Rage of the Phoenix Page 13

  “Chance will.” Drake replied. I tilted my head. “Any of Hellfire will.”

  “Chance deserves a life filled with love and he deserves someone who can give him everything. I can’t do that. I love Chance as much as possible, but I’m not his. Chance will always hold something back from me and I can’t handle that. I’d need every bit of him.

  Make no mistake Drake, I’d lay down and die for him to live. But we aren’t soul mates, we aren’t fated to be together, Chance knows this.” Narrowing my eyes at Drake, I wondered where this was going. Perhaps my gut was right and Drake was interested in me. My tummy quivered, and I ruthlessly pushed it away. Chance would never have sent Drake in to ask around a possibility of me and him, both of us knew we couldn’t work.

  “Other men out there might.” Drake mused.

  “Okay, let me explain a few things. I don’t date but I’ve had fundraising dinner dates with whom I’ve been paired. Politely, they ask what I do, ask if I’ve any kids. Once they’re aware how many children I have, it’s in their eyes. Easy, that many kids, that’s what I am. Never ask if I adopted them, men hear the figure and then think I spread my legs easy.

  Dates aren’t interested when I don’t, they aren’t interested in me as a woman or as a success. That interest gets lost easily, but they are interested in me as a quick lay. I’m thirty-five, not saying I don’t miss a sex life but I’m not an easy lay. One night stands hold no interest. I’m surrounded by hot sexy men most of the time, HQ and Hellfire, and I can’t have them. It’s shit, it sucks, but it’s life.”

  “Can’t or won’t?”

  “Won’t.”

  “Men who see an easy lay are dicks baby. Total dicks.” Nodding an agreement, I ignored how my heart leapt at his ‘baby’.

  “Agreed, so I don’t date. Having kids, means they come first. Jake and Garrett, I’ve only had a few months, they don’t know any different but being a mum means being there for your kids. Simple as that.” I sat on the desk and faced him. Drake studied me for a few minutes.

  “Gotta say babe, you strutted your ass into Rage, didn’t like it, didn’t understand. Saw you in laps thought high class, high maintenance and gave it out easy.” I gave him a sharp nod, expected that, I knew that had crossed his mind. Drake didn’t know me.

  “Yeah, I saw you think that.” I replied. His gaze got intense, and he stopped sprawling on my sofa and sat forward.

  “Thought it, went outta my head the minute I saw you with Hellfire at your home. Shit, it left my head when Chance and Hellfire told me what you did for a living. Dunno what others think, I saw greatness, generosity, strength. Met your kid’s babe, love Eddie down to her toes, rest of ‘em are great kids. Do you credit.

  Proper saw them, no judgement, opening, welcoming, loving, yeah, I saw what you’d created babe. Gotta tell ya, only got a weekend, left me wanting more. Got a taste of what you’re capable of, what you can create, what love you got inside of ya. Tellin’ ya I want more. Ain’t Chance. Rage ain’t Hellfire, we’ve got same principles but we’re different. Clubs both tied tight.” Drake paused.

  “I saw that.” Drake’s eyes didn’t leave mine.

  “Yeah, I know you did.” He replied. “That’s why despite welcome you got on Rage, you still gave us everything. High class, high maintenance, the complete package, yet you curl up on a hammock, flip Chance the finger and go to sleep. Not a care who’s judging you.

  Got a pain in you we can taste, got a soft spot we wanna protect. I want more babe. Tellin’ ya straight, want more of you, want more of your kids, definitely want more family weekends.” Drake rose to his feet and stalked towards me. I shifted backwards until my knees hit the desk and I’d nowhere to go. He got in my space and lent into me.

  “Eyes through to the soul.” Drake said bizarrely.

  “I don’t date.” I whispered.

  “You date me.” He whispered back. “And I don’t date Phoe, never dated. My idea of a date is a beer and then hittin’ the sack. Gonna do you right. Gonna treat you like the lady you are.”

  “Want sixteen kids, Drake? Wanna be a dad to sixteen kids?” I threw at him still whispering.

  “Want that and everythin’ you got to give. Don’t know the future babe, know I like a fuck load what I’m seeing. Know I want a shot at havin’ sixteen kids and a baby throw up on my favourite tee. Wanna to see kids shooting my brothers in the ass with paint pellets. Want huge grill outs and letting it hang out, my cousin bouncing on a kid’s hopper.

