. She pulls the drawer of my nightstand open and I cringe. I hate that she knows those are there. She’s had to watch me bring home girls and I wish I could take it all back. However, her beautiful, seductive smile makes all of my worries cease, and I don’t think I could love her more than I do right now.
“I don’t need foreplay, Cole. I need you. Now,” she demands.
That’s exactly what I needed to hear. I snatch the foil packet from her hands, rip it open, and hastily put it on. She giggles as I pull her back down under me, but all laughter halts when I position myself between her thighs.
“I’ve got you, baby,” I whisper against her lips. As I begin to push inside of her warmth, I feel her body trembling and I freeze instantly.
“Quinn?” I try to seek out her eyes but she buries her face in my shoulder. I decide to retreat, cursing myself because I knew that we should have waited longer to take this step. Her nails dig into the skin of my back, halting my withdrawal and dragging a groan from my chest.
“Quinn, what’s wrong babe? I need to hear your voice or I’m stopping this,” I say, my voice strained.
“I can’t believe this is finally happening,” she exhales.
At her words, I submerge completely and she feels like fire. An excruciatingly pleasurable kind of fire. “I never want to leave here.” Once she’s finally adjusted to me, she begins to moan and whimper. With her legs in the air, I push forward and move in and out of her. When I pick up the pace, we moan together. Holy shit, her sweet voice moaning is going to be my kryptonite.
I push one leg up higher than the other, hitting her soft spot with the next thrust, and she screams… loud. I doubt my roommates are sleeping anymore.
“Cole…” she says, breathlessly.
I want this to last all damn day. I want to pull out, tease her for hours, and bury myself back in her. My plans change quickly when she drags her nails down my back, begging for it harder. Without warning, pleasure shoots up my spine, I feel her clenching around me, and we come together.
She starts kissing my lips, then my cheeks, my nose, and my eyelids. She can’t get enough and I let her do it. I pull off the used condom and reach over without separating her lips from my skin. I open the table drawer and pull out a handful of square packets.
When I rip one open, she looks down at me. “Again? Already?” Her face lights up at the possibility and I love how impressed she looks.
“Babe, I have two years to make up for,” I say, dipping my head down to kiss her. “So don’t plan on leaving this bed for a long time.”
BEAUTIFUL BROKEN RULES scene - Jaxon's POV
Chapter Seventeen -
Championship Game Scene - Jax POV <3
When Jace and I were sixteen, college recruiters began coming around to watch our games. Since our school had started winning the state championship every year, they wanted to know the players responsible. I remember laying out on the lawn one night after catching all of my dad’s passes and talking to him about the future.
“One day, you’ll be suiting up in your University jersey and stepping out onto the field to play a championship game in front of thousands,” he said while tossing the ball in the air and watching it spiral back down.
“Those are some pretty big dreams, old man,” I remember laughing.
“Don’t doubt your abilities, Jaxon. You and Jace are a force to be reckoned with together on the field, but I know you’ll do a damn fine job without him.” He sat up to look at me. “Just promise me that when that day comes, no matter what’s going on in life, you’ll leave it off the field. Chances like that won’t come around often. Keep your head in the game and make sure everything else stays out.”
Now here I am, suited up in our brand-new, special edition NCAA Championship jerseys and I’m trying my damnedest to remember every word my dad said to me that day. I need to recall the tone of his voice and the way he emphasized the words ‘no matter what.’ If he were here today he could repeat all of this to me, but he’s not. Even though Jace is not my biggest fan right now, he still tried to give me a pep talk me this morning. But for some reason, nothing is sticking. She is the only thing I can think about.
When my cleats connect with the freshly manicured grass on the field, I try to push her out of my head. I love you like crazy Emerson, but damn it, you don’t belong here right now. I’ve worked too hard for this moment and I can’t even enjoy it. I’m so fucking pissed... at myself for not being stronger, at Emerson for running away, and at the fact that I won’t be getting a good luck kiss. Damn, Jace would tear me a new one if he heard how whipped I am.
