Phoenix Rising

1. Phoenix

CHAPTER 1

PHOENIX

Distracted by the last customer of the morning rush as he signed the tablet for his purchase, I sensed the two familiar men as they walked into my bakery and headed toward the display. They kept their heads together, the bulky one with his hand open on his boyfriend’s back, whispering back and forth as they decided on their pastry of the day.

The sight of the two men in my bakery was a common occurrence.

But despite both being regulars, and neither of them showing any interest in me, my body flushed hot, and I became lightheaded, craving something that I, in a million years, could never experience.

They came in around the same time every day, ordered either a dessert or a sandwich along with their respective drinks, and would sit in the corner for about an hour, whispering to each other and blocking out the world. And like clockwork, whenever their conversation ebbed, both women and men tried flirting with the couple. They ignored or rejected the advances of men and women who approached, leading to shared disappointment.

The knowledge they were a couple, and a happy one at that, didn’t stop the yearning I had for both men. To say I never reacted this way to another man, much less two, was an understatement. My longing for the two complete opposites from body type and what I’d witnessed in disposition were out of the realm of anything I knew to be possible in my world.

Over time and without realizing it, I’d learned certain aspects about their individual personalities.

The bigger man of the two had a soft-looking beard and messy, dark hair, but he was the one who paid attention to everyone in his immediate area. He towered over my five foot seven height by a wide margin. But he was gentle. He held the door open for his partner and anyone else in the vicinity, observing without being intrusive and offering help whenever needed. Although unnecessary, he’d gather the plates and the mugs they’d used during their visit and placed them in the utility cart used for dirty dishes. And one time, he’d even rocked an exhausted baby to sleep, giving a grateful mother a chance to finish her meal.

The man’s partner was gregarious. With a content smile on his face, he wasn’t afraid of showing affection while he used his entire body to communicate. Waving his hands around and gesturing whenever he became lost in a topic, which seemed to be all of them. He was quick to laugh, which drew my eyes every time he threw his head back, and seemed as easy-going as his partner. But I’d seen him grow protective. With a flash of his verdant eyes, people backed off, especially when men flirted with his boyfriend.

Their actions confused me because it wasn’t as if they didn’t notice other people. But when they did, both of them had preferences of different sexes.

The blond one loved women; curvy, petite, tall, short. It didn’t matter. He’d offer them all a flirty smile and a wink. But the other noticed men; never overtly flirting with them, but appreciating them all the same. Their actions led me to the conclusion that they were secure in their relationship enough to appreciate the beauty of others from time to time.

On the first day I laid eyes on them, they’d come up to the counter after I’d moved slices of the Death by Chocolate decadent cake with homemade dark chocolate ice cream swirled inside into the refrigerated case. My apron was messy, my hair falling limp and lifeless against my forehead, and my skin flushed. They’d ask about my day or any exciting plans coming up in my life, and I answered with honesty; I worked during the weekdays, so I spent my weekends doing laundry and cleaning.

Exciting, right?

The subjects of our conversation were always pleasant and indirect, without an opportunity to ask about them, much less their names. They always paid in cash, and while I had numerous chances, I’d never strayed into personal territory.

Moving my eyes away from the couple when my chest tightened in yearning, a hand clamped down on my forearm, startling me enough I squeaked in alarm. Whoever had me directed me around the counter as I scrambled away from them. When that hadn’t worked, I yanked my arm away before I blinked up at Evan or Easton, some name that started with an E. He’d been a nuisance, insisting on a date when I’ve told him a considerable number of times I wasn’t interested. I was getting annoyed.

“What the hell is wrong with you? You don’t grab someone like that, ever!”

Before he answered, one of my crushes stepped closer to us and growled. A literal feral growl, similar to a wolf or a bear, and I swooned.

Get it together, Phoenix!

“Don’t touch him.”

My mouth dropped open as breathing became difficult. A shiver of pleasure fluttered over my body at the sound of his deep, commanding voice.

