Chapter Four
Phoenix
The light caress woke me instantly, and I immediately knew where I was.
As I turned my head, ready for another satisfying kiss, I was stunned when Emery moaned and rubbed himself along my side, immediately seeking out my warmth.
I caught his hand as he slid it into my boxers.
I’d taken off my jeans before I’d gone to sleep last night, fully expecting to wake up early, but I hadn’t counted on this.
“Emery, sweetheart.” I tried to hold his wrist without hurting him, just as he opened his eyes.
And my heart stopped. The eyes staring back at me weren’t entirely human.
The unmistakable gold fanning out from green irises was distinctive.
“What—” I began in shock, only for Emery to capture my lips with his, lifting his bare leg to slide up and down mine.
My body reacted immediately, and I groaned, taking over the kiss and cupping the swollen cock pressing against mine.
As Emery tugged his hands free and trailed them over my abdomen, I was still in shock from what I’d seen, fighting a losing battle to stop my body from reacting to the onslaught of his tongue, hands, and the delicious sounds escaping his throat.
I cupped his face, tilting it toward mine.
“I still have no protection,” I said, staring into now-green eyes, wondering if I’d imagined the gold. They were very human now—and as gorgeous as the rest of him. I hadn’t even noticed the dusting of freckles on Emery’s nose last night.
Emery gazed at me for a long minute, then chuckled.
“It’s not like I can get pregnant.” He scrunched his nose up, then he seemed to vault out of bed, heading to a pile of boxes.
I tracked his gorgeous naked form and knew I needed to cover myself with more than cotton boxers.
“Suzanne got married last month,” he muttered.
Not having a reply to that, I wisely decided to keep quiet.
But then Emery produced a small purple bag, delighted. “Bachelorette party goodies.”
I had no clue what that even meant until he brought out six small foil-wrapped packs. Emery grinned and shrugged. “What? They’re all married. They gave me theirs.”
I knew condoms didn’t matter, but if they made Emery feel safer, they were a good thing.
Shifters didn’t carry human diseases, and they wouldn’t be an effective barrier against me anyway.
It was why I’d never had sex with a human female, but also the reason I couldn’t explain why I didn’t need condoms to Emery.
I’d shared enough jokes with Bayer and Kaylan about super sperm, and it wasn’t just an alpha thing; it was a shifter thing.
Emery came back to bed, falling silent. I supposed the distraction could be awkward. “So you need to kiss me,” Emery announced, and I grinned. Or not.
“It will be my pleasure,” I said sincerely, leaning over. Just as quickly as before, the fire heating my blood roared through me again.
“You’re bad for me,” Emery muttered between tongues and lips. “I’ve never wanted anyone so much in my entire life.”
I knew exactly how he felt. “My family is well known in town,” I said, taking his lips in a dominating I own you kiss before drawing back. “I can send for references…”
Emery threw his head back and laughed, the sound deep, throaty, and as if he put his whole self into the emotion. I bent down, unable to resist capturing the sound with my lips. The laugh quickly became a sound of need, and I, finally given permission, guided Emery’s fingers to my waistband.
I hardened again immediately from the first tentative brush of skin on skin. My tongue glided over his, and I lifted my hips to help him slide my briefs down. His hands roamed over my shoulders and the back of my head.
His eyes glowed with desire and passion, unlike anything I’d seen in a long time, especially when looking in the mirror.
Emery arched his back and rolled his groin over mine, teasing.
He braced each hand on my hips, the knowledge and understanding of what he wanted clear on his face as he lowered himself steadily over me, taking me in.
His eyes widened. “Wait, I forgot lube.” But I’d already felt him.
Emery was slick with need. I didn’t know how and wasn’t about to question my good fortune.
My wolf was going crazy inside, urging me on, knowing what it wanted, but I wasn’t going there.
Emery was human. My fangs itched, but I willed them to stay in my gums. “Phoenix,” Emery pleaded breathlessly, moving slightly, the grind of his hips both a question and a plea.
