Phoenyx Rising: A Possessive Cowboy Romance

by Joanna Blake

  "Phee is off limits."

  "Sorry, boys. The lady is mine. It's a done deal."

  "Like hell it is!"

  Daniel rolled up his sleeves.

  "You're going to have to get through us first."

  I grinned widely, eager to let off some steam. I couldn't beat the fool who'd fired their weapon, but I could pummel the Delanceys. And make my claim on Phee official in the process.

  "Gladly."

  To give them credit, they took turns trying to stomp me into the mud. I had to respect that. If they had doubled up on me, it would have been a real short fight.

  After about twenty minutes we were all starting to look a little worse for wear, but no one was winning. I held up my hand as Jackson cocked his fist to take another swing at me.

  "Hold up. I need to check on Phee."

  "Hell, no. Daniel will do it."

  I nodded my agreement.

  "Aright. But make sure she drinks that whole bottle of water!"

  Daniel nodded, still managing to look pissed off while being agreeable. They put their cousin first though, that was obvious. It was kinda sweet when you thought about it.

  Not that I had time to think about it.

  Jackson was swinging for me again.

  "You stay away from our little girl!"

  He landed a punch.

  "She's not a little girl! She's mine!"

  I landed a punch.

  "No, she ain't! She's ours! We won't let you trifle with her!"

  He landed a punch.

  "This is no fling! I'm asking you for Phoenyx's hand in marriage!"

  I landed a punch.

  "Hell no, you can't marry her! She's still a child!"

  I smiled at him slowly, my meaning plain as day.

  "She's no child. You can trust me on that."

  Jackson roared and came at me. That's when I saw her. Phee was standing with Daniel, watching the whole damn thing.

  "You should be sitting down!" That was the last thing I said before Jackson tackled me into the mud. I'd turned away just in time to miss seeing him charging at me like a bull. We wrassled on the ground until we both ran out of steam and collapsed side by side.

  I groaned, staring up at the sky as Jackson lay in the dirt beside me.

  That was a lesson learned. I knew it would serve me well for years to come. Hopefully, for the rest of my ever-lovin’ life.

  Never turn your back on a Delancey with a bone to pick.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Phoenyx

  Men! They were all nothing more than big babies!

  I stared in shock at Clint, who was sprawled out on the ground. Daniel was smiling and Jackson looked like he wanted to commit murder. But I didn't care. I’d heard my man say something that made my pulse race and my heart sing.

  Clint McRae wanted to marry me.

  "My final answer is no. You are not marrying our little girl."

  Clint groaned and held his head. He tried to get up but Jackson shoved him back down again. I stepped forward to stop them but Daniel held me back.

  "I was just asking to be polite. I love her. And she's mine. Not yours."

  Jackson staggered to his feet, blood leaking out of the side of his lip. He turned and gave me a ferocious look but I wasn't scared of him. Never had been, never would be. He was all bluster anyway.

  "Did this guy touch you, Phee?"

  I laughed, feeling giddy. They all frowned at me like I'd lost my mind. I may have just been thrown off a horse, but all I could think of were wedding bells and white dresses.

  Clint wanted to marry me.

  Daniel stepped in front of me and peered at me, his blue eyes full of concern.

  "I think we need some x-rays. You mighta hit your head harder than we thought."

  "I'm fine! I'm happy, you big lug!"

  Clint was shaking his head. He stood up this time, slapping Jackson away when he tried to stop him.

  "Daniel's right. We can't trust the medic. We need an MRI. Specialists. Lots of tests. We should get an ambulance over here right now. Or is it faster to drive?"

  He scooped me into his arms like I was a ragdoll.

  "Put me down, Clint."

  I wiggled in his arms. He squeezed me, not letting go.

  "No can do, babygirl."

  Daniel was already talking to the event coordinators and the doctor, trying to figure out where the closest medical facility was.

  Clint started walking towards the car but Jackson stood in his path.

  "Hand her over. McRae."

