Heartless King

by Hughes, Maya

  21

  Colm

  Jamming the phone against my ear, I turned my back to the crowd, not feeling in the partying mood. “This is where we’re having our PT session?” I stood outside the velvet rope of a club with a line stretched around the block. When she’d given me the location, I’d thought there was a gym or something in the area.

  “I told you we were switching things up.”

  “I figured you meant swimming or something.”

  “My cab is a block away. Just stay there.” She ended the call before I could tell her I’d meet her back at my place.

  In fact, I’d love to meet her at my place. Open a bottle of wine, put on a movie neither of us would be watching after the first few minutes and do our own cardio in my bedroom.

  The taxi screeched up to the curb and Imogen chucked a few bills into the front seat before hopping out like she thought she’d have to tackle me in the street.

  If I’d been chewing gum I’d have choked on it. This outfit showcased a side of Imogen I’d never seen. Her long legs stretched up to the shimmery purple hem of a dress with a halter top showing off her collarbones. The shiny material skimmed her thighs and I couldn’t drag my gaze away from her legs. Black ankle boot heels elongated them even more. I was seconds away from drumming on the roof of the taxi to get us out of here and back to my place.

  “Thank god, I swore I’d have to chase you down once you realized this was a club.”

  I gently shook my head to break the trance she’d put me in. I’d seen her naked, felt her naked, but seeing her like this made me want to bundle her up, take her home, and show her off all at the same time.

  “You could’ve given me a heads-up.”

  “If I’d done that, I’d be standing here all on my own.”

  “How’d you know I’d dress for the occasion?”

  “When aren’t you dressed like you’re headed to an Abercrombie fashion shoot?” She dragged her fingers down the buttons of my black pea coat and pointed to my shoes.

  “And I have a bag of clothes to change into.” I gestured to the duffle on my shoulder.

  “Even your shitty gym bag is cover model-worthy. Is that Italian leather?” She tugged at the strap over my shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. I have a friend on the inside. Well, the outside actually.” She winked and took my hand, leading us to the front of the line.

  “Murray, I’m calling in that favor.”

  The burly bouncer with a face made of ninety percent scowl brightened like a kid on Christmas morning the second he spotted Imogen.

  His gaze swept up and down her body appreciatively. I clenched my fists at my side.

  “Imogen, looking good.” They slapped hands and went in for a hug like guys at the gym.

  “I clean up every so often.”

  He chuckled. “Yes, you do. I can’t believe this is what you look like out of scrubs.”

  “Not every day, but tonight’s special.” She peered over her shoulder, grabbed my hand and tugged me forward.

  “Ah, flexing those connections, huh? You’re a lucky guy.” He extended his hand to me and as much as I didn’t want to shake it, I did. “This woman is a miracle worker. Got me back on the door after a couple months of sessions last year.”

  “How’s everything feeling?” She leaned in closer like she could see through the jacket he wore.

  “Don’t worry, I’ve been good and doing my exercises every day.” He rotated his shoulder, making his bicep bulge against a suit jacket that looked a breath away from exploding like a Hulk comic.

  “Stop by if you need a tune-up at some point.”

  “Will do, Imogen. Head in, I’ll let them know you’re coming and see if we can get you a table.” He lifted the black velvet rope and another bouncer held open the door to let us into the wall of sound masquerading as a club. I pretended not to notice either of them checking out her ass as we walked past. She had no idea what she did to men around her. How could she be completely oblivious to the fact that most would go toe to toe for a dance with her?

  But I was here with her tonight. PT session or not, it was my hand on the small of her back, guiding her through the crowds.

  She looked over her shoulder with a wide smile, quelling my apprehension.

  “What exactly are we doing here?” I raised my voice over the driving music.

  “You’ll see.”

  Someone met us at the end of the long hallway and guided us to a row of booths, pointing us to one and plucking the reserved sign off the center.

  A waitress came over and Imo ordered us both Shirley Temples.

  “I don’t get to order my own drink?”

  “No. You’ve had enough to last you for three lifetimes, and I am abstaining because it’s a dick move to drink in your friend’s face when they’re making healthy choices.”

  “Forcing me into social situations without even the courtesy of lube.”

  “Caught red-handed. You’ve been avoiding people. What better test than the crush of human peacocking that is a club.”

  “You’re well versed in club culture?”

  “It’s fun to people watch.”

  “I could say the same thing about you.”

  “What?”

  “That you avoid social situations. I’d have thought you’d have shown up in your scrubs.”

  She ran a hesitant hand over her dress. “I…I didn’t think they’d let me in if I did.”

  So she’d entertained wearing her normal work wear to her not-date with me at a club. “It looks good on you.”

  Her cheeks flushed. “Thank you. Are you ready to dance?”

  Surprised rocked my face. “You want to dance.”

  “I said nothing about me. I said you. I’ll need to keep an eye on your form.” Imo looked around. “How about her? Excuse me.” She touched the elbow of a woman passing by.

  The redhead looked from me to Imogen, her look of confusion turning to a smile as she raked her gaze up and down my body, stopping on my watch. Were those dollar signs flashing in her eyes? “Yes.” She leaned in closer.

