Page 21

Story: Phoenix Rising

Luka shook his head. “Everything that happened is so much better than what my imagination could conjure. The strange thing is that instead of being less protective...”

“Yeah, I know. But we knew this would happen. You even warned me.”

With a sigh, he nodded, but said, “I’ve never coveted how anyone lived their lives; how much money they had or who they dated. But I acknowledge somewhere deep inside me that if I ever lost?—”

I cupped his face and stopped the words I couldn’t imagine. “You won’t. We’re not going anywhere.”

The emotional side of us developed with age, me more than Luka, because the man’s empathy knew no bounds.

But sex with Phoenix wasn’t meaningless or temporary.

He was our forever and even if it took the rest of our lives, I’d make sure both of them knew it.

CHAPTER 7

PHOENIX

As I stumbledinto the kitchen, euphoric and sore from the activities of the night before, I glared at the two amused faces sitting around the kitchen island, sipping on coffee as if they didn’t have a care in the world. It’d been a week full of sexy times and smiles as I got to know a different side to each of my men.

My ass plopped down on the ground, and I surrounded myself with doggy kisses and hugs. The two doggies loved it as much as I did when I glommed onto them and absorbed as much serotonin as I could get.

“How is it I’m a half a decade younger than you two, and I’m exhausted?” I asked.

“Talent, Petal, and a vigorous workout routine to keep up with your insatiable demands.”

A low, defined growl, of which I was proud of myself for being able to make, rumbled out of my mouth until Luka’s gaze met mine and he gave me a soft smile which never failed to melt me into a puddle of goo.

“Okay, I can admit, it might not have been the best idea to ride both of you on the same night, after you wore me out from round one. But in my defense, my ideas are by-in-large winners.”

After feeding both dogs’ breakfast, Luka lifted me up, using his forearm along my upper thighs to balance me, and gave me a slow kiss. When we broke off to breathe, my heart leapt in my chest when I noticed Burton standing next to us, seeking his own.

The act of kissing these two was becoming addictive, and I never wanted all these feelings swirling around inside me to stop.

These men were my safe place, my happiness, my ultimate thrill, and although we’d yet to make declarations aloud, I understood on a fundamental level both were the loves of my life. I wouldn’t give them up for anything.

Luka said, “It was our fault for denying you so long. The last thing we wanted was to push you?—”

“I understand why, lover, and like everything else, when I’m denied something, I go overboard because I can’t control myself when I get what I want. Speaking of which…”

I reached for Burton and smiled when he laughed at my manhandling. I loved when I made them laugh, a smile on their faces as they kissed me.

At the start of our relationship, the last thing I wanted to do was to alienate one of them, and so our shared affection was forefront in my mind. But as time passed, my sense of awareness of them developed into a need to have both of them close, tasting them and their distinct flavor; Luka was smoky, Burton spicy.

“So, what are we going to do today? We can?—”

A knock on the door made my eyes widen as Luka’s words died off. It was a rare occasion when we received visitors; other than the few neighbors that lived around our small cul-de-sac dropping by to say hi, but they wouldn’t visit at nine on a Saturday morning.

“Expecting anyone?” Burton asked, with an eyebrow raised.

I shook my head. “Arthur is in California visiting Jude’s family for the rest of the month, and Charlotte is working today.”

“Knock, knock!”

Burton cringed, and Luka groaned. Not his sexy groan, but one of frustration I disliked hearing. My fingers fluttered through his hair, and when he gave me his mischievous smile, I relaxed.

“Parents,” both men said at the same time.

I shrugged and scrambled out of Luka’s hold. “Good luck! I’m going to inhale some coffee and hide in here, heading outside with the dogs when they’re ready.”