“I don’t know. Maybe I did stop without realizing.” He offers me his hand and lifts me from the floor.
“Your face. It looks so much better already.” I lift my hand to touch his cheek, but I stop before I do so.
Without breaking eye contact, Phoenix captures my hand and flattens my palm against his cheek. “It’s okay. You can touch me.”
Heat spreads up my arm, and I become all too aware of his presence. The last erotic dream he sent me comes to the forefront of my mind, not helping me one bit.
“You were having a nightmare,” I say.
He frowns, dropping my hand in the process. His Adam’s apple bobbles up and down as he swallows hard. “Did I… say anything?”
“Yes.”
“What?” A glimmer of fear flashes in his eyes, breaking my heart.
“Enough.”
Phoenix takes a step back, facing the window. He rubs his chin and glances down. “It’s pretty obvious, isn’t it?”
“You never told anyone?”
“No. I can’t. His mark prevents me from ever disclosing the truth.”
“You mean that strange tattoo on your wrist?” I ask.
He looks at me, not hiding the tears that have escaped his tormented eyes. “Yes. It keeps my mouth shut and stops me from defending myself.”
“How long has it been going on?”
“Long enough.” Phoenix looks away, drying his face with the back of his forearm. “You can’t tell anyone.”
“Why not? Your father can’t keep doing that to you without retribution. He needs to be stopped.”
“Yes, he does. But I’m the one who’s going to make him pay.”
“How? You just said you can’t because—”
“I know what I said!” he snaps, making me wince. His face is contorted in rage, but it changes to remorse when he sees me through his fury.
He crosses the distance between us and holds me by the shoulders. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to lash out at you.”
Tears are prickling my eyes now, and my nose is burning. I’m moments away from crying my eyes out. I want to help Phoenix, but I don’t know how. If I weren’t a powerless Norm, I’d make his ruthless father suffer, despite Phoenix’s desire to get revenge himself.
“I know. I’m sorry too. I wish I could help.”
“You’re helping.”
The intensity of Phoenix’s gaze changes, going from utterly broken to smoldering in a few seconds. The atmosphere changes with it too, and my heart responds in kind.
Phoenix caresses my face with the tip of his fingers, sending tingles down my spine.
“I don’t know why I feel this way when I’m around you,” he murmurs. “I wanted to hate you so badly when you started here.”
“I think you did.”
He shakes his head. “No, I didn’t. Not you, per se. I hated that you could see right through my bullshit.”
“It didn’t stop you from torturing me with your visions.”
Phoenix’s eyebrows twitch. “I was a jackass. And you were right about those. They were my wet dreams, my deepest desires.”
He runs his fingers down my neck to the middle of my chest, leaving a trail of goose bumps in their wake even through my clothes. My breathing is already coming out in bursts, and heat has pooled between my legs.
“What was the last vision you sent me? Why that cabin?” I ask.
He frowns. “Cabin? What are you talking about?”
“Cabin in the woods, wintertime, fireplace?”
His eyebrows arch suddenly, and his mouth makes a perfect O. “Daisy, that wasn’t a vision. That was a dream. My dream.”
“Are you saying you didn’t send it to me on purpose?”
“No.”
There’s no mirth in his gaze, no shade of lie. He’s telling the truth, which makes me even more confused.
“We shared a dream?” I ask. “What does it mean?”
Phoenix captures my face between his large hands. “It means we’re more connected than we thought. Tell me you feel it too, Daisy. This link between us.”
I remember the immense sense of peace I felt in the dream. I was happy and safe in Phoenix’s arms. And when I was high and my reservations were gone, I felt the same way. My eyes drop to his lips. The split from before has healed, leaving only a faint scar. Before I can stop myself, I rise on my tiptoes and kiss him, softly at first, but Phoenix is not inclined to take things slow, it seems. His tongue darts inside my mouth, twisting with mine in a delicious dance. I step into his space, and he releases my face to lift me off the floor. Just like in the dream, I wrap my legs around his hips, clinging to him like a monkey.
