Page 138 of I Was Always Yours (RCA: Royal Crown Academy)

My head is scrambled trying to make sense of his words. Is he right about Phoenix?

I desperately want him to be.

“Why did you mention Hong Kong? He definitely didn’t come to see me.”

“You should ask him about it. He’s right over there.” He says, a knowing smirk beginning to curve his lips as he tips his chin over my shoulder.

I stand and turn so quickly, I almost lose my balance. Thayer catches me as she, Bellamy, and Nera stand as well, surprise coloring their faces when they look out into the crowd.

I hear Nera say, “Maybe he’s not such a fool after all.”

Her words register distantly in my ears because all I can focus on is the fact that when I turn around, Phoenix is there.

He marches across the club with determined steps, slicing through the crowd like Moses parting the Red Sea, his stare burning unflinchingly into mine as he makes his way towards me and my heart is in my throat because I’m still not sure that I’m not just wishing him into existence.

I don’t wait for him to come to me, almost colliding with the table in my rush to clear out of the VIP area. I run down the couple of steps as best I can in my heels and start to push through the throng of people to get to him.

His gaze tracks me the entire time, his eyes never leaving mine as I near him. The pink and purple overhead lights cast harsh shadows on his face that do nothing to soften the savage twist of his features.

He watches me with such intensity that nerves flutter to life in my belly and grow in number with every step that brings me closer to him.

He really is here.

When less than five meters separate me from him, I stop but he doesn’t. He keeps advancing until he crashes into me, his strong arms scooping me up and crushing me against his chest.

I throw my arms around his neck and squeeze him against me. If I faced a mirror, I think my reflection would show that my smile stretches from here to the end of the world.

One of his forearms drops protectively over my ass, covering the bare flesh exposed by his hold on my micro dress.

His lips brush against my ear. “I’m glad you wore the green one, baby.”

I melt into a boneless puddle in his arms and find that now I want to cry tears of joy.

I’m a mess, don’t judge me.

Eventually, he puts me down and clasps my face between both hands, bringing his mouth down on mine.

His lips move over mine with both expertise and longing, masterfully parting my lips and meeting my tongue, and letting me know he’s missed me in the way he does so.

He kisses me like the last time he kissed me was twelve years ago, not twelve hours ago. Like the next time he kisses me might be in another lifetime, not this one.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, breathless and smiling when he pulls away.

He doesn’t answer, his dark eyes finding mine instead. He places his hands on my waist, his hold warm and possessive as it slides down to my hips.

His head bends, the side of his face coming to rest against mine as he presses his next words against my ear.

“Dance with me.”

My hands meet at his nape as his arms tighten around me. Pressed against each other like we’re afraid the other is going to disappear if we let go, we sway slowly to the music.

We’re nowhere near in rhythm to the club song pounding through the speakers, but it doesn’t matter.

We dance, and I know I’m going to remember this night for the rest of my life.

“I knew this is where I was supposed to be,” he whispers against my neck. His lips close hotly around my pulse point as he sucks my skin into his mouth.

I moan and he releases my neck, straightening to his full height and looking down at me through heavy lidded eyes.

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