"Take off your shirt," Tarik commanded, letting his eyes trail down Phoenix's body, noting how his muscles bunched and flexed with every little movement. He was tense, and it had nothing, and possibly everything, to do with what was about to happen.

Phoenix complied easily, pulling his shirt over his head and dropping it on the floor.

Tarik was tempted to tell Phoenix to strip so he could see all of him, but he held back. He wanted to touch him, to taste him, and he couldn't wait any longer.

Closing the gap between them, Tarik grazed Phoenix's hard cock behind the zipper of his jeans with the backs of his fingers as he moved his hand upward, trailing up his stomach similar to the way Phoenix had done to him moments ago. He veered off and circled Phoenix's nipple with a fingertip, allowing his other hand to mimic the first, flicking each nipple firmly.

Phoenix's eyes lowered, fluttered, his mouth opening slightly.

When he let his eyes close completely, Tarik tweaked both nipples. "Open your eyes. I want them on me at all times."

Those thunderous green eyes once again opened, and there was a hint of defiance backlighting them, but to Phoenix's credit, he didn't say a word.

As a reward, Tarik leaned down and lashed Phoenix's nipple with his tongue, then used his teeth to nip him.

A harsh inhale was the only response, so Tarik moved to the other, teasing Phoenix briefly. Sliding his hands around to Phoenix's back, he moved up as he stood. Angling his head slightly, Tarik pressed his lips to Phoenix's as he dug his fingers into the tense muscles of Phoenix's back, pulling him closer, their bare chests touching, warmth transferring between them.

He tried to keep the kiss slow and easy, but it quickly morphed into something hotter, stronger, significantly more powerful. It was as though the energy that was thrumming inside Phoenix was redistributed to Tarik. He was infused with it, an urgency making his cock thicken, straining against the cotton towel.

Pulling back because he wasn't interested in ending this before it even got started, Tarik ordered Phoenix to remove the rest of his clothes. When he did, Tarik directed him to the bed with an upward tilt of his chin.

"On your stomach," Tarik commanded as he moved to the dresser to retrieve a condom and lube.

When he turned back, Phoenix was on his stomach, his cheek flat on the bed, his eyes tracking Tarik as he moved toward him. Dropping the items onto the bed so that Phoenix could see them clearly, Tarik released the towel, allowing it to fall to the floor.

He had every intention of massaging Phoenix's back, trying to loosen him up a bit, but as he lay there, his mouth proved to be too much of a temptation. One he couldn't bypass just yet.

"Move closer to the edge," he told Phoenix. "Take me in your mouth."

Phoenix scooted closer, remaining on his stomach as instructed, his mouth within inches of Tarik's cock. Sweeping the head across Phoenix's lips, he waited until he opened before dipping the tip inside.

The mere brush of Phoenix's tongue over the swollen head made Tarik's hips jerk forward. "Open those lips for me, Phoenix. Swallow me."

Phoenix's mouth opened wider as he sucked Tarik's cock into his mouth. Shallow at first, but within seconds he was laving Tarik's dick, tormenting him with the rough swipe of his tongue as he circled the head, teasing the underside, driving him toward the edge with a blinding intensity that took Tarik entirely by surprise.

"Turn over," Tarik instructed as he thought of a better position, needing a moment to regain his composure. "Hang your head over the side."

Phoenix moved easily, and when he was situated, Tarik looked down at the sexy man sprawled sideways across his bed. His tanned, hard body stood out against the black comforter. Tarik wouldn't have minded looking at him like that all fucking day.

"Suck my dick and don't stop until I tell you."

Propping one knee on the bed beside Phoenix's head, Tarik leaned over Phoenix, guiding his cock into Phoenix's scorching mouth. He didn't hesitate before he took Phoenix's cock in his mouth, sucking the head between his lips, teasing the tip with the flat of his tongue. Phoenix rewarded him with an urgent thrust of his hips and a rough growl that Tarik could feel vibrating beneath him.

