Sizzle

by Lexi Buchanan

  “Come here, babe.”

  I held my arm out and as soon as she was in reach, I pulled her in to my side. “What happened to staying upstairs?” I whispered into her ear.

  “I needed to be here with you.” She wrapped her arm around my waist.

  “Fucking hell!” Dad yelled, sitting back down rather heavily on his chair. “What am I going to tell Lewis? He’s not going to take this lightly, that I do know.”

  My dad had seemed to change his tune as soon as Mia and Thalia walked into the room, which surprised me.

  “About my tuition…”

  Dad was shaking his head. “Don’t worry about that, it was all talk. I really did think you’d get on well with Mia and assumed you just needed a shove in the right direction, that’s why I agreed to this wedding idea of Lewis’. I used the threat of no tuition to get you to agree. I must admit at first I refused to even mention it to you when Lewis came up with the idea, but he eventually talked me into it.”

  “Graham, you told me Jack had been seeing Mia for a while in secret. You told me he loved her and that was why they wanted to get married. Are you telling me that you lied to me?”

  He sighed. “Slightly... I’m sorry, but you can’t tell me you didn’t think it was a good match between Jack and Mia, although I have to admit that seeing her now with Liam makes me realize how wrong I was to begin with.”

  “I can’t believe you would lie to me.”

  Dad took hold of my mom’s hands. “It’s the only time I’ve ever lied to you, because I really did think they belonged with each other, or rather I’d let Lewis convince me they belonged together. Lewis kept telling me that if I didn’t step in Jack would hook up with someone who really wasn’t suitable, full of body art, etc., to take to charity functions representing the law firm… So I agreed,” he whispered the last bit, resting his head in his hands.

  My dad’s comment had me cringing inside; little did he know that I had quite a bit.

  “We need to head over to Mia’s house so her folks know there won’t be a wedding,” I told my dad, pulling Thalia in closer to me.

  I needed her close to me because I was afraid if I let go, I’d wake up and discover I’d been dreaming, which would crush me like nothing else ever could.

  My dad stood and walked over to me; Thalia moved out of my arms slightly, but kept her arm around my back.

  “Jack, I owe you a huge apology. You’re my son and I love you. I should never have threatened you with your career. I’m so sorry.”

  Hugging my dad, I sagged in relief. I hadn’t expected the response we’d received from him or his easy acceptance.

  “Ah, Dad,” Liam said.

  “Liam and Mia, I owe you both an apology as well. I’m sorry and I hope you’ll forgive me.”

  “We do Dad, but about the wedding…”

  “Don’t worry about that,” Mom said.

  “Mom,” Liam shouted to be heard. “The wedding is not being canceled. I’ve asked Mia to marry me and we’re going to get married on Saturday.”

  Well, that stunned everyone into silence.

  Grinning, I held my hand out to my brother. “Congratulations guys.”

  “Yeah, wow. Congratulations,” Thalia told them.

  “Liam. You can’t get married in two days,” Mom said, in a panic.

  “Why not. I already have my suit. Mia has her dress. Thalia has the bridesmaid dress. Everything is arranged, so what is the problem?”

  “Ah, well…Nothing…Are you sure this is what you want to do. I know you love her. I can see that. In fact, I saw that when I caught you both out back in a rather heated kiss.”

  I roared with laughter when I saw the look on Liam’s face. I couldn’t see Mia as she had her face buried in Liam’s chest.

  Thalia pinched me on the butt, which had me instantly hard. I turned more into her and pressed against her hip. Her eyes widened when she realized I was hard.

  “That’s what you do to me,” I whispered into her neck.

  “Jack, for goodness sake. Leave the girl alone. Thalia, Mia let’s head into the other room and discuss the wedding. Some things will need changing and there’s too much of a distraction in here for you girls.”

  It was hard not to laugh at what my mom said, although I did feel a slight embarrassment, considering she obviously knew where my thoughts were. The only problem I had was letting Thalia move away from me while I had a misbehaving body part.

