Page 31 of Guarding The Phoenix: Vol. 1

Even knowing the four of us would share her, deep down I recognized the simple truth that she was mine. That meeting her had been destiny at play and I was meant to care for her all the days of my life. In all these years, I had never been this possessive of any woman we’d shared.

But Kylie was different. She chose me first. It counted for something when she could have gone to any of the other guys.

I didn’t know what it meant for us, nor if there was a future with Kylie beyond this case. What I did know was that I hoped for more.

Protectiveness swamped me as I carried Kylie to her room. She appeared fragile and yet had taken the storm of my need last night as if she had been born for it, crafted especially for me.

There was a sadistic part of me that had been relieved by her tears when she made her confession. Earlier today, Gideon had informed me they slept together. When we all agreed to share her, I hadn’t expected jealousy to viciously grab me by the throat.

I had only known Kylie for a few days. It was far too soon for my emotions to get involved. We had only had one night together. But deep in my heart of hearts, I craved all her nights. I had already gotten emotionally involved. This woman touched the dark corners of my heart and soul with her light.

After hearing about her time with Gideon, I worried all day that she didn’t want me. That our one and only night together had been a fluke. That I couldn’t possibly matter to such a beautiful woman.

And yet the tears she shed, her willingness to confess had been music to my ears.

She couldn’t comprehend what it meant that she considered me important enough to cry over. Hell, I realized I was a brute in words and deeds. I wasn’t good with hearts and flowers, nor had someone had ever accused me of being charming. That was Chase’s department. I was better at actions rather than words.

But Kylie stirred me. I ached to claim her. I wanted to confess my secrets, all of them, including why we were really here. That we orchestrated our entrance into her life. That she was in more danger than she realized, but that I would never leave her to fight this battle alone, orders be damned.

But I couldn’t do any of that. Instead, I would show her how much she meant by giving her a night she would never forget, one suffused with pleasure.

I stalked into her bedroom, kicking the door shut behind us with my boot, my dick hard and aching—because she choseme. Kylie selected me to be with her tonight. Her choice spoke volumes regarding her desire and trust in me.

I’d make damn sure she didn’t regret them.

I carried her through the bedroom and straight into her bathroom. What she needed was seduction. And I had every intention of lavishing her with pleasure. “I’m gonna set you on your feet, Angel. Then I want you to strip.”

Then I lowered her onto her feet beside the huge tub. Her bathroom was a study in elegance and grandeur, with a feminine flare in shades of ivory and mauve. The jacuzzi style bathtub was large enough for me to join her.

“Why are we in the bathroom?” she asked with a small pout I thought was fucking adorable.

Goddamn, the wicked things I wanted to do to this woman. That she was this hungry for me dropped a metric ton of lust inside me, snapping at my control.

“Do you trust me?” I held her gaze, willing her to admit she did. Because tonight wouldn’t work without her trust, not with what I had arranged.

“Yes,” she replied without hesitation.

Warmth spread through me. “Then do as I say. I swear you won’t regret it.”

She eyed me, quirking a brow in question but began stripping. I turned away for a minute while she disrobed to gather my control. Because what I really wanted was to fall on her like a ravenous beast and fuck her sweet pussy to my heart’s content. Lust thundered in my being. My cock tented my cargo pants, aching to fill her tight heat.

I had to keep my shit together for a little while longer.

Leaning over the lip of the tub, I switched the faucet on, adjusting the dial until the water was the right temperature.

“You want me to take a bath?”

She sounded a little pissy. I hid my grin and shot her a lustful glance over my shoulder. “No, Angel,we’retaking a bath.”

“Oh really?” She sounded surprised.

“Yep. Haven’t you ever had a lover bathe with you?”

“No,” she whispered, appearing so young and inexperienced I wanted to cuddle her something fierce.

And while I might not have been the first man to take her to bed, the fact that I could experience this with her first filled me with sublime satisfaction. This woman had had no one cherish her, and I wanted to be the first to do that.

“I want to take care of you, Angel. Will you let me?” I had this burning desire to see that she was pampered and treated with infinite care, to show her that not all men hit or were absolute bastards. But I wanted this experience to be her choice. Her rat bastard of a husband certainly hadn’t given her any choices but had ruled with brutal force.

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