SAM
I’ve been in the bathroom a few times, puking my guts out, but it still hurts. My back is dripping with sweat, and I want to puke more. It feels like there’s a ball rolling in my stomach.
Thank God! Abby has a private doctor who takes care of me, and I don’t have to rush to the hospital.
Even my mother is a nurse, I hate hospitals and I never visited her at her work. Just for a dental checkup, something about it that scares the hell out of me.
I curl myself in the comfy king-size bed of one of the guest rooms at King’s mansion.
The doctor gave me something to relieve the cramps in my tummy, and I feel better for a while. He said it was not food poisoning-I might have eaten something that I am allergic to.
I know that I have allergies to mushrooms. There could be in the food we ate, but I didn’t taste anything like it or maybe I was just too famished after hours of shopping with the girls.
“Abby, where is Samantha? Is she okay? What happened? You sounded so worried over the phone.” It was the faint voice of Phoenix outside the door.
Crap! I’m gonna strangle Abby when I get my strength back. Does she really have to call Phoenix? I can’t face him when I look like crap.
I just want this moment, I just want to curl into a ball.
“Um, she might have eaten something.” I can hear the guilt in Abby’s voice.
“What exactly happened, Abby?” Phoenix sounds stressed. “And why didn’t you bring her to the hospital?” he demands annoyingly.
I want to roll my eyes, but I don’t even have the strength to do that.
“She’d seen by our private doctor. She will be okay, and she’s resting now.” Phoenix groans. “Can I see her now?” He asks quickly, making my body tense.
Abby, please, say no.
He can’t, and I can’t let him see me like this-I am so weak.
“Don’t you think she should rest first?” Abby response.
I release the breath that I’ve been unbeknownst holding too long.
“Abbygail Catherine, you shouldn’t have called if you won’t let me see her.” My eyes widen.
Is he angry at Abby? There are seconds of silence. My heart is beating faster.
“Fine, but don’t stress her out. She’s still weak.” When I hear Abby’s defeated voice, I sink into the warm duvet.
“What did you exactly feed her, Abbygail?” He’s not done.
I mentally groan. Can’t he just stop interrogating her? It was not her fault.
“She is allergic to something,” Abby answers.
He growls. “Did you let her eat mushrooms?” His angry voice roars from the outside.
“Phoenix, I swear I don’t know. We are all famished, and I just asked the head chef to bring their specialty, then we ate-” There’s a sadness in Abby’s voice.
“Whatever!” he snaps. “I will let Seb spank your ass, Abbygail!”
I close my eyes shut when my stomach rolls again. Now, they are fighting because of me. Seconds later, the door flies open. I don’t have to open my eyes to know who gets inside. I can feel the shiver down my spine, and his presence is overwhelming my senses-I feel alive, and my energy comes back as if I have never been puking my guts out.
The bed presses down when he sits at the edge. Now, I can smell him and feel his nearness, and his warmth alone ignites me like charging me.
He begins running his fingers through my hair. God! His touch makes me drowsy, and I want to sigh and just close my eyes, and his smell is intoxicating me. I can purr like a kitten because it feels so good. I missed this. I missed him.
He sighs in relief. “Samantha? Princess, are you awake?” His voice is almost a whisper, and I can hear the hesitation. He tucks the strand of hair behind my ear.
“Princess, say something if you’re awake, please? I wanna hear your voice.”
I wanna hear his voice too. I want him closer. I want to lie down in his arms and fall asleep. I want him to touch me that might relieve the pain I physically feel.
God, I want him inside me. Jesus, is this the effect of the drugs or the mushrooms?
“I’m okay, Phoenix,” I mumble.
I wish he can hear my thoughts. Does being sick makes someone horny? Because I want him to do me so badly. I mentally hit my head.
“Do you need anything? A tea, something to drink, something to eat. Anything Princess, just say it, please?”
I bite my lip to avoid blurting out that I need him more than any food or medicine right now.
He’s the food and the medicine I want. He’s my lifeline and my life.
God, I love him.
“Princess, do you want to take a rest?”
I want to roll my eyes even my eyes are closed.
Ugh! Why men are so dumb?
“Yes,” I murmur.
“Okay. Feel better, okay? Call me if you need anything, I’ll be just right outside,” He tells me quietly, running his hands on my hair one last time, then stands up.
