Phoenix Burning Read online

  Elation left him light-headed. After everything, Emory was going to let go. He could feel it coming on.

  Emory’s heart thundered in her chest until she thought she might explode with the effort of trying to breathe. Her body felt oddly liquid. Something hot and exquisite lanced through her belly and lodged in her womb. It was a giddy sensation, gooey and melted as if she would puddle right there in Alex’s bed.

  She waited a moment longer. Alex’s clever tongue probed her intimately. Panic began to creep across the edges of her consciousness. What if she couldn’t do it?

  Desperation seized her with iron fingers. “Fuck me, Alex. Don’t wait. I need your cock to push me over.”

  He lowered her back to the bed. His belt jingled once and then the smooth head of his erection pushed into her slick opening. She gasped at the beautiful sensation of being penetrated in one long thrust. Joining with Alex was nothing less than perfection.

  “Harder,” she begged. “Fuck me harder.”

  He backed out and slammed home again. She moaned as the brutal sensation traveled through her nerves. Her insides clenched around him until she felt as if her entire existence hung in the balance.

  He was pounding her, fucking her with such force that his balls slapped her ass with each stroke. She felt him hit the sweet spot deep inside. Stars burst behind her closed eyelids and her body grew rigid.

  “You’re clenching your teeth, love.” His fingers brushed her jaw, and she realized he’d stopped moving inside her.

  “Don’t stop.” She refused to meet his gaze, convinced she was almost there.

  He withdrew, making her gasp. “I’m not stopping. I’m taking a break.” She opened her eyes when he climbed onto the bed beside her. His shoes thumped to the floor and he squirmed out of his jeans. “That’s better.”

  “I’m closer and closer every time.”

  Alex yawned and pulled her into the curve of his body. “Then it’s going to happen.”

  Relief leeched the tension from her body. “This is okay with you?” She craned her neck back to look into his face.

  “I told you. I’m here for as long as you want me.” His blue gaze made her feel warm and cherished. “And at this point I’m hoping that’s a long, long time.”

  “The foreseeable future,” she whispered.

  He pulled a sheet over their sweat-slicked, half-naked bodies. “Then I have time to nap here in my bed with you.”

  Alex groped for his phone in the jeans he’d tossed aside hours before. Fortunately they’d landed partially on the edge of the huge bed. Given a choice between answering Connor’s text and waking Emory, he’d have ignored Connor every time.

  He blinked at the time in surprise. It was after midnight. Connor wanted to know if he was fine and if Emory was with him. Apparently her brother had been texting her and getting no response. Probably because she was dead to the world in Alex’s bed.

  Emory shifted and sighed in her sleep. She’d curled up as close as she could get without climbing on top of him. Alex loved it. He’d happily spend every night of the rest of his life with her hogging the bed.

  He gently threaded his fingers through her wild ponytail. Had he known subconsciously that first night that she would change his whole world? Was that why he’d been so eager to send her packing “for her own good”?

  Weighing good and bad potential wasn’t something he excelled at. He’d spent his life living in the moment. The only thing Alex knew for certain was that Emory fit. She made him want things he’d never thought he would. He wanted to make love to the same woman over and over again. He wanted to help her keep the demons of her past at bay. He wanted to work through her darkness. He wanted forever. He wanted to be involved.

  None of that had ever mattered before. He’d been about the quick and the easy. Now he was racking his brain, trying to think of how he could help her experience the one thing she’d been denied for so long.

  Connor’s words from days before drifted into Alex’s mind. “This is the place to teach someone to let loose.” Connor was right. There were no rules inside Phoenix Rising, but watching a thousand couples screw in every position possible wasn’t going to teach Emory how to—how had Connor put it?—free-fall into orgasm.

  The idea snapped into place as if it had been hovering at the back of his mind for days. He fought the urge to sit straight up in bed and curse out loud. Scaring the shit out of Emory wasn’t going to make her receptive to Alex’s hunch, which required her to step so far outside her comfort zone she’d leave it behind altogether.

