Cole's Mistake (Haven, Texas Book 8)

by Laylah Roberts

  They watched him, silent and wary, sad and hopeful.

  “Did you find who sent the photos?” Julian asked.

  “Yeah. Eventually. It was Jerard Johnson. He was taken care of.” Cole had made certain of that.

  Then Julian abruptly stood and picked Keira up in his arms. “Keira needs to sleep.”

  His stomach dropped. But he got it. He didn’t deserve forgiveness. Not yet, anyway.

  “Would you like me to go?” He prepared himself to leave. He’d hoped when he told them what had happened, they might show some reaction, show some hint of understanding. But he didn’t blame them a bit for guarding themselves.

  Julian turned. “You can stay.”

  “I’ll make up the bed in the spare bedroom,” Keira called out.

  “You won’t,” Julian countered.

  “You need to get to sleep, little bit.” She did, she looked absolutely exhausted. There were dark circles under her eyes and her skin was far too pale.

  “It won’t take a moment to—”

  “No,” both men barked at the same time.

  Cole shared a look with Julian. At least on this, on caring for Keira, they could come together.

  “I’ll sleep on the couch, little bit,” he told her.

  She frowned. “But the bed will be more comfortable.”

  “But if I’m here then I’m between the two of you and the front door.”

  Julian stiffened. “I can protect her.”

  “You can,” he soothed. “I’m not doubting that. But you need to sleep too, Julian. Let me guard you both tonight. Let me look out for both of you.”

  The other man just looked at him. “Don’t fuck this up.”

  He wasn’t quite sure if Julian was talking about watching over them or everything.

  Cole opened his eyes.

  He hadn’t really been sleeping. He couldn’t help but feel this sense of impending doom. Of danger. As though something bad was coming.

  So, when the tall, broad man, dressed in just boxers and a tank top, strode past him towards the front door, he already knew who it was. He sat slowly. “Julian? Everything okay?”

  Julian froze. Then turned towards him. There was a moment of silence. Then the big man shook his head.

  “No? Everything isn’t okay?” Cole stood. He’d stripped down to his boxers and had found a blanket in the hall closet.

  “Forgot you were there. Was half-asleep, shit. Forgot you were there. How could I forget you were there?”

  There was anguish in the other man’s voice.

  “Julian. It’s okay.”

  “Should have sensed you. Should have known you were there. How can I protect her when I forgot you were even there?” He placed his head in his hands, letting out a deep groan that was filled with pain.

  Cole had had enough. He couldn’t handle anymore. He approached slowly, like one might do with an injured animal. But he couldn’t stand by while someone he cared about was hurting. Someone he loved.

  He’d loved the two of them for years. Maybe even before they’d spent that night together. He’d fallen for Keira first. All the times she’d made him smile. The late nights they’d spent together working. They’d both dragged him out of the office for a drink. Made him take the time to have fun. Things between the three of them had been building up for months before that night.

  So, yeah, he loved him. But in his fucked-up mind, he’d turned that love into something else. A business transaction. Julian was right. They would have been his dirty little secret. Pampered, cherished, protected, but still something less. He would have tainted them.

  And right then, he saw how it never would have worked. Not back then. He would have fucked it all up.

  Christ, man. Don’t fuck it up now.

  “Julian. Easy, man. You were asleep. You forgot I was here. It’s not a big deal.”

  “It is a big deal,” Julian hit his forehead with the palm of his hand. “It’s a big fucking deal! I didn’t protect her! I let him hurt her! I let him hurt my wife! It’s a big fucking deal!”

  Cole reached for him as he turned and swung his fist into the wall. “It’s a goddamn fucking big deal, Cole!”

  He punched the wall again. And again.

  Fuck!

  Cole jumped on him, grabbing his arm. He expected resistance. Expected the other man to try to fight him off. But Julian just crumpled to the floor at his touch. He drew into as much of a ball as his large frame would allow.

  Cole dropped with him, acting on instinct as he wrapped his arms around the large man. Julian shook. His agony made all the more powerful by its silence.