I squeeze my eyes shut and groan-a groan that no one can hear even my own ass. I open my eyes when I hear his footsteps-he’s walking toward the door.
“Phoenix!” I yell, applying pressure on my cramping abdomen with my hand.
He stops and snaps his head back at me. His eyes widen in surprise.
“I need you, please?” I plead silently.
He’s in front of me faster than lightning, and it’s comical. If I have only the strength, I might have been laughing my butt out. He kneels in front of me with his eyes full of worries.
“What do you need, princess?” he whispers, rubbing my exposed arm.
I close my eyes to feel his warm hand and for the sensation to spread in my entire body.
“Can you stay with me?” I ask while my eyes are still closed.
“Of course, I will stay with you. Wait, let me get a chair, okay?”
“No.”
He stiffens. “No?”
“Stay with me in bed.”
“Are you sure?”
I manage to nod with my eyes closed.
When he gets in the bed, he sits beside me, leaning his back against the headboard after throwing some pillows away.
I turn my body to face him and lift my gaze up at him, he is glancing down at me. Our eyes meet-he looks worried, his brows meet together. There’s still a sadness in his eyes.
“Lie down beside me,” I whisper without breaking eye contact.
Did I eat something to increase my libido? Why can’t I control my desires? I should stop thinking right now.
Goodbye, self-control! I’m done controlling. I need him.
He gets inside the blanket silently-the same blanket I am using. He slips his arm under my neck, and I use it as my pillow, then he let his left arm draped around my waist, and our legs are tangled together.
I close my eyes to feel the warmth from his body and I’m drowning with my own desires. He feels good at my back. His breathing is tickling the back of my neck.
“Phoenix.” I almost moan just being close with him like this. Enough of pushing him away, and I need him back.
“Princess?” he whispers, and it sounds so erotic that I have to bite my lip stronger because I am almost lost in my thought.
“Your jeans are itching my legs,” I murmur.
“Do you want me to remove my jeans?” he asks without moving.
I nod. “Your shirt too.”
He mumbles okay.
A minute later, he slips back inside our blanket and hugs my back like how he did before.
Jesus, I’m dripping wet because he smells so good and he feels so good too.
The thin shirt and cotton shorts short Abby gave me feel like my second skin when he’s pressing against me like this.
He kisses my exposed shoulder. “You feel better like this?” His voice turns deep and husky. Now, I can feel him poking my lower back.
I want to press myself against him so bad and dry hump with him, and I am sure he won’t resist, but I’m too weak for that. Thank God my mind works well at this moment. What’s wrong with me?
“I missed this, Samantha. I missed you so much. I missed you in my arms,” he whispers in my ear, pressing his wet lips at the column of my neck. “Never a day passed by I never think of you. I can’t see straight.” He hugs me tight, inhaling my scent, then he releases a deep sigh.
I stay silent, press my lips together, and just enjoy this moment with him.
“Samantha, I wish this moment never ends. I want you like this with me. I want you back. I need you back in my life. You are the only person that keeps me sane,” Phoenix says, kissing the back of my neck down to my shoulder.
Goosebumps spread in my entire body, and I want to turn my head and meet his lips.
“You took my heart with you. I barely live, I barely breathe. You took my life with you, and I want my life back, princess.” He pauses and takes a deep breath. “You are my heart. You are my every breath and you are my life.” He pauses again. “I love you, Samantha Lorraine. So fucking much, it hurts. I love you so much.” His voice shakes in the end.
I gasp and I think my heart stop. My word suspends to hear him says those words that I’ve waited so long to hear it from him. I know it’s true and I can feel it in bones.
Butterflies wildly scatter in my stomach and I want to scream and jump up and down in this bed.
I squeeze my eyes shut, and if this is a dream, good lord in heaven, I don’t want to wake up. He presses me closer to him and sniffs. Is he crying?
“I love you, my love.”
I close my eyes when he says it again-it’s real, and I want to say it back so bad.
I wake up in the same position, but it feels cold and light. I sit up straight in my bed. I’m alone. Only a light coming from the lamp that illuminates in the room.
I remember Phoenix admitted his feelings, and it wasn’t a dream, but now he’s not here anymore. Did he regret it after that?
I frown, take the duvet, and cover myself.
The door swings open, and my head snaps to see Phoenix in the door with a tray on his hand.
A smile spreads across his beautiful face. Now, he’s the Phoenix I met months ago.
