Don't Tempt the Phoenix

by CJ England

  She bent over him, her long hair tickling his chest as she began to nibble on his neck. “Not just sex toys. I read the tarot cards and we had an apothecary…an herb shop as well.”

  His mind went fuzzy with the way she was touching him and he groaned. Already he was hard again and ready for action. He moved underneath her. “Assai…the only toy I am concerned about right now…is you.”

  Her mouth moved to his chest and he grabbed at her hips as she began to lick at his nipples. “Aithne!”

  “Do you want me to stop?” she murmured against him. Her teeth nibbled delicately and he couldn’t prevent a groan.

  “God, no,” he choked out. “But I want to last this time. And that doesn’t make it easy.”

  “We have all night,” she whispered seductively. “You can love me slow next time. This time, I want to make you explode!”

  Chapter Eight

  And she did. Over and over again. For the first time in months, he seemed to have the renewed strength and virility he did when he was first reborn. When he thought back about it later, he knew it was the best night of his long life.

  Aithne touched him as if he were the only man in the world. Her kisses made his heart race. And when she finally began moving up and down, riding his cock like she was an expert, his heart almost stopped, the pleasure was so great.

  She took her time, bringing him close to the edge, before backing off and kissing him until his heart evened out. Then she would do it again, lifting herself almost completely off of him, before easing down, inch by inch with excruciating slowness.

  Milcham found himself arching up to meet her, his heels and elbows dug into the mattress while the rest of his body bowed up with the need to be closer.

  When he heard himself begging for her to take him deeper…to finish him off, his own words shattered his self control. Grabbing her hips, he slammed her down on top of him, making her cry out with her own pleasure. He didn’t last long after that. With one push of his whole length into her, he came, his orgasm so powerful, he saw stars. He convulsed beneath her, barely aware she too was crying out in her own sweet release.

  He felt like he would never move again. She felt like she was completely boneless, lying over the top of him. Neither had the energy, or inclination to separate their bodies. It went on that way the rest of the night. Sometimes, they would snatch a little sleep, but then one would reach for the other, and it would start all over again.

  When she finally fell asleep in his arms, her soft cheek pressed against his beating heart, Milcham knew that soulmate or not, he was falling in love with this ebony haired witch. And he had no idea what to do about that.

  —

  When Aithne awoke the next morning, she was alone. She rolled over on her side and put her hand across to touch the indent Milcham’s head had made. She grinned. It was the first time she’d ever spent the night with a man, though she hadn’t told Milcham that. A girl had to keep her secrets.

  She sat up, hugging her knees to her chest. What a wild night. She knew women were multi-orgasmic, but she’d had no idea a man could make love so many times. She’d lost count of the amount of times he’d been inside her.

  Her tummy warmed. Milcham was an incredible lover. Even though they really never did the whole slow thing like he wanted. Every time they touched it was like a fire exploded between them. It was amazing.

  She swung her legs off the bed and stood. When she took her first step, she gasped. “Okay…” she muttered to herself. “I played, now I’m paying!” She gingerly made her way to the bathroom. If being sore was the cost for such a great night of sex, she’d pay it…gladly.

  After a quick shower, Aithne wrapped a towel around herself. She still hadn’t any clothes and she had no idea where Milcham had gotten to. Some carnival business, she hoped. She worried her lip. Had her presence driven him from his own trailer? Maybe he was regretting his invitation she stay the night.

  She glanced out the small window, and her eyes widened. It looked like most of the carny folk were gathered around what was left of her tent, working. Sifting through the rubble and cleaning it up. Her heart expanded when she saw a shirtless Milcham in the middle, handing debris to Jarrod. Maybe he’d just left her, to go take care of that.

  “I should be out there,” she fretted out loud. “Not in here pretending to be sick.” She went over to Milcham’s closet and pulled the door open. There wasn’t a lot there, mostly jeans and his ever present muscle shirts. Then she noticed the sweats he’d been wearing last night, kicked carelessly into a corner.

