When he was seated, the woman gave them both a hand, palming the backs of their heads and urging them closer. It seemed like a juvenile thing to do, but Tarik wasn’t complaining. He’d wanted this for so damn long.
“Kiss him,” the woman whispered loudly in Phoenix’s ear. “And then, I wanna see him suck your dick.”
At that admission, Tarik’s cock thickened, pulsing behind the zipper of his jeans, a blaze of heat rocking him. He feared that Phoenix would be able to hear the erratic pounding of his heart if he listened closely.
Phoenix leaned in, whether on his own or because the woman was still encouraging him, but it no longer mattered when Tarik’s mouth met Phoenix’s. In fact, everything else disappeared except for the warmth of Phoenix’s lips, the taste of bourbon, and the insistent thrust of Phoenix’s tongue against his own.
A rumble erupted in Tarik’s chest as he reached for Phoenix, pulling him closer, sliding his hands into Phoenix’s hair as he kissed him back, holding him, never wanting to let him go.
“Holy shit, that’s hot. Two hot guys kissing. Oh, yeah.”
Tarik ignored her and her overuse of the word hot, sliding his tongue against Phoenix’s, searching his mouth, melding their lips together as the soft, silky strands of Phoenix’s hair slipped through his fingers.
They broke apart when the loss of air became too much, but Tarik didn’t want the kiss to end. He hadn’t gotten his fill yet. He feared he might never get enough.
Tarik locked his gaze with Phoenix’s, and what he saw there encouraged him. He could’ve done without the woman being there, but at the moment, Tarik was going to take what he could get.
“You wanna suck his dick?” the woman asked, giggling once more, another discordant sound that made Tarik want to shove his fingers in his ears and burst his own eardrums.
Tarik didn’t know who she was talking to, but he nodded his head anyway. When Phoenix reached down and unbuttoned his jeans, Tarik’s breath lodged in his throat.
“What are you waiting for?” Phoenix asked, tossing the woman to the side as he lifted his hips and pushed his jeans down to his thighs, his impressive erection jutting up from between his legs.
The woman wrapped her hand around Phoenix’s cock, eliciting a hiss from him while Tarik wished he were the one touching him.
“Get on your knees,” the woman commanded gleefully, chortling yet again.
Tarik slid to the floor and maneuvered between Phoenix’s legs, forcing Phoenix’s jeans to his ankles, still watching him, his eyes never releasing Phoenix’s gaze.
“Now put your mouth on him,” the woman stated, her words running together from the alcohol that was flooding her system.
“Is this what you want?” Tarik asked Phoenix.
Phoenix didn’t hesitate before he said, “Yeah. For a long damn time, it’s what I’ve wanted.”
Tarik nodded, understanding. They’d been doing the same dance for some time, but Phoenix had never admitted anything remotely close to that in all the time Tarik had known him, although he’d suspected.
“Put your mouth on my cock,” Phoenix instructed firmly, leaning forward and cupping the back of Tarik’s head, pulling him down.
Using both hands, Tarik circled Phoenix’s dick at the base, sliding up slowly, then back down, stroking him easily as he relished the smooth length of him against his palm, admired the way the thick head darkened even more. His mouth watered to taste him, to suck him deep, to make Phoenix beg him to finish what he was about to start.
He waited until Phoenix pulled his head toward him once more before opening his mouth and taking Phoenix’s cock between his lips, skimming his tongue over the swollen head, circling it before sliding all the way down his shaft and taking him deep into his mouth.
“Sonuvabitch.”
“Does it feel good?” the woman asked, her voice barely registering as Tarik focused all his energy on sucking Phoenix’s dick, pleasuring him in ways he’d only fantasized about.
“Fuck yes,” Phoenix agreed. “So fucking good.”
“That’s hot,” the woman muttered.
“Finger yourself,” Phoenix instructed her. “Make yourself come while he sucks my dick.”
Tarik continued to lave Phoenix with his tongue while he used one hand to firmly grip the base of Phoenix’s shaft, the other sliding down to fondle his balls.
