Chapter 6

Chapter

Six

PHOENIX

P hoenix barely registered the moment Fontaine disappeared in that flash of red light, her senses still buzzing from the battle. But it wasn't the chase that left her reeling, it was the man standing with his arms wrapped around her, his lips crushing her own and his tongue dancing with hers.

Before she could process any of that, the sudden rumble beneath her feet snapped her out of it, and she looked around in time to see the walls of the hidden room beneath The Thorny Rose start to crumble.

"Griff!" she shouted as the stone walls cracked and groaned, chunks of debris raining down around them.

Griff was already moving, his sharp instincts kicking in faster than her own. He reached for her without hesitation, his strong hand wrapping around hers with a firmness that sent a jolt of reassurance through her. "We need to get out of here. Now."

Before Phoenix could respond, the floor beneath them began to shift, tiles crumbling into dust as the entire space trembled with dark energy. Whatever magic had created this room was collapsing, trying to bury them alive now that its source of power had vanished with Fontaine.

Phoenix stumbled as Griff pulled her toward the hallway, the air thickening with dust and swirling shadows. "The whole place is coming down!" she shouted, her heart pounding in her chest as she ducked beneath a falling beam.

Griff glanced back; his eyes dark with focus. "Keep moving!" he ordered, his voice steady despite the chaos around them.

They sprinted toward the narrow hallway leading back to the staircase that led to the main bar, but the walls were already cracking, splitting apart as if some unseen force was ripping the room apart piece by piece. The hallway was narrowing, crumbling in behind them, and Phoenix could feel the oppressive weight of the dark magic pushing down on her, threatening to crush her.

Her legs burned as she ran, her hand still clasped in Griff's, but the ground beneath them was falling away too quickly. A large chunk of the ceiling fell right in front of them, blocking their path.

"Griff!" Phoenix gasped, her pulse racing.

But Griff didn't slow down. He pulled her to the side, slamming his shoulder into the already cracked wall and breaking through it. The plaster gave way with a sickening crunch, and the hallway opened up into a different passage, one that led to the staircase.

"Go!" Griff shouted, yanking her through the gap.

They bolted up the stairs two at a time, the ancient wood creaking beneath their feet as if it, too, might give way at any second. Behind them, the ominous sound of collapsing stone echoed louder and louder, and Phoenix swore she could feel the dark magic clawing at her skin, trying to pull her back into the collapsing room.

They burst through the door at the top of the staircase, stumbling into the main room of The Thorny Rose. The bar was mostly empty now, its patrons long gone, and the rumble of the collapsing room below them sent bottles shaking on their shelves and glasses clattering off the counters, but The Thorny Rose itself was intact as if nothing had gone on below the surface. Magical taverns were like that—what lay beneath them often shifting, changing, opening up or collapsing, seemingly at will.

Without stopping, Griff pulled her to the door, pushing it open and dragging her into the cool night air. They didn't stop running until they were around the corner and on his Harley. Phoenix finally allowed herself to gasp for breath, her body trembling from the adrenaline as she wrapped her arms around his sturdy frame.

"That… was close," she panted, pressing her chest to his back.

Griff nodded, gunned the engine of the motorcycle, and turned away from The Thorny Rose. She could feel his chest rising and falling as they rode. Phoenix allowed herself the luxury of closing her eyes, knowing Griff would keep her safe. She could feel his head moving back and forth as he scanned the street for any signs of danger.

"Too close," he muttered. "That space was built with dark magic. It was trying to take us down with it."

Phoenix shuddered; the memory of the collapsing room still fresh. She could still feel the residue of the dark magic clinging to her skin, like a sickness she couldn't shake off. "Fontaine might've escaped, but he left us with one hell of a trap."

"Yeah," Griff said grimly. "We need to regroup. I can't take any chances if Fontaine's using magic that strong."

Phoenix nodded in agreement, still trying to shake off the lingering unease. She felt exposed out here on the streets, vulnerable in a way she hadn't felt in a long time. "Where to?"

"My place," Griff said, his voice firm. "I don't want them to be able to follow you back to the mansion, and yes, I'm sure it's got all kinds of fae magic. But if they're looking for you, it'll be there. My place is safe enough for now, and we need to figure out our next move."

