Phoenix Read online

  “Lena,” I practically whisper her name.

  “Yes,” she replies without so much as a glance in my direction.

  “Lena, let’s get out of here,” I tell her. “Just take me to one of those properties you showed me. I hate seeing you work so hard because of my particular requests. I’m sure you’re right that I can make anything work with time and a great contractor.”

  “No, you asked for security, and I’m getting you security. You’re not my first multi-million-dollar client, and I refuse to let my professionalism fall to the wayside simply because we kissed.”

  “We did more than just kiss,” I smirk. That gets her attention. The clickety-clack of keys stops echoing around the room for her to turn around and face me.

  “We did not, and you’d better not tell anyone we did, either!”

  Lena is different than most women. Any woman that I plaster a kiss on is usually three quotes deep into gossip mag exclusives, trying to set me up for a photo op.

  “I hate sitting in offices,” I tell her. “Can’t you pull that stuff up on a phone or tablet?”

  “You really can’t sit still for long, can you?”

  “I can sit still for all of the right reasons, but watching someone else work isn’t one of them. I feel like I’m not contributing.”

  She laughs more to herself than out loud before batting those big blue eyes at me. “I understand that, but you’re paying me to do the work for you. How about this? We’ll go take a look at this house on Hayworth. It’s in a gated community, which is why it doesn’t have the privacy fencing or hedges you requested. The Homeowners Association has to approve any changes to the property, but I know a few people on the committee and should be able to swing your privacy fences.”

  “Great, let’s get out of here.” I practically hop out of the chair and head to the door. Elmo’s still standing in front of the conference room chatting with one of Lena’s colleagues. Tim, on the other hand, makes his way toward me with a look on his face that tells me I’m not going to like what he has to say.

  “What’s going on?” I ask before he even reaches me.

  “I gotta head back to Briarstone. I’m going to leave two guys here, but you should be okay with the big guy. We haven’t seen or heard anything about your issue—”

  “What issue?” Lena asks, coming out of her office with her bag in hand.

  Tim looks at me, and I shake my head for him not to say anything. He sighs with a nod, “Nothing to be concerned about. Building’s clear, Sir.”

  “Thanks, Tim. I’ll see you around.”

  I draw Lena away from her office to the elevators and wait for my bodyguard to follow, but Elmo is infatuated with the young woman. She’s probably pumping him for information. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s divulged my plans or whereabouts unintentionally.

  “Moe! Let’s go!” I signal for him to follow, which he does with a hint of surprise. Clearly, he didn’t see us walk by him to get to the elevators. The longer he works for me, the more I realize Tim may be right about him. I’ll tackle that another day.

  When we arrive at the gated community, Lena flashes her identification for us to be let inside. We leave Elmo in the car while we venture onto the property. My gut’s tingling as I peer around the quiet neighborhood. I like that aspect of it.

  Lena starts in the front yard. The hedges are only three feet high. I notice that all of the yards have short hedge work. I venture to guess the HOA is behind that. My dreams of this property deflate immediately, but I let Lena take me on the tour anyhow.

  “I know the front is a hard sell, especially since we’d have to convince the HOA to alter aesthetic regulations, but there’s a chance,” she giggles.

  I roll my eyes at her positivity, “Take me inside.”

  The subtle turn of her face over her shoulder makes me forget how much I hate this house. As soon as the door closes behind us, I follow her into the kitchen. The place is immaculate and empty. There isn’t a stitch of warmth in this home.

  “This kitchen is perfect for events, and this area here can be turned into a butler’s pantry with a wet bar,” she tells me.

  “You’re forgetting one thing.” I move behind her. Lena tilts her head back onto my shoulder.

  “What’s that?”

  I spin her around. My hands find her waist and then the back of her neck. I want her so badly. I can’t help it. My lips graze hers before I go after what I want. She doesn’t push me away. Lena molds into my embrace once again. Her tongue slips into my mouth and gets me hard and raring to go all the way in this empty kitchen. The only thing that stops me is the blaring alarm igniting at the house next door.

  My eyes open from our brief kiss in time to see someone running away from the home. Lena, her eyes still heavy with pleasure but bringing herself back to reality, says, “What’s happening?”

  I release Lena from my grasp, reluctantly, and race toward the window. “Did you see that?”

  “See what?” she asks, peering over my shoulder out the window.

  “Someone’s out there.”

  Lena backs away from me. “Phoenix, there’s no one out there. Come on, security should be on their way over. If there is someone out there, I’m sure they would have seen them. Or at least your bodyguard would have from the car.”

  She’s right. Surely, Elmo is out of the car holding down whoever ran by.

  Chapter Five

  Lena

  Phoenix sounds positively insane trying to describe a hidden figure running away from the house next door. Perhaps it’s just paranoia, or maybe it’s something else. His bodyguard is useless. Elmo swears up and down he didn’t see anyone or anything running from that house. On the other hand, he sat in the car the entire time, not bothering to come out when the alarm sounded.

  “I’m not crazy!” Phoenix shouts at the security guard from the booth, “I know what I saw! They had to be about 5’6” or 5’7”, had a black hoodie, running that way!”

