Phoenix Rising Rock Band: The Series

by Kathryn C. Kelly

  He moves his mouth away and I lift up on my elbows, breathing hard. My heart races. Sparks pulse through my pussy. My thighs and legs shiver.

  “The point is for you to come,” he growls.

  “Not yet. Please. I want to feel that good a little longer. The minute I come, I’m going to have to suck you off.”

  “You don’t have to suck me off if you don’t want to, Raine. And this won’t be your only orgasm. Trust me. I know what I’m doing.”

  “Men always want to be serviced,” I tell him, skeptical of his announcement.

  “Dogs want to be serviced, too, sweetheart. What separates us are emotional ties and mutual satisfaction.”

  “Suppose I want to suck you off?”

  He glares at me and I bite my lip.

  “Are you through talking?” he asks with impatience.

  “Uh-huh,” I answer, sing-song.

  He throws me a warning look, so I settle back against the pillow. A moment later, he plasters his mouth against my ass again, plundering my pussy with his fingers. He promises more than one orgasm, so I move against his tongue and fingers. Impending explosions rebuild in my body.

  A cry escapes my mouth. And another one. And another one, until my sighs and gasps turn into screams and my body trembles in release.

  I struggle for breath. Before I regain my full composure, however, Kiln tongues my clit. I clutch the bedsheet and dig my heels into the mattress. Between tongue circles, he sucks my little bud between his teeth, applying the slightest bit of pressure, then blowing against it and soothing it with more licks.

  I lift my hips in agitation. He doesn’t miss a beat and moves with me. His long, slow licks morph into quick laps, and back again. I grind against his mouth, but he’s relentless, laving my pussy until I can’t think or see.

  The intense pleasure might kill me, so I let go, screaming and coming. My pussy gushes. Kiln drinks it all, not stopping until my cries die down. He pulls his mouth away, rises above me, and sinks his dick into my pussy.

  My eyes roll back in my head. “Kiln,” I wail, not knowing what else to say. How else to express my feelings.

  As he pumps into me, he runs his damp limps along the column of my throat.

  To my disappointment, he stops and withdraws from me. My legs tremble. I’m too outdone to protest. A moment later, he settles between my legs, bringing the covers up and cocooning us in the warmth of the bed.

  Slowing his thrusts, he covers my mouth with his. I entangle my legs with his, return his kisses with everything in me.

  That same amazing pressure builds up in me again, low in my belly. He hammers me, until he stiffens and and pours into me. Then, he stills and buries his face in the crook of my neck.

  We gasp for breath.

  “Are you okay?” he asks after a minute.

  “Oh my God, are you kidding me? I’ve never been better.”

  Lifting himself up, he swivels against my pussy, and we groan. He plants another quick kiss on my lips, then rolls over next to me and pulls me into the crook of his arms.

  We fall into silence, lost in our thoughts, and basking in the afterglow of lovemaking. His mother crosses my mind. Of all people. Yet, she’s the reason we’re in bed together. Thanks to her treatment of Kiln and his distress. She tells him he’s a good son, yet treats him like a possession.

  Mine, mine, mine is her mentality.

  She can’t see how much he loves her, how hard her illness is on him.

  “Why don’t you have a nurse for Alexia?”

  “When she was released, I was told she’d have episodes every now and then, but her medicine would keep her stable. She didn’t want a nurse, so I followed her orders and let the woman go.”

  “Is there anyone you know that she could trust? I don’t know much about her situation but it’s clear she shouldn’t be alone.”

  Kiln stares at the ceiling. “Yeah, there is someone I know. She just isn’t my favorite person.”

  “Why? Is she an ex-girlfriend or something like that?”

  “Yes,” he says quietly. “Something like that.”

  “Who is it?” I question, curiosity flaring in me. “Tell me.”

  He considers me for a moment and seems as if he’s about to speak. Then, he clams up. His lips tighten and his expression hardens. “It isn’t your fucking business,” he snaps.

  The return of Asshole-Kiln so soon after our lovemaking startles me. I knew I’d see that side of him again, but I believed it would be tomorrow or the next day.

  No way am I showing how, once again tonight, he’s hurt my feelings. I’d almost forgotten I mean nothing to him.

