Teasing Phoenix novel Chapter 40

It’s almost sunset—the colors of blue and violet scattering the sky with yellow-orange and red are covering the most of it.

Everyone gathers at the shore, sitting at the beach chairs to witness the sunset. The chopped woods are already piled for the bonfire later.

The smooth sand caresses my bare-foot in every step I make. The sound of waves rippling softly at the shores is so calm as I walk hand in hand with my fiancée, Samantha through the shoreline.

This is the best feeling in the world—at this moment all I can think is I am such a lucky man—being loved and in love with the same woman.

She is kicking the small waves every time they reach on our feet—it feels like a soft massage. I can’t help but smile at how she laughs when the seawater hits me.

“Childish,” I mutter, grinning.

She doesn’t care. I can see how much she enjoys doing it, and I’m beyond happy watching her laughing freely because it just warms my heart.

“That’s not funny, Samantha,” I say, wiping my wet face with my shirt.

She looks down at my exposed abs and rolls her eyes when she notices me smirking at her.

“Eyes up here, woman.”

“I’m just enjoying the view. You can join them if you don’t wanna get wet,” she tells me, pointing down at her wet feet with a wicked glint of in her eyes.

“I wanna get wet with you bn any means possible.” She laughs and playfully hits my chest.

I catch her waist and grabs her to press against me. “Is this also in your bucket lists, beautiful?” I ask while she is busy tracing her fingers at the wet she made on my shirt.

“What? Kissing you at the beach on sunset?” Her eyes meet mine. She’s so fucking beautiful as the rays glow on her. Her hair and skin look like a gold glittering under the sun.

“Yeah? I might add this to my list. Just like the proposal you did hours ago. I thought you want a proper proposal,” she asks then bites her lower lip.

“I will propose properly if that worries you,” I tell her because honestly, that was not my plan to propose her today, but I believe that was the right moment, and I never regret doing that.

“Phoenix, that was perfect for me, and I don’t want you to propose again. That wouldn’t be a surprise proposal. I love every second of it, and you did it in front of your mom and in front of the people you care about. I think that was the most romantic proposal I’ve ever seen.”

I kiss her lips slowly and passionately. Our body molds perfectly together as our kisses ignite into a thousand lights. The sun goes down in the horizon while our kisses sync beautifully, coaxing, but it was cut off immediately by the applause at my back.

“I think we have audiences,” I tell Samantha when we pull our lips away, but our foreheads are still pressed together.

“We always have,” she chuckles. “I think we should go and join them.” She grabs my hand and pulls me to follow her.

“Did I fulfill one of your lists?”

“Yes, and thanks, Phoenix!”

“Don’t thank me, princess. We will do that together, and this time I will never be far away from you.” I kiss her one more time.

“Enough of that already! You can continue that tonight, dear brother!”

I groan when I hear Sandy’s voice. I intertwine my hand with Samantha’s and walk to join them.

They already started the bonfire, and they encircle the fire they lit up. I and Samantha take the empty chair beside Sandy. I let Samantha sit on my lap and wrap my arms around her.

“So, how was the walk?” Sandy asks Samantha with a wide grin on her face.

Paul is sitting beside her, and I don’t miss the way they talk together when he arrived with my friends. Sandy gets along with everyone immediately—she’s friendly and funny just like how I first met her. Now I understand how she looked at me those days—she actually genuinely cares about me and Samantha.

“It was good,” Sam simply answers.

“How about that kissed?” She teases her.

“As if you’ve never seen us kissing before silly,” Sam replies.

I chuckle.

“Yeah, lover boy,” Sandy snorts, glancing at me.

“Yeah, little sister. Keep your pretty ass new friend away from you if you don’t want to see him shoved against this sand.” I intend to let Paul hear it.

I don’t trust him even a bit considering his reputation over women. Seb, Paul, Patrick, and I knew we have our reputations. I was even surprised to find out Seb got married first who I thought has no plan even dating, but I have no doubt that he loves Abby with every breath he has. Patrick is also seriously dating Abby’s friend Rebecca.

Then me who is currently engaged to the most wonderful woman I’ve ever met. That leaves Paul who’s still single and still banging women around.

My teeth grit at the thought of him and my sister— I don’t wanna think about it.

“Thanks, Phoenix! I keep that in mind,” Paul retorts.

“Make sure of that if you’re not gonna let me hang you by your tiny junk,” I banter.

Sandy bursts out laughing that catches everyone’s attention even Paul is laughing with her too.

“That’s not funny, Sandy,” Paul guffaws beside her.

“How tiny, Paul?” she asks raising her fingers to show Paul how tiny it is.

Paul grabs her hand to put it down. Sandy almost gasps at his touch.

My brows furrow. Sam grips my thigh. I blink and look down at Sam who’s still staring at them, and I look back at them, but Sandy doesn’t say anything anymore.

What was that all about? That was weird.

Sandy decided to stay with Mom and I heard they have planned together. I’m so glad that they both get along and Mom was ecstatic that Sandy is staying with her for the meantime. The weekend with my family and friends was more than perfect than I ever expected.

Hawk and Izzy made their announcement that they are expecting a baby—I’m so happy for them, and I couldn’t help but feel jealous that they were expecting a baby. I glance at Sam who’s busy texting with Amy on her phone. Does she want a baby?

“Hot tease, Is everything okay?” she asks, placing her tiny hand on my lap.

I clear my throat. “Of course, why?”

“You’ve been silent since we drive back.”

I breathe deeply. “I guess I want another outing. It’s been a while since I had fun like that.”

“Me too, but I want to go home and see Mom. I wanna spend the Thanksgiving with her.”

“Can I come with you?”

“Don’t you wanna spend with your family?”

“Princess, you are also my family, and I spent twenty-six thanksgivings with them. If you don’t mind me tagging along.” I shrug.

I haven’t seen her mother since that dinner she invited me, and I’m sure she still hates me for hurting Samantha.

“Of course, I won’t mind, and I would be glad if you can come with me.”

“I will suggest to my brother to spend Thanksgiving in our home. If Mom agrees then you and Hannah can join us there. What do you say, Princess?” She nods and smiles at me. “I love that idea, Phoenix.”

“Great. Then we have a plan.”

I fish out the keys from my pocket and unlock her apartment. I open wide, then I gesture her to get inside. I pick up our two travel bags while she flicks the lights open.

Her jaw literally drops as she simultaneously covers her mouth. Her eyes wander around her new living room, starting from the new coat rack with a shoe organizer cabinet and a red leaf-shaped bowl on top where I drop her keys on it.

The old cream-colored wall is replaced with vanilla white. They did a great job with the wall-size Ivory white curtains, and the lights have been changed into dim. Two small and medium white Chinese lantern inspired chandeliers are hanging just above her new coffee table. Her old couches were replaced into a new set of maroon-colored leather with loveseat and an ottoman, and a square cream-colored carpet to complete the set.

Her boring tiled floor has turned into dark chestnut wood. Her TV set is still there, but it was placed down on the new black stand, and they added rectangular wall-mounted shelves just above it.

“What have you done in here, Phoenix?”

I chuckle because I can hear the amazement in her voice.

“So, I take it that you like your new apartment.”