Phoenix Arizona (14 page)

Phoenix took it and did what Matt asked. Not only did his mate open the pack, he spread the lube over Matt’s fingers and then leaned forward, taking Matt’s lips in a demanding kiss as Matt slid his fingers into Phoenix and stretched him.

Once a third finger fit nicely into Phoenix’s body, Matt placed his cock at Phoenix’s entrance and filled him. Phoenix gasped and then groaned. The look of pleasure on his mate’s face seared Matt’s heart. It made Matt ache for Phoenix in ways he never thought possible.

Phoenix palmed Matt’s chest and rode his cock slow and easy. There was no need to rush, no need to hurry things along. Matt wanted as much time as he could get with Phoenix.

Matt grabbed Phoenix’s hips and drove deep inside his mate, feeling the connection between them deepen. Matt wanted to laugh, he wanted to shout, and he wanted to cry. He wasn’t sure why all of these emotions were barraging him until he looked up at Phoenix in the throes of passion.

And then it all made sense.

His breath of life.

His
élan vital.

He watched as Phoenix’s pleasure built, his lips slightly parting and his blue eyes darkening until they matched the backdrop of the night sky. Phoenix arched his back and cried out as his release spilt onto Matt’s chest.

Matt growled and moved faster, wanting his own sweet release, and he found it. His body exploded into bliss as he bathed Phoenix’s channel with his seed. His mate fell forward, and Matt wrapped his arms around his mate, enjoying the tranquility of the moment.

This was what Matt had been searching for his entire life, and for the first time ever, his mind was quiet.

They got back to the city pretty late. Matt had thoroughly enjoyed every minute with his mate, but he had to get up for work in the morning. He hated for the day to end, and he didn’t want to leave. Matt had been questioning things last night when they met in the club, but he knew in his heart that Phoenix was his other half. He kept a big-ass goofy grin on his face all evening.

Now it was back to reality.

And Matt didn’t want the night to be over.

He walked Phoenix to his door, holding his mate’s hand and feeling like a love-struck pup. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay the night?”

“I have to get up early myself, and if you stay, I won’t get any sleep.” Phoenix squeezed Matt’s hand as they stopped in front of his mate’s apartment door. “But I had the best night of my life, Matt.”

“Really?”

Phoenix nodded. “Yeah. Well, it’s right up there with meeting this very hot guy in the club last night,” he teased.

Matt chuckled as he remembered very vividly what he and Phoenix had done last night in the bathroom. It was hot and erotic and something he wouldn’t mind repeating—in his own bathroom of course.

“I think last night and our outing rank at the top of the list as well.”

“Think?” Phoenix asked as his bottom lip slid out.

Matt growled softly, pulling Phoenix in his arms. “I know for a fact that finding you has been the best thing to ever happen to me.”

“That’s more like it,” Phoenix said as he pulled their joined hands up and kissed the back of Matt’s knuckles. “I’d kiss you on the lips, but we both know what that will start.”

God, he was getting hard all over again. All Matt wanted to do was pull Phoenix into his apartment and fuck his mate until he saw stars once more. He didn’t want to say good night. Matt just didn’t want to leave.

“Well, I better get inside before we end up fucking out here in the hallway.” Phoenix laughed as he released Matt’s hand. He felt the loss instantly. He pulled his shirt over his head and handed it to Phoenix. He fought his own battle of personal restraint when he looked at his mate. Matt was half-tempted to stay the night, but he knew Phoenix was right. They wouldn’t get any sleep.

Instead, Matt reached up and wound a hand in Phoenix’s blond hair, laying a gentle kiss on his mate’s forehead. “Tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow,” Phoenix agreed as he took the shirt, stuffed it under his nose, and inhaled deeply, a shy and warm smile lighting up his blue eyes as he stepped inside his apartment, slowly closing the door.

Reluctantly, Matt left.