Phoenix begins to move, and then we’re back to my bed. Still lip-locked, he removes my jacket and unbuttons my shirt. He cups my breast over my cotton bra, squeezing gently.
“So soft,” he mumbles against my mouth.
In retaliation, I run my fingers over his washboard abs. His skin is hot and taut, but I take a great sense of satisfaction when I feel goose bumps form where I touch him.
“Daisy, you’re playing with fire.”
I ease off the kiss to peer into his eyes. I know where we’re going, and despite our history, I don’t want to stop. I want to see if the feelings in our shared dream are real.
“I know.”
Phoenix stares at me with hooded eyes. “I don’t want you to do anything you’ll regret later.”
His words are laced with emotion and pain, and it makes me even more sure of what I want. The physical attraction between us is off the charts and undeniable, but I also have this burning need to make Phoenix forget about his horrible ordeal.
“I want you,” I say simply.
“Thank fuck.” He captures my lips again, pushing me gently back until I’m lying on the bed.
Despite my statement, Phoenix doesn’t lower his body to mine. He keeps the distance, bracing on his forearms as he devours my mouth. I reach for his jeans, brushing my fingers over the bulge there.
Phoenix trembles and moves out of my reach. His mouth goes south, leaving wet kisses down my neck and chest. Cupping one of my breasts, he licks the exposed swell, making me arch my back with a sigh. Then he pushes the fabric out of the way and traces lazy circles with his tongue around my nipple. I’m squirming now while a delicious ache blossoms between my legs. Sensing my need, Phoenix cups my sex, bringing forth a loud moan from me.
“That’s it, Daisy. Show me how much you want this.”
He pushes my panties aside and flicks my clit with his finger.
“I need more.”
Misunderstanding what I mean, he inserts a finger inside of me. The sensation is delicious, but what I really want right now is a taste of him. I press my hand against his chest and push him back.
“What?” he asks.
“Take off your clothes.”
Phoenix’s lips curl into a lopsided grin. “Bossy. I love this side of you.”
He stands up and slowly removes his jeans and boxers. His hard cock springs free, making my mouth water. Sitting on the edge of the bed now, I reach for him, curling my fingers around his shaft. Phoenix closes his eyes and lets out a hiss. Precum pools on his head as I glide my hand up and down.
“Fuck, Daisy. You’re killing me here.”
He dips his chin, locking his gaze with mine as I lick his base. Slowly, I draw my tongue up his length. When I cover the head with my mouth, Phoenix grabs a chunk of my hair and yanks a little. He wants to take control, and I let him have it, instinctively knowing that’s what he needs. I let him fuck my mouth as I dig my fingers into his ass. I take everything he wants to give me and more. His cock gets harder in my mouth, his grunts louder. He’s close to the edge.
But then he steps away suddenly, breathing hard.
“What?”
“No, I don’t want our first time to be this way, savage and manic. I want to come inside your pussy, Daisy. Nice and slow.”
With a flick of his fingers, he removes the rest of my clo
thes. Exposed, I lose a bit of my bravado.
“You’re nervous,” he says.
“A little.”
“Do you want to stop?”
“No.”
Relief washes over his face. He takes a step closer, dropping to his knees and placing his hands over my thighs. “Can I taste you, Daisy?”
The image of a sex god kneeling before me and asking if he can taste me makes me tongue-tied. I nod, earning another smile from him. He parts my legs and moves his mouth to my core. One flick of his tongue and I’m a goner. I collapse back on the mattress and lose all grip on reality. With each stroke, Phoenix pushes me further and further to a land where everything is bliss. But it’s not until he sucks my clit into his mouth that I shatter into a billion particles and cry out his name.
Seconds or minutes might have gone by when I sense Phoenix stand again.
“Please tell me you have a condom,” he says gruffly.
With my eyes still closed, I say, “In the bathroom, under the sink.”