  "Hell no!"

  "We're family. You're just some dirty old man."

  I rolled my eyes. This was getting to be ridiculous. They were practically the same age! Jackson was twenty-seven and Clint was thirty-two.

  "If you don't get out of the way, I'm going to have to kick your ass."

  Jackson sneered.

  "I'd like to see you try!"

  Clint stood there, not backing down. And not handing me over either. He squeezed me reassuringly and smiled.

  "You can go to hell, Jackson Delancey. I'm keeping her."

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Clint

  “You really want to marry me? You meant it?”

  “Be still, woman. They are trying to examine you,” I said gruffly, still worried out of my mind.

  “There is no need for, ahem, all of you to be in here,” the doctor said sternly, looking behind me. I wanted to laugh but I couldn’t. Not when I was so worried about my woman.

  The Delancey boys were standing behind me, crowded into the tiny area around Phee’s bed in the emergency room. And the doctor had just scolded them. I made sure to remember this moment so I could relish it later, when I knew Phee was out of the woods.

  Lord knows the Delancey brothers needed to be put in their place. Their arrogance was legendary. Of course, they had earned a lot of that arrogance, but I didn’t want to think about that.

  “We are her family. You leave,” Jackson said coldly, almost as if he had heard my thought and wanted to prove his point.

  “Is this true?” the doctor asked with a worried look. His eyes dropped to Phee’s hands, which were holding mine tightly. “What do you want, young lady?”

  “I want him to stay,” Phee said, a fearful look in her beautiful eyes.

  I shot a triumphant look over my shoulder and was rewarded with a scowl from Jackson and a surprised look from Daniel. Good. I was proud as hell of Phee for taking a stand. My heart felt like it was growing ten sizes.

  “I do want to marry you,” I whispered as I leaned down and pressed a kiss to her perfect, shell shaped ear. Even the woman’s damned ears were sexy! “In fact, I’m going to have to insist on it. Because I love you too damned much.”

  Her answering smile was so bright it lit up the whole damned room.

  “Now, go on and get. The lady needs to be seen by this here doctor,” I drawled with a glance over my shoulder, squeezing my lady’s hand for reassurance. The doctor cleared his throat, and the boys did as they were told. I had a feeling that was a damned first.

  My soon-to-be-fiancé confirmed it.

  “That’s the first time I’ve ever seen them follow an actual rule. Other than their own rules, of course.”

  “Of course,” I said softly, holding her eyes and distracting her as the nurse drew blood and took her blood pressure. Phee looked a little nervous. Beautiful as all get out, but nervous.

  Goddamn but that drove me nuts! I wanted to squash anything that made her worried or upset! I wanted to kill it!

  Of course, in this case, I couldn’t. She’d gotten thrown. It happened to almost every rider. There was no one to blame but the big dummy who had startled the animal. I immediately forced myself to set aside the bloody revenge fantasies that tried to take over and focus on my woman. I smiled reassuringly, even though I was tangled up inside.

  I vowed never to let anything hurt her again.

  My phone pinged and I ignored it, waiting patiently
while the doctor examined her. I didn’t even glance at my phone until Phee was wheeled off for an MRI with contrast. I sat in the waiting room outside the imaging section, having trailed after the gurney like a lost puppy. I didn’t want her to be alone for a second, but I couldn’t go in the room with her. Even I knew that.

  Her cousins eyed me warily while we waited but said nothing.

  My stomach dropped when I saw the text. It was from Mrs. Van Cleese. I hadn’t heard from her since we parted ways, though I had seen her from time to time at horsing events. But only from a distance. We both knew it was best not to reopen that particular can of worms. She was the last damned person I ever expected to hear from.

  It only said three words. Three words that filled me with dread.

  You were right.

  I did a search for the name. I didn’t have to look far. There had been an accident. The same kind of accident I had predicted three years before.

  Thomas. It was Thomas. He was dead.