  Saw you, first day here on that Sunday, you were laughin’ at them, crazy ass dancing on their vehicles. Heard you laugh, and that laugh passed through me and then I fucked up, treated you like easy pussy. Then my brother sets me right, gives me the truth of you. Yeah, I want that laughter, want that light in my life. See it in Chance’s and I want a shot.

  Club’s about family, ‘cept we ain’t got no kids. Marsha and Fish can’t have ‘em. Lost a kid we took into the club. Broke Ace. Never healed. Swore if I saw my shot at goodness, I’d take it with both hands.” His hands slid up my arms, and he pushed between my legs. “I’m taking my shot baby.” Drake said and his mouth hit mine.

  I hadn’t been kissed in over nine years, once married my second husband didn’t bother kissing me, just took what he wanted. Drake’s mouth was gentle but firm, he slanted my head and his tongue touched my lips and I opened. Heat slammed between my legs as the kiss went wild.

  My hands moved to his head and clenched in his hair as Drake controlled the kiss and racked the heat up. Our tongue’s duelled, his commanded and demanded. I gave him what he wanted, and the kiss grew deeper. Drake pulled away, and I looked at him with dazed eyes.

  “Fuck me, wanna see more of that look too.” Drake muttered and then his mouth crushed mine again and I moaned into him. Arms slipped around me and cupped my ass, dragging me closer to him and I felt him pressing between my legs. The first kiss was hot, the second sent me straight to the fires of hell. I grabbed fistfuls of his tee and pulled him closer pressing against his groin.

  Drake broke off a second time took a step back. I gazed at him from another world, I had bypassed dazed and hit zoned out. My breasts felt heavy and achy and I knew that for the first time in years I was wet between my legs. Drake was feeling the effects of the kiss too, my eyes dropped to his groin, he was hard and it was obvious! Drake was big all over! His eyes searched my face.

  “Fuck me, liking that look on you baby.” He whispered, I whimpered and his eyes flared again. There was movement outside my windows and I looked over and saw Stefan and Emily stood there with Diana behind them. All three open-mouthed. Drake followed my gaze and then chuckled.

  “Yeah can’t continue with your windows.” He muttered. Drake stepped closer to me and tilted my head to gaze at him.

  “Date night tonight.” He said firmly. I opened my mouth to argue, and he put a finger to my lips. “Phone your Mrs Ames, tell her dinners being delivered tonight. Be at yours at six.” He removed his finger and gave me a gentle but no less sexy kiss and then strode out. I was still sitting on my desk trying to gather my thoughts when Emily, Stefan and Diana raced into the office.

  “Oh my god!” Diana gasped.

  “That was hot!” Emily chirped gleefully bouncing on the spot. Clearly Drake was forgiven as far as Emily was concerned.

  “What happened?” Stefan asked taking in my face and grinning.

  “Think I have a date.” I told them and then was surrounded by gossiping people.

  ◆◆◆

  I paced my bedroom. What did Drake mean by date night? And bringing dinner? For all of us? Just me and him? What on earth did I wear to a date night? Panic was hitting defcon three when my door opened and Micah lounged there, hip against the doorjamb.

  “Mum.” Micah said.

  “Son?” I asked him. His eyes looked me up and down and then at the jumble of clothes on my bed and his lips twitched. Good god, my baby boy had the soon to be a mega badass look going on.

  “You loo
k great.” Micah said calmingly. I looked down, I had on blue jeans, a vee necked floaty blouse, that was controlled by a wide leather belt around my waist. A white tank underneath it as my blouse was see through and the blouse came to mid-thigh.

  I’d left my hair loose, and it fell to below my waist. I’d brushed it until it shone and then put frizz ease in to keep it smooth. Fawn coloured ankle boots with a wide strap over the foot part were on my feet. And I had on a chunky silver choker, silver bangles on my wrist and silver hoop earrings.

  “I don’t know, think I need to change.” I whispered, and he grinned as he looked over his shoulder at the huge picture window above our front door. Opposite the landing where he was standing.

  “Bit late Mum, a black SUV just pulled up, guessing it’s him.” Panic made me hit level two, not good, in my world I was nearing defcon one. “Carmine, Tye, think Drake needs a hand.” Micah hollered at his brothers, who were somewhere downstairs. I crept over to my bedroom window that looked at the front drive and peered through it.