When I step up to the metal barrier in front of my brother and Quinn, they both give me pitying looks. If they could stop doing that as soon as fucking possible, that would be great. I don’t need any more pity. I got enough of that from mom today when she called to apologize for not being here, and then continued to talk about Emerson.
“You ready for this?” Jace asks.
I ignore his question and ask Quinn, “How is she?” Why the hell am I asking this?
“I know I shouldn’t be but I’m pissed at you, Jax. Don’t ask me about her right now,” Quinn snaps back, but I can see the apology in her face too. She’s protective over Emerson and I'm glad; she needs that.
“I just need to know.” Do I need to know that she’s doing as piss-poor as I am?
“Dude, she cried all night. Is that what you wanted to hear?” Cole says, from behind me and then walks away, obviously not wanting to hear my answer. He has some kind of brotherly-protective instinct over Emerson that’s really starting to piss me off.
And call me an asshole, but that’s exactly what I wanted to hear. Because if someone tells me that she went out, partied her hot little ass off and ended up in some dude’s bed last night, I won’t make it through this day without ending up in jail. I saw the looks she got every time we walked into a room. I saw the lust in their eyes and the jealousy, knowing that they couldn’t touch her anymore.
Like a magnetic pull, I look over, just in time to see Emerson step up into the stands. Fuck me.She looks completely amazing and utterly terrible at the same time. I’m gutted and I can’t pull my eyes away from her. She’s wearing the cowboy boots I bought for her in Texas and that dress... I’ve been salivating thinking about her wearing it since my mom pulled it off the rack. Just like I remembered in the dressing room, her tits look fucking phenomenal in it. I’m not the only schmuck who thinks so either. In my peripheral, I can already count five idiots who are about to get their lights knocked out if they don’t avert their gazes.
I could hop over this barrier right now and end our pain. I could tell her how big of an asshole I was yesterday and how I should have never let it get that bad. I could tell her how, every second since then, I wish I hadn’t let Cole carry her away or how her CD ripped my heart from my chest last night and I cried like a baby listening to it.
But none of that would be fair to either of us. She’s already started her grieving process and the fact remains that we aren’t good for one another. Contrary to what I thought, I was never making her stronger. I don't want to be the one to tear her down and have her panic again like she did the other day. I also can’t handle being constantly pushed away. I thought that once we were officially together, it would be all sunshine and rainbows. Obviously, I was fucking delusional.
Before any of my friends yell at me for publicly drooling over Emerson, I make my way back to the team to get ready for kick-off. When I’m out on the field, I allow myself one more glance. Jace has her wrapped in his arms and her sexy little boots are dangling off the ground. My fists clench and I silently curse her for creating these murderous intentions toward my own brother. As I watch him whisper something in her ear, she peers over his shoulder to look at me, and I can see the agony in her eyes.
I did that. I put that there. Every cell in my body is telling me to screw this game and fix this, but I know she’ll get over it. Once the shock of it all wears off, she’ll realize that we’re better off apart.
“Keep your head in the game and make sure everything else stays out.” I hear my dad’s words repeat in my head.
That’s exactly what I attempt to do. For the entire sixty minutes of game-time, I manage to think about football and only football. She was only able to sneak in during halftime and timeouts. Just as Cole crosses the end zone for the winning touchdown and I hear the final whistle, I give a fist pump and smile toward him. When he gives me an exuberant one back, I know he’s not as mad at me as he's trying to make me think and that we’ll be okay. I let him run off toward Quinn and the gang, and I turn toward the locker room to go change.
My dad always taught us to be humble. "Celebrate your victories son, but don’t make yourself look like a jackass." He would have wanted me to stop and appreciate this moment, but right now I just want to go home.
As I’m lost in thoughts of how much better this would be if my dad could have actually been here, I misstep when Tatum jumps in my arms. My helmet falls from my hands as I fumble to keep her from crashing to the ground. What the hell is she doing?
She runs her fingers through my sweat-soaked hair and says, “Congratulations! You were so great out there.”
When I realize I’m still holding her and she has her legs wrapped around my waist, I immediately set her down, not caring about the pouty look she’s giving. I quickly look back to see if I’m out of sight from Emerson, and am thankful that I am. “Uh… thanks Tatum.” I continue toward the locker room but she follows.
