35. Phoenix

Phoenix

Home

“ M ove!” I bark at Jorge, who’s too busy texting to move his fucking ass up the damn line.

This is the part of flying that sucks. Everyone wants to get off at the same time, but no one moves their bodies. I’m like a trapped prancing pony in this narrow aisle. I’ve got my duffle over my shoulder, carry-on in my hand, and I’m bursting at the seams to get home.

Eli is waiting for me, damn it.

God, I’m going to eat his face. Just chew it right off.

We shuffle a few steps, stopping when a mother has to situate her diaper bag and flailing toddler. Usually, it’d warm my heart to see a little kid being feisty, but right now, the only thing I want is off this plane. Since I’m taller than Jorge, I crane my head over his shoulder to see who he’s texting, and he shrieks, clutching his phone to his chest.

“ Jesus ,” he rasps. “Don’t sneak up on a guy like that.”

“I’m literally right behind you.”

He blows a raspberry at me and pockets his phone.

“Who are you texting?”

“Sonia,” he says and faces me. “Excited?” Wow, that’s a fast subject change.

He’s been so weird lately. Like every day that passes, he’s been morphing into this overly animated and twitchy dude that’s before me. I’ll figure out what’s going on with him eventually, just not currently. I take the opportunity to gush. “I can’t even describe how excited I am.” I even bounce on my heels.

He chuckles and squeezes my shoulder, and then it’s time to move.

It takes for ever for our luggage to come down to the baggage claim.

Devon and Michael are separated by Kelly chatting loudly on her phone. She is super attached to her grandparents, so I’m sure she’ll go straight to their place after this. Devon plays with this ring he always wears on his thumb while Michael eyes him awkwardly. Ever since our drunken escapade, those two have been weird as well.

My entire band got in this funk of being away from home too long.

Things should smooth over once we get some downtime.

Jorge and I share an Uber because his place is only five minutes from Kelly and I’s apartment. When we get to his tiny house, he leans over, smacks a wet kiss on my cheek, says he loves me and then throws himself out of the car. Someone is in a hurry…

I really want to text Eli that I’m coming, but I want him to be surprised. Maybe even waiting naked for me. I squirm, picturing it.

He’s been sending me all sorts of sexy shit the past week, feeding the ravenous beast inside me. Last night, I got an up-close picture of his pretty pink hole with three fingers stuffed in it. Shit, I can’t pop a boner right now in this Uber. The five-minute drive to my place seems to take thirty, and by the time I’m climbing the stairs to the apartment, my heart is in my throat, and my cock is painfully hard.

It’s like my entire body is stiff with anticipation.

I set down my suitcase by the front door and fiddle with my keys to get inside, but the door is thrown open before it even gets in the lock. Eli stands there, a dazzling smile on his face.

Fuck, he’s gorgeous. Healthy. Alert.

“Hi,” I gasp, unable to move because I want to soak him in a few seconds longer.

“Hey, baby,” he says softly.

Something clicks in my brain, and my legs jerk forward. I throw down my duffle bag, let my carry-on drop, and rush him. He squeaks in surprise when I bend and lift him. My mouth descends on his with speed, our lips crashing together with three fucking months' worth of need behind them. Fingers tangle in my hair as I fumble through the apartment, licking between his lips, breathing his breaths. He smells like me—smells like fucking home.

“Fuck,” he pants, shaking in my arms. His legs tighten around my waist, and we crash onto the sofa. “I missed you so much.”

I nudge his face to the side so I can kiss the petals tattooed on his neck, taking the time to lick and nibble each one. Then I make my way back to his face. I kiss his cheek, nose, and both eyes, then land back on his lips. I need him. Somewhere in my mind, I know I need to get Helios from Nyx, but that can wait.

Everything can wait.

“The door,” he rasps against my attack.

“Don’t care,” I say, hauling him back up and swiftly carrying him to my room.

I kick the door closed with my boot and lay him down. My hand shoves up his shirt, the outline of his dick prominent in the crotch of his jeans. I press wet kisses down his chest, dipping my tongue into his navel, getting high off the taste of his clean skin. Deftly working his jeans open while nibbling his hip bone, I free his cock and engulf it. His back bows off the bed, a sweet moan hitting my ears.

I’m so hungry, so fucking needy.

I can’t get enough.

Working him down my throat, I listen to his breaths, his curses and whines as his precum pools on my tongue. His hands come to cradle my head, but I catch his wrists, pinning them to the bed at his sides. That really gets him going because he humps into my mouth, fucking himself into me.