  Drake was swinging out of the SUV wearing jeans and a black tee that stretched tight across his muscles and his cut. He walked around to the passenger side of the SUV. I watched as he leaned in and pulled out a box which he handed to Carmine as Carmine reached him. Tye received another large box, and he handed Harley a six-pack of beer.

  Cody was next in line and my boy got six large boxes of pizza. Christian was hovering shyly, he was the wariest of my boys. Drake winked at him and then Christian was given four of his own boxes. Jared and Aaron received a further four smaller boxes each. Drake was chuckling as he then reached in and pulled out four large sized grocery bags and kicked the SUV’s door shut.

  I heard voices downstairs and Eddie screaming ‘Drake too’s’ and I sighed. Micah grabbed my hand and led me downstairs. The entrance hall was deserted, and we found everyone in the family lounge. Drake had put the boxes on a table and I saw Serenity coming back with plates and cutlery.

  “Pizza, Mama Phoe!” Eddie screamed at the top of her lungs. I shot her a stern stare and turned to Drake. He was standing by the table and checked me out head to toe. Drake broke into a small smile while his eyes showed pleasure at my appearance.

  “Pizza sweet baby.” He said to Eddie as she pushed up against him. Drake rubbed his hand over her head and crouched next to her.

  “Eddie stand back.” Micah told her, she glared but backed away. I walked over to help Drake feed the masses.

  “Got pizza’s, didn’t know who ate what so got meat feast, pineapple and ham. Pepperoni, plain cheese and barbeque chicken. Bought extra-large, plenty to share. Salad, chicken wings, cheese garlic bread, plain garlic bread, onion rings, cheese sticks and dips.

  Fries are in a bag. Figured there’d be something for everyone. Boxes got soft drinks in for kids and bags got dessert.” He said grinning at me. My mouth dropped open, dear god the man had brought a feast. Talk about a great first impression on our first date!

  “Okay.” I said as I didn’t know what else to say.

  “Where’s Albert, Mr and Mrs Ames, got shit for them too.” He said looking around. I heard a stampede of footsteps and saw Cody, Christian, Jared and Aaron running out the room to get them. Eddie was hopping from one foot to the other while Tony was hovering and sniffing the food boxes.

  Jodie and I grabbed plates and began serving the little ones who got their plates filled and grabbed a seat in front of the TV. Carmine fed the four boys when they got back and then stood back and let the rest of the kids serve themselves.

  “Kids first always.” Drake muttered in my ear and I turned my head and saw the warmth in his eyes. Once the kids were settled, the adults fed themselves. Tony was trying to put a DVD in the player when Drake stopped him. He looked up huge eyed as Drake reached into a bag and pulled out two DVD’s.

  “Kids were sayin’ they loved the Avengers Movie, so brought that and heard mention Sleeping Beauty was a favoured Disney around here. Figured we could watch it here or watch it in your home cinema.” It was that moment I knew I was falling for a guy who thought of my kids before himself. Drake hadn’t brought stuff for just him and me, he’d brought stuff for everyone. My eyes gave something away as I saw the warmth in Drake’s eyes rachet up a notch.

  Micah took the Disney and shoved it into the DVD player and hit play. The younger children stopped fussing and began watching while they were eating. Kids scattered over the couches facing the TV and Mr and Mrs Ames and Albert were on another. Albert had a plate balanced on the arm of the sofa and Eddie in his lap with her plate.

  Drake lounged next to me one arm slung across the back of the sofa and the other lifting food to his mouth. He was close but not close enough to alarm the kids. Timmy and Scout were for once eating nicely and not throwing food around.

  Cody and Jared were ploughing their way through salad and everyone appeared happy and content, which made me happy and content. Drake stated halfway through Sleeping Beauty that dessert could be eaten after the film and as soon as the Avengers started.

  A little hand placed itself on Drakes knee and he looked and saw Tony standing there gazing at him with solemn eyes. Drake moved the arm he had behind me and hooked up my little boy and settled him between us. He wrapped that arm around Tony’s shoulders and drew him close. My heart melted even more.

