by Lynn Hagen
“Slow the hell down. My legs aren’t as long as yours, and I’m out of breath.”
“But we’re right outside the juice shop.”
“I can walk on my own.” Edward yanked his arm free. “I need to go home and shower and then check on my grandma.”
Phoenyx’s anger reignited as he stared at the bruising on Edward’s neck. He told himself to calm down, that he didn’t want to scare the human. His mate had gotten only a glimpse of the raw rage that dwelled inside of him, and Phoenyx didn’t want him to see it again.
“Let’s take the shadows,” Phoenyx suggested. “It’s the quickest way.”
Edward huffed and headed toward the dark alley. Panic seized Phoenyx that his mate was going first. Anyone or anything could be lurking down there. Although Phoenyx loved his world, a magical place to live, it was also dangerous, deadly, and Edward was only human. He needed Phoenyx’s protection, no matter how stubborn he acted.
His long legs moved him past his mate in three strides. Phoenyx grabbed Edward’s hand, keeping a tight hold on him as they moved through the shadows and emerged on the side of Edward’s house. All seemed quiet, but Phoenyx’s gut told him to stay vigilant.
Edward walked toward his front door as if he was dead certain Phoenyx would protect him. That was true, but a little more caution would’ve been nice.
Fuck. Looking after a mate was draining. Phoenyx had never been this acutely aware in his life. And he’d lived for thousands of years so far. His red hair was going to turn gray by the time Lyle and Anton were dealt with and the next craziness came along.
When his mate entered the house, Phoenyx pushed past him and searched every room, even checking under the bed and in the closets. He didn’t sense another presence, which momentarily satisfied him.
He walked back to the living room to find Edward still lingering by the closed door. “All good?”
“We’re the only ones here. Go ahead and take your shower. I’ll find something to do.” Like think about how the water would cascade down Edward’s slim, naked body.
“I won’t be long.”
Phoenyx was glad his mate no longer fought against the fact that he now had a bodyguard. Rejection wasn’t something anyone was fond of, and he’d tried not to take it personally.
Phoenyx sat on the couch when he heard the water for the shower turn on. He looked around for something to keep him occupied so he wouldn’t think of how naked Edward was right now.
Golden Eyes didn’t have any books, magazines, or even junk mail Phoenyx could skim through. He sat there with a raging hard-on as his head dropped back and he stared up at the ceiling. It felt as though he was being tortured on so many levels because he was sitting here and Edward was in there.
Phoenyx wasn’t sure how much time had passed when he heard the water cut off. He was all raging hormones and charged adrenaline as he got off the couch and headed down the hallway.
The bathroom door opened and steam billowed out as Edward stepped into the hallway with nothing but a towel curled around his waist.
Mother fuck.
“I’ll just be a minute getting dressed.” Edward batted his eyes and walked with a little sway of hips to his bedroom.
“I’m just going to wait in the living room.” Because if Phoenyx went in there, Edward wouldn’t be getting dressed anytime soon.
Edward popped his head out the door. “Or, try this on for size. How about you come in here and help me?”
A brother didn’t have to be told twice. Phoenyx felt like a raging bull charging through the bedroom door. He picked Edward up by his ass and planted his back against the wall.
Their lips collided, and all that pent-up sexual frustration Phoenyx had kept bottled inside all evening came pouring out—dizzying, consuming fire that erupted between them as Phoenyx massaged Edward’s ass, shredding both their senses.
His mate was trembling, clutching at Phoenyx, gripping his biceps as his legs tightened around Phoenyx’s waist. Phoenyx stroked his tongue inside Edward’s mouth as he pulled away from the wall and they dropped onto the bed. Trying not to break the kiss, Phoenyx struggled to get his boots off, which was damn hard.
Edward pulled away with a light laugh. “Get undressed before we end up hurting each other.”
Hell if Phoenyx wanted to let go, but he rolled away and sat on the side of the bed, removing his boots so fast he nearly gave himself a concussion.
He stood, shoved his pants and underwear down his legs, then sat and finished taking them off. As soon as he ripped his shirt off, he turned and was spellbound.
