A Million Tiny Pieces (22 page)

MIA
HAD NEVER been known for her spontaneity. In fact, that was something Damien
had always ridiculed her for, telling her she needed to loosen up more. Little
had he known, but until she’d met him, Mia had been much more impulsive, much
less uptight. An overbearing, controlling man had changed her into someone she
hadn’t recognized.

Well,
she wasn’t sure there was anything more spontaneous than this right here.

From
the moment they’d stepped into Phoenix’s condominium, the flicker of awareness
that had ignited in her core earlier in the day had flared to life once again. She
wasn’t sure whether her unnatural reaction to these two men was due to the
adrenaline high from the day, whether she was still reeling from Tarik’s
admission about his parents, or it was simply her physical attraction to them.
Either way, she was fully invested in and quite intrigued by what was
happening.

Based
on the way Phoenix was watching her, she knew he thought she was going to panic
and run. A couple of weeks ago, she probably would have — there was no doubt
about that. But she’d been enlightened in recent days, understanding that there
were certain lifestyles she hadn’t known truly existed, and quite frankly, this
just felt … right. It satisfied a curiosity that had built inside her, growing stronger
every day, every minute she spent with both of these men.

Mia
sat up straight, her legs dangling over the edge of the counter, Phoenix’s hard
body standing between her thighs, Tarik behind him. She watched Phoenix and
Tarik for a moment, trying to make sure she really was okay with this
situation. It felt right, but that very well could’ve been her hormones on the
fritz. After all, it’d been a very, very,
very
long time since she’d had
an orgasm that wasn’t self-induced.

A
damn long time.

When
Tarik reached around and cupped Phoenix’s chin, tilting his head back and then
leaning over Phoenix’s shoulder to press their lips together, Mia’s insides
tingled. It felt like a live wire had been released inside her, causing her
arousal to flare hot and bright.

They
were kissing.

And
it might’ve been the single hottest thing she’d ever seen in her entire life.
The way Tarik continued to take charge, careful to ease Phoenix into it as
though he knew the man was on the verge of running — something she was curious
about, too — was sexy as hell. She’d thought Phoenix would be the aggressor,
but that clearly wasn’t what was happening in front of her.

In
fact, Phoenix seemed to be melting into Tarik, giving himself over completely.

Reaching
forward, Mia ran her hands up Phoenix’s chest once more, a surge of feminine
power flooding her when his muscles tightened, the hard ridges of his abs
flexing deliciously, his hands coming up to grip her wrists.
He clearly wasn’t
interested in relinquishing all control.

“Legs
around me,” Phoenix commanded when his mouth left Tarik’s. When she complied,
he kept his eyes locked with hers as he braced his hands on her ass, hefted her
up, and then carried her out of the kitchen and through the living room, going
straight for…

“Is
this your room?” she asked as they stepped into an enormous bedroom. The room
was dark but for a single lamp on the bedside table and the glow of the Austin
skyline out the floor-to-ceiling windows that lined two entire walls.

“Yeah,”
he said hoarsely as he lowered her to the gigantic king-sized bed.

“Mia,
tell me you want this,” he said as he kneeled on the bed between her spread
thighs, his warm hands traveling up her legs, causing chills to burst along her
skin beneath her jeans.

It
was the moment of truth, but Mia didn’t even need to question what she wanted.

“Come
here,” she said. “Both of you.”

Tarik
joined them on the bed, moving up to lay on his side facing her while Phoenix
lowered himself to the bed on her other side. She was nervous, there was no denying
that fact, and the longer they stared at her, the more time she had to think
about what was happening. She wasn’t having second thoughts, but she didn’t
want to give the illusion that she knew what she was doing. This was new for
her. Exciting but still unfamiliar.

She
didn’t want to think, didn’t want to try to figure out how this would work.
Didn’t want to spend a moment worried about the future, about what tomorrow
would bring. There would be plenty of time for that.

