Phoenix Arizona (5 page)

The smell of fresh coffee wafted his way, and Phoenix headed into the kitchen to find Armando in his pink robe pouring two steamy mugs. Thank god for best friend. Armando was a godsend, and Phoenix was grateful for the man every day of his life. Too bad they were too much alike, or they might have been great together. But they both realized a long time ago that they made better friends than lovers.

“Morning, Nix.” Armando turned and an eyebrow rose. “Finally giving in to my charms, I see.”

Phoenix looked down to Armando’s point of interest to see he only had a towel wrapped around his waist. What a perv.

“In your dreams.” Phoenix picked the mug up and moaned at the taste as he sipped at his first cup of joe.

“Keep making noises like that and I won’t look at you as family.” Armando wiggled his brows and Phoenix laughed. The guy was hopeless.

“So, stud, who was that hot body you were rocking last night in the stall, hmm?” They sat at the table, Armando leaning forward to get the gossip. His big brown eyes were eager as he waited for Phoenix to spill the beans. Armando was such a gossip whore. The man’s tongue wagged more than a dog’s.

“Matt.” Phoenix grinned behind his mug.

“Oh, so are we learning names now? This must be serious. Spill it, Nix.” Armando looked as though he was chomping at the bit to get any tidbit of information from Phoenix.
What the hell
. Armando was his best friend anyways. It wasn’t like he wouldn’t find out.

“I had sex in the bathroom, as you know. It was mind-blowing, earth-moving, and come-in-your-G-string sex.” Phoenix almost spilled his coffee when Armando grabbed his wrist from across the table.

“Get out! Give me more details, Nix.” Armando’s face was lit up, and he looked like he was salivating as he locked his eyes on Phoenix’s. “I need more details.”

Phoenix told him what happened, and Armando’s face went through a metamorphism of shock, anger, envy, then thoughtfulness.

“You know you’ll have to go to the clinic now. I knew he was a caveman. But still, a cute one, for a white boy.” Armando stood and grabbed the carafe, refilling their cups.

“He gave me his phone number. I think I’ll call him.” Phoenix waited for Armando’s dramatics. He knew Phoenix had never been in a relationship, and this was a big move on his part. He and Armando had known each other since grade school, and he had been there when Phoenix had come out to his parents. Everyone knew Armando was gay. He never hid it and didn’t care in the least what anyone thought. Armando didn’t go through bullshit like Phoenix had.

No one was dumb enough to mess with the guy.

Phoenix however was ambushed every time Armando wasn’t around to protect him. He wasn’t tall like his friend or even built like him. Phoenix was more of what people referred to as a twink and he hated it. For once he would love to stand up for himself, be able to have the FU attitude Armando seemed to be born with.

“You just be careful, Nix. I don’t want to have to hurt this man over you. I will though, and you know it. I want to know where you guys will be if he asks you out. Safety first.” Armando kissed his cheek as he left the kitchen. Phoenix really loved that man. Armando had always been there for him, always tried to protect him.

Phoenix went to his room and dug out the napkin from his jeans. He sat on his bed and laid the mug on the nightstand. He was nervous as hell and wasn’t sure what he was going to say. Matt had given Phoenix his number, but that was last night. What if the guy had changed his mind? What do you say to a guy
after
you fucked him? Would he look at Phoenix as a slut and only want sex? Albeit, great sex. But still, he liked this guy and wanted more.

Taking a deep breath, Phoenix grabbed the cordless phone off of its cradle. He dialed the scribbled phone number and a part of him hoped to get voice mail. His nerves were wound tight, and he didn’t want to sound like an idiot.

“Calico.”

Was that Matt’s last name? He wasn’t sure he dialed the number correctly. Phoenix bit his bottom lip, wondering if he should just hang up. No, that was childish, and Phoenix wasn’t childish.

“Hello?”

Phoenix cleared his throat. “Matt?”

“Phoenix.” Matt said his name so breathlessly that Phoenix’s cock jerked.