Edward was lying on his stomach, resting his chin in his hands, his ankles crossed and legs up as he smiled up at him. It was the most erotic, adorable, heart-pounding sight Phoenyx had ever seen.
His mate crawled forward, licked his lips, and took the head of Phoenyx’s cock into his mouth.
“Oh, fuuuuck.” Phoenyx’s head dropped back as he closed his eyes. Edward’s perfect lips were turning Phoenyx into a smoldering mess of need.
Being with Edward was unlike being with any lover before him. He turned Phoenyx inside out, made him forget his horrific past, made him feel as though he was worthy to be with someone so innocent, someone who Phoenyx shouldn’t be touching in the first place.
Edward took him farther down his throat, using his throat muscles to squeeze, to make Phoenyx grab the male’s hair and start fucking his mouth in short bursts.
This felt so much more intimate than anything Phoenyx had experienced before. He shivered with the thrill of being with his mate. So surreal that he’d actually found him. He was honestly melting, so close to his climax that he hissed and thrust harder, faster, and Edward took the punishing pace.
The pressure.
Those lips.
Edward’s needy groans as he pulled back then plunged back in, milking Phoenyx’s cock.
“Fuck, Edward,” Phoenyx groaned. “Oh, fuck. Baby.”
When his mate tugged at Phoenyx’s balls, it was over. He strangled the strands of hair in his fists and threw his head back, shouting Edward’s name as his cum shot down the male’s throat.
Phoenyx took a step back, his cock slipping from Edward’s mouth. He sucked in a deep breath then let it out slowly.
He looked down and saw Edward wiping at his mouth. Phoenyx dropped to his knees and cupped his mate’s face, devouring his lips, tasting himself as he slowly eased them back onto the bed.
Edward curled into him, grabbing at Phoenyx, pulling him close as Phoenyx slid fully onto the bed. They kissed, petted, and drove the excitement right back up.
“Need you,” Edward whispered. “Have to have you inside me.”
Phoenyx twisted around and grabbed the lube from the nightstand. He slicked his fingers and reached around Edward, probing at his hole.
Edward threw a leg over Phoenyx’s thigh, opening himself up as he kissed along Phoenyx’s jaw and neck like he couldn’t get enough of pressing his lips anywhere on Phoenyx he could find.
“Hungry for me?” Phoenyx chuckled.
“Starving,” Edward said. “Been thinking about this all evening.”
“Thinking about what?” Phoenyx eased two fingers into Edward’s ass, the ring of muscles tight around them. He scissored them, stretching Edward for his invasion.
“You fucking me.” Edward groaned, shoving his ass backward as Phoenyx drove his fingers inside his mate. “Of having you wrapped around me as you pound me into the mattress.”
Oh god. Edward was out to kill him. Phoenyx added a third finger, desperate to get his mate stretched so he could do what the male just described.
“Okay, I can handle you. Please, Phoenyx.”
Shit. Phoenyx pulled his fingers free and turned his mate, back to chest, then tossed one of Edward’s legs over his. He grabbed the base of his cock and guided the hard shaft to Edward’s slicked hole.
After blowing out a breath, Phoenyx inched his way inside the tight heat. He curled his arms around his mate, holdin
g him, still feeling as if this were unreal.
After he’d spent thousands of years searching and hoping, his mate was in his arms. Right there. Safe, his, someone Phoenyx could treasure.
They groaned in unison when Phoenyx bottomed out. He turned until Edward was on his stomach, and then Phoenyx put his weight on his arms, which were on either side of Edward’s head. He spread his legs, which opened Edward’s.
This wasn’t going to be sweet and gentle. Edward had asked to be pounded into the mattress, and that was what Phoenyx planned on doing.
He punched his hips forward, lost in the feel of Edward’s ass wrapped around his cock, as if Phoenyx was being stroked from the inside out.
Phoenyx dug his knees into the mattress and reared back, taking Edward with him. He slid his arms around his mate, holding on to him as he thrust upward, driving his cock deep into the delicious heat.
“Phoenyx,” Edward gasped. “Oh god, Phoenyx!”
