THE PHOENIX WEDDING: The Complete 6 Books Series

by CJ Bishop

  Devlin entered and walked over, tilted the lamp shade so the light wasn’t shining on the boy’s face, and started to retreat when he noticed the cordless phone clutched in Noah’s hand and hugged against his chest.

  Devlin frowned and carefully worked the phone receiver from his grasp and stared at it, puzzled. Why would Noah bring the phone in here? Who would he even call?

  Taking the phone with him, Devlin detoured back to the bedroom, bewilderment still etched on his face as he walked into his and Abel’s room.

  Abel glanced at him, then at the phone. “Don’t tell me you’re getting senile already,” he quipped. “I said ice cream cone, not te-le-phone.”

  Devlin barely smiled as he continued to stare at the receiver. He finally looked at Abel. “I found this in Noah’s room. He was holding it in his sleep.”

  “What?” Abel scooted up straight and muted the TV. “Who would he be calling in the middle of the night? Who would he be calling at all?”

  “I don’t know.” Devlin sat down beside Abel, his brow knit as he looked at the phone.

  “Should we hit redial and see who picks up?”

  Devlin chewed his lower lip and glanced at the clock. It was late. Almost midnight. “Maybe we should wait till morning?” he suggested.

  Abel took the phone. “Or we can just check it now.” He pressed the redial button and held the phone to his ear. Devlin leaned close, listening in. The call went straight to voicemail; You’ve reached Meg Hollins. Leave your number and a short message, and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

  Ending the call, Abel and Devlin exchanged a startled look.

  Meg Hollins?

  Noah’s mother?

  ♦

  Shuddered moans bumped off the bedroom walls. Nolan squeezed Grid’s hair in his fists, hips rocking slowly, head tilted back and eyes closed. His jaw was partially slack and lips parted, breath puffing out of him. Grid caressed his naked body as he sucked up and down his hard member. His own erection was unprecedented in size and hardness, dripping cum juice onto his thighs. He pulled off Nolan and stroked him with his fist as he began kissing all over his stomach, his chest.

  Nolan’s head dropped forward and he stared down at Grid through hazy eyes smoldering with lust and desire. His brow glistened with beaded sweat and a light flush warmed his face. Grid shivered; all heated up and ready to fuck, the man was sexy as hell.

  While contemplating who would top whom, Grid was pushed down on the bed with Nolan hovering over the top of him. To observe this man while sober, one would never guess he possessed the potential to take control—dominate.

  The two men moved into the center of the bed, Nolan crawling forward along with Grid. His long, stiff dick bumped Grid’s erect shaft with each movement of their bodies, dripping wetness onto Grid’s hot skin. On reflex, Grid parted his legs and Nolan lowered on top of him. His hands shoved through Grid’s hair and he took him in an aggressive kiss. Their junk ground and rubbed, balls mashing as Nolan rolled his hips deep and strong.

  Shit…Grid grabbed his bare ass, squeezing his hot, firm cheeks, fingers slipping into the crack as he pulled the man harder against him. Fuck me—please fuck me.

  Nolan paused the kiss, his lips molded against Grid’s mouth, breath surging erratically between them. He swiveled his hips in a slow, continuous arc. Grid tightened his hold on the man’s ass, nails gouging his flesh. His lips trembled, throbbing, aching for Nolan to resume the kiss. His inner ass muscles flexed, longing to be invaded, stretched.

  Uncertainty struck Grid when Nolan lifted off him and sat back on his heels. He blinked heavily as his hands rested on Grid’s thighs. “I don’t have any condoms,” he admitted thickly. “I haven’t fucked anyone in almost five years.”

  Grid curled forward and slipped his arms around Nolan’s waist and kissed his mouth. “I have some,” he said quietly. He looked down at their members rubbing together. “We’re roughly the same size.” He raised his eyes and ran his hands down over Nolan’s ass. He kissed his throat. “I want you so damn bad,” he whispered. “There’s nothing stopping us…if this is really what you want.” He dragged his lips along the curve of his jaw. “If it isn’t, then tell me now and I’ll get out of here before it’s too late.” In Grid’s mind, it was already too late. But if Nolan sincerely changed his mind and didn’t want to go through with it, he would force himself to walk away—as much as it would kill him to do so.

