Chapter 18: Bring Me Back: Chapter 18

“He’s not here, man.”

My eyes scan the skate park, hoping to catch a glimpse of Cory’s blond hair. “Maybe they found a new place to cause trouble.”

Phil nods. “Or maybe he learned his lesson. His friend died because of the poor choices they made. I’m sure he feels guilty about it.”

“

feel guilty about it.”

“Don’t. He sealed his fate once he lifted his gun to a cop.”

“It could’ve gone differently.”

“It’s part of the job.”

“Kids dying isn’t part of the job.”

“It is when they’re carrying weapons.”

I scrub my hand over my jaw, knowing I won’t be able to change Phil’s mind. “I just wish I knew if Cory was okay.”

Phil smirks as he makes a U-turn. “I think being with your girlfriend is making you soft, Russo.”

I chuckle, unable to hide my grin at the word . “Maybe soft isn’t a bad thing.”

His chin jerks back. “Last time I checked, is a very bad thing. You saying you’re having trouble in the bedroom?”

I roll my eyes. “No trouble in that department… at all.” My mind wanders back to New Year’s Eve. The way Phoenix looked, with her legs spread wide and my hand between them. The way she sounded, with my name on her tongue as she moaned from the pleasure I was giving her. The way she felt, so soft and wet as my fingers slid over her. The way she tasted, dripping from my fingers.

My head falls against the seat. “Do you believe in destiny?”

Phil nods. “I think God has a plan for us all.”

“I feel like our paths were destined to cross after everything we’ve been through. How can it be a coincidence that she went through the same exact thing my mother did? And she moved in right next door.”

“It is pretty freaky.” He flicks on the blinker and turns out of the parking lot. “You fuck her yet?”

“No. Asked her to be my girlfriend though.”

“Ah, being a gentleman. I’m really happy for you, man.” He shakes his head. “I never thought I’d see the day when someone would be able to crack James Russo’s cold, black heart.”

“Fuck you. My heart is not cold or black. She’s just… I don’t know. I feel better when she’s around. At peace. Like something was missing from my life, even though I didn’t know what it was, and now that she’s here, I can’t picture my life without her.”

“You’re falling for her.” Phil pins me with a pointed stare. “You know that, right?”

I care for her. I’d do anything for her. The thought of losing her terrifies me.

“It scares me,” I admit. “Loving her. Losing her.”

“That’s because you lost the woman you loved the most.” Phil gazes out the windshield as he pulls up to a red light. “But you don’t always lose it. Love doesn’t always end in tragedy.”

My eyebrows hit my hairline. “Wow. Maybe you’re the one who’s going soft.”

Phil laughs. “Not a chance in hell, bro.”

While we continue patrolling the neighborhood, I get a text from Phoenix.

And surprise me she does.

When I ring her doorbell to pick her up for our date, Phoenix answers the door in a tight, long-sleeve black minidress with black thigh-high boots. Her chestnut hair falls over her shoulders like a silky dark curtain.

The air leaves my lungs.

She makes a slow turn so I can see the way the slinky material hugs her plump ass.

“God, you look… amazing.”

“Leo bet me twenty bucks that you’d make me go upstairs and change.”

I shake my head and snake an arm around her waist. “I want everyone to witness your incredible sexiness.”

“Really?” She lifts onto her toes to meet my lips with hers.

“Really.” I suck her bottom lip into my mouth and release it with a pop. “And then I want them to see you with me and know that they can’t have you.”

Her modest smile warms my heart.

“I love the dress.” I smooth my hand up her arm. “Guess you went with black.”

She smirks and shakes her head as she walks past me and onto the porch. “No. I didn’t.”

My dick stirs in anticipation.

“This place is beautiful.”

“My mom loved it here.” I glance around at the flickering light from the candles dancing on each table. “I haven’t been here since she passed.”

I took Phoenix to my favorite Spanish restaurant, and we sat on the same side of a dark-red booth near the back. It’s the perfect private, intimate corner.

When the waiter arrives to take our order for appetizers, Phoenix squeezes my hand. “Order whatever you want for us.”

It means a lot to me that she trusts me to know what she’ll like. Whether I’m teaching her how to cook, or leaving meals on her porch, feeding her has become something I deeply enjoy. I love knowing I can take care of her. And I love that she lets me.

I do as she requested, and when the waiter leaves our table, I tip her chin. “I know I should wait until the end of the date to kiss you, but I’m not sure I can resist.”

“Please don’t make me wait.” She closes the distance between us and presses her soft lips to mine.

