THE PHOENIX WEDDING: The Complete 6 Books Series

by CJ Bishop

  Did he want the same?

  Nolan walked into the living room, picked up the phone number and took out his cell.

  Chapter 13

  Abel held his smile in check when Chris arrived to pick up the boys. “Come in.” Abel invited him into the living room where the twins were playing a video game. “Your ride’s here.”

  Devlin emerged from the kitchen, caught Abel’s eye, and didn’t try to hide his amusement. “Hey, Chris.”

  As soon as the name hit open air, Noah’s head snapped up, and his eyes widened a bit.

  “Hey,” Chris nodded at Devlin then glanced at the boys. “They ready to go?”

  “Boys?”

  Noah dropped his controller on the coffee table, the game forgotten, and crawled to his feet. “Yeah. We’re ready.”

  “Don’t forget your jackets,” Devlin said.

  “I’ll get ‘em.” Noel was up and out of the room an instant later.

  “Something smells good,” Chris said.

  “Roast beef,” Devlin told him. “My best man, Brandon Murray, is having dinner with us tonight.”

  “Great,” Chris smiled. “So, how you guys doing? Nervous about tomorrow?”

  “Anxiously awaiting,” Devlin smiled.

  Chris chuckled. “Well, we’ll do our part to help make it as perfect as possible.”

  “You know we’re deeply grateful to you and Miranda for putting in so much work. I really wish you’d let us pay you.”

  “No.” Chris waved his hand. “Consider it our wedding gift to all of you.” He looked at Noah. “And besides, we’re not doing it all by ourselves. We have lots of quality help.”

  A smile spread across Noah’s face as he gazed adoringly at Chris. Abel envied him a bit. He had met and fallen in love with Devlin at a tumultuous time in his life. There was none of the sweet, giddy thrill that the average person experienced. He’d had to fight his feelings and emotions every step of the way. He looked at Devlin and wondered if the “process” really mattered so much, though. They were together, and they had proven right from the start how strong their love truly was. Maybe if they’d done it any other way, they wouldn’t have the unbreakable bond they now shared. Abel didn’t wish to undo the process. The memory of what they went through was a constant reminder of what Devlin meant to him, and what he meant to Devlin.

  Noel returned with the jackets.

  “Ready?” Chris smiled.

  “Yeah.” Noah took his coat and slipped it on.

  Noel cast a cheeky smile at Noah and nodded. “Yeah.”

  “We’ll be out pretty late,” Chris told Devlin and Abel as he walked the boys to the door.

  “All right,” Devlin nodded then winked at Noah. “You boys have fun.”

  Noah’s cheeks flushed a warm pink, but his smile held.

  When they were gone, Devlin chuckled and walked back to the kitchen with Abel. “Nothing like that rush of falling in love for the first time.” He shook his head and sighed. “When I first laid eyes on you, my heart practically jumped out of my chest. Damn, you were a beautiful sight.”

  “Were?” Abel queried. “Past tense?”

  Devlin laughed and pulled Abel against him. “I just meant, you were the most beautiful sight I’d ever seen up to that point in my life.” He kissed him softly. “Now, you’re the most beautiful sight I see every day.”

  “Hm.” Abel pursed his lips. “Nice save.” He nuzzled Devlin’s neck. “How much time do we have before Brandon shows up?”

  “Not enough to violate the pact.”

  “At this point,” Abel groaned. “I’d only need a few minutes.”

  “Shit,” Devlin chuckled. “Me, too.” He slipped his hands under the back of Abel’s shirt and caressed his warm skin. Abel shivered with delight as Devlin kissed him deep and long. “It isn’t against the rules if we fool around with our clothes on, is it? Just something to kill time before our guest arrives?”

  “I think it’s within the guidelines.” Abel kissed his neck. “And if not…” He grinned and nipped Devlin’s skin. “…oops.”

  Without further ado, Devlin went to his knees and rubbed his palms up Abel’s thighs and buried his face in his crotch. He grabbed at his hard bulge with his teeth, tugging gently.

  “Oh God…” Abel squeezed Devlin’s hair in his fists. “Fuck, baby…” His member throbbed and pulsed as his balls quickly tightened.

