Tarik allowed them to move away from the table before he leaned in to Harrison. "I'm sure you're a nice guy, but you're damn lucky I haven't laid you out flat on that floor for what you did to Mia. It's in your best interest to find a way to make amends." Tarik got to his feet. "And I suggest you fucking do it soon."

Harrison nodded his head as Tarik turned and walked away.

FORTY FIVE MINUTES later, the three of them were walking into Phoenix's condo. It would've taken less time, but the stupid elevator had taken its own sweet fucking time. Apparently, the damn thing wasn't on the same timeline Phoenix was. Ever since Harrison's admissions, he'd been hard-pressed not to punch the fucking wall. His anger was at a boiling point. He could attribute his ability to maintain his composure to the fact that Mia was there, seemingly still processing all that Harrison had told her at lunch.

"Don't sit down," Tarik commanded when Phoenix headed right for the sofa in the living room. He turned and looked at his lover, trying to figure out just what he had in mind. He couldn't quite pinpoint what Tarik was going to do, but right there in those glittering gold eyes was just what Phoenix needed. There was no softness there. There wasn't any fear of hurting Tarik the way he worried with Mia.

With a minimum amount of hesitation, knowing his control was about to be stripped from him and there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it, Phoenix remained on his feet, but he didn't do anything more.

"Lose the jacket, shirt, and tie," Tarik instructed, followed by, "Mia, come here, love."

Phoenix shrugged out of his jacket, loosened his tie, and then unbuttoned his shirt as he watched Tarik. When he rid himself of the shirt, he tossed it onto the arm of the sofa with his jacket and then placed his arms down at his sides.

Mia came to stand in front of Tarik, both of them facing him, Tarik behind her.

"For the next few minutes, I want you to forget everything that Harrison told you. Understand?" Tarik asked Mia, his voice soft as he spoke close to her ear.

Mia nodded, her eyes locked with Phoenix's.

Tarik's hands moved around to Mia's chest, plucking one button on her white blouse from its mooring. He continued down her chest, moving slowly as he looked down at her. Phoenix couldn't do anything other than watch the show. When she leaned against Tarik, raising her arms to wrap around behind his neck, causing the shirt to open, the creamy skin of her stomach coming into view, he found himself transfixed on her.

Once all the buttons were released, Tarik easily lifted the cotton up and off her arms, tossing it away while Mia returned her hands to his neck, still facing Phoenix.

"Do you see the way he's looking at you, Mia?" Tarik asked her.

Mia nodded.

"That's the look of a man who would give anything to be with you."

Phoenix instantly realized what Tarik was doing. He was reinforcing for Mia just how much she was wanted. Just how much they needed her. "I want you more than my next breath," Phoenix admitted, his voice coming out laced with the emotion he felt for her.

Phoenix wanted to lean forward and place his mouth on her breasts, suck her nipples between his lips through the sheer white bra that still covered her. He wanted to wrap her in his arms and never fucking let her go.

All of the shit he'd listened to from Harrison had reinforced Phoenix's hatred for Landry. How the bastard had ever managed to be with Mia was beyond him. Landry didn't deserve her, never deserved her.

Tarik's big hands slid down her chest, stopping to gently knead the glorious mounds before continuing lower until he reached the button on her jeans. He quickly flipped it free and then lowered the zipper, pushing the denim down her hips. Mia wiggled, causing her jeans to slide down her legs and pool at her feet. She toed off her shoes and then stepped out of them, kicking them in the direction of her shirt. Her eyes locked with Phoenix's as she stood there, nearly naked and on display for him. He wanted to touch her, but he wasn't sure he could get his hands to move. He was lost in her beauty.

Tarik pressed his mouth to Mia's neck as he spoke once more. "I dream about this, Mia. Dream about touching you, tasting you. Feeling your soft skin against my fingers."

Tarik cupped Mia's breasts, hefting them in his hands while Phoenix was helpless to watch.

"I dream about watching you take Phoenix's cock inside you while you ride him. I crave seeing the pleasure on both of your faces. It's all I want, all I need. Do you understand what I'm telling you, Mia?"

Mia nodded. "I've never felt this before," she admitted, and the words pierced Phoenix's heart as he continued to hold her gaze. "I've never wanted anything in my life more than I want the two of you."

Phoenix swallowed hard, her words making him feel things he hadn't ever felt before.

"Kick off your shoes," Tarik said, interrupting his thoughts, his eyes meeting Phoenix's once more.

He did as he was told.

"Now remove your slacks and socks. Leave your boxers on."

A few seconds later, Phoenix was mostly naked, save for his boxers, while Tarik was still completely dressed.

Tarik must've read Phoenix's mind, because he instructed Mia to face him. While he proceeded to have her undress him, one article of clothing at a time, starting with his suit jacket, Phoenix watched, admiring her cute little heart-shaped ass bisected by the white thong she wore.

