Julian met Keira’s gaze, her eyes reflecting his own shock and hope.
Julian cleared his throat, but did as ordered. He didn’t know how he could take commands from Cole, yet he would have kicked anyone else out on their ass if they’d pulled Keira onto their lap and instructed him to feed her.
“For someone who thinks so badly of BDSM you sure do have a Dom vibe going on,” he told Cole as he placed a forkful of food in Keira’s mouth. Some dropped off and landed in her lap and he stood to get some napkins. He noticed Cole had his hands curled in hers, holding them on her lap. He waited for jealousy. There was a tinge there. He guessed that was understandable. But at the end of the day, she was his wife. And he knew his Keira.
She would never betray him.
So, he pushed that aside and concentrated on taking care of her, while studying Cole. “Do I? I like to be in charge, to take control. Both in the bedroom and out. It’s not play for me, like it is for Joel.”
Julian stiffened as Cole stuffed a napkin down Keira’s T-shirt. This had a surreal feel to it. Their first night in the club had been ruined, yet there they were with the man they were both interested in, and he wasn’t turning them away.
“I don’t think he’s playing at it,” Keira protested. “Joel takes it very seriously.”
Cole snorted. Julian knew they wouldn’t win this argument with him. There was a lot of old crap going on between the two brothers they knew nothing about. Even though he agreed with Keira that Joel took it all very seriously and professionally, nothing they said to Cole would change his mind overnight.
“Joel has never taken anything seriously,” he muttered. “He plays at life, leaving everyone else to do the heavy lifting. Never caring about anyone else.”
“He seemed to have love his sister,” Julian pointed out. “I don’t know him well, but I heard he was devastated by her death.”
Cole’s face tightened and he looked away. Julian and Keira glanced at each other, worried. Cole and Joel were half-brothers, sharing the same dad. Cole had grown up with their father, while Joel had lived with his mother and sister.
They both knew Joel didn’t do any work in the company, Cole ran everything. But, from what Keira had told Julian, Joel rarely even showed at board meetings. So, he guessed, he got where the other man was coming from, in part. But Cole hadn’t exactly shown much support for Joel either.
After tonight, he wondered if the two men could ever have a healthy relationship.
“Enough of my brother, I’ll deal with him later.”
“Deal with him?” Keira asked, between mouthfuls.
“I don’t like that he used the two of you to get to me.”
Julian met Keira’s gaze. That wasn’t the way it was at all.
“Joel wasn’t using us, Cole,” Julian said. “We wanted to be there. It was our choice. We enjoy that depraved shit.”
Cole was quiet for a long moment. “Like I said, I’m the sort of guy who likes to be in charge. In the bedroom and out. It’s my personality. I don’t switch it on and off. I don’t play at stuff. I don’t need to go to a club and parade my partner around as though they were a trophy. What goes on in the bedroom should stay there.”
That wasn’t the way things were at all. Julian glared at Cole. “I wasn’t parading Keira like some trophy.”
Cole blinked as though suddenly realizing they were there. Then he seemed to think about what he’d said. “I wasn’t talking about the two of you.”
“But we went to the club tonight,” Keira pointed out.
“We’ve been taking training sessions for weeks there,” Julian added.
Cole’s eyes flashed. “Because my brother talked you into it. Because you have needs that weren’t being met. But you no longer need my brother or the club because I’m here. If you need someone to take control, I can do that. That doesn’t mean I need you to fucking kneel at my feet or degrade you or whip you to get off.”
“It’s not like that,” Keira started to explain. “It’s all consensual. Nobody is being forced to do things they don’t want to do. Submitting to Julian, it fulfills something inside me. I can let go of everything and just be. I don’t have to think and worry, because he’s in charge. He doesn’t put me down or hurt me. He gives me what I need. We sat down and talked through both of our needs and limits before we did anything.”
Cole frowned, but he did look thoughtful. He tapped his fingers against his thigh. “I won’t go to a club.”
“We wouldn’t ask you to,” Julian told him. “This isn’t about forcing anyone to do things they’re not comfortable with.”
“I don’t want the two of you there without me.”
Keira looked over at him then shrugged. “I’m happy not to go to a club, Julian?”
He nodded. Were they negotiating here? Was this really happening? Cole was talking like he wanted a relationship with them.
“You’re not here with us because you want to get back at your brother, are you?” Julian asked as the thought occurred to him.
Were they just being used as pawns between the two men?
“What? Of course not,” Cole said quickly. “I’m here because I’ve fucking wanted the two of you in my bed almost since the first moment I met you.”
“Keira, maybe but what about me? What role do I play?” Julian asked.
Cole watched Julian. Were they really talking about this? Was he going to get both of them in his bed?
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.
He’d carve his own path. He slid Keira off his lap and stood, still holding onto her.
“How are you feeling, little bit? Any dizziness? When was the last time you had a checkup?”
“Um, I don’t know. But I feel fine.”
“Keira hates going to the doctor.” Her husband threw her under the bus, grinning when she glared at him. “What? You told him I swear all the time.”
She huffed out a breath, crossing her arms over her chest.
“All right, then, Monday morning you make a doctor’s appointment. I want you checked over fully, understand me?”
She gave him a mutinous look.
“I’ll make the appointment,” Julian said. “I’ll take the time off to take you, Keira.”
She softened. “You don’t have to do that. You’re busy at work.”
“I happen to know the boss,” Cole offered. “He’s a reasonable man. I’m sure he’ll let him have the time off.”
They both gave him incredulous looks. “Francis Lyle asked for a day off to attend his brother’s wedding and you said no,” Julian told him.