  Tilting his head down, Nolan claimed his mouth and kissed him deeply. “I want this.”

  Relief flooded Grid and his cock jumped for joy. “I’ll get you a raincoat,” he groaned against Nolan’s lips and crawled off the bed. He retrieved a condom from his wallet and returned. When he tore it open, Nolan took it from him.

  “I want you to fuck me first.”

  Grid’s pulse shot up into his head and an all-new throb began to pulse through his dick. He nodded slowly. “All right.” He swallowed hard. “Have you ever…”

  “Fucked a man?” Nolan’s weighted eyes gazed back at him. “No.”

  “Neither have I,” Grid admitted. “But I know what to do.” He motioned to the bed. “Lay down on your stomach.”

  Nolan stared at him a moment then obeyed. Grid took the condom and dropped it on the bed, then rubbed his palms over Nolan’s ass cheeks and spread him open. He dribbled saliva onto his hole and massaged it in with his fingertips. Actual lube would have been better, but if Nolan didn’t have any condoms, it was a safe bet he didn’t have lube either.

  Grid continued to add spit as he slowly worked a finger inside Nolan.

  “Fuck…” Nolan swallowed thickly, his breath quickening.

  Very gradually adding more fingers, Grid took his time loosening the man up. When he had three digits inside him and Nolan was beginning to push back against them, wanting more, Grid knew he was ready.

  He withdrew his fingers and urged Nolan onto his hands and knees. Grid’s heart pounded wildly. He massaged his palms into Nolan’s cheeks and rubbed his hands up his back, down again, and kissed the small of his back. Emotions began to roil inside him and he attempted to bury them beneath pure sexual lust; if tonight was all he could have, he didn’t want to leave his heart behind when he walked away in the morning. But as his lips grazed Nolan’s warm flesh and his fingertips caressed his perfect body, the ache inside Grid surpassed his groin and pushed up into his heart. He had wanted the chance to see if this could be something real. Well, now he knew. Except he didn’t want to know anymore. He didn’t want the feelings to be real.

  Too bad, baby. You’re caught and you’re never getting away.

  Grid straightened up and picked up the condom. He sheathed his cock, applied a generous amount of saliva and added more to Nolan’s entrance. The man was trembling, fists clenching the blankets. What the hell was Nolan going to do once he was married? Live a lie for the rest of his life? Be forced to cheat on his wife with random men who meant nothing to him? Why the fuck was he marrying a woman?

  The questions frustrated Grid and he shoved them to the far reaches of his mind; now wasn’t the time to be contemplating.

  He knew he shouldn’t say anything, shouldn’t reveal any of what was really going on inside him—he should just fuck the man and be done with it—but he heard the words slipping off his lips as he slowly and gently entered Nolan. “I wish this was just the start,” he trembled, his breath sticking as Nolan’s tight flesh squeezed around his thick cock. He swallowed thickly, breath unsteady. Shudders rippled through Nolan and he grasped the blankets harder. “One night with you isn’t enough.”

  Nolan didn’t reply. His head dropped down between his tense shoulders and deep moans swelled in his throat as Grid pushed in a little deeper.

  “Oh my God…” Grid gasped quietly and gripped his hips. “Oh God…you feel so good.” He was already dangerously close to coming, but he would fight off the orgasm for as long as possible. Nolan whimpered and shoved his face into his arm as his breath went ragged. He wa
sn’t resisting, though, and showed no signs of wanting Grid to stop.

  Grid slid the last couple inches of his dick inside and held. He caressed Nolan’s back, kissed his heated skin, waiting for him to adjust to the invasion. When the tension in Nolan’s body began to ease, Grid gently rotated his hips without thrusting.

  “Fuck…” Nolan shivered. “I didn’t know…” he shuddered hard. “…it could feel like this.”

  I didn’t either, Grid thought, almost wishing it wasn’t so good, that the experience was lacking. But it wasn’t lacking. It was surpassing anything he had imagined.

