Phoenix hasn’t said a word to me since he fastened my seatbelt, and I can’t decide whether I’m relieved or if the silence is worse. When I finally can’t take it anymore, I shove the mask up, only to find his seat empty.
My stomach plummets so fast it makes me dizzy.
He’s probably in the bathroom right now, getting his virginity fucked out of him by Miss Sky-High.
Good for him.
Maybe she’ll fuck that smugness right off his face.
It’s only a few minutes later when he slides back into his seat. I feel his stare searing into me, but I don’t look at him. I won’t give him the satisfaction. He can sit there and burn holes into my skull all he wants.
I. Don’t. Care.
“I was in the bathroom alone.” I keep my eyes forward, my lips pressed tight.“I couldn’t sit here another second watching you grind in that seat. Although if you need relief, baby, I’ll pull you into my lap right here and spread those legs myself.”
I dig my nails into my palms, pressing half-moons into my skin.
Don’t rise to it.
Don’t give him what he wants.
“Too soon? Fine. We’ll play your way… for now. But you and I both know you’ll break long before I do.”
Chapter 2
Phoenix
She still doesn’t getit, does she? This isn’t exhausting me—it’sfeedingme.
I can do this forever.
Hell, I already have.
Cat and mouse, lies and masks, all her bullshit walls and fake smiles.
Shannen’s stubborn and can be mean as hell when she wants to be. She’ll claw and bite just to spite me, but what she hasn’t figured out yet is that I have infinite patience for this. She can fight all she wants, but in the end, she’ll give in. She’ll have to.
She hasn’t spoken to me since the plane, but I know I’m still in her head.
It’s where I’ve always been.
Her arousal hit me mid-flight like a fist to the face.I’d know her scent anywhere. Put me in a room full of strangers, kill the lights, blindfold me, tie my hands behind my back, and spin mearound in a fucking circle—it wouldn’t matter.I’d find her every single time.
Shannen’s mask was firmly in place where she sat next to me, but I had to walk away before I dragged her into the bathroom and fucked the fight right out of her.
We’re not quite there yet, and I know that.
She’s still pretending she doesn’t feel the pull, and it’s fascinating watching the way she pushes back against what’s coming for her, but it’s okay because I can be patient.
She made this adorable little huffing sound when I took her bags at baggage claim, both hands trying to wrestle them back from me as if I were stealing them instead of doing what any decent man would do.
Cute effort, but I’m stronger, and I was already holding them.Why the hell would I give them back just so she could struggle?
But what I think really pissed her off was when I slid in beside her in the car she’d arranged to pick her up. The way her liquid-gold eyes snapped to me—pure fire andfuck you. Her fury at my audacity was almost endearing. But I didn’t know the guy driving her around. He could be some psycho with zip ties in the glove compartment, and she’s just going to climb into his car because she booked him through an app? Yeah, that’s not happening.
Besides, we’re going to the same fucking building. The geography is literally identical.
I spent the entire ride through New York talking to the back of her head. Not a single glance. Not one word. Just that rigid spine and the way she angled herself toward the window like I didn’t exist.