  “Can you give me a minute? I just need a quick word with Jack.”

  Without waiting for my mom to answer her, Thalia shoved me towards the door and through it. Taking my hand, she tugged me out of sight of the window, shoved me up against the wall and stuck her tongue down my throat grinding her pussy against me.

  “I’ve wanted to do that since the minute you pulled me into your arms,” she told me nibbling my ear lobe, sending shivers through me to the tip of my cock.

  I growled, cupped her butt in my hands and hoisted her up and into me, turning so her back was against the wall. Our mouths met, our tongues mated and nothing ever felt so good.

  My cock was hard as fucking steel in my jeans; I was so ready to burst with the frantic movements Thalia was making against it.

  “So close… I’ve been wet and aching for you since we woke up,” she moaned.

  She was going to kill me. Instead of drawing back, I grabbed her hips to hold her still, slid one hand down the inside of her jeans pressing with my finger against her anus. At the same time I rubbed my dick back and forth against her jean clad pussy, using my finger I pressed in slightly, only to have her come apart on me. I sealed our mouths together to hold in the sound of her moans while she continued to ride the ridge of my cock.

  I was desperate to come, but I knew there was no way in hell I could let that happen out here, although I was damn close to blowing. I had to get Thalia away from the sensitive area and fast.

  I dropped her legs back to the floor and stepped back slightly, keeping a hold on her, as she looked unsteady on her legs. I grinned because it was so hot knowing I’d done that to her.

  “You are lethal, Phoenix,” she said grinning, looking down at my junk, then back up to my face.

  “Ah, isn’t that uncomfortable?”

  “Hurts like hell, but now isn’t the time or place,” I groaned watching her lick her lips. “You go back inside so I have a chance of getting back to normal.”

  “Phoenix, the only way that’s going down is if you come.”

  She looked so cute when she blushed.

  “I already jerked off in the shower this morning so I’ve no plans to do it again today. This will go down if you’re not standing there looking ready to eat me.”

  She looked flabbergasted. “You’ve already… Never mind. I don’t want to think about that because I’ll end up wet again.”

  She turned tail and walked back towards the kitchen door, looked at me, gave me a saucy grin then walked through the door.

  Fucking hell.

  Chapter 58

  Thalia

  Earlier, when I’d been standing in the kitchen with Phoenix and his family, listening to them discuss what was going to happen, had filled my belly with nerves. They seemed to accept the decision both their sons had made, especially Stephanie with her including me in the wedding plans, which were going to be changed to Mia and Liam, instead of Phoenix. For some reason though I still felt uneasy, as though a bomb was about to be dropped.

  Phoenix, Liam and their father had gone along to Mia’s house to talk with her father about the change in groom. Graham had been unsure about what Lewis’ reaction would be, whereas Mia was terrified that he’d get really angry and follow through on his threat to remove her mother.

  That had been three hours ago and neither Mia nor myself had heard anything from them. I’d tried to ring Phoenix and Mia had tried Liam, but neither one was answering their phones. Mia, as a last resort, had tried to ring Stephanie on her cell, but no answer there.

  My gu
t was telling me that something was wrong, but what, I had no idea. There were three of them so I didn’t believe Lewis had taken his temper out on them, but why the hell hadn’t Phoenix rang me?

  “Thalia, stop pacing. You’re making me and Mia dizzy,” Callie informed me from her bed in the inn.

  The guys had dropped us off with Callie on the way to Mia’s parents’ place. We’d also been in time to watch Reece sneaking out back, much to my friend’s embarrassment.

  “Why the hell are they taking so long? And why haven’t they rung one of us? It doesn’t make any sense. It shouldn’t take this long. Ugh.”

  “I don’t know why, but you’re making me more nervous.”

  I came to a dead stop and stared at them. “Okay,” I huffed out a breath and plopped down into the chair by the window.

  “You need a distraction,” Callie informed me.

  Distraction. When I needed a distraction it was usually with thoughts of Phoenix. “So, what was Reece doing here, and what about Donovan?” I grinned, as she seemed to look hot all of a sudden.

