Sizzle Page 20

  My hands shook on the steering wheel. “God, Thalia.” I took hold of her hand and placed it on my thigh, holding on for dear life. “I love you too. I just want this whole thing over with so I can be with you.”

  We stayed silent during the rest of the ride into town and the inn, but kept our hands locked tight together.

  “There’s Callie,” Thalia said, sitting further up in her seat.

  I looked in the direction she was pointing, and saw a blonde girl in cowgirl boots and a short dress, walking back and forth in front of the inn.

  As soon as I pulled to a stop, Thalia was out of the car and running towards her. The girl turned and a smile spread across her face as Thalia threw herself into Callie’s embrace.

  Having climbed out at a slower pace, I leaned against the car to enjoy watching my woman. I could have used some earplugs, though. The volume seemed to go up some once we arrived.

  Callie looked at me then whistled, only to be nudged by Thalia. “Hey, behave. He’s mine.” She walked over to me, dragging her friend behind her. “This is Jack, but he’s my Phoenix.” She grinned and blew me a kiss.

  Shaking Callie’s hand, I wished I could take Thalia back into my arms to claim her as mine, but I couldn’t while in town. Especially with the town gossip practically hanging out of her window two houses up, in an effort to get a closer look.

  “It’s nice to meet you Callie. I’m glad you’re going to be here this afternoon. It’s going to be…difficult.”

  “So Thalia informed me. Well, let’s get this show on the road.” With that she climbed into the back of the car, leaving Thalia and me where we stood.

  “Is she always so…”

  “Abrupt,” Thalia finished for me.

  “Yeah.”

  “She was probably embarrassed with the hot looks you were throwing at me.”

  “I wasn’t throwing hot looks at you.”

  “Ha!” She walked and stood in front of me, leaning in, a breadth away from my lips. “You were looking at me as though you were about to ravish me,” she brushed against my cock, “and I wouldn’t have complained.”

  My heart was about to beat out of my chest as I reached out and grabbed her hips, pulling her flush against me. Just about to seal our lips together, Callie opened the car door.

  “I think you two better get inside the car, before the whole town is talking about you both.”

  “She’s right.”

  “I know. I need to remember I don’t have any claim to you,” Thalia whispered, looking so sad. She moved out of my arms and opened her door, then climbed inside.

  Was she pulling away from me? She said she didn’t have any claim on me, but she had my heart.

  Chapter 50

  Thalia

  I’d started to get myself all worked up because since we’d arrived, Jack had been holding Mia’s hand. From the minute we’d arrived at her house they’d been together.

  Upset, I’d tried to stay distracted with introducing Callie to Jack and Liam’s parents, as well as Donovan and Reece, which had been a surprise and I wasn’t sure what to think. Donovan had been flirting with Callie for the best part of an hour, but Reece had kept watch. Was he attracted to my friend? I also hadn’t missed the slight glances Callie kept throwing in Reece’s direction, either.

  Mia’s home was beautiful, and no expense had been spared for the party. The food was constantly being replenished, as were the drinks. In fact, a few people were well on their way to being drunk.

  From where I was standing I could see Reece, and he looked like he was up to something. I moved slightly so I could get a better view of what he was doing. He came to a stop and poured a couple of glasses of wine, then after a quick look around he emptied nearly a full bottle of something, probably wine, between the three jugs of lemonade. Well, they say boys never grow up.

  Walking out from the side of the gazebo, I intercepted him on his way across to where Donovan and Callie were sitting.

  He came to a stop in front of me, looked back at the table and then back to my grinning face.

  “Caught.”

  “I’ve no idea what you mean.”

  “How old are you again?”

  He leaned into me, “Old enough to have sex.”

  I sighed. “Reece, the only people drinking that are those women over there from the church.”

  He grinned, and gently put one arm around my shoulders. “I’m not having sex with them.”

  “Will you be serious for once?”

  “Thalia, I shared the bottle of wine out between the three jugs, after I’d poured three glasses of it first. Trust me, they’ll be fine. Now come and tell your friend what a great catch I am.”

