Page 10 of Fated to the Phoenix

“At least you’re not referring to me as a creature any longer. But I’m not going to apologize for what I’ve always known to be my purpose. I have waited centuries for you and I’m going to do everything to prove to you we belong together, even if that means waiting for you to accept me.”

“My aunt told me to expect I would find more than just my family’s spell book. I just never thought it would be you. But that doesn’t mean I’m just going to lie down and spread my legs for you just a day after meeting.”

“So, you’re saying there’s a chance.” Hope spiraled within me as I kept my tone light, then offered her a grin. What this moment needed was a bit of levity.

“Let’s just say I’d like to get to know you better before anything…physical happens between us. And we need to do something other than just stare at each other and bicker.”

Well, that wasn’t a firm yes, but it also wasn’t a straight-out no.

But my phoenix didn’t care either way, all it heard was she wanted to get to know me better.

CHAPTER NINE

BEX

Trace’s eyebrows rose, his nostrils flared, and goddess help me, his wings snapped to full attention. Oh, how I wanted to touch them. To discover if they’re as soft as they appear. But that would be encouraging him and I wasn’t quite there. The look on his face, though, told me he was ready for the next step.

Uh-oh, had he’d taken my response as a green-light for some horizontal action? And yet deep down, my inner voice whispered, “At least, not yet.”

His gaze held mine for another half a minute or so before he replied, “Follow me.”

And like a love-starved puppy, I did just that. He led me to the great room off the kitchen, stopping in front of a bookcase. Not one book of fiction to be found.

“We have board games, or cards.” He sounded anything but enthused.

“Wow, your excitement is overwhelming.” I stepped in front of him, fully aware of how close our bodies were. The slightest shift from either of us and we’d be touching, but that was what I told him we couldn’t do, so I moved again and began pointing out the different games.

“Risk? Uh, no. Aggravation? Yeah, double nope.” There was plenty of that hanging in the air between us as it is.

“Ah, Scrabble. You’re going down, big guy.” I grabbed the box and carried it over to the dining room table and began setting it up. When I noticed Trace hadn’t moved, but was gazing at me from across the room, I felt another rush of warmth flow through me at the intense need emanating from him.

Would this constant tether of sexual friction always be between us? Or would it ebb if I gave in and had sex with him?

Trace made his way over to the table, his movements measured as if he was hunting prey, a look appearing on his face I couldn’t quite understand. What was he up to?

“I’ll play. On one condition.”

His words made me pause. I may regret this, but what the heck. “Name it.”

“That was an awfully long pause. Are you sure I can name anything?” Trace now sounded more excited about playing Scrabble. Or maybe it was something else entirely.

“You don’t know me well enough if you think that. I never say anything I don’t mean.”

I watched in anticipation as his face split into a wicked smile. I knew agreeing to anything meant I would be agreeing to something that would end up with us touching. I could see it in his darkening eyes, feel it in the electrically charged air between us. The need so palpable, I felt a rush of warmth pool between my thighs at the prospect of his hands on me or his mouth on mine, or that monster cock that had yet to go down in my presence coming out to play. It was then I knew without a doubt I’d throw this game. I’d do anything just to get his hands on me. When had I become so easy? And why was I judging myself? I was a grown woman with needs, and I wanted Trace. Period.

“Loser removes one piece of clothing.”

I barely kept myself from gaping at him. “You’ve played this game before, right? Just one round can take hours.”

“Not the way we’re going to play.” Trace opened a drawer, pulled out a timer, and carried it back to the table. “Fifteen seconds to place a word on the board, otherwise you forfeit an article of clothing.”

My nipples puckered at his words. “Deal.”

Amazingly, we went almost twenty minutes before one of us had to take something off. I had the most articles of clothing if you included my bra, socks, and panties. I was beginning to believe that he went commando, but today he wore gray sweatpants and a loose flannel shirt that stretched tight across his shoulders, somehow without interfering with his wings. I really wanted to take a closer look at his back to see how he managed that, but getting close to him had been too tempting before.

Over the next ten minutes, I gave up both socks and my zippered, lightweight knit jacket. I had three articles left while he still had everything on. He was a strong player, but I noticed his breathing had sped up and he was having a hard time keeping his gaze from my breasts.

I wasn’t doing much better. Each time I dared at peek at his lap, his sweatpants were tented and his erection was in danger of escaping the elastic band. My mouth continued to water as I fought to maintain focus on my tiles.

---