A scant ‘sorry’ was all I heard, since I couldn’t take my eyes off the giant of a man, even when I noted movement in my peripheral and the sound of my poor, old-fashioned shopkeeper’s bell being abused.

“Woo! That was one of the… nope, the hottest thing I’ve witnessed in ages. For a second there, I wondered if you were going to rip his arms off, big guy, all because he dared to grab our Phoenix here,” Arthur said as he fanned himself.

“It’s Luka.”

There was a pulse of desire in my lower stomach, and I stifled a gasp when my cock swelled underneath my jeans. Grateful I had the area covered with an apron.

I wanted to join my friend in fanning myself because the temperature climbed in the minute since Luka stepped in to help me.

“And I’m Burton. It’s nice to meet you, Phoenix.” The blond adonis held out his hand.

Reason fled as the eagerness of the situation presented to me overrode self-preservation. I placed my hand in Burton’s stronger, calloused one and sucked on my bottom lip as the tingle from his touch radiated up my arm and spread throughout.

Images of me splayed out on a bed as Burton teased me with his warm hands while Luka’s voice washed over me until I erupted in an intense... Fuck!

Okay! Not nice to fantasize about two men who were a couple standing right in front of me.

“It’s also nice to meet you, Burton. Luka.”

“I’ve never seen you blush that shade of peach before, honey. I’m gonna call Jude and tell him.”

Leave it up to my best friend to embarrass me.

“It’s lovely,” Luka said as he ran the back of his finger down my cheek before he cupped my face.

In that moment, I considered the possibility of my entire body igniting into flames, all from Luka’s tiny gesture that, for the first time in my life, didn’t make me recoil. In a weak moment, I wanted to know the touch of the man cupping my cheek and burrowed into his hand.

Then I remembered he wasn’t available and leaned away.

“Sorry, I should’ve asked you before I touched you,” Luka said.

I shook my head back and forth before I found the words, “No, it’s okay. You can. I’m not used to it.”

“What about me? Can I touch you?” Burton asked.

My eyes widened, and I nodded, staring at the bewitching man, who was even more stunning up close. “If… if you want to?”

Arthur chuckled. “Give it up for Phoenix, ladies and gentlemen. He attracts two specimens of male perfection without a clue they’re flirting with him.”

He mumbled as he moved around the counter to clean the tables, leaving me alone with the two gorgeous men. Or at least I believed no one was around. There was no dragging my attention away from them.

“Uh…” I sounded daft as I looked back and forth between the two, confusion swamping me because I was a mess; the decorated apron with green vines and leaves along with depictions of pastries and the logo of my shop, Phoenix Rising, had chocolate stains and other food items I couldn’t identify. My hair stood up in all directions, and I’m pretty sure my fingers were sticky with frosting.

As my synapses fired back up, I swallowed around the dryness in my throat and said, “Just ignore him. He’s still in the honeymoon phase, despite being married for years, and sees romance everywhere.”

Until this conversation, I hadn’t spoken more than a word or two to either of these men. But now they were in front of me, both holding expressions of faint amusement as they stared at me, and I felt faint. And in order to cover my ineptitude in social situations, out came the verbal onslaught.

“Is it hot in here? It’s hot, right? I mean… um, what were we talking about? Oh, right? My deluded best friend thinks, well, stupid things that are out of the realm of possibility because whatever he’s imagining doesn’t happen in real life and as far as I can tell, I’m awake and working. Are you two together? Shit, I did not mean for that to escape my mouth because nosy much, Phoenix? It’s not my business. Over the past several months, I couldn’t miss observing that you two make an exquisite couple. And on that note, I’ll stop talking now,” ending on a groan.

Burton glanced at Luka, who kept his eyes on me the entire time, and beamed at the taller man.

Despite my previous declaration, I needed to explain.

“I ramble to myself when I’m alone, but also when I’m trying not to embarrass myself, but can’t turn it off. I expect it’s because… You know what, that’s not important, so never mind.”

