Chapter 9

JACOB

Back in college, I always wondered what Phoenix Clarke actually saw in me. I only went to college in the first place because I had no choice. Danny and Ethan, and a couple of others raved on and on about how good it would be, and how it would be different to high school. Yeah, I hated it there, too. Nothing else mattered other than realising my UFC dreams'. College couldn't give me anything. I knew that, at least not until my mother gave me an ultimatum and said if I didn't go to college or get a job, the alternative would be to move out. But with me still at college she qualified for benefits until I left, as well as the hours she did on the books. Where the fuck I was supposed to go, I had no fucking idea. My mum wasn't a bitch, but it was hard going. Dad left us for another woman when I was younger. She worked all the hours God sent, so most of the time I was on my own. Well, until my uncle stepped in and said I needed discipline. He was right, I was a little shit most of the time.

College was supposed to be my path to success. She had this misplaced respect for the school and the teachers, and listened to them rather than me. So, her only option then was to give me an ultimatum, I guess it worked, because I filled in the college application forms, got accepted and luckily scraped through with just enough grades to get onto the sports course that I wanted. I had no desire to do anything else, and especially anything that was academic. My uncle signed me up at the gym, and although I stayed at college for the duration, I hated every minute of it. I had no respect for the tutors, or the shit they shovelled about being better with a good education. When we had to study the physiology of the human body I almost dozed off. Yeah, college was not for me.

From the first day I saw Phoenix, I was besotted. She was pretty, clever, and caring, but on top of all that, one of the nicest people I had the honour to know. But, me being me, I had to try it on. I was the cocky fucker of our group, and I didn't care who didn't like it. All I did give a shit about was her being mine. And always getting what I wanted, I got the girl in the end.

"How long have you been awake?" Phoenix's sleepy voice caught my attention.

"A while,"

"Is everything okay?"She asked, a hint of concern in her voice.

I snuggled down in the bed and wrapped her up tightly. "Everything is perfect because I have you."I buried my nose into her hair and kissed her head.

"Smooth talker," I heard the smile in her voice, she loved it and it made me happy to give her everything that she wanted. My phone beeped with a message from the bedside table. As she lifted her head from my chest, she side-eyed me. "You going to see who that is?"

My gaze stayed on Phoenix as I gave a slight shrug, "It'll wait." I tipped her head back with my finger under her chin and kissed her, rolling her to her back and pinning her to the mattress with my body. We were still naked from last night; she parted her legs for me and it didn't take much searching until I found my goal. I pinned her hands to the mattress and joined our fingers as I pushed upwards. Her heat enveloped me. This was home; she was my home. Phoenix Clarke would always keep me grounded, no matter how big I got, or what path I took.