His eyes rolled back. “If you don’t move, I’m going to lose my mind. ”
I couldn’t help but smile. He was incredible. Anchoring my hands on his hips, I lifted him a fraction before lowering him again. The sound from Emery’s throat went straight to my cock, and I clamped down hard on my careening out-of-control reactions.
I pushed upright, half lifting off the bed, holding him as he eased back down and then rolled his hips.
Sat astride, Emery ground deep, and I loved that most of the choices to move were his.
I slowed, lifting, and met his lips in a slow, sensuous movement, my fingers weaving through his hair.
My body seemed to light up, thundering down a path too soon to a conclusion.
I was embarrassed by the admission I was going to have to make soon if I didn’t stop moving. I arched my back.
“Phoenix!” His cry was urgent, demanding, and I had no choice but to do as Emery demanded.
I thrust my hips, the low guttural noise in my throat more from my wolf than me.
I only had so much control, and Emery was unraveling it all at breakneck speed.
Emery leaned back, secure in my arms, and the slight change in angle was nearly overwhelming.
I thrust, the stretch pressing deliciously tight.
Pulling back, I thrust again, helpless to the demands of either of our bodies.
“Emery,” I cried, as much a warning as I was able, our lips meeting as my orgasm barreled over me. Emery cried out his own satisfaction, and we rode out the wave together.
Emery
“I have to go,” Phoenix said apologetically when I emerged from the tiny bathroom later.
It was so small it didn’t even have room for a bath, which I would’ve killed for right about now.
I tried not to show my disappointment, even though I’d hoped we’d have breakfast together.
I wasn’t going to ask him if I would see him again.
I wasn’t, but deep down, I hoped like hell he would ask me.
Which was insane, considering I didn’t even know where I would be sleeping tonight.
“We have a family meeting,” he said, his lips twisting as if that wasn’t quite the right word, but he couldn’t think of a better one.
“You all must like early mornings,” I commented dryly, noting the bakery had only just opened. I knew he didn’t want to stay for the awkward afters, but he didn’t have to lie. Then again, he didn’t owe me anything. “It must be cool to all work together,” I added.
His eyebrows rose, as if that hadn’t occurred to him. “It is… until one of us disagrees.”
“I guess it’s a huge responsibility as well, especially if you have no siblings to help shoulder the burden,” I said and watched his eyes glitter. I had a feeling I might have hit the nail on the head.
“You have no idea,” he replied with feeling, softening the statement with a smile. “Have you decided what you’re going to do?” He was referring to the job.
“No, but I have eight weeks of vacation to figure it out,” I said, trying to make it sound like no big deal. Maybe I should quit being a teacher and become an actor.
Phoenix pulled on his shirt, already wearing his jeans, as I tugged my bathrobe closer around me.
I glanced out of the window and huffed. He walked over to see what I was looking at—his truck.
I had to smile. Bayer and Kaylan were both leaning against it, sipping coffee they’d obviously bought from downstairs.
They must’ve been waiting to go with Phoenix.
As if Kaylan knew we were looking, he gazed up at the window and waved another cup he was holding.
“Your ride’s here,” I said, amused, turning around.
He opened his mouth to speak, but suddenly I didn’t want to hear the words he was going to say.
I quickly placed a finger over his lips to silence them and shook my head.
“Have a good life,” I whispered and walked back into the bathroom.
I didn’t want him to see that I was going to need a tissue.
I had no idea why he seemed to shut the door with so much force that the whole apartment seemed to shake.
He was the one leaving. I blew out a long breath and walked back into the bedroom, continuing into the small living room and kitchenette.
I had no intention of watching his truck drive away.
How pathetic would that be? I glanced at the clock.
It was still early. The moving van wouldn’t arrive until nine.
Crap. I’d forgotten. Amongst all the anger and phone calls about the job, and then last night, I hadn’t given much thought to where I was going to live, just relieved I had options.