  He keyed in a text to Connor that read, I know I’m not allowed to join in when you and Jessa have sex, but I think you might make an exception just this once.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Emory followed Alex through the bar’s back door while juggling two hanging baskets overflowing with purple bellflowers and white verbena. She felt oddly out of sorts, cranky even. It took several minutes of serious contemplation for her to realize that she was experiencing sexual frustration. The thought actually put a little bounce in her step.

  She had always assumed that people got sexually frustrated because they craved orgasms. She’d never been close enough to having one to get it before. Simply surviving the darkness had been exhilarating back then. Now she wanted nothing more than to feel the sensation of release she knew she could experience with Alex. If only she could figure out how to get there.

  “What’s with the grin?” Alex touched the corner of her mouth.

  There was no way she could tell him what was on her mind without dying of embarrassment. She settled for mysterious instead. “A girl has to keep a few secrets.”

  “Don’t I know it?” He gestured to a countertop near the rear door. “You can set them there.”

  “It seems a little weird to deliver flowers after midnight.”

  “Yeah. Thanks for helping me with that. Jessa asked me to pick up these hanging baskets for her that first day I came to your shop. I forgot.”

  That first day, the day she’d thrown herself into his arms and kissed him. Who would have ever thought things would snowball the way they had?

  A sound coming from the bar caught her attention. “I thought you said this place was closed.”

  “No. I said it should be almost deserted. Everybody but the die-hard regulars go home by now unless it’s a weekend.” He took her hand and tugged her forward. “Let’s go see what’s going on.”

  “You’re cheating!” The accusation was loud enough to be clearly heard.

  “You can’t cheat at this game. You’re just a sore loser.”

  Emory let Alex drag her past the bar and deep into the main room. Jessa, Connor, and Gabriel all sat around a table. There was no one else inside the bar. Judging by the liquor and shot glasses ranged before them, they were playing some sort of drinking game.

  “Thank God Alex is here.” Jessa’s voice was highly melodramatic.

  Alex snagged a chair and flipped it around, sitting backward and resting his elbows on top of the ladder-back. “Is Connor cheating again?”

  Gabriel snorted. “If by cheating you mean he has a much higher tolerance level than she does, then yes.”

  “No one asked you.” Jessa huffed. “You’re just as bad as he is.”

  “Yeah? But I’m going upstairs to bed, love. I’d rather not hang around and watch the lot of you think you’re the bee’s knees cause you can hold your liquor.”

  The Brit stood and stretched, passing Emory and Alex a brief smile. “Enjoy your evening.”

  There seemed to be more than just a greeting passing between the two men. Emory knew that Alex and Gabriel had known each other for a long time, but it was the first time she’d ever felt purposely left out of a private exchange between them.

  “Come and sit, Emory,” Jessa coaxed. “Maybe if there’s an even gender split the boys will quit cheating.”

  Emory shrugged and settled herself in Gabriel’s vacated chair. “Doesn’t seem likely.”
/>   “What are we playing?” Alex asked.

  “The alphabet game.” Jessa poured three shots of orange-scented liquor and passed them around to everyone but Connor.

  Emory was about to ask why he got a pass on the shot when he poured himself two shots of Tequila. She frowned. “Why two?”

  Alex gave her a wry grin. “Because it already takes twice as much to get him drunk.”

  “If he gets drunk at all,” Jessa grumbled.

  “And she claims you cheat?” The words popped out before Emory could stop them.

  Connor laughed, the chuckle so deep that she felt it in her bones. “I think I like this one, Alex. Can we keep her?”

  Alex gave her a warm smile that made her melt inside. “Absolutely.”

  “We can start over since you two just came in.” Jessa’s brow wrinkled. “I’ll go first. Apple.”

  Alex was next. “Apple and banana. Like I’d like to watch Emory eat a banana.”

  His childish words made her grin. “So, apple, banana, and codfish.”

  “Yep, I was right,” Connor said. “You’re a handful. And so far we have apple, banana, codfish, and I’ll go with Dijon mustard.”