A curse slipped from Phoenyx when he felt his mate’s ass tighten around him and smelled his release. He dropped back down to the bed and gripped Edward’s hips, slamming into him.
Seconds later Phoenyx was shouting, his neck muscles taut as his orgasm swept him under.
He collapsed next to Edward and pulled his mate into his arms. Too bad they couldn’t take a nap, but Edward wanted to check on Estelle, and Phoenyx would rather sleep in his own bed where he knew he and Edward would be safe.
He cursed when he heard his phone ring. It seemed life didn’t give a crap if he didn’t want to be disturbed. Phoenyx sighed, rolled over, ready to grab his cell, when he heard a floorboard creak from down the hallway.
“Aren’t you going to answer your—”
Phoenyx clamped a hand over Edward’s mouth, pressing a finger to his own. Edward’s eyes widened as he nodded.
As quietly as he could, Phoenyx got up and slipped his clothes on. Edward eased out of the bed and grabbed some underwear, sliding them on before a large shadow appeared in the doorway.
* * * *
Edward had no idea what was going on. His hands trembled as he tried to get his damn underwear on. His feet wouldn’t cooperate, either. Every time he jammed them in, he started hopping around and almost crashed into his dresser.
If he didn’t get his boxers on, Edward would end up with a concussion.
Then he saw why Phoenyx had rolled out of bed. Edward saw the reason standing in his bedroom doorway. At first it was nothing more than a huge shadow that took up most of the frame, then the thing stepped forward, almost clumsily, and looked between them.
Edward froze, unable to move or breathe. The creature’s skin was grayish and scaly, and his fingers were so thick that Edward prayed it didn’t get its hands on him.
Phoenyx spun and grabbed Edward, yanking him out of the way as the creature blew a wide, hot line of fire at them.
Edward screamed, feeling the hairs on his arms singe as he and Phoenyx rolled out of the way. Flames ignited across his carpet as the curtains caught fire, disappearing in a flash as they were consumed.
“Closet!” Phoenyx shouted as he pulled Edward across the room.
Another wave of flames shot from the creature’s mouth as Edward’s dazed state evaporated and his brain kicked into gear. He scrambled to his feet and slung the door open, shoving himself inside. Phoenyx was right behind him, slamming the door closed.
The closet was suffocating, hot enough to make Edward sweat, and he saw the fire coming under the space between the door and the floor. Phoenyx grabbed Edward’s arm and yanked him forward as the closet filled with smoke.
Edward clung to his mate, free-falling, screaming as his mind tried to make sense of what just happened. But it couldn’t. An eight-foot tall swamp-looking scaly thing had invaded his home and tried to set them on fire. His house was burning, and instead of calling the fire department, they’d fled, leaving it on fire.
The pure darkness started to lighten, and when Edward looked around, he saw they were back in Serenity City. People were on the street, going about their lives as if Edward and Phoenyx hadn’t nearly lost their lives.
“Were you burned?”
As if his mind had been snapped like a rubber band, pain exploded across Edward’s arms. He screamed as he dropped to his knees, horrified when he saw the fire had actually gotten to him. He recalled the hairs singeing on his arms, but he didn’t remember them being on fire.
Now that was all he could focus on, pain so intense that he wanted to claw his arms off.
“Hold still.” Phoenyx lowered him to the sidewalk. Edward felt as if he was seizing. His body locked up and bent backward, the pain too much to handle. He wasn’t sure what Phoenyx was doing as he bent over Edward, but the pain started to ease in a matter of seconds.
Phoenyx cupped Edward’s face. “Just concentrate on my voice, sweetheart. It’s already healing. Give it a second longer.”
Edward locked gazes with Phoenyx, staring into those gorgeous green eyes. They shined with tears as Phoenyx gave him a strained smile. “How’re you feeling now?”
His voice was strained, and worry was etched all over his handsome face. Phoenyx was the most beautiful man Edward had ever seen. Gentle lines cut across his face, with its perfect lips, high cheekbones, and blunt red brows.
“The pain is almost gone.” Edward looked at his arms and gasped. The bubbly, red, angry skin was smooth, with a tint of pink. Then, right before his eyes, the pink faded, leaving his skin flawless. “How did you do that?”