He knew the only way he'd survive this was to focus on Phoenix and not on the way Phoenix swallowed him, sucking him forcefully while wrapping his hand around the base of Tarik's cock. It was too good. Needing to drive out some of the arresting satisfaction or risk coming too soon, Tarik focused his attention on returning the pleasure, wrapping his lips around Phoenix's thick cock, pulling him into his mouth, releasing him slowly, bobbing up and down.

It didn't matter how much he tried to focus, the blazing warmth of Phoenix's mouth was too much to ignore, causing Tarik to push up on his hands, releasing Phoenix's cock from his mouth with a pop and then pulling his own dick out of the sweet mouth that had given him enough pleasure to make his head swim.

"Back on your stomach," he commanded, crawling up on the bed when Phoenix flipped over.

"No one told me I should've stretched before I came in here. This is a fucking workout," Phoenix joked, rolling back onto his stomach.

Tarik smiled. "I was going to give you a massage, but if you'd prefer we skip that part, I'm game."

"I'm good," Phoenix muttered when he got situated.

Straddling Phoenix's hips, Tarik began kneading the muscles of Phoenix's shoulders, digging deep, trying to drive out some of the tension. He continued to massage deeply, moving from one muscle group to the next until he was at the tight muscles of Phoenix's lower back. The rough groans that had accompanied the massage made Tarik's dick throb. He eased down Phoenix's body slowly, sliding down his legs, and now his cock was nudging between Phoenix's firm ass cheeks, right where he wanted to be.

"Tarik," Phoenix growled, pushing his hips back.

"Not yet," Tarik told him none too gently.

"Fuck," Phoenix muttered. "I need to feel you."

The jagged need in Phoenix's voice was almost enough to have Tarik rushing, but he knew better. He wanted to savor every minute of this. His first time inside Phoenix... Phoenix's first time taking a man inside of him. It wasn't something Tarik wanted to hurry through.

Ignoring Phoenix's pleas, Tarik stretched forward and settled himself atop Phoenix, holding most of his weight above him as he found Phoenix's mouth, kissing him roughly. The angle was a little tricky, but when their tongues met, Phoenix lifted his head, giving Tarik better access as he searched, tasted, savored.

Tarik indulged in the warmth of Phoenix's mouth, relishing the hint of mint and coffee. When he pulled back for air, he continued by trailing his mouth along Phoenix's neck, then planting kisses across his broad back, down the divot between the muscles along his spine, enjoying Phoenix's groans, the way he lifted his hips, begging for more. Sliding down his body, Tarik once again straddled Phoenix's lower legs, kneading Phoenix's taut ass cheeks roughly, dipping his finger between them until Phoenix's breaths were coming sharp and desperate. He grabbed the lube, squeezed a generous amount on Phoenix's asshole before inserting the tip of his finger.

"Fuck. Oh, hell. Tarik, it's too much."

Tarik didn't even respond, just continued to rim Phoenix's tight hole with one finger, dipping it in to the second knuckle, teasing him, tormenting him, driving him higher, making him more desperate. He wanted Phoenix to be delirious with need. He pushed his finger in farther, deeper.

"Tarik." The way Phoenix said his name was a warning. When Phoenix reached beneath his prone body to stroke his own cock, Tarik gripped his arm, stopping him.

"Not yet," Tarik bit out. "I'll say when you can come."

"Damn it," Phoenix growled. "I can't take any more."

"What do you want?" Tarik asked, sliding his finger deep into Phoenix's puckered hole again. "Tell me."

"I want you to fuck me."

"How? Do you want me to sink my dick into your ass? Take you slow and easy?"

Fuck. The thought of Phoenix's ass clenching around his thick cock made the damn thing pulse and throb.

"I don't give a fuck," Phoenix groaned, his body bucking restlessly. "Just fuck me."

Reaching for the bottle of lube, Tarik managed to squeeze more onto his fingers, coating them liberally before replacing one finger with two. Inserting the digits slowly, he encouraged Phoenix to relax as he eased inside him once more.

