Page 18 of Phoenix

“I’ll be right back, baby,” he whispered, placing a light kiss on my cheek before he darted to the bathroom.

I heard the spray of the water, then he fumbled back into the dark room, and I felt a warm, wet cloth between my legs. He didn’t say anything as he cleaned me up, tossing the towel to the side before he wrapped his arms around me again, my back pressed against his chest.

I was safe and warm, and my eyes drifted closed as if they couldn’t stay open anymore.

8

PHOENIX

Waking up with Lindsay tucked into my side, soft and warm, was exactly what I didn’t know I’d needed. Her bare back was pressed to my chest, her breathing slow and even, her legs tangled with mine. My cock stirred instantly—because how the hell could it not? But I didn’t feel an urgency to fuck her.

I felt satisfied.

She was mine now.

I’d marked her.

Claimed her.

And fucked her bare.

The possessive part of me felt smug as hell knowing I was already working on breeding her. If I had my way, she’d be pregnant by the end of the damn week. Maybe sooner. She wasn’t going anywhere, not now. Not after the way she’d begged for more, moaned my name, and clung to me as though she never wanted to let go.

Not that there’d ever been a chance in hell I would have let her go before.

I kissed her shoulder, letting my hand trail down her side and curve over her hip.

Her breath hitched slightly, then I heard the smile in her voice when she murmured, “That’s a nice way to wake up.”

“Mmm,” I grunted against her skin. “Better get used to it.”

She rolled over to face me, blinking sleepily, and my chest went tight and warm just looking at her. I didn’t know how this exquisite creature was mine. Or what I had done to deserve her.

I mentally snorted. Nothing. I would never be good enough for Lindsay. But I wasn’t gonna let that stop me from keeping her.

“I have to take care of some club shit,” I said with a sigh, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Probably gone for a few hours.”

“Okay,” she said softly, but something flickered behind her eyes.

“Lindsay.” I cupped her cheek, making sure she was fully focused on me. “We need to talk about something. I’ll never lie to you. But if it’s club business, I won’t always be able to tell you everything. Some things aren't mine to share.”

She nodded without hesitation. “I can handle that. Just don’t shut me out, okay?”

My mouth curved as pride lit through me. “Good girl.”

Her cheeks flushed like they always did when I called her that, and I kissed her slow and deep. Showing her my gratitude and reminding her who owned her at the same time.

I only meant to make out with her for a few minutes, but the kiss got hotter by the second. When her fingers skimmed down my stomach, I groaned.

“Fuck,” I grunted as I pulled back before I forgot what the fuck I was supposed to be doing today.

With an irritated grunt, I forced myself to leave the warm bed and gorgeous, willing woman in it. Then I grabbed a pair of clean boxer briefs from my dresser.

Lindsay’s heated gaze dragged down my body, and her brows lifted. “You can’t just walk around like that?”

I growled low in my throat and turned toward her. “Keep lookin’ at me like that, sass me one more time, and that pretty, sore pussy of yours is gonna get stuffed again until you can’t walk tomorrow.”

She squeaked, biting her bottom lip as a pink blush stole over her cheeks and spread down under the sheet she was holding up over her tits.

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