Phoenix sparks something inside of me, and I can’t quite articulate what it is. It’s not just a physical attraction—and am I attracted to her. Every cell in my body reacts to the feel of her mouth moving against mine. But it’s more than that. More than anything I’ve ever felt.

When I kiss Phoenix, it’s like I can feel my soul catch fire.

This burning desire to care for her, to give her everything inside of me.

“I have a bone to pick with you.” She pulls back to look into my eyes. “I finished your book.”

I lean my elbows onto the table. “And what do you think?”

“

.” She blinks. “Are you kidding me?

how it ends? After all that, you don’t even know if they’re going to be together?”

I chuckle. “But he didn’t have to hide anymore. He got everything he wanted.”

“Except her. What if she took all his money and ran? What if she wasn’t the person he thought she was?”

“I like the ending because it leaves it up to your interpretation. Everyone sees something different.”

“Well, I hate that. I need happily ever afters.” A slow smile spreads across her face. “But I did enjoy reading your notes in the margins.”

“You were supposed to ignore those.”

“I couldn’t help myself. I love seeing the way your mind works. It made me love the book, to read it from your perspective.”

I sip my water. “I love how the author makes us root for the bad guy, and how we realize that he’s not really the bad guy we thought he was.”

“I was rooting for Patrick too. I hope he finds his happy ending somewhere in fiction land.”

I grin and hug her to my side. “I love that you believe in happy endings for everyone.”

“We all deserve one.” She rests her head on my shoulder. “It makes me think about my mother. My father died way too soon, and now what? What about her happy ending? Is she going to be alone forever?”

“I think that about my father too. I hate seeing him so lonely.”

“Is that why you moved back in with him?”

I nod. “I know he’s a grown man who can take care of himself, but it broke my heart to think of him in that house all by himself.”

“He’s lucky he has you and your brother.” She squeezes my hand. “And now he has me too.”

“You make him smile. He’s liked you since the very first day he met you.”

“You mean when I made him handcuff his own son?”

I laugh. “Yes.”

“Did you finish yet?”

“I did.” I blow out a long breath. “Kandi Steiner made me cry. That scene with Emory on top of the cliff got me bad.”

She splays her hand on her chest. “Wasn’t it so heartbreakingly beautiful?”

“That’s a good way to describe it.” I shake my head. “I wonder if my mother went through that before she died. I wonder if she was sitting there contemplating whether she should go through with it, or if she was just certain in her decision.”

“It’s not an easy decision. It’s not an impulse. We’re brought to that moment over time, and even when we’re there, it’s still the hardest thing to do.”

My stomach twists, and my heart aches. “I hate that you were at that point.”

“Me too.”

I tip her chin and kiss her lips. “But I’m so damn happy you made it to me.”

“So am I.” Phoenix nudges me with her shoulder. “You look really good tonight, Bossy Pants.”

“Thanks. So do you.” I slide my hand across her bare leg. “You always do though.”

She leans in and brings her lips to my ear. “What’s for dessert later?”

I squeeze her thigh. “You.”

She smiles. “Come on. For real.”

“Oh, I am for real.” My hand slides up her leg a fraction of an inch. “Mixed with a little key lime pie.”

Her eyes widen. “You’re going to teach me how to make key lime pie?”

I nod. “You mentioned that it was one of your favorite desserts.”

She puts her hand over mine and pushes it higher up her leg, bringing my fingertips to the hem of her dress. My fingers continue their ascent, grazing against the material of her thong.

Only, I don’t feel any material.

Soft, warm skin greets me instead.

My head whips to the right to look at her. “You’re not wearing any underwear.”

“I asked you if you wanted black or nude.” She fights to conceal her grin. “I went with .”

“Jesus Christ.” I run my knuckles over her most sensitive spot, loving the way she hums in my ear and pushes herself against my hand. “You’re killing me.”

The waiter arrives at our table and drops down three plates. Phoenix stiffens in the seat beside me. But I don’t let up.

“Is there anything else I can get you at the moment?” the waiter asks.

I glance over at Phoenix as I slip a finger inside her. “Is there anything you need?”

She shakes her head and swallows as a pink flush crawls from her chest to her cheeks. “N-no, thank you. This is p-perfect.”

“Great.” The waiter smiles. “Are you ready to order your main course, or do you want to wait to order?”

I curl my finger and run my thumb over her clit at the same time. “What do you think, babe? Are you ready for the main course?”

Phoenix stifles a moan and grips my wrist. “I think we’re okay for now.”

The waiter nods. “Of course. I’ll come back in a bit to check on you.”