  That wouldn’t go down too well considering Callie seemed to be getting on with Donovan. “Ah, Reece.”

  Sitting down on the grass to the other side of Callie, Reece completely ignored me at first as he passed the wine around. “Thalia, sit your sexy ass down right there, while I go and get another glass of wine,” he said passing me the third glass.

  Dropping down to the grass beside Donovan, I shook my head. “No thanks. I’m fine.”

  Both Donovan and Callie were watching me, while Reece was watching Callie. Reece was just as good looking as Donovan and I’d bet underneath all those tattoos, and badass charm, there was a heart of gold, and a guy who’d be great to cuddle up to.

  A giggle burst from between my lips, I covered my mouth with my hand to try and keep it in, but no such luck.

  “Ah, Thalia. Are you okay?” Callie asked me.

  As I nodded my head, I looked across at Reece, who was grinning like an idiot. “I was just thinking how cuddly you’d be,” I told Reece, which wiped the smile off his face, and after a brief pause, Donovan roared with laughter.

  “Hilarious,” Donovan said clutching his sides, wiping the tears from his eyes.

  “Hey, I was being serious.”

  “You want to try me out?”

  With a grin on my face, I crawled over to him, getting comfortable between his legs, as he wrapped his arms around me.

  I wiggled closer. “See, cuddly.”

  “I keep telling all the girls that, but they don’t listen,” Reece replied, holding Callie’s gaze.

  Donovan was looking at something over our shoulders, only for a frown to appear on his face a minute later. “Ah, you may want to move.”

  “What the fuck are you doing with Thalia?”

  Phoenix.

  “I said…”

  “I know what you said, Phoenix.” Reece stood up, held his hand out for me and pulled me up from the grass to face Phoenix with him.

  “It was my fault,” I said quietly.

  He glanced at me then stepped toe-to-toe with Reece. “Stay away from her.”

  “The only person she is interested in is you. Have you got any idea what this is doing to her?” Reece seemed to be on a roll.

  Phoenix glanced to me then back to Reece.

  “Thalia having to watch you parade around with Mia is so fucking wrong, so you don’t have any damn thing to say about her sitting with me. This whole fucking thing is screwed up, but don’t you dare come over here all threatening, because she is with me and not…you. Until this whole thing is sorted you don’t have that right.”

  They were not going to fight over me. I pushed my way between the two, facing Phoenix, as Reece stepped back. I reached up and rested my hands on his chest, feeling his heart beating like a freight train, and then lifted my eyes to his. I could see the anguish in his. “Don’t do this. You know I love you, Phoenix. Reece is one of your best friends. Do you really believe he’d try to pinch me from under your nose? Do you believe I’d let him?”

  “No, I don’t.” He looked over my shoulder at Reece. “I’m sorry…and don’t expect me to apologize again.”

  Reece laughed, did the knuckle thing with Phoenix, and then grabbed Callie’s hand, pulling her with him, but she stayed attached to Donovan. All three walked over towards one
of the tables with food.

  “Your friend has her hands full, with the both of them trying to get in to her pants, and I mean at the same time,” Phoenix told me.

  That comment grabbed my attention. “You serious?”

  He grinned, wickedly. “Yes and it wouldn’t be the first time…and before you ask. Yes I have. With them, but not for well over twelve months.”

  I snickered. “Was it good? What am I saying? Of course it was good. You’re a guy. A walking erection.”

  “A walking erection,” he said with a spark in his eyes.

  He looked around us, took my arm and pulled me with him behind the gazebo, slamming his mouth down onto mine.

  The minute our mouths touched, I went up in flames. I wanted more. I needed more.

  My hands went to his head, holding him in place while we continued to devour each other. His hands went to my hips and brought me flush against him; he was hugely aroused. I rubbed against him as we both groaned into each other’s mouths.

  “Thalia,” he panted, and started to move his lips down my neck, then back up to my lips. “I want you… Seeing you with Reece drove me crazy.”

  “I only want you. Phoenix, I need to taste you.”

