Smoothing my hands up her thighs, I pushed her dress up past her hips as I moved closer to her * and the dragon tattoo on her hip. Amazing.
Taking a deep breath, I wiped her clean, and helped her back into her panties. I wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her closer to me. With my cheek resting against her mound, I just breathed her in while she ran her hands through my hair, over and over again. I shuddered and clung to her wishing my life were simpler.
Chapter 42
Thalia
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Sitting outside the house in the dark on the porch swing, I tried to bring some order to my thoughts, which were running rampant around my head.
After Phoenix had given me the best orgasm in history and dressed me, he’d taken me out back into the forest and held me tight while he explained to me what was going on with him and Mia. I’d promised him I wouldn’t let on to anyone that I knew anything about it.
It was like being in the 1800’s with how their parents were acting – blackmailing them to marry.
My parents might have a habit of treating me like I was still a child, but at least they didn’t give me a hard time over boys. My dad had once told me, just before I left for college, that money wasn’t everything and to follow my heart. I’d been stunned at the time, because he only ever issued orders.
Following my heart was what I planned on doing; I just needed Phoenix, who’d been absent for the rest of the day, to get with my plan. I also wanted him to talk to Mia to try and do something from her end.
“Thalia?”
I jumped. I was so engrossed in my own thoughts I hadn’t realized Liam had joined me.
“You okay?”
I let out a sigh. “Yeah, just thinking.”
“Jack, no doubt.” He smirked sitting opposite me.
“Maybe.”
He started to laugh. “You are so predictable... Reece told me you’d gone off with him earlier.” He cocked an eyebrow in question.
Ignoring his unspoken question, I asked one of my own, “When you invited me out here for the summer, why didn’t you tell me you were bringing me out here in the hope I’d interfere with Jack’s wedding?”
He met my eyes in surprise.
“You already know I like you. At first I thought perhaps we might get closer and then I could stop thinking about Mia. You’re different, and as soon as I saw you I knew Jack wouldn’t stand a chance.” He started running his fingers through his hair. “I’m sorry, but my heart belongs to her.”
I offered him a small smile. “It doesn’t matter, I’m in love with your brother so I’m not offended that you don’t have other feelings for me, in fact I’m relieved.”
“So you’re in love with my brother, huh?” He grinned. “Does he know?”
Sitting back in the porch swing I started to push back and forth slowly with my foot. “No, he doesn’t know and don’t you go telling him. It’s for me to say when I’m ready.”
“I won’t say anything...I think Mia’s dad is holding something over her head as well. I don’t know what. I thought she was coming round to me, but since I started asking her questions, she’s been avoiding me like the plague.”
That upset him. I could see it on his face. Despite the rough time we had been having, I truly liked him. Liam was my friend and I cared about how he felt. “I’m so sorry. Maybe she’s avoiding you so she doesn’t act on her feelings for you, because it’s obvious to me that she has them.”
“Thanks for that.” He rubbed his hand through his hair and looked out into the darkness. “I’m going to hit the sack.”
“Okay. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Watching him walk inside, I turned towards the porch steps when I heard the bottom one creak.
My breath whooshed out. Phoenix was standing there, not looking happy.
“You can’t love me...and Liam needs to stop with Mia.”
“What...”
I jumped up to go to him, but he put his hand out to stop me. Instead I took hold of his hand and brought it to my lips, kissing his knuckle and felt a shudder run through him.
Not thinking I stepped into his space and brought my hands up to his face in a light caress. His hands landed on my waist as he rested his forehead against mine and met my eyes. “I can’t say what I have to with you in my arms.”
“Then don’t say it,” I whispered.
He moved his hands up to my face as I smoothed mine over his chest.
“I’m moving in with Donovan.”
I froze. “Why?”
He kissed my forehead and looked deep into my eyes. “Because if I stay here, you’ll be in my bed every night and to hell with the consequences. As much as I want you there, I can’t do that to you...or me for that matter, because if the wedding ends up going ahead it will kill me having to leave you behind. It’s going to hurt like hell as it is.”
At his words I burst into tears. Phoenix cursed pulling me into his arms while I cried all over him.
“Thalia, God baby. Please stop.”
His voice broke. I pulled away swiping at my tears and met his tear filled eyes.