“Let’s go out tonight. You need to celebrate.”
“Not going to happen.”
“I’ll let you come home with me,” she purrs nauseatingly, while grabbing my bicep.
“I’ll pass.”
“Jax, get over her. Em is nothing special.”
“Man, that’s a great way to get me in bed, Tatum. Insult the one girl I would walk through fire for. It’ll always be her, you’re not even--”
“Whoa… hey there, buddy!” Cole interrupts me by jumping in between us and wrapping his arm around my shoulder. “Great game. Let’s go get dressed!” When we get out of earshot of a sad-looking Tatum, he continues, “You were just about to make a royal ass out of yourself.”
“She was being a bitch.”
“No, she was being normal. You’re just a heartbroken asshole. Let's just keep that pretty little mouth of yours shut till you're over Em and won't run the risk of pushing away every eligible girl on campus," he says, grabbing my mouth and pinching it hard.
"Dick." I punch him in the arm as we walk toward the locker room, knowing deep down inside that there's a good chance I won't ever completely get over Emerson.
Championship Game Scene - Jax POV <3
When Jace and I were sixteen, college recruiters began coming around to watch our games. Since our school had started winning the state championship every year, they wanted to know the players responsible. I remember laying out on the lawn one night after catching all of my dad’s passes and talking to him about the future.
“One day, you’ll be suiting up in your University jersey and stepping out onto the field to play a championship game in front of thousands,” he said while tossing the ball in the air and watching it spiral back down.
“Those are some pretty big dreams, old man,” I remember laughing.
“Don’t doubt your abilities, Jaxon. You and Jace are a force to be reckoned with together on the field, but I know you’ll do a damn fine job without him.” He sat up to look at me. “Just promise me that when that day comes, no matter what’s going on in life, you’ll leave it off the field. Chances like that won’t come around often. Keep your head in the game and make sure everything else stays out.”
Now here I am, suited up in our brand-new, special edition NCAA Championship jerseys and I’m trying my damnedest to remember every word my dad said to me that day. I need to recall the tone of his voice and the way he emphasized the words ‘no matter what.’ If he were here today he could repeat all of this to me, but he’s not. Even though Jace is not my biggest fan right now, he still tried to give me a pep talk me this morning. But for some reason, nothing is sticking. She is the only thing I can think about.
When my cleats connect with the freshly manicured grass on the field, I try to push her out of my head. I love you like crazy Emerson, but damn it, you don’t belong here right now. I’ve worked too hard for this moment and I can’t even enjoy it. I’m so fucking pissed... at myself for not being stronger, at Emerson for running away, and at the fact that I won’t be getting a good luck kiss. Damn, Jace would tear me a new one if he heard how whipped I am.
When I step up to the metal barrier in front of my brother and Quinn, they both give me pitying looks. If they could stop doing that as soon as fucking possible, that would be great. I don’t need any more pity. I got enough of that from mom today when she called to apologize for not being here, and then continued to talk about Emerson.
“You ready for this?” Jace asks.
I ignore his question and ask Quinn, “How is she?” Why the hell am I asking this?
“I know I shouldn’t be but I’m pissed at you, Jax. Don’t ask me about her right now,” Quinn snaps back, but I can see the apology in her face too. She’s protective over Emerson and I'm glad; she needs that.
“I just need to know.” Do I need to know that she’s doing as piss-poor as I am?
“Dude, she cried all night. Is that what you wanted to hear?” Cole says, from behind me and then walks away, obviously not wanting to hear my answer. He has some kind of brotherly-protective instinct over Emerson that’s really starting to piss me off.
And call me an asshole, but that’s exactly what I wanted to hear. Because if someone tells me that she went out, partied her hot little ass off and ended up in some dude’s bed last night, I won’t make it through this day without ending up in jail. I saw the looks she got every time we walked into a room. I saw the lust in their eyes and the jealousy, knowing that they couldn’t touch her anymore.