  “Ugh! You’re so predictable. You always pick stuff that’s impossible to say without slurring.” Jessa’s words were disgusted though she looked anything but.

  Emory hadn’t played a drinking game like this since she’d bartended. They were utterly ridiculous. According to Connor’s rules, you not only had to repeat the expanding list back word for word, but it had to be understandable. Forgetting an item meant you had to take a shot. As their list grew, Emory found herself having to take multiple shots per turn. She kept getting lost in the middle when Connor would throw in words like “escargot” and “huevos rancheros,” just because they were impossible to say.

  “This is ridiculous.” Alex lounged in his chair and eyed Jessa. “You can’t miss five things in one turn. How about instead of taking multiple shots, you take one for the first item missed and then give up a piece of clothing for everything after that.”

  “Strip alphabet memory?” Jessa seemed to mull it over in her head.

  Emory’s heart rate skyrocketed. Were they really going to start stripping there in the bar? She really wasn’t wearing that much clothing. She would be buck naked in no time.

  A slow, teasing grin spread across Jessa’s face. “You got yourself a deal.”

  She slammed down a shot and stood up. With complete confidence, she drew her tight knit top over her head and flung it at Connor. Beneath the clingy black fabric, she wore a pink-and-black lace-trimmed bra. Her full figure was softly curved and luscious in a way Emory had always envied in other women.

  Connor was staring at Jessa as if he was no longer remotely interested in their game. The carnal desire in his expression made Emory feel achy and hot between her legs.

  “My turn.” Alex shattered the tension. “And I’m not even going to pretend I know what letter we’re on.” He slammed a shot. Pulling his T-shirt over his head, he flung it back over one shoulder.

  Emory didn’t even bother to pay attention to where the shirt landed. She was too busy soaking up the sight of her lover’s etched physique. He was so sculpted, so hot. How had she ever managed to snag the attention of a guy like him?

  “Your turn, Em.” Alex’s low murmur made her shiver.

  “Uh.” She tried to focus through the haze of alcohol and sensual heat flooding her brain. “Apple, banana, codfish, Dijon mustard, escargot, frankfurter, grapes, huevos rancheros—and…” Her mind was utterly and completely blank. “I can’t remember anything else.”

  “Drink up,” Jessa urged.

  Emory swallowed the liquor, thankful for the liquid courage and knowing it would never be enough. She and Alex had fooled around inside this bar just days ago, and she’d acted like a nymphomaniac. It hadn’t mattered then that there were people watching, because she’d been so far over the line of lust that she just hadn’t cared. This was different.

  Alex’s intense blue gaze caught and held her. “Show us that sexy body, love.”

  She was wearing Morgan’s corset top. That left her with zero coverage on top if she opted to remove it. Sucking in a deep breath, she stood up and unbuckled her cargos. With every eye in the room watching, she shimmied them down her legs and stepped free.

  It was like a strange dream, the kind where you’re naked in a public place and uncertain how you got there.

  Jessa was the one to break the silence. “You have such beautiful hips, Emory.”

  Time slowed as the other woman reached out and brushed her fingers across the strip of sensitive skin above the elastic waistband of Emory’s lacy bikini panties. The touch was featherlight, so different from Alex’s, but no less arousing. The tantalizing sensation sent frissons whizzing throughout Emory’s body. Her nipples hardened instantly, her body plumping as it begged for more attention.

  Across the table, Connor groaned. “Touch her again, Jessa.”

  Bolder this time, Jessa dipped the tip of her index finger beneath the waist of Emory’s panties near the groove of her hipbone. With the other hand, she caressed Emory’s ass.

  Confused and turned on, Emory grabbed the chair to keep herself grounded. Feeling lost, she looked up and met Alex’s sexually charged gaze. The sight of him, obviously aroused by her and Jessa’s interlude, gave Emory courage.

  “Can I touch you, Emory?” Jessa asked.

  The hunger in Alex’s expression pushed any lingering doubts away. Emory nodded. “Yes.”

  Before she realized what was happening, Connor had cleared the table of glasses and liquor and Emory was lying on top of it.

