He slides his hands into the pockets of his dark-gray sweatpants, and I already feel my throat tighten.
“I’ve thought about you once. Maybe twice. And the only reason you even know about it is because you watched when you shouldn’t have.”
He smirks, pressing his tongue into his cheek like he’s trying not to laugh. “Once or twice? That’s fucking adorable. You wanna try that again, pretty girl?”
My jaw sets, but my heart’s a traitor, fluttering against my ribs as he slides his hands free from his pockets. His fingers catch on the edge of his hoodie, and he drags it over his head in one smooth motion.
Skin. Ink. Abs.Him.
He’s disgustingly beautiful.
Bare-chested now, he lifts one arm and shoves it toward me, his fist clenched, forearm on full display.
“Go ahead, baby. Count them.”
Phoenix cocks his head as I glance down at those big, bold marks that line his arm.
Tally marks.
Dozens of them, maybe more.
“Come on, Shannen. Count for me. Count how many times you hated me so much you screamed my name with your pussy wrapped around your fingers.”
My heart stops.
He fucking didn’t.
“Yeah,” he murmurs. “Worth it. Just to see that look on your face.”
“Every time I think you can’t get more unhinged…”
“I may have carved the lines, but my name came out of your mouth. You set the course, Shannen. I just wanted the reminder.” His thumb drags over what looks like a fresh mark—red, swollen, and still healing, like a wound he’s proud of. “This one right here—this is my favorite. It’s the first time you said my name after knowing exactly who I am and what I’ve done and still wanted me anyway.”
“It’ll be the last because, I swear to you, I’ll find every single camera and rip them out. You won’t get access to me again.”
“Don’t waste your time, baby. First of all, you won’t find them. I’m too good at this, and you know it. And second? Even if you do… I’ll replace them the second you blink.”
“It’s like you want me to call the cops.”
“Then do it.” He pulls his phone from his pocket and tosses it onto the table behind me. “Seriously, if you feel threatened, call them. I won’t fight you on it. I won’t run. Hell, I’ll even sit down and pour myself my first drink while they cuff me.”
“God, Phoenix, it’s not even about that!” I shove past him, my shoulder colliding with his chest, and I pace around the table. “I want my life back, and if you don’t give it to me, you’ll turn me into a monster like you because I’m going to make your life hell.”
“Trust me, nothing you could do will be worse than what I’ve willingly put myself through over the years.”
And I believe that. I believe everything Phoenix says at this point.
“I’m gonna head out,” he mutters, already stepping away fromthe table. “Don’t let your food get cold. Though… you’ll probably have to reheat it before you eat.”
What the hell.
“Eat, sleep, rest, baby. I’ll see you soon.”
“Soon?” I echo.
“Yeah,” he says over his shoulder as he heads for the door. “Soon.”
Then he’s gone. No glance back. No pause. No drawn-out goodbye. Just the sound of the door clicking shut.