  “Reece told me he didn’t want Donovan involved with me again. He doesn’t want to share me.” She grinned coyly.

  I met her eyes then started laughing along with Mia. “So Reece wanted you all to himself. That’s hot, just like I bet Reece is naked.” I couldn’t stop giggling.

  “Oh my God. You’re embarrassing.”

  “It was you who said I needed distracting. I think you should give details.”

  “No.”

  “No? I’m your best friend; you’re not allowed to say no. Give me something. Please.” She still looked embarrassed, but she also had a dreamy look on her face. That was something I needed to think about.

  “All I’m going to say is that I think piercings…ah…in certain places are…well…hot.”

  “I only have to see Phoenix’s and my panties are wet.” I turned my attention on Mia. “You need to persuade Liam to get pierced. It will blow your mind.”

  She cringed. “No thanks. I love him just the way he is, besides can you imagine the pain of having his thingy pierced.”

  “Thingy,” Callie croaked.

  Mia shot up off the bed as someone banged on the bedroom door.

  With the door open, I could only see Liam who pulled Mia out of the room and into his arms, and then Phoenix was there. About to run to him his body language pulled me up short.

  “Callie, I know this is your room, but do you think I could have a private word with Thalia?” he asked without one glance at me.

  Callie looked at me then back to Phoenix, then me again, “Thalia?”

  I couldn’t speak, and just nodded my head.

  She grabbed her purse and walked towards the door. “I’ll be downstairs,” she said in warning, closing the door behind her.

  Staring at Phoenix, I was terrified. I’d never seen him so angry and had no idea what had caused him to be like that with me. I wasn’t frightened that he’d physically harm me, but there was something seriously wrong. Gone was the man that loved me. Gone was the man who gave me so much pleasure. Gone was the man who wanted me in his life…

  “What happened?” I croaked out.

  He walked over to the window and looked out through the brown curtains. “Why?” he whispered.

  “Phoenix. You’re frightening me. What’s going on? What do you mean why? Why what?”

  He was tense and still wouldn’t meet my eyes. “I’d have done anything for you…and you betrayed me.”

  Stunned, I had no idea what he was talking about. “You’re not making sense.”

  He turned and finally met my gaze and what I saw broke my heart. His eyes were cold when he looked at me. I backed up and plopped down on to the bed, knowing my legs wouldn’t hold me up for much longer.

  “I’ve packed your things, your bag is downstairs.” He took a deep breath, as my heart broke even more. “You went behind my back and told Lewis about my body art, but what pisses me off even more is that you told him about Deception. You knew what the group means to the guys, and me and because of you he’s threatening to pull strings and get Kix closed unless we stop. All because I’m not marrying his daughter, he’s pissed and using what you told him against us,” he spat out, running his hands through his hair.

  How the hell could he think that I’d go behind his back and cause all that trouble. He said he loved me, but he couldn’t, not if he believed that. “Get out,” I choked out while jumping up from the bed.

  “Is that all you have to say?” he shouted.

  “What is there to say, Phoenix?” I shouted back.

  Donovan opened the door. “Sorry to interrupt, but you might want to keep it down a bit.”

  I ignored him and looked right at Phoenix. “You already have me guilty. What’s left to say?”

  For the first time since he’d started with his accusations I saw a flicker of doubt cross his face. I’d be damned if I was going to stand and defend myself. If he loved me he would have asked me and gave me the benefit of the doubt, but he hadn’t, and it hurt. I felt as though he’d crushed my heart and blown away the pieces.

  Donovan was still standing in the doorway so I turned to him. “Take him with you,” I looked back to Phoenix with tears rolling down my face. “Get out.”

  He hesitated, reaching a hand out to me. I shook my head and backed up. “Don’t touch me; just leave,” I cried.

  “Why, Thalia? I need to know.”

  I looked between Phoenix and Donovan and couldn’t stem the flow of tears, which were falling faster than I could wipe them away. “I can’t tell you anything, because I haven’t done anything wrong.”