  I hung my head, feeling a stab of pure regret. Maybe if I had stayed… maybe I could have helped him. Maybe I could have stopped this.

  I clenched my fists and took a gulp of air. I was on the verge of punching something. Hard. The wall maybe. Or one of the Delancey boys.

  Instead I took off, walking briskly until I was outside in the sunshine. Sunshine Thomas would never see. Sunshine that could be stolen at a moment’s notice. Sunshine that my darling Phee might miss out on forever.

  And I would be alone.

  That was the moment I felt calm wash over me. Phee was done riding. It was over. I would keep her safe. It didn’t matter if I had to wrap the woman in bubble wrap and keep her in a glass jar. I didn’t give a damn.

  My woman was never getting on a horse again.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Phoenyx

  I lay on the sofa, smiling as Clint walked in the room. He held a tray of food and herbal tea for me. I tried not to laugh as he placed it on the coffee table in front of me.

  "What is so funny young lady?"

  He frowned at me and I shook my head, giggling. He had been so serious since we got back from the hospital. He had barely spoken on the long drive home, either. That had been three days ago. Three days of laying around, not allowed to do anything but watch TV and read the internet. But he hadn’t left my side for a moment. I was a bit worried, but only because he was so worried. But today I couldn’t stop the giggles.

  I wasn't laughing because he brought me food. I was laughing because of what he was wearing. Or rather, what he wasn't wearing.

  He'd found one of my frilly aprons and put in on. An apron and nothing else. He turned around, and his bare ass prominently displayed. He had a fantastic ass.

  I wanted to pinch it. Or bite it.

  Or smack it.

  Lord knows, he liked to smack mine often enough!

  But he was too fast, walking back to the kitchen on those long, thick legs. If I tilted my head to the side, I could almost catch a glimpse of his package.

  I lay back, sighing. Clint was not going to make love to me today, I could tell. He'd promised me all kinds of things each day to get me to stay in bed. But he wouldn't give me what I wanted.

  Him.

  He'd taken care of my ‘womanly needs’ a couple times a day. He was an expert at making me come with his fingers and lips. But he wouldn't let me touch him.

  That's why this display of his manly assets was so frustrating. He had such nice legs. Arms too. Shoulders. But that butt… it was a work of art.

  Round and high and strong and juicy.

  He came back in and sat down with his own cup of coffee. He wouldn't let me have any caffeine or any sex. The doctor had said to lay off caffeine but the sex was just him being mean.

  He sat in an easy chair, way out of reach.

  "You're still wearing your apron I see."

  He fluffed his hair, preening.

  "Of course I am, silly. How else am I supposed to stay neat and tidy?"

  I giggled at his girly impersonation. But it wasn't long until I started to pout.

  "You're an awful tease, Clint McRae. You know that?"

  He smiled.

  "Eat your oatmeal and maybe you'll get a reward."

  Hmmm… that sounded nice. A reward might mean fooling around a little. At this point I would take what I could get. I ate my food and took the vitamin he had insisted I take. I shook my head, amazed at what a mother hen he'd become.

  My man.

  Or my… boyfriend. I still wasn't sure what to call him. Oh, we were getting married, I had no doubt about that. But my cousins had told him he had to wait a whole year. And at least six months to propose.

  They said I was too young to know my own mind.

  Clint had agreed to their bargain, despite my protests. I wanted the white picket fence and I wanted it now.

  But he had insisted that they were right. He'd promised me oodles of pre-engagement sex. He'd said he still had lots to teach me.

  So I’d agreed.

  So we were 'promised' but not engaged. But he loved me and that's what mattered. He told me at least ten times a day, since the accident.

  I set down my sweet herbal tea and smiled at him.

  "I'm ready for my reward now."

  His eyes flashed and he stood up. I lay back and waited as he started peeling off my pajama bottoms. He trailed his fingers over my thighs and I shivered.

  It felt very naughty to be lying here in with just my bottom half exposed. As he leaned down to kiss me through my panties, I decided I liked being naughty with Clint.

