AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I stand as I swing my jacket around and slip my arms into the sleeves.
Phoenix shakes her head. “Don’t, James. It’s not worth it.”
I tip her chin, forcing her to look into my eyes and hear my words. “You arealwaysworth it.”
I stalk over to Phoenix’s mother, my insides twisted into a knot after how she just spoke to her own daughter.
Tomygirlfriend.
Phoenix’s mother lifts her cold eyes to mine when I pull out the chair at her table and plop down into it.
“I just wanted to have the privilege of looking into your eyes when I tell you this: Your daughter is the most wonderful human I’ve ever met. She’s smart, caring, and loving. She’s so strong and courageous. I’m sorry that I couldn’t meet her father. I know he’s the one who had a hand in how Phoenix turned out, because it sure-as-shit isn’t you.”
Phoenix’s mother places her hand on her chest, acting like I offended her. “Excuse me, I will not—”
“Don’t interrupt me.” I hold up my index finger. “I wasn’t done speaking yet.”
She clamps her mouth shut.
“I convinced your daughter to reach out to you. I told her that a relationship with her mother was worth fighting for, but that was my mistake. I missed out on a relationship with my mother because she passed away too soon, and I was trying to prevent Phoenix from going through the same thing. But I didn’t realize that she wasn’t dealing with the same kind of mother I had.
“A mother is supposed to love her children unconditionally. She’s supposed to support them in the best of times and help them through the worst of times. You abandoned her when she needed you most, and I’ll never be able to fathom what kind of a mother does that. The only good thing you did was call for an ambulance when you found her on the bathroom floor. You are the reason she’s alive today, and for that, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
“But you are missing out on her, on all that she is, because you’re too stubborn and set in your ignorance to see that. And it’s such a goddamn shame to watch you wreck the relationship with the only person who would stand beside your deathbed and hold your hand.” I push back my chair as I stand, scraping the legs along the floor. “You’re going to have a very lonely life, and you’re the only one to blame for that. My girl deserves so much better than you, and I’m going to spend the rest of my life giving her all the love you never did.”
I turn around and return to Phoenix, taking her hand in mine. “Now we can go.”
Phoenix is quiet the whole ride home. She hasn’t cried, and she hasn’t looked at me since we left the diner. I give her time to sit with everything that transpired today, but when we get home, I start to worry that I upset her.
I stop on her porch and turn to face her. “Are you mad at me?”
Her eyebrows press together. “Atyou? Why would I be mad at you?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I crossed a line speaking to your mother that way.”
She shakes her head and wraps her arms around the back of my neck. “No, James. I’m not mad at you. No one has ever stuck up for me like that before. I actually loved what you said to her.”
I lower my lips to hers. “You did?”
“I did. Especially the part where you said you were going to spend the rest of your life giving me all the love she never did.” She swallows. “That part was my favorite.”
“I meant every word.” I lift her into my arms, and she wraps her legs around my waist. “You’ll never question your worth with me.”
She kisses me, urgent and passionate, gripping the back of my head, and sweeping her tongue against mine. “I need you right now, James.”
“I’ve got you, baby.”
And I know what she needs, because I need it too.
I take the stairs by twos with Phoenix in my arms, and when we get to her bedroom, I strip off her clothes and toss them onto the floor behind me.
“Get on the bed and let me look at you.”
She crawls onto the bed and props herself up on her hands and knees, her hips swaying and taunting me as she glances at me over her shoulder. “Like this?”
“Exactly like that.” I smooth my palm over her ass and give it a loud smack before kissing away the sting. Then I lie down underneath her, with her knees on either side of my head. “Now lower yourself and put this pretty pussy in my mouth.”
Phoenix does as I command, and I lap up her arousal, humming in approval. “Lower.”
