Cole's Mistake (Haven, Texas 8)

This isn’t what you came here for.

No, but he was nothing if not adaptable. Maybe he’d gone to the club tonight in a misguided attempt to rescue them, which had gone horribly wrong. He’d intended to tell them they were being used by his brother to get back at him. And that he was sorry for leading them on with that kiss.

But things had changed. They needed him. Look at this house. They were living in fucking squalor. He could help with that. He could make their lives better. He could show them they didn’t need his brother and his club.

He’d be whatever it was they were lacking. He’d be Keira’s keeper. He’d be Julian’s . . . what could he be for Julian?

“I’ve never slept with a man before,” he admitted. “Never been attracted to one.”

Julian tightened up. Cole noticed Keira had only eaten part of her dinner and he nodded to the plate. The other man immediately started feeding her again. Keira had Julian wrapped around her little finger; he probably let her get away with far too much.

Things Cole wouldn’t allow to happen. He could take some of the responsibility from Julian’s shoulders. He could do up this house for them, or better yet move them into an apartment in a safe neighborhood. They couldn’t make their relationship public, of course. The board would have a shit fit. He’d have to make them sign non-disclosure agreements.

But maybe this could be done. They wouldn’t have to work. Although, it would hurt to lose Keira as his PA. Actually, on second thought, maybe it was best she stayed under his watchful eye and kept out of trouble.

He’d buy them a car that wasn’t a disaster on four wheels. He’d keep them safe. Happy. In his bubble of protection. And he’d try to give them what they needed in the bedroom. Taking charge wasn’t the problem. He wasn’t sure he felt comfortable with anything more, though. And maybe they’d realize they didn’t need it.

“But I’m attracted to you,” he told Julian. He reached out and cupped the other man’s cheek. He had a slight stubble, and Cole shuddered in delight at the feel of him. Fuck, that felt right. “I don’t know if I’ll get anything right or exactly how far I can go, at least the first time.”

A slight blush filled Julian’s cheeks “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. We can, uh, take our time.”

Keira turned and looked up at him with a beaming smile. He basked in her approval and happiness. That was what he’d been missing. People to look after. Protect. Guide. People who were just his.

“So, you’re staying tonight?” Keira asked him.

“I want to, yes,” Cole said slowly.

“I want that too,” Keira said.

Julian was slower. “Even though I’ll be punishing Keira? You want to be here for that?”

Cole looked a little uncomfortable. “You’ve both made it clear this is what you need. Not saying I’m totally okay with it all or that I fully understand it. But maybe there’s a compromise in the middle. I have no problems taking charge of you both. In the bedroom and out. The rest . . . we can see.”

He waited as they conducted a silent conversation.

“All right. Let’s try,” Julian agreed. Keira smiled. “You don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with.

“Agreed. And this, it stays between us, right?” he asked.

“Of course,” Julian said, looking slightly offended.

Keira just pretended to lock her lips and throw away the key. He remembered that little girl voice from earlier and wondered at that. At work she was always very professional and efficient. It seemed out of the office she was more playful.

“You haven’t finished what was on your plate, little bit.”

“Full.” She rubbed her tummy.

“You’ll eat all of it.”

She frowned at him then sighed, obediently opening her mouth for the next forkful. He leaned in and licked the skin just below her ear. She shivered.

“Good girls get rewarded, you know. Eat all of dinner and I’ll eat you later.”

Her breath caught then stuttered. He had to grin as she practically lunged at the next forkful of food. Then he realized what he’d said, in front of her husband. He looked over at Julian hoping he wasn’t about to fly into a jealous rage.

But the other man was just watching him, his face full of hunger. Cole reached over and placed his hand on the other man’s leg. He was hard, thick with muscle. Cole’s cock had already been hard and aching with having Keira on his knee, but the thought of seeing Julian naked, of having access to every inch of his delicious body, well, it almost made him shoot his load. Shit. That would be embarrassing.

Keira finished up her dinner quickly. Julian stood and took the plate back to the sink. He liked the way the man took care of his wife. It was obvious the two of them worked as team. He was the one stepping into the middle of that.