  She pulled them on, giggling at how they dwarfed her small body. Even though she was tall for a woman, in Milcham’s clothes, she looked as tiny as a doll. She cinched up the sweats as tight as she could, but they still sat low on her hips.

  Shrugging, she wriggled into one of his muscle shirts, and smiled. It covered her…barely. The sides dipped so low they showed the curves of her breasts, but she really didn’t have much of a choice. She couldn’t stay here naked, while everyone else worked on her tent, and she wasn’t about to wear one of his expensive dress shirts to get dirty.

  She quickly braided her long hair, using a popped balloon from the dart toss game to tie the end. But she was stuck when it came to shoes. She’d lost all of hers and Milcham’s shoes were defiantly too big for her.

  Digging through the bottom of his closet, she found a pair of cheap rubber flip-flops. They were about four sizes to large for her, but at least they’d protect her. She grinned. She would rival Chuckles for clown feet.

  She almost tripped climbing out of the trailer, but giggling, she continued on. As she got closer, she could smell the choking smell of burned material and she couldn’t help but shudder. And when she saw what was left of her home, she gasped. How had Milcham saved her from that?

  Carefully, she walked closer, and bent to lift the remains of her sign out of the wet mess.

  “What the hell are you doing?”

  She jumped, falling back on her butt on the ground. Lifting her head, she glared up at Milcham. “What does it look like I’m doing? Knitting?”

  There was a ripple of laughter as he hauled her up off the ground. His eyes widened when he saw what she was wearing. The shirt was as tight on her as it was on him, her nipples showing plainly through the thin material. He growled, torn between appreciation and the knowledge he didn’t want anyone else seeing her.

  “You should be resting.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I’m not tired, even if I didn’t get much sleep last night.”

  He ignored the stirring of his body. “You were almost killed yesterday, Aithne. I don’t want you doing too much.”

  “It’s my home you’re sifting through,” she returned quietly. “I need to be here.” She bent and picked up what was left of the burned sign, making him curse under his breath at the display of her breasts against the shirt.

  “You need to find some other clothes.”

  Her lips quirked. “I don’t have a big selection. It was either this, or go naked.”

  “Naked is good,” tossed in Jarrod with a teasing look. He grinned at Milcham’s glare.

  “Everyone can see your…” Milcham gestured futilely at her chest. “You know!”

  She wanted to laugh, but the expression on his face forbad it. “I don’t have a choice. I refuse to wear one of your nice shirts.”

  “I will take you shopping then.”

  Aithne looked at him in horror. “You will not! I can tell by the way you’re acting, if it was up to you, I’d dress like a nun!”

  “At least it would cover you,” he grumbled.

  She patted his arm. “I’ll be fine.”

  He groaned when she lifted her arm and the side of her breast showed. “I don’t know if I’ll be.”

  “Then don’t look!” she said tartly.

  Narrowing his eyes, he caught her to him, and pressed his mouth against hers. After a moment of shocked struggle, she surrendered, fitting herself against hi
m to take what he was offering her. The hoots and catcalls from their friends finally made them separate.

  Aithne tossed her head at him, her cheeks stained with embarrassment. “I don’t know what you want from me. You weren’t there when I woke up.”

  He pulled her back to him. “I was trying to be a gentleman,” he gritted out quietly. “You must be sore, and all I wanted, was to fuck you again.”

  The rude word made her go moist between the legs. How could she want him again after all they’d done last night? “I didn’t know if you’d want me around so I got dressed and got out. These were the only clothes I could find. I’ll replace them, so don’t worry.”

  “Want you around? Of course I want you around. And I don’t care about the damn clothes. I care about you!”

  She bent her head, feeling completely confused. “I told you I don’t know how to do this.”

  He touched her face gently, and grinned. “I’ll tell you what. You just listen to me and everything will be fine.”

  “You aren’t the boss of me,” she said with a shy smile.