“Is it too soon to call you?” Ugh, Phoenix smacked his face. He could see this was going to be a disastrous phone call. He didn’t know the first thing about dating etiquette. Should he have waited a day or two? Should he have just tossed the napkin? Should he have called last night as soon as he had gotten home? Fuck, this dating stuff sucked. He was wound so tight that he was afraid he’d explode before their conversation even got started.

“No,” Matt said as he gave a low chuckle. The sound was deep and vibrated along Phoenix’s spine, even through the phone. “How do you feel, pup?”

Phoenix could hear a door close, and everything became quiet on Matt’s end. He could tell the guy just shut himself off in a room by himself.

“Is this a bad time?” Was the guy at work? He hadn’t thought of that.

“No and you didn’t answer my question.”

“I’m okay. I’m a little sore but intact.” Intact?
Really?
God, he was such a dumbass. Why didn’t he just say his anal cavity was perfectly normal this morning?
What a dipshit
.

A deep and seductive chuckle sounded on the other end of the phone, and Phoenix instantly melted. He lay back on his bed, imagining the face attached to that sexy voice. His body relaxed, and that feeling of being safe washed over him once again, even if he was making a damn fool of himself. He liked Matt’s laugh and could listen to it all day.
Oh, hell
. He was falling for the guy, and Phoenix felt helpless to stop it.

“I want to see you again, but not in a club. How does lunch sound?”

Phoenix looked over at his bedside alarm clock. It was eleven in the morning. Shit, that would only give him an hour to get ready and meet Matt wherever. Should he? It would definitely have to be public. This was the first time he met up with someone outside of the club. Phoenix was nervous as hell, but was eager to see Matt again.

“Where and when?” Phoenix winced at the desperation in his voice. He could see he would be an idiot around Matt, giving in to him and going all goober. Was that good? He didn’t think so, but hell if he could deny how attracted he was to Matt.

“How about Della’s in an hour? Do you know the place?” Matt asked.

“Yeah, it’s on the corner of Lorain and Broadview.”

“Yes, it is. I’ll see you then,
Phoenix
.”

Phoenix hit the end button and dropped the phone on the mattress. He heaved a sigh at the way Matt said his name. He had hated that his parents named him Phoenix when his surname was fucking Arizona. Was his mom still hopped up on morphine when that bright idea entered her mind? But when Matt said his name, it sounded exotic, beguiling. He wanted to hear Matt say it again and again.

Phoenix jumped up from the bed and grabbed some clothes to change into. He had an hour before he had to meet Matt, and it would take at least a half hour to get his hair just right. It was a vanity move, but Phoenix knew he couldn’t leave the house less than perfect. God, Armando was rubbing off on him.

“Armando,” he yelled from his room after he pulled his jeans up over his hips. There was no use giving the guy more fuel. Armando loved to tease, and he had no qualms about Phoenix being his target. It was all in good fun, but Phoenix wasn’t feeling it today.

“What is it, sweetheart?” Armando strolled in already dressed. Where was he going this early?

“Matt asked me out to lunch. He wants to meet up at Della’s.”
Safety first.
Phoenix had to tell Armando where he was going, or Armando would kick his scrawny ass this side of Sunday for meeting a stranger and not letting him know where.

“Let me know if you two go anywhere else. Until you get to know him, I want to know every move you make. Yes, that includes sex.” Armando winked.

Phoenix threw the towel at Armando’s head. “You need to get some dick so you can stop drooling over my sex life. You are in the beginning stages of a becoming a perverted old man.”

“Beginning? Honey, I’ve always been perverted. You know this. Go ahead and brag about you having a sex life. I can remember a squirt I know,”—Armando looked Phoenix right in his eyes—“who was in a dry spell himself until last night.”

Phoenix hugged his roomie. “You’ll find Mr. Right. I know you will. You’re too big of a catch to stay single for long.”

Armando became misty-eyed and slapped Phoenix’s shoulder. “Go on now. You have me all teary-eyed. I’ll have to go reapply my makeup now.” Armando turned to leave the room and then looked back at Phoenix. “Have fun but be careful.” He kissed Phoenix again then left him to get ready.

