Chapter 16 #2
By the time the team meal rolled around, I felt like I’d been run over.
I pulled on the shirt and business trousers we were required to wear—at least the team had relaxed enough we didn’t need a suit—tried to look normal, then headed downstairs.
The restaurant was packed, but I found Taranis at a corner table with Maxim and Ash.
They made space for me, no questions asked.
We ate. Nobody talked much about the game.
It was all travel plans and dumb jokes, and we headed to bed early.
I unlocked my door and wondered if I should have stayed downstairs with Max at the bar, but I’d have felt just as lonely.
The first thing I saw was the shirt, pale blue, tossed on the carpet, and my breath caught.
I almost wondered if I was hallucinating this exact replica of the night we met.
Maybe I was so tired I’d started seeing things.
But then I bent to pick up the shirt and caught the second clue—a pair of black trousers, crumpled, barely two feet further in, like someone had undressed in a hurry and just dropped everything.
My heart started pounding, sharp and stupid. I kicked off my shoes, not even caring where they landed, and followed the trail.
There were briefs, black, the kind that had never belonged to me, and I knew. I fucking knew, but it still didn’t feel real. I reached for the handle, palms sweating, and pushed the door open.
Phoenix was lounging in bed and met my gaze, the smile that spread across his face was nothing like the shy, battered kid I’d met a couple of weeks ago.
He grinned. “You took your time.”
I just stared. Couldn’t even breathe for a second. He was so fucking beautiful, all sharp collarbones and soft skin, a constellation of fading bruises marking his ribs and hips. The sheet shifted lower, and I almost lost it.
“How did you get in here?”
He leaned in, close enough I could smell the mint on his breath. “Surprise,” he whispered. “Didn’t think I’d let you sleep alone, did you?” I shook my head, stupid with relief.
“I came with Doryu and Ignatius. Officially I have a separate room one floor up. But they said I’d be more use here, keeping you out of trouble.” His eyes flicked down to my mouth, then back up. “Unless you want me to go?”
I couldn’t find words. Not any that made sense.
I just shook my head, then never got a chance to move before he did, jumping out of bed and tackling me hard.
He laughed into my mouth, like he’d been waiting for this all day.
I drew back, eager to get undressed, and he followed me, gloriously naked, hooking his arms around my neck, legs pressed to mine, and backed me up against the wall.
I could feel the heat coming off his skin, the shiver that ran through him when I bit his lower lip.
“You missed me?” he breathed, barely a whisper, and undressed me.
I wanted to laugh or say something clever, but all I could do was nod.
My hands were shaking. He saw it. I knew he did, because instead of laughing or calling me out, he just pulled me closer.
His mouth was hot on mine, hungry and desperate, but when his hand slid up the back of my neck, it was gentle.
Always gentle, even when he was shaking, too.
“Missed you,” he whispered, not even trying to hide it. Like he didn’t care if it made him look weak.
I wanted to tell him I’d been counting the hours, that the hotel room without him felt like a punishment, but the words stuck. So I just kissed him, and he let me, and we didn’t bother pretending we were going to talk about anything else.
He pressed me harder against the wall, hands on my hips, and kissed me like he needed to taste every part of me.
He grinned, just a flash, and then he was kissing me again. His hands slid under my shirt, fingers pressing into my skin. I let him. I wanted to feel every touch, every scrape of his nails, every bit of pressure.
He tugged my shirt off, not careful, just yanked it over my head and let it drop on the floor. Then he stepped back, just enough to look. Really look. His eyes were dark, almost black, and I felt my face heat up, but I didn’t want to hide. Not from him.
“Beautiful,” he said, and I nearly laughed because I knew it wasn’t true, but the way he looked at me? Like I was the only thing in the room worth having? I wanted to believe it.
He kissed down my neck, biting just enough to leave a mark, and I gasped as he turned me. The backs of my knees hit the bed, and we tumbled onto it, tangled together, mouths locked, hands everywhere.
He was rougher this time, but I liked it. I liked the way he gripped my hips, the way he pinned my wrists above my head like he was staking a claim. I wanted him to. I wanted to belong to him.
He didn’t. He got my briefs off, tossed them somewhere, and stroked my cock slowly, like he wanted to drag it out.
I was already hard, already aching, and he knew it.
He watched me squirm, watched me bite my lip, and smirked like it was the best thing he’d ever seen.
He leaned toward my ear. “One day when we have time and days to prep, I’m going to have that ass. ”
“Arse,” I corrected, trying to stop my insides igniting with the thought of it.
I didn’t even pretend to be patient. I wanted him too badly.
The second I had the condom in my hand, I rolled it on fast, slicked my cock, flipped him over and lined up.
The way he opened up for me, like he couldn’t help it, like he wanted to be filled and ruined and owned.
I pushed in slowly, but not as slow as I should have.
He gasped, knuckles white in the sheets, but then he let out this sound that went straight through me.
I braced over him, one hand on his back, the other on his hip.
I rocked in, deeper, until I was all the way inside and he was shaking.
I had to hold still or I’d blow it, but he rolled his hips and I couldn’t help it—I started moving.
Hard. Deep. I wanted him to feel it tomorrow.
I wanted him to remember this every time he sat down, every time he looked at me across the table.
I fucked him, hips snapping, sweat dripping down my back.
He moaned for me, so fucking sweet, and I couldn’t get enough.
I bent over him, mouth at his ear. “Get yourself off,” I growled.
He didn’t try to hide how much he needed it.
He didn’t hold back. Every time I thrust, he pushed back, greedy for more, like he wanted to take everything I had and then some.
“Fuck,” I groaned, and I bit his shoulder, not hard enough to break skin, but enough to mark him.
I wanted him marked. I wanted everyone to know he was mine.
I felt him blow a second before me, then everything was white noise and fucking fantastic.
I collapsed on top of him because my body just gave out, and relished the grunt as I pinned him down.
He was perfect like this. Boneless, fucked out, safe.
I nuzzled his hair, kissed his sweaty neck.
I peeled off the condom, cleaned us up with shaking hands, then pulled him to my chest, because I needed to hold him more than I needed air.
He melted into me. No hesitation. Just trust. I wrapped us up in the blanket, tucked his head under my chin, and stroked his back until his breathing evened out. It was so quiet I could hear every heartbeat, every little sigh. He was warm, safe, and all mine.
I didn’t sleep right away. I just held him, memorized the weight of him in my arms, the way his hair smelled like hotel shampoo and sweat and something only I got to have.
Possession roared through me, so sudden and violent it robbed me of oxygen and made everything in me still. I knew without having to ask what it was.
Looked like my dragon was waking up, and maybe sooner than anyone thought.