Just
not right then.

Right
then, she wanted to feel Tarik’s mouth on hers, to get the full experience of
his kiss. She’d been aching for it nearly all day. She slid her hand behind
Tarik’s head, pulling him closer until their lips met.

His
lips were firm, insistent yet gentle. As she allowed her tongue to slide
against his, her body trembled, the taste of him overwhelming her. His kiss was
different from Phoenix’s. He was more dominant, and that sent her blood
pressure soaring. Tightening her grip on his hair, Mia held on, fearing she was
going to lose herself to this man too easily.

Then
again, maybe she already had.

His
hand slid beneath her shirt, the rough skin of his fingers trailing softly
against her belly. He didn’t move fast, didn’t attempt to move higher, merely
brushed his hands over her flesh while his tongue slid against hers.

Mia’s
rational judgment had been clouded by lust, that was all there was to it. And,
holy smokes, did it feel good.

For
the first time in a long time, she felt … desired. In ways she’d never felt
before.

Times
two.

She
itched to touch and be touched. She wanted nothing more than to explore every
single inch of these incredible men. Nothing else mattered. Not the argument
they’d had earlier, not the hurt feelings she’d battled, not the wary thoughts that
had been looming over her all day long.

No.
None of that mattered right at this moment.

The
reverberating rumble that sounded from Phoenix’s chest as he pressed up against
her side had her insides tingling, and when his mouth slid to her neck, she knew
this was a moment she would never — for as long as she lived — forget.

»»»»»♥«««««

TARIK
FEARED HE was about to wake up from the most incredible dream he’d ever had. He
was tempted to pinch himself to prove that this was real. That the smooth,
silky feel of Mia’s skin against his palm wasn’t just a figment of his
overstimulated imagination. That Phoenix truly had given in to them right there
in the kitchen, despite the fact that he was clearly worried that Mia was going
to freak out because Tarik was touching him.

It
had been a gamble to touch Phoenix in the first place, he knew. But he hadn’t
been able to help himself. His theory had been that if Mia couldn’t handle it,
she wasn’t the right woman. Phoenix may have believed otherwise, but Tarik had
taken the decision from him.

After
all the months that he’d yearned for Phoenix, praying the man would come to
terms with whatever he was fighting where Tarik was concerned, he hadn’t wanted
to give up the ground that they’d gained in recent weeks.

His
surprise had come when he had peered over Phoenix’s shoulder to see Mia
watching him. The arousal flooding her crystal-blue gaze had been so potent
Tarik had nearly been knocked off his feet. The gamble had paid off, and here
they were, the three of them on Phoenix’s bed, a place no other woman — or man
— had ever been.

Hence,
the reason he
thought he was dreaming.

Except
Mia’s lips were too perfect, her hands too smooth, her skin too soft. There was
no way this wasn’t real. And the growl that escaped Phoenix was certainly real.

Pulling
his mouth from Mia’s, he watched as she turned her head to meet Phoenix’s, the
two of them melding their lips together in a sensual dance that had Tarik’s
dick throbbing painfully. He knew he had to rein it in, to keep from losing control,
because this was the moment he’d been waiting so long for. He wanted to give
Mia as much pleasure as possible and, at the same time, show Phoenix what he’d
been missing all this time.

While
Mia and Phoenix kissed, Tarik slid his hand up Mia’s torso, pushing her shirt
higher, revealing a simple yet incredibly sexy white lace bra. He could see her
dusky pink nipples through the sheer material, and he longed to wrap his lips
around them, tease them into hard points. Apparently Phoenix had the same intention,
because he pulled back, and Tarik felt his gaze on him. Tarik reached for the
front clasp of Mia’s bra while meeting her gaze, waiting for her approval. A
slight nod of her head was all she gave him, and with deft fingers, he released
the clasp, and the cups fell away, revealing the succulent creamy mounds.