I hear the hinges of a door opening, then the sound of a wrapper being torn. But I only open my eyes when Phoenix covers my body with his and the head of his cock is at my entrance.
“I promised you nice and slow, but I confess, I’m about to explode.”
“Explode then, but inside.”
He slides in, almost sending me over the edge again. To give him credit, he does try to pace himself, but his thrusts soon become harder and faster, and in no time, he reaches his climax. I can’t complain, because he takes me with him, and it’s just as good as the first time.
40
Daisy
The sun has set, and Phoenix is sound asleep. He might have lost control during the first time, but he made good on his promise during the second round. Who knew I could have so many orgasms in such a short period of time? My clit is still tingling from it.
But now that I’ve satiated my hunger for him, the grim reality comes back to haunt me. I stare at the tattoo on his wrist, and the fury from before returns with a vengeance. I have to find a way to free Phoenix from his father’s hold.
An idea strikes me. I get out of bed and grab a piece of paper and a pencil. Then I return to Phoenix and sketch the tattoo’s design to the best of my ability. Maybe the rare book still in my possession has details about it and how I can remove it.
Tiptoeing so as to not wake Phoenix up, I get dressed and walk out. I’m not sure what time it is, but it can’t be too late to bother my neighbors. Bryce was able to find the solution to Phoenix’s mind invasion with his powers. I’m hoping he can help me again. It shows how desperate I am to help Phoenix that I’m willing to put my pride aside and ask for Bryce’s help.
But it’s not Bryce who answers the door. Morpheus does. “Daisy? Is something the matter?”
“Can I come in for a second?”
“Sure.” He lets me through, and when the door closes, he asks. “What’s on your mind?”
“Is Bryce around?”
“No. He and Rufio went out to grab something to eat. Why?”
“I was hoping he could help my find some particular information here.” I show Morpheus the book.
His eyebrows almost hit his hairline. “You haven’t returned that yet?”
“No, and I don’t plan to.”
A grin unfurls on Morpheus’s face. “I like your rebel side, Daisy. So, what is it you’re looking for?”
“Have you ever seen this design before?” I show him my sketch.
He takes the piece of paper from me and frowns. “Is this Phoenix’s tattoo?”
“Yes.”
Morpheus looks straight into my eyes. “What do you want to know about it?”
I nibble on my lower lip. Phoenix is adamant that his friends don’t find out about his torment, and I can’t betray his trust. Revealing his secret would be a violation. “I want to know what it means.”
“Riiight. Well, I don’t know how Bryce helped you before.”
“He let his hand hover over the book until the pages flipped to the information I was looking for.”
Rubbing his neck, Morpheus pinches his lips. “I don’t think I can help you with that. But… can I have the book?”
He takes it to the couch, placing it on the coffee table before taking a seat.
“What are you going to do?” I ask.
“I can’t use the same method Bryce did, but like most Idols, I’m pretty fast.” He then proceeds to flip the pages manually so fast that they become a blur.
“You’re going to rip them,” I say.
“No, I’m not.”
It takes him only a minute to find what I’m looking for.
“Here it is, the mark of Ogmios.” Morpheus points at a design fairly similar to the one I sketched.
“Ogmios? What’s that?” I peer closer.
“Not a what, a who. He was an ancient binding god who had the ability to bind people to himself and control their actions. Nasty piece of shit. Why would Phoenix want to tattoo Ogmios’s mark on himself?”
Crap. I can’t let Morpheus ponder too hard about it. He might suspect something.
“Come on. Isn’t that kind of what Phoenix does with his visions? In a way, he’s controlling other people’s actions. I’m pretty sure he admires this god.”
Morpheus drops his gaze to the book again. “Maybe.”
I pull the book from his grasp, folding the corner of the page before I close it. “Okay, thanks for your help. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Probably not.”
“Why not?” I ask.
“Didn’t you hear it? I got a week’s suspension for attacking Drusilla.”
“What? That’s bullshit. She was— ” Words fail me, and I suddenly feel sick.