He walked out of the building to see the same thugs hanging around. He swore his mate wasn’t going to live there much longer. He would hog-tie Phoenix if he had to and move his mate in with him. Matt knew Phoenix loved the countryside, and now Matt was considering finding a house out there for them. It would be easier to take his runs, and less dangerous for his mate. Well, except for the bears, but Matt knew if he laid his scent down every time he ran, that wouldn’t be a problem.

It was late, and the city’s vermin was crawling from their hiding places as he walked to his car. The seedy side of the city was making its entrance. Matt was uneasy about Phoenix not being with him. He knew Armando was there, but he would feel one hundred percent better if his mate was by his side, or under him. It didn’t matter which.

Matt found that he wasn’t tired as he crawled behind the wheel. Instead of going home, he decided to drive around the city for a while. He watched the hookers and rent boys call out to cars driving by, waving at the men as they slowed down. There were drunks begging for money to drown their souls and drug dealers peddling death. Matt shook his head at all the destruction and the waste of life. These people were the lost souls hiding in the cracks, coming out under the blanket of darkness.

And the sooner he moved Phoenix away from all of this, the better Matt would feel.

He pulled into an all-night deli to pick up something to drink. His mouth was parched, and Matt had a taste for some juice. He stood at the counter watching young kids who should be home in bed when his side buzzed.

“Calico.” His eyes stayed on the young men shoving each other around in the store, goofing around. They were the most dangerous and underhanded. Not that he feared them, but a knife or gunshot wound would hurt. They could go from innocent to dangerous in the blink of an eye. Matt had seen it all.

“Hey, doggie. Nix with you?” Armando chuckled on the other end of the phone.

“No, I dropped him off about forty-five minutes ago.” An ice-cold chill raced down his spine as Matt left the juice on the counter and headed for the door. “Isn’t he at home?”

“No,” Armando’s said in a voice that seemed a long way off. “That’s why I called you. I thought it odd he wasn’t here with it being so late and we had to work in the morning. Fuck, where is he?” Armando was panicking, and Matt could hear it.

“I’m heading your way.” Matt raced through traffic with his lights of his sedan flashing, fear and anxiety knotting inside of him. He couldn’t think of anywhere his mate could have gone. Phoenix knew there was a killer on the loose and wouldn’t risk himself.

He made it to the apartment building in less than five minutes. Matt ran up the flight of stairs and burst into Phoenix’s apartment, not bothering to knock. Armando was across the room pacing manically and biting his nails.

“Thank fuck,” Armando said as he hurried toward Matt. “You have to find him. Nix wouldn’t go out so late without me. He’s too afraid of the city at night.” Armando began pacing again, this time running his hands over his head. “This isn’t like him.”

“I thought you were here when I dropped him off.” Matt growled.

“No. I was out with my friend Henry. Where is he, Matt?” Armando’s voice broke. Matt knew the man was scared shitless because he used Matt’s real name, not doggie or any other colorful comparison. A panic like he’d never known before welled up inside of him as Matt looked around, wondering what in the hell happened to his mate. “Have you touched anything?”

Armando shook his head and then pointed behind Matt. “Just the front door, my bedroom door handle, and Nix’s handle.”

Matt walked briskly to his mate’s bedroom and glanced around, trying to find any clue as to where Phoenix may have gone. His bed was still made, and the room still looked like it had when he and Phoenix had gone on their drive. He quickly kicked off his boots and stripped down, shifting so he could take in the scents all around him.

Matt’s heart jumped in his chest as a wave of apprehension shot through him.

Oh, god no!

Matt shifted back into his human form, staggering slightly as the scent lingered at his nose. The foul stench that permeated Phoenix’s room was the same scent at the crime scenes.

The killer had his mate.

If you remember the legend, then you know that you only have twenty-four hours with him before you two die and then are reborn to find each other again.