“My tears have healing powers.” Phoenyx caressed his knuckles over Edward’s cheek. “I only need a single tear to bring someone back from the brink of death or heal burn wounds.”
Yet his eyes were glistening with unshed tears. “Then why do you look like you’re about to cry?”
Phoenyx rested his forehead against Edward’s. He closed his eyes and slowly shook his head, inhaling deeply. “I can’t lose you, Golden Eyes. Do you know how long I’ve searched for you? How lonely my life has been without you in it?”
Edward had no idea what Phoenyx was talking about. They’d just met. How had he been searching for him? How had he developed such strong feelings in such a short amount of time?
Phoenyx pressed his fist over his heart. “Right here, babe. That’s where you are. Beating inside of me, our souls soldered together.” His eyes hardened. “I won’t let anyone take you away from me, not even that piece-of-shit fairy.”
Edward felt branded, owned by those words, completely captivated by the tall, lean, powerful warrior. “Phoenyx?”
“Yeah, babe?”
“I’m lying on the sidewalk in my underwear. Can we get to your place before the city sees me in my skivvies?”
Phoenyx gave him a breathtaking smile. “I better get you to my place before admirers start coming after you.”
Edward doubted that would happen, but he took his mate’s offered hand and was pulled to his feet. “What the hell was that thing?”
Phoenyx shook his head. “I have no idea, but I suspect Lyle’s dark magic was behind its attack.”
Fucking Lyle.
“But he said twenty-four hours.”
“Never trust an unseelie.” They walked toward Phoenyx’s apartment building and went to the alley beside it. A second later, they were in Phoenyx’s place.
Edward sagged to the couch, rubbing the heels of his hands against his forehead. This was unreal, and he was terrified to return to the human realm. He didn’t want to find out what else Lyle had in store for him, but he had to return.
His grandmother was counting on Edward, and he wasn’t going to let her down.
Even if he had horrifying creature coming after him.
Chapter Eight
“Oh my god!” Casey’s jaw dropped. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“He just said Phoenyx healed him,” Drake said. “Of course he’s okay if Phoenyx used his tears.”
“A little concern can go a long way.” Casey stared daggers at Dr
ake. “It’s called compassion. He’s new to all this, so cut him some slack.”
Edward had still been dazed, angry, and frightened, but watching these two had lightened his mood a bit. It was obvious they cared for each other, but it was also clear they loved to argue.
Their bickering didn’t seem to faze Panahasi. He stood by the bar with Phoenyx and a few other large men. They were talking, and Edward was trying to eavesdrop, but with Casey and Drake still arguing, Edward couldn’t hear a word.
Edward was dying to ask where Panahasi had been, what had made his mates panic when he wouldn’t answer their call, but that was none of Edward’s business.
“I know he’s new to this, and I know what compassion is,” Drake said. “But he’s fine, so he doesn’t need you coddling him. Give the human room to breathe. They’re fragile, you know.”
“Fragile?” Edward tore his gaze from Phoenyx to glare at Drake. “I’m not fragile.”
“Do you have any powers?” Drake asked.
“No.”
“Can you shift and heal?”
“No.”
“Do you have any inhuman strength?” Drake threw his arms up when Edward refused to answer him. “Then you’re fragile.”
“Am not,” Edward grumbled.
“Delicate,” Casey corrected. “Call him delicate. Fragile sounds demeaning for a guy.”
Didn’t those two words mean the same thing? Edward wished he had some powers so he could shut both of them up. He was the only human in the room, and yeah, that made him feel a bit weak, but he wasn’t fragile or delicate.
Okay, maybe in their world, but he wasn’t admitting that to two wolf shifters who seemed determined to place a label on him. A demeaning one at that.
“Maybe he needs a stiff drink,” Drake suggested. “That seemed to calm him down last time.”
“Will you two stop talking like I’m not even standing here?” Edward huffed. “You do realize I can hear every word you say.”
Drake moved his lips, but no sound came out. Casey’s eyes widened before he grinned. If there was one thing Edward had learned about shifters, they were pricks. “Stop whispering so I can’t hear you.”