  “What’s going on?” Callie asked pushing past Donovan into the room.

  “Get them out,” I whispered to Callie.

  “Okay, I don’t know what’s going on, but you both need to leave. Now.”

  “Callie, I haven’t finished talking to her.”

  “Yes. You. Have,” I told him. “I don’t have anything else to say, Jack.” I told him, then turned and walked to the window with my back to him.

  He’d noticed the emphasis on his name. The name I hadn’t called him since I’d discovered him as Phoenix. A name I wouldn’t use again.

  I heard movement behind me then the door closed. I turned to check they’d gone before I broke down in tears. Callie came running over to me, wrapping me in her arms.

  “Talk to me,” she demanded, pulling me over to the bed.

  Sitting next to her on the bed, I placed my head on her shoulder and cried. Callie just held me until my cries became sniffles.

  After wiping my eyes and blowing my nose, I turned to her, “He accused me of telling Lewis, Mia’s dad, about his tattoos and the fact that he’s in a band. Apparently Lewis threatened to shut Kix down if they didn’t stop because he’s pissed Jack isn’t marrying Mia. Jack didn’t ask me about it, he just assumed whatever he’d heard was fact. I would never do that to him.” I started crying again. “Why would he do that to me?”

  “I don’t know, but I’m going to phone Donovan and get him to tell us what the hell is going on.”

  Chapter 59

  Jack

  How the hell could Thalia have gone behind my back and told Lewis about my tattoos and Deception? Did she do it in the hope he’d put a stop to the wedding if he knew about me?

  Earlier when we’d arrived at Mia’s house, just her father had been home, and he sure hadn’t seemed happy to see us.

  No sooner had he shown us into the sitting room, I’d turned around and told him I wasn’t going to marry Mia. You could see the steam coming out of his ears. Liam had then jumped in by telling him that there was still going to be a wedding, but he was the groom. He’d told him that he loved Mia and would take good care of her. To say Lewis had been pissed was an understatement; he’d been furious.

  He’d practically been frothing at the mouth when he’d spat out about me, and my body art, which had my dad looking at me as though I had two
heads. My dad had shocked both Liam and me; by telling me the body art didn’t matter, regardless of what he’d previously said. The fact was, I was his son and he loved me anyway.

  Lewis had blown his lid at how accepting our dad was being and then had sneered and dropped the bomb shell about Deception and Kix. Yeah, that had been a shocker; one, which Dad tried to hide, and had carried on supporting me, but the real punch to the gut was when he announced that Thalia, had thought it would be of interest to him in knowing about my secret and recent activities.

  I hadn’t believed him at first, but the things he’d told us had to have come from Thalia. I’d been left speechless, and had finally let Liam drag me out of the house and into the car.

  As my dad had started driving to town, I’d asked him to take us home. I’d needed to think before I saw Thalia. Dad after a few choice words had said I was old enough to make my own decision and that this mess wouldn’t have happened if he’d left me alone, instead of trying to interfere in my life.

  My dad was pissed to put it mildly and had been mumbling about sorting the law offices out, and about what a fucking mess Lewis had made. I guess he was going to dissolve the partnership from what he’d been mumbling about.

  What none of us, Dad included, could understand was what Lewis had against our family. He’d been a partner with my dad for around twenty-six years, and like Dad had pointed out it felt like he was pissed with us for something. Dad hadn’t a clue.

  While I’d been at home there was no conclusion to come to. Thalia had betrayed my trust and gone behind my back. I just couldn’t get it out of my head. After everything we’d done together, how the hell could she have done that?

  Without any more thinking because it was driving me crazy, I’d gone into her room and thrown all her things into her bag, against my mom’s wishes I might add. Mom had tried to tell me that I must have it wrong, that Thalia loved me and wouldn’t do anything to hurt me, which pissed me off even more.

  So that being done, I climbed back into the car with Liam and let him drive back into town to the inn. Reece and Donovan had been sitting outside waiting for us, thanks to Liam calling them.