Page 25 of Caged in Flames

Chapter Twelve

Breaking away from Charlie and Jude, I find just the guy I'm looking for standing near the tree line of the woods. "Surprised you could walk away from her."

Gunner's jaw tenses at my statement. "I did it for her. I'm not going to let her think I'm another guy out to use her." The dig lands as he intended and I can't stop the anger that rushes through me.

"Fuck you. You don't know anything." I push out the words through clenched teeth, trying to keep my anger in check. I slide up to him until we are almost shoulder to shoulder.

He turns his head away from me. "I know enough. Damn it, Sawyer. I don't want to do this right now. Can we maybe talk later? Or never. Fuck if I care." He tucks his hand into his pockets and I watch a vein in his neck throb.

Gunner wants to pretend like I'm nothing, but I'm not going to let him. Turning my body, I’m so close to him that I barely have to lean in to smell his cologne. I run my hand down his stomach and over his length. "Do you need help taking care of this?"

He pushes me away with enough strength that I struggle to stay up right. "Fuck off. I have no interest in being tonight’s conquest for you."

I roll my eyes. Implying I’m a manwhore doesn’t do shit for me. Besides, I haven’t messed around since...my thoughts are broken up by the sound of Brett’s voice making a hooting noise. My head turns to see what he’s pointing at.

My eyes catch the sight of Phoenix in the crowd, and I grin. I laugh and nod my head in her direction so he sees exactly what has caught my attention. "Looks like your girl wasn't too interested in making you her fuck tonight either."

When he looks over, we are both treated to a porn worthy performance. Jane pulls Nix in for a hot as fuck kiss. Shit. Normally girls kissing wouldn't affect me, but it's Phoenix. And everything about her puts me on edge.

For a minute, even Gunner watches. Shit. It’s sexy.

He shakes himself out of it. Sighing, he runs a hand over his head. "Look, I've got to go. They're obviously drunk and I promised I’d watch out for them tonight. Who knows what all these douchebags are thinking?”

He’s right. I don’t want anyone going after the girls, trying to get in on whatever that was. I don’t show him that. Instead, I lift one corner of my mouth in a smirk just to piss him off a little more. "Alright, but I'm not done with this conversation." His steps don't falter as he walks away.

I watch as he approaches Nix and pulls her back against him. Watching them dance together lights a fire inside of me. When they leave the party, I decide to head back to the dorms. I just need to talk to him, but he is so far up Phoenix’s ass that I haven’t had the chance.

I didn’t regret our actions during Sophomore year for a long time. I haven't had to question anything in life before. Consequences have never scared me. What I felt for her wasn’t the same. That connection has only happened one other time.

But I'm starting to realize that maybe I’m destined to fuck up all good things. Or maybe I’m the fuck up.

Part of me truly hoped I would never have to see her again. I spent the last year in a hoity European boarding school fucking randoms, but never making friends. The rare conversations with my best friends kept me hanging on to hope that by ruining someone else's life, I hadn’t destroyed my own.

I know that I am a selfish, self-serving asshole. When Charlie came up with his plan, I didn't think twice. It’s not like getting close to Diana was a fucking chore.

Not Diana. Phoenix. Not Princess. Nix. Fucking complicated.

The moments we shared...fuck. I wave at Charlie and Jude, letting them know I’m calling it a night. They both look over this ordeal too.

Heading off to my dorm, I think about the girl at the center of this mess. I see one of the assholes that was ogling the girls after their kiss as I enter the building. For shits and giggles, I push him hard into the wall.

He startles, obviously wasted. Once he sees it was me, he scampers off like a sad puppy. Pathetic.

I make my way to my room but hesitate at the door. Instead. I slide down the wall. Thinking about how free Nix looks now. She still looks like a fucking princess. Her eyes are different now though.

I groan out loud. Thinking about her eyes makes me think of her face. Which makes me think of her mouth. Which makes me think of noises that can come out of it.

Do I miss her? Or do I miss fucking with her? I want to see her let loose again. Those guys don’t know shit. Getting excited over some girl on girl. If they could see what a free Princess really looks like.

To see her unravel from all the expectations she puts on herself is fucking beautiful. Watching her come undone underneath me while she fully submitted to me. The thought makes me angry. I don’t fucking want them to see it.

Sophomore Year:

"Sawyer?" Fuck. Diana's voice has that breathy quality to it that shoots straight to my dick. I'm so fucking hard.

I finish tying off the scarf and hover over her. Instead of touching her, I blow air over the crevice of her neck, making her shiver.

Princess is laid out on my bed in nothing but her lace panties. Tied up and blindfolded. She told me last week about a scene she read in a book and wanted to try it out.

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