  Nolan moved against him, slowly sliding his ass up and down Grid’s thick shaft. “Uuhh…” Nolan moaned and his head lifted, tilting back. His eyes closed tight and lips parted…jaw going slack. “Fuck…yes…”

  I want you for my own. The thought shook Grid and caused a burning in his eyes. He tried to banish the notion and gave free rein to his body as he began to thrust—long and deep—massaging Nolan’s sweet spot. The man shivered fiercely and moaned louder, rocked harder against Grid’s cock.

  “Yes, baby…” Grid choked out and held on tighter, fucked a little faster.

  “Uuh!” Nolan smacked one hand against the wall, his arm and shoulder muscles straining, tightening up his back. “Fuck…fuck me…” He thrust back, again and again, urgent…desperate. “Harder…harder!”

  Grid shoved his arms up under Nolan’s chest, his body curving over the man’s back, and pumped his ass harder and faster. “Fuck…” Grid whimpered breathlessly, his mouth pressed firm against Nolan’s damp, hot shoulder. Their bodies collided in pure desperation, both men crying out, shouting, begging each other for more.

  They went down to the bed and Grid hugged Nolan tight, grinding him into the mattress with his urgent thrusts, their legs entwining and gripping fiercely.

  “Oh fuck!” Nolan clutched Grid’s hands against his chest, his face buried in the pillow, muffling his pants and cries. “I’m gonna come!” He pulled one leg up a fraction, arching his hips, and hurriedly reached under himself. He pumped his cock furiously, wailing into the pillow as Grid fucked him harder and harder.

  “Oh fuck!” Grid gasped loudly. “I’m coming-I’m coming-I’m cooomming!” His muscles locked and he yelled out in a thick, strangled shout, and unloaded. “Uuhh fuuuck!”

  Nolan pumped himself erratically, panting and gasping, face pinch, teeth bared, arm muscles popping and straining. “Holy fuck-fuuuck!” his body jerked beneath Grid as he came hard, strangled cries wrenching up his throat as he stroked his cock until he was empty—then sank heavily against the bed. “Fuck…” he shuddered low and shaky. “Fuck…yes…”

  Grid trembled on top of him, his member buried inside him, pulsing. He kissed Nolan’s shoulder, his hair.

  I need more. It can’t end with just one night…it can’t.

  Chapter 3

  Gabe placed two bowls on the counter and filled both with Corn Flakes, added milk, then looked up when Cole walked into the kitchen. “Do you want a banana in your cereal?”

  A teasing smirk jerked Cole’s lips.

  “I’m talking about the fruit,” Gabe snorted.

  “Uh-huh.” Cole grinned.

  Gabe shook his head and began slicing a banana into the bowls. “Trust you to make a bowl of cereal a dirty thing.”

  “What did I say?” Cole reached for innocence and fell short.

  Gabe chuckled. “It’s what you didn’t say.” He walked over to the table and placed one of the bowls before Cole then leaned down and kissed him. “Love you anyway, even if you are a nasty boy.”

  “I thought that was why you loved me in the first place.” Cole smiled up at him.

  “No comment.” Gabe sat down across from Gabe with his bowl of cereal. “Wait till you meet Noah.” He took a bite and swallowed before adding, “You’re going to love him. Sweet kid.” Gabe stirred his spoon through the flakes and looked at Cole. “Since we’re getting married, I guess I should ask.” He brought another spoonful to his mouth without posing the question.

  “Ask what?” Cole dug into his breakfast.

  “If you ever want kids.” Gabe watched him closely. He didn’t have to stop and consider what kind of father Cole would be. He saw how tender and protective he was with Savannah, even his interactions with Adrian’s little nephew Jules. He was a natural “guardian”.

  Cole looked at him. “Well…” he cleared his throat. “I think this family should adopt as many kids as possible. Lots of kids out there who need loving homes.”

  “Are you saying we should do our part? Adopt one of our own?” Gabe smiled.

  “Yeah.” Cole nodded. “When the time is right. Though I wouldn’t mind having you to myself for a little while before we expand our family unit.”

  “Understandable.” Gabe grinned and rocked his brow. “I am fucking charming, can totally see why you wouldn’t want to share me at first.”

  “Charming,” Cole snorted and took a bite of cereal. “Mm-hm.” He smiled at Gabe, his gaze holding for an extended moment as something flickered behind his eyes. The same something Gabe had seen there when he’d asked Cole about his family. He didn’t address it though, taking Max’s advice to just leave it alone until Cole chose to talk to him.