Like a magnetic pull, I look over, just in time to see Emerson step up into the stands. Fuck me.She looks completely amazing and utterly terrible at the same time. I’m gutted and I can’t pull my eyes away from her. She’s wearing the cowboy boots I bought for her in Texas and that dress... I’ve been salivating thinking about her wearing it since my mom pulled it off the rack. Just like I remembered in the dressing room, her tits look fucking phenomenal in it. I’m not the only schmuck who thinks so either. In my peripheral, I can already count five idiots who are about to get their lights knocked out if they don’t avert their gazes.
I could hop over this barrier right now and end our pain. I could tell her how big of an asshole I was yesterday and how I should have never let it get that bad. I could tell her how, every second since then, I wish I hadn’t let Cole carry her away or how her CD ripped my heart from my chest last night and I cried like a baby listening to it.
But none of that would be fair to either of us. She’s already started her grieving process and the fact remains that we aren’t good for one another. Contrary to what I thought, I was never making her stronger. I don't want to be the one to tear her down and have her panic again like she did the other day. I also can’t handle being constantly pushed away. I thought that once we were officially together, it would be all sunshine and rainbows. Obviously, I was fucking delusional.
Before any of my friends yell at me for publicly drooling over Emerson, I make my way back to the team to get ready for kick-off. When I’m out on the field, I allow myself one more glance. Jace has her wrapped in his arms and her sexy little boots are dangling off the ground. My fists clench and I silently curse her for creating these murderous intentions toward my own brother. As I watch him whisper something in her ear, she peers over his shoulder to look at me, and I can see the agony in her eyes.
I did that. I put that there. Every cell in my body is telling me to screw this game and fix this, but I know she’ll get over it. Once the shock of it all wears off, she’ll realize that we’re better off apart.
“Keep your head in the game and make sure everything else stays out.” I hear my dad’s words repeat in my head.
That’s exactly what I attempt to do. For the entire sixty minutes of game-time, I manage to think about football and only football. She was only able to sneak in during halftime and timeouts. Just as Cole crosses the end zone for the winning touchdown and I hear the final whistle, I give a fist pump and smile toward him. When he gives me an exuberant one back, I know he’s not as mad at me as he's trying to make me think and that we’ll be okay. I let him run off toward Quinn and the gang, and I turn toward the locker room to go change.
My dad always taught us to be humble. "Celebrate your victories son, but don’t make yourself look like a jackass." He would have wanted me to stop and appreciate this moment, but right now I just want to go home.
As I’m lost in thoughts of how much better this would be if my dad could have actually been here, I misstep when Tatum jumps in my arms. My helmet falls from my hands as I fumble to keep her from crashing to the ground. What the hell is she doing?
She runs her fingers through my sweat-soaked hair and says, “Congratulations! You were so great out there.”
When I realize I’m still holding her and she has her legs wrapped around my waist, I immediately set her down, not caring about the pouty look she’s giving. I quickly look back to see if I’m out of sight from Emerson, and am thankful that I am. “Uh… thanks Tatum.” I continue toward the locker room but she follows.
“Let’s go out tonight. You need to celebrate.”
“Not going to happen.”
“I’ll let you come home with me,” she purrs nauseatingly, while grabbing my bicep.
“I’ll pass.”
“Jax, get over her. Em is nothing special.”
“Man, that’s a great way to get me in bed, Tatum. Insult the one girl I would walk through fire for. It’ll always be her, you’re not even--”
“Whoa… hey there, buddy!” Cole interrupts me by jumping in between us and wrapping his arm around my shoulder. “Great game. Let’s go get dressed!” When we get out of earshot of a sad-looking Tatum, he continues, “You were just about to make a royal ass out of yourself.”
“She was being a bitch.”
“No, she was being normal. You’re just a heartbroken asshole. Let's just keep that pretty little mouth of yours shut till you're over Em and won't run the risk of pushing away every eligible girl on campus," he says, grabbing my mouth and pinching it hard.
"Dick." I punch him in the arm as we walk toward the locker room, knowing deep down inside that there's a good chance I won't ever completely get over Emerson.