“I can’t believe you still can’t tell me what she did to you. Son of a bitch.”
His remark makes me so fucking angry that I push through the nausea. The room begins to spin as I fight to break free from her compulsion.
“I… caught her…. Ugh.” I take a seat opposite Morpheus and dip my head between my shoulders.
“Don’t force it, Daisy. You can get seriously ill.”
“No… I have to. Fuck!”
I imagine the compulsion as bindings around my tongue. One by one, I picture them snapping until my tongue is free. “She took some new drug… and it looked like… she was OD’ing.”
As the last word finally rolls out, the nausea passes. I broke Drusilla’s compulsion.
“A new drug?”
I lift my gaze to his. “I thought it was Silver-voltage at first, but I asked Nurse Ellen, and she’s never heard of an Idol overdosing on Silver-voltage before.”
Morpheus seems troubled. “Or maybe Drusilla got a bad batch of it. It serves her right. I’m convinced she was the one distributing Silver-voltage to Fringes, or worse, forcing them to take it against their will. Of course, I can’t prove anything.”
“And it wouldn’t matter either. It seems nothing she does earns a punishment here at school.”
Morpheus’s gaze becomes darker. “That’s why I don’t mind the suspension. She felt my power at full blast, and it lingers. She won’t bother anyone for a while.”
“It’s still not fair that you were suspended. Maybe I can speak to Principal Fallon on your behalf.”
“Yeah, I don’t think that’s going to help much. Drusilla’s parents asked for my expulsion. Principal Fallon negotiated for a week’s suspension. I should be glad I’m still here.”
I stand up, knowing Bryce and Rufio might return at any minute. “I’ll bring you notes from math class. I hope Mr. Atkins will allow you to take the quiz at another time.”
“Thanks, Daisy.”
I’m at the door with my hand on the knob when Morpheus speaks again. “Say hello to Phoenix for me.”
I turn around with wide eyes. “What?”
Morpheus smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “I can smell him all over you. Don’t worry. I’m not judgi
ng.”
Mortified, I can’t find the words to reply. I simply walk out with my face in flames. But the worst of this exchange is that I feel guilty. Over what, I don’t know.
When I return to my room, Phoenix is sitting on my bed, holding something in his hand. The light on the nightstand is on, casting a soft orange hue over his golden frame. He lifts his head to meet my eyes when I enter.
“Where did you go?”
“I went to ask Morpheus something.” I clutch the book against my chest. Phoenix is giving me seriously weird vibes right now. “What do you have there?”
He looks down again and laughs without humor. “Honestly, I have no idea. Maybe you could explain to me why you have an old picture of Principal Fallon and Mr. X.”
41
Phoenix
With deer-caught-in-headlights eyes, Daisy takes a step back. Her face pales, and she hugs the book she’s carrying tighter against her chest. I have a wild guess of who one of the other men in the picture is based on her reaction. I confess I felt sucker punched when I found the photo by accident. But the time I spent staring at it before Daisy came in helped me calm down and not jump to conclusions.
“Daisy?” I prompt.
“It’s not what you think.”
“You don’t know what I’m thinking.”
“I swear I didn’t know Principal Fallon’s and Mr. X’s connection until very recently.”
“And what is their connection?”
She drops her gaze to the floor. “I don’t think you’re going to like my answer.”
Her body is shaking. She’s terrified of me, of my reaction. Shit. I don’t want her to ever feel that in my presence again. I’m not sure when I completely flipped, but I’m firmly on her side now, no matter what her agenda is.
I stand up and approach her slowly. “Hey, whatever it is, you can tell me. I’m not going to hurt you.”
She lifts her chin, and I notice her hazel eyes are brighter than before. “Mr. X is my uncle.”
“What? How is that—”
“Adopted uncle,” she adds quickly. “I only found out a couple of days ago.”
“Son of a bitch. And this picture?”
Ruthless Idols: A Paranormal High School Bully Romance (Gifted Academy Book 2) Page 22