  Devlin’s hands found his ass and gripped firmly, fingers kneading his soft cheeks through his pants, as he grabbed mouthfuls of his package and sucked hard.

  “Uuh!” Abel clutched the edge of the counter with one hand, cupping Devlin’s head with the other. “Fuck, yes, baby…” His head dropped back, and throat worked as Devlin brought him dangerously close to orgasm. “You keep that up…” he panted. “I’m gonna have to change my shorts.”

  “Mm.” Devlin rose slowly without releasing his ass, his mouth gliding up Abel’s body, brushing his throat, the curve of his jaw, across his cheek to his lips. “Brandon may have to spend the night,” he groaned. “I think we’re going to need some adult supervision.”

  ♦

  Noel made sure that Noah took the front seat while he crawled in the back. Noah didn’t protest. Sitting up front with Chris made it feel like they were on a date. His stomach flip-flopped and made him tingle all over. He knew it was just fantasy, but it was fun to pretend.

  “I hear you’re going to be Abel’s best man.” Chris drove them away from the house.

  “Yeah,” Noah nodded.

  “That’s cool,” Chris smiled. “Do you have your toast prepared?”

  “My…toast?” Noah’s fluttery stomach suddenly pinched with nervousness.

  “Yeah. It’s customary for the best man to give a toast.”

  Noah felt sick; he had to speak in front of everyone? “Not really,” he mumbled, unsure what else to say. He didn’t want to admit to Chris that he hadn’t even known he was supposed to give a toast, and that he had nothing prepared.

  “Hey, don’t sweat it,” Chris said. “It doesn’t have to be a speech. You just say something nice about the newlyweds, and that’s it. Maybe you can talk to Maddy about it. He’s going to be Angel’s best man. He can probably give you some tips.”

  Feeling queasier by the moment, Noah whispered, “Yeah.”

  Chris chuckled. “You’ll do great.” He smiled at Noah and winked. “I have faith in you.”

  Noah’s heart soared, and some of the ickfeeling left his stomach to make room for the butterflies.

  “What do you think?” Chris glanced in the rearview mirror at Noel. “Don’t you think Noah will do great?”

  Noel smiled shyly. “Mm-hm.”

  “There you go,” Chris nodded.

  His brother meant it, Noah knew this without a doubt. Noel believed in him no matter what; he always had. Noah looked back at him and smiled warmly. It filled him with joy—and relief—to see Noel this way. After being abused by Jim, Noah had been scared he would never really be happy again or feel safe with anyone but Noah.

  Chris drove them through the city.

  “Do you really own a restaurant?” Noah asked, a nervous tremor in his voice.

  “Yeah. It belonged to our parents.”

  “They gave it to you?”

  Sighing softly, Chris murmured, “We inherited it when they died. Our Uncle Lex managed it until we were old enough to take over.”

  Noah lowered his eyes. “Your parents died?”

  “In an accident.” His voice strained with emotion. “They were coming home from an anniversary ski weekend. The roads were icy.” He swallowed and blinked. “They hit black ice and went off the edge of the road.” He blinked again and a sad smile formed. “They were awesome parents. Everyone loved them.”

  “I’m sorry you lost them,” Noah whispered with a tightness in his throat. “Our mom died in a car accident, too.” He glanced at Noel and the other boy ducked his head. “We were with her.”

  “Oh, my God,�
�� Chris breathed. “I’m so sorry.” He cleared his throat and asked quietly, “Is that how you injured your leg?”

  “Yeah.” Noah stared down at his lap. “Devlin says they might be able to fix it with surgery, and I can walk normal again.”

  “Well, that’s great,” Chris smiled softly. “When are you going to have the surgery?”

  Noah shrugged. “I don’t know yet. Soon, I think.”

  “Are you scared?”

  “Not really. Devlin said I’d be asleep the whole time, so I didn’t have to be scared.”

  “That’s true. Almost everyone is put out during surgery. So it’s like going to sleep and waking up. Will probably only feel like a few minutes to you.”

  “Yeah, that’s what Devlin said, too.”

  Chris nodded. “Well, I wish you all the luck with the surgery. I hope everything goes well.”

  “Thank you.” Noah looked at him and smiled. “I hope it does, too.”