EVER LONELY scene - Rhett's POV -
This extra scene is between Chapter Twenty-three and Twenty-four (before they finish the album and go on tour) -
"Rhett, stop glaring at us like that!" Lola laughed as she sliced another piece of my Camembert cheese. Some fancy ass cheese that I knew nothing of before I learned about appetizer boards for tonight.
Everything was supposed to be perfect. I had planned tonight for over a month. I had a lot of help putting this all together. Some of those people were sitting in this room tonight. But they weren't supposed to fucking be here right now.
"Seriously, dude, don't look so unhappy to see us." Nix, my bandmate, chuckled and snatched a few grapes off my board.
I swatted his hand away. "I've done nothing but see all of you guys. Tonight was supposed to be ours," I grumbled.
I looked across the marble floors into the living room, where Ever was checking out the apartment. All the curtains had been pulled closed earlier, and I needed to distract her before she peeked outside. It was hard enough sneaking her into this building in Rockefeller Center without her putting two and two together.
I cleared my throat loudly and got Lola's attention. Gage had been whispering in her ear and trying to find ways to get his hands on her. My eyes cut over to Ever, hoping Lola would know what I meant.
"She can't see out the windows yet," Alex whispered.
"Oh!" Lola jumped from Gage's hands. "On it!" she whispered.
Sienna poured herself a glass of my Dom Perignon champagne, and Alex lifted the lid of the silver serving platter, taking a giant whiff of our Buffalo mozzarella Panzanella. The tray in the kitchen held our mushroom and walnut pasta. It was all supposed to be so romantic. I had studied hard for tonight and tried to ensure all the boxes for the most romantic date were checked off. Unfortunately, extra guests weren't on the list.
"EVERLY JAMES!" Lola screeched. "Is that what I think it is?"
"What?" Ever laughed with her raspy voice that always got me hard.
"Is that the Saint Laurent dress currently waitlisted for months?" Lola gasped.
"It is." Ever walked away from the window and ran her hands down the sleek dress. "Sienna managed to snag it for me."
Lola, Ever's best friend and makeup/hair stylist, whipped around to look at Sienna, one of my best friends and Ever's newest stylist. "Oh, I bow down to your greatness. Your fashion connections far outreach mine. I'm so glad you took that job."
"I don't get it," Gage whispered to me.
"Yeah, looks like any normal sparkly dress," Alex added. If any of the girls heard them, they would have their heads.
I didn't get it either, but I sure as hell appreciated the dress. It hugged her body almost better than I could.
"What are you guys doing here, anyway?" I asked through clenched teeth.
"We missed you two." Sienna smiled sweetly.
I rolled my eyes. "We were with Ever's dad for three days over Thanksgiving."
Alex nodded his head. "And that's the longest I've ever gone without seeing you."
"Same," Gage added.
"Same for me about Ever," Lola piped in.
I had to think back if that were actually true. It probably was. We even vacationed together when we were kids. "That's sad." I looked at Gage and Alex.
Hands grazed my stomach and dipped inside my suit jacket until I could feel their warmth through my thin button-up oxford. I looked down at the prettiest set of green eyes and kissed the top of her head.
"I think it's sweet," Ever said, keeping her arms tightly around my midsection. "We missed you too. Even if Rhett is being grumpy." She scrunched up her nose a little and looked up at me. It was so fucking cute.
I leaned down to whisper into her ear, "I just wanted you to myself tonight. I worked hard to plan this for you."
"And I'm loving every minute of it." She beamed at me, and I softened a tiny bit toward our meddlesome friends.
"Whose place is this, by the way?" Alex asked.
"I actually don't know them." Everyone turned to give me curious and confused expressions. "I needed a place around here. So I knocked on a few doors. Found what I needed and offered this nice family an incentive to let me use their apartment." I shrugged my shoulders as if it had been that easy.
In reality, it hadn't. I knocked on twenty-two doors. Seventeen of them answered. Only one had the view I needed. Even then, it took a pretty penny and a lot of convincing for the Walton family to let me use their opulent residence for two hours. Of course, dropping Ever James' name didn't hurt, either.
Ever eyed me cautiously, trying to figure out what I was up to.