“Thank you.” I wait for him to leave our table before slipping my finger out of her and bringing it to my mouth for a taste. “Mmm. Fucking delicious.”

Phoenix whimpers. “Tease.”

I chuckle. “Says the one who didn’t wear underwear.”

“Let’s skip the main course and ask for the check so we can get home.”

“As much as I’d love to tear this dress off of you, we’re not rushing through dinner.” I lean in and bite the cusp of her ear. “Now be patient like a good girl.”

I thoroughly enjoy teasing Phoenix for the remainder of dinner, despite the fact that it’s torturing me as well.

When we get back to her house, I unload my bag of ingredients onto the island.

“We’re going to mix these with sugar and melted butter to make the crust.” I place the box of graham crackers in front of Phoenix. “Start crushing these up.”

“Yes, sir.”

My dick twitches. It’s been straining against my pants all night after my stunt under the table at dinner. I try my best to focus as I whisk together the pie ingredients, but with Phoenix beside me in the privacy of her house, my restraint is slipping.

I dip my finger into the pie filling and bring it to her lips. “How does this taste?”

Her tongue snakes out, and she takes my finger into her mouth in an agonizingly slow motion.

“I don’t know. I think I need another taste.” She dips her finger into the bowl and swipes it against my mouth. Then she reaches up and rolls her tongue across my lips.

It’s the shot at the starting line.

I dig my fingers into her hips and hoist her up onto the counter. She tugs at my shirt, pulling it over my head, and then we come back together, our tongues finding each other as we kiss and nip and suck. I slip my hands into her hair and grip it tight, jerking her head up to give me better access to her mouth.

“I want you, James. I’ve been craving you ever since the other night in my bedroom.”

“Same, beautiful.” I pull up the hem of her dress and peel it off of her in slow motion. “I haven’t been able to think of anything else.”

She reaches behind her back and unclips her bra, tossing it to the floor as I reach for the can of whipped cream. I spray a dollop over her nipple, and she gasps as I lean down and suck her hardened peak into my mouth.

Phoenix smiles. “This your fantasy?”

I spray a trail from her belly button downward and lick it off. “Every time we’ve cooked together, it’s been all I’ve wanted to do: Spread you out on this countertop and taste every inch of you.” I skim my tongue over her clit. “I want to devour you, Phoenix.”

She shivers and gazes down at me from under hooded lids. “I’m all yours.”

I growl with possession. “Yes, you fucking are.” I slide her ass to the edge of the counter and throw her legs over my shoulders. Then I bury my face in her.

She arches her back and cries out as she grabs two fistfuls of my hair. I drag my tongue all over her, lapping up her sweetness. I alternate between light, teasing licks, and long, firm strokes. Every time I pull back, her grip on my hair tightens and she pushes my head against her. Her hips rock and I can barely breathe as she fucks my face. This woman knows what she wants, and she’s using me to get it—and it’s the absolute sexiest thing I have ever witnessed.

I watch her face as she squeezes her eyes shut and finds her release. She screams my name as the orgasm racks her body, and her thighs squeeze my head to keep me where she needs me. By the time she’s done, my dick is throbbing from how turned on I am.

Phoenix slides off the counter and drops to her knees. She yanks open my pants and pulls them down with my boxers in one swift motion. My dick hangs between us, and her eyes widen.

I smirk. “This is what going down on you does to me.”

She reaches for the can of whipped cream and sprays a cold peak onto my crown. My jaw drops as she licks it off and then wraps her tongue around me as she sucks me into her mouth. She takes me in far and twists her hands around the remaining length.

“Oh, fuck.” My hands slide into her hair, brushing it off her face and gathering it all at the nape of her neck. “Do that again.”

Phoenix swirls her tongue around my tip, and then takes as much of me as she can, working her hands at the base. Every now and again, she’ll suck on the head, just bobbing in short pulses, not letting the rest of me inside her mouth until I can’t take it anymore. All the while, she gazes up at me as she moans, showing me how much she’s enjoying this.

My grip on her hair tightens as I get closer to my release. “Baby, I’m gonna come.”

She takes two handfuls of my ass and pushes me all the way to the back of her throat. White-hot heat courses through my veins, and my hips thrust forward as I come.

And Phoenix swallows everything I give her.

I brace my hands on the countertop, catching my breath, while Phoenix stands in nothing but her black boots. I pull her against me, letting my hands trail down her smooth back. Then I toss her over my shoulder and carry her to the staircase, leaving our clothes strewn on the kitchen tile.

She squeals. “Where are we going?”

“To the shower. I’m not done with you yet.”