Page 89 of I Was Always Yours (RCA: Royal Crown Academy)

With some difficulty, I pull my gaze from where his hands rest on her waist and bring it up to his face where I find his eyes already fixed unblinkingly on me.

He gives me a look that undoes me completely, my legs going weak at the knees at the intensity in his eyes.

They rake appreciatively down my body, taking in the floor length red sequin dress that hugs every part of my curves so tightly that it’s borderline inappropriate for a school function.

They turn pitch black, hardened by cold fury, when they move to the hand hanging over my chest and slowly trace it back up to Rhys’ face.

“See, now that look tells me that if I don’t get my arm off you in the next half a second, he will quite literally rip my shoulder out of its socket.” Rhys says, amused, as he removes his arm.

I huff, turning away from Phoenix and back towards Rhys. “Meanwhile, he can put his hands on whoever he wants and I’m just supposed to watch.”

He raises a brow at me and I realize I revealed more than I meant to.

“If it bothers you, maybe you should do something about it.” He says with a cheeky wink, before his attention cuts to Thayer who, with the help of Nera, is carrying Carter and stumbling down one of the hallways. “Got to go, darling, my prey is on the move.”

He brushes past me but I grab his arm, awkwardly holding him back for a moment.

“I know we weren’t close back then,” I say, clearing my throat, attempting to find the words to say to him and failing. “But I’m so sorry about your parents, Rhys.” I tell him honestly, “I know they’d be really proud of you right now.”

Once upon a time, Rhys was like a brother to me. Whatever’s going on between me and Phoenix, I’m at least glad it’s opened the door for those friendships to come back.

He gives me a real smile and brings me back against him, planting a hard kiss on the top of my head. “He’s going to feed me my own lips for doing that, but I had to,” he jokes. “Thank you, you’re a good friend.” He points at me as he starts to walk away, “Better than any of us deserve. You need to learn how to hold a fucking grudge. Rogue can teach you.” He adds cheerfully before folding into the crowd.

I chuckle, watching him leave and ignoring the heavy weight of Phoenix’s glare on me.

His hypocrisy is astounding.

He disappeared right after we had sex and he’s currently got another girl in his arms, but he has the audacity to act angry when Rhys touches me in a completely platonic way.

I head off in another direction, not wanting to deal with his presence anymore.

This building was built over five hundred years ago. The Renaissance style of architecture means there’s a lot of dark, confusing corridors framed by large marble columns. This part of RCA is full of twists, turns, and places to hide which really comes in handy when you’re not trying to be found.

Even though I walk away, the weight of Phoenix’s gaze never leaves me.At first, I think I’m imagining it.

That paranoia has the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end for nothing and he’s not really there.

But then I pick up the smell of his cologne, amber and musk and peppercorn.

I hear the determined march of five-thousand-dollar dress shoes striding across the marble floor after me.

My heart races as the steps get louder and closer together.

Goosebumps erupt across my skin at the realization that he’s within striking distance of me.

I pick up the pace but not fast enough.

My breath hitches when a warm hand wraps around my nape from behind and squeezes.

Using his grip on my neck, he curls me into him, walks us back into an open classroom, and shoves me up against the wall.

He’s panting heavily as he looms over me, his head bent and his harsh breaths hitting my ear.

“You won’t let me kiss you but you have no problem letting Rhys and Max put their mouths on you.” He demands angrily, “Why?”

His mouth is inches from mine, parted and breathing furiously, just close enough that if I tipped my chin upwards, our lips would touch and I know he’d ruin me forever.

Our connection is electric and almost tangible, the sparks flying between us hot enough to burn and permanently scar.

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