  “You’re so right, shit-ass,” I hiss, wanting to really be angry, instead of using it as a smokescreen. “Good night.” I turn my back to him and wish a brutal death upon his head.

  It’s a long time before I fall asleep.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Several times, before Raine’s breathing evened out, I almost apologized for the way I snapped at her. After tonight with my mother, however, and then thinking of Dietrech, I didn’t know what to say to Raine. If I hadn’t gave her an asshole-answer, she would’ve pressed me.

  She is a woman, after all.

  I didn’t want to bring the pall of my ex-wife into the bed I shared with Raine. That toxic relationship has no place in our life.

  I shouldn’t have treated Raine the way I did. Especially after what she gave me tonight.

  Tenderness. Gentleness. Kindness.

  Other women attempted to offer those things to me, but I rejected them. Tonight, a sweet little thug goddess who just can’t shut the fuck up, even in the middle of having her pussy licked, touched something in me.

  But that’s the beauty of Raine. She has character. Strength. Heart. She has empathy. Most of all, she’s loyal.

  Or, perhaps, her loyalty to me stems from my actions to her. I gave her what she wanted so she reciprocated in the most intimate way possible.

  Raine won’t be able to distance her heart if I don’t pull back. When I leave—after I kill Sloane—I can’t take her with me.

  Although I do believe I can outsmart the Death Dwellers, there’s always a small chance I’ll misstep. That thought stays on my mind as I nod off.

  Awakening the next morning, I discover Raine still asleep. Her back turned to me, she’s curled in a ball. Even slumbering, she has pride. To get back into her good graces, I’m going to have to eat crow.

  Sighing, I shove the covers aside and get to my feet. Raine’s scent covers me. My dick is hard, ready to be inside her again. However, I enjoy having my balls attached to my body, so I ignore my erection and don’t disturb her.

  After a quick shower, I dress myself, then check on Mother. Unsurprisingly, she’s still asleep, thanks to the strong tranquilizer. She looks so peaceful right now. If only I knew what goes through her mind when she snaps. But I have no answers. The best doctors in the world have checked her out.

  Nothing helps her for a long period of time.

  I plant a kiss on her forehead and run my fingers through her hair, wishing, praying, for her mental stability.

  Swallowing, I leave her room, keeping her door partially ajarred. Once more, I check on Raine. She’s still in the same position and the same spot. Asleep and too tired to open her eyes? Or awake and too stubborn to give herself away?

  Whatever her state, I’ll deal with her later. Right now, I have to see to a caretaker for my mother. Dietrech. Her very name sends waves of anger through me.

  Yet, Raine is right. My mother needs someone here.

  I go to the utility drawer in the kitchen and get Mother’s address book. Her phone stays locked, so I insisted she keep all important numbers written down for me. The last time I checked a few months ago, she didn’t have many entries.

  With Dietrech moving into the building, it was easy for her to reconnect with my mother. If Mother hasn’t done as I asked and wrote my ex-wife’s number down, she’ll be easy enough to find.<
br />
  Thumbing through each page, I curse. If I search her out in this building, it’ll give her too much satisfaction. I prefer to handle it this way. With each flip of a sheet, my impatience increases. Reaching the Ms, I stop and stare, fury replacing my annoyance. Dietrech is listed with my last name. Even if she hadn’t given up that fucking right, years ago, she’s remarried and no longer a Mason.

  As soon as she arrives, I’m straightening her ass out.

  My call to her is quick and to the point. She promises to arrive in the next thirty minutes.

  I don’t tell her goodbye to end the call. I merely disconnect, while she’s mid-sentence. As I put on coffee to brew, Raine comes to mind again.

  Her presence set my mother off if she wakes up and find her still here. Also, she should leave before Dietrech arrives. The situation will be hostile enough, without Raine adding to it. Besides, I don’t want her that involved in my life.

  The more entangled we become in each other’s problems, the more complex our relationship will be.

  The only reason I’m going to apologize to her for last night is because I enjoyed the sweet Raine, and I have to give to get.

  Happy with my plan of action, I pull up the Uber app on my phone and make a reservation. A message pops up that the driver will arrive in fifteen minutes. Perfect timing.

