Phoenix Burning (18 page)

“Yeah. Thanks for helping me with that. Jessa asked me to pick up these hanging baskets for her that first day I came to your shop. I forgot.”

That first day, the day she’d thrown herself into his arms and kissed him. Who would have ever thought things would snowball the way they had?

A sound coming from the bar caught her attention. “I thought you said this place was closed.”

“No. I said it should be almost deserted. Everybody but the die-hard regulars go home by now unless it’s a weekend.” He took her hand and tugged her forward. “Let’s go see what’s going on.”

“You’re cheating!” The accusation was loud enough to be clearly heard.

“You can’t cheat at this game. You’re just a sore loser.”

Emory let Alex drag her past the bar and deep into the main room. Jessa, Connor, and Gabriel all sat around a table. There was no one else inside the bar. Judging by the liquor and shot glasses ranged before them, they were playing some sort of drinking game.

“Thank God Alex is here.” Jessa’s voice was highly melodramatic.

Alex snagged a chair and flipped it around, sitting backward and resting his elbows on top of the ladder-back. “Is Connor cheating again?”

Gabriel snorted. “If by cheating you mean he has a much higher tolerance level than she does, then yes.”

“No one asked you.” Jessa huffed. “You’re just as bad as he is.”

“Yeah? But I’m going upstairs to bed, love. I’d rather not hang around and watch the lot of you think you’re the bee’s knees cause you can hold your liquor.”

The Brit stood and stretched, passing Emory and Alex a brief smile. “Enjoy your evening.”

There seemed to be more than just a greeting passing between the two men. Emory knew that Alex and Gabriel had known each other for a long time, but it was the first time she’d ever felt purposely left out of a private exchange between them.

“Come and sit, Emory,” Jessa coaxed. “Maybe if there’s an even gender split the boys will quit cheating.”

Emory shrugged and settled herself in Gabriel’s vacated chair. “Doesn’t seem likely.”

“What are we playing?” Alex asked.

“The alphabet game.” Jessa poured three shots of orange-scented liquor and passed them around to everyone but Connor.

Emory was about to ask why he got a pass on the shot when he poured himself two shots of Tequila. She frowned. “Why two?”

Alex gave her a wry grin. “Because it already takes twice as much to get him drunk.”

“If he gets drunk at all,” Jessa grumbled.

“And she claims
you
cheat?” The words popped out before Emory could stop them.

Connor laughed, the chuckle so deep that she felt it in her bones. “I think I like this one, Alex. Can we keep her?”

Alex gave her a warm smile that made her melt inside. “Absolutely.”

“We can start over since you two just came in.” Jessa’s brow wrinkled. “I’ll go first. Apple.”

Alex was next. “Apple and banana. Like I’d like to watch Emory eat a banana.”

His childish words made her grin. “So, apple, banana, and codfish.”

“Yep, I was right,” Connor said. “You’re a handful. And so far we have apple, banana, codfish, and I’ll go with Dijon mustard.”

“Ugh! You’re so predictable. You always pick stuff that’s impossible to say without slurring.” Jessa’s words were disgusted though she looked anything but.

Emory hadn’t played a drinking game like this since she’d bartended. They were utterly ridiculous. According to Connor’s rules, you not only had to repeat the expanding list back word for word, but it had to be understandable. Forgetting an item meant you had to take a shot. As their list grew, Emory found herself having to take multiple shots per turn. She kept getting lost in the middle when Connor would throw in words like “escargot” and “huevos rancheros,” just because they were impossible to say.

“This is ridiculous.” Alex lounged in his chair and eyed Jessa. “You can’t miss five things in one turn. How about instead of taking multiple shots, you take one for the first item missed and then give up a piece of clothing for everything after that.”

“Strip alphabet memory?” Jessa seemed to mull it over in her head.

Emory’s heart rate skyrocketed. Were they really going to start stripping there in the bar? She really wasn’t wearing that much clothing. She would be buck naked in no time.

A slow, teasing grin spread across Jessa’s face. “You got yourself a deal.”

She slammed down a shot and stood up. With complete confidence, she drew her tight knit top over her head and flung it at Connor. Beneath the clingy black fabric, she wore a pink-and-black lace-trimmed bra. Her full figure was softly curved and luscious in a way Emory had always envied in other women.

