Page 44 of Burn for Me

He is the enemy.

‘I need to go shower,’ I said, taking an awkward step backward. Phoenix’s fingers stilled on Muffin’s soft nose and he gave a nod. Knowing how excited he’d been, it was like kicking a bloody puppy.

Cheese bubbled out of the edge of my sandwich as it toasted. The crisp, browning bread made my mouth water and it couldn’t cook fast enough.

My stomach rumbled angrily, roiling with each passing moment.

Finally, I swept it out of the pan, piercing it with a fork and moving it onto my waiting plate.

Phoenix sat on the rock beside me, his pink-filled glass clenched in his hand.

‘I’m sorry you have to keep drinking that stuff.’

Phoenix shrugged, turning away as he slipped the straw beneath his mask. The fire light flickered over his tightly muscled forearms and I swallowed hard, trying to push the thought of them wrapped around me away.

There were too little distractions on the island. Bar Muffin, it was Phoenix and I. Days spent awkward and then nights with him driving me to the point of wanting to beg for his touch. My brain felt utterly scrambled.

I wanted to push him off of the cliff top as much as I wanted him to just take what he demanded of me. He made me promise to give him what he wanted, and I had expected him to just want to use me. But he wanted more. He wanted my consent. He wanted me to need it.

I couldn’t let myself go there.

He stole me from my life, no matter how shattered it had become. Refusing to ask for it was the only control I had left.

The hot toasted edge of the sandwich crunched between my fingers. Tearing off a chunk, I slipped it into my mouth, closing my eyes at the rich, creamy bubbling cheese. Back home I’d eaten from top chefs menus, at the most elite partiesand restaurants, yet never had I tasted something that hit the spot so thoroughly.

Birds fought over the crust I tossed near the edge of the water. Phoenix finished his shake and turned back toward the fire, mask firmly in place.

Silence enveloped us. There was so much quiet. Too much.

‘Did you know we were supposed to marry?’

Phoenix shook his head.

‘Massimo and I. It was the eve of our wedding. I was so fucking excited. It was pathetic. At first I hadn’t even wanted to marry him, but he sent me all these letters which completely won me over.’

Phoenix watched me as I spoke, his gaze palpable on the side of my face while I stared at the fire.

‘They were so sweet, full of romance and heat. God, I was such an idiot. It was nothing but a business deal to him. For so many nights I’d pored over his letters, analysing every word, committing them to memory. I thought I was finally going to have someone who adored me, but I was nothing to him.’

My voice cracked as I spoke, my lap covered in crumbs from tearing my sandwich into tiny pieces.

‘How could I have believed he’d feel like that about me? He’s handsome, and wealthy, and could have any woman he wanted. I was utterly deluded. He took everything from me, and for what? More money? To save face when my father screwed him over.’

Rage flowed through me as I babbled.

Scarred fingers grazed over my leg, and it took everything to focus in on the little letters Phoenix drew there.

You’re perfect.

He didn’t deserve you.

I scoffed and moved away from him, scraping my leg on the sharp edge of one of the rocks.

‘Fuck,’ I hissed through my teeth as a line of red welled from the scrape. Blood dripped as I jumped up.

Phoenix didn’t pause, he stood, placing his glass down and scooped me up in his arms.

‘I can walk,’ I said in a meek voice. I didn’t want him to carry me, but having his arms wrapped around me was a balm I sorely needed. How long had it been since I’d had a hug?

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