  I keep watching Phoenix tell the same story and description over and over again. I don’t want to believe he’s delusional, but he’s making a big deal out of nothing.

  “Guys, thanks for getting over here so quickly,” I tell the security guard. “Why don’t you guys run what Mr. Orson’s told you by the police and get back to us?”

  “Will do, Ma’am.” He tips his hat to me before walking away.

  Phoenix is fuming, “The police should be here, now!”

  “Well, you heard what the guard said, Phoenix. The house next door is fine. Something must have tripped the motion sensors.”

  “Not something, someone!” he shouts.

  “Calm down,” I tell him, but he doesn’t want to.

  “Don’t tell me to keep calm! I’ve told you this house wasn’t worth it! I told you this wasn’t good enough, but you didn’t listen and you’re putting our lives—” He stops himself. “Just forget it. I gotta get out of here. Do me a favor, Miss Pendleton. Next time I’m being a pain in the ass, let me! It’s for a reason.”

  “Why don’t you tell me that reason?” I push him.

  He ignores my question to get into the back of the SUV. Moe hops in the driver’s seat, and I let them leave without me. I still have to lock up the house before I go, and it’s clear Mr. Orson doesn’t want to be reasoned with.

  With all of the movies, tv shows, and commercials I see that man in, I never picture him as a diva with unreasonable expectations. I stop thinking about him like a movie star and wonder what it’s like for him as a regular man. The more it crosses my mind, the more I suspect his increased security measures aren’t just for reasons of paranoia. Phoenix Orson is scared.

  Ideas and scenarios run through my mind as I circle the kitchen where we were interrupted. Imagining him sliding inside of me right on that kitchen counter makes me wet picturing it. Of course, I would have to stop it because of the cameras.

  The cameras!

  Empty houses scream “Break In” so I typically conn
ect my mobile security cameras inside any listings I’m in charge of showing. I can plug into them from any app on my phone. They monitor the outside and inside of the house. A few swipes and clicks on my phone lets me pull up the security feed for the Hayworth house. I can’t see any faces, but I do see someone creeping through the side yard of the house next door. Seems like I owe Phoenix Orson an apology.

  Days pass without Phoenix answering my calls. Having only known each other a few hours in total, I imagine he’s looking for a new broker. The mere thought of that sends a twinge of jealousy and sadness rippling through me. I try my best to track him down, but it’s useless. Sable City is small, but not that small.

  I try calling him one more time, but from someone else’s phone on the floor. Luckily for me, he answers, thinking I’m someone else. “I’m starving here on set. Your delivery guy seems to have gotten lost.”

  I jot down the address he rattles off without saying another word. When I arrive, the set is minimal with a grey backdrop, beaming lights, and Phoenix Orson in his underwear. He’s oily with a cowboy hat, boots, navy blue boxers, and a very expensive gold watch.

  My nipples harden at the sight. I don’t know what ad this is for, but I want to buy whatever he’s selling. He catches a glimpse of me by the door, probably forgetting he’s upset with me. He flexes that magnificent body of his with a coy smile before turning back to the cameras.

  “Alright, that’s a wrap! We got it!” the director yells.

  Phoenix grabs a towel and trots over to me, “What are you doing here?”

  I can’t tell if he’s mad, indifferent, or happy to see me. “Can we speak in private?”

  “Yeah, follow me.” He leads me off set to his dressing room. He closes the door behind me. “Lena, I want to apologize to you.”

  “I’m actually here to apologize to you.”

  “Why?” we both say to each other.

  “You first,” I urge him.

  “No, you showed up at my job, not the other way around. You go ahead.”

  “I have to show you this.” I pull up the security footage to let him watch it. “It took me seeing this and listening to you, hearing the sincerity…I believe you, and I know it’s not you being a pampered or paranoid actor. I truly am sorry, Phoenix.”

  “Sorry enough to give me a kiss?” He raises an eyebrow.

  “I thought you were mad at me? You’ve been ducking and dodging my calls for the past few days.”

  “Well, that was a mistake. I’ve been kicking myself about that, and I have a way to make it up to you.” He winks at me before walking over to his dressing room door to lock it.

  When I got dressed this morning, I didn’t have any idea I would be in Phoenix Orson’s dressing room. My dress is appropriate for work, but not for this devastatingly handsome actor’s dressing room.

  My heart thumps hard against my chest seeing Phoenix come closer to me. He takes my face into his hands without hesitation and plants a kiss on me that makes my toes curl. His mouth moves down to my neck while his hands reach for the bottom hem of my dress. I have to grab the edge of the desk to brace myself while Phoenix delivers an apology I’ll never forget.

  He tears away the thin lace of my thong with both hands, tossing my legs over his shoulders and smiling widely at the moistness between my thighs.

  “I’ve been dreaming about this since that night at the bar.”

  “This is certainly a dream come true for me, too.”

  Chapter Six

  Phoenix

  The softness of Lena’s hot little nub against my tongue forces her to bite her bottom lip, silencing her burgeoning cries of passion. I want to see how long she can hold out. I curve my tongue around her clit to suck it gently while slipping a finger inside of her walls. I move it in and out of her, tasting her lust for me. This is one hell of an apology.