Connor was staring at Jessa as if he was no longer remotely interested in their game. The carnal desire in his expression made Emory feel achy and hot between her legs.

“My turn.” Alex shattered the tension. “And I’m not even going to pretend I know what letter we’re on.” He slammed a shot. Pulling his T-shirt over his head, he flung it back over one shoulder.

Emory didn’t even bother to pay attention to where the shirt landed. She was too busy soaking up the sight of her lover’s etched physique. He was so sculpted, so hot. How had she ever managed to snag the attention of a guy like him?

“Your turn, Em.” Alex’s low murmur made her shiver.

“Uh.” She tried to focus through the haze of alcohol and sensual heat flooding her brain. “Apple, banana, codfish, Dijon mustard, escargot, frankfurter, grapes, huevos rancheros—and…” Her mind was utterly and completely blank. “I can’t remember anything else.”

“Drink up,” Jessa urged.

Emory swallowed the liquor, thankful for the liquid courage and knowing it would never be enough. She and Alex had fooled around inside this bar just days ago, and she’d acted like a nymphomaniac. It hadn’t mattered then that there were people watching, because she’d been so far over the line of lust that she just hadn’t cared. This was different.

Alex’s intense blue gaze caught and held her. “Show us that sexy body, love.”

She was wearing Morgan’s corset top. That left her with zero coverage on top if she opted to remove it. Sucking in a deep breath, she stood up and unbuckled her cargos. With every eye in the room watching, she shimmied them down her legs and stepped free.

It was like a strange dream, the kind where you’re naked in a public place and uncertain how you got there.

Jessa was the one to break the silence. “You have such beautiful hips, Emory.”

Time slowed as the other woman reached out and brushed her fingers across the strip of sensitive skin above the elastic waistband of Emory’s lacy bikini panties. The touch was featherlight, so different from Alex’s, but no less arousing. The tantalizing sensation sent frissons whizzing throughout Emory’s body. Her nipples hardened instantly, her body plumping as it begged for more attention.

Across the table, Connor groaned. “Touch her again, Jessa.”

Bolder this time, Jessa dipped the tip of her index finger beneath the waist of Emory’s panties near the groove of her hipbone. With the other hand, she caressed Emory’s ass.

Confused and turned on, Emory grabbed the chair to keep herself grounded. Feeling lost, she looked up and met Alex’s sexually charged gaze. The sight of him, obviously aroused by her and Jessa’s interlude, gave Emory courage.

“Can I touch you, Emory?” Jessa asked.

The hunger in Alex’s expression pushed any lingering doubts away. Emory nodded. “Yes.”

Before she realized what was happening, Connor had cleared the table of glasses and liquor and Emory was lying on top of it.

“Prop your feet on the chairs,” Jessa instructed. “I’m going to get rid of your panties.”

Emory might have freaked out and fled, but Alex had taken her hands in his. Lowering his head, he gently traced her lower lip with his tongue. A desperate whimper convinced him to deepen the kiss, and any shyness was instantly forgotten.

“Oh, Emory, you’re so wet.” Jessa’s eager tone gave Emory confidence.

The other woman nudged Emory’s legs apart. Through the sensual storm of Alex’s kiss, she was aware of fingers probing her sex. Jessa gently spread her open, tracing the wet folds, and avoiding Emory’s swollen clit.

“Slip one finger inside her pussy and use another to rub her clit.” Connor’s husky voice coached Jessa as she finger-fucked Emory’s needy body.

Nothing had prepared Emory for the erotic stimulation of being the center of attention. Alex’s kiss. Jessa’s fingers. Connor’s focus. All served to heighten Emory’s awareness to the point of pain. Her channel clenched hard around Jessa’s slender finger. The other woman added a second finger and then a third before moving them in and out with a surprising amount of force.

“I want to taste her, Connor.”

The words made Emory burn. Alex broke away from their kiss and she was utterly aware of his eyes watching Jessa’s mouth when she slid her tongue into Emory’s slit.

The male groans ricocheted around the room, and Emory’s pussy convulsed hard. Wet and warm, Jessa’s tongue delved lightly through the wet flesh of Emory’s sex. The sensation was totally foreign but sexy as hell.

“She’s so ready,” Jessa told the men. “I can feel her getting ready to come.”

The word sank through Emory’s lust. Come? As in Jessa thought she was ready to climax? How could Emory not feel such a thing when it was happening? All she felt was a painfully tight band wrapping around her insides. She was walking the edge of that cliff. Looking over but still firmly planted on top.