“So fucking good,” Phoenix groaned. “Don’t stop sucking me. Take me deeper. All the way. Fuck.”
Phoenix’s rambling only spurred him on, made him wish they were both naked so he could toss Phoenix onto the black leather and slide his dick into his ass, fucking him until neither of them knew their own names.
“Oh, God,” the woman moaned. “I’m gonna come.”
Tarik ignored her, sliding his tongue down the underside of Phoenix’s cock and then sucking his balls into his mouth, teasing them, rolling them as he stroked Phoenix’s hard length with his hand.
“Fuck yes,” Phoenix groaned.
“Come in his mouth,” the woman encouraged.
“I plan on it,” Phoenix said, his eyes meeting Tarik’s when he looked up. “It’s too good.”
“Do you like watching him?” the woman asked.
“Yeah,” Phoenix said on an exhale. “Suck me harder, Tarik. Make me come in your mouth.”
“Do you wanna fuck him?” the woman asked.
Tarik’s eyes darted up to Phoenix’s face, wondering how he would answer that question.
“No,” Phoenix said hoarsely. “I want him to fuck me.”
Tarik released Phoenix’s balls and slid one hand into the front of his sweatpants, stroking his own cock while he sucked Phoenix harder, closing his eyes and imagining himself buried to the hilt in Phoenix’s tight ass. He couldn’t control the moan that escaped.
“Fucking shit,” Phoenix cried out. “I’m gonna come, Tarik. Motherfucking hell. I’m gonna come in your mouth.”
Tarik continued to jack both of their cocks, increasing the speed of his hands as well as his mouth as he sucked Phoenix deeper, until Phoenix’s entire body stilled, his hips thrusting up as he came with a roar. Tarik let himself go, coming in his own fucking hand as he swallowed every drop from Phoenix. All while praying like hell that Phoenix would remember what had happened in the morning.
Now, as he stared back at Phoenix, he wondered what the other man remembered when his memories cast images of that night. Had the alcohol obliterated it all, or did Phoenix remember as clearly as Tarik did?
“I didn’t block it out,” Phoenix admitted roughly, taking a step back and bumping into the glass table. “I relive that fucking night over and over again. It was just as fucking real to me. Don’t pretend to know how I feel.”
“That’s the problem — I’m not pretending,” Tarik barked. “I don’t have a fucking clue what you want. I don’t know whether I should let it go or take you hard and fast against the fucking wall.”
Phoenix’s eyes widened, his throat working as he swallowed hard. “Why now? Because I want this woman? Why the hell do you have to fucking complicate things now?”
Tarik didn’t know how to answer that question. And he feared that Phoenix was right. There was something about Phoenix’s interest in Mia Cantrell that felt different than any of the other women Phoenix had brought home. And for the first time, Tarik feared losing that possibility of something with Phoenix that had always been just out of his reach.
He had no idea what to say, so he backed off, putting more distance between them before turning to head to the door. Just when he thought the night was going to end on a shitty note, Phoenix called out to him.
“I don’t know what this is, either.” Phoenix’s tone lacked the frustration it’d had moments before. “But to answer your question, yeah, it feels just as fucking real to me.”
Tarik turned and looked at Phoenix.
“That doesn’t mean I’m gonna do anything about it.”
Swallowing past the lump that was quickly forming in h
is throat, Tarik nodded and turned away. He had nothing else to say. That kiss had said it all.
But the one thing he hoped Phoenix realized … Tarik’s patience was quickly wearing thin.
Chapter Twelve
WHEN THE ELEVATOR delivered Mia to the first floor early Monday morning, she gave the lobby a quick once-over before stepping off.
Deeming it safe because she didn’t see Phoenix or Tarik anywhere, she made a beeline for the front doors. Strangely, she would rather deal with the paparazzi than their knowing smiles and flirtatious gazes this morning. As it was, she’d spent all weekend locked in her condo, refusing to leave because she didn’t want to chance running into either of them.
