Phoenix Rising Issue #3 - S. R. Watson Page 0,15

so it’s almost comical when he gives her the chair and takes a seat on the sand. He’s sitting directly across from us, but I look away. Instead, I watch as the blue and orange flames dance.

“Who wants to start?” Mitch asks. “How about you? You’ve been quiet all day.” I look around and realize he’s talking to me.

“Nah. I’ll play, but I need to be reminded how it’s played,” I lie. “Why don’t you start since you suggested this game?”

“Fine. Truth or dare?”

“What? I thought we were coming back to me?”

“You said you need reminding, so here is your reminder.” He winks.

Maybe I could use his obvious flirtation to my advantage later.

“Truth,” I finally say. I don’t know if I’ll take any dares tonight.

“I’ll keep it simple for your first truth. Why have you been so quiet today? What’s on your pretty little mind?”

Hmm. Second overt flirtation of the night. Then it dawns on me that the Wild Silence crew may not be privy to the reason for Asher and Phoenix’s fallout. He clearly doesn’t know that Phoenix and I were lovers.

“That’s two questions, so I’m only answering one. I was up late last night and almost didn’t come. I skipped my nap for this outing.”

“Boring.” He fakes a snore. I didn’t really skip a nap, seeing as though I slept almost to noon, but apparently, my answer was enough to quell his curiosity. “Okay, your turn. Pick someone.”

Chapter Five

Harlow

All eyes are on me, but the deepest intensity bores through me from across the fire. Phoenix’s ice-cold stare penetrates me to the core. I don’t know what’s more troublesome—when he’s ignoring me or when I have his undivided attention.

“Lil. Truth or dare?” Of course, I turn to my only ally.

“Dare.” She grins devilishly.

I could dare her to do something out of character, but as I said, she’s my only ally. Although it would be fun to see her let her hair down, so to speak, I don’t want to set the tone for what she retaliates with.

“I dare you to straddle Asher’s lap …” I watch her mouth drop open in anticipation for what I may have up my sleeve. “And kiss him for ten seconds.”

She lets out a relieved breath. She quickly fulfills her easy task. The game is pretty tame with mostly truths until it’s Killian’s turn.

“Truth or dare, Phoenix?”

“Dare! Time I show you pussies how this game is played.”

My stomach trips on itself. Who in the hell in their right mind taunts the person issuing the dare? Killian’s nefarious smirk is telltale of what the hell he is about to unleash.

“Okay. Just remember you asked for it, pretty boy.” His grin widens with satisfaction. “I dare you to give Harlow a lap dance for an entire song. A real one too. No half-assing. I’ll pick the music.”

I suck in a strangled breath. His eyes meet mine, and for a second, I wonder if he’ll go through with it. Killian cues up the song “So Far Away” by Martin Garrix, and Phoenix rises from his spot next to Melissa. Her face distorts in obvious disapproval, but this only gives me a small sense of satisfaction.

Apart from Asher, the guys hoot and holler, egging him on. Phoenix walks stealthily toward me, and I have to look away. That damn swagger of his gets me every time. With a single unspoken nod, Ren gets up from the chair next to me. Phoenix reaches down and pulls me up to him in one tug. I stumble, courtesy of Jack, but his other hand wraps around my waist to steady me.

He lowers me to the chair like he’s lowered me to the bed so many times. I suck in a nervous breath, willing my heart to remain strong. More memories of our off-the-charts sex flood my mind. My skin heats under his touch, and I hate my body’s betrayal. God, how much time do we have left with this song? My will is holding on by a thread. The minute he straddles my thighs, my pussy aches with recognition. His thick pink cock is mere inches from where I need him. He shamelessly places my hands on each of his hard thighs. I can feel his muscles flex beneath my palms.

“Relax, princess,” he whispers before he begins to roll his hips above me.

“Don’t be so full of yourself,” I retort. “I’m fine.”

“Fine, eh?” He rolls his hips more slowly this time, causing my breath to become even more labored. “Is that