Page 222 of Silver Sweet

Yeah, that was too far. I’m ready to fling myself on my mattress.

Harriet glowers. “You might not even be withyournew boyfriend next year.”

“True. Thank you, yeah. All valid points, Mouse Killer.”

Her mouth parts, and her gaze darts warily to Phoenix before daggering me. “You promised not to bring that up.”

Dude, how can someone fuck up this much? I put my hands on my head. “Around Ben,” I defend. “Phoenix doesn’t care that you murder mice in the name of research. Right, you don’t care?”Please help me,I plead through my eyes.

Phoenix is nodding. “Do not care.”

Harriet relaxes. She opens her mouth, then closes it. Her eyes flit around me. “Everything okay?” She’s asking nicely.

Holy shit, I must really look distraught. “Fine.”

She nods. Then zips her bag. “See you next week.”

“Wait, you’re leaving?”

“I don’t live here,” she reminds me, pulling the strap to her bookbag on her shoulder. “And I need to get back to the Honors House anyway and look over my summer syllabi.”

She leaves before I can apologize.

Phoenix and I retreat to the bedroom, and I pull him down onto the mattress. “We’ve got like an hour before Ben comes home.” I pull his shirt off over his head.

“You really don’t want to talk about it?” he asks while he unzips my pants. His phone buzzes on the nightstand, and he reaches over to silence it. Not even checking to see who it is.

“Do you want to talk aboutthat?” I eye the phone. Every Wednesday and Thursday his phone goes off like clockwork. His parents know these are his days back in New York, so they use it to suggest auditions around the city.

As if he needs a backup plan for when The Carraways crash and burn. The realism, I get. I just wish they had a little optimistic bone in their bodies. I hate that they still think I might ditch Phoenix for another drummer.

It’s never once crossed my mind.

Phoenix cups my jaw and pulls me into a kiss. It doesn’t last long since he answers my question. “They won’t stop unless I pick up a gig. But I’m not going to be like Birdie and split my time in two. I’m all-in on The Carraways, man. My parents will get sick of trying to protect me sooner or later.” He drags a hand down my chest and raises his brows. “You?”

My throat swells. “Tonight was the first time in a long time that Eliot and I weren’t on the same page,” I say, my face breaking. “It fucking sucks.”

Phoenix wraps his arms around me, drawing me into a tighter embrace. I close my eyes, his comfort better than any drug I could ever take.

51

PHOENIX ST. PIERRE

“Open your eyes,” I groan against Tom’s ear. We’re slick with sweat. Thursday morning sex in his bedroom is not a common thing, but Ben left early to have breakfast with Harriet on campus.

I’m taking full advantage of the private room. Especially since we’ll be back on the tour bus tomorrow.

Tom’s disheveled golden-brown hair hangs in his face, and I push it back with my hands. He’s lying on top of me, and we’ve been stroking each other for the past ten minutes. His eyes flit open from my directive, and his nose flares when I fist him harder. “Phoenix,” he grunts.

My breath is heavy. “Put my cock in you,” I tell him.

His chest rises and falls faster. Eyes search mine. “I can’t see behind me, dude.”

“You’re going to feel it out.” I reach for the bottle of lube on his nightstand. “Unless you don’t want to?—”

“I didn’t say that.” He seems nervous, but that doesn’t automatically mean this is something he won’t like. It’s just new for Tom. This will be the first time he’s ridden me. The way he’sacting, I’m almost positive he’s never been in this sex position before.

He sits up fully, straddling my waist. “Tuck your calves under my thighs,” I direct him as I spread my legs open.