"Put your mouth on me, Mia," Tarik instructed, cupping Mia's head in both of his hands and pulling her forward. Her lips pressed against the hard planes of Tarik's chest. "I want to feel you, Mia."

Mia kissed Tarik's chest while Tarik held her head in his hands, his golden eyes meeting Phoenix's. Without a single touch, Phoenix could feel Tarik's need like a physical caress. He was proving to them both just what this was. It was more than any of them had anticipated.

While Phoenix watched Mia, his mouth watered to taste her. He wanted to drop to his knees and kiss her soft skin, starting with the backs of her thighs and moving higher. She was so fucking beautiful.

By the time Tarik had Mia turning back around to face Phoenix, Tarik was down to a pair of black boxer briefs that did little to hide the massive erection straining to get free.

"Now what?" Phoenix asked, the words barely spoken past his dry throat, his anxiety level ratcheting up a notch.

"Be patient," Tarik said, his eyes narrowing as though warning Phoenix not to cross that line.

Biting his tongue to keep from lashing out, to keep from begging for something, anything, Phoenix managed to remain silent.

Tarik leaned down and pressed his lips to Mia's ear. Phoenix could hear the muffled sound of words, but he couldn't make them out this time. It must've been more instructions, because she moved over to the chair and sat down, primly pulling her legs up beneath her as though she was about to watch a show.

"Come here," Tarik stated firmly.

Phoenix moved forward, closing the gap between them in two steps. His muscles were tense, his hands beginning to shake as the adrenaline and need barreled through him. There was a time for patience, and then there was now. Tarik was pushing him to his limits, and he was close to snapping.

Tarik's hand came up to cup the back of Phoenix's head, his fingers twining into his hair and pulling roughly, holding him still.

"I'm in charge," Tarik leaned in and whispered against Phoenix's ear, his voice too low for Mia to hear. "If you have a problem with that, let me know now."

Phoenix considered that for a moment. He wasn't sure how far Tarik would go. He wasn't sure how far he wanted Tarik to go. But he knew he wasn't going to find out unless he gave in. "I'm in," Phoenix answered just as quietly.

"You're at my mercy, you know that, right?"

Phoenix nodded, but no words came out, because Tarik chose that moment to slam his mouth over Phoenix's, his tongue driving into his mouth in a kiss so hot, so fierce, Phoenix was lightheaded. He grabbed for Tarik, his arms going around him, his fingers digging into the rigid muscles of Tarik's back as he kissed him with all the hunger, all the fury that raged inside him.

The next thing Phoenix knew, Tarik was forcing him toward his bedroom, tugging Mia behind him. Her soft laughter made something loosen in Phoenix's chest, and when she came over to him, he kissed her, trying to be gentle. She took his control from him instantly with the way she captured his mouth, her hands cradling his head.

Tarik stripped her completely while her mouth was locked with Phoenix's.

"On the bed," Tarik growled.

Mia smiled against Phoenix's lips, pulling him with her as she settled onto the mattress. "He's awfully bossy, isn't he?" she said in a mock whisper.

Phoenix grinned but resumed kissing her, delving into her mouth, letting her consume him with her sweetness, her eagerness. He wanted to be inside her, and he didn't want to wait.

Letting his fingers trail down between her legs, he teased her gently. "You're ready for me."

"Always," she answered, her hands sliding to his hips and forcing his boxers down.

Tarik assisted, pulling his boxers off, and the next thing Phoenix knew, he was sliding into Mia's warm, wet heat.

"Fuck," he growled, realizing instantly that he wasn't wearing a condom. "Oh, fuck, Mia. Baby, we need a condom."

Mia didn't seem to hear him. That or she was ignoring him completely. He didn't know. He wasn't sure he cared, except he wanted to make sure she was okay with this before he proceeded.

"It's okay," she told him. "I'm on the pill."

Phoenix met her gaze. There was more to it than just the risk of pregnancy, but he could see in her eyes that she trusted them. The same as they trusted her. Nodding, he pressed his mouth to hers and closed his eyes as he pushed inside her.

Holy fucking shit. Without the latex barrier, the sensations were intense, blasting him from all directions.

"Don't move," Tarik instructed from somewhere behind him.

Phoenix tore his mouth from Mia's. "What?"

"You heard me," Tarik replied with a rasping laugh. "Stay right there."

Mia's smile distracted him momentarily, but Phoenix focused on the shift of the bed behind him, on Tarik's rough hands sliding over his ass, separating him.

"Motherfucker," Phoenix growled as the most exquisite pleasure, aside from the feel of Mia's smooth cunt sheathing him, ripped through him.

Tarik was... Oh, fuck.