  Returning to the guestroom, I discover her laying on her back, still asleep. I smirk at her, my ego inflating that I fucked her into la-la land and beyond. Wiping the grin off my face, I squeeze her knee, then shake her.

  “Go away,” she grumbles, attempting to turn to her side again.

  “Get up, doll.” I shake her again. “I’ve called an Uber for you. Mother will wake up soon and we don’t want a repeat of last night.”

  She opens one eye. “I’m tired,” she whines. “Just let me sleep.”

  “More of your inner girl is coming out.”

  The other eye pops open and she yawns. “Unless a cock was attached to me during the night, I’m a girl on the outside, too.”

  I leer at her exposed tits. “Oh, yes indeed, baby, you are.”

  A pretty blush creeps into her face and she giggles as she sits up. The covers fall to her waist, revealing the curve of her waist and the flatness of her belly. “You know just what to say, damn you.”

  “Does that mean you forgive me for being a jerk to you last night?”

  Her fingers tangle in the covers and she shrugs.

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means you’re a fucking asshole. I either have to accept it and be prepared to tell you to fuck off regularly, or I have to wear my hurt feelings on my sleeve. That’s too fucking much trouble, so fuck you, dickhead.”

  I bark laughter. Our argument has been laid to rest. She deserves more than just a brush-off. “Can you forgive me, sweetheart? I ruined our sex by being a dick to you.”

  “Forget about it, though we both know it’s going to happen again.”

  “What can I say? I’m romantic like that.”

  Laughing, she shakes her head and then stands. She turns to me and I pull her into my arms. She lays her head on my chest, and my pulse speeds up at the feel of her. If I smelled like her earlier, then she’s smells of me now, and my cock stirs.

  I tip her chin up and look down. She ducks her head and glides her fingers across my chest.

  “I want to kiss you,” I tell her.

  “Morning breath,” she states. “You smell delicious, like aftershave and mint. Unlike me.”

  Though it doesn’t matter to me, I glimpse the nightstand clock. Kissing will lead to fucking. Not only will Raine miss her Uber, but Dietrech will arrive.

  “Fine,” I say, releasing her. “Later.”

  She looks at me through her lashes. “Can’t I stay with you? I won’t come out at all. There’s really nothing for me to do in that mansion.”

  “You’ve managed to keep yourself busy, cooking and cleaning. Make us a fabulous dinner.”

  Her expression doesn’t change as she nods. If she’s disappointed, she hides it well. “Okay.”

  “Your ride will be here in about five minutes. Throw your clothes on and get downstairs.”

  “Okay. All right.” She backs up and raises her hands. “I’ll get out of your hair. Oops, I forgot. You have none.”

  “My choice.”

  “Maybe, one day, you’ll let me shave your head.”

  “Put a straight razor in your hands so close to my jugular? No fucking way.” No woman with a weapon will ever have that much access to my person.

  “Whatever,” she sniffs and marches to her blood-stained outfit.

  “Wear one of my shirts over that, so there’ll be no questions.” I grab my phone from my pocket and check the Uber app. The car has arrived. “Hurry, Raine. Your ride’s here.”

  She doesn’t answer, so I walk out of the room to give the driver a quick call, letting her know that her passenger will be down shortly.

  Everything is falling into place. Whistling in satisfaction, I pour myself a cup of coffee. Just as a smiling Raine appears, the doorbell rings. I freeze, knowing who’s there. Fuck my life.

  Alarm races through me.

  Raine’s smile faltering, she yanks the white T-shirt down and straightens it. Though it’s quite big on her, she’s sexy as hell.

  The doorbell rings again. Sweat pops up on my head. I wish the condo had another entry point.

  Suspicion replaces her languid look. “Do you want me to get that? You act like the bogey man is there. I’ll send them away.”

  When she turns in in the direction of the door, I jump into action. “No! Stay put.”

  “Really?” she says with aggravation. “You rushed me to get dressed, now you want me to wait? I’m leaving.”

  Fuck! I have a problem and her name is Raine. I hate to fall back on my tried-and-true method, but her temper is reliable. It’s all I have to dig myself out of this hole and into a new one.

