Fine, then. I’ll just message him.
Arse.
“Cole knows about us.” Short and to the point.
I count back, knowing he will call: Three, two, one...and right on cue, my phone rings. CK. I grin and leave it to ring. Knowing that I will pay for ignoring him, I pocket my phone as it continues to buzz. I have to answer eventually as he doesn’t give up and my backside is done with all the vibrating.
“Liv,” comes CK’s steely voice. I know that I’m in for it.
I sigh and try to make it right. “I’m sorry, my love. I had something important to tell you and you know how much I hate it when you hang up on me,” I say petulantly.
I hear his world-weary sigh. “Your defiance won’t be tolerated, my sweet,” he says quietly, adding, “I shall have to think of a new way to punish you.” I feel a thrill
go down my spine and my knees buckle.
Dropping onto a nearby stool, I whisper, “Mm, it’s been a while since you punished me, my sire. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.” I know when I hear him inhale sharply that he can’t stay mad at me.
“So do I,” he whispers back, then clears his throat. “What did you tell him?”
The abrupt change of subject spins my already dazed brain.
“Uh, well, he actually asked about Devon and connected the dots,” I say, recovering.
“I see. And?”
“And nothing. He knows and he’s accepted that I’m not giving you up, ever. Either of you,” I add for clarification.
“Like he would have a choice in taking you away from me,” he mutters in a very un-CK like way. This trip is throwing up all kinds of interesting things.
“Yes, well. I needed you to know before you see each other again. He won’t challenge you, obviously, he has said that he knows how I feel about you, but don’t provoke him, okay? Please. He is new to this and I don’t want anything to scare him off when he has been so accommodating. Also, this doesn’t mean that we are all one big ménage à quatre waiting to happen.”
Silence.
“I don’t expect it will,” he says smoothly.
“Good. Now go back to whatever was so important that it made you hang up on me,” I say.
He chuckles, his humor restored. “As frustrating as you are, I love your fire,” he says and again, he hangs up on me, but this time I am glowing from the praise.
Thinking back to what he said, “I don’t expect it will”, I believe him. He wouldn’t expect all of us to jump into bed together and bang ourselves into oblivion. Devon would, of course, in fact, he has probably already thought of a dozen different ways we can get it on, but not CK. In all the years since I turned Devon, CK has never once asked him into our bed. The time in my office was me, daring to be so bold because CK was already fucking me and Devon happened to walk in on us for the first time ever, would you believe. But my sire is awfully coy about Devon. Strangers, yes. Acquaintances, friends, yes. Men and women, even several of each, but never my beloved boy. I have often wondered if it is in fact some sort of jealousy; that he would see our bond and how fantastic we are together. I have never dared to ask, and I probably never will.
“Everything, okay?” Cole asks, making me jump.
“Yes, my love. I’m fine. Was just giving CK a heads up,” I hold up my phone.
He grimaces at me, although I think it was supposed to be a smile. “Oh,” he says.
“Don’t worry. He won’t take advantage,” I try to reassure him.
He nods. “Not sure what I’m supposed to say to him next time I see him,” he says with a confused frown. “Do I mention it?”
I shake my head. “No, it’s taken care of. Just leave it.”
He looks a bit relieved by that. I stand to pull him to me tightly. He sighs and relaxes at my touch.
“Things seem okay between you and Devon?” I dare to ask.
He answers me with a nod, “Yeah. He’s a good guy. I like him, and I can see now how much he loves you.”