  “I’m sure it will,” Chris assured. “Does your leg hurt you very much?”

  “Sometimes. Well…a lot of the time.”

  “Do you have medication you can take?”

  “Yeah,” Noah said. “Devlin got some for me.”

  Chris smiled. “They really look after you and Noel, don’t they? Devlin and Abel, I mean.”

  “Uh-huh. They’re pretty cool.”

  “I sure like them.”

  So do I. Noah shoved away thoughts of what would have happened to him and Noel if Abel and Devlin hadn’t saved them. He didn’t have to think about it anymore; the nightmare was over.

  ♦

  Dane put in a movie as Angel sat down on the sofa with a bowl of popcorn. “There’s no sex in this movie, is there?”

  “No,” Dane chuckled and took his place beside Angel.

  “Good.” Angel plucked a couple pieces of popcorn from the bowl and popped them in his mouth. “I don’t think I could handle it tonight, even if it wasstraight sex.”

  “Yeah, me neither.” Dane munched some popcorn and draped one arm around Angel, settling in comfortably as the movie started. His activity at the club yesterday hadn’t relieved him so much as it had made him want Angel even more. Tonight was bound to be excruciating and one of the longest nights of his life. Although every night since the forming of the pact had been painfully long…and hard. So fucking hard.

  “One of us should sleep down here on the sofa, don’t you think?” Angel looked at him and smiled. “There’s no way in hell we’ll make it till morning if we sleep together tonight.”

  “Oh, I agree,” Dane nodded. “Definitely agree.”

  “I’m not sure we’ll make it through this movie.” Heat radiated from Angel’s clear eyes, charring Dane’s senses and burning a path straight to his crotch.

  His breath quickened. “I certainly wouldn’t bet my life on it.”

  “Smart man.”

  “Are you planning on seducing me?” There was a hopeful note in Dane’s voice.

  “Like I would have to,” Angel smirked. “I could snap my fingers right now, and you’d do whatever I wanted.”

  “You think so?” Dane kissed his cheek.

  “I know so, baby.”

  Dane chuckled. “Yeah, you’re right. I’m so horny for you I can barely hold back as it is.”

  Sliding his hand down Dane’s thigh, Angel murmured, “Maybe we can cheat on the pact just a little.”

  “I don’t know if I can do just a little,” Dane admitted.

  “If we start to go too far…” Angel nuzzled his ear and nibbled his lobe. “…we can stop.”

  Dane snorted. “We can? Are you sure about that? I’m not.”

  “Of course, we can.”

  “I think…” Dane lifted Angel’s face and kissed him strong on the mouth. “…you’re just saying that so I won’t put up a fight.”

  Angel laughed. “You? Put up a fight against me? Yeah. Uh-huh. That’ll be the day.”

  “You’re kind of cocky, you know that?” Dane kissed him again. “What makes you so sure of yourself?”

  “You do,” Angel whispered with a smile. “You aren’t capable of resisting me.”

  How could Dane argue with that? He’d already proven it over and over. “So, I’m at your mercy twenty-four seven?”

  “Yes, you are.” Angel set aside the popcorn and crawled onto his lap. He combed his fingers through Dane’s thick, black hair and crushed his mouth in a hungry, demanding kiss.

  Dane groaned deep in his chest and grabbed Angel’s ass, clutching fiercely. He gasped hard when Angel pulled from the kiss. “You’re playing with fire, baby.” It was true because his groin was on fire, hot blood surging into his cock, turning him to granite beneath Angel’s sweet ass.

  “I guess I get to play the fireman, then,” Angel grinned against his mouth. “Put out the fire with my hose.”

  “You’re cruel,” Dane whimpered.

  “Not that cruel.” Angel slid off his lap and dropped to his knees between Dane’s legs and massaged his bulging crotch.

  “Oh god, baby…” Dane swallowed hard.

  Angel kissed his cock through its denim cage then lifted the hem of his shirt and kissed his navel, teasing his belly button with the tip of his slick, hot tongue. Dane’s stomach quivered and jumped.