  I liked it a lot.

  I sighed as he busied himself between my legs, toying with me through the thin cotton fabric. These were my least sexy undies, but somehow I got the feeling he liked them best. He growled, nipping me as his hands slid up, unbuttoning my pajama top so he could get at my breasts.

  "Oh…"

  I was squirming around. Clint told me to hold still. I squirmed some more. His breath fanned my pussy and I moaned, trying to press his head against me. He just laughed.

  "Be a good girl now and I'll take care of you. I won't be rushed, wildcat."

  I was begging ten minutes later but he was still teasing me with featherlight kisses and caresses. My panties were still on. Finally, he gripped the edge of my panties and tugged them down.

  He took his time, nibbling on the outer lips before he licked me up and down, nice and slow. I wanted him to go faster. I wanted him to touch me harder. I wanted him to give me his cock and ride me home.

  But he didn't.

  "Clint! Dammit, I've rested enough!"

  He chuckled and I cursed in frustration. His laughter tickled me, making me even more desperate for release.

  I was close to coming. But I'd been close for twenty minutes! I was on the verge of tears.

  "Please Clint… I want you."

  He murmured against my pussy, licking it a little faster.

  "I love you. Please… I want you inside me."

  He cursed then. I was getting to him. I knew it.

  "Just for a little while. I want to feel your bare skin on mine. Don't you want me?"

  He looked like he was in pain when he looked up at me.

  "Dammit it, Phee, I don't want to hurt you."

  "You won't."

  "The condoms are in the other room."

  "Don't use one."

  "What?"

  I smiled at him seductively. His eyes were wide. I had his attention now.

  "You can pull out. I looked it up online."

  He groaned and lowered his head.

  "Phee… if I knock you up before the wedding, I'm a dead man."

  "You won't. Anyway, if you do, we can always elope."

  He broke in that moment. I saw it. I knew the moment it happened. He was on top of me in two shakes, lifting the apron to reveal his raging hard on. I licked my lips at the sight of it. His balls looked swollen and the tip was shiny and wet.

  "Hmmm…
yes. That's what I want."

  He groaned helplessly and held the tip against my slick lips.

  "You sure, Phee? This is real foolish."

  I wrapped my legs around him and tugged him towards me slightly. He made a sound so sexy it made my toes curl. I didn't think he'd had a release since the accident, even though he'd taken care of me several times a day.

  "I'm sure."

  That was it. Clint slid inside of me, grunting like a wild beast. He cursed as he filled me the whole way up. The sensations were… unbelievable. The bare skin of his cock felt so good inside me, I thought I was going to faint.

  He was breathing heavily as he pulled out again.

  "Goddamn! Babygirl, you feel so good..."

  He grunted as he pushed back inside me. He pulled out almost the whole way, cursing a blue streak while he did. Then he plunged back in.

  "You're my woman, you hear me?"

  "Yes, Clint."

  “And you’ll be a good girl and do as I say.”

  “Yes. I will.”

  "Oh Christ– unnfff!"

  He started to work his cock in and out of me at a steady pace. I tried to squeeze him with each thrust. He was moaning incoherently when I came the first time.

  He was even more incoherent when I came the second time.

  The third time, we came together.

  Clint shouted as he pulled out, spraying my belly with his seed. I could have cried. I hadn’t wanted him to pull out. There was something primal inside me that wanted his seed. Every damned drop of it.

  There was just something different this time. I realized I wanted all of that come inside me. I needed it.

  I wanted his baby, body and soul.

  He cleaned me off, both of us still shuddering. He told me to 'be still' as he pulled my pajamas back on and pulled me onto his lap.

  "That was nice."

  "Nice? Woman, you damn near killed me."

  I smiled, snuggling deeper into his lap. I felt his cock stir beneath me and pinched his nipple. He hissed and pulled my hair back so he could kiss me.

  It was a while later when he lifted his head, his blue eyes shining.