Chapter Ten #2
"Yeah." He tips my head back, meticulously scrutinizing my expression. "Is that why you ran?"
"I…" I break off with a sigh and then nod.
"You don't want to meet him?"
"No, I…" Well, this is harder than I thought. "Um, I do want to meet him. I just…I'm afraid he's going to hate me."
Phoenix's brows furrow. "You think he'll hate you?"
"Yeah. You're riding the bench because of me. I doubt he's thrilled about that."
He stares at me for a long moment and then bursts into laughter.
"It's not that funny," I sniff, glaring at him.
"It's fucking hilarious, baby," he says, still chuckling.
"No, it isn't." I shift, trying to slide from his lap, but he immediately grabs me, holding me in place. I settle for elbowing him, which just makes him chuckle again.
"You're cute as hell when you're anxious, you know that?"
"And you're annoying as hell when you're laughing at me."
"I'm not laughing at you," he promises. "I'm laughing at the idea of my dad hating you."
"It's still not that funny."
"You don't know much about my dad, do you?"
"I know enough."
"Clearly not," he says and then chuckles again before sobering. "You know he and my mom got together in a BDSM club?"
"Uh…" I blink at him, not entirely convinced that's something he should know about his parents.
"Not like that," he mutters. "He thought my aunt was there and went looking for her to drag her out. Instead, he found my mom, and ended up rescuing her."
"So…your mom was a BDSM club girl?"
"No. She was a nosy reporter." He smirks at me. "Kinda like this other nosy reporter I know."
"She was doing a story?"
"Yeah," he says. "Anyway, that's how the two of them got together.
And if you think that's the worst story you'll ever hear about him, you'd be wrong.
He was a fucking amazing player. He was also a major pain in the ass.
Ask him how many times he rode the bench for doing some dumb shit like fighting or stealing a Zamboni, and I guarantee he won't be able to tell you. "
"He stole a Zamboni?"
"Borrowed. Usually while intoxicated. Often while naked." Phoenix grins. "My point is, he isn't fucked up about me riding the bench because I got into a fight with Corey, baby. And he damn sure isn't blaming you for it."
I lick my lips, staring at him. "Then why is he here?"
"Because I've been telling him all about you for weeks and he's an impatient motherfucker," Phoenix says, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "He wants to meet you."
"He…" I gulp, staring at him with wide eyes. "You've been telling your dad about me?"
"Since the day I ran into you," he says somberly.
My heart turns a flip in my chest. "Phoenix, I—"
"I love you."
I blink at him, but he just smirks at me. "Figured you were working your way up to saying it, and I wasn't going to let you beat me there."
"It's not a competition."
"No, it's not. But I've been losing my mind over you for weeks, Cara. I've known how I felt about you for damn near just as long. I've just been waiting for you to realize you were on the same page so I could finally tell you."
"I am on the same page," I whisper. "That's why I ran today. It was stupid, but I thought he'd hate me and you'd end up hating me, and all of this would just…"
"I know at least one prick more than willing to take my place, so that shit will not be happening," he growls.
"I thought you and Corey were cool," I complain.
"We are. Doesn't mean I'm going to step out of the way and leave an opening for him to step into," Phoenix says, cocking one brow as if to ask if I've lost my damn mind. "Fuck that noise, gorgeous. I'm the only one allowed to touch you."
"You being a caveman is so annoying," I grumble without heat. Honestly, I don't mind it much because I know the same rules apply in reverse. No one is allowed to touch him either. He'd never allow it. Someone got a little too close when we were out yesterday, and he almost made her cry.
"You love it," he says, dipping his head to kiss me.
"Do not."
"Yeah, you do." He nips my bottom lip, and I just moan in response. It's the only thing I can do because he's right, damn him. I do love it.
We kiss for several long moments before he rests his forehead against mine. "I'm an asshole for ever making you think you were to blame for that fight, Cara."
"Phoenix…"
He places his hand over my mouth. "Let me finish."
I nod reluctantly.
"You weren't at fault, and I'm going to be kicking my own ass for a long fucking time for saying what I did the other night," he says.
"You didn't deserve that. But I'm hoping like hell that you'll let me spend the rest of my life proving that I can be a better man than I was when I said that shit. "
"You already are a better man," I whisper, meaning that.
"Maybe you're a jealous madman on occasion, but you're all of my favorite things, too.
You're passionate and funny. You know how to admit when you're wrong.
You're dedicated, intelligent, and loyal.
And you make me feel like I'm the most important thing in your world. "
"You are. If my career ended tomorrow, I'd survive it. If I lost you…" He shakes his head like he can't even fathom that. "That shit would rip my fucking heart out. I get why Corey is so fucked up over his ex. If he felt for her even half of what I feel for you, I get it."
"I love you."
He groans, pulling me so close, I feel his heart beating against my breast. "My dad is going to be pissed when I blow him off tonight to stay right here and fuck my kid into you, gorgeous.
" His hand slides between my legs, already searching.
"But goddamn. I want to hear you say that while I'm buried inside you. "
"Phoenix," I groan, but I don't make a move to stop him.
He then lifts me until I'm hovering over the head of his cock. "Just once, baby. Say it just once, and then I'll behave."
We both know he's lying, but I sink down on him anyway, moaning as he fills me. My hands splay across his broad shoulders, clinging. Once he's all the way in, I just sit there, panting, unable to think, let alone move.
"Say it," he growls, his eyes locked on my face. "Let me hear my new favorite sentence."
"I love you."
He groans, tipping me backward. "Again."
"I love you," I gasp, arching up to meet his thrust. "I love you."
His eyes blaze with heat and triumph, and I know damn well it's going to be a while before we go meet his dad. I'm not complaining though. Hell no. This right here is precisely where I want to be.