She
bowed her back when Tarik cupped one breast, leaning down and blowing lightly
against her nipple. Phoenix didn’t move, he just watched, and Tarik had never
wanted an audience more than he did right then. He wanted to pleasure Mia while
Phoenix paid close attention, letting his anticipation grow, his eagerness for
them both to multiply. Tarik traced her areola with his tongue, softly making
circles over her skin.

“Tarik,”
Mia moaned, and the way she said his name had him wanting to thrust into her,
to possess her, to claim her.

But
he didn’t do any of that. Not yet.

For
now, he needed to savor her, the salty taste of her skin, the sweet scent of
her arousal, the soft feel of her fingers as they twined in his hair, urging
him closer to her breast.

“More,”
she pleaded softly.

Giving
her what she asked for, Tarik sucked her nipple into his mouth, teasing the tip
with his tongue. When Phoenix leaned down and did the same to her other breast,
Mia cried out in ecstasy.

He
wondered how long it’d been since she’d been with a man, but he wasn’t going to
ask. All that mattered was that she was there with them.

Fingers
gripped the back of his head, sending a thrilling shard of pain shooting down
his spine. Mia was so damn responsive, pleading for more.

Releasing
her nipple from his mouth, Tarik lifted her shirt, and Phoenix pulled back,
realizing what he was trying to do. He managed to free her from her shirt and
bra, but he didn’t move to unbutton her jeans. Not just yet.

Phoenix
had other plans, though, because he climbed off the bed and removed her shoes
and socks, leaving her clad in only the denim that encased her hips and her
sexy, trim legs. Tarik longed to see her naked. He wanted to lick her from head
to toe, and he didn’t even care which end he started from, because she was his
dessert tonight.

“You
okay?” Tarik asked softly, brushing his lips against hers.

“Better
than okay,” she answered breathlessly, her hands cupping his face and pulling
him toward her.

She
backed up her words when she thrust her tongue into his mouth, luring him in.
When he met her halfway and then forced his tongue into her mouth, she wrapped
her lips around his tongue and sucked, sending a bolt of lightning shooting
straight to his balls. He imagined her mouth on him, sucking his cock into the
molten hot recesses of her mouth.

Tarik
felt a firm grip on his ankles and realized that Phoenix was attempting to
remove Tarik’s boots. Since he was lying on his side, leaning over Mia, the
position was a little awkward. Wanting to encourage Phoenix to finish what he’d
started, Tarik reached for Mia, pulling her until she was on top of him, straddling
his hips.

She
was looking down at him, a smile on her lips and hunger in her gaze.

“Lean
forward,” he told her as he pulled her hips forward, easing her body upward.
When she complied, he lifted his head and trailed his tongue over her nipple
once again. When she realized what he was going to do, she pressed more
insistently against his mouth. He laved her nipple, sucked her breast, nipped
her skin gently while Phoenix managed to remove his boots. Mia was moaning by
the time Phoenix joined them on the bed once more.

When
Phoenix straddled Tarik, his thighs on each side of Tarik’s, the hard ridge of
his cock grinding against Tarik’s, it was evident what he was doing. He leaned
over Mia, his hands resting on either side of Tarik’s head, nearly crushing her
between them. Tarik didn’t stop teasing her nipples, loving the way she moaned
his name, begging him for more.

“Do
you like that?” Phoenix asked her. “His mouth on you? Licking you?”

“Yes,”
she said on a breathless moan.

“Think
about what it’ll feel like when our tongues are on your pussy, teasing your
clit, thrusting inside you. Do you want that, Mia?”

“Oh,
God.”

One
of Phoenix’s hands disappeared from beside Tarik’s head, and he realized that
Phoenix was holding Mia up. Tarik kneaded her breasts with his hands, pinching
her nipples ever so slightly, then a little harder as she continued to moan.

“You’re
sensitive,” Phoenix said.

“Yes.”

“Can
you come from Tarik teasing your nipples?”