PHOENIX
I glance down at her as she bites her bottom lip. Her hair looks messy, yet she looks so stunning, especially now that she’s turned on—her rosy cheeks make her look more radiant—her blue eyes darken, and her lids are heavy with desires.
“One last chance, beautiful.” I’m afraid that she might change her mind.
When she sits up on my bed—it alarms me—instead, she unzips her dress and let the straps fall down so her arms slowly, revealing more of her delicious skin, leaving her lacy red bra that barely covered her luscious tits—the tits that gave me constant hard-on since that night at the parking lot.
“You’re a tease, Samantha.” My voice becomes huskier. My cock is already jerking in my pants since I carried her from our interrupted dinner.
“Am I now, Phoenix?” She laughs, eyes go hazy, then bites her lip again. She strips off her dress slowly and kicks off of the bed, leaving a pair of lacy red underwear a
SAM I kiss him one last time before I unlock the front door of my house. “Why don’t you stay with me tonight, Samantha?” He doesn’t let go of me yet—he wraps his arms around my waist from behind, presses his body on me, and rubs his nose on my exposed neck. “It’s Sunday, Phoenix. I have to spend time with Mom. It’s been so long since we have the same day off together,” I explain, and it’s already two in the morning. He nods and lets go of his arms. I turn to face him, cup his face, and trace the bridge of his nose to the tip of it with my thumb—he looks so beautiful and teasingly hot. “I’ll spend time with you, I promise. Just not today because I promised Mom that we are going to have some time together today.” I can see the disappointment on his face, so I kiss his eyes, down to his nose, and press my lips to him. He kisses me back instantly, and I moan when he bites my lower lip. “Fine, I let y
SAM A smirk spreads across Phoenix’s face when he notices me gawking at him. He’s wearing a black tuxedo and looks yummy enough to be my dessert for tonight after the Art exhibit Fundraising event hosted by Hughes Industries. “Wanna have a quickie first before we go to the exhibit?” Phoenix asks, smirking, and I’m literally drooling over him. “I spent half an hour just to like this,” I say, motioning to my floor-length off-shoulder black dress. “I’m not gonna ruin just for a quickie, and we’ll gonna be late anyway.” “You’re right because quickie is not enough. I need to take my time making you feel good. Let’s go because if we stay here longer, I might shred off that gown from you and press you against this wall.” He presses his bulge against my rear, then kisses my exposed shoulder. The venue of the event is not far from the King’s hotel we checked in. Phoenix grips my hand when our driver opens the door for me
PHOENIX “Mom!” I stride all the way to the table where mom is sitting as soon as she comes to view. She smiles and meets me halfway. “Phoenix! You are so rude by leaving your girlfriend alone just to give me a hug.” Then she walks toward Samantha who’s shyly sauntering to us. Mom doesn’t need an introduction. She launches into Samantha and squeezes her into a hug. “Good to finally meet you, Samantha. I heard a lot about you already. Does my son treat you well? Or should I teach him some lessons because I can still spank his butt,” Mom jokes while Samantha hasn’t found a word to say, but I can see the amazement in her eyes? She clears her throat, “Pleasure is mine, Mrs. Williams. Your son just treats me alright if I won’t count him being persistent and cocky. Otherwise, I can’t complain. Thanks for having me for your family lunch!” “Now you can finally talk, Samantha? Thought you lost your voice,” I tease her.
