I wished with all my heart that I was going on a date with the woman sitting beside me, and that we didn't have to go our separate ways once we arrived at Mia's house. At least she'd have a close friend with her, plus I knew Donovan and Reece would look out for her as well.
"Why's your friend staying in town? There's plenty of room at the house." I cast a quick look at Thalia smiling. She was breathtaking.
"You need to keep your eyes on the road, lover boy." She was sexy as hell. "Callie is staying in town, because she hates having to be all nice and sweet to people she doesn't know."
"Huh. So she'd rather splash out by staying in town instead of getting a free ride at my folks' place."
"Don't worry about Callie and money. Her folks own a huge cattle ranch in Texas." She turned sideways in her seat and rested her head against the back, looking at me.
"What? Have I grown two heads?" I asked, with another glance at her.
"I love you," she whispered.
My hands shook on the steering wheel. "God, Thalia." I took hold of her hand and placed it on my thigh, holding on for dear life. "I love you too. I just want this whole thing over with so I can be with you."
We stayed silent during the rest of the ride into town and the inn, but kept our hands locked tight together.
"There's Callie," Thalia said, sitting further up in her seat.
I looked in the direction she was pointing, and saw a blonde girl in cowgirl boots and a short dress, walking back and forth in front of the inn.
As soon as I pulled to a stop, Thalia was out of the car and running towards her. The girl turned and a smile spread across her face as Thalia threw herself into Callie's embrace.
Having climbed out at a slower pace, I leaned against the car to enjoy watching my woman. I could have used some earplugs, though. The volume seemed to go up some once we arrived.
Callie looked at me then whistled, only to be nudged by Thalia. "Hey, behave. He's mine." She walked over to me, dragging her friend behind her. "This is Jack, but he's my Phoenix." She grinned and blew me a kiss.
Shaking Callie's hand, I wished I could take Thalia back into my arms to claim her as mine, but I couldn't while in town. Especially with the town gossip practically hanging out of her window two houses up, in an effort to get a closer look.
"It's nice to meet you Callie. I'm glad you're going to be here this afternoon. It's going to be...difficult."
"So Thalia informed me. Well, let's get this show on the road." With that she climbed into the back of the car, leaving Thalia and me where we stood.
"Is she always so..."
"Abrupt," Thalia finished for me.
"Yeah."
"She was probably embarrassed with the hot looks you were throwing at me."
"I wasn't throwing hot looks at you."
"Ha!" She walked and stood in front of me, leaning in, a breadth away from my lips. "You were looking at me as though you were about to ravish me," she brushed against my cock, "and I wouldn't have complained."
My heart was about to beat out of my chest as I reached out and grabbed her hips, pulling her flush against me. Just about to seal our lips together, Callie opened the car door.
"I think you two better get inside the car, before the whole town is talking about you both."
"She's right."
"I know. I need to remember I don't have any claim to you," Thalia whispered, looking so sad. She moved out of my arms and opened her door, then climbed inside.
Was she pulling away from me? She said she didn't have any claim on me, but she had my heart.
Chapter 50.
Thalia I'd started to get myself all worked up because since we'd arrived, Jack had been holding Mia's hand. From the minute we'd arrived at her house they'd been together.
Upset, I'd tried to stay distracted with introducing Callie to Jack and Liam's parents, as well as Donovan and Reece, which had been a surprise and I wasn't sure what to think. Donovan had been flirting with Callie for the best part of an hour, but Reece had kept watch. Was he attracted to my friend? I also hadn't missed the slight glances Callie kept throwing in Reece's direction, either.
Mia's home was beautiful, and no expense had been spared for the party. The food was constantly being replenished, as were the drinks. In fact, a few people were well on their way to being drunk.
From where I was standing I could see Reece, and he looked like he was up to something. I moved slightly so I could get a better view of what he was doing. He came to a stop and poured a couple of glasses of wine, then after a quick look around he emptied nearly a full bottle of something, probably wine, between the three jugs of lemonade. Well, they say boys never grow up.
Walking out from the side of the gazebo, I intercepted him on his way across to where Donovan and Callie were sitting.
He came to a stop in front of me, looked back at the table and then back to my grinning face.
"Caught."
"I've no idea what you mean."
"How old are you again?"
He leaned into me, "Old enough to have sex."
I sighed. "Reece, the only people drinking that are those women over there from the church."
He grinned, and gently put one arm around my shoulders. "I'm not having sex with them."
"Will you be serious for once?"
"Thalia, I shared the bottle of wine out between the three jugs, after I'd poured three glasses of it first. Trust me, they'll be fine. Now come and tell your friend what a great catch I am."
That wouldn't go down too well considering Callie seemed to be getting on with Donovan. "Ah, Reece."
Sitting down on the grass to the other side of Callie, Reece completely ignored me at first as he passed the wine around. "Thalia, sit your sexy ass down right there, while I go and get another glass of wine," he said passing me the third glass.
Dropping down to the grass beside Donovan, I shook my head. "No thanks. I'm fine."
Both Donovan and Callie were watching me, while Reece was watching Callie. Reece was just as good looking as Donovan and I'd bet underneath all those tattoos, and badass charm, there was a heart of gold, and a guy who'd be great to cuddle up to.
A giggle burst from between my lips, I covered my mouth with my hand to try and keep it in, but no such luck.
"Ah, Thalia. Are you okay?" Callie asked me.
As I nodded my head, I looked across at Reece, who was grinning like an idiot. "I was just thinking how cuddly you'd be," I told Reece, which wiped the smile off his face, and after a brief pause, Donovan roared with laughter.
"Hilarious," Donovan said clutching his sides, wiping the tears from his eyes.
"Hey, I was being serious."
"You want to try me out?"
With a grin on my face, I crawled over to him, getting comfortable between his legs, as he wrapped his arms around me.
I wiggled closer. "See, cuddly."
"I keep telling all the girls that, but they don't listen," Reece replied, holding Callie's gaze.
Donovan was looking at something over our shoulders, only for a frown to appear on his face a minute later. "Ah, you may want to move."
"What the fuck are you doing with Thalia?"
Phoenix.
"I said..."
"I know what you said, Phoenix." Reece stood up, held his hand out for me and pulled me up from the grass to face Phoenix with him.
"It was my fault," I said quietly.
He glanced at me then stepped toe-to-toe with Reece. "Stay away from her."
"The only person she is interested in is you. Have you got any idea what this is doing to her?" Reece seemed to be on a roll.
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."