Deep In You (The Phoenix Series Book 1) Read online

  “You’ll have to choose, Lily.” I rose to my feet and shoved my pants off, kicking off my shoes as well.

  “Technically, that’s two articles of clothing,” Lily said, her eyes travelling down my chest to fixate on the bulge in my boxers.

  “Forget the shoes, they were in my way. What’s your question?”

  “Not a question this time.” Lily stood up and faced me, shameless. “In the alley, you said you wanted to pull this thong off me using only your teeth. Do it.”

  “With pleasure.” This game had been meant to seduce Lily, but it was quickly backfiring on me. Two steps brought me to her. I passionately kissed her, pressing my dick into her stomach and letting her feel how hard she’d made me. I shoved my tongue into her mouth, possessing her as much as I could. My hands gripped her hair, my fingers moving restlessly. I started to drop to my knees in front of her when she slipped her hand into the hole of my boxers and gripped my shaft.

  I let out a strangled gasp and broke away, breathing heavily. Her fingers squeezed me, sliding up toward the tip. My hips pressed forward of their own volition.

  “Stop.” I bit the word out as if it pained me. In a way, it had. Her touch where I wanted it most was my undoing. I needed her now. I was so hard it was amazing I had any blood left to allow my brain to function at all, as hard as I’d ever been. Maybe more so. No more games. Fuck poker. I was going to poke her.

  “Are you sure?”

  “No. I want…” I dug deep and forced my body to relax. Gently, I removed her hand and dropped to my knees. “I believe you asked me to do something.”

  I could smell her arousal, and God was it sexy. I slowly rubbed her legs with my hands so she could feel the rough calluses running up and down. Slipping my tongue under the thin strap of her thong over her hip, I drew it into my mouth and gripped it with my teeth and dragged it down. I kissed my way across her belly, delighting in the way her skin twitched and how she trembled as I went, then tugged on the other side.

  “Jesus Christ… I can’t fucking help myself around you.” I yanked her thong down with my hands, steadying her as I pulled them over her left leg. I squeezed my torso between her legs and balanced the left one over my shoulder.

  “That wasn’t your teeth,” she gasped.

  “You’ll just have to deal with the fact that I can’t resist getting at least a little taste of your sweet pussy.”

  My tongue licked her sopping wet entrance and stroked upward toward her clit. I gripped her hips to steady her as I plunged my tongue inside. The flavor of her sweet juices seduced my tongue, urged me to consume her.

  “Oh, God, Xander. Fuck me, please. Now. I need your cock.” I couldn’t answer; my mouth was otherwise occupied. I wanted her to come, wanted her juices to coat my tongue, to feel her grind her body on my face. I moaned into her pussy and dug my fingers into her ass cheeks. I fucked her relentlessly with my tongue, loving the way she shook, loving the sounds she made. She was delicious, like a fine wine.

  My tongue moved to flick her clit as I eased two fingers into her swollen pussy and curled them inside her to reach her g-spot. She gasped and bucked her hips, riding my face and hand. “Shit, I’m so close, baby. Don’t you dare fucking stop.” I redoubled my efforts, pressing my fingers inside her and sucking hard on her clit.

  She cried out, throwing her head back. Her fists tightened around my hair, pulling my face harder onto her crotch. Her breathing became ragged as her pussy pulsed around my fingers. I continued to work them in and out of her, extending her orgasm. When she finally settled, I broke free and rose to my feet.

  I scooped her up in my arms and carried her to the bed, a man on a mission.

  “Lily, I’m going to fuck you now. I’m going to fuck you hard. I can’t wait any longer.” I reached for a condom, but she dove for me, fisting my cock in her hand. I froze, my breath hissing out between my teeth as she squeezed me.

  She didn’t utter a single word. Neither did I.

  Her lips closed around me, her tongue stroked along the underside and teased the head. I gave in, falling back against my pillows. I gripped the sheets hard, my fingers threatening to tear the thin material.

  Lily hollowed her cheeks, her breathing loud through her nose. Her mouth was hot and wet, the softness of her probing tongue at odds with the intractable hardness of the roof of her mouth.