“Shit, baby. I’m not going to last.”

I hum in approval, wanting it. I suck him faster, desperate for it. He hisses when I scratch my teeth down his length. I swear I’m going to fucking devour him. “Oh fuck,” he whimpers, legs tensing beneath me.

His cock stiffens, throbs, and releases down my throat. I swallow, wanting every drop. When he sags, I lick his softening cock, dipping my tongue into his slit for more of his sweetness. All the little trembles pulsing through him spur me forward, and I peel his pants off. I kiss his thighs, burying my face in the crease of his groin, inhaling greedily. And when I brush my finger down to his taint and lower, I feel something.

“I wanted to be ready for you,” he rasps, bending his legs and revealing the plug resting between his cheeks.

“Fuck,” I growl, pushing on it and he gasps. “Are you wet, too?”

He nods fast. “I liked bottoming for you,” he admits almost shyly.

I crawl up his body with speed, still too clothed, but I need him to know this. “You can have my ass whenever you want. But right now, I need to be in you, sweetheart. I need to have you.”

Our kiss is urgent, filthy, and raw. His hands slide into the backs of my cargo pants, kneading my cheeks and pressing my cock against him. Fuck, I need to be naked. Now.

I hurry off him, shredding my clothes with speed and getting the lube. He might be wet, but I plan on taking him hard and fast. He pushes up on his elbows to watch me stroke my dick, gliding the slick liquid over it.

I realize my socks are still on when I get back between his legs and pull out the plug. Screw it. I need us connected this instant. I line up, pushing his knees to his chest, and seek out my haven. His eyes flutter wildly as I inch inside, wanting to plow forward but also needing this slow entry to savor the feel of his tight hole sucking my cock.

“Damn,” I hiss, inching out to relive it all over again. He clenches around my cockhead, making me choke.

“Phoenix,” he begs because I haven’t fully entered him. “ More. ”

I squeeze his hamstrings and snap my hips forward. The motion has me seeing stars. And when he reaches for me, his pretty blue eyes sparkling with adoration and lust, I let his legs drop to my sides and find his lips again. The hard, fast fucking gets lost as I drown in his kisses. Tiny sparks light up my skin where it glides over his, and all my nerve endings reawakened. His fingers slide over my neck, grasping at my nape and holding me close.

“Feel me, Phoenix,” he demands.

And I do.

God, I can feel relief surrounding him like a halo of white light. He’s warm and safe with me. A protective cocoon I am sheltering him in. And when he looks into my eyes, I see a horizon of blue. No clouds or ghosts are lurking in the corners. They’re long gone right now. It’s just us. So I adjust my position to peg him properly, coaxing the sexiest moan from his lips.

“That’s it,” I praise, feeling his cock harden again. “Fuck you’re perfection, Eli. Beautiful,” I kiss his lips, “Mine.”

His hole clenches around me, and his lashes flutter while a pretty blush colors his cheeks. “I’m keeping you forever,” I tell him, lifting one of his legs to get deeper.

“Keep me,” he pleads. “Please keep me.”

“I will.”

Pleasure coils low in my abdomen as our eyes lock. For once, I watch him in reverie instead of memory. I don’t need to store this moment away in case it vanishes. No, this isn’t fleeting anymore. This doesn’t have a time limit. We are just starting our journey. So I give him my moans, profess my affection, and feel him deeper than I ever have. Our raw connection strengthens as all my hopes find solid ground to take root in.

“Come,” I demand, reaching between us to grip his cock. “Come for me, sweetheart.”

He whimpers and meets me thrust for thrust. “Oh fuck,” he gasps, and I pick up my pace, slamming my hips into his cheeks. “Shit. Shit. I’m coming. ”

I catch it all in my palm, pull out of him and coat my cock with it. Then I slam home, letting that budding orgasm rise. My balls hike up to hug my base, the entirety of my dick buzzes with the rush, and I crush our mouths together, feeling all of my urgency come to a precipice. I come on a shout, trembling as my cock pulses inside him. He grabs at me frantically, sealing our chests together as all four of his limbs encircle me.

“It’s not quiet anymore,” he says into my hair. “But I like this noise. It’s the good kind.”

“What does it sound like?” I ask softly, trying to catch my breath.

“Wind. Promises I want to keep. Music I want to fuck you to. A dog barking.”

I smile, pushing up to look down at him. “A dog?”

“Yes. The Great Dane.”

I laugh, kissing him gently. “Really holding out for that, aren’t you?”

He nods shyly, blushing. “I’ve always wanted a dog.”