“He asked for the day off for the bachelor party,” he countered. “Which was on Saturday night, but he wanted Monday off. He just wanted an extra day to recover. He was needed on an important job. Besides, he’s a dick.”
Keira giggled. “He is a dick.”
Julian’s eyebrows rose. “Why do you say that, Keira?” There was an easy note to his voice, but Cole saw the laser-sharp focus in his eyes.
“He always stands too close when he’s talking to me, just so he can try and look down my shirt.”
Cole straightened. “That bastard. Why didn’t you tell me? That’s harassment.”
“I’m going to kill the fucker. How dare he fucking look at my fucking wife,” Julian swore.
“Relax, you two. He’s never done more than make a few lewd comments and try to stare down my blouse.”
But Cole could see he’d made her feel uncomfortable. Lyle was a dead man. “I’ll take care of him.”
“No. I will.” Julian gave him a firm look. “She’s my wife.”
“And she’s my personal assistant and Lyle is my employee.”
They clashed, neither of them willing to compromise. Keira cleared her throat. “Maybe we could stop talking about Francis Lyle and start discussing other things.”
“What, like your punishment, kitten?” Julian asked.
4
Shit. Maybe she should have left them to their arguments over who got to deal with Lyle. Truth was, she’d be happy if they got him to lay off her. He was only getting pushier and nothing she said or did seemed to sway him.
Keira wasn’t good at standing up to pushy men. Her father had spent years teaching her that she wasn’t worth as much as everyone else. And for the longest time she’d believed it. Sometimes she still did.
“What sort of punishment?” Cole asked. He looked slightly uneasy and she shot Julian a look.
But her husband just raised an eyebrow. She got it. Cole said he could give them what they needed. He wanted to stay even though he knew what would happen. So, it was time to test him. Although, personally, she thought they didn’t have to do this tonight.
“Maybe we should put this off until later.” she said hopefully.
“Nice try, kitten,” Julian told her mercilessly as he took hold of her hand and led her into the living room.
Cole followed them silently.
“Unless you’re not feeling well enough?” Julian turned, looking down at her in concern.
“No, I feel much better.” And that was the truth. She glanced over to see how Cole was doing.
Julian cupped her chin in his hand. “Don’t worry about Cole. This is about you. And I want your word that if you start to feel unwell you’ll say your safeword, understand?”
“Yes, I understand.”
Julian turned to look at Cole. “Sure you’re in?”
Cole nodded. “I want to see what it is about this you both enjoy.”
“She may not enjoy parts of this,” Julian warned. “It’s punishment.”
Cole’s jaw tightened. Then he turned his gaze to her. “Keira? You’re certain about this?”
“Yes. I earned it. It will help me.”
Cole frowned. “Help you?”
“I’ve got this icky feeling in my tummy, because I know I’ve upset Julian. Putting myself down, risking my health, those are things I know are unacceptable and I hate letting people down. A punishment gets rid of the feelings of guilt that might otherwise stay with me for weeks.”
Cole nodded slowly. “All right. I think I get that.”
“Would you help Keira lie over the back of the sofa?” Julian asked him.
Cole startled slightly but then he stepped forward. Keira smiled at him.
He placed his hand on the small of her back as he led her over to the sofa. “You look awfully happy for someone who’s about to have their butt roasted.”
She shrugged. “I know I’ll feel better afterwards. I know it sounds weird, but it feels right to us.”
Cole helped her into position, her hands resting on the cushions then stepped back and away. She turned her head to see him standing several feet away. But at least he was pulling off his tie and untucking his shirt rather than running for the hills.
Julian came over and crouched by her head. “You okay, kitten?”
“I’m fine. I promise. Do you think he’s going to be okay with this?”
Julian grimaced. “I don’t know. I don’t know whether letting him stay is the best idea. But I guess I’d always be left with what ifs if we didn’t give this a go. But, whatever happens, know I love you. I am here for you. For
ever.”
She nodded. “Forever.”
Julian stood. “Can you hand me your tie please?”
Cole stepped forward and handed the dark blue tie over. Julian used it to bind her wrists together. He checked to make certain it wasn’t too tight.
Cole didn’t say anything, just watched her with hot eyes.
“Don’t you think that’s a pretty sight?” Julian asked.
Cole startled then raised his gaze to the other man. “It is.”
Keira wriggled in happiness.
“Stay still, kitten,” Julian growled at her. “I need to go and get something, will you watch her for me?”
It was a sign of trust. Julian leaving his sub while she was bound with Cole. But she knew Cole would take care of her and Julian knew the same.
“Yes,” Cole replied.
“Good. Let me just get her ready.” Julian stood and moved out of her eyesight. A large hand rested on her thigh then the bottom of her T-shirt was tugged up and over her ass. She was still wearing the G-string, but it didn’t hide anything. She gulped. Holy shit.
“What do you think of this, Cole?” Julian asked.
Cole moved from her eyesight as well and she tensed, knowing he was looking at her.
His throat cleared. “I can see my imagination didn’t do you any justice, little bit. This ass is everything.”
She flushed with happiness.
Cole moved back around to crouch in front of her. “How are you doing, little bit?”
“I’m good.” Sir. She left off that part, not knowing how he’d react.
“You’re still happy with this? For me to be here?”
“Yes,” she breathed out, hoping he could see how much she wanted him here, watching as she got her ass spanked.
He looked up as she heard footsteps. His face darkened slightly. “A paddle? Can she take that?”
“Keira, can you handle a paddle?” Julian asked.
“Yes, Sir,” she replied.
“Do you like having your butt spanked?”
“Oh, yes, Sir.”
Cole gave her a surprised look, and she grinned up at him.
Cole's Mistake (Haven, Texas Book 8) Page 5