* * * *

Matt walked into the diner to see his mate sitting at a back booth. Damn, he looked like a lost angel. He crossed the floor with an impatient feeling to be with his mate. Matt pulled Phoenix from the booth as soon as he approached it and held him close in his arms. The urge to claim Phoenix was once again overwhelming. Matt had used their mating bond to visit Phoenix in his dream last night, but having the real deal was a thousand times better.

Phoenix held firm to him. Matt knew the need to be near him was strong in Phoenix. He smiled as he ran his hands over Phoenix’s back as he wondered how much it had hurt his mate to be away from him. Matt didn’t want his mate to be in any pain or discomfort. But he knew that the bond would only grow stronger and Phoenix would soon go crazy if out of Matt’s sight.

It was a hindrance when it came to working, but Matt hadn’t been able to stop himself from claiming Phoenix last night. His wolf had practically taken over and shoved Matt aside when he scented Phoenix in the club.

“Hi,” Phoenix said shyly, and Matt’s instinctive need to protect his mate slammed into him hard. He had to fight to keep his wolf at bay. Grabbing Phoenix and running home wouldn’t be a wise move.

“Hey, Phoenix. Did you order any food yet?” They seated themselves, Matt pulling Phoenix by his side instead of letting him sit on the opposite bench where he had been. He placed his mate between him and the wall, not wanting anyone near him. God, this mating thing was already kicking in full force, and Matt had only met the man last night. He wondered how bad it was going to get.

“No. I was waiting on you.”

Why was his mate acting so timid? Was it his natural nature? Matt liked it. It made him feel ten feet tall, strong and masterful. But it wasn’t the man he had met in the club. Phoenix had no inhibitions last night, leading the way and asserting himself. What had changed?

“Then let’s eat.” Matt waved a waitress over. She took their order and brought back a carafe filled with coffee to set on the table for them.

Matt put his left arm over the back of the booth behind Phoenix. He was being selfish with the man, cocooning him in for only his eyes, his pleasure. He never sat with his back to the door, but he wanted privacy. This would be their first time together without a room full of drunks or the thud of loud music. This was a private, get-to-know-each-other time, and Matt didn’t want it interrupted.

Yeah, Matt knew they were in a public place, but that didn’t matter. He lifted Phoenix’s chin, giving him a soft kiss as his thumb caressed his mate’s cheek. His mate tasted like heaven. Matt wanted to deepen the kiss, to take it further, but they were in a public place after all. Any wicked things he wanted to do with his mate would have to wait.

Matt found himself growling when the waitress approached their table. He quickly cleared his throat, wondering why in the hell he had just done that. He felt like shit when the waitress sat the sugar and cream down for the coffee and then hurried away. God, he had to get himself under control.

“I missed you,” Matt confessed to a dreamy-eyed Phoenix. Either his mate hadn’t noticed how he scared the poor waitress off, or Phoenix chose to ignore it. He sat there staring up at Matt as if he were the only one in the place.

“But we’ve only been away from each other for a few hours,” Phoenix pointed out as he poured himself a cup of coffee. “How could you miss me already?”

Matt pushed closer to Phoenix, feeling as though his blood were on fire as he stared down at his mate sipping his coffee. He watched intently as Phoenix’s lips touched the mug, wishing his cock was the mug.

Fuck, he was losing his mind.

“A few hours is too long in my opinion.” Matt waited for Phoenix to set the cup down before taking his mate’s lips in another kiss, consuming Phoenix, delving deep into that sweet mouth as he tried to kiss his soul from his mate.

“I need to breathe.” Phoenix panted as he pulled back. “You’re trying to collapse one of my damn lungs.”

Matt pushed down the need to lay Phoenix across the table and mount him. There would be time for that, and he would kill anyone who saw his mate naked. Damn, this mating shit had him wound tighter than hell. The feelings that had been coursing through him since mating Phoenix last night were strong and unrelenting. Matt had never had the urge to maim and kill like he did now.

Was this normal?