  “So what do you want?” Gabe asked, returning focus to the subject of children. “A boy or girl?”

  Cole shrugged. “Doesn’t matter, really.”

  “I see you with a daughter,” Gabe said. “You’re great with Savannah, and she’d be thrilled to have a little girl to fawn all over.”

  “Mm.” Cole continued to eat his breakfast.

  “Or would you prefer a son?”

  “Like I said, it doesn’t matter.” He looked up. “Why’re you asking me? They’ll be your kid, too. What do you want?”

  “I don’t care.” Gabe smiled. “I’ll adore them and spoil them rotten regardless.”

  Cole gazed at him again, warmth in his soft gray eyes. “You’d make an awesome dad,” he murmured sincerely. A wisp of sadness swept through his stare and he looked away.

  Gabe frowned, somewhat troubled. “What’s wrong?”

  “Hm?” When Cole met his eyes again, there was no trace of the sadness. “What do you mean?”

  Had Gabe imagined it? “Nothing,” he said quietly. “It’s just…you had a look when you said I’d make an awesome dad.”

  “A look?” Cole smiled uncertainly. “What look?”

  Gabe sighed and shrugged. “I don’t know, like…maybe I’d never get the chance to find out.”

  Cole stared at him. “What’re you talking about, Gabe? Of course you’re going to find out what kind of dad you’ll be.”

  Gabe licked his lips and shrugged, smiling. “Guess maybe I was seeing things.”

  “I’d say so,” Cole chuckled—then Gabe saw it again, seconds before Cole shifted his eyes to his bowl. He let it go this time, uncertain if Cole wasn’t aware of it…or if he was deliberately keeping something back.

  Gabe hadn’t thought that whatever Cole was concealing about his past affected their current relationship; but what if it did? What if there was something back there that would ultimately prevent them from building their own little family? Gabe couldn’t bear the thought. Marriage was just the beginning of what he wanted to share with Cole. Since realizing he was in love with the man, Gabe had secretly longed to raise a child with him as well. Maybe a few children.

  You don’t have to hide things from me, baby, he thought as he looked at his husband-to-be. I’ll stand by your side to the very end. You know I will.

  Cole raised his eyes and caught Gabe’s stare. He smiled. “What?”

  Sighing, Gabe murmured softly, “I love you.”

  Deep abiding love reflected back from Cole’s gaze. “Love you, too, sexy.”

  ♦

  Noah rolled over and rubbed his eyes, and for a brief instance thought he was back in his bed at the apartment in Chicago. As his heart started to pound, his
eyes swept the room and he relaxed again; he was home, in New York. His relief plummeted a moment later as he recalled his phone call last night. He blinked and again rubbed his eyes—then tensed and hurriedly dug through his blankets.

  The phone was gone.

  He could hear the others in the kitchen. Did someone come in and find the phone? Would they ask him about it? He leaned over both sides of the bed to see if it had accidentally fallen on the floor. He hung over further and looked under the edge of the bed.

  “Lose something?”

  Noah gasped and jerked upright, eyes wide. Abel stood in the partially opened door, a smile on his face.

  “Huh?” Noah swallowed hard. “Oh…uh…no. I just…” Words abandoned him.

  Abel chuckled. “Breakfast will be ready in about ten minutes, if you want to grab a quick shower. Then Devlin will take you in for your exam.”

  Noah swallowed again and nodded. “O-Okay.”

  Abel eyed him, concern seeping into his face. “Did you sleep all right?”

  “Mm-hm.” Noah nodded.

  “Okay.” He looked at Noah for a moment, making him squirm a little; was Abel the one who found the phone. “You know,” Abel said softly. “If you ever need us at night, no matter what time it is, you can come wake us up.” His voice lowered. “I used to have nightmares, a lot, before I met Devlin. I didn’t have anyone to go to when I woke up in the middle of the night, scared out of my mind. I don’t ever want you to feel like you can’t come to us if you have bad dreams. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. The effects of bad experiences don’t go away overnight. Believe me. So, just know we’re here for you whenever you need us.”

  “Thank you,” Noah whispered.

  Abel smiled and nodded and backed out the door.