  “You’re right. Get the fuck out. What Dietrech and I have to discuss isn’t your fucking business, anyway.” There’s no smooth way to introduce Dietrech into the situation. If there is, I’m clueless on implementation.

  She gasps. “Dietrech? Your ex?”

  I set my jaw. The doorbell rings again. Before I answer, I have to make sure, Raine intends to walk on by and not stop. A confrontation between her and Dietrech will be chaos that I don’t need. “Get out, Raine. Before the Uber takes off.”

  Her eyes narrow. “Wait a fucking minute. You called her to look after your mother?”

  Fuck.

  Yet, again, the bell rings.

  I grab Raine’s elbow and usher her to the door, swinging it open. Dietrech’s smile fades as she glimpses Raine.

  “Not a fucking word from either of you,” I order, stepping aside to maneuver Raine alongside me. “Get into the apartment, Dietrech. Raine, leave.”

  Dietrech’s eyes gleam. She passes Raine an ugly look, then sashays inside.

  “You didn’t know what to do with him when you had him, so fuck off now,” Raine calls.

  Dietrech halts and spins around.

  I point at my ex-wife. “Not a fucking word, Dietrech. Not one.”

  Dietrech lowers her lashes and gives me a small nod. Just as I have Raine’s anger to manipulate, I have Dietrech’s fake cooperation to twist. The more she did as I asked and allowed me to do for her, the more I gave to her.

  “Go, Raine,” I say through clenched teeth. Of course, she doesn’t move. She stands in the hallway, her face inscrutable. I don’t know if she’s angry or hurt.

  Or jealous.

  “Leave,” I repeat.

  Instead, she starts back into the condo. When I block her way, she clutches my forearm and bounces on her feet.

  “If you fuck over him again, I’m bashing your fucking head into the wall,” she yells, hopping up and down.

  “You heard him, Raine,” Dietrech coos from behind me. “Leave. We have business to discuss.”
r />   Meanwhile, I’m speechless. She’s pissed, but not at me. It’s for me.

  Raine attempts to barrel inside, but I wrap her in my arms, ignoring her wiggles. I refuse to release her, so she stretches her body and cranes her neck.

  “The business you have to discuss is regarding Alexia, you cheating bitch.”

  I clap my hand over Raine’s mouth. In case she hasn’t realized, I need to do this my way to secure Dietrech’s agreement. Her temper is fucking up everything.

  Without warning, I release her and she stumbles back.

  “You’re overstepping your bounds!” I snap.

  This is spinning so far out of control, I can’t think straight. I know I can control Dietrech. Raine, not so much, unless I push her away completely.

  Raine and Dietrech have engaged each other. By stepping in, it seems as if I’m choosing sides. Yet, Raine leaves with few options.

  “Go the fuck to the mansion and wait for me there.”

  Her eyes widen, but she doesn’t move. I scrub a hand over my face, concerned that, one day, my words to her will cause irreparable damage. Hopefully, today isn’t that day. I have to overlook her feelings to help my mother. The sooner Raine leaves, the quicker I can get this unpleasantness with Dietrech behind me.

  “What I have to discuss with my ex-wife doesn’t concern you,” I say coolly. “You’ll only be in the way here. I don’t want you here.”

  She sucks in a breath, stares with incredulity at me, then balls her fist and punches my goddamn already-injured jaw. She puts all her might into that hit and it snaps my head back.

  “Now, motherfucker, I leave,” she snarls, turns on her heel and hurries to the private elevator.

  “Get off at the tenth floor to go to the public elevator,” I wobble the reminder out, holding my hurting jaw like an ass, as the elevator doors slide open.

  In response, she flips me off and stomps away. After the elevator leaves, I stare at the spot where Raine stood. Until Dietrech clears her throat.

  I close the door and notice blood-transfers from my hand to the knob. Raine’s punch opened Mother’s wound. Turning, I face Dietrech. Her gaze falls on my cheek and her eyes widen.

  Silent, I allow myself to take in her lovely features, her blonde hair styled in ringlets. It was always her favorite do. Blue eyes search me and fill with pain and regret. Her breasts and hips are bigger now, adding to her womanly curves. Some would label her as fat. I’ve always called her lush.