by Joanna Blake
"I love you, Phoenyx Delancey."
"And I love you, Clint McRae."
He grinned.
"I'm going to marry you."
"I know."
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Clint
“Now, young lady, we have to have a talk.”
I patted the seat beside me. I’d finally let her get up and do stuff around the house that morning. She was smiling wide and prettier than a peach when she sat next to me on her frilly white loveseat. As always, I marveled at how lovely she looked, as if she had stepped out of a soap commercial or some soft focus movie about true love and dreams. It was more than just her fresh faced youth. It was something inside her that made her just glow with good health and energy. I wasn’t sure how she did it.
Especially since we’d made love half the night and most of the morning. I knew she should rest. I knew it. But once I’d laid hands on her, it was game over. I hadn’t stood a chance.
“What is it, Clint?” She asked guileless, immediately adjusting to my serious tone. She was such a good girl. Respectful, playful and loving. I couldn’t have imagined someone better suited to me. Her body, her mind, hell even her soul fit into mine in a remarkable way. We were seamless. That was what it was.
We were a team.
“It’s time to make a change. I got you some brochures from the college. I have a friend there, and they said they can get you admitted for courses by the second semester, even though the deadline has passed.”
“College? I don’t understand. Do you think I’m not smart enough?”
Huge blue eyes blinked up at me as I frowned in consternation. This was not going well.
“No, honey. Nothing like that. You are perfect just the way you are,” I said, placing a quick kiss of her pert little nose. She looked reassured, but only for a moment. Then she seemed confused and a little wary again. I sighed.
“Then what?”
“Well, it’s time to think about what you want to do. After.”
“After what?”
“After riding,” I said, giving her a firm look. The kind of look that said not to argue. I thought she might get riled up. But instead, she laughed.
“After riding? You mean competitive riding? I have at least fifteen or twenty years left in me. And I plan to own my own stables, after that. I will never give up riding. Maybe I could take a course or two,” she added sweetly. “If it means that much to you.”
Well, damn. This was not going to plan. I hadn’t expected her to have such a well-thought out plan.
“Horses are dangerous, honey. Not safe for precious cargo like you to be bouncing around all hell for leather.”
She laughed again and poked me in the chest.
“You are too funny. What did you want to talk about?” She fluttered her eyelashes at me. “Wedding plans?” She leaned in closer, her eyes on my lips. “Or did you have something else in mind?”
“Don’t distract me, sweetheart. This is serious.”
“What is serious?” She asked, starting to sound exasperated.
“I don’t want you riding anymore,” I said, plainly. I couldn’t be any clearer than that.
Well, that got her attention.
“You what?”
Her face was pale. Her eyes were blazing. And she was looking at me like I was damned near out of my mind. And the truth was… maybe I was. Maybe I was out of my mind. But I was adamant. The only way to keep her safe was to keep her off the back of a damned horse!
“I am putting my foot down, Phee. I can’t go through that again. People get hurt sometimes. Worse than hurt. Riders get cocky or reckless. They get thrown. They get killed. I can’t stand the thought of losing you, honey. I just can’t.”
Her eyes softened a little.
“I heard about David. I am so sorry, Clint. I wasn’t sure how to bring it up.”
I hung my head and took a deep breath as she continued.
“I don’t blame you for being scared.”
“I’m not scared. I am insistent. It’s my way or the highway darlin’,” I insisted.
“That’s not living, Clint. Being afraid all the time. It is the absence of living. Riding is like breathing to me,” she added quietly. And then said something that twisted me up inside. “Don’t make me chose, Clint. Please don’t.”
I yanked her against me roughly.
“Phee, my God girl, I love you too damned much. I can’t lose you.”
“I love you, too. And God willing, nothing bad will happen to either of us. My plan is to be with you forever, honey. Don’t you see that?” Her words were muffled where I had her pressed tight against my chest. But I felt them all. They went right to my core.
“You looked like a rag doll lying there. I was so scared, Phee. I’ve never been so scared in my life.”
“I know,” she said simply, holding me back just as tightly as I was holding her. “I know.”
We sat like that the longest time. Finally I pulled back, so I could brush the fiery red hair out of her eyes and kiss her. I took her hand and led her to the bedroom. We didn’t need to talk. We just needed to be.
As I lay there that night, staring at the ceiling I realized something. The young woman in my arms was more than a partner. She was more than a beautiful playmate. She was a teacher, too. Damned if she hadn’t shown me the way. I kissed her shoulder and she snuggled closer, without waking.
The girl loved me, even when she was sound asleep!
I never mentioned her not riding again.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Phoenyx
One Year Later
I stared at myself in the mirror while my mother held the necklace against my throat. I barely recognized myself. I looked… grown up. I looked like a woman who was about to be married. And I was.
"Really, mom? I can wear this?"
She nodded and clasped the gold chain behind my neck. A dazzling heart studded with diamonds nestled just above my cleavage. This was a special necklace to her. I even remembered the Christmas morning that my daddy had given it to her.
"It's just a loan. Something borrowed. But I think someone else sent you something blue…"
She handed me a box and I smiled. I knew it was from Clint. There was a little card on top that just said 'Can't wait to make you mine.' I opened the box and gasped.
A pair of stunning earrings sat on a bed of black velvet. They were big diamond studs with detachable sparkling sapphire teardrops, encrusted with smaller diamonds.
My cowboy had gone all out with his wedding gift.
"These must have cost more than his truck!"
My mother's eyes twinkled as she helped me put them on.
"That man loves you something awful, Phee."
My eyes were watering up as I stared at the earrings in the mirror. They matched the color of my eyes exactly. I wondered how he had pulled that off?
My man was a miracle worker.