  My cock grows harder with every pass of my mouth over her sweet pussy. I moan with every sweet kiss. She tosses the hat off my head to run her fingers through my hair, sending my urges into overdrive. I need to be inside of her.

  “Please, Nix,” she begs. “Let me see you.”

  I rise to my feet, pitching a tent in the ad’s sponsored boxers, and my mouth glistens with her arousal. She hops off the desk, crosses her arms, and pulls the dress over her head. Her body is as magnificent as my dreams.

  Lena wraps her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist. Every inch of my cock is yearning to slide inside that wet slit, but I’m not done enjoying her body yet. I move her to the couch across from the desk. With a quick flick of my fingers behind her, I unclasp her bra, letting her breasts free.

  I pinch one nipple while sucking on the other. She’s climbing that ridge to push her over the edge of another orgasm. My head is in my other head. Before rational minds prevail, I feel Lena’s hand stroking my erection, guiding me toward her opening.

  Reality slams into the both of, well, Lena first as she presses her hand against my chest, “Condom?”

  Taking a deep breath, I pull away from her to fetch my pants hanging on a hook on the bathroom door. Less than a minute later, I’m right back on top of Lena. I slide my hand under the small of her back. She pulls me down for another kiss, and I slide in deep until I can’t push in anymore.

  Lena’s timid whimper is sweet music to my ears when I pump slowly into her the first time. The smoothness of her walls clench around me with every stroke until I find my rhythm and speed up. I lose myself inside of her. I let every wild fantasy blind me.

  I move my legs to the floor and scoop Lena into my arms. “You’d better hold onto me. I’m never letting you go.”

  Lena pants in my ear, “I hope you never do.”

  With both her thighs in the crux of my arms, Lena slides up and down for a few moments before I take control, swinging her around to sit her on the desk. I feel her getting wetter with every push and pull inside of her. I can’t help but look down to see her juices coating me. I pump into her once, twice, three more times until I see her close her eyes, muffling her own screams of ecstasy behind clenched teeth.

  I see to it that Lena has an orgasm for every apology and every day I went without talking to her. Driving myself into her, I find my own climax letting us collapse on my couch. We take advantage of the shower where she lets me apologize again.

  Lena cleans up and dresses slowly. She looks around before asking a very important question, “This is probably too little too late, but where’s Elmo? I didn’t see him anywhere on set.”

  “Beats me. I probably gave him the night off or something. I’ve been out of sorts since we stopped speaking earlier this week. Did I mention how sorry I am about that?”

  “You did, a few times, as I recall,” she smirks.

  “Will you let me do something else for you, Lena?” I ask her.

  “No!” she laughs. “You’ve done enough for me today. No more apologizing, or else I won’t be able to walk straight.”

  “I’ll carry you, but what I wanted to know is if you’ll let me take you to dinner?”

  “I think I’d be okay with that.”

  Lena’s company after a long shoot and an unbelievable first time together is more than I thought would ever happen in real life. There’s something to be said about going after what you want, and my goodness, I’m glad I went after that apology.

  The morning after leaves me stirring, wanting to call her, to wake up with Lena in my arms, but business comes first. She wants to pull more properties for me to see, and I need to visit with my lawyer.

  Maddox Orson is only older by a few years but protects me more fiercely than Elmo ever could. My eyes wander over the photos of us in his office. His wife’s photos are absent. I know they’re on the outs, but I didn’t know it had come to taking her pictures down.

  “Are you alright, Maddox?” I ask once he steps inside of his office. “You’re never late for these meetings.”

  My brother is the spitting image of me minus the long hair. He raises a
n eyebrow, taking a seat behind his desk. “You’re right that I’m never late, and I’m not. The truth is, baby brother, that you’re never on time. You’re never on time and you’re never this happy this early. What gives?”

  “I give,” I laugh. “I’m giving all of my free time to Lena Pendleton.”

  “She’s a fantastic broker, but don’t do anything stupid. Did you handle that Marla situation?”

  “Not exactly anything I can do about it. Colt promised me he’d look into it. Speaking of which, I gotta check in since Tim pulled out and Elmo vanished on me.”

  “What do you mean Moe vanished on you?”

  “I mean, Lena showed up to my shoot yesterday. We had our moment, but she never saw him, and I didn’t, either. Last I remember is him leaving to get me food after the delivery guy never showed up.”

  Maddox’s eyes gloss over with concern. He grabs the phone to yell at someone before hanging up. “I put in a call to his agency and, according to them, he’s on a personal day.”

  “I guess Tim and everyone else is right.”

  Maddox nods solemnly. “It’s okay. I came to that realization fairly recently myself. Sometimes you’re the last person to see people for who they really are. Ella doesn’t want to be married anymore, and I have to be okay with that.”

  Chapter Seven

  Lena

  I’m floating on clouds, full of joy and happiness. The air around the office is just as light as me. People smile and wave, making small talk like every morning. I have potential clients climbing out of the woodwork, so it comes as no surprise to have one waiting in my office.

  “Good morning,” I call out as soon as I notice the petite woman sitting across from my desk. “I apologize, but did we have an appointment this morning?”