He continued to fuck his ass with two fingers, adding a third when Phoenix was gripping the comforter and thrusting back against him, once more begging. By the time he had begun an even, rhythmic pace, Phoenix had relaxed somewhat, his breaths soughing in and out of his lungs, still mumbling for Tarik to fuck him.

"Turn over," Tarik commanded, retrieving the condom and sliding it over his dick before adding a generous amount of lube and stroking himself. "I want to see your face when I take you this first time."

Phoenix flipped over, spreading his legs around Tarik's thighs, his wild eyes glued to his the entire time.

Pushing Phoenix's knees back, forcing them closer to Phoenix's chest, Tarik instructed Phoenix to hold them there. He was spread open for him, his rock-hard cock resting on his stomach, his balls tight, an inviting sight that had Tarik nearly gasping for breath, anxious to thrust into him, to claim him, to take him for the first fucking time.

It was nearly too much to think about.

Once more, he began to finger Phoenix's ass while he stroked himself slowly, watching every expression that crossed Phoenix's handsome face as he did.

"Damn it, Tarik," Phoenix snapped, his head going back, his body straining as Tarik worked his fingers inside, massaging Phoenix's prostate, bringing him higher. "Fuck. Oh, holy ... fuuuck. What the hell are you doing to me? It feels too... Oh, shit. Oh, shit. Don't make me come yet, Tarik!" Phoenix gripped his cock tightly, banding his fingers around the shaft, clearly trying to hold back.

Tarik slowed his movements and then pulled his fingers from Phoenix's ass before leaning over him and guiding the head of his dick to Phoenix's tight entrance.

Their eyes locked, held as Tarik slowly pressed forward.

"So tight." Sweat was beading on his brow as he fought the natural resistance of Phoenix's body, trying to get past the tight ring of muscles. "Relax for me, Phoenix. Stroke your cock." Tarik sucked in a breath. "Oh, fuck, you're tight."

Phoenix kept his hand between his legs, gripping his dick while Tarik slid in another inch. Phoenix hissed, pain flashing across his face. Tarik didn't stop, although still attempting to take things slow despite the overwhelming need to sheath himself in Phoenix's tight ass. He didn't want to hurt Phoenix, but knowing that the pleasure Phoenix would find was looming in the near future, just as soon as Tarik was buried inside him, kept him inching in deeper.

Phoenix's body continued to stretch around him, the oversensitive head of Tarik's dick breaching the ring of muscles.

"Oh, fuck," Phoenix moaned as Tarik pushed in more.

"Am I hurting you?"

"No. Yes. No. Oh, hell, it's... It's different. I feel... Fuck. Just don't stop. I want to feel you inside me."

Tarik grinned but then gritted his teeth when Phoenix's ass tightened around him. "Relax," Tarik ground out. "Once I'm inside you, I'll fuck you just the way you need."

"What are you waiting for?" Phoenix asked, his voice strained.

"I don't want to hurt you," he said softly, leaning forward and placing his arms on each side of Phoenix's head, bending him nearly in half as he pushed in deeper.

Unable to resist, Tarik leaned down and kissed him. This time he did keep the kiss slow and easy, their tongues sliding together as Tarik seated himself inside Phoenix fully. He circled his hips, grinding against Phoenix, going deeper until Phoenix was moaning, his hands sliding over Tarik's back, holding him in place.

Pulling back slightly, Tarik locked his gaze with Phoenix's once more. "You don't know how long I've wanted this. To be buried to the hilt inside you."

Phoenix didn't respond with words, simply held him tighter, trying to force him deeper.

Pushing up onto his hands, Tarik lifted his hips, withdrawing slowly before sliding back in, watching every expression on Phoenix's too handsome face, waiting until Phoenix relaxed once more.

And then he began to thrust into him. He maintained a steady pace until his balls drew up tight to his body, and he knew there was no way in hell he was going to last. He wanted to make this as good for Phoenix as he could, but it was overwhelming. He'd wanted this for so damn long.

"Tarik," Phoenix pleaded, pulling Tarik's head down, biting his bottom lip. "Fuck me. Hard. Make me come."