They crossed the river by ferry, the Mississippi cutting a dark swath through the city under the faint glow of moonlight. Algiers Point was quieter, calmer, a world away from the chaos they'd just escaped. Griff's shotgun cottage sat in a quiet neighborhood, nestled behind tall oaks and crepe myrtles that lined the streets. The house was simple from the outside. An iron porch light illuminated the muted gray-blue exterior, with a small front porch and a pair of rocking chairs that seemed almost too quaint for someone like Griff.

After he'd parked the Harley and locked it away, he led her inside. Phoenix was surprised by how different it felt from the usual rugged exterior Griff wore like armor. The interior was warm, welcoming even, with dark hardwood floors and exposed beams running across the ceiling. The walls were painted a soft, moss green, and the furniture was a mix of leather and wood, clearly chosen for comfort rather than decoration. Shelves lined the walls, filled with books, artifacts, and trinkets—some old, some clearly supernatural in nature. The scent of cedar and something distinctly Griff hung in the air.

A long, worn leather couch sat in the middle of the living room, facing a low coffee table scattered with papers and notebooks. A fireplace, not in use but neatly stacked with wood, took up one wall. The kitchen, just visible from the doorway, was small but tidy, with white cabinets and dark countertops, everything organized with military precision.

"You renovated this place yourself?" Phoenix asked, glancing around as she pulled off her jacket.

"Yeah," Griff said, locking the door behind them. "Needed something to keep me busy when I first moved in. It's nothing fancy, but it does the job."

Phoenix smiled faintly, taking in the understated charm of the place. It was simple, practical, but it had a sense of calm and understated, casual elegance that she hadn't expected from Griff.

He headed to the kitchen and grabbed a couple of beers from the fridge, handing one to her as he sat down on the couch. "Make yourself at home," he said, his tone softening just slightly. "We'll be safe here for a while. At least long enough to figure out what the hell Fontaine's next move is."

Phoenix took the beer and wandered through the house, adding her own magical alarms to bolster the electronic ones he'd already installed. She sat beside him, her body still buzzing from the escape, her mind racing with thoughts of what came next. But for the first time in what felt like hours, she allowed herself to relax, if only just a little.

And as the silence settled around them, broken only by the distant hum of the city that lay on the other side of the Mississippi River, Phoenix found herself grateful for this small moment of peace—even if it was fleeting. For once, she felt safe as though nothing bad in the world could touch her. She realized that the man, the dragon, sitting next to her had a lot to do with not only the feeling of safety but the one of peace. Something that had been sorely lacking in her life from the time she'd been handed her copy of the Grimm File. Their bodies just seemed to gravitate toward each other, and Phoenix found herself wrapped in Griff's arms as his mouth began to explore hers.

"Now isn't the time for this," Griff rasped against her lips.

She stared up into his eyes, caught in the fire within those deep depths. "I know, but I can't seem to help myself, and for once, I don't care," she replied, pulling his head to hers. She'd been fighting this thing she had for Griff for far too long.

The intensity of their kiss grew, matching the passion that coursed through them like an electric current. Phoenix could feel the hardness of Griff's body against hers, his strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer. It was as if they were the only two people left in the world, and nothing else existed but their desire for each other.

She could hear the soft hum of the air conditioning unit, but it was all drowned out by the rhythm of their heavy breathing and the low moans that escaped from their lips.

Griff's hands roamed her body, caressing the sensitive skin of her neck, then moving down to the curve of her waist. Phoenix could feel the heat of his hands even through her shirt, and it sent shivers down her spine. He kissed his way down her neck, his lips leaving a trail of fire against her skin, and she let out a soft, shivering moan. Her hands found the buttons of his shirt, working frantically to undo them, eager to feel his skin against hers.

As Griff's lips continued their descent, pausing to kiss the sensitive skin above her collarbone, she fumbled with the fastenings of her own shirt. Finally freeing herself, she pulled him closer, their bodies melding together in a desperate dance of need and arousal.

His hands found the clasp of her bra, and with a swift flick of his fingers, it was undone and removed. Eager to explore, he cupped her breasts, his fingers gently massaging the sensitive skin. Phoenix arched her back, pressing herself against him, needy and wanting.