Tarik's tongue was rimming his asshole, awakening nerve endings that had never been awakened before. It was... "Oh, God. Don't stop." Phoenix wasn't above begging. He wasn't above anything if that pleasure would remain. He managed to hold himself above Mia, his cock buried inside her, skin to skin, her legs wrapped around his hips as Tarik fucked his ass with his tongue.

"Do you like that?" Mia asked, her voice as soft as her hands when they caressed his jaw.

Phoenix momentarily wondered how she knew what Tarik was doing, but then he looked over, seeing Tarik's reflection in the mirror above the dresser. Mia would have a perfect view of all that Tarik was doing to him.

"Yes," he groaned. "Oh, fuck."

Mia's pussy clenched around his cock as he retreated and then pushed into her, trying to force Tarik where he wanted him.

Mia moaned.

Phoenix growled.

Tarik's mouth disappeared, and his hand came to rest on Phoenix's back. He found himself sandwiched between Mia and Tarik as cool liquid dribbled over his ass moments before Tarik... "Oh, fuck, yes."

Tarik pressed the head of his cock against Phoenix's hole. He wasn't gentle, but Phoenix didn't need gentle. As it was, his cock was pulsing, his balls drawing up against his body. He was going to come without even moving, with the phenomenal heat of Mia's pussy hugging him tightly.

"Let me do the work," Tarik whispered against his ear as he pushed into him.

Mia shifted, forcing her hips upward, changing the angle as Tarik began fucking Phoenix's ass. He fought the urge to move at first, allowing Tarik to control the pace, forcing him into Mia, deeper, deeper still, until he couldn't hold back. He began pumping his hips, fucking Mia with shallow strokes while Tarik fucked his ass.

"It's too much," Phoenix said. "I can't... Shit. I'm gonna come."

Tarik's thrusts increased in speed and intensity until Phoenix was pounding into Mia, then driving back to meet Tarik's cock.

Mia cried out, and Phoenix let go, letting Tarik finish them off until all movement stopped, Tarik's fingers digging into his hips as he came with a rush, filling Phoenix's ass. It was then that he realized Tarik hadn't worn a condom, either, which explained the exquisite sensations that had ripped through him.

They'd taken the next step. A step Phoenix had been wanting but not sure how to ask for. Now he didn't have to, and the only thing he could think about was how they got to the next step from here. And the one after that. Whatever that might be.

No matter what, Phoenix knew without a doubt that this was it for him. These two were his future.

And he damn sure wasn't going to let anyone take them from him.

Chapter Thirty-Seven.

ON THE FOLLOWING Monday, Mia rapped her knuckles on the front door, a nervous flutter coursing through her as she realized just what she was doing. She had accepted the invite without question, not wanting to spend the evening alone while Tarik and Phoenix were both out of town for a round of away games. They had tried to convince her to come along, but after missing two of her classes last week when having lunch with Harrison, she knew she couldn't miss any more. It was a tempting invitation, but she had declined, only to accept this one. Dinner with Ellen Pierce on a Monday night.

"Mia." Ellen greeted her kindly as she opened the front door.

The woman looked as elegantly put together as she always did. Her hair was glossy and straight, her makeup subtle yet perfect, her green eyes keen and bright. There was no denying the fact that she was Phoenix's mother. They looked so much alike, yet so different at the same time.

"Thank you for inviting me," Mia said as she made her way inside Ellen's condo.

It looked similar to her own in layout, however the decor was vastly different than what she'd expected. It was very ... homey. For some reason, she'd expected something significantly different, something that reflected Ellen's all-business personality.

"I'm so glad you could make it. Dinner's almost ready."

Mia followed Ellen into the living room, noting the pictures that sat on every available surface. There were dozens of Phoenix now, even more of a young boy she assumed was also him.

The pictures told a story over time as Phoenix grew up. There were pictures of him in school - from grade school to what she assumed was his college graduation. There were even pictures of Tarik and Phoenix together.

"They've been close for a while, huh?" Mia asked, referring to one of the images of Tarik and Phoenix together.

"It's never been solely a working relationship between those two. They met when Phoenix was working with a local boy's club, creating a hockey program. Tarik was the volunteer who took over the program. They'd become friends somewhere at that point."

Mia thought about Tarik volunteering at a boy's home, and her heart turned over. The man seemed so unsure about his feelings, yet ... he did things such as volunteer, which only proved how incredible he was. And that was a trait at his core, obviously not something he'd learned.

Her heart swelled with even more love for him.

Moving to another picture, Mia's eyes instantly watered at the sight of Phoenix with his father. They were at a hockey game, and based on the way Phoenix appeared, it hadn't been that long ago.

"That's Phoenix's father, Sid," Ellen said, coming to stand beside Mia when she moved in to get a closer look.