Their first night at the club, ruined. Thanks to Cole. Anger surged through him as he glared at the other man. Cole scowled back.
“Grab your stuff,” Cole barked. “You’re coming with me.”
Keira still shook and Julian gave her a concerned look. “You all right, kitten?”
“Yes . . . I . . . I want to go.”
Julian nodded and kept hold of her hand as he turned to grab his bag. He snatched up the paddle and Hitachi wand, not bothering to clean it and threw it in his bag. Keira stuck close to him.
“Anna,” Joel called out and a curvy redhead stepped forward.
“Yes, Master Saxon?”
“Get Keira a blanket, please.”
“Oh, it’s okay, I’m . . .” she trailed off as Saxon gave her a firm look.
“She needs aftercare even though your scene was so rudely interrupted,” Saxon told him.
Julian gave him a short nod. He wanted to snap that he didn’t need advice on caring for his wife, but he knew that this brother wasn’t the one deserving his anger.
Anna brought the blanket and handed it to him. He let go of Keira’s hand to wrap it around her shoulders then drew her close to his side, his arm protectively holding her anchored to his side.
“Bruce, accompany my brother out. Make certain he doesn’t create any more problems. Oh, and Cole, turn up here again, and I’ll call the police.”
Cole’s hands clenched into fists. “Don’t go after what’s mine again and I won’t have to.”
Keira let out a soft gasp, but Julian just ignored them as he led her across the club. She turned her face into his chest. He could feel her trying to make herself smaller and he hated it. Hated that Cole had the power to make her feel ashamed of who she was.
Just like her father had.
Damn him. And damn himself for not protecting her better.
“It’s okay, kitten, we’re nearly out of here. Then I’ll take you home and run you a nice bath, all right? You can relax.”
Except that wasn’t going to happen and they both knew it. They’d both be thinking about this too much to relax. Keira had already been wound up before coming to the club tonight. He’d been determined to help her unwind. Submitting to him helped her let go of her other worries and fears.
Now that was ruined.
Fuck. Cole. Saxon.
He reached the door leading outside and one of the bouncers opened it. “I’ll escort you to your car.”
“Thanks,” Julian told him.
“Wait. Julian. Keira. Stay right there.”
The demand in Cole’s voice was almost impossible to ignore. But Julian kept steering Keira towards their beat-up Ford. She remained stiff and tense in his arm but moved without protest.
“Fuck! Will you get the fuck out of my way?” Cole snarled.
Julian heard something that sounded like a grunt of pain and turned to find Bruce had Cole pinned against an SUV.
Keira gasped, taking a step forward.
He grabbed her hand. “Kitten, stay back.”
“Get off me, you asshole,” Cole snapped.
“Boss wants you gone,” Bruce replied calmly.
“He’s not my boss.” Cole shoved at the bouncer, but he was a huge guy, at least half a foot taller and probably fifty pounds heavier than Cole. “Get the fuck off me before I have you arrested for assault.”
God, he was arrogant. He was in the wrong yet still issuing threats. Why was he so attracted to the bastard? It confused the hell out of him.
He wasn’t always an ass. He could be generous. He could show kindness, not much and he had very little empathy. But he had flashes of it.
He was protective, especially of Keira, which Julian appreciated. Some men might get jealous, but sometimes it felt like Keira needed more than just him watching over her. She’d give away the clothes off her back if he allowed it. Her kindness and generosity knew no limits. She was almost the opposite of Cole.
“Please, let him go, Bruce,” Keira said to the big bouncer. Julian flicked a gaze over to his wife. He knew Bruce had a soft spot for her. Hell, all the people who worked at the club did.
But Bruce didn’t look away from Cole. “Can’t do that, Keira. The boss wouldn’t like him harassing you. He wants him gone.”
“I’m not leaving without the two of you. You’re coming with me.” Cole glared at them both.
“I’ll walk you to your car. Bruce will keep the trash here while you leave,” the other bouncer said. He couldn’t remember his name.