  “It’s okay, Julian. I’m here. I’m here. You can let it out. Let me have it. Give it to me.”

  A low sound of pain erupted from the bigger man and Cole drew him tighter against him.

  Fuck. Fuck.

  He hated this. Hated that he didn’t know how to help him. He rocked him, holding on as much as he could as huge shudders rocked the other man’s body.

  “Julian? Cole?”

  Cole glanced up to see Keira standing at the entrance to the living room. Shit.

  “What’s wrong with Julian?” her voice trembled. “What’s going on?”

  “Keira, I need you to keep calm for me.” He kept his voice relaxed and low so as not to startle either of them. “Please will you turn a lamp on? Not the overhead light.”

  A lamp flickered on, casting a soft glow throughout the room. Keira let out a gasp and he saw her eyes widen as she took in the damage to the wall.

  “Hopefully Joel doesn’t mind a few improvements being made to his guest house,” he attempted to joke.

  Keira looked at him like he’d lost his mind. Yeah, he didn’t blame her. Joking around wasn’t really his thing and this probably wasn’t the time.

  Still, it was that or he might just lose it.

  You need to stay calm for them. They need you.

  Right. Right.

  Julian still shuddered in his arms, whether he was listening to them or lost in his nightmares, Cole was unsure.

  “What happened?” Keira asked, moving closer.

  “Julian forgot I was here. He got upset when he came into the living room and found me on the sofa.”

  “But why would he get upset—” Something seemed to occur to her, and she pressed her lips together. Then she moved closer and knelt on the other side of Julian, carefully draping herself over him. “Oh, Julian. Oh, baby.”

  He hated that he didn’t fully know what was going on. Absolutely hated it. But right now, he could only go with his gut and do what he thought best to help them both.

  They sat there for a few minutes, both of them holding tightly to the big man they both cared deeply about.

  “Sorry, sorry,” Julian finally muttered. He looked up, glanced at Cole then Keira before dropping his eyes to the floor as though ashamed. “Sorry.”

  No. Cole wasn’t having that. He let go of the other man. Reluctantly. Then he reached out and grasped Julian’s chin, tilting his face up gently.

  “You have nothing to apologize for. Hear me? Nothing.”

  “I lost it. I punched the wall. Put holes in it. Not even my property. Can’t even afford to fix it.” The big man hunched his shoulders.

  “I’ll deal with the wall,” Cole told him. “Nobody cares about the hole in the wall. We care about you. That’s all that matters. The two of you.”

  Cole moved his gaze to Keira’s. Noted the way her eyes had filled with tears. He didn’t think it was a good idea for her to lose it right now in front of Julian.

  “Little bit, please go get the first aid kit.” He deliberately didn’t frame it as a question.

  She immediately responded, getting to her feet and leaving the room.

  Good little subbie.

  He turned his gaze back to Julian’s. To the shame and fear and wariness hidden in those depths. And, for once in his life, he didn’t think about his actions first. Didn’t calculate the odds. He just leaned
in and kissed him. At first, Julian didn’t respond. He held himself stiff.

  Uncertainty filled Cole.

  Wrong move, asshole. He just completely wigged out and you go and kiss him?

  Then Julian sighed and opened his mouth, letting Cole sweep his tongue inside. His scent, mint and leather, surrounded Cole.

  Home. He was home.

  He moved his hand behind Julian’s neck, squeezing it, taking control of the kiss. He was aware of Keira returning, but didn’t stop the kiss. Was incapable of stopping. Then he felt Julian tug at his hold. He drew back, lightly biting the other man’s bottom lip.

  He braced himself. Prepared for anger or rejection. But as he looked into the other man’s eyes, he saw lust. And confusion.

  Cole moved his hand around to cup the side of Julian’s face, felt the stubble there, nearly shuddered in need as his body tightened with arousal.

  “You have nothing to be sorry for, understand? You forgot I was here because on some level you trust me. You know I’d never physically harm either of you. I’d do whatever I had to in order to keep you both safe. The two of you are it for me. Along with the people in that house,” he gestured in the direction of Joel’s house, “you are all I have. All I want to have. I would burn the fucking world down for you. I would take care of any threat, any pain, any need that you have. I’m your fucking weapon, just point me in the direction you need me to go.”

