Cole's Mistake (Haven, Texas 8)

“Hmm. I’ll have to try harder.”

“Enough!” Cole gave up with a laugh, rolling onto his back and holding his hands up. “I give up. I surrender.”

“Never thought I’d see the day that Cole Saxon gave up,” Julian rumbled, his lips twitching.

Keira shook her head. “Guess you lose your staying power when you get old.”

“Old! Old! You little brat.” He sat and started tickling her. She curled up in a ball of laughter as he mercilessly discovered all of her soft spots.

“Stop! Stop! Please!”

“Do you surrender?” he demanded.

“Yes! I surrender! I surrender!”

He stopped and then pushed her hair back from her face to kiss her deeply. Then he lay on his back, wincing as the bed groaned once more.

“Is this thing going to collapse on us in the night?”

“Maybe,” Julian commented, pulling Keira so she was lying on top of him, curled up on his chest. It was obviously a position they were both used to. Keira snuggled in, her face one of bliss as she turned to look at Cole.

He rolled onto his side and ran his hand down her back. “I think I’m beginning to understand why you call her kitten.”

Julian gave him a satisfied look. “She’s got a playful, sometimes naughty side. Other times, she’s sleepy and cuddly. Touch her right and she’ll purr.”

The other man gave him a look of shared knowledge in exactly how to touch Keira. Rightness settled inside him. He cupped her ass and she let out a contented sigh, her eyelids growing heavy.

Cole knew he should feel exhausted. But there were a few things he had to say first. Get off his chest.

“I really am sorry about tonight,” he told them both. “I was so wound up and worried about you both. I didn’t mean to cause a scene.”

He just hoped like fuck no one on the board heard about it.

Both Julian and Keira stiffened. “Cole, we wanted to be there. You seem to think Joel influenced us in some way, but he didn’t.”

He ground his teeth together. They didn’t know how volatile his relationship with his brother was. How very real the possibility was that Joel had gone after them because of him.

Maybe he should change the topic. They didn’t need to speak of that right then. They wouldn’t be going back to the club again, so it no longer mattered. He’d give them whatever they needed.

“I just want to give you what you both need,” he told them. “I care about you both.”

Keira softened. She sent him a small smile. Christ, she was far too trusting and sweet for his peace of mind. Then his gaze went up to meet Julian’s. He looked more guarded.

“Whatever you need, whatever you desire, I will do my best to provide.”

“We don’t need anything but you,” Keira replied. She reached over and cupped his face with her hand.

But he was all too aware of Julian’s silence. His watchfulness.

He leaned in and lightly kissed Keira’s lips. “Thank you. Although, you could use a new bed. One where Julian and I aren’t falling off the end.”

Keira’s grin widened. “I like it. It’s cozy.”

“Cozy is one word for it,” he muttered. It didn’t matter, he’d get them out of this hellhole and situated in a much nicer, safer apartment with the biggest bed he could find. Happiness filled him as he thought of everything he could do to make their lives better.

A groan rocked the house and the scent he’d smelled earlier seemed to grow stronger. He sat up.

“What the fuck is that?”