Page 123 of I Was Always Yours (RCA: Royal Crown Academy)

Territorial and protective, with my monster baring his teeth and snarling at anyone who dares to come near her. I want to lick and bite her from head to toe, marking her with my scent and pheromones so everyone knows she’s mine, that this feisty nymph belongs to me.

The need to drag her out of here and mark her is pulsing in my veins and in my ears, rendering me almost deaf to the exchange happening around me.

“He’s going to be my husband, which means he’s part of my family now andwewant him here. More importantly, no one talks to anyone in my family the way you just did.”

She closes one hand around my bicep just above the crease of my elbow and squeezes my hand with the other. “Come on, Nix. We’re leaving.”

I don’t resist as she walks us out, only pausing to throw a smirk over my shoulder at my dumbfounded mother. I wonder if she’ll remember any of this tomorrow, but it doesn’t frankly matter.

Because I’ll never forget it.

Six doesn’t stop walking once we’re outside. She holds on to my hand like her life depends on it and stomps in the direction of her house.

I can’t help staring at where our hands are joined. It feels right, like two halves of a whole or two puzzle pieces coming together and I’m in no rush for her to let go.

“You’re not going back there,” she announces hotly, marching animatedly towards home. Her steps are so much smaller than mine that I’m easily able to keep up with her faster pace. “I’m sure my parents will be fine with you staying with us.”

We’re halfway between our properties before I tug on her hand once and stop her. She takes one look at my face and throws her arms around my middle, hugging me tightly.

“I’m sorry, I know I was unbelievably rude. Believe me, I never talk like that — well unless it’s deserved, which this most certainly was — I just… I couldn’t, I… I saw red when I heard her saying those things to you.” She explains.

“How were you even there?”

“I was walking back to my house when I realized you’d said ‘your parents must be waiting for you for dinner’ so I thought maybe that meant your parents were away, especially since they didn’t come to our party. So, I came back to see if you wanted to eat dinner with us.” She pauses, her skin flushing again as she thinks back to what she just witnessed. I’m sure it was shocking for her to witness, especially since her parents worship the ground she walks on. When it’s all you’ve known since you were a kid, it loses its luster. “Again, I’m sorry for interfering—,”

“Don’t be,” I cut in, “That ranks high on the list of the hottest things you’ve ever done.” I close the gap between us and intertwine our fingers together once more, bringing her hand up to my mouth where I place a soft kiss on her knuckles. “You have no idea how much I want to fuck you right now.”

“Oh.” She says, blushing shyly, all traces of her previous feisty alter ego gone now.

“Find a way to wrap up this dinner quickly, otherwise I can’t guarantee that I’ll keep my hands to myself under the table.”

“Not in front of my parents.” She warns.

I cup her nape and tilt her face up to meet mine, dipping my head to press love bites all along her jaw. “That’s not going to stop me.”

“Mhmm,” she mumbles unintelligibly as I continue biting and kissing a path down her neck.

When I pull back, her pupils are completely blown and she looks at me with absolute submission in her eyes. In the context of what I just witnessed, her submission to me tastes a million times sweeter.

“Come on,” I say, taking her hand and tugging her after me.

“Wait, Phoenix,” she says and I pause, turning back towards her. “I don’t…I, I’m not sure how to ask this. You can tell me to fuck off in plain English if I’m overstepping but… did they abuse you? Is that why you won’t be shirtless around me?”

“No, I wasn’t abused.” Not physically at least. “But I’m not ready to show you.”

She squeezes my hand, once, strongly. “I won’t ask again, I promise.” Sincerity rings in her voice and I know she’ll stay true to her word.

Chapter 37

Sixtine

My heart is still beating wildly as we walk into my house, a testament to how angry I was and still am. It’s been ten minutes and my body is still struggling to self-regulate after witnessing the way Phoenix’s mum spoke to him.

She’d been so casually cruel with her words, intending for them to cut deeply. Phoenix’s back had been to me when I’d walked in, so I hadn’t seen his facial expressions. But if the rigid, corded muscles of his back were any indication, he was pissed.

I’d meant what I said – he’s going to be my family, whether we live our lives separately or not, and anyone who disrespects my family is dead to me.

In the mudroom, I shrug off my outdoor wear and turn towards Phoenix who’s still shucking off layers.

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