  I hummed low in my throat, letting her hear my approval. Her fist around the base of my dick tightened in response, her head bobbing up and down, wet slurping sounds teasing me. My breath caught.

  “Touch my balls,” I rasped.

  She hummed, the vibrations pulsing through my entire body. She massaged my balls, first one, then the other. Her fingernails gently grazed the sensitive skin, putting me on edge, making me moan.

  I wanted to come in her mouth. I wanted to shoot my load down her throat. Needed to feel her squeezing the hell out of my cock as she swallowed every drop I had to give her. Thoughts of it consumed me, but I fought them down.

  I’d said I was going to fuck her, and damn it, I was not going to let her take control.

  “Enough,” I snarled. I grabbed her by the hair and pulled her away. She gasped but released me, allowing me to haul her up to my waiting mouth. I kissed her, sucking her lower lip into my mouth and biting it, then finally rolled on that condom.

  I climbed on top of her, gripped my cock, and lined myself up with her soaking wet pussy. She was so turned on, so hot for me, her entire body screaming for mine. She bit down hard on my shoulder as I thrust into her. Lily’s snug pussy enveloped my cock in wet warmth. Her insides caressed my length, squeezing me tight. I swiveled my hips and drove myself even harder. She writhed beneath me, loving every moment and spurring me on further.

  I lifted her legs and placed them over my shoulders, rearing up over her. This position was so much deeper as she took me all the way to the hilt, crying out with every thrust. I pounded into her, harder and faster. My balls slapped rhythmically against her ass. Before I knew it, I felt the telltale signs of the beginnings of my impending orgasm, but I wasn’t ready to stop yet. I lowered her legs and pulled out, kissing her gently.

  Lily cupped my face, confusion in those dark eyes. “Why are we stopping?”

  “No questions right now. Shh … I want to see you ride me.” Without waiting for her to answer, I rolled over onto my back. Lily was quick to climb on top of me, straddling my waist and letting me feel her wetness on my stomach.

  “Fuck me, Lily. I want to see you pleasure yourself. Show me how you move, what makes you scream.”

  Lily reached behind her and gripped my dick to hold where she wanted it, and eased down onto me. She rose all the way up my length a few times, letting the crown almost reach her entrance, then lowered down. Her hands pressed down on the bed just above my shoulders, eyes closed and hair framing her face. She looked like a fucking angel.

  I reached up and massaged her breasts, my eyes locked on hers. I rolled her nipples between my fingers, pinched them hard. She gasped and cried out as she arched her back, pulling away from my greedy hands.

  Lily leaned forward and kissed me, her rhythm changing along with her position. No longer did she lift up and down. Rather, Lily ground her hips back and forth, my cock buried deep inside. As bashful and awkward as she’d seemed when we first met, not a trace of that could be seen now. She was an erotic seductress, pleasuring herself as I’d demanded.

  “Oh fuck, Lily, you’re so–” She silenced me with a brief kiss, then again went back to rocking back and forth. She threw her head back and groaned, a primal sound of erotic bliss.

  “I’m almost there,” she cried out. Her words were enough to push me over the edge. My balls tingled. Pleasure radiated from the base of my spine, making my nipples hard. I knew my own release was imminent.

  “Come for me, Lily!” I slapped her ass, and she cried out again as her body pulsed around me, which set off my own climax. My load built up in my balls, the pressure forcing it powerfully
upward through my stiff rod. We stayed there for a long time, my dick still inside her, and exchanged gentle kisses. She squeezed me occasionally with her pussy, enjoying the way I gasped each time.

  “Stay with me tonight?”

  She smiled and slid off me, curling up at my side. “I thought you’d never ask.”

  I kissed her on the top of the head. “Goodnight, baby.”

  “Xander?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Have you ever been in love?”

  I stood and walked to the light switch and shut it off before rejoining her. “I thought I was, once. When I was very young.”

  “What happened?”

  “The same thing that inevitably happens with relationships like that. We were kids. It was puppy love. Nothing more.”