She pulled him up, her lips finding his again in a searing kiss. Her hands slid down his stomach, finding and unfastening the buttons of his fly. With a deft flick, she opened it to get to the thick, hard length that she'd wanted and fantasized about for a long time.

Griff hissed in a breath as her hand closed around him, freeing his cock from his jeans. "Phoenix, you should stop."

The words came out strangled, raspy, and she knew that was the furthest thing from the truth of what he wanted—what they both wanted. "This is exactly what we should be doing, Griff."

Her hand stroked him gently but firmly, feeling him twitch in her grasp. His breath hitched, and she smiled, knowing she had him now. He was hers—maybe just for this one night—and she intended to make the most of it.

She moved closer, her lips brushing against his, their tongues dancing together in a passionate embrace. Her other hand reached around to cup his ass, pulling him even closer. She could feel him pulsing against her palm, and she knew she couldn't hold back any longer.

Phoenix broke their kiss, her eyes locked onto his as she sank to her knees in front of him, her mouth parting as she wrapped her lips around him. He groaned, a low and needy sound that made her own desire rise even higher. Taking him in her mouth, she sucked and licked, her tongue swirling around every inch of him.

Griff's hands threaded through her hair, guiding her, urging her to take more of him, to take him deeper. "Fuck, you're so pretty when you suck my cock like that."

She smiled around his thickness and hummed a sound of happiness at the compliment. She looked up at him in the dim glow of the room as he leaned back and felt her heart catch at the look in his eyes. He looked at her from beneath hooded lids with so much arousal, so much need, that it took her breath away.

The thrust of his hips reminded her of what she was doing, and Phoenix returned her attention to the task at hand. She tried to take as much of him as she could, feeling him tickle the velvety place at the back of her throat. She gagged slightly, but she didn't pull away. She wanted to taste every inch of him, to memorize the feel of his skin against hers, even if it was just for one night, and it had to be just for one night—didn't it? Could a demon-hunting fae and a dragon-shifter have any kind of future together?

Griff's breath hitched, his hips thrusting into her face, his body shaking with the effort to hold back. But she could tell he was close, his breath ragged, his grunts becoming more urgent.

His fingers tensed in her hair, fisting to exercise control. Phoenix fought to keep her mouth around him, but he moved away, pulling her up to kiss her with a deep groan. "I don't want to come in your mouth right now, Phoenix. I want to fuck you first."

"Then stop playing around and fuck me, Griff," she whispered, looking right into his eyes.

He finished stripping her completely, his hands lingering in places with kisses or the touch of a finger until she was a mess of need and desire. He lifted her up and carried her into the large bedroom filled with moonlight shining down on the ornate iron bed. He didn't fall on her like she'd thought he might. Instead, he covered her body, settling himself and making a place between her thighs, slipping his hands under her to cradle her ass while he spoke in her ear.

"I could ruin you, doing this. Other men want to know what it is to fuck a fae—not that I'd let anyone else near you after this. You do understand that don't you, Phoenix? That if I fuck you, you're mine?"

His hand worked around to her throat as he thrust his hips against her and suddenly, she wasn't the one in control anymore. When his hand clasped gently around her throat, pulling her face towards his, Phoenix felt a thrill run down her spine, straight to her clit. There had been other lovers, but none had ever moved her the way Griff did.

The intensity of his words and the feel of his hands made her tremble, and Phoenix knew she was completely in his grasp, both physically and emotionally.

"That's exactly what I want, Griff," she whispered back, her voice breathy with need.

"Then say it," he commanded, his voice rough with desire.

"You're mine," she answered, the words feeling both empowering and terrifying.

Griff chuckled, a low and dangerous sound that sent another shiver through her body.

"Not yet," he said, pushing the rest of his clothes off before he pressed his cock against her entrance, teasing her with just the tip. "But you are mine. And you always will be from now on."

Griff put his hand over her mouth, sliding his middle finger between her lips just as his cock thrust into her. Phoenix gasped, her eyes widening as he entered her inch by inch, filling her with his thick length. It felt like fire, like both pleasure and pain, as he stretched her open and filled her completely.

