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I was still awed to find the dazzling man in our home, winning over the dogs, and showing more of his true self with each minute that passed.

My reaction toward Phoenix’s father wasn’t as visceral as my best friend’s.

You couldn’t change the past, and I learned never to dwell on the impossible. But what I could do was to show Phoenix that caring for someone doesn’t come with consequences, limits, or rules, and with me and Luka, he’d only have to be himself.

We settled around the dining room table, and I noticed Luka made a lunch meant to impress. Brisket grilled cheese along with creamy coleslaw and roasted Brussels with cranberries.

“Oh, wow, it smells and looks delicious. But it’s a lot of food…”

“Eat what you can, Sunshine.”

“Okay,” he said as he lifted half his sandwich and took a bite.

Phoenix’s eyes closed as he took his first bite and savored the flavors. Based on his expression of pure bliss, I found myselfravenous. I scooped up a spoonful of sprouts and almost choked at the moan reverberating next to me.

“This is… wow! Luka, it’s the best thing I’ve ever put in my mouth.”

Fucking hell!

Luka chuckled, and Phoenix froze with the sandwich near his mouth. His eyes darted toward Luka and then over to me. He shrugged and took another gigantic bite. As he chewed, he gave us a closed smile, his bright eyes shining in delight.

Another appreciative sound escaped as he tried the coleslaw, and before long, we were all eating in silence with me and Luka watching the man as he devoured every morsel on his plate.

“Dessert?” Luka asked.

“Ah, if I’d known there was dessert, I would have… nope, I still would’ve eaten it. How about later? Not that I’m inviting myself to stay longer, because I wouldn’t, that’s rude?—”

“Phoenix?”

His blue eyes widened as he turned toward me. “Yes?”

“It’s too early for more, but can I press my lips to yours?”

Another addictive whine escaped his throat, and before the sound cut off, my lips touched his supple ones and it was my turn to groan, aloud. My cock swelled in my jeans and I pulled away with a gasp before I ravaged his mouth.

On second thought, I slanted my mouth and drifted closer. Maybe another small taste.

“Nope, I know that look in your eyes, B, and we can’t devour him. Yet.”

With a huff, I leaned away and smiled when Phoenix laughed and grabbed Luka, giving him a chaste kiss. The simple move caused a rumble to escape the bigger man’s throat.

A chuckle escaped before I grabbed the empty plates and headed toward the kitchen.

“Dessert is ready whenever you want,” Luka said, sounding gruff.

A chair scraped against the wood floor as Phoenix stood and said, “The least I can do is clean?—”

“Nah, no worries, Petal. There isn’t much. I got it.”

Winking at the younger man, watching him blush, put a smile on my face before I disappeared through the threshold of the kitchen.

In a hurry to get back to Phoenix and Luka, I rinsed the dishes and scrubbed the pans with hurried movements. Dish duty was easy, especially when Luka had all the talent as the cook.

But as I shut off the water, I knocked over a glass I’d forgotten on the side of the sink and gasped as cold water soaked my shirt. With the last glass inside the dishwasher, I reached back and pulled my tee off, stopping by the laundry room and chucked it in the hamper.

When I walked back into the dining room, Luka laughed with heat in his eyes. I loved that look.

“Are you trying to impress him with your six-pack?”