  He sealed our lips together in a heated kiss while I tried to get even closer. Just as Phoenix put his hand on my thigh and started to move it slowly up, towards my hip, we heard someone cough.

  “Donovan. What?”

  Oh God. I was too embarrassed to look at Donovan, so I buried my face in Phoenix’s chest, while Donovan laughed and Phoenix stroked my back.

  “Sorry to interrupt, but you guys have remembered where you are, right? And Lewis is looking for you, Jack.”

  “Fuck. What does he want?”

  “No idea. I’ll cut him off while you sort yourselves out,” he said walking off, but not before I caught the grin on his face.

  “Thalia…”

  “It’s okay. I’ll be alright.” I leaned in and kissed him. “I know you’re mine, it just got to me earlier, but after being in your arms, I’ll be able to get through the rest of the day.” I kissed him again. “I love you, Phoenix. Now go. I’ll follow in a couple of minutes.”

  He hesitated, rearranged himself in his pants, and then after a quick kiss, walked away.

  Having straightened my dress, I took a deep breath and steeled myself for walking in the same direction Phoenix had gone. I looked up just in time to see Donovan reappear offering me his arm.

  Chapter 51

  Jack

  My temper rolled through me as I walked away from Thalia to go back to the garden party, and acting as though everything was all right, when in reality it wasn’t, pissed me off. Lewis was probably going to end up being the one to get the brunt end of it as well, seeing as he was the one who wanted me for something.

  About to enter the pool area, I turned back to look for Thalia, and spotted her holding on to Donovan’s arm talking to Callie and Reece. I wanted to be the one she was holding onto. Every time I saw her attached to one of my friends, I just lost it, like earlier with Reece. That shouldn’t have happened and was probably the reason Lewis wanted to talk.

  “Jack? Where have you been? Dad’s looking all over for you.”

  “I’m here now, Mia.” I sighed and focused my gaze on her, and that’s when I realized the afternoon was just as hard on her as it was on me. “Where’s Liam? I haven’t seen him in a while.”

  Mia turned away, but not before I caught a stray tear running down her cheek. “Mia, don’t.”

  “I’m okay, Jack,” she said turning back to look at me, quickly swiping the tear away with her hand. “He said he couldn’t stay… Jack what are we going to do?”

  ”Fuck if I know.” I pulled her into my arms and let her bury her face against my chest so no one would know she was crying, just praying Thalia didn’t see and get the wrong idea.

  “Jack, a word please,” Lewis said from behind us in the tone of voice that didn’t give you the option of refusing.

  “Will you be okay?” I whispered to Mia.

  She nodded her head, turned away and walked around the hedges that surrounded the pool so no one would see her, while she obviously pulled herself together.

  “Lewis,” I said turning to look at him. “You wanted to see me?”

  He looked pissed. “What the hell was going on between you, Reece and the girl?”

  Fuck. Should I say something? It wasn’t really the time or place, but was there really a good time.

  I looked him in the eye, and told him, “I’m in love with her.”

  He opened and shut his mouth a couple of times, lost for words. Finally pulling himself together after my announcement, he said, “You are going to marry my Mia. Make no mistake about that so get the other woman out of your head and heart, because I won’t let anything stop this wedding.”

  “Why? What the hell have I ever done to make you act this way? Or Mia? She’s your daughter, don’t you want her happy?” I asked barely controlling my temper.

  “You haven’t done anything, but if the wedding doesn’t go ahead you’ll be sorry.”

  “Thalia, look out…” Callie screamed.

  As I turned around I spotted Thalia falling into the deep end of the pool.

  Without thought, I dived into the pool, swam to where she went under, wrapped my arm around her waist and surfaced with her.

  As soon as I had us both above the water, I turned her to me, “Thalia, baby.”

  She gave one small cry and threw her arms around my neck as I held her tight, taking her to the side of the pool where Donovan and Reece waited, along with Callie, for us.

  Donovan leaned over and pulled Thalia out followed by Reece giving me a hand out. I looked over to Thalia who was standing on shaky legs. I cursed under my breath as Donovan wrapped his shirt around her. Her dress didn’t leave anything to the imagination when soaked with water, her barely there panties had been outlined through the dress as well as her pebbled nipples, which were braless.