His hand slipped from her mouth, and Phoenix cried out as he grabbed her hips and thrust into her hard. She pushed back against him, meeting his every move with one of her own, her body arching and undulating in time with his. The sensation of his cock inside her was overwhelming, and she felt like she was going to burst from the sheer intensity of it all.

Sliding his hand up to her throat, she felt his fingers wrap around it, his grip firm but not too tight. Phoenix moaned, her head thrown back as he fucked her powerfully, his hips grinding against her. It was a violent, primal dance, their bodies moving together in a frenzy of desire and lust.

"Touch your clit, Phoenix. Get yourself off on my cock." Griff demanded and she obeyed, her fingers sliding down into her wet folds, finding her hardened nub. She circled it, her body begging for release as Griff continued to fuck her, his thrusts growing harder and faster.

Her moans were drowned out by his deep growls, his longing for his release clear in every grunt and groan. "Come on, baby. Let me see you come for me."

Phoenix complied, rubbing her clit in time with his thrusts, the nails of her other hand digging into the soft, silky sheets as she neared the edge. Her body tightened, every nerve ending feeling like it was about to explode, and then it happened. She cried out, her orgasm washing over her like a tidal wave, her body pulsing around his cock as she came hard.

Griff felt it, his hips thrusting deeper, harder, as he worked to push her higher, further over that edge.

"That's it, Phoenix. Show me what you can do." He urged, and her finger kept moving, her lips trying to say his name, but she couldn't speak, she could only gasp as pleasure drowned out everything else in the world.

As her body continued to shiver and shake from the intensity of the orgasm, Griff's thrusts became more erratic, his breathing becoming ragged. He leaned forward, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, "I'm going to come, Phoenix. I want you to feel it."

She nodded, her body still convulsing from the release, her cheeks flushed and her heart pounding. She'd never felt so alive, so wild, so free. She wanted to savor every moment of this.

Griff's hips thrust harder, faster, and she could feel his cock swelling inside her as he reached the brink. His fingers tightened around her throat, his other hand gripping her hip, holding her steady as he surged into her.

"Aw...fuck...yeah..." Griff groaned, his hips snapping back and forth in a frenzy. Phoenix could feel him pulsing inside her, filling her with his heat and his cum. It was a powerful and intense sensation, and she knew that she would remember this moment forever.

As Griff's body shuddered and convulsed, she knew that she was truly his. Her heart had caught up to her body, and she surrendered to the feelings rushing through her. This was more than just a one-night stand, a moment of respite she'd taken with her forbidden lover. Even though she was banished from the realm of the fae, liaisons, much less pair bondings, were forbidden between faeries and dragon-shifters. This was a connection, a bond that would never be broken.

"I meant it, Phoenix. This changes everything," Griff said as he pulled out of her and rolled to his back, pulling her close to cradle her in his arms under the covers. "You're mine now. And none of those bastards will get to you. I wasn't going to let them before, but now? I'm not fucking around with them anymore."

The room was quiet, the only sound being their ragged breaths and the faint creaking of the iron bed. Phoenix lay there, her body still pulsing with the aftershocks of their intense encounter. She could feel Griff's heart pounding under her head, his chest rising and falling with each breath, and she knew that he felt it, too.

She turned to face him, her eyes searching his for any sign of regret or doubt. But what she saw there was nothing but possessiveness and the promise of protection.

"You're right, Griff," she whispered, her fingers splaying over the muscles of his chest. "But this changes nothing."

He shook his head, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Bullshit, but that's an argument we can save for the morning. Until then, I'll keep you safe," he vowed, his voice deep and gravelly. "And if anyone tries to come between us, including you, they'll have to go through me."

"We make a good team, Phoenix. You and I."

She smiled, her heart swelling with warmth and happiness. "I'll give you that we're a very good team."

Their lips met in a deep and passionate kiss, their tongues exploring each other's mouths, their bodies still hungry for more. The night wasn't over, not yet, and suddenly, she wanted a whole lot more than one night with her dragon lover. She wanted the rest of forever with him, but that would have to wait. They had a demonic cult to fight and a city to save.