“Hey, how’s my princess?” he greets, kicks the door behind him, and walks closer to me.
I just stare at him and follow his move-I am still tongue-tied to talk.
He places the tray with a steaming bowl, water, fruits, and a cup of tea on the nightstand. He sits on the bed, facing me after kissing my forehead. We just stare at each other for a good whole minute.
“Abby and Seb went back to their home. Mom and Mike are already resting.” He finally breaks the silence while taking the steaming bowl from the tray.
He looks at me when he has not heard me saying anything. Did he really mean what he said before we fell to sleep? I think I’m still dreaming, but my mind and my heart are celebrating with happiness.
“I think you should eat, princess. Your stomach had been empty for too long.” He starts scooping the soup, and I’m speechless.
He put the bowl back to the tray and sigh heavily. “I know you are still mad me and I know I’m far from forgiven, but I won’t force you into forgiving me. I am just relieved that I was able to tell you how I feel before we fell asleep. I hope you remember what I said last night, Samantha because I mean every word.” He holds my hands. “Don’t worry you will hear it every day for the rest of my life. I love you, princess.” He squeezes them.
I can feel the huge grin spreads on my lips.
I take the soup and start digging it after a few blows because it’s still frigging hot. When I look at him, his eyes grow big and his mouth hangs open.
“I’m hungry and my stomach keeps grumbling,” I say in between blow, making him shake his head in disbelief.
“So, you can talk now, huh?” he teases and looks amused. “Seriously, how do you feel?”
“Not bad.”
“Slow down, my love. It’s hot.” My spoon hangs in the air.
I’m still processing everything that happened in this short time, and I like every damn thing about it. And I like it every time he called me my love. I feel special.
I blink then continue eating.
My heart is fluttering. Tyler and I were over, but Phoenix doesn’t have any idea, and I have no plan on telling him sooner. Let him chase me like what he said in my apartment.
***
“This house is so huge just for your mom and Mike,” I say while sitting on the couch at the balcony.
The cold wind makes me shiver, but it’s been a while since I am able to breathe freely like this.
“Abby grew up here. Mike has no plan to leave this place. This is the only memory of Abby’s mom. Mom is okay to stay here since Abby treats her as her mother.” He covers me with a blanket.
“Are you staying here for good?”
“Nope, Samantha. I have only one place I wanted to stay for the rest of my life,” he answers calmly, pressing himself to warm me. He then kisses the top of my head. “I will wait till the day I die if I can have a place in you. There’s nowhere else I wanted to be than to be with you. In your heart.” He points his finger to my chest. “But I want you to make sure if you really want to be with Tyler. I will still wait for you though because I wanna make sure if you break up with him he doesn’t get a chance to have you back because I will make sure that you will be mine forever. I made a mistake once, for letting you go, and if you’ll give me a chance, I’ll prove it to you that I also deserve a second chance.”
“Like I have a choice,” I snort.
He chuckles, “Will you come to my apartment tomorrow?”
I glare at him. “I’m not moving in with you, Phoenix!”
“I’m not asking, Samantha!” He glares back.
I can’t help but smile. “Then why are you inviting me to your apartment? I’m not going to have sex with you anytime soon.” That’s actually a big fat lie.
“I’m not gonna have sex with you too, Samantha.”
Ouch! I look down and hug myself. He laughs, his body shakes.
“Don’t be disappointed, my love. Never a day passed by I didn’t think of us making love together, in fact, I want to fuck you in this balcony hard and rough that you might be walking limp tomorrow.” He grins.
Bastard!
“But I don’t want you to cheat on him. I know the feeling of being cheated. When you’re done with him, I am always here. Waiting.” He lifts my chin, then kisses my nose.
I missed his smell, and I want to devour his mouth so badly.
Ugh! I’m not a saint!
Grabbing the back of his head, I crash my mouth into his and kiss him so hard and wet, and he moans immediately and kisses me back hard. He explores, tastes, bites, nibbles, and our tongues are shoving and fighting while we are sucking, groaning, and panting like we are starving animals. We both pull back.
“I told you I don’t-”
I press my finger on his swollen and red lips.
“That you don’t want me to cheat on him? I’m not cheating on anyone. I’m just kissing the man I want to kiss pretty bad since the moment I laid my eyes on him in that parking lot.”
His jaw drops. I stand up grinning and walk away.