“That’s very kind of you, Jimmy,” Keira gave the other bouncer, who looked like he could have been an extra in Mad Max, a blinding smile. He blinked for a moment, obviously not expecting that. Then a look of adoration flitted across his face.
“But Cole wouldn’t hurt us,” Keira told Jimmy. “I don’t think he’s going to give up until he speaks to us.”
“I won’t. You drive off and I’ll just follow you home.” Despite the fact he was still pinned to the SUV, Cole exuded alpha maleness and control.
How the hell did he do that?
“We’re not going home with you,” Julian told him.
“Fine. Then let me drive you home. But I need to speak with you both. I need to know you’re both okay. That you’re safe.”
Julian looked down at her Keira, her pale blue eyes stared up at him, complete trust shining at him. He wasn’t sure he deserved that. Fuck. Was this the right thing to do? He had no idea. Would he regret it if he didn’t do it? Yeah, he thought he would.
“Fine, you can follow us home. We’ll talk there.”
Cole felt like pounding something with his fists.
He followed closely behind the tiny, dented, red two-door car. Fuck. This is what they drove around in? It was a tin can on wheels. How had he not known they were driving the streets of L.A. in a death trap? When the thing had started up, it had rattled and whined so badly he’d almost jumped out of his car and dragged them out forcefully.
He’d had to grind his teeth and hold onto the steering wheel for dear life to stop himself.
Unacceptable.
He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. He had to get himself under control. The reason he hadn’t demanded they get out of that ridiculous vehicle was because he knew he was already walking a fine line with them.
He’d fucked up. He’d fucked up monumentally. What had he been thinking? He’d intended to go in quietly and get them out without creating a scene. He’d meant to ask them to return with him to his penthouse where he’d explain, calmly, that there was no need for them to use his brother to get his attention. That the kiss two months ago had been a mistake and things needed to stay strictly professional. That pulling shit like this wasn’t the way to get him to notice them. Fuck, he already noticed them. He just couldn’t fucking have them.
Except his dick didn’t understand that. And right now, he was beyond being reasonable. Screw professional. Screw keeping a distance. Not tonight. Tomorrow, he’d remember the board and his duty and blah-blah-blah. Right the fuck now, he just wanted to be balls deep in the two people who meant the most to him.
Yes. Both of them. He’d never been attracted to a man before, but damned if he didn’t want Julian just as much as he wanted Keira. He wanted the other man on his knees, sucking him off. He wanted him on all fours as Cole fucked him from behind.
He wanted him to submit. Keira was the easier one. She wore her emotions on her sleeve. He knew she’d been interested in him for a long time. But she was married. His PA. She was also far too sweet and innocent for his tastes. He liked women who were confident, tough, self-assured.
He’d chew her up and spit her out, and he didn’t want that for Keira. But he couldn’t seem to walk away.
They drove down a dark street. What had happened to the streetlights? He looked at his GPS. What the fuck? He was sure their HR records showed them living in an apartment closer to the city.
They drew into the driveway of a tiny house. He stared ou
t the window in disbelief as he pulled in behind their car. What the fuck was this?
Anger surged inside him. This is where they lived? In one of the most dangerous suburbs in the city? In a house that looked like a good puff from the big bad wolf would make it crumble?
What the ever-loving fuck?
Fury rode him. Normally, he was good at keeping control over his emotions. He’d learned to do that from a young age. Showing emotion around his father was a sure way to get the sharp edge of his anger.
But, right now, his control was shot. First, it had taken a beating by finding out they were at his brother’s fucking sex club. Where anything could happen to them. Where anyone could have hurt them, stolen them from him.
Not yours, asshole. Remember? You’re here to let them down gently.
But right now, he wasn’t thinking about rejection. He was too busy working out how the hell he was going to get them out of this place. He opened his car door then slammed it shut.
“What the fuck is this?” he snapped as he strode towards their vehicle.