  “That’s it, then?”

  “Nothing more to tell.”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “Don’t worry about me. I turned out just fine. Love is the opiate of the masses, and I decided to be drug-free.”

  “I guess you’re right. Just seems odd to me. Doesn’t seem natural to choose to be alone.”

  I sighed. This conversation was headed in a direction I’d rather avoid. No more pillow-talk. No more questions. “Goodnight, Lily.”

  Chapter Ten

  I woke from a dream of auburn curls and green eyes to an empty bed. I sat up and stretched. Those damned dreams continued to plague me and I didn’t know why. Faith Richardson, that reporter from so many months ago. She had seemed lost, vulnerable. I had agreed to that damned interview here in my home and she had disarmed me at every turn. There had never been anything between us, but ever since that encounter, she had been a specter haunting my subconscious.

  I needed to purge her from my system. Faith was my past. Lily was my now. I’d seen no sign of Faith since the interview, and dreaming of someone I’d never had or have was unacceptable.

  Where had Lily gone, anyway?

  After answering nature’s call, I surveyed the bedroom. The bed was a mess. The cards were still strewn across the table. I put on a pair of jeans, then sat on the chair and rewrapped my right ankle before I headed down.

  All was dark downstairs; no sign of Lily’s presence in the kitchen or living room. I checked the guest room, but I would have been shocked to find her in there; I still hadn’t cleaned up from the day before. I unhooked each of the four corners of the fitted sheet and mattress pad, then gathered all the bedding together and dumped them in a corner. I’d just throw that set away, it would be easier than cleaning. I could always pick up more.

  Where the hell had Lily gone? I didn’t think she’d just leave without saying goodbye. I doubted she’d been paying enough attention to give directions or the address to a friend or a cab company.

  She had to be in my gym. Only place she could be that I hadn’t checked. I didn’t like that she was just making herself at home in there.

  My suspicions had been correct. Through the slightly cracked-open doors I saw Lily. Quietly, I pulled the door open and watched her. I wanted to be angry, but my breath caught at the sight of her. My initial displeasure at her being in my personal space without me withered when I caught sight of her. Especially when I pictured what we did the last time we were here together. Now, though, she stood all the way on the other side of the room, reading a framed sheet of paper on the wall.

  I knew what it was, too. I wished she hadn’t seen it, though she may have already known. It wouldn’t have surprised me to know she’d read the article Faith had written about me.

  What I want to be when I grow up.

  When I grow up, I want to be an Olympic gymnast. I want to compete and I want people to watch me on television and be proud of me. I love birds. Birds can fly and I wish I could, too. Being a gymnast is the closest thing to flying. I bet gymnasts really feel alive.

  Emblazoned on the top of the paper was a huge red letter F. It was circled, and in hard block lettering underneath were the words, Gymnasts can’t fly and this dream is virtually unachievable. Be a pilot.

  Great. I should really take that thing down if I’m gonna keep letting people in here.

  I stepped inside and approached her. I had kept that paper to remind me of how I had felt that day as a child. I had been homeschooled by my mother, but my father had taken over grading my work because she had been sick. His words had inspired me to prove him wrong, and now look at me. I’d won three gold medals and a silver in last year’s Olympics. At the Games before that, I’d won two gold and three silver medals. I’d taken home countless prizes and awards from all over the world, and I was all but a shoo-in for the next Olympics. I just needed to keep my eyes on the prize. I’d been far too complacent these past few days. Thinking of that paper reminded me of my goals; guess I’d have to keep it after all.

  Lily turned away from the wall, raising her cell phone to text someone or take a picture, I wasn’t sure which. I paused to watch, but she screeched and dropped her phone.

  “Jesus, Xander, you scared the shit out of me!” She whirled around and scooped up her phone, glaring at me.

  “What are you doing here?” I prowled toward her, my beautiful prey. She had put on her tiny little skirt and tank top from the night before, and I could see everything when she’d bent over, her thong hiding nothing.

  “Exploring. Trying not to disturb you.” She blushed a bright shade of red and glanced guiltily at her phone. Alarm bells rang in my head, but I disregarded them.

