Phoenix by Cecilia London

completely. “Gabe, I need you,” she said. “I can’t – you know I need you.”
    “Your husband should be the one helping you right now.”
    She didn’t want that kind of help. “You’re the only one who understands,” she whispered.
    Gabe scooted closer to the bed and took her hand. “Damn it. I’m going to hate myself for this, aren’t I?”
    That had been easy. Lowering her voice, trying to sound vulnerable. It wasn’t right, taking advantage of a man who was so much better than her. So innocuous. Earnest. Decent. But she was going to do it anyway. “You don’t have to do or say anything,” she said. “I just need you as a friend. I need all of you. Jonesie, Crunch, Gig, but most importantly you.” She glanced over at the door, afraid that Natalie might come bounding in. “You’re the only ones I can trust around here.”
    “You don’t think we can trust the other rebels?”
    She wasn’t sure about any of them. Not yet. “We need to be cautious. Take our time. Stick together.”
    “I guess they’re gonna give us the lowdown tomorrow. You up for it?”
    She would drag herself to that meeting even if her head were pounding and her legs gave out. “Absolutely.”

Chapter Six
     
    Jack stumbled into his apartment, heading for the bedroom. The door to his room was ajar, a dim light guiding him down the hall. He didn’t remember leaving the side lamp on when he left that morning. He stepped into the room, stunned to see Caroline standing before him.
    Her lips twitched. “Hi.”
    His wife was breathtaking in a long, flowing white nightgown. Her auburn hair fluttered to her shoulders, and her smile – that beautiful, unexpected smile – lit up the room. Her eyes raked over him. She pressed a hand to her mouth, letting out a small laugh.
    “What are you doing here?” he whispered.
    She stepped toward him, her arms outstretched. “I’m here for you, silly.”
    Giggly and shy. Virtuous and bashful. This was his Caroline? Nothing about this situation felt right.
    “But you look so different,” he said. “When I saw you a few hours ago-”
    “Don’t worry about that.” She kissed him. “I’ve been waiting for you, darling.”
    Her kiss was soft and gentle. A kiss he dreamed about constantly. All of her in one simple intimate romantic gesture. He wanted her to do it again but they needed to talk first. “I’m sorry. I was delayed and I-”
    “You don’t need to explain.”
    She sure as hell did. After the way they’d left things in the hospital? How had she even known where to find him? “How did you get in here?” he asked.
    Caroline unbuttoned his shirt. “I told you not to worry. I’ve been waiting so long. I thought you’d never get back.”
    She wasn’t wasting any time. Jack groaned as she kissed his neck. “Sweetheart, I don’t-”
    “What’s wrong?” She caressed the hair on his chest.
    Fuck, he couldn’t think straight if she kept teasing him like that. “Is this real?”
    She knelt to remove his pants. “Of course it is, Monty. Why wouldn’t it be real?”
    That pet name. Dammit. Her voice was making him as hard as a rock, internal conflict and all. “I don’t – you were so angry. You threw me out of your room.” He swallowed hard, thinking of the way she’d been touching that asshole’s face. “You were with another man.”
    She stood up and took his hands. They were shaking. Maybe she wouldn’t call attention to it. Caroline rubbed them with her thumbs, looking into his eyes. “He means nothing to me, Jack. You are my everything. You always have been.”
    “But you-”
    “You talk too much sometimes.” She yanked his shirt off the rest of the way and kissed his chest.
    Was she feeling angry or playful? Hell if he could tell the difference right now. Jack stroked her hair. It was soft. He could catch a faint hint of her perfume. “Baby, I can’t – what are you doing to me?”
    “I’m trying to seduce you. If it isn’t working I can try