  “My friend was looking for a dance partner and I thought maybe you’d help him get comfortable out there.”

  The woman’s smile widened.

  My blood boiled and my heartrate skyrocketed at being pawned off on some random. Here I’d thought maybe Imogen had had a breakthrough of some sort, the same kind she’d been forcing onto me, but no. Now she was literally looking for someone to rub against me like I gave one shit about being here aside from being here with her.

  “Excuse me.” I ushered Imogen away before she could break out the sneeze-guard for the Colm buffet.

  Finding the closest thing to a quiet spot, I cornered her, my gaze drilling into hers. “Why did you invite me here?”

  “We’re trying something new.”

  “Why did you invite me here?”

  “To help you have some fun.” The corner of her mouth ticked up.

  My pulse was throbbing double-time in my ears. “Why did you invite me here?”

  The veneer dropped. She dragged her fingers through her hair. “I’m trying to get you back to the old Colm. I want you to see you’re still that same guy.”

  “But I’m not. The old me wouldn’t have seen the viper that woman was.”

  “She seemed perfectly nice.”

  “And how would you know? She’s a complete stranger in a crowded room with dim lighting. Maybe she’s a terrible person who cheats on her taxes and steals candy from babies. Maybe she’s on the run from the cops. Maybe she jams her finger into the ‘close door’ button when someone’s racing to the elevator.

  “The old Colm would’ve pushed down those warning bells clanging in my ears and looked for her positives. I’d have discounted anything that happened to reinforce what my subconscious was screaming at me by painting a pretty picture of her in my head. Maybe I’d have danced with her tonight, taken her to bed and then out to breakfast the next morning. All the while, creatin
g this fantasy in my head of a perfect life we could have.”

  Imogen swallowed so loudly I swore I could hear it over the driving music.

  “Do you want to know how I know these things?”

  One nod.

  “Because old Colm did that four times. And I got cheated on each time. Falling for the easy made life a lot harder. But I’m not old fucking Colm anymore. My eyes are open and I’m tired of playing pretend. I’m not the responsible older brother waiting in the wings to swoop in to save Liv. I’m ready to live my life on my terms. I know who I am. And I know who she is and I’m not interested.” I braced my arms on either side of her head.

  “You don’t have to think the worst of everyone. I’m sure there’s someone out there who’ll be the right one.”

  “Are you tired of pretending, Imogen?”

  Her mouth opened and closed. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “Bullshit. Are you tired of being this Imogen? The one who’s always here for everyone else. Who gives and gives so it’s easier to curl up in bed at night and forget. To fade in the blissful darkness of sleep because you’re on empty after siphoning off every bit of yourself to everyone all day every day.”

  “I—”

  “It’s easier to forget the pain when you’re so tired you can barely feel your feet anymore.”

  “It’s not like that.” She dropped her gaze.

  “Then how is it? Who pushed you, Imo? Who forced you to go back to being the old Imogen?” I ran my finger under her chin, forcing her to meet my gaze.

  She licked her lips. “She’s gone.”

  “And so is the old Colm. Who I was then is gone. Just like old you is gone. Show me the new you. Not the woman who takes care of everyone until there’s nothing left of her. Show me who you are, Imogen.”

  “I don’t know who I am.”

  “Then let me help you find her.” My lips crashed down on hers.

  Her hands shot up to either side of my head, holding me in place as though I could go anywhere.

  My hungry, unquenchable need for her overwhelmed me. We were lips, tongues, and teeth trying to peel away the confusion and ache that could only be sated by one another.

  I lifted her leg, hooking it high on my hip. My erection ground against the thin fabric separating us. This wasn’t quiet, polite, or advisable. We were in a crowded club in a spot barely dark enough for what we were doing, but I didn’t care.

  The heat at the apex of her thighs ratcheted up the throbbing of my dick. Tonight, I wasn’t letting her put that distance between us.

  She ground herself against me, locking her leg up even higher and tighter around me. Her moans were swallowed by deepening the kiss. My fingers gripped the hair at the base of her neck.

  I rocked my hips against her and in one spectacular display, she wrapped her arms even tighter around the back of my neck, crying out with her release against my lips.

  With glassy eyes, she looked at me with shock painted across her face.

  Taking her hand, I pecked her on her lips. “Let’s go.”

  22

  Colm

  The way she bit her bottom lip while sitting in the back of the taxi sent my heart thundering against my ribs, trying to make a quick escape out the window. She was going through all those thoughts blinking like big caution signs on a dark night saying ‘No, don’t do this. It’s irresponsible. Here are twenty-seven reasons this is a bad idea.’ I didn’t want to be a bad idea or a mistake in her mind. She sure as hell wasn’t one in mine.

  Tugging her toward me until she was nearly sitting on my lap, I sealed her parted lips mid-gasp with a kiss. Threading my fingers through her hair, I let my tongue dance along her lips, before delving inside.

  I slipped my hand along the side of her thigh, squeezing her supple flesh. Sliding my hand higher, I traced the edges of her panty line with the tips of my fingers.

  She moaned into my mouth and I swallowed down her passion, wishing the club had been a hell of a lot closer to my house.