  “I woke up to an empty bed. I thought you’d left.”

  “Where would I go? You drove me here, remember?”

  “Didn’t put that much thought into it.” I watched her intently, willing her to tell me what was in her head right now. “Something wrong?”

  She shifted her weight and smiled. “No. Everything is fine. Just thinking of all I still have to get done today. Incidentally, do we have a plan for today, Xander?”

  I chuckled. “I have no plan. I keep telling you that. Why don’t you tell me about all your plans?”

  She shrugged. “Just work stuff. And personal stuff.”

  “What are you going to do about tomorrow?”

  Her eyebrows shot up, almost disappearing into her hairline. “What about tomorrow?”

  “Are you going to go back to work?”

  She looked uncomfortable, nervous. “I don’t know. I’m too afraid not to, but too embarrassed to go.” She paused. “My choices are limited. I can walk in there, fight the embarrassment, and act like nothing happened and continue with my job, or I can quit. It’s a cut-throat business, and I have to stay ahead of the game. I’m not sure I have the stomach for it anymore.” She bit her lip. “On the other hand, it’s good money if I can get a good story. I just don’t know what else I could do. I’m so close to a promotion.”

  “Tell me about this promotion.”

  “One of our editors is retiring, which will leave an opening. Amara and I are competing for that position. If I can get it, I’ll get better pay and I won’t have to dig around in people’s personal affairs anymore. My least favorite part of the job.”

  My heart went out to her. “There must be something I can do to help.”

  She gave me a hopeful expression, then dropped her gaze to the padded floor, staring at it as if she’d never seen it before. She shook her head. “There’s nothing. I should be getting home soon, though.”

  “Why? Spend the day with me.”

  Get it together, Xander. You don’t get attached to women, remember? This weekend has gone far enough already. Maybe she’ll let you fuck her once more, then just take her home. You can’t get attached. God damn it.

  My subconscious was right. If she wanted to go, I should let her. Despite my claims to Lily about wanting to see where things went, this was all really just about sex, right?

  The thing about one night stands was that there were never any messy emotions involved. No worrying about asshole exes or defending my conquest from guys with date rape drugs. No hurt
feelings or attachments. I’d never allowed myself to get close to anyone. Now that I’d allowed myself to get close enough to feel, I had to acknowledge that the sentiments were confusing. I wanted my life back. I wanted her to go… even as I needed her to stay.

  “I’d like to, really. To be honest, though, I’m sore from the last couple of days, and if I stay I’ll just end up hurt… in every sense of the word.”

  This interested me. I made her sore… deep down, I liked that. Meant that she could feel me every time she moved. But…

  “I’d never hurt you, Lily.” I wouldn’t. Not on purpose. “In every sense of the word,” she’d said. What kind of monster did she think I was?

  Guilt welled up in my chest, followed by a strange sensation. Was it regret? No… that wasn’t it. I just didn’t want her to leave. I wanted her to stay with me.

  “We could…” I trailed off, trying and failing to get a grip on my own wayward thoughts. “If you want to go home, I’ll take you.”

  She looked as confused as I felt. She hesitated, obviously undecided. I hoped she would ask to stay. “Yes.”

  Damn it! I fought to resist the sudden and unexpected pain, banishing it to wherever it came from. Whatever. That’s fine. She wanted our time together to end; that was on her. I would not be the asshole who forced her to stay. “All right. I’ll just go finish getting dressed. Be back down in a minute.” My voice was harsher than I intended, but so be it. I gestured for her to precede me out of the room. She sat on the couch and buried her head in her hands. I climbed the steps to find a shirt.

  Chapter Eleven

  I awoke the next morning with a crazy, half-formed plan in my head. On the drive to Lily’s place the day before, she had talked some more about how embarrassed she was that her ex had been cheating on her with her coworker and she’d been none the wiser. When we arrived, I had walked her to her door and kissed her goodbye. I had never meant for there to be anything between us. The rational part of my brain told me to forget I’d ever met her, but the rest of me demanded I see her again, and soon.