Phoenix glanced to me then back to Reece.
“Thalia having to watch you parade around with Mia is so fucking wrong, so you don’t have any damn thing to say about her sitting with me. This whole fucking thing is screwed up, but don’t you dare come over here all threatening, because she is with me and not...you. Until this whole thing is sorted you don’t have that right.”
They were not going to fight over me. I pushed my way between the two, facing Phoenix, as Reece stepped back. I reached up and rested my hands on his chest, feeling his heart beating like a freight train, and then lifted my eyes to his. I could see the anguish in his. “Don’t do this. You know I love you, Phoenix. Reece is one of your best friends. Do you really believe he’d try to pinch me from under your nose? Do you believe I’d let him?”
“No, I don’t.” He looked over my shoulder at Reece. “I’m sorry...and don’t expect me to apologize again.”
Reece laughed, did the knuckle thing with Phoenix, and then grabbed Callie’s hand, pulling her with him, but she stayed attached to Donovan. All three walked over towards one of the tables with food.
“Your friend has her hands full, with the both of them trying to get in to her pants, and I mean at the same time,” Phoenix told me.
That comment grabbed my attention. “You serious?”
He grinned, wickedly. “Yes and it wouldn’t be the first time...and before you ask. Yes I have. With them, but not for well over twelve months.”
I snickered. “Was it good? What am I saying? Of course it was good. You’re a guy. A walking erection.”
“A walking erection,” he said with a spark in his eyes.
He looked around us, took my arm and pulled me with him behind the gazebo, slamming his mouth down onto mine.
The minute our mouths touched, I went up in flames. I wanted more. I needed more.
My hands went to his head, holding him in place while we continued to devour each other. His hands went to my hips and brought me flush against him; he was hugely aroused. I rubbed against him as we both groaned into each other’s mouths.
“Thalia,” he panted, and started to move his lips down my neck, then back up to my lips. “I want you... Seeing you with Reece drove me crazy.”
“I only want you. Phoenix, I need to taste you.”
He sealed our lips together in a heated kiss while I tried to get even closer. Just as Phoenix put his hand on my thigh and started to move it slowly up, towards my hip, we heard someone cough.
“Donovan. What?”
Oh God. I was too embarrassed to look at Donovan, so I buried my face in Phoenix’s chest, while Donovan laughed and Phoenix stroked my back.
“Sorry to interrupt, but you guys have remembered where you are, right? And Lewis is looking for you, Jack.”
“Fuck. What does he want?”
“No idea. I’ll cut him off while you sort yourselves out,” he said walking off, but not before I caught the grin on his face.
“Thalia...”
“It’s okay. I’ll be alright.” I leaned in and kissed him. “I know you’re mine, it just got to me earlier, but after being in your arms, I’ll be able to get through the rest of the day.” I kissed him again. “I love you, Phoenix. Now go. I’ll follow in a couple of minutes.”
He hesitated, rearranged himself in his pants, and then after a quick kiss, walked away.
Having straightened my dress, I took a deep breath and steeled myself for walking in the same direction Phoenix had gone. I looked up just in time to see Donovan reappear offering me his arm.
Chapter 51
Jack
––––––––
My temper rolled through me as I walked away from Thalia to go back to the garden party, and acting as though everything was all right, when in reality it wasn’t, pissed me off. Lewis was probably going to end up being the one to get the brunt end of it as well, seeing as he was the one who wanted me for something.
About to enter the pool area, I turned back to look for Thalia, and spotted her holding on to Donovan’s arm talking to Callie and Reece. I wanted to be the one she was holding onto. Every time I saw her attached to one of my friends, I just lost it, like earlier with Reece. That shouldn’t have happened and was probably the reason Lewis wanted to talk.
“Jack? Where have you been? Dad’s looking all over for you.”
“I’m here now, Mia.” I sighed and focused my gaze on her, and that’s when I realized the afternoon was just as hard on her as it was on me. “Where’s Liam? I haven’t seen him in a while.”
Mia turned away, but not before I caught a stray tear running down her cheek. “Mia, don’t.”
“I’m okay, Jack,” she said turning back to look at me, quickly swiping the tear away with her hand. “He said he couldn’t stay... Jack what are we going to do?”
”Fuck if I know.” I pulled her into my arms and let her bury her face against my chest so no one would know she was crying, just praying Thalia didn’t see and get the wrong idea.
“Jack, a word please,” Lewis said from behind us in the tone of voice that didn’t give you the option of refusing.