Cole's Mistake (Haven, Texas 8)

“Hmm, seems it might be best if I left before she says something my ego can’t take.” Cole grinned up at him.

Fuck. How many times had he seen the man smile? Very rarely. And here he was, smiling like he didn’t have a care in the world.

“I wish I had time to do something more, but I have to get going.” Cole stood and moved towards him. He’d already dressed in his shirt and pants, tucking them in neatly.

“We need to talk.” Julian forced himself to stand his ground. He wasn’t going to be swept under the other man’s spell again. Not like last night. He had the power to make Julian want to drop all his inhibitions, all his barriers, and just bask in the authority and sexuality that Cole wore like a second skin.

Cole reached out and cupped the side of Julian’s face. For a moment, he melted. His knees felt weak.

Fuck. The effect this man had on him.

“I know we do. I’ll be back later, okay? Then we’ll talk everything out.” Cole leaned forward and brushed their lips together. “Why don’t you go back to bed, get some rest?” He looked back at Keira. “Tell our girl I’m sorry I couldn’t say goodbye, but I didn’t want to wake her. Oh, and make sure she eats, yeah?”

Julian frowned, wanting to snap that he’d been taking care of Keira for years without his help. But then, he hadn’t known about that crazy juice diet she’d been on. Seemed he and Keira were gonna need to have a little chat.

“Cole, I heard you on the phone. Something about an apartment and bank accounts and contracts?”

Cole frowned then stepped closer to Julian. He ran his hand down Julian’s chest, circling his bare nipple. All he wore was a pair of boxers he’d dragged on after leaving bed. His cock hardened against the tight material as Cole ran his finger down Julian’s stomach.

“You were eavesdropping, hmm?” Cole asked as he grabbed hold of Julian’s cock, squeezing it.

Julian let out a quiet noise of pleasure, his eyes closing.

“Uh-uh, eyes on me,” Cole commanded.

He opened his eyes, staring into the other man’s gray gaze.

“I don’t know exactly what you heard, but you don’t need to worry. I’m going to take care of both of you. I promise. This wasn’t some one-night stand. You both mean something to me.”

Fuck. Those words. They filled some of the cracks in his soul he hadn’t been aware were there. Cracks that had appeared when he’d gone all distant on them after that kiss they’d shared.

Don’t hurt us again.

“Cole,” he said doubtfully, before hissing in pleasure as the other man released his hard, aching shaft from the tight confines of his boxers.

Cole glanced down at Julian’s hard-on as he ran his hand slowly up and down his dick. “There’s one thing I regret about last night.”

Julian stiffened. “What’s that?”

“That I didn’t get to take you,” Cole told him, dispersing any worry he had that Cole had doubts. “That I didn’t get to play more with you, feel your mouth around my dick.”

Julian’s breath sped up.

“Tonight, I’ll make up for that. There’s no rush. We’re going to have plenty of time to explore one another.”

He let go of Julian’s shaft and took a step back, looking the other man up and down.

“What are you doing?” Julian demanded.

“Oh, I’ve got to leave,” Cole replied with an evil grin. “You can think of this as a little taste of what’s to come.”

Julian’s eyes narrowed. “You’re an asshole.”

“Most definitely,” Cole agreed easily. “I’ll see you both tonight. Think of me.”

Oh, he would. But it wouldn’t necessarily be fondly. That was for sure.

A feeling of dread filled him. He had this awful feeling that if he let Cole leave, he’d never see him again. Which was ridiculous. He’d be there later.