Page 21 of Kings of Lust
‘Kinda like you are now?’ I didn’t mean to interrupt him, but I needed clarification regarding his unusuallydecentbehavior.
‘I’m not drunk now,’ he caught my chin between his index finger and his thumb, brushing it over my lips.
Cole was lying. He had to be because, in case of the alternative option, his sensual touches and charming attitude could make me easily fall for a man like him. And the ocean deep blue eyes alongside his fit athletic posture would have guaranteed him success in case of any attempt.
‘Getting back to what I was saying... I may have bragged to the guys that I would make some dumb stunt with my motorcycle and jump off some hill. Luckily, I sobered up in time to realize I had more chance of meeting my creator than pulling that stunt off. But Ace has had a grudge against me since... since forever.’
‘Maybe it has something to do with you sleeping with his girlfriend?’ I commented, remembering their conversation.
‘Hey, it’s not my fault the girl was looking for dick at every street corner. Besides, he didn’t even care about her. He was just mad that I bruised his ego. Therefore he convinced the other guys that I should somehow pay a price for showing off,’ Cole flared his nostrils like an enraged bull.
‘I may be reckless, but I’m not stupid I wasn’t going to get myself killed because I had an extra bottle of whiskey.’
‘How could they make you pay? Aren’t you theking?’
‘I am, and I’m ready to step on their heads if they ever disobey me. But they have an advantage in numbers. To get them to shut up I agreed to take on another bet... Something closer to a punishment than a bet.’
‘To spend an evening without hitting on me?’
‘It was pretty hard,’ be laughed, clenching the hand on my waist and dragging me upper on his lap until I realized exactly howhardit must have been for him to stand his ground. ‘But I couldn’t lose,’ he continued. ‘The stake was a gold Rolex watch I used to wear. If I lost the bet, I had to give Ace that watch so he could sell it and throw some monster party.’ A hint of sadness flashed through his two blue orbs ‘And I didn’t have it anymore. My father pawned it a few months ago.’
Strange for him to make a confession like he was, but I guess he finally felt safe enough to admit the truth.
‘Ace did that on purpose. To expose you. He hoped you would lose and wouldn’t have a way to give him the watch.’ I put two and two together.
‘Exactly. He wants my spot, and exposing my financial situation could provide him just that.’
‘I know how you feel, I used to have nothing,’ I whispered, leaning my head against his.
‘No, you couldn’t know. Because I used to have everything.’
Maybe he was right, I never knew a life of luxury or the feeling of never missing something. My life had always revolved around either missing clothes, food, toys, or even all of them. Sure my mother tried her best to provide for us and succeeded most of the time. But even if we often had the daily basis, seeing her denying herself of normal necessities to give these to us had always left an unrepairable hole in my heart.
‘Now you know my darkest secret. I always have to keep up appearances,’ a confession from a man who never shares the aspects of his life.Maybe he was drunk after all.
‘Now I want to know yours,’ Cole grinned.
‘My what?’
‘Your darkest secret,’ he let a devilish smile rise on his lips as I felt he was pursuing a hidden goal.
‘My secrets don’t get any darker than this. You know from that room yesterdayallabout my secrets.’
‘Not exactly. I want the truth, Bea.’
For the first time, I was Bea and not Mouse.
Either I did something completely wrong or entirely right. Only time would tell.
The warmth of his hand raised on the flank of my torso, rising so slowly that I could barely sense it. ‘Higher?’ The specific sound of his voice was letting me know that was the question he wanted to ask in the first place.
It seemed that this night held many firsts, as it was the first time he was really asking permission for any of his gestures. The acceptance turned out to be mydarkest secret.He was waiting to see if, without any restrictions, I would approve or not.
My eyelids fell shut, aiming to push back any reactions, yet it was a moment of honesty, even if only for the minutes spent sitting on his throne. I felt my head nodding, followed by the raising of his hand, skimming the silky material and stopping somewhere beneath my chest.
‘Higher?’
The question came again, hitting a nerve that exploded tingling inside my body, in pure waves of cravings.