  “Fuck…Angel…” He grunted stiffly when Angel nipped at his happy trail, tugging the black hairs. “God, baby…” Dane instinctively lifted his hips to Angel as he snaked his arms up behind his head and gripped the back of the sofa. “Mmm…”

  Rising up straighter on his knees, Angel pushed deeper between Dane’s thighs as he kissed up his chest. He ground his crotch against Dane’s throbbing cock and sucked his neck. “I can’t do this,” Angel whispered with a tremulous voice. “Not even for just one more night.” He kissed his lips and thrust his tongue into Dane’s mouth.

  It was on. Dane grabbed his ass with both hands and dragged Angel onto his lap again then hurriedly tugged open his pants. His hunger escalated as Angel clawed fists of his hair, wrenching the roots as his hot breath puffed through their urgent kiss. Dane shoved his hand down inside Angel’s trousers, grasped his rock-hard cock—when the doorbell rang.

  Are you fucking kidding me?! Dane shuddered, his fist clamped like a vice around Angel’s member.

  The doorbell rang a second time.

  Angel leaned back, breaking their kiss, and looked over his shoulder at the door. His chest heaved with erratic breath. “Seriously?”

  “If it’s Cole or Gabe,” Dane growled and lifted Angel off him. “I’m going to punch them in the mouth.” He crawled to his feet and walked stiffly across the large room. He paused at the door, took a couple deep breaths that did nothing to deflate his erection, then opened the door. The person on the other side did plenty to chase the heat from Dane’s body, dousing the fire within. He swallowed tightly, his pulse quickening for all new reasons. “Freddy…?”

  Chapter 14

  When the text came in, Grid didn’t know if he was surprised or not. It didn’t matter. Nolan needed him—wanted him—and that was the important thing.

  Nolan had given him a specified time to come over, which gave Grid a chance to shower, shave, and choose what he wanted to wear. He wasn’t sure if Nolan meant for this to be an official “date”, but Grid couldn’t help but see it that way. There was a huge difference between being summoned for a booty call and being asked out on a date. It was probably emotionally safer to assume Nolan just needed to fuck, and nothing else, yet Grid was hopelessly hopeful that it was so much more.

  Seth let out a low whistle when Grid walked into the living room. “Hubba, hubba.”

  “Shut up,” Grid rolled his eyes.

  Jamie grinned. “Damn, baby, you’re pulling out all stops, I see. That poor guy don’t stand a chance.”

  Grid was pretty sure that he was the one at Nolan’s mercy.

  “This ought to reel him on him,” Seth smiled.

  If only it were that easy. Nothing had
changed; Nolan was still in the same situation as before. He didn’t expect the man to have figured it all out in the space of a few hours.

  “Yeah, well,” Grid said. “I’m not going over there with any expectations. He’s in a complicated situation, and there’s no easy way out. I’ll take whatever he’s willing to offer and try not to ask for more.”

  Seth patted his shoulder. “Love will find a way. Don’t give up hope.”

  Don’t give up hope. Seth’s words followed Grid to Nolan’s apartment. The danger wasn’t in him losing hope, but in desperately holding on once it was gone.

  Grid paused outside Nolan’s door and nervously straightened his clothes and smoothed back the short hairs at his temples and above his ears. He breathed deep and pressed the doorbell. His cologne drifted up his nostrils and smelled good even to himself. A manly scent. Had Nolan taken care to fix himself up for Grid? Maybe splashed on some cologne of his own? Grid closed his eyes and imagined burying his face in the man’s neck, inhaling his aroma. His eyes snapped open when the doorknob twisted. His pulse kicked up, and he swallowed, forcing himself to breathe evenly.

  “Grid.” Nolan appeared before him as the door opened. The man was freshly showered and dressed nicely, though not too “formal”. Maybe he’d wanted to look good for Grid but didn’t want to appear overdressed if Grid showed up without having made a special effort to look good as well. The coveted scent of cologne reached Grid and weakened his knees as it stiffened other parts of him.

  “You didn’t change your mind, did you?” Grid asked softly, a small smile on his lips as he added, “I turned off my phone so you couldn’t reach me if you decided to cancel.”

  Nolan returned a nervous smile. “No, I didn’t change my mind. Come in.” He stepped back as Grid entered the apartment and looked around; the young child was nowhere to be seen.