  By the time Sleeping Beauty finished, the food had been demolished. I should have warned Drake that teenage boys can eat a pizza on their own. The final onion ring was chewed and swallowed and Eddie was drowsily looking at dessert bags. Micah pushed in Avengers and Drake pulled out boxes upon boxes of doughnuts. Drake had brought different kinds and the kids went wired. Luckily, he’d bought twenty-one of each doughnut so there were no fights.

  “Got brothers, adults or not I know it gets messy when one wants a doughnut the other has.” He whispered in my ear and I giggled at the image of badass bikers fighting over a custard doughnut. A few swappsies later everyone had the doughnuts they wanted.

  “Next time remind me teens eat a shitload.” Drake said as he watched Micah, Carmine, Tye on their fourth doughnut. “Thought you might have leftovers for breakfast, guessed wrong.” I laughed amused. Yeah, teens ate a load! Mrs Ames despaired at the food bills.

  Forty minutes into the film, Eddie and Tony crashed and the babies followed suit. Drake, and I carried Timmy and Scout up. Micah hit pause and carried up Eddie and Carmine got Tony, Jodie and Serenity had Jake and Garrett. Timmy and Scout shared a bedroom until they got older and we placed them in their cots after I checked their diapers.

  “I usually bathe the kids, but it’s a special night.” I told Drake as I gazed at my sleeping babies. Drake came to stand behind me and wrapped an arm around my waist and rested his chin on my shoulder.

  “Don’t think one night will hurt.” He gently said. Jodie poked her head in and said Jake and Garret were down and she had their baby-monitor. Micah and Carmine did the same. I gave them nods, and they left me and Drake alone.

  “Thank you.” I whispered.

  “For?” Drake smirked, knowing why I was thanking him. He just wanted me to say it out loud the infuriating man!

  “For being you. Thinking of my kids first and me and you second. Thank you for including Albert and Mr and Mrs Ames.”

  “They’re your family too, babe.” Drake whispered back. Scout snorted in his sleep and wriggled around and then settled. Drake turned me into him and traced a finger down my face.

  “Thanks, angel for a great night. Loved this. Fuckin’ great night.” He whispered. My eyes dropped to his mouth, and he tipped his head and his lips took mine. It started gentle and then grew wild like it did in the office. Christ, Drake knew how to kiss. He wrapped himself around me and I lost myself in him.

  A wheeze from Timmy made me break the kiss, and I looked over at my baby. Timmy settled and rolled over and shoved his diapered tushie in the air. Drake grinned as I came back to his face.

  “Yeah babe, fuckin’ love this.” He whispere
d and then taking my hand led me out of the babies’ room. We joined the older kids, and no one blinked as Drake draped an arm around me. Only one who gave him a stare was Micah. Drake held his gaze for a few seconds and something passed between them and then they went back to watching the film.

  At the end of the film, Mr and Mrs Ames excused themselves and strolled to their cottage. Albert chivvied up the younger teenagers (including Jared and Aaron) and made them go to bed. The older teenagers needed no chivvying and took themselves off.

  That left Drake and I alone. The five eldest kids had cleaned up, and we were left in the dimly lit room curled on a couch together. Drake was content to sit in silence, playing with my hair and I was snuggled into his side with my hands on his chest. It was nice and relaxed, no pressure on either of us.

  Drakes hand dipped lower and then swept up and cupped the back of my neck and his mouth was on mine. He lent me backwards swinging my legs up and leaned his weight onto me. My hands slid to the back of his tee and pulled it up. Drake nibbled, licked and kissed me and I cupped his ass, loving the feel of him pressing against me.

  He lifted up and shifted us, resettling between my legs and my hands stroked his back and then slid back to his ass. With his weight pressed into me, there was no doubt in my mind how much he was aroused. I was wet between my legs and lightly panting when he lifted his head and his mouth locked onto my nipple through my blouse.

  I bit my lip and moaned softly and he tugged gently and I pushed upwards with my hips. He raised his head and watched my face as he thumb swiped my nipple. My eyes closed, I pressed against him again. His mouth came back on mine and his hand kept caressing my breast.

  He shifted his weight and balanced on his forearm and his other hand cupped my other breast. Drake was merciless, teasing, arousing me until I was a hot wet mess. Still kissing me, his hand undid my belt and slipped up my blouse to caress my stomach. Louder, I moaned into his mouth and then his hand slipped up my blouse and he touched a breast.