Page 66 of West Bound

Oh fuck.

Does this idiot not see the fire radiating off of Phoenix? Hell…does he not see Phoenix?

My hands start to tremble and if I were standing, my knees would be knocking. Running into an old hookup has never been a worry for me. I’ve never had to think about being with one and running into another because I don’t go out with the guys I sleep with. We literally only have sex. Never a meal or a movie or a walk in the park. Those are not the things a guy I’ve been with has ever wanted from me. And vice versa.

But when a guy claims you in front of his entire team, says he wants to go home then has to watch another dude ask “his girl” to go back to his place, I’m thinking that it is the kindling to a raging inferno.

“Yo, shithead,” Phoenix barks. “She’s not going anywhere with you. She’s mine.”

My blood boils hearing him talk like I’m his dog that he’s taken for a walk. But sadly, it also makes me squirm.

“Phoenix.”

“What, Peaches?” he asks, completely ignoring Garrett. “Was it not your pussy on my face last night? I could’ve sworn I heard you scream out my name when I fucked you up against the shower wall. You know, it was right after you gagged on my cock.”

I. Am. Speechless. Not by the things Phoenix said because if I’m being honest, it was a total fucking turn on to hear him say those. What has me shooketh is the fact that Garrett is still standing a foot away, listening in on Phoenix talk like we’re alone.

“Wow, Vivian. I didn’t realize you were dating someone. You always told me you had a ‘fucking only’ policy. It’s why I never asked you out, but if you’re still willing…”

Oh God, Garrett. Shut up and get the hell outta here.

“Are you fucking deaf, man. She’s with me. Mine. Not yours. And she has a no dating assholes policy, so that means you. Back the fuck off,” Phoenix growls.

And dumbshit Garrett must have a death wish because he does not, as Phoenix suggests, back off.

“What if I don’t?” He asks with a smug grin.

Phoenix slowly rises to his full height which has Garrett at a great disadvantage since he only stands at about five-ten. Not to mention Phoenix has broad, muscular shoulders while Garrett is trim, like someone who runs or rides bicycles. I’m not really sure, but I know he is definitely not throwing baseballs at guys at speeds up to one hundred and one miles per hour.

“I will fucking end you, you piece of shit. Leave my girl alone and don’t let me ever find out you so much as looked at her, again.”

“Phoenix, stop.” I place my hand on his forearm and turn to Garrett. “You should probably leave. Sorry.”

He eyes Phoenix up and down, gives me a crooked smile and saunters off. Phoenix’s body instantly relaxes and now I’m the one left fuming.

“What the hell, Phoenix? How dare you talk to my friend that way.”

“Friend? Is that what you call all of your fuck buddies?” he scoffs.

I glare at him and retract my claws despite the fact that I seriously want to rip his face off. This guy has the nerve to come in here and boss me around like I’m his pet, swinging his dick around to let other guys know that I’m his. It’s been three fucking days, for Christ’s sake.

“Don’t go there, Phoenix. We both know about each other's past. And Jesus…why don’t you just pee on me. Might be easier than having to act like a caveman every time someone looks at me. And speaking of,” I angle my body towards his and straighten my spine, readying myself to give a piece of my mind. “Who ever said I was ‘your girl’? That isn’t something we’ve talked about. Who says I want to be your girl?”

Phoenix clenches his teeth and I see the muscle in his jaw clicking. I feel like I’ve just waved the red flag in front of an angry bull and now I’m about to regret my whole life.

“I said. That’s who,” he bellows, stabbing his finger into his hard chest. “I already told you to cut the bullshit. You know you want me, want this. Just quit playing these fucking games, Vivian. Now get your ass up and let’s go so I can fuck some sense into that beautiful head of yours, because I don’t have the patience for this conversation again.”

He slams his fist down on the table and the empty glasses jostle and I flinch. I’m slightly terrified of what this man could do to me. To my body and my heart. And right now, he’s giving off “my woman, my pussy” vibes.

“I can’t deal with you always bossing me around, pounding on your chest like, ‘me man, this woman, mine’,” I say, grunting to imitate him. “It’s been three days, Phoenix. Thi–”

“No, Vivian. This started years ago, and you know it. I may have been a dumb fuck boy back then, but I’m not now. You’ve seen the real me. You spent two days telling God how much you liked me. Or at least, it sounded like praise.” I cross my arms over my chest to hide my hardening nipples and turn away from him. “What are you so afraid of?”

I feel a tightening in my chest and it has my breath catching. The slight tinge of pain is a reminder of the shy girl who let a boy stomp all over her heart. A heart that he didn’t know she had already given him.

I was young and naive and foolishly thought if I gave myself to a boy, he’d protect my heart and love me the way I knew I could love him. But what I ended up with was a mile high brick wall that I built to protect myself. I haven’t let any man scale that wall, and you better believe that not one of the men that have come and gone from my life has seen behind it.

“Vivian?” My face is slowly pulled in the opposite direction until my eyes meet Phoenix’s. “What are you afraid of?” he asks again.

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