Tarik crushed his mouth to Phoenix's and began to drive into him hard and fast until he was hammering into Phoenix over and over, pounding him into the mattress with every punishing thrust.

Coming up for air, Tarik stared down into Phoenix's face, watching the moment he'd dreamed about for so fucking long.

"Oh, fuck, Tarik! Oh, fuck. I'm gonna come. Fuck."

Tarik held out until he felt the warmth of Phoenix's cum hitting his stomach, his chest. Then and only then did he come, his cock pulsing in time with his heartbeat.

Chapter Twenty-Eight.

PHOENIX DIDN'T WANT to move from where he was. If he could, he'd stay for the rest of the day, right there in Tarik's bed. He was pleasantly sated, yet the hunger for Tarik still pulsed beneath the surface of his skin. It was a different type of need, though. One that had him wanting to claim Tarik the same way he'd been claimed a few minutes before. Something more primal than the first time Phoenix had fucked Tarik.

"Hey," Tarik grumbled as he rolled onto his side to face Phoenix. "What's the plan for the rest of the day?"

Phoenix was grateful that Tarik wasn't going to make this weird. As much as he'd enjoyed what had happened between them, as much as he craved doing it again, he didn't want to dwell on it.

At least not right now.

"We need to talk to Mia."

"Yeah," Tarik agreed as he rolled onto his back and sighed, "I was hoping that shit would go away on its own."

Phoenix knew what Tarik was feeling. The fact that someone was trying to use Mia as a pawn in this game was far too convenient, something that definitely suited Landry's intentions. He was out to hurt anyone he could, and it pissed Phoenix off that Landry had put Mia in his crosshairs. It was one thing for him to go after Phoenix, something entirely different to involve an innocent woman.

Before he'd come down to Tarik's condo, before he'd even tried to call Mia, Phoenix had given in and read the article. It was all bullshit, every last word, but he knew Mia well enough to know she'd be hurt by the accusation, although she had attempted to play it off when he'd eluded to it on the phone. She hadn't seemed interesting in talking about it, so he had let it go. If they were lucky, she wouldn't buy into it, but she'd still be hurt, and Phoenix damn sure wasn't going to allow that to happen.

"I'm gonna take another shower," Phoenix said, still making no effort to move. "Then we'll figure out what we want to do. Maybe grab some lunch, wait until she gets home, and go talk to her."

"Great plan," Tarik stated, also not moving.

After another minute, Phoenix laughed, forcing himself to crawl over Tarik. Before he hurdled him completely, he was pulled back down, and Tarik's greedy mouth found his. Phoenix gave in to the kiss as easily as he'd given in to the man earlier.

"I'm not much for conversation afterward," Tarik whispered, his breath fanning Phoenix's lips. "But I want you to know that I fully intend to do that again in the very near future."

Phoenix smiled down at him, a foreign sensation filling his chest. It was the same sensation he got when he was with Mia. "What if I'm not willing to give up control next time?"

"More power to you, boss. Just be ready to do what needs to be done."

"I think I've proven my abilities to do that already." Laughing, Phoenix pushed away and got to his feet. As he dressed, he stared down at Tarik, still lying prone on the bed, gloriously naked, semi-aroused again. It wouldn't take much to give in again, but Phoenix needed to work through all this shit in his head. They had to do damage control before it was too late.

Half an hour later, Phoenix was showered and dressed in another pair of jeans and a maroon polo and heading toward the kitchen. Tarik had apparently finished before him and was sitting at his table with his laptop open, his hair wet. Feeling an odd sense of intimacy, Phoenix walked right over to Tarik, leaned over his shoulder to see what he was looking at on the computer screen. "Anything new?"

"I called Mia to check on her."

Phoenix cocked an eyebrow. "And?"

"Same as when you called. She said she needed to go talk to her mother about the article."

Phoenix stood tall, watching Tarik's face intently. "She okay?"

"Seems to be. Said she read it but didn't elaborate much."