Phoenix and Catherine's date had been nothing short of perfect. The food was delicious, especially the pasta, which Phoenix had raved about, and the atmosphere was magical. Catherine struggled to deny her attraction to him, but the truth was undeniable—Phoenix was her perfect match. He was flawed, yes, but perfectly suited for her. The connection they shared felt deeper than anything she'd ever experienced, as if their souls were meant to be together. His energy resonated with hers, creating a melody only they could hear. He might not be able to write new songs, but he could always sing to her soul.

"I have one more place I want to show you," Phoenix said, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Seriously?" Catherine replied, smiling at his enthusiasm. It was hard not to when he was so close and open like this. "You haven’t spoiled me enough already?"

"Not nearly," Phoenix said, his voice warm as he took her hand in his.

Her face felt hot as Phoenix led her down the street. Walking around with Phoenix Astar was challenging—even at this late hour, there was always the risk of being spotted. But they had on hats and scarves, and they moved quickly and carefully, almost floating down the street.

Catherine didn’t know where Phoenix was taking her, but curiosity bubbled inside her. Her heart sang with anticipation as he stopped them in an alleyway and blindfolded her.

"Seriously?" she chuckled. "Is this necessary? I could just…close my eyes, if that’s what you wanted."

"I don’t trust you not to peek," Phoenix teased. Catherine continued their journey blind, with Phoenix leading her. Her heart raced, and adrenaline fired through her veins. She didn’t know where they were going, but she giggled as Phoenix guided her into the unknown. It felt like they were moving upwards.

"Are we going up?" she asked, curiosity lacing her voice.

"We might be. But shh, you’re going to ruin your surprise," Phoenix replied, his tone playful.

"Fine," Catherine chuckled, giving in to the excitement.

There was a soft "bing," followed by a voice that said, "top floor," and Catherine chuckled again. Obviously, they were in an elevator. She assumed they were heading to one of Phoenix's many apartments, maybe to watch a movie or something. But when he removed the blindfold, she realized how wrong she was.

Her gaze took in a room adorned with roses and tea-lights, creating a fairy garden-like atmosphere. It was breathtaking, like a scene from a dream. Her eyes watered as she took it all in. On the floor, there was a picnic area set up with desserts, wine, and cushions to lounge on. It was beautiful, truly beautiful. She was at a loss for words, completely flabbergasted. No one had ever done anything like this for her before.

Looking beyond the enchanting scene, Catherine noticed that they weren’t in an apartment. No, they were much higher—in a sky tower.

"Hang on," Catherine gasped as she raced toward the edge, where they were soaring above the city. The view was incredible. The night was gorgeous and surreal, with the apartments and city buildings glittering like tiny stars below them. It felt like they were on top of the world, and in many ways, they were. "I can’t believe it. We’re in the sky tower," she said, smiling back at Phoenix. "How did you—it's like 11 pm, this place isn’t even open at this hour. How did you manage to get us up here, let alone privately?"

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"Magic," Phoenix replied with a mischievous grin.

Catherine gave him a flat look. "Don’t tell me you sold your soul again," she teased.

Thankfully, Phoenix laughed. "No, unfortunately, you can only do that once."

"Unfortunately?" Catherine raised an eyebrow. "Why unfortunately? What would you wish for this time?"

Catherine was acutely aware of her trembling hands as Phoenix stepped closer. His hand reached for her jaw, his fingers warm as they caressed her skin. "To kiss you," he said softly. "I would sell my soul right now to kiss you."

"Well, you don’t have to do anything like that," Catherine purred, her voice teasing. "You can kiss me as the soulless demon you are."

Phoenix chuckled softly, his smile deepening as his eyes met hers. They were analyzing yet soft, filled with something unspoken. "I know this won’t make any sense since we’ve only known each other a short while, but…I feel like I’ve known you forever. I feel so comfortable around you, so content," he said, his hand gently brushing her cheek. "I feel safe…just to be myself, which doesn’t happen for me."

Catherine’s heart raced inside her chest, pounding so fast she felt dizzy and lightheaded. It was surreal, like a dream. She couldn’t believe this was happening—that Phoenix Astar was falling for someone like her. "I feel it too, Phoenix," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I feel like I’ve wanted you for so long, even though it makes no sense," Phoenix whispered, leaning closer to her lips.

Without him even saying the words, Catherine was aware—aware of everything. His touch sent shock-waves through her flesh, as though his fingertips had the ability to bring her to life. "I know, I feel it too—it’s like I know you, even though I don’t," she replied. It was a strange feeling, but she could read him through his eyes. She could tell that he wanted this, just as she did. She could tell without him saying anything that this was something else, something more than just a fleeting moment.

"We don’t have to do anything you aren’t ready for," Phoenix's breath tickled her lips. "I just—I really have to kiss you again, Catherine. I need to kiss you—I want to kiss you."

"I want to kiss you too," Catherine whispered, her voice trembling with anticipation. "Please, kiss me, Phoenix."

There was no hesitation as Phoenix’s lips found hers, just as she had asked. Their last kiss had been under the influence of alcohol, but now they were both completely sober. Her entire body came alive as their lips met. Their lips seemed to mold perfectly together, as though they were designed for each other. His kiss was both soft and firm, tender yet filled with a fiery passion. It was a paradox of sensations, all at once. His lips teased hers, his tongue tentatively seeking permission, and his hands followed, exploring her with a gentle yet possessive touch.

Catherine tried not to think about how well Phoenix knew a woman’s body or how many women he must have been with to have such skill. She just wanted to focus on them—on him. His fingers were skilled, touching her in safe yet teasing areas—her arms, her hips, her thighs, and slowly down to her ass. He seemed hesitant at first, but when she didn’t stop him, he gave her a playful squeeze.

Phoenix was taller, so Catherine was on her tiptoes to reach him. That was until he grabbed her and picked her up. She moaned deeply against his lips, feeling the intensity of their connection. She wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him closer, which elicited a grunt from him. Their kiss deepened, their tongues tangling together as her hands raked through his thick, dark hair. No matter how close they got, Catherine just wanted to be closer, craving the sensation of their souls reconnecting.

Her hands moved of their own accord, almost as though they were possessed. They gripped his shirt, clawing at the fabric and ripping at the buttons to undo them.

"Touch me more," she moaned against his lips. "Please, please, touch me more. I want to feel more of you."

Phoenix was happy to comply. He led them over to the picnic blanket and laid her down. His body fell on top of hers, and some of the picnic items fell over. Neither of them cared. They were lost in each other, just like with their first kiss—something had ignited between them, a flame that was hard to extinguish.