  “We don’t need a weapon, Cole,” Keira told him. “We just need to see that we can trust you.”

  “To put us first. Before everything else,” Julian told him. “And to protect Keira. Always protect Keira.”

  “That goes without saying,” he said. He would protect both of them. But he didn’t say that as he didn’t want Julian to think he didn’t believe he was capable of protecting himself. He knew he was—under normal circumstances.

  There was nothing normal about these circumstances.

  “Julian, show me your hand,” Keira said quickly, sitting on the floor next to Cole.

  Julian didn’t move.

  “Julian, give Keira your hand,” Cole ordered quietly.

  Julian’s gaze crashed against him. He braced himself for the other man’s sharp tongue. Then Julian shocked him by sighing and holding out his swollen hand. Keira didn’t make a noise as she saw his bruised and bleeding knuckles. She just carefully cleaned them while Cole and Julian sat in silence. When she was finished, they both turned to Cole. Searching out his guidance. He was under no illusion that in the morning everything might change. But right now, they were asking for his help.

  They might think they didn’t need him to be their weapon. But that didn’t matter, because that’s exactly what he was.

  “I’m going to be right here. You don’t have to worry about protecting Keira, I’m going to watch over both of you. Can you trust me to do that, Julian?”

  Julian gave him a wary look, before glancing over at Keira.

  “Please try to get some more sleep, Julian,” Keira whispered. “I’m worried about you.”

  That was his girl. She knew just what to say to get Julian to acquiesce. She also meant every word. Her worry was clear. It added to Cole’s own fears. For both of them. He stood and held out a hand to each of them. Keira took it, letting him pull her up.

  But she was the easy one. Julian stared at the hand then up at Cole. Just when Cole thought he’d have to pull back, the other man grabbed hold of his hand. His was slightly rough, calloused, in direct contrast to Keira’s softer skin, her lighter touch.

  Cole grunted as he helped the other man get up. “Jesus, it’s like trying to move a Mack truck.”

  To his surprise, Keira let out a giggle. “He needs to lay off the pies.”

  “Are you calling me fat?” Julian said with mock-outrage.

  “Well . . .” Keira trailed off with another giggle.

  Julian reached over and gave her ass a slap with his good hand. “Little brat.”

  Cole shook his head at Keira. “Such disrespect. I think that needs addressing.”

  “What? No, it doesn’t! You said he was like a Mack truck.” She pouted as she pointed at Cole.

  “What do you think?” Cole turned to Julian, ignoring her protest. “Ten over your lap?”

  “Yes. Definitely.”

  Something lit up Keira’s gaze. He hadn’t been certain it was the right way to go, but he remembered her saying earlier that Julian’s spanking the other night had helped.

  “No!” She turned and moved towards the bedroom. But they both heard her giggles.

  Julian chased her, then seemed to realize Cole wasn’t following. He swung around with a frown.

  “I’ll stay here,” Cole told him. He didn’t belong in their bedroom. Not yet, anyway. “Don’t worry, I’ll check the house over again.”

  Julian studied him. “Come with us.”

  Cole swallowed. “Are you sure?”

  “She’s waiting. Come.” He turned and stalked away.

  He should probably insist they get some sleep, they certainly needed it. But maybe they needed a few moments of fun more. Well, he guessed there was only one thing to do then.

  He followed.

  20

  He walked into their bedroom to find Julian standing on one side of the bed, his arms crossed over his massive chest, his face scrunched up into a mock-frown. Keira stood on the other side, biting on her lip.

  Probably to hide a smile.

  Little minx.

  “Ah, you waited for me to start,” Cole drawled. “Thank you.”

  “My pleasure.” Julian gave a small bow. “I thought you’d enjoy the sight of kitten getting her butt beaten.”

  “Hey! No fair. Cole said it too. He needs his butt spanked.”