  My fingers crept higher, hooking along the thin elastic running along her hip.

  Her fingers tightened on the front of my shirt, bunching the fabric between her fingers as her lips hungrily swept over mine. Our tongues danced like our bodies would once we got out of this fucking taxi.

  I dragged the fabric down over her hip and swung her legs over mine, lifting her ass off the seat for only a second, but long enough to swoop her panties down over her ass in one smooth motion.

  She yelped and broke our kiss, staring back at me wide-eyed.

  “Something wrong?” I dragged the fabric held between my fingers down her legs painstakingly slowly, teasing her with each delicious inch.

  Her gaze darted to the driver and back to me as her fingers wrapped around my wrist.

  My other hand cupped her ass and massaged the supple flesh I couldn’t wait to fully explore when we got into my house.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll keep these safe for you.” I tugged the panties over the curve of her knee and down over her shoes in one smooth motion.

  The taxi driver cleared her throat.

  I released my hold on her and shoved the fabric into my pocket.

  Now, her pink cheeked glances and slightly mussed hair were a testament to how far away I’d pushed those thoughts out of her mind. That, along with her fingers intertwined with mine. Her pulse drumming against my palm.

  She had no trouble putting her hands all over me during one of our sessions, but could still be shy about us exploring one another’s bodies. It was an exploration I wouldn’t be finished with until I’d committed each inch of her to memory and could discover which spots made her gasp, whimper, and moan.

  Her gaze kept darting to the tent in my pants.

  “At this point, I’d think you’d be used to it.”

  With a hasty cash tip to the driver, I hustled Imo out of the taxi.

  We burst through the front door like a zombie horde was following us through the streets.

  With a mischievous grin over her shoulder, Imogen danced outside of my grasp.

  Her laugh made me smile as she took off up the stairs, shedding clothes along the way. I gathered up each piece like the world’s most tempting breadcrumbs.

  A heel, then another.

  Her soft black wrap.

  The perfectly formed cups of her light gray bra hung on the railing at the top of the stairs.

  I stood silently, trying to find her. She was a stripping Houdini.

  Her dress, the one that fit her perfectly, in a heap on the floor in the center of the living room.

  My blood thrummed in my veins, pounding harder with each step. I’d been a whisper of fabric away from being inside her less than an hour ago and I was ravenous for her touch.

  And that’s when I remembered. The bright blue, lacy fabric in my pocket.

  She was totally naked.

  “Did you want a drink? I was thirsty after that long drive.” She stood behind my bar with two glasses held up to her chest like that could hide the unblemished expanse of skin on display. A simple gold chain around her neck was the only thing adorning her body. My mouth watered.

  Her smile was barely contained, her shoulders gently shook, fingers flexing against the glass bumping against the surface of the bar.

  “Sure, I’ll take one, but let me get one of the tumblers from the bottom shelf.”

  She lifted the carton of juice and tried to take a step back as I crowded her space, but I grabbed onto her butt, pulling her closer and sliding one of the glasses out, rubbing myself against her as I rose.

  A perfect gasp shot from her chest and some of the juice spilled, rolling through the valley of her breasts and cascading down her skin.

  I licked the sweet syrup off her stomach, before grabbing her leg and hiking it over my shoulder.

  She was open to me, wet and ready to be devoured and I was happy to oblige.

  With the first lick and suck, she yelped out a curse and grabbed onto the ba
r.

  Cupping her ass, I licked my way down the seam of her pussy. She tasted as good as I remembered. I wanted every last drop.

  She tightened her fingers in my hair, tugging at the roots so hard, I could practically hear it being ripped out, but that only spurred me harder. Faster. To give her more to make those cries from her lips even better.

  “Please.” A keening whine entered her voice. She threw her head back.

  I slipped two fingers inside, not bothering to tease her. Plunging them deep I curled them, searching for the spot to make her knees weak.

  My cock punched angrily against the front of my jeans, ready to get in on the action, ready for a repeat of our first night together, but I wasn’t stopping until she came, no matter how much blood rushed to my dick. Hopefully I wouldn’t have to break out the scissors to cut these damned jeans off me.

  “Please don’t stop, Colm.” No doubt in my mind who she was talking to. She tilted her head forward and stared into my eyes. Hers were clear blue and swimming with heady desire and unbridled passion. And I wanted every bit of it.

  With a languid tug from my lips, I moved my mouth in unison with my fingers to give her the pleasure she deserved.

  Her jaw dropped and her eyes rolled back. Every muscle in her body went rigid, but I held on tight, letting her ride out the cresting wave of her orgasm.

  My fingers were kneading her ass like her own personal massage seat.

  Trembling, she leaned forward, clutching my head against her chest and shuddering in my arms. Her hands were still in my hair and her pulse pounded with her wrists against my ears.

  “You’ve got an exceptional mouth.” She chuckled against my head, sounding just the way I liked, like she’d run a 5k without stopping.

  “You’ve got an exceptional way of making me want to make you come over and over again.”

  She laughed again and lifted her head from mine. “That’s definitely a first for me, as compliments go.”

  I scooped her up, careful of my knee, but with her weight settled in my arms I felt like I could skate laps around anyone.