Page 22 of Raw & Reckless

The crushing pressure building up in my core explodes out of me, the sweet, sharp ache breaking over my body in waves of excruciating bliss. I convulse beneath Phoenix’s rippling muscles as more and more of my juices pool and then gush out of my pussy with each contraction.

I'd be embarrassed by how wet I am, but I can't think about anything else except this never ending orgasm rattling through my bones.

“Jesus, that’s it. You’re making a fucking mess. Squirting all over me like a good girl.” I moan at his dirty words and bask in his approval. “Gonna come now, baby. Gonna come so fucking hard.”

The words barely leave his lips before he jackhammers in and out of me and then stills, wedging his cock so far up my channel I swear I feel him in my stomach. An animalistic growl barrels through his chest, turning into a roar as his cock swells and explodes inside of me. I cling to his massive body and clench my pussy around him, sucking down every last drop of his cum.

Phoenix collapses on top of me and rolls onto his back, taking me with him and draping my limp, sated body over his. We’re sweating and out of breath, yet Phoenix cups the back of my neck and draws my face up towards his. He presses his lips to my forehead and breathes me in. His tender touch is exactly what I need after the intensity of what we just experienced. Phoenix gives me a quick kiss on my lips and guides my head back to where it was resting on his chest.

The room is heavy with the warm, golden haze of the afterglow. We are tangled in the soft sheets, our bare legs intertwined as my head rests contentedly on his chest. His fingers are mindlessly tracing gentle patterns up and down my spine.

I tilt my head up, resting my chin on his sternum to look into his green eyes. "Tell me the truth, Phoenix. All of it."

He doesn't flinch or pull away. He lets out a slow breath, his hand coming up to stroke my hair. "I never lied to you, Layla. I never told you anything that wasn't true. But I know that’s not the point, and I know I withheld the full picture."

I nod, waiting patiently.

"The Rebel Kings run legitimate businesses, mostly," he explains, his voice a low, steady rumble. "King’s Logistics is our main front. But recently, we were targeted by a ruthless, shadowy crime ring. They managed to hijack a few of our shipping lines, funneling their own contraband through our crates, and ultimately set up a paper trail to frame the club for their illegal activities. That’s when the feds got involved. Your brother was called in as the overseeing agent on the case."

I swallow hard, putting the pieces together. "And you were tracking him."

"That was my mission," Phoenix confirms. "Stryker assigned me to run surveillance on Agent Davis, to find out what he knew and figure out a way to clear our name. But... that all went out the window the very first afternoon."

A shy warmth blooms in my chest. "Why?"

"Because you stepped out of that house," he murmurs, his gaze turning dark and intensely worshipful. "I was supposed to be looking for a tactical advantage, but the second I saw you on my first stakeout, I became completely, utterly obsessed. I couldn't look away. I couldn't stop following you."

My cheeks burn with a deep, furious blush at his confession. Phoenix chuckles softly, leaning down to press tender, lingering kisses to my heated cheeks.

"I am so fucking sorry for not telling you everything from the start," he whispers against my skin. "I was being selfish, wanting to keep you in my world, but I was also trying to protect you. I didn't want you caught up in the dangers of the syndicate or the crosshairs of a federal investigation. I just wanted to keep you safe."

I reach up, framing his rugged face with both of my hands. "Phoenix, we have to promise each other right now that we will always tell each other everything. No more shadows. No more half-truths." I look deeply into his eyes, letting my newfound confidence ring through my voice. "I can handle the truth. I can handle this life, especially with you by my side."

He stares at me, a look of reverence washing over his features. "I knew you were strong, Moonflower. Even when you were hiding in that library, I could see the quiet fire in you. But you are so much stronger than I ever realized." He shakes his head slowly. "I am in awe of you."

I smile, my heart swelling until it feels like it might burst. "Speaking of things you said... what about those three little words you yelled right before my brother sped away?"

Phoenix’s lips curve into a breathtaking, devastating smile. He brushes a lock of hair from my forehead and looks at me with a soul-deep devotion. "I love you, Layla. I love you."

I can’t contain the overwhelming rush of warmth and pure joy flooding my entire being. "I love you, Phoenix. More than words can even express."

I lean in and kiss him slowly, pouring every ounce of my heart into the connection. But Phoenix quickly takes over. His large hands slide down my back, caressing my body with possessive, heated strokes. He kisses his way down my jaw, tracing the curve of my neck, mapping the dip of my waist with his lips as he moves lower.

When he parts my thighs and settles his mouth exactly where I need him most, I gasp, my fingers instantly tangling in his thick brown hair. He eats me out with agonizingly slow, deliberate strokes. He takes his time, learning my body all over again, drawing out the pleasure until I am panting, writhing, and whimpering helplessly against the sheets with every single expert flick of his tongue.

The build-up is exquisite torture. When the climax finally breaks, I cry out his name, my back arching off the mattress as the intense, rolling waves of release crash through me.

Breathless and fully satisfied, I sink back into the pillows. Phoenix crawls up beside me, his chest heaving with his own exertion. With gentle hands, he turns me over onto my side and curls his massive, naked body around my back, spooning me perfectly. He pulls the heavy duvet over us, his strong arm wrapped securely around my waist, his nose buried in my hair.

I let out a long, contented sigh, letting the exhaustion of the day finally take over. Surrounded by his warmth and his unwavering strength, I drift off to sleep, feeling thoroughly loved and taken care of.

13

PHOENIX

The heavy oak door of the war room shuts behind me, but the tension of the meeting still lingers in the air.

I stand at the edge of the large table, leaning my knuckles against the worn wood. Stryker sits at the head, nursing a glass of dark amber whiskey, while Wolf stands stoically by the window. We’ve been running over the latest intel for the past hour.