“I’ll get the dog. Just not today.” And my eyes bug out of my skull. “We have to go get Helios!”

A loud, beautiful laugh explodes out of him, making his ass clench around my soft dick. I shudder, letting it slip free. “Do not laugh at me. He’s probably wondering why his dad never came for him.”

“Let’s go get your baby,” he coos, reaching down and teasing my crack.

I shiver. “And when we get back, you’re fucking me,” I declare.

He bites his lip and then smirks. “Still my needy little cockslut.”

I shut him up with my mouth.

W hen we pulled up to my parents' house, I noticed all my siblings were there. Well, except one.

Oliver’s crusty Nissan is missing from the lineup in the driveway.

My parents know I’m back with Eli. I called and told them just to suck it the fuck up yesterday. I didn’t want my dad to give Eli side-eyes or rude remarks. He’s still not convinced Eli is right for me, but I think he’ll come around after time passes.

Mom and Nyx were on board. Mainly because of how well Eli has done with his recovery. I think that matters the most to them—that he’s trying. But I hadn’t told Veronica or Damien. I was planning on it, just not today. I glance at Eli, who shifts nervously in the passenger seat. Reaching across the center console to hold his hand, I smile to reassure him that it’s fine.

“I’m nervous,” he whispers.

“Don’t be. My parents know.”

“But the accident…”

“Was just that.”

“Phoenix,” he starts, swiveling to face me fully. “What I said to you that day. I never got to apologize for it. Never got to tell you that I didn’t mean any of it. I was high and upset because you called me out on it. I should have never said those things to you.”

I pull his hand to my lips and kiss it. “I’m sorry, too. I was awful. And I hope you know that you can count on me no matter what it is. I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart.”

He nods, taking a breath. “Thank you.”

“For?”

His pretty blue eyes water. “Seeing my worth. It’s something I’m working on, but you saw it first.”

I lean over and steal a kiss. “I wouldn’t have fallen in love with you if you weren’t worth it.”

A cute blush rushes to his cheeks, and he sniffles, wiping the moisture from his eyes. “Alright. Let’s get your baby.”

We get out of the car, our hands finding each other again, and walk up to the front door. It rips open, revealing one of my three nephews. The youngest of Damien’s sons, Lucas, beams up at me. I bend down to pull him into a hug.

“Uncle Fe!” he squeals happily. I set him down, catching the twins arguing by the stairs over Pokemon cards. Leo and Sebastian see me and rush over.

I greet them both, and they bump their knuckles with Eli’s. “It’s been forever since we saw you,” Leo blurts.

“Yeah. I had to deal with my issues,” he says easily. “How have you been, Sebastian?”

My nephew shrugs. “Grounded.”

“Grounded?” I ask, shocked.

“Yeah.” He nibbles his lip. “I stuck a firecracker in my volcano for the science fair.”

Eli laughs, and damn, it sounds good.

“PHOENIX!” Veronica shrieks, rushing to the foyer from the living room with Delilah in a baby wrap around her chest.

I catch my older sister, careful not to squash my niece, and we hug. I crane my head down to sniff Delilah and kiss the top of her head. She gurgles happily. Veronica sees Eli, a bit surprised but with an easy smile on her lips, while she gives him a side hug.

“How are you?” she asks.

“Better,” he says, straightening his shoulders.

“That’s great. I’m glad to hear it. DEKE!”

Deke pops up next. His long locs are coiled on top of his head, and his dark brown eyes sparkle when he sees me. I’ve always thought he was handsome. Those two have been together since high school. We exchange man hugs, the good ol’ one-armed back slap, and he greets Eli politely. Deke has some reservations, but he’s not an asshole.

"It's good to see you," Deke says to me.

Eli squeezes my hand suddenly and then clears his throat. "I want to…apologize…to you both."

Veronica arches a brow. "What for?"

"For being high at your wedding. For the accident. For whatever nasty things I said before it. I…I'm sorry."

Deke claps his hand on Eli's shoulder, making him sway. "Thank you for saying that, Elijah. It was a hard night for everyone."

Veronica hugs Eli. She's much more forgiving than her husband. "Welcome back to the family, Eli. And I'm so happy you're doing better."

Damien comes over to us, dressed like he just got off work.

“Elijah,” he grunts, offering his hand.

Eli takes it hesitantly. My brother can be slightly intimidating if he wants to be. “Damien.”

I get yanked into the living room by Nyx, who goes on and on about Helios’ new collar.

And when I set eyes on my baby, I can’t help it.

I rush to him, snatching him off Dad’s lap, and crushing him to my chest.