Midnight Moonrising (Moonrising #2)(6)

Daryn straightened up and pushed away from the wall as his eyes darted to Phoenix's body, but not his eyes, no—they never would look him in the eyes. If they wanted to believe vampires had some sort of mind-manipulating power over people by looking them in the eyes, he would just let them believe it. It wasn't hurting anything.

"Mena wants us to be friends, you know? Are you in the running to be her second? I doubt she would pick anyone for that position who didn't agree with the changes she intends to make."

Daryn hesitated for a moment. "Do you agree with her plans?"

Phoenix let the smile on his face creep into the tone of his voice, since the boy still wasn't looking at him. "Of course I do."

"Okay," Mena said as she quickly descended the stairs, "I'm ready. Sorry to keep you waiting, Daryn."

Phoenix noted the way the guy's face lit up, and he pressed his lips together to keep from saying anything about it in front of Mena. He, however, would have words at a later time with Daryn—in private. He forced himself to relax. It was only a crush. Even if the guy pursued what was clearly going through his head, Phoenix was quite certain that Mena would shoot him down. He imagined Daryn wasn't the first to be infatuated with the woman—hell, even he was affected by her addicting looks and personality—but Phoenix knew neither of them would be the last to grovel at her feet. That's what irritated him most.

Daryn stiffened as Phoenix took her hand and bowed to kiss her knuckles. "Mena, you look simply ravishing."

He got the response he was hoping for. Even through the make-up she had decided to wear, her cheeks flamed a deep ruby. Strikingly beautiful and delightfully mouthwatering, he thought.

"We're going to be late if we don't leave now," Daryn said shortly, and Phoenix sighed heavily before standing upright and turning his full attention to one of Mena's puppies.

"Mena is the pack leader, Daryn. The meeting will start when she says it should start."

"I'm coming, Daryn. Could you wait in the car for me? I'll just be one more minute."

The muscles around Daryn's jaw flexed a few times as he stared hard at Phoenix, but he finally huffed and glanced back at Mena. "Sure," he said, and then turned and left through the front door.


Phoenix chuckled lightly and closed the distance between their bodies. "Now, where were we before we were so rudely interrupted?" His hand came up to cup her chin, but she took a step back. His eyes flickered surprise, but he quickly smiled to keep her from seeing how much that had disappointed him. Her lips were a craving like none he had ever experienced.

Mena sighed and avoided eye contact. "Phoenix, you have to stop kissing me."

What? That was a big hell no! He let his arm drop away from her. "Do you not enjoy it?"

"I do, too much maybe. You cloud my thoughts, and I terribly need to focus on my pack right now. Daryn almost caused me a lot of problems today, but thankfully my wolf knew how to handle it."

Phoenix looked through the window to the vehicle parked in the drive. Daryn was sitting behind the wheel, shooting daggers through Phoenix with his eyes. "How did he cause you problems, Mena?"

"He almost did, and it's not important—"

"It is important to me. Tell me what he did."

Mena growled in frustration. "Fine. Alex Rhodes, the homicide detective working Marc's case, came up to offer his condolences, but Daryn thought he was interrogating me or hitting on me, so he came up and put his arm around me, insinuating to the detective and everyone else at the funeral that we were dating. He didn't realize that his actions made it look to everyone like I was having an affair, or, rather, he didn't see it being a problem for me. I had to tell Alex that Daryn was just an overprotective cousin who probably thought he was making a pass at me. I have to make a statement in the morning to the press about what happened to Marc, and tell them that the police are doing everything in their power to catch the killer. They will eat me alive if they think I'm dating so soon after Marc's death. Whatever this is between us… it has to stop now. I can't afford to risk everything that's on the line for a few kisses from Adonis."

Phoenix's brow furrowed as he blinked. "Adonis?"

Mena snickered. "Greek mythology. I'll let you look it up."

"Is this… Adonis… as attractive as I am?" he said with a wicked grin.

She smiled at him as she backed out the door. "Almost."





V''''V





Phoenix





It took every last bit of willpower Phoenix had in him not to follow Mena and her pet. A sigh escaped his pouty lips as he watched the brake lights of the Camry disappear around a corner. She had made him promise before she left him, standing on her front lawn, that he wouldn't interfere with pack business, at least not tonight. He had negotiated.

What the hell am I supposed to do now? He had planned to spend the entire evening wooing Mena, but with a pack meeting screwing up his plans, he was left all alone and brooding. That was new.

And what is this shit about not kissing her anymore? That was not going to happen. She was absurd to even suggest such a ridiculous thing. He wanted that woman, and when Phoenix wanted something, he didn't politely ask for it; he took it. A growl rumbled up his throat. He didn't want to have to take it, not from her. The woman was definitely different than any other he had met.