Granted, she’d also spent both days thinking about them more than she should have. Even when she had tried to get in some last-minute studying, she’d found her thoughts drifting to Friday night. Each time they did, she’d blushed to the roots of her hair as she’d recalled what had happened in the limo. How could she have not known that Phoenix was the same guy she’d seen before?
“Good morning, Ms. Cantrell,” George greeted her as she approached the front doors.
“Good morning, George,” she said in return.
“I hope you brought an umbrella this morning,” he told her as he pushed open the door.
Mia pulled her small, handheld umbrella from her purse, showing him that, yes, she had thought ahead before leaving her condo. Technically, she’d had to go back to her condo to get her umbrella because she’d forgotten it. She’d also forgotten her coat, her school books, and her purse, but she wasn’t going to mention any of those things to George. He probably didn’t care that she’d been so caught up in thoughts of running into Phoenix and Tarik that the only thing she had remembered was her key.
“Have a good day, Ms. Cantrell,” George said when Mia stepped outside. She instinctively looked up at the sky, scanning for raindrops. There weren’t any, which made her feel better. She didn’t mind a little rain, but she preferred not to arrive at school looking like a drowned rat first thing in the morning.
As she began walking, Mia felt eyes on her, and she figured the reporters were lurking somewhere, but she pretended not to notice, keeping her eyes down and her feet moving toward the college campus. It wasn’t until she came to the corner that she got the distinct feeling that she was being followed. It was a first for her. She’d been lucky that, so far, the paparazzi hadn’t been overly persistent in their need for information and had generally let her be once she left the building.
Fearing her luck had run out, she began moving faster, glancing over her shoulder. It was because of her distracted state that she didn’t notice the man coming toward her until she nearly ran right into him.
“Mia? Everything all right?”
Mia turned back around and looked up into those familiar green eyes. The ones she’d been avoiding all weekend. “Yeah,” she said quickly, breathlessly, once more glancing over her shoulder.
She noticed Phoenix was studying their surroundings as well.
“Someone following you?”
“I don’t think so,” she said, but then opted to go for the truth. “Maybe. I kinda felt like someone was watching me.”
“Where’re you headed?”
For the first time since he’d walked up, Mia gave him a once-over, noticing he was wearing a hoodie and shorts, although his head was uncovered unlike the other times she’d seen him in the lobby of her building and at the coffee shop. Had he bothered to keep his head visible either of those times, she wouldn’t have been left to feel like a complete idiot a couple of nights ago.
Shaking off the thought, she met his gaze. “School,” she told him, pointing in the direction of the campus.
“Let me get my driver,” he said. “He’ll take you.”
“No, that’s okay. I’d much rather walk.” Not to mention, she would much rather get as far away from him as she could. The guy rocked a tuxedo like no man she’d ever seen, but there was something distinctly sexy about the outfit he was wearing now, the way his hair was slick with sweat, a fine sheen coating his handsome face, and she had no idea why that was.
“Then I’ll walk with you.”
Mia met his eyes again. “No. That’s not necessary. Really.” She didn’t want him walking her. That would mean she’d actually have to talk to him, and she didn’t want to do that. Mostly because she did want to do that and she knew she shouldn’t.
When his hand touched her arm, Mia fought the tremor that threatened to wrack her entire body. She liked the way his hand felt on her arm. Too much.
“Two choices, Mia. Let my driver take you, or I’m walking you. Your choice.”
“I’m sure you’re busy,” she retorted, doing her best to appear unaffected as his thumb casually grazed her forearm back and forth. She wasn’t even sure he was aware he was doing it, but she sure as hell was. Hyperaware was the state she was currently in, and it had nothing to do with someone following her and everything to do with this sexy, sweaty man standing in front of her.
“I’ve got time,” Phoenix informed her, and Mia realized that arguing with him was going to get her nowhere. At this rate, she was going to be late for class if she didn’t hurry.
Rather than saying anything more, Mia simply nodded, then started walking, and Phoenix fell into step beside her. They continued for a few minutes in silence. Of course, Phoenix was the one to spark the conversation, because Mia would’ve managed to go the entire way without saying a single word. It was enough just to breathe while walking next to him.