  He gave her a mock glare at her humor. “What I am is still to be decided.”

  Not sure how to answer that one, she just raised her own eyebrow and turned away. She shuffled over to where Alexander stood.

  “Are you all right,” he asked quietly.

  “I’m fine.” She held out her arms. “See…not a bruise on me.”

  “I mean…you and Milcham. He didn’t hurt you?”

  She stared at him in amazement. “He would never hurt me, Alexander. Why would you even ask that?”

  Her friend shifted uncomfortably. “He is…a different type of man, Aithne. Intense. I don’t want you to be hurt.”

  Aithne thought about the glorious lovemaking of the night before. If that was the intensity Alexander was talking about, she’d take it in a heartbeat. Her face went pink at the memory, and involuntarily her eyes went to Milcham’s. He met her stare, his eyes a dark amber and then he smiled…very slowly. And that smile of his shot straight between her legs. Tearing her eyes away, she bent and began to help clean up what was left of her home, wondering if last night would be the only one they would have together.

  —

  They got the mess cleaned up just in time to open. Aithne wiped a sooty hand across her brow and sighed. “I’ll have to go get another tent when I buy some clothes.”

  “No,” Milcham responded shaking his head. “I have one you can use. See. Jarrod’s putting it up now. It’s fireproof.”

  “But—”

  “No buts,” he interrupted. “It’s a special circus-made tent so it’s well made and it is flame retardant. I won’t have to worry about you any more if you are using it.”

  Her heart fluttered. “Are you sure?”

  “I wouldn’t say it, if I wasn’t.”

  She frowned as she watched it go up. “But it’s so small. I won’t have room to move in there.”

  “It’s big enough. Plenty of room for your table and a couple of chairs.”

  “But I can’t sleep on my table.”

  “No, you are going to sleep with me.”

  Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared. Aithne felt her face redden. “Excuse me?”

  He stood over her, his hands on his hips. “You don’t need a bigger tent. All you need is a place for your game. You are going to stay with me.”

  Aithne felt her temper rise at his high-handedness. “Is that an order?”

  “Do you want me to make it one?”

  “Who do you think you are?” she sputtered indignantly. “You have no right to order me around.”

  “You gave me that right last night!”

  Her mouth dropped open and her cheeks went even more crimson. “Do you mind?” she hissed. “That’s private.”

  “Assai,” he growled. “You are the one who came out here wearing my shirt. You are the one who responded to my kiss. Do you really think they don’t know we spent the night together?”

  She stomped her foot, making his eyes go to her bouncing breasts. “I don’t need you planning my life. If I want to tell people about us, I will. If I don’t want to stay with you, I won’t. I won’t be ordered around by any man!”

  Milcham swore out loud, raking his fingers through his dirty hair. “You think you can dictate to me?”

  Aithne tossed her head. “I will be in control of my own destiny…thank you very much.”

  “I can’t believe this,” he shouted. “I am a very mild mannered man, but with you…I am constantly angry!”

  “You? Mild mannered?” she shouted back at him. “You have the worst temper I’ve ever seen. All you do is yell. And I’m tired of it. You can take your tent and your orders and go to hell.” Turning on her heel, she stalked away, tripping on the over sized flip-flops.

  Milcham thought his head would blow off he was so angry. Stomping after her, he grabbed her arm and swung her around to face him. “Don’t walk away from me!”

  Her eyes spit green fire as she balled up her fist and took a swing at him. He ducked it easily, then pulled her hard against him. “Stop it!” he ordered.

  “I said…Go. To. Hell!”

  “Why are you doing this?” he snarled at her. “We shared something special last night, yet today you deny me. Why?”

  She struggled in his arms. “Let me go!”

  “No…Assai…please! Explain your anger to me.”

  “You have no right to ask me anything!”

  His eyes narrowed and he let her go so abruptly, she staggered. “True.” He lifted his hands in a placating motion. “You’re right. I don’t. But I do care. I thought you understood that.”

