Page 1 of Midsummer Phoenixes
From the Ashes
amory
CHAPTER 1
May 30
Itwasaroundeleven,dark out with stars bright in the clear sky above Newstaten. Soyer had made three pasta salads and one tomato and eggplant casserole, all of which sat on his dining table between us. He had spent hours in his kitchen, chopping and cooking and occasionally asking me to get up from my reading spot on his couch to come over and try something. He’d kept careful track of my reactions, at least it had felt like that.
“I still can’t believe you bought part of the Moonlight,” I told Soyer, eating the last piece of my perfectly cooked eggplant. It melted in my mouth, and made a conscious effort not to moan.
“You can’t? Do I need to show you the receipt?”
“That’s not what I mean.”
I piled some more of the eggplant on my plate while Soyer frowned at one of the salads, the one with the mayo and mandarin oranges and roasted cashews.
“What is it that you do mean then, my heart?”
“I like that salad. But maybe use almonds or walnuts instead next time you make it.”
Soyer’s attention shifted from the pasta to me. “Hmm. What are you distracting me from, Amory?”
I’d been meaning to bring this up for a while, but hadn’t been able to make myself. I said, “Won’t it be weird? If you are my boss?”
Soyer fixed me in a black-eyed stare. “I’m a silent partner, that’s all. Although...” He grinned. “I could order you around all night. Would you like that?”
I chuckled. “Not as much as you would.”
“Hm. You know my libido too well. I think I’d also enjoy groping you.”
Hearing him talk like this still made heat rise to my cheeks. At the same time, I liked being a part of his fantasies.
“You’re not groping me at work. You’re already groping me enough when I’m staying over.”
Soyer used his fork to point at the offending pasta salad. “I spent more time with my hands on those mandarins than on you, my heart.” He tilted his head. “Are you telling me you are feeling neglected?”
I finished the last bite of my eggplant while I considered my answer. “Maybe a little.”
“Maybe a little.” Soyer reached over and cupped my hand with his. “I can’t have that.”
The unspoken desire hung there between us. It was evident on his face too, evident in the grip he had on my hand, not painful, just...comfortingly possessive.
“Let’s just put the food away first, okay?”
Soyer groaned. “Damn fucking tease. I’ll do that. You go upstairs and get on the bed for me. No clothes.”
I nodded, words failing me. I loved the ease of this, the ease with which desire could become manifest with barely a word. I stood and walked toward the stairs, knowing full well he was watching me. I could practically feel his eyes all over me. I was halfway up the stairs when it occurred to me to look back down at Soyer, who hadn’t moved, was watching me like a spider might a fly in his web.
“You’re really going to put all the food away, right? Or do you want me to do it?”
“Yeah, you are a damn fucking tease, Amory.” He stood, picked up the bowl of mandarin pasta salad. “But fine. Get up there. And you better get naked before I’m done here, or else I’ll tear your clothes right off you.”
I shivered, longing for his touch, maybe even longing for my clothes to be torn off.
I did hurry though, and I got my pants off when a soft chuckle from the sliding doors to Soyer’s bedroom made me turn. He was standing there, of course he was, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed.
“I’m your boss, Amory,” he said, his black eyes full of sparks. He came toward me, his fingers digging into my T-shirt. “Do I really have to show you how to do such a simple thing as undressing yourself?”