  “Prop your feet on the chairs,” Jessa instructed. “I’m going to get rid of your panties.”

  Emory might have freaked out and fled, but Alex had taken her hands in his. Lowering his head, he gently traced her lower lip with his tongue. A desperate whimper convinced him to deepen the kiss, and any shyness was instantly forgotten.

  “Oh, Emory, you’re so wet.” Jessa’s eager tone gave Emory confidence.

  The other woman nudged Emory’s legs apart. Through the sensual storm of Alex’s kiss, she was aware of fingers probing her sex. Jessa gently spread her open, tracing the wet folds, and avoiding Emory’s swollen clit.

  “Slip one finger inside her pussy and use another to rub her clit.” Connor’s husky voice coached Jessa as she finger-fucked Emory’s needy body.

  Nothing had prepared Emory for the erotic stimulation of being the center of attention. Alex’s kiss. Jessa’s fingers. Connor’s focus. All served to heighten Emory’s awareness to the point of pain. Her channel clenched hard around Jessa’s slender finger. The other woman added a second finger and then a third before moving them in and out with a surprising amount of force.

  “I want to taste her, Connor.”

  The words made Emory burn. Alex broke away from their kiss and she was utterly aware of his eyes watching Jessa’s mouth when she slid her tongue into Emory’s slit.

  The male groans ricocheted around the room, and Emory’s pussy convulsed hard. Wet and warm, Jessa’s tongue delved lightly through the wet flesh of Emory’s sex. The sensation was totally foreign but sexy as hell.

  “She’s so ready,” Jessa told the men. “I can feel her getting ready to come.”

  The word sank through Emory’s lust. Come? As in Jessa thought she was ready to climax? How could Emory not feel such a thing when it was happening? All she felt was a painfully tight band wrapping around her insides. She was walking the edge of that cliff. Looking over but still firmly planted on top.

  “Speaking of coming.” There was a noise, and Emory opened her eyes to see Connor standing. “I need to be inside you before I explode.”

  There was nothing gentle about the man. He pulled Jessa away from Emory’s quivering body and nudged her down onto the tabletop. The position left the two women lying side by side. Uncomfortable with the level of intimacy, Emory sat up
and scooted off the table. She moved toward Alex, seeking something familiar but unable to rip her gaze away from the other couple.

  As Emory watched, Connor pushed Jessa’s skirt up to her waist. Her stockings were anchored to a garter belt, but she wore no panties.

  “Look at me, Emory,” Connor demanded.

  It was impossible not to. He held her with his dark gaze as he opened his pants, released his cock, and sank his shaft deep inside Jessa. The other woman cried out in ecstasy, back arching and eyes closing as she enjoyed the feel of being thoroughly fucked by her man.

  Alex’s lips brushed Emory’s ear. He was standing directly behind her. “She’s going to come fast.”

  The clenching pull in her belly made Emory lightheaded. “Why?”

  “Touching you, licking you, it made her too hot to last very long.” Alex nuzzled her neck. “Put your hand on Jessa’s pussy.”

  Shock mingled with a bone deep desire to know. “I can’t.”

  Alex gently threaded his fingers through hers and lifted her hand. He drew it forward, across Jessa’s body to the place where Connor’s cock slid in and out of the other woman’s wet pussy. Emory shuddered as her and Alex’s fingers brushed the root of the big man’s thick shaft.

  Connor groaned. “She’s getting tighter with every thrust, Emory. Feel it?”

  The need to understand release made Emory bold. She sank her fingers into Jessa’s swollen sex. The creamy fluid made it slick and hot. Connor pushed past the tight flesh into Jessa’s channel and then pulled back out. Emory found Jessa’s clit. It pulsed faintly beneath her fingertips. Jessa squirmed at the contact. Backing off, Emory soaked up the sensation of muscles ebbing, flowing, and growing tighter.

  Her awkward position, reaching for Connor and Jessa, had left Emory bending over the table. Her pussy was beginning to throb from the constant arousal. When Alex’s hands gently smoothed over her bare cheeks, Emory pushed her ass into his touch.