Rather than fleeing out the front door, screaming in fear, Burton gave me a dazzling smile, and Luka’s eyes softened as he stepped closer and rubbed his hand up and down my back.

“We never meant to overwhelm you, Phoenix. It’s why we haven’t approached you before today. At first, we weren’t sure you were interested in men, but the more we observed you, we noticed no one grabbed your attention,” Luka said.

There was a loud guffaw, because, of course, Arthur was eavesdropping on this surreal conversation.

All thoughts skidded to a halt and for a half a second, the blank white void of my brain was silent as I replayed Luka’s words.

They observed me?

Forgetting about my friend and his shameful determination to get me laid and ‘end my isolated existence,’ I studied both men as they stared back at me.

Unsure of what he was saying, I croaked out, “So… what Arthur said was?—”

“Spot on,” Burton confirmed.

Arthur, with the tray full of dirty dishes, strode by and said, “This queen isn’t blind, honey. How else did you think I got Jude?”

Without hesitation, I said, “You waited for him to come to our table and before he uttered a word, you offered to suck him off in the bathroom.”

Both men hid their chuckles by ducking their heads down, but it was then I noticed they’d gotten closer to me.

“You’re such a bitch.”

A sigh escaped. “We’ve gone over this before. Just because I tell the truth doesn’t mean?—”

“That you’re an asshole? Yes, yes, it does,” Arthur snapped back before he disappeared back into the kitchen.

I shouted back, “He married you, didn’t he?”

My friend stuck his head back through the swinging door with a huge smile on his face.

“Yeah, he did. Why don’t you head out? I’ve got this, and Charlotte texted. She’s free to come in until close. Her professor canceled afternoon class. She’s been dying to try your limoncello cake recipe. Have a good night, and I’ll see you Monday morning,” he finished before disappearing behind the door.

A low chuckle and a boisterous shout of laughter captured my attention, and my cheeks heated when I turned back to see Burton and Luka focused on me. With a gulp, I removed my apron and smoothed back my messy hair, taking a minute to throw the grubby thing in the hamper set inside the blocked off stairs.

“Phoenix?”

“Yeah?” I turned back to both men.

“We’re starving and wanted to know if you wanted to come home with us? Luka’s a tremendous cook and he’d love to cook for us.”

Excitement rushed through me and I only just stopped myself from jumping up and down in agreement. Admittedly, a flood of fantasies ran through my mind in a blur of naked skin and cries of ecstasy shared between the three of us, but with a firm voice, I reminded myself it was lunch, not an orgy.

Rather than shouting my agreement, I sucked my lips into my mouth and nodded.

“Great! Do you need anything?” Luka asked.

I hesitated as I remembered what I was wearing. “No, but should I go home and change?”

Two sets of eyes moved down my face and over my body, clad in a simple tee and jeans with a comfortable pair of white runners, feeling like a heated caress on my tingling skin, before Burton shook his head.

Luka led the way out of my bakery, down the sidewalk about a block, and into a comfortable yet mammoth truck.

Although the practical side of my brain screamed at me to pay attention to where they were taking me, my thoughts scrambled the moment Luka touched me in a possessive manner, which I still sensed despite both of his hands now being on the wheel. If I didn’t get myself under control… well, I didn’t want to think about the consequences.

I never thought about relationships much, knowing I wasn’t the ideal man for anyone. Absentminded was the best description whenever I started working or fussed over a new plant, concentrating on doing what I loved instead of the noise and people around me.

After working every day since I turned fourteen to make enough money to take control of my life, I haven’t figured out a way to slow down. Despite owning my business, I enjoyed my place in the background, roaming out from time to time and talking to the regulars, but never taking center stage. I hired the best people I could find for that because even I knew customer service didn’t work when you got tongue tied at the simplest interactions.