"You ready, sweetheart?"
I nodded and my mom checked the hallway. "All clear. Your escort awaits." She laughed, shaking her head as she picked up her shawl and headed out. "All three of them!"
I picked up my bouquet of white roses and daisies, stepping out into the hallway. There stood three of the best-looking men in Tennessee, or Texas. Hell, I was pretty sure they were the best looking men in the country, if not the entire world.
Minus one of course.
All three of my cousins had insisted on walking me down the aisle, even Jake. And all three of them were wearing custom fit suits in a dark gray, with blue ties. I knew Clint had one too. I'd picked them out myself.
I smiled happily, not sure whose arm to take. Jake and Daniel rolled their eyes as Jackson shoved his elbow out.
"Age before beauty?"
Daniel laughed at Jake's joke. I offered him my other arm. Jake shook his head and stepped behind me.
"That's alright. I can bring up the rear."
Daniel nudged me and whispered "That's what she said!" I
snorted as we stepped into the church doorway. The crowd turned and saw a cackling bride and three massive galloots walking her down the aisle.
What nobody knew, other than my mother and Clint, was that there was a fifth Delancey walking down that aisle with us. That’s right. We’d been rolling the dice all year without protection and finally come up snake eyes.
The bride had a bun in the oven.
Clint was beaming with pride as my cousins placed my hand in his. I noticed that Jackson glared at the groom as he handed me over. He still didn’t trust Clint. If Jackson had any idea that I was pregnant at my own wedding, he would have gone through the roof. I bit my lip, hiding a secret smile. I had to remember not to rest my hand on my belly, as I had been doing lately. It wasn’t a conscious thing. I was just holding my baby.
The preacher kept the ceremony light. Clint squeezed my hand now and then, as we stole heated glances at each other. My whole family had been around all week so we hadn't had more than a few moments together.
To make it worse, my cousin's had insisted he stay in a hotel. They kept saying it was only proper. The truth was, I was pretty sure they just wanted to torture him.
Clint told me he was going to burst into flames if he didn't get under my dress right after the ceremony. I had laughed, thinking it was a joke. But I stole a glance down to the front of his jacket, where there was an oversized bulge.
My eyes widened just as the preacher asked me if I took Clint to be my lawfully wedded husband. I'd gotten distracted at the pivotal moment! I sputtered out a yes and Clint rolled his eyes heavenward. He was loud and sure as he said his 'I do's'. The preacher pronounced us man and wife as the crowd hooted and hollered. Then we were kissing before I knew what happened.
I felt his hardness against my belly while he kissed me long and hard. I had a feeling he hadn't been joking about getting busy after the ceremony. We were going to have to wait to join our guests for cocktails and dancing. Not that I could drink with my tiny passenger on board. My thoughtful groom had taken care of that too, making sure there were plenty of bottles of sparkling apple cider on hand so I could look like I was having champagne with everyone else.
And just like that, it was over.
Clint lifted me up and carried me out of the church and into the limo outside. We didn't even throw the confetti.
It was a short drive to the reception hall but Clint told the driver to take the scenic route. He spent the whole ride buried between my thighs. First with his tongue and then with his manhood.
"Sweet Jesus wife, you feel good!"
I cried out in ecstasy, unable to form words. He was doing things to me with his manly parts that would make a body weep with pleasure. He pumped in and out of me relentlessly until he tensed up, calling out my name.
My married name.
"Good lord, Mrs. McRae!"
It was the first time I'd ever been called by it, and damn if it didn't push me over the edge again. I convulsed against him as he brought me to another orgasm, just by holding still inside me. He kissed me as I shook all over his cock. He whispered over and over again that he loved me. That I was his wife.
His wife. That was me.
Phoenyx Delancey McRae, also known as, the luckiest girl in the whole damned world.
After the Delancey Brothers Saga
Clint and Phoenyx’s story will be continued in the revamp of Jake’s book- COMING SOON!
About the Author
The Margarelli Brothers Book 2
Thank you for reading Phoenyx Rising! If you enjoyed this book, please let me know by reviewing on Amazon and on Goodreads! You can find me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, join my mailing list, or you can email me at: [email protected]
Coming soon
The Margarelli Brothers Book 2
The Devil’s Riders Book 9
The rest of the Delancey Brothers series
The Untouchables MC (ongoing)
Cuffed (The Untouchables MC Book 1)
Mean Machine (The Untouchables MC Book 2)
Rough Stuff (The Untouchables MC Book 3)
Hard Road (The Untouchables MC Book 4)
Preacher (The Untouchable MC Book 5)
The Devils Riders (ongoing)
Wanted by the Devil (Devil’s Riders MC Book 1)
Ride with the Devil (Devil’s Riders MC Book 2)
Trust the Devil (Devil’s Riders MC Book 3)
Dance with the Devil (Devil’s Riders MC Book 4)
Marked by the Devil (Devil’s Riders MC Book 5)
Luck of the Devil (Devil’s Riders MC Book 6)
Touched by the Devil (Devil’s Riders MC Book 7)
Claimed by the Devil (Devil’s Riders MC Book 8)
The Margarelli Brothers (ongoing)
Sweet and Vicious
Book 2 (coming soon)
Rock Gods (complete)
Dare Me (Rock Gods Book 1)
Slay Me (Rock Gods Book 2)
Cover Me (Rock Gods Book 3)
With bella love-wins
Inheriting the Virgin
Winning the Virgin
Other books by joanna blake
The Tequila Trilogy (expanded and rewritten trilogy of Grind, Heat, and Deep)
California Nights Duet (expanded and rewritten Bro’ and A Bad Boy For Summer)
Player
Go Long
Go Big
Cockpit
Hot Shot
Torpedo