PHOENIX My mind goes back to the lunch I spent with my family. I can’t help but think about how Samantha’s dad died. What if? My stomach twists, and the longer I think about it, the more I feel I want to throw up. “Penny for the thoughts?” I look at her who’s lying in my arms after our wall-banging. I break into a grin. “Just thinking about the wall that almost collapsed. It actually shook.” She giggles. “And that’s what you’re thinking all this time?” I push the thought back into my head. “What else would I think about, princess?” I really don’t want to lie to her about what is bothering me because I hate being lied to, as well, but that night accident keeps flashing back to me. I still remember the face of that man when the EMT tried to take him out of the wrecked car. “I don’t wanna go back home yet, but I have classes and I have to attend them to graduate,” she says while tracing her fingers on my ch
SAM I call mom as soon as I land. Mike’s jet is luxurious and I am pampered by the attendant even just for two hours. I sit on one of the adjustable spacious plush chairs. The jet has cozy leather couches, and of course, a modern and spacious bathroom, and a lot bigger than the bathroom in my house. I wish I have more than a two-hour flight because I’d love to avail myself of one of the cabins and the master suite. As soon as I step down the jet’s stairways, I feel empty. I missed Phoenix, but I have to let him stay with his mom. I don’t want to be selfish to let him come with me when I know he needs to be there. “Sam!” Mom yells my name, carrying a placard with my name written in a black marker. I roll my eyes because I can’t believe she does that. “Hey, mom. You have time to do that.” I kiss her cheek. “Have a safe way home, Ms. Anderson,” Phil says who helps me with my luggage to Mom’s car com
PHOENIX Three days ago... I growl in irritation when I hear her calling my name behind me. How does she even know that I’m here in New York? I think I make it clear to her that I have nothing to do with her anymore, and she’s never going to have me back. I face her, clenching my jaw to avoid swearing at her where everyone around can hear it. “Are you stalking me now, Gabrielle?” Of course, she doesn’t care how angry I am. She’s a bitch for a reason—an insensitive and selfish bitch! She cups my face and kisses my lips so loudly. I cringe. I can taste the lipstick on my lips, but she doesn’t taste like my princess. I grab her in her arms and push her away from me. I’m done being nice. This woman won’t just stop ruining my life—she’s not satisfied once, she wants to ruin me again. I did everything for her—I was a loyal boyfriend, never cheated, but look at what she did to me
SAM Three months Post-Phoenix… “Babe, text me before you go down the lobby, okay?” Tyler says. Yes, you hear it right. After seeing that photo of Phoenix with Gabrielle all over the gossips sites and tabloids, I don’t need an explanation. It was clear that he cheated on me. Amy, Maya, and Garrett tried hard to explain that I should hear it from Phoenix, himself, but it was obvious that they were back together. I was expecting to see him at Garrett and Maya’s wedding, but he didn’t show up—he just sent a gift for them. I changed my phone number and I quitted my job at the coffee shop the same day I found out about his betrayal. We didn’t talk at all or bother to contact each other in any way possible. That was it, after our night together in the hotel that night, it ended there.
PHOENIX After I don’t know how fucking long… Life is a fucking bitch! Why if you may ask because my life is a bitch. And I fucked up pretty bad, but I don’t fucking care anymore. It doesn’t make any sense, I know. My brother, cousins, and friends loathed me. Mom ignored me. I was sure my Princess was cursing me to death. Who won’t? When I left them without a single word. But none of them understood why because none of them had guessed what I did was worse than the loathing they felt for me. None of them had guessed how I desperately needed to see just a glimpse of Samantha. No one else had guessed how deep the cut in my heart compared to my previous broken heart. But I did it for her own good before I could hurt her more, and I knew I would one day. I had no choice but to end what we’d just started before the cut would get too deep. Lucky me, I had been practicing to be numb years ago, and I was back to
PHOENIX Six months later… Do you know it’s difficult to wake up someone who pretends to be asleep? And do you know when someone doesn’t like doing has always found thousands of reasons to avoid it? Well, yeah because I’ve been there—waking up someone who pretended to sleep, and gave me thousands of reasons every day. “Princess, I swear to God I will drag your sweet ass to the doctor if you won’t get up and get dressed right now!” I shake her shoulder under the blanket, but she never budges. She covers herself when I shout her name from our bedroom door. I’m already on my second cup of coffee, waiting for her to wake up until I decide to come to our bed and shake her. Now, I can’t wait anymore because I had to move our doctor’s appointment three times just for this week. “Go away, Phoenix! I need some sleep!” My wife slips her hand out of the blanket, gesturing to shoo me away. “Samantha,
PHOENIX My heart is still pounding in my chest since I saw the News about an hour ago. I don’t know why I feel guilty even if I’m not the one who hurt her—maybe because we had a history, and I loved her once somehow? Or perhaps I’m one of the reasons why that woman manipulated her into doing something horrible? I feel Samantha gripping my hand tightly. She kept telling me that Gabrielle will be okay throughout the ride to the hospital. I take a deep breath when we step inside the hospital lobby. According to the News, Gabrielle was the one who called 911 before the drug dealer killed Suzanne right in front of her own eyes. She must be so terrified and shocked, and she will never forget that extreme brutality of the murder of once she believed was her mother. I feel so bad for her, and I can see based on that News earlier that she was also beaten by those assholes. “Phoenix, are you ready? That’s her room.”