When I came out of my thoughts, the three of us stood in front of a beautiful property; an array of flowers blooming in flowerbeds and hanging pots on the porch, trees towering over the manicured lawn, but in the center of it all stood a bright blue house with white shutters and a red door. The lot, with the towering maple and oak trees, gave the house a secluded feel, as though you stepped into another time and place.

“It’s beautiful.”

“Thank you,” they said at the same time.

As the men flanked me and escorted me up to the porch, unlocking the door, I heard something on the other side.

After I passed the threshold, my eyes focused on the warm interior of the home Burton and Luka shared, but became distracted when I heard loud and persistent clicking on the hardwood floor and two dogs appeared from a room in the back. I knew I should let the dogs approach me in their own time and investigate me, but I sank to my knees and reached out for them, laughing as the silver dog licked at my face. The smaller one with a brown and white coat whimpered until I sat on the floor, cross-legged. They climbed onto my lap and with a sigh, closed their eyes.

“Oh my, these two are so precious. What are their names?”

Burton slapped Luka on the arm, giving him a glare, but Luka shrugged and answered.

“The little one is Stella. She’s five months old and loves people. Ruby is Stella’s older sister.”

Burton chuckled. “You’re great with them. Did you have one when you were a kid?”

I shook my head and admitted, “My father hated animals of any kind. Well, now that I think about it, he hated everything, including his own son, so he’d never think about getting me something I’d love, like a dog.”

Ruby sensed my anger and stuck her head underneath my neck. With a smile, I ran my hand down her back and relaxed as the two girls showered me with affection.

Both men gave me a few minutes of loving on the dogs before Luka ordered Stella and Ruby to their beds in the living room. I stood. “Sorry about that?—”

“No, Sunshine, there’s no need to apologize,” Luka said, leaning down and pressing a kiss to the corner of my lips.

I sucked in a sharp breath at the action. My eyes widened as I glanced between the two of them, confusion rolling out of me in waves.

The emotions must’ve shown on my face, because Luka stepped forward, cupped my head, and ran both of his thumbs along the side of my neck.

Was that area supposed to be an erogenous zone? Hell, now it was.

Luka’s next words snapped my attention back to the two men.

“Ah, Phoenix, so there’s no doubt of my or Burton’s intentions, we are both absurdly attracted to you.”

“And we would like nothing more than to get to know you,” Burton added.

Luka cleared his throat and when my gaze met his, he finished, “Our end goal is being in a relationship, all three of us.”

My gaze darted from Burton’s bright emerald eyes to Luka’s patient hazel ones, searching for the truth. “So, you’re a couple and you want to bring someone, well, me, into your relationship?”

If I wanted to keep my dangerous attraction and yearning for these two men secret since they came into my bakery eighty-five days ago, I bungled it with that doozy of a question.

“And no, I haven’t counted how many days it’s been since you two strolled into my bakery.”

Luka’s mouth quirked up, and Burton chuckled.

“Shit, I said that aloud.”

Being a gentleman about my entire outburst, Burton clarified.

“Your observations might have led you to believe we’re together, but we’ve been best friends since elementary school. We run a business together and live here. We’re close, but until you, we’ve never thought about a relationship with each other before.”

“Although when I came out the summer before college, we had sex a few times. We stopped when B told me he preferred women, but we stayed close. When we found your bakery and noticed you, everything changed for the two of us.”

Burton’s voice dropped as he leaned in closer. “We want you in every way, Phoenix. Days in bed, naked, as we explore all the ways we can give you pleasure. Being able to kiss and touch you whenever we want. But more than that, we wish to spoil you, worship you, and be there for you whenever you need us.”

They promised me everything I didn’t even know I wanted. A gargantuan part of me wanted to agree, throw myself at them, and thank whatever deity above for this miraculous chance.

But the realistic doubter thought they’d get to know me and change their minds while I fell harder for both of them and in the end, I’d be the one with the broken heart. It would lead to the rest of my life spent alone.

With a million thoughts whirling in my brain and not one of them a solution to the point-counterpoint rallying back and forth, my world went black.