Page 26 of Caught Stealing

Phoenix lets out an indignant huff before going to duck under my arm. Little does he know, he’s not getting away that easily.

With a quick maneuver, I cage him with his back to the wall, my arms on either side of his head.

“Fuck off, Holden. I’m not doing this with you right now.”

“Didn’t realize they were inviting just anyone to this little gathering,” I say, ignoring his commentary.

“Not even you get to control the guest list.”

“I definitely should have some sort of veto power, especially after the stunt you pulled last week.” I lean forward, my lips brushing the shell of his ear when I speak. “Tell me, are you planning to steal my entire wardrobe this time, Nix? Because if that’s the case, I think I need to go lock up my room.”

“Feel free to lock yourselfinit so I don’t have to look at you the rest of the night.”

I pull back to stare at him, our noses close enough to touch. “Maybe I will. But feel free to send your buddy Kason my way once he arrives.”

I’m expecting irritation or anger from him, so when a grin appears on Phoenix’s lips, I’m taken by surprise. Although not nearly as much as by the response leaving his mouth.

“I’ll be sure to pass along the message.”

I’m left gaping at him, completely shocked that he’s not making some sort of snide remark. I don’t even try fighting him when he ducks under my arm again and heads toward his teammates, because my brain has just been whipped, scrambled, and tossed in a blender.

What…?

I watch after Phoenix far longer than I should—waiting for my equilibrium to return—only to find him smiling and laughing with his teammates the second he joins them. Like he’s a normal guy for once, instead of the anti-social, cock-blocking demon who has been making my life hell these past few weeks.

It’s then I realize this is the first time I’ve seen Phoenix out without Kason, and my confusion only grows.

There’s no way he doesn’t know Kason’s coming; they’re roommates, after all. They had to have come here together. So why isn’t Phoenix acting like the guard dog he usually is?

All these questions run through my head at warp speed as I stare at him, not sure what to think while also knowing I don’t really have the time to worry about it.

Shaking my thoughts free, I push through the door to my room and let it fall closed behind me.

I keep the lights off as I strip, surprised to find that the more articles of clothing I remove from my body, the more anxious I get. And not in the fun, sexy, exciting way I get when I’m ready to tear someone else’s clothes off. It’s the same unsettled feeling from earlier, telling me something isn’t right.

I can’t shake it, even as I drop onto my mattress and wait for Kason to show.

There’s a good chance this feeling can be chalked up to Phoenix right outside the room, who will surely know exactly what happened the second Kason and I emerge looking sex-touseled and satiated. Or worse, catch Kason on his way into my room and stop him from coming in here altogether.

Oh, shit.

I swear, if Kason is finally ready to take things a bit further and Phoenix pulls one of his stunts, I swear, I’m gonna wring his damn neck—

The door to my bedroom cracks open, simultaneously pulling me from my thoughts and putting them at ease. But we’re not in the clear until we’re locked in complete privacy.

“Get in here and lock the door,” I murmur, my eyes locked on the silhouette in the doorway.

Kason doesn’t say anything as the door falls shut behind him.

Anxiety turns into anticipation as the soft footfalls get closer and closer to me, only to have my heart rate kick up a notch when I feel the bed dip beneath his added weight.

“Those five minutes felt like an eternity.” My hand slides under his shirt, tracing up his back as he settles over me. “I thought I was gonna have to take matters into my own hands.”

He doesn’t say anything, just gives a raspy chuckle that goes straight to my cock as the heat of his breath coasts over my neck. And it only gets worse when his lips skim the column of my throat in a teasing caress.

“Fuck,”I mutter, my fingers digging into his muscular obliques.

I beg my libido to stay in check—to let him explore and tease to his liking so we don’t move too quickly. But every minuscule brush of his skin sets my nerve endings on fire, lighting me ablaze with a need too deep to ignore.

---