  “What the fuck happened?” I roared.

  Someone had pushed her in and I wanted to know who. Everyone stayed silent, which pissed me off.

  “It was that bitch there,” Callie said, pointing at Rebecca, which caused some mumbling amongst the nice church ladies, while Reece snickered.

  Rebecca went bright red.

  “Why the fuck would you do that?” I shouted.

  “Jack calm down, it was an accident,” Lewis said looking mad as hell.

  I was about to give him a piece of my fucking mind when Callie interrupted.

  “So you call doing this…” Callie raised her hands and was about to shove Lewis in to the pool, but Donovan caught her around the waist. He pulled her against him and after whispering something in her ear, she calmed down, staying in Donovan’s arms.

  Lewis looked furious as he walked closer to Callie, which had Donovan stepping back with her in his arms and Reece blocking her from his view by standing in front of her.

  “You have something to say to her, you’ll go through me,” Reece stated.

  “And me,” Donovan agreed.

  Lewis opened and closed his mouth; nothing came out, while I watched Rebecca disappear around the side of the house. She had a fucking lucky escape.

  “Jack, what’s going on?” My dad asked, standing beside me with my mom in tow.

  I was still speechless at the possessiveness Reece and Donovan had shown towards Callie. I wasn’t sure what was going on with them over the same girl. Thalia’s friend.

  My mom had finally gotten a look at Thalia. “Oh, Thalia. Are you all right?” she asked moving forward.

  No way in hell. She was mine to look after. I walked past my mom straight to Thalia, picked her up in my arms and held her tight against me. “We’re both soaked so if you’ll excuse us.”

  I started to head towards the side of the house in order to get to my car when Lewis moved in front of me, blocking me from leaving. Mia came up on his right side, que
stions in her eyes.

  “Let someone else take her back to the house, Jack.”

  “I can’t do that, Lewis.”

  Mia placed her hand on her dad’s arm, “Daddy, he’s just as wet. They both need to shower and to get some dry clothes on.” She looked at me. “Take her home Jack, and I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Thanks Mia.”

  Ignoring Lewis, I walked past them both and straight to my car, placing Thalia on her feet to the side while I retrieved a couple of blankets from the trunk. Once I’d wrapped one around her, I opened the door and made sure she was wrapped tight before climbing in the opposite side.

  Chapter 52

  Thalia

  I’d finally started to warm up some as Phoenix pulled the car to a stop outside his home. It had been one hell of a shock to end up in the water, as well as terrifying. Phoenix had saved me, again, and I really hoped he’d take advantage of having the house empty and having me to himself again, like after the rattler.

  I couldn’t get enough of him and wasn’t sure I wanted to. He was sexy as sin with the most amazing body. I groaned and moved around in my seat having gotten myself all aroused.

  “Hey, you okay?”

  “Hmm.” I turned to look at him, “I was thinking how sexy you are.”

  He gave me a crooked grin, which had my heart flipping in my chest.

  “You. Are. Dangerous,” he said moving closer, within a breath of my face.

  “I want you so much, Phoenix…Make love to me.”

  He growled, climbed out of the car and came around to my side, taking me into his arms he ran for the house, straight upstairs and to his room.

  After putting me on the vanity in the bathroom he ran to both our bedroom doors and locked them.

  Having managed to yank my dress over my head, I dropped the soggy thing on the floor so I was sitting in only my panties, having gone without a bra, which I guess people noticed at the pool. I felt my face heat with that thought, and was grateful Donovan had thought to cover me.

  “Fuck, you’re beautiful.”

  Jack was standing in the doorway with his eyes focused on me, moving from my toes up to my face then back down again, hovering around my breasts, which were swollen with arousal. I closed my legs to try and ease the ache between, but Phoenix was there, opening them. He placed his hands on my hips and started to remove my panties. I lifted my hips as he took them all the way down my legs and off, dropping them on top of my dress.