Keira let out a gasp. Julian had her door open and was helping her out. Cole should have done that and he cursed himself for a moment at the missed opportunity to touch his sweet little PA. That thought only fed the beast roaring inside him. Demanding that he claim them. Protect them. Own them.
Fuck. Was he starting to think like his father now? Rein it in, fucker.
“Jesus, keep your voice down.” Julian scowled at him as he glanced around. “This is not the sort of neighborhood where you want to draw attention to yourself.”
Well, at least they had some sense of protection. Not much. But a little.
“Oh, no? Is that so?” he asked in a low voice. He stepped closer. A light had flashed on as they’d driven up, at least someone had the sense to put in a security light on the outside of the house.
“And what sort of neighborhood is this?” He looked from one to the other. “No answer? I’ll tell you then. It’s the sort of neighborhood that the two of you should never fucking step foot in, let alone live in! What the fuck were you thinking renting a place here?”
“We’re not renting,” Keira told him, her voice shaking slightly. He should probably feel bad about scaring her, but he was too angry at their lack of self-preservation.
They put themselves at risk. They should be punished.
Fuck. Was he starting to think like his brother now? What the hell was wrong with him? He needed to calm down and remember who he was. This wasn’t him. He prided himself on his control. On his ability to keep his emotions tamped down. Then her words penetrated.
“Wait. You mean you bought this shack?”
Both of them stiffened, it should have been a warning, but he was too far in his own head to read their body language. Understanding others’ motivations and emotions wasn’t something he was good at outside of business. When it came to his job, to making money, he was a shark. When it came to relationships, he sank like a rock.
“Why the fuck would you do that? What kind of an idiot would think this was a good investment?”
“I suppose that idiot would be me,” Keira said in a small voice.
His thoughtless words slammed into him. Fuck. He was messing this all up.
“You need to go,” Julian demanded. He pushed Keira behind him so she was sandwiched between his large body and that ridiculous car. How did Julian even get his big frame inside it?
Then Cole realized he was shielding her. From him. Did he think that he would harm Keira? Never. He’d never hurt her. She was the first PA he’d ever had who could actually do her job and deal with him. She didn’t buckle. She didn’t overreact. She was efficient, reliable, always on time . . . and why was he listing Keira’s attributes? He needed to focus.
“You don’t need to shield her from me. I’d never hurt her.”
“You just did,” Julian struck back at him.
He rounded his shoulders, as though he’d been struck. He felt that jab in his gut, it twisted, going deep.
“Words can hurt too, asshole,” Julian added.
Like he didn’t fucking know that? Hadn’t he lived with an abusive asshole all through his childhood? He’d never do that to someone else . . . only, had his thoughtless words hurt Keira?
“Julian, it’s okay. You know Cole is just speaking the truth. This place is a dump, and I was an idiot for talking you into buying it because I thought it was charming. Now I’ve gotten us in way over our heads, the roof needs replacing, the air conditioning doesn’t work, it needs rewiring, and we can’t even afford to buy a proper fridge.”
Keira’s voice held more than a hint of despair, and Cole’s hands curled into fists with the need to reassure her, to tell her not to stress, that he’d take away each of her worries. He’d throw a fucking bucketload of money at this dump if that’s what she desired. Or, better yet, tear it down and build them something he knew without a doubt was a hundred percent safe, because he really didn’t like the sound of the rewiring and that the roof needed replacing. Then he’d have to build a huge fence around the place to keep them safe from their neighbors and buy a fucking bullet-proof hummer for them to drive because that heap of junk car was no longer a possibility.
Be easier to move them into my place.
He shook off the ridiculous thought. That wasn’t happening.
“Keira, I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings,” he said stiffly. Apologizing wasn’t something that came easy to him. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d said sorry to anyone.
Maybe you’re more like good old Dad than you think.
He gritted his teeth. Julian watched him warily, and he was suddenly all too aware they were standing in the dark in a bad neighborhood. Christ, if he left his car, would it still be there when he returned.
Be quick. Say what you need to say then leave.