“Speaking of coming.” There was a noise, and Emory opened her eyes to see Connor standing. “I need to be inside you before I explode.”

There was nothing gentle about the man. He pulled Jessa away from Emory’s quivering body and nudged her down onto the tabletop. The position left the two women lying side by side. Uncomfortable with the level of intimacy, Emory sat up and scooted off the table. She moved toward Alex, seeking something familiar but unable to rip her gaze away from the other couple.

As Emory watched, Connor pushed Jessa’s skirt up to her waist. Her stockings were anchored to a garter belt, but she wore no panties.

“Look at me, Emory,” Connor demanded.

It was impossible not to. He held her with his dark gaze as he opened his pants, released his cock, and sank his shaft deep inside Jessa. The other woman cried out in ecstasy, back arching and eyes closing as she enjoyed the feel of being thoroughly fucked by her man.

Alex’s lips brushed Emory’s ear. He was standing directly behind her. “She’s going to come fast.”

The clenching pull in her belly made Emory lightheaded. “Why?”

“Touching you, licking you, it made her too hot to last very long.” Alex nuzzled her neck. “Put your hand on Jessa’s pussy.”

Shock mingled with a bone deep desire to know. “I can’t.”

Alex gently threaded his fingers through hers and lifted her hand. He drew it forward, across Jessa’s body to the place where Connor’s cock slid in and out of the other woman’s wet pussy. Emory shuddered as her and Alex’s fingers brushed the root of the big man’s thick shaft.

Connor groaned. “She’s getting tighter with every thrust, Emory. Feel it?”

The need to understand release made Emory bold. She sank her fingers into Jessa’s swollen sex. The creamy fluid made it slick and hot. Connor pushed past the tight flesh into Jessa’s channel and then pulled back out. Emory found Jessa’s clit. It pulsed faintly beneath her fingertips. Jessa squirmed at the contact. Backing off, Emory soaked up the sensation of muscles ebbing, flowing, and growing tighter.

Her awkward position, reaching for Connor and Jessa, had left Emory bending over the table. Her pussy was beginning to throb from the constant arousal. When Alex’s hands gently smoothed over her bare cheeks, Emory pushed her ass into his touch.

“I’m going to fuck you, Emory,” Alex said. “Don’t stop touching Jessa.”

Alex nudged her legs apart and sank his shaft deep inside her cunt. Emory cried out at the sudden invasion, and then sighed with relief. It felt so good to be penetrated, to take the edge off the gnawing ache.

Sensuality left her breathless. She couldn’t have imagined a more hedonistic moment. Connor’s black gaze watching as Alex fucked her even as Emory’s fingers rubbed Jessa’s pulsating clit while Connor pounded her pussy. She was drawn in. Tension strung her muscles tight.

She felt Jessa’s pleasure. Allowing it to sweep her away seemed to be the only option. Tighter than tight, like a rubber band about to snap, the two women balanced on the edge. Emory felt as if she and Jessa were perched on that cliff together. Jessa’s clit grew hard, the nubby tip almost electric when the beautiful woman cried out.

It took Emory a moment to realize it was climax taking the other woman over the edge. Jessa convulsed. An epic shockwave drew her tight around Connor’s thick erection.

“Oh, my God.” In a moment of instant understanding, Emory let go.

Alex cursed, his movements becoming erratic.

Her body quivered, trembled, her knees shook, and she felt light-headed. The release, the feelings of utter perfection as orgasm made her squeeze her eyes tightly shut and ride out the pleasure. It drained her, the bliss sapping her of anything but total relief.

Behind her, Alex thrust hard and then ejaculated. To her delight, she could feel the hot spray of cum inside her channel. Finally, they were really and truly joined.

Jessa craned her neck back and gave Emory a warm smile. “And
that
is what an orgasm feels like.”

“Time to go home.” Connor pulled Jessa upright and threw her shirt over his shoulder. He quirked an eyebrow at Alex. “See you tomorrow?”

There was a world of meaning in whatever passed between them before Alex simply nodded in return.

Emory had yet to let go of the table. She was afraid of falling on her ass. Her knees were still watery.

“My place or yours?” Alex asked.

“Mine is closer.”

“Yours it is.”

Chapter Seventeen