Hard Bastard(169)

Cole looked back at me and shrugged. “Told you.”

“Wait,” I said again, but he had already left the room. I looked back at Cindy, anger rising in my chest. “Why would you do that?”

She sighed. “Cole has been a problem for a very long time. At a certain point, you have to be tough with him or else he will walk all over you.” She paused and looked at me seriously. “That’s a lesson you’ll need to learn if you want to remain in touch with him.”

I stared back at her, not sure what she meant. I almost couldn’t believe what she was saying. “He’s your son,” I said.

“He’s also a liability.” She looked away, back toward the file of papers she had in front of her.

“He’ll be okay,” Dad said. “He’s a tough kid. Has some money, too.”

I stared at him, completely unable to comprehend what had just happened. I stood up, shaking my head in disgust. “Grow a spine, Dad. You know this isn’t right.”

Before he could answer, I turned and left the room.

Anger flooded through me as I went upstairs after Cole. It wasn’t fair that they were kicking him out. It wasn’t right, especially since he’d been defending his mother. Sure, he shouldn’t have hit the guy. He should have kept his cool. But he wasn’t the type of man to just sit by and let someone insult his mother, even when his mother actually was a total bitch.

I had to admit, there was something special about that. It was old-fashioned, yeah, and maybe a little intense, but it was endearing. I didn’t like violence, but I did like a man with some semblance of honor. Too many guys these days were willing to roll over and let anyone do whatever they wanted so long as they could avoid a fight.

Cole’s door was shut, and so I knocked once. He didn’t answer, so I knocked again. Instead of knocking a third time, I just pushed open the door.

“Cole,” I said. He stopped doing his push-ups and looked up at me, rocking back onto his knees.

“I thought you might follow me up here, wife,” he said, grinning.

“How are you not pissed off?”

“This happens every time.”

“What, your mom kicks you out?”

“Not exactly. I do something she doesn’t like, and so she finds some reason to get rid of me.”

“You’re okay with that?”

“I’m not some little kid, Alexa. I don’t need my fucking insane, bitch mommy to be proud of me.”

I sighed, frustrated. Was everyone in this house totally stupid?

“Look, I get it. But it’s still not right that she’s throwing you out like this,” I pushed.

He stood up and stretched his arms. “I’m honestly surprised you’re taking such an interest in this.”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“You’ve been trying to get rid of me from the start. I’m sure you’re excited for this.”

“I don’t want to get rid of you,” I said softly.

He stepped closer to me. “No?” His body filled my vision, muscular and tall. “Why not?”

“Because,” I said softly. I didn’t want to say it.

“Go ahead. Tell me why you want me to stay.”

“You did nothing wrong.”

“And?” His smell filled my mind as he came closer to me, inches away. I felt my heart begin to beat fast in my chest.

“And, I don’t know. You’re not bad to have around.”

“Not bad to have around?” he asked, grinning. “You love having me here. You want me to sneak into that room at night and lick your clit until your back arches and your hands grip the sheets.”

“Cole,” I said, trying to tell him to stop, but I couldn’t say the words.

“Admit you want me to fuck you until you can’t breathe, Alex. You want to finally feel what my cock is like deep inside that perfect, tight pussy of yours. You’ve been aching for it since you first saw me.”

“We can’t.”

“We can do whatever we want.”

“I don’t know what I want,” I said slowly.

That seemed to break the spell. He smirked again and I stepped away, putting some distance between us. “Figure it out, sis. And soon.”

“Just, don’t pack up yet. I’ll fix this.”

“You do that.”

He turned away and dropped back to the floor, going back to his push-ups.

I watched him, an ache running through my chest, a desire flooding through my legs, and I knew I was wet as hell. I knew it was true that I wanted to fuck him, to finally feel what it would be like. I’d been imagining it ever since we’d met. If he could get me off with his mouth and fingers as easily as he did, then I couldn’t imagine what it would be like if he fucked me deep and rough.