“As you know, sometimes I speak without thinking first.”
“But you always tell the truth, don’t you, Cole?” Julian said with more than a little hint of bitterness.
Fuck. Shit.
“Can we go inside?”
“What? You want to go inside this piece of shit house?” Julian mocked. “Aren’t you scared it will fall on your head? Or that you’ll catch something?”
“Julian, please,” Keira said, snaking an arm around her husband’s waist. Then she moved out from behind him, looking up at Cole. She looked exhausted. Drained.
He ran his hand over his face. “I’m sorry. I really am. Tonight, what happened in the club . . . I didn’t mean to—”
“Humiliate us?” Julian queried. “Interrupt our scene? Make it so we can’t ever go back there?”
No. Well, no to all except the last. He didn’t want them returning to the club, but he’d intended to duke that out with his brother in private. Fuck. How big of an audience had they had tonight? How many people would talk?
“They all sign contracts stating they won’t talk about anything that goes on in the club,” Keira said quietly, able to read him easily. “If anyone says anything, Joel will sue.”
The damage would be done first, though. Hopefully, everyone there tonight was too scared of his brother to say anything.
He didn’t like his chances.
“Can I please come in and talk to you both? I promise I’ll rein in my mouth and my temper.”
Keira nodded but Julian still looked reluctant. Cole understood. Keira didn’t have it in her to hold a grudge. She was too soft-hearted. She needed a protector. Someone to set boundaries for her. He just wasn’t certain Julian always managed that. Not that he couldn’t physically protect her. But he’d seen her get her way with Julian when she wouldn’t manage that with. . . him?
He swallowed heavily. Having them both was just a dream. Unrealistic. Unattainable.
“Julian, let’s go in,” Keira told him. “You know he won’t give up, and I’d really like to sit down.” She swayed as she spoke, and Cole leapt for her, but Julian had her in his arms before h
e could even get close, cradling her against his chest.
“Keira!” Cole said urgently.
“Keira, baby, you okay?” Julian raised his gaze from Keira to him.
In that instant, Cole knew a temporary truce had been formed over their concern for Keira.
“I’m okay,” she told him, but her voice sounded funny. Faint. As though even talking was too much effort.
Alarmed, Cole reached out and took her hand in his. “She’s cold.” He placed a finger over the pulse point in her wrist. “Pulse is a little fast. I think we should get her inside.”
“Guys, I’m fine. It was just a bit of a dizzy spell. Nothing to get worried about.”
“That’s your second one tonight,” Julian said to her in a gruff voice. “I think that’s plenty to worry about. Especially since you’re as pale as a ghost and weak.”
“Her second dizzy spell?” Cole asked. Why the hell wasn’t she at urgent care right now? “When was her first one?”
“It was nothing.” Keira waved her hand in dismissal. “I just got up from the floor too quickly and felt a bit light-headed.”
“From the floor? Why were you on the floor?”
Julian shot him a look, and redness filled Keira’s pale cheeks. Oh. Right. They’d just come from a BDSM club. He guessed she’d been kneeling or sitting on the floor. Jealousy flooded him, surprising him. He didn’t want her kneeling for him, did he?
Of course, you don’t. It’s barbaric. Demeaning.
“And you kept going?” He glared at Julian. The other man dropped his gaze, his pose one of shame. Guilt stabbed at Cole. He didn’t mean to make Julian feel bad.
“Don’t talk to Julian like that,” Keira snapped, surprising him. She’d never been anything but polite and sweet to him, although, he knew she had a fiery side. But it only came out rarely, and usually in his defense. When someone was trying to get to him after he’d asked not to be disturbed.
So, her attack on him was unexpected. But not undeserved.
“It’s not his fault,” she told Cole. “I told him I was fine.”
“I should have insisted we stop, Keira,” Julian said miserably. “I should have made sure you ate more for dinner. Unless you think it’s something else. Do you feel ill?”
Cole's Mistake (Haven, Texas Book 8) Page 3