Mrs. West, my landlady, had been kind, but the bakery owner downstairs needed the apartment for her son.
She’d given me a week free because my lease had ended, and I’d had four more days of school.
She hadn’t even charged me or checked the apartment.
Last night had been the only time anyone had stayed over.
I usually stayed at Graeme’s in the city. He always had to get home for the dogs.
What was I going to do?
I could stay with friends or check out something nearer to Ellensburg. I called the movers to make arrangements since I wouldn’t be going to Graeme’s. After setting that up and deciding on a quick shower, the knock at the door made my heart beat faster. He wouldn’t have come back.
He hadn’t.
Mrs. West was at the door, looking worried. “What’s the matter?” I immediately asked, concerned about her daughter, Annabelle, who was due any day.
“Mrs. Hernandez just ordered a cake for her mom’s eightieth.”
I listened, knowing there was more.
“And she was talking to Stella Jacobson—” Danny’s mom, Emery understood. “And Robert’s already on his way with a friend to share the apartment, and Eric’s cousin is taking our spare room.”
I reassured her. “It’s fine. I have two offers for temporary accommodation, and I’m checking out a new development this morning.”
Mrs. West brightened. “Oh, I hear it’s lovely over there.”
“Actually, could you do me a favor?” I asked, making a decision.
“Anything,” Mrs. West replied fervently.
“I’ve just spoken to the movers, and they’re going to load the van and store everything until they hear from me.
I have what I need for a weekend, and I was thinking of checking into a hotel out toward Ellensburg, maybe pamper myself for the weekend.
” The more I thought about it, the better it sounded.
A massage and a facial seemed wonderful right about now.
“Would you mind if they just drop the keys in when they’re done? I really don’t need to watch them.”
“It’s Dyer’s?” Mrs. West asked. I nodded. Mrs. West smiled. “Then your things will be fine. I’ve known Sadie Dyer all her life. She won’t let anything get damaged.”
I said goodbye and promised to call into the shop next week for my mail.
Fortunately, I’d never arranged for it to be forwarded to Graeme’s.
Maybe I was psychic? I let out an inelegant snort and rubbed my throat absentmindedly.
I still had a weird feeling and put a hand to my head.
Maybe I should swing by the pharmacy and see if I could pick something up. I might be starting a cold.
A little later, I was all packed up. The apartment had been partially furnished, so I didn’t have a lot of things—just the coffee tables and some books, really—and I’d packed a small case for the weekend.
I would’ve been fine if every time I passed the bed, I didn’t think about its last occupant and want to cry.
No, I don’t, I thought to myself. I couldn’t actually remember the last time I’d cried.
I had money in the bank and a job. Even if the job wasn’t ideal, it would certainly look good on my resume.
I liked Minton and had friends here, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t make them in Bellevue, either.
Who was I kidding? I’d lived in a dozen cities, each more glamorous than the rest. All I’d ever wanted was somewhere to settle down, to belong.
And Phoenix being here didn’t mean I couldn’t.
It was one night. I smiled to myself. Okay, in the privacy of my own head, I was willing to admit it had been the best sex of my life, maybe, but getting into another relationship wasn’t a clever idea so soon after the last one had ended.
Maybe it rankled so much because he hadn’t even asked for my number.
But then, I hadn’t asked for his, unable to bear hearing whatever excuse he would give.
It wasn’t that I suddenly thought all men were a waste of time, but I’d definitely seen the hesitation in Phoenix’s eyes.
Something had been going on. At least I knew it couldn’t be another boyfriend or worse.
Danny knew his family. I mulled that over for a second and stood up.
Maybe Gemma and I could meet Danny and his boyfriend next week for coffee?
She knew Danny wouldn’t be able to resist gossiping.
I picked up the suitcase and took one more look around the apartment that had been my home for three years, feeling a pang.
And missing it already.