“What time are your classes over today?”
“I’ll be there until four thirty,” she answered easily. Too easily.
“Why don’t I meet you at the same place I leave you then? I’ll walk you back.”
“Don’t you have a job?” Mia asked, feeling stupid as soon as the words left her mouth. She knew he had a job. He’d told her so.
Phoenix merely grinned as he said, “I’ve got a job. But I can adjust my schedule to accommodate.”
The charm that oozed from his pores set off warning flares in Mia’s head. Damien had been that way, too. Always saying the right things, doing the right things. But in the end, she had learned how little she’d meant to him. She didn’t have any interest in repeating history, but she didn’t say anything.
What was she going to say? You remind me of my ex-husband? Even Mia knew that sounded absurd. Especially since he didn’t remind her anything of Damien. Not in the least.
Sighing, Mia gave in. She wanted to get to school, get the day over with, and then snuggle up with a pint of ice cream. Maybe then she’d be able to relax.
Twenty minutes later, Mia stopped at the steps that led to the building where her first class was. Turning to look at Phoenix, she offered her thanks.
“You’re welcome. I’ll see you this afternoon.”
“Okay.” She glanced over her shoulder at the building before meeting his beautiful green gaze once more. “I’ll see you this afternoon.”
The smile that tilted the corners of Phoenix’s mouth had her insides breaking out in song — a silent song, but a song nonetheless.
Forcing herself to turn around and walk away, Mia fought the urge to look back at him. She hugged her bag closer to her body and made a beeline for the doors, just as she felt the telling plop of water on her head as it began to rain. She could feel Phoenix’s eyes on her, and that giddy feeling stirred in her belly.
There was no way she was getting away from this man. Not even if she wanted to.
Which, she was quickly realizing, she didn’t.
»»»»»♥«««««
AFTER PHOENIX WATCHED Mia go inside the building, he remained where he was for a moment, studying his surroundings until he felt raindrops on his head. Shit. Just what he needed.
He still didn’t bother to move as he looked at the people milling about, moving toward the building, some heading in the opposite direction down the sidewalk. Was someo
ne watching her?
Something had spooked her, he just didn’t know what. Or who. As much as he wanted to find out, he knew he had to get back to his condo or Tarik would be calling out a search party soon. He was also hoping to avoid the downpour that the weatherman had predicted. In order to prevent his bodyguard having an unnecessary panic attack, he pulled his cell phone from his pocket and dialed Tarik’s number.
“Where the fuck are you?” Tarik asked by way of greeting.
“On my way back,” Phoenix answered. “And good fucking morning to you, too.”
“Did you need something? Or were you simply calling to fuck with my mood?”
“You’ve got cameras outside the building, right?” Phoenix asked, launching into the reason he called.
“Yeah,” Tarik stated, and Phoenix heard the clacking of a keyboard. Tarik was nothing if not efficient, which meant he was already pulling up the cameras before Phoenix even had to tell him the reason he was calling. “How far back do you need me to go?”
“Half an hour ago,” Phoenix instructed as he walked across the street, back in the direction he’d come from. The rain was beginning to come down harder, the wind picking up, and a rumble of thunder in the distance told him the storm was headed their way.
“Got it. What am I looking for?”
“Right at the point I come around the corner in front of the building. Go back a minute or two from there. See anyone around that looks suspicious?”
Tarik was silent for a moment, but when he came back, the information Phoenix was hoping to get wasn’t forthcoming. “Nothing, man. Does it have something to do with Mia?”
“I think so,” Phoenix answered. “She was spooked, but I didn’t see anyone around.”
“Probably reporters,” Tarik said. “They’re lurking outside more and more these days. Now that Landry’s engaged, they’re probably hoping to get some dirt on him.”
“Maybe. I’d think she’d be used to the reporters.”
“I’ll go back to an hour ago and watch to see if I see anyone. I’ll let you know. Did you escort her to school?”
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