He breathed in quick, shallow breaths as his chest felt as if it would burst from the all-consuming pain gripping its talons in his heart. Matt was not going to accept the fact that he only had twenty-four hours with his Phoenix. He was damned and determined to break the cycle all to hell.

He quickly dressed and then called Valentine as he paced right along with Armando. Matt felt so damn helpless that he wanted to cry.

The police arrived at the apartment and combed the place from top to bottom and the surrounding area, but found no trace of Phoenix. Prints were dusted for and neighbors were questioned, but the police, along with Matt and Valentine, still had nothing.

This wasn’t good enough for Matt.

He wanted Phoenix back in his arms, and he wasn’t going to rest until his mate was where he belonged. Matt’s mind was spiraling out of control, and he couldn’t breathe as fear and agony filled him. He needed his Phoenix.

Leaving the apartment, Matt walked downstairs as Valentine caught up with him. Matt didn’t have to say a word. Valentine opened the driver’s door as Matt climbed into the passenger’s side, and then the two went on the hunt.

He was getting his mate back, and hell was getting a new occupant.

* * * *

Phoenix couldn’t focus.

He blinked a few times as his head swam and bile rose to the back of his throat. He swallowed the foul taste down as he tried to concentrate. What the hell had happened? He remembered coming through the door, sniffing Matt’s shirt as he walked on a cloud to his bedroom. Never in his life had he been happier than he was at the moment. And then…

Phoenix tried harder to think of the events after that, but everything was a swirling blur in his mind. His head was pounding so hard that Phoenix thought it was going to explode. He tried to reach up to rub his temples, but found that his hands were bound behind his back.

What in the fuck was going on?

“Ah, you’re awake.”

Phoenix’s head lolled to the side, his vision not quite one hundred percent. But his sight was enough that he recoiled when he saw his abductor. It was the same guy from the nightclub that had tried to dance with him. It was also the same man from the diner that had been the last to leave. How had he not made that connection the night he was partying with Armando? His heart thundered behind his ribs at the odds. Had the man been following him? Had this guy…yes, yes he had. The man had to have been waiting for Phoenix in his apartment when Matt had dropped him off.

There was a strange taste in Phoenix’s mouth, and he vaguely remembered the man coming up behind him and placing a cloth over his mouth and nose. Phoenix began to shake, knowing in his heart that this was the man Matt had warned him about.

The serial killer had chosen Phoenix as his next victim.

“Usually, I bind my victims and place them on their knees to beg god for forgiveness. Men who party in clubs and act like Lucifer’s tool should not be allowed to walk this earth with decent human beings. I enjoy slicing their filthy little throats and sending them back to their makers. But you…” The man trailed off as he circled around Phoenix’s prone body, a wild and unfocused look in his dirty-brown eyes. “Yes, you are different. Special. You’re a filthy whore and still managed to snag a detective. Very interesting.” The ugly fuck ran his hand down Phoenix’s cheek, the calluses feeling like a scouring pad as the crazy bastard chuckled. Phoenix’s skin burned under the touch. He jerked his head back, but that only gained him a backhanded slap across his face.

He had never been so damn terrified in his life as he was at this moment. He wasn’t even this scared when Matt had turned into a freaking wolf in front of him.

Phoenix swallowed hard at the thought of his mate. He wanted Matt. He wanted to feel his mate’s strong and protective arms around him once more. Where was his Matt? Would he see his mate again? Would Phoenix die tonight at the hands of this insane killer?

Thoughts of the man he loved filled his mind, taking away any other thought as he focused on Matt’s brilliant hazel eyes and sinfully sweet smile. The man had made Phoenix into a whole person, had given him the best twenty-four hours of his life.

And now the crazed person circling around him could very well take all of that away. Phoenix wanted to cry as he thought of never seeing his handsome mate again. There was no way fate would give him someone so precious and then rip the man from his life.

He closed his eyes, whispering the words through his mind that he wanted to tell Matt at this very moment if the man were standing in front of him.
I love you, élan vital.