Page 91 of I Was Always Yours (RCA: Royal Crown Academy)

“I left to get you something to eat,” He answers, his tone even but his eyes dark. “I was gone for ten minutes and I came back to an empty fucking bed.”

I blink.

“Oh.” I say, at a loss. When I’d woken up alone, I’d assumed he’d left me without a second look.

Even if I believe him now, I can’t let it dupe me into getting my hopes up. “Well, it's a good rule to have anyway. What else?”

He lifts a shoulder at me, playing with the clothing pin in his ear as his gaze roves hotly down my body.

“Alright, um…,” I think, “Condoms–”

“Veto.” He says, his eyes cutting back to me and leveling me with a heated look that has my inner thighs quivering in excitement.

“You can’t just veto condoms.”

“You said we’d make the rules together and I say no to condoms.” His arms flex across his chest, stretching the taut material of his tuxedo, and for a second all I can do is stare at how handsome he is.

His tux highlights the athleticism of his form, hugging his broad shoulders and tapered waist to the very millimeter of his body.

He looks expensive and his styling drips of money, but it’s in direct opposition to how roughly he carries the suit.

He holds himself with the natural grace of a fighter, lazily perched atop that table with muscles coiled tight right beneath the surface, ready to strike at any moment.

His buzzed haircut, angry eyes, and strong jaw reveal the truth that he’s far from the gentleman he looks to be.

He’s a monster in a suit.

“I’ve only felt your tight pussy bare and I don’t intend to ever change that. You’ll take me without a condom.” He says, a pained groan escaping his lips at the thought and he cups his hard cock.

I shake my head. “I’m not trying to get any STDs, thanks. Since you’ll be sleeping with other people, you’ll wear a condom. That’s non-negotiable.”

“I won’t fuck anyone else then.” He says, stunning me with a compromise I wouldn’t have dared to offer. “For whatever amount of time we agree to do this, we’re exclusive. I don’t share well.” He warns, a muscle jumping in his jaw at his words.

Meanwhile, I’m still taking it in and trying not to show how pleased I am that he put monogamy on the table, even if only temporarily.

Instead, I scoff, laughing dryly. “You share very well actually. I’ve heard all about your fun with Rhys.” I add, the sting now a full-on stab to the chest.

His eyes darken as his jaw sets.

“I don’t share you.”

He’s categorical.

We stare at each other silently for a few seconds, our eye contact tense and intense. On the inside, I bask in the satisfaction of knowing that I won’t have to watch him put his hands on anyone else.

If you don’t like it, do something about it.

Somehow, I have.

For a small moment in our lifetimes, I’ll have him to myself. He’ll be mine and only mine. The sweetest taste of victory hits my tongue and I savor it while I can.

Ten-year-old me who wrote the note I never gave him jumps up and does a happy dance in her room.

I clear my throat. “Alright, that’s a good list. We already talked about the no kissing; the last one I want to add is us calling a truce. We don’t have to be friends,” I add quickly before he can interrupt, “But I don’t want to be actively fighting or being ignored by you. One of my good friends is dating your best friend, another is in a flirtationship, maybe more, with your other friend. Let’s be cordial for all our sakes and when we end this, you can go back to hating me for all eternity.”

“Then don’t talk to me about him,” He counters, not needing to clarify thehimhe’s talking about, “Don’t say his name. Don’t bring him up. Don’t mention the past.”

Phoenix’s eyes cut to my wrist, his eyelid twitching as he takes in the way I subconsciously rub my tattoo.

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