I checked my watch and realized I didn't have much time to stand around and chat. "Pipes, it's time."
"Time?" she asked, looking to everyone for what it could be time for.
I took her hand and pulled her toward the elaborate living room. Someone had spent a lot of time and money decorating it for the holidays. There was fresh garland draped over every surface, and tiny little lights peeked out in between the leaves. A twelve-foot Christmas tree towered in the corner, the lights were a deep blue at the base, but as they progressed toward the top, they were lighter and lighter. It was amazing. As I brought her closer to the window, I realized the lights would kill the total effect of my surprise.
"Alex… Gage… can you kill these lights?"
"What?" Ever asked. "But it's so beautiful!"
I smiled because she loved Christmas so much. The holidays had always been special in my family, but Ever almost vibrated with delight over them. In my opinion, there was no better place than New York City to celebrate it either. You just couldn't beat the atmosphere that became charged with holiday spirit like it did in the city. Every shop window had the most elaborate displays, trees were on every corner, and every inch was decorated. Christmas was the only time in New York when we felt the usual hustle and bustle but then also a serene magic. The skating rink had been a favorite of mine as a kid, and of course, the tree lighting ceremony was the crown jewel.
The apartment lights faded as the guys found the switch for them. One button at a time, we were clothed in darkness. I moved behind her and turned her toward the window. My hands grazed around her waist until they were holding her hips tightly. She wiggled against me, and I squeezed to get her to focus on the surprise at hand. Her smirk almost made me want to ditch the whole idea and drag her back to one of those luxurious bedrooms.
I glanced at my watch and realized we had thirty seconds. The only problem was that I needed to pull back the curtains, but didn't want to leave her side. Just then, Nixon and Alex appeared in front of us with their hands ready to do the job for me.
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Still hate that we're here?"
"Thank you," I offered. I lifted my watch up again. Fifteen seconds. Ten seconds. "Now, guys."
The thick cream drapes pulled away from the floor-to-ceiling glass, and we were still shrouded in darkness. Ever had been holding her breath, but when she couldn't see anything new, the air whooshed out of her, and she leaned to look up at me. Confusion troubled her face.
"Baby, look," I whispered in her ears while looking toward the window. I felt the air suck into her lungs as she gasped in surprise. "Merry Christmas," I whispered and kissed her temple.
"Rhett…" she gasped.
The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree sparkled to life only feet from us beyond the window. I knew this apartment would be the perfect setting for her. This was New York's legendary tree — you couldn't get any better than this. We heard the thousands of people eight stories below us down in the center clapping and cheering as the Mayor pressed the button to officially begin the Christmas season for the city.
I leaned forward to look at her face and was genuinely surprised to see the lone tear trailing down her cheek. "Pipes…" I breathed against her face as I inhaled her scent. My lips grazed her soft skin.
Ever had lived here for eight years and had never seen the Christmas tree lighting in person. Crowds weren't the best for celebrities, and her security got twitchy when she tried to enter them. When I informed the head of her security, Beau, about my plan, he beamed. He also knew how badly she loved everything about Christmas and how she had always wanted to see the lighting of the tree. It was a big deal in New York — we were proud of that damn goliath tree here.
"I didn't even realize this was happening today… and you…" She spun around and hugged me tightly, her face burrowing into my chest. "You did all this just so I could see the tree." I felt her quiet cries, and I squeezed her tighter.
"No one should live in New York and not see the tree lit." As a local myself, it was still breathtaking to see it. Especially higher up off the ground with a front-row view. Just because she was in every tabloid didn't mean that she shouldn't be able to have real-life experiences. I was her first real boyfriend. Well, that was something I had started calling myself because her music label appointed all her previous ones. But as her first real boyfriend, I had taken it upon myself to give her adventures she hadn't been able to encounter before because of her high-profile appearance.
It was something I planned on continuing throughout our lives together. Hopefully, experiencing a real-life wedding with her wasn't too far off. Ever was it for me. And seeing her face tonight when she saw the tree reminded me how much I loved her. I loved putting that look in her eyes and that smile on her face.
"I love you," she whispered.
And I damn sure loved hearing that.