Phoenix's Revenge

6.

Phoenix POV

We have been preparing for this damn wedding all week.

It's supposed to happen this weekend, then I go live with my dear husband.

Except he won't talk to me.

I've basically planned this whole damn thing by myself and I don't even want a wedding!

So dumb.

I ask him what suit he wants. He stares. I ask the location. He shrugs. I ask the budget. He hands me his black card.

I'm about ready to drag him to the court house and get this show on the road. But no. It has to be some big display of unity.

Dumb.

It's midnight and I've been up finishing details. If I'm throwing something it'll be perfect. Nothing less.

I need to know what his measurements are to take to the tailor tomorrow. I hop off my bed and go downstairs to his room. I see the light on. Does this dude ever sleep?

I knock. "Hello? I need your measurements."

Nothing.

"I know you're away asshole."

Still nothing.

"I'll break this door down."

I hear a scoff. A fucking scoff.

Bet.

I step back and prepare to throw my body against the door. I take a running start and launch. Just as I prepare for contact, he opens it and I go tumbling into him. We land on the floor with a thud.

"You're an idiot, you know that?"

He rolls his eyes. "What's your problem?"

Really? I'll tell you. I'll tell you my fucking problem. My anger bubbles in my chest and I whip around.

"My problem? How about the fact that I've been planning our wedding by myself, fiancé. I've been picking out courses, a damn dress, your suit, your brothers suit. Everything. And what have you been doing? Moping. So, I think that makes you my problem."

I shove my finger in his chest. He just looks down then back to my eyes. Completely emotionless.

I can change that.

"You've been acting like a damn pussy!" I shove him back. "Ignoring me? Really? You see a tiny scar and what, get scared? Am I too damaged for the almighty Nikolai Petrov?"

I get the reaction I want. His jaw clenches and before I can react, he grabs me and shoves me against the wall. His hand makes it's way to my jaw and he forces my face to look at his.

"Call me a pussy again, sweetheart." His voice is dripping with venom. I see the Nikolai everyone else does for the first time. Rage fills his mismatched eyes as his face distorts into one that I saw in the warehouse. Primal. Terrifying.

Hot.

"What's YOUR problem, Nikolai?" I whisper.

He says nothing. Just scans my face, our lips inches apart. He finally lets go and turns around, running a hand through his hair.

It's a long time before he speaks again. I don't know why I stay and wait. Maybe it's just pure curiosity.

"How old were you when you were kidnapped?"

My breath catches in my throat. I don't talk about that. Ever. My parents don't even know everything that happened while I was there. My heart rate picks up.

"How- how do you know that?" I croak out. His eyes are back on mine, but now they're filled with something different.

Is that fear?

He lifts up his shirt and lowers his pants.

"Wow, dude you're hot but like foreplay is a thing." I say.

He rolls his eyes. Then I see it. GM is carefully carved into his hip.

I feel sick.

"Wait, but, you?" My mind has stopped thinking in full sentences. He just sits.

"How old were you?" He asks again.

"13."

"I was 16."

We both sit in shock.

"What was your number?" I ask.

Instead of names we were assigned numbers. It affectively dehumanized us.

"323."

And that does it. No wonder he was so familiar. We screamed together, cried together, laughed together and everything in between. Without thinking, I rush forward and leap into his arms. He freezes but I don't care. I've wanted to do this since the second his screams of pain echoed through the cells.

He finally relaxes and hugs me back. His strong arms completely engulf me as I bury my face into his neck. His hand come up to the back of my head as he holds me tightly.

I pull away.

"Wait, I thought you died! You were dragged out right before my dad came and found me!"

He looks down. "Yeah, well my dad never even looked. Just assumed I was dead. When the chaos broke out, I managed to fight him off. Honestly, I don't know how I made it out. I was out of my mind. I just remember calling my brother and then being picked up. That's all."

My mind is absolutely reeling.

"I need a fucking drink." He mumbles.

"Same. Be right back."

I run out and grab a bottle of Pink Whitney. We're getting obliterated tonight. I return and we both sit with our backs to the headboard. I pop the top on the bottle and drink. He reaches for it and drinks too.

"Looks like we're both damaged goods." He says.

"Shit. That's an understatement."

He laughs and I do too. I don't think we really know why we're laughing but we do. Until our side hurt and we're out of breath.

"We're so fucked." He says, shaking his head.

"Yup."

We sit and talk for hours. Until the sun comes up and we're slurring our words.

He looks towards me with lazy eyes. His smile fades and he stares into my eyes.

"I'm so sorry." He whispers.

I'm caught completely off guard. I just stare back at him.

"Me too."

He nods. The tension between us is tangible as we just stare.

Fuck it.

I lean forward and kiss him. He's surprised at first and I pull away. He looks at me again, a smirk taking his features over. He grabs the side of my face and smashes our lips together. It needy and rough. We both fight for dominance, until he wins. His hand travels to my neck. I press my legs together as our tongues dance. I move to straddle him. I feel his length grow hard and the kissing intensifies.

Just as fast as it started, he pulls away.

That's embarrassing.

I crawl off of him muttering apologies.

"I'm sorry, I got carried away and-"

He cuts me off.

"I have to stop now. If you continue kissing me like that, I won't be able to stop and you're too drunk to do anything like that tonight."

Oh.

I blush and look down. He scoots his body down and pulls me in so my back his pressed against him.

"Let's sleep this off. Then, I'll give you what you want, beautiful." His words fill me with warmth as we both drift off.