SAM My body is shaking with fury when I see Gabrielle at my apartment door. Those things she did to my relationship, to Phoenix, and to myself make me want to strike into her, grab her hair, and drag her down to the lobby, then kick her to hell. I don’t know what stops me from doing things like that, perhaps I’m a better person than her? If this only happens before Phoenix is back into my life I already punch her face. But she is not the bitchy Gabrielle—the insensitive, empathetic, and vicious woman. Right now, she cowers down while Phoenix is grabbing her and growling on her face. “Let her talk, Phoenix,” I say calmly to Phoenix while rubbing his back. He is losing his temper on her, but I can’t blame him though because we both had suffered a lot in her hands. “I’m done listening to her, Samantha. She almost ruined our relationship, and now that we are back together, she shows up again, and this time on our do
PHOENIX It’s almost sunset—the colors of blue and violet scattering the sky with yellow-orange and red are covering most of it. Everyone gathers at the shore, sitting at the beach chairs to witness the sunset. The chopped woods are already piled for the bonfire later. The smooth sand caresses my bare-foot in every step I make. The sound of waves rippling softly at the shores is so calm as I walk hand in hand with my fiancée, Samantha through the shoreline. This is the best feeling in the world—at this moment all I can think is I am such a lucky man—being loved and in love with the same woman. She is kicking the small waves every time they reach our feet—it feels like a soft massage. I can’t help but smile at how she laughs when the seawater hits me. “Childish,” I mutter, grinning. She doesn’t care. I can see how much she enjoys doing it, and I’m beyond happy watching her laughing freely because i
SAM The two-story beach house owned by Abby is beautiful—it’s a gift for her husband on her nineteenth birthday. I can’t help but appreciate the magnificent view that catches my eyes. An azure blue sea in a seemingly calming current, and the sounds of the rippling of waves hitting the seashores. fluffy white clouds drifting up in the sky, the seagulls squabbling overhead. I can taste the salty smell of the breeze. “This is the best part of the house,” Abby says proudly while we girls are leaning against the concrete balustrades of the balcony. We run over here as soon as Abby announces that she will show us the patio, leaving the guys behind us. “Aside from our bedrooms, this is the best,” Izzy agrees, giggling with Abby. “You two stop with your innuendos. Sandy is single, and I need you two to arrange blind dates for her,” I retort. Sandy elbow me with a grunt. “Oh, sister-in-law it’s been taken
UNKNOWN Somewhere in the neighborhood... I slumped myself down to the worn-out bed after kicking off my ten-dollar high heels. My eyes are focused on the white boring ceiling that is almost yellow, and the paint is cracked at every corner of my small bedroom. This place is too old and needs remodeling, but I can’t even afford to do that. I release a deep sigh, sniffing at the overused dress that I wore almost every day to the diner where I work for over a year now. I wince at the smell of grease, sweat, and a cheap perfume I bought last week after receiving my salary. This isn’t the life I want—I always dream so high when I was a kid. I dreamt of owning sky-high buildings, fashion and cosmetics lines, and of course a yacht. I love places like Greece, France, and the Caribbean—I’ve been to those places many times, and it all suddenly changed. Patience is the key. I chuckle.
PHOENIX I wake up with the warm limbs draping over me. Samantha is still snoring in my arms. I slowly slip out my body from her warm cuddle. No matter how much I want to stay and cuddle her all day, I already have plans for today and for the whole weekend. I’m secretly talking with Sandy for these last three days. I still didn’t tell her that I knew she is my sister. Hawk will kick my ass to the other part of the continent if he will find out I’m hiding this kind of secret from him. I start packing our clothes that’s good for three days. I bought some clothes and swimsuits for Samantha and tanning or sunscreen lotions women these days are using. I drag our two travel bags to the front door. I pick up my phone and scan Sandy’s contact that I stole from Samantha’s phone. Phoenix: Get your ass ready. We’ll be there in about an hour. A few seconds later my phone buzzes signifying a message. S
SAM I’m still in shock with what I’ve found out. Sandy finally tells me everything, and I just listen closely to every word she says to me, but she makes me promise that I can’t tell anyone. But I may have to tell someone about it because I’m not good at keeping secret especially when the people I care about is involved. “Your phone is ringing, Sam.” Sandy’s voice jarred me out of my thoughts. I dug my phone from my bag. Our supposed to be an Arrow marathon turns to be a telling of her life story. I look at her when I check out my phone screen. She nods. “Handsome, miss me?” I answer. “You have no idea, beautiful. My cock is in need of your attention. I missed you, princess.” I can clearly hear the cheerfulness in his voice. How will he react if I’ll tell him the truth? God! It’s hard to be in this position. “Are you coming already?” I ask, biting my lip. “On my way, beautiful, it’s just three bl
SAM Phoenix’s mouth hangs open as he stares at me for a good minute, then he finally blinks and laughs out loud. A whimper slips from my lips, and as fast as lightning, I am pressed underneath him, and he is grinning like an idiot. “Shouldn’t you at least say it back?” I raise a brow. “Nah,” that’s all he says before he crashes his lips on mine and kisses me slow, sweet, and innocent. “Sorry, princess but I’m not having sex with you tonight.” I fake a pout. “Not even a dry humping?” “Are you that desperate, my love?” I nod, biting my lip, then we burst into a laugh while our bodies pressed together. “I love you, Samantha. So fucking much!” “Good, Phoenix,” I reply. He then kisses my forehead, my eyes, my nose, my ch