  Aithne stared at him, taken aback by his reversal. “I don’t know what you feel. Not really. Things have changed so fast, I’m confused.”

  “Didn’t my body tell you last night?”

  She snorted and crossed her arms in front of her. “One thing I learned at the toy shop is a man can get it up for just about any reason.”

  “I am not just any man,” he returned angrily. “I am the man who cares for you. I cared enough to save you from the fire last night. I cared enough to keep you with me all night long. Something I have never done with any woman before. And I care enough to let you make the decision to walk away. But I do want to know why you are doing it.”

  Her eyes filled. He stood in front of her so arrogantly implacable, she wanted to scream. He reminded her of Aidan when he’d lay down the law and make decisions without asking her opinion. He also reminded her of her brother, when he’d risked his life for her more times than she could count. Her anger fell away and looking up at him, she could do nothing but tell him the truth.

  “I’m afraid.”

  Milcham’s arms dropped. “Afraid? Afraid of what?” He hadn’t expected those words.

  She looked at her oversized shoes. “I’ve spent a very long time doing what someone else needed me to do. I don’t regret my choices. They were done for love. But now…now I want to be able to make my own decisions. I want to live for me…first.” Her emerald eyes stared up at him as she whispered. “I have to.”

  The emotion in her face made his throat ache. His chest pained in a way he’d never felt before. He wondered just what it was she’d had to do before she’d come here…to him. Without any more thought, he just held out his arms to her. “Then I’m asking you, Aithne. Not telling. I care about you. Very much. Stay with me, please. I want you with me.”

  When she stumbled into his arms, he held her tightly, closing his eyes against the sting of his own tears. It would not be easy to go against his own demanding nature, but he would try. He would give her the choices she asked for. For he had no choice. Not any more. The thought of being without her, was fast becoming unbearable.

  —

  Milcham rubbed his eyes as he stared blearily at the accounting sheets in front of him. He was tired of doing numbers. What he wanted was to be in bed with Aithne, feeling her sweet lips trace
their way over his body.

  He groaned, staring at a nearby mirror and noticing the new age lines that were appearing on his face. He could tell he was getting close to the end of his millennium. Another reason he wanted her with him. He was running out of time. If she was here, he wouldn’t be doing these stupid books, he would be loving her. But she was out, doing who knows what with Jarrod and Alexander, while he was stuck working.

  He shook his head at himself. He sounded like a pouting child, but ever since Aithne had come to live with him three days ago, he wanted to spend every minute with her. In bed, out of bed, it didn’t matter.

  When she was working or out with friends, he felt restless and impatient wanting to be with her. Plus, he was still worried they hadn’t found the arsonist yet. He didn’t like the feeling of Aithne being in danger, although he was careful to give her the space she wanted. It was too easy to remember her tears of before.

  But he couldn’t change his nature completely. And he refused to do so. When he wanted her, he took her, no matter what the circumstances. Once, he’d even bulled his way into her new tent, between readings. He’d put the closed sign on her door, swept the cards off the table and tossed her on it.

  It had been hard, fast and carnal. And…very satisfying. He’d left her with a smile on her face, even as she fussed at him for making a mess.

  He smiled. For all her bragging about owning a sex toy shop, Aithne was actually very shy and careful with him in public. In private she was incredibly sensual, but when they were out and about, he could barely get her to hold his hand. It bothered him. A lot. He’d never thought he would be as demonstrative or possessive about a woman, but with her, he was, and there was a part of him that wanted her to be the same.

  They’d actually argued about it the night before. She’d stiffened when he’d touched her while she was reading the tarot for Alexander, and it pissed him off. They’d gone to bed angry at each other, but after a few minutes, he couldn’t stand it any more. He’d pulled her to him and while murmuring sweet words, he’d shown her just how much he wanted her…in bed or out. When her loving arms wrapped around him, he knew he was forgiven.