  An idea unfurled in his mind. It made him feel uncomfortable and he wasn’t certain he could do it. But it was there, and he needed to think on it before he decided.

  “Trying to deflect isn’t going to get you out of a much-deserved punishment, little bit,” Cole told her gravely. “Would you like me to grab her for you?”

  Julian nodded. “I might need some help. I seem to have damaged my spanking hand.”

  Cole’s cock hardened further.

  “Happy to help.” Cole sent Keira a grin.

  She narrowed her gaze, slammed her hands on her hips. “Gotta catch me first.”

  She pretended to fake a dive to her left.

  “Be careful of your leg,” Julian barked.

  Cole stiffened. Her leg? What was wrong with her leg? He hadn’t noticed her favoring one of her legs. Had she hurt herself?

  “It’s fine,” she shot back at the other man, poking out her tongue.

  “Oh, that just earned your bratty little bottom another five,” Julian told her. He turned to Cole. “Grab her.”

  Gladly. He couldn’t wait to get his hands on her. He also wanted her off her leg until he knew what was going on. Fuck, he hated not knowing everything.

  He leaped forward and picked her up, swinging her up into his arms. Julian had already sat on the bed. He patted his lap. Cole brought her to him, setting her on her husband’s lap. He stood there, feeling uncertain and hating it.

  Julian tapped the bed beside him. “Sit.”

  Seemed insane for a man who’d always been the one to take charge, but he found himself surprisingly grateful for the direction. Once he’d sat, Julian rolled Keira over, so her chest and head lay on Julian’s lap. While her bottom half rested on Cole’s knees.

  Oh, hell yes.

  Now, he needed no direction. He rubbed her ass through the thin material of what looked to be one of Julian’s old T-shirts. It swamped her far too small frame. And he reminded himself to go very easy. She was much more delicate and fragile now than she’d ever been.

  And he would do nothing that might harm her.

  “Anything I need to be aware of?”

  Both of them stiffened.

  “Just do what I say, and you’ll be fine,” Julian told h
im.

  It may not have been his strong suit in the past, but he was trying to improve for the future. He nodded. Julian could take lead. Cole was just grateful he had a role to play.

  “Lift her shirt, let’s see that naughty bottom,” Julian commanded. “What are we up to? Fifteen?”

  “Yes, I believe that’s right. Such a naughty little bit she is.” He lifted up the T-shirt. “And what do we have here? Panties?”

  “Well, they need to go,” Julian commented.

  Keira squeaked as Cole reached for the top of her panties. He paused. “Everything all right, little bit?”

  “Kitten?” Julian queried, running his fingers through her shorter hair.

  “Yes, I just, I’ve dreamed of having you both, um, oh, continue on,” she said in a high voice. “Nothing to see here. Just me living my dreams.”

  Both men shared a look. Julian’s contained a warning, as he’d expected. Fuck up and die was the basic message. But there was something else in there. A hidden longing.

  Or maybe he was just seeing a reflection of what he felt.

  Need. Hunger. Desire.

  He slid her panties down her bottom and completely off her legs.

  “I’m glad you feel that way, little bit,” he told her, placing one hand on her lower back. “Because I cannot tell you how often I’ve have dreamed of this. How often I’ve wished for another few moments with you both.”

  He rubbed his hand over her tiny, round bottom. “Are you ready for your spanking?”

  “Yes.”

  He was all too aware of Julian watching him carefully. As much as the other man had tried to pretend this was all in fun, he knew exactly what it was.

  A test.

  He wouldn’t fail.

  He lightly smacked his hand down on her bottom. “Holy shit.”

  She let out a small cry.

  “Feels good, doesn’t it?” Julian gave him a wry look.

  “Oh, hell yes.” He gave her another smack. Harder this time.

  “Little bit, insulting your Dom is not very good behavior, now, is it?” He didn’t hit too hard, barely bringing a touch of pink to her skin. She wasn’t really in trouble, after all. Two more smacks. He heard her whimper. But it was filled with desire rather than pain. She squirmed on his lap and Julian held her still, leaning over to whisper something to her.