Page 24 of Guarding The Phoenix: Vol. 2

Sweat slicked our bodies. I wanted to keep this woman forever. I understood I had to share her with my friends. And I was okay with it. They were my best friends and brothers from another mother. In fact, I thought it was hot.

But I wanted more with Kylie than hot nights in her bed. After her admission, I would never let her go. Love for her swelled even as lust overrode everything else.

And Kylie, the sweet angel who had given me her love, was the only woman I wanted for the rest of my life. I never thought I would be so fortunate to have any woman love me, especially not a woman like Kylie. She was good and sweet and intelligent. And she had survived such horrors, which made her ability to love and see the good in people even more astonishing.

Her nails dug into my back. I ate her moans and knew she was close. I was too. But I wanted her to find her release before me. Snaking a hand between us, I thrummed my fingers over her clit.

Then her pussy spasmed so hard she damn near flattened my dick. It dragged me into ecstasy with her. I plundered her pussy, pumping my hips as my balls emptied inside her.

And fuck, a part of me that hoped my seed took root. That I would get to watch her belly round with my child growing inside her.

Ripping my mouth away, I groaned. Then lowered my forehead to hers. Our panting breaths mingled. “I meant what I said. I know the timing was not great.”

Her eyes fluttered open. There were tears lining her lashes. “I meant it too.”

“But?”

“I have feelings for the others, too. And I don’t know how to handle it. I didn’t mean to let my feelings slip out. But I need you to know that you’re the first person to love me.”

“Surely there was someone else?”

She shook her head. “No. Carlos told me he loved me but what he felt for me wasn’t love. I grew up in foster care, there wasn’t anyone there who loved me. You’re the first.”

My heart ached for her. But I vowed I would love her well enough she would forget about the lack of her early days. A day would never pass without me telling her I loved her.

“You won’t ever be alone again. And I will remind you every day that I love you.”

“Promise.” She searched my eyes for the truth.

“Yeah, I promise.” I kissed the tip of her nose. Then finally withdrew my softening shaft and rolled off her. But I brought her with me. I pressed a kiss against her forehead. “You should get some sleep.”

“You won’t leave me?”

“Nope. I’ll be here all night. We’re going to take turns while we’re at sea. You won’t ever sleep alone again if you don’t want to.”

“As long as you don’t leave me.” She snuggled against my side.

“Never,” I swore, tugging the covers up over us.

I lay there as she drifted off, just watching her sleep. From the start, I’d known she differed from all the others. But I hadn’t realized how different until this moment.

Because I saw my future in her eyes.

Chapter nine

Taking Turns

Chase

GideonandMateoweregetting some shuteye while I stayed at the helm. And Axel, that lucky bastard, had spent his night wrapped up with Kylie.

Tonight was my turn with her. The thought of having her all to myself without having to share her filled me with pulse pounding need.

Along with our rotations at the helm, Gideon hammered out a nightly schedule for us. It put us on a cycle with whom got to spend his night with Kylie while the others got some sleep in another bedroom. Having a detailed schedule made sense. We needed to monitor far too much with ocean currents, weather, and potential attacks.

Although for the first time in my life, when I was hilt deep inside her, the rest of the world dropped away. It was a first and left me unsettled. I have always enjoyed women and they me, yet I never considered wanting anything long term. I enjoyed being an ephemeral bachelor.

And it worried me.

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