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“Are you finished moping yet?”
Ian turned slowly to meet Cole’s mocking gaze.
Of all those who surrounded Ian in his day-to-day life, Cole alone knew the truth of what held Ian back. He had been there, in those horrifying days after Melissa’s death.
“You’re out of line, Cole. ” His jaw clenched with anger as he read the mocking condescension in the other man’s gaze.
“Am I, Ian?” He shook his head, entering the office as he closed the door behind him. “She’s a wild woman. Maybe even more than you, with all your experience, could ever hope to tame. She’s your match. Everyone sees it but you. ”
“She’s an innocent,” he breathed out roughly.
“She’s not Melissa, Ian. Melissa was broken, inside. You couldn’t have anticipated that. You couldn’t see through her lies and her games because you hadn’t known her through the bad times. You had no idea that she was less than the person she showed you. You know Courtney. ”
And he knew she was as wild as the wind. That she had always been impossible to peg, or to constrain. Even as a child she had been like a whirlwind, rushing around the estate, creating havoc, drawing smiles and unrestrained laughter. From the moment she turned sixteen she had tried to tempt him. God, according to her, she had watched him.
“Maybe I don’t need to share Courtney. ” He pushed back his own attempts to justify what he wanted.
Cole snorted as he threw himself into one of the leather chairs in front of the desk Ian was striding to.
“Yeah, and maybe the sun doesn’t need to rise tomorrow. ” He scratched at his jaw thoughtfully. “You might not need it, but I bet she does. ”
Ian’s eyes narrowed. “You’re out of the running. ”
“Thank God,” Cole grunted. “Tessa’s the only wild woman I can handle. If she doesn’t fuck me into an early grave it will be a miracle. ”
Ian dropped into his chair, slouching into the thickly padded back as he propped his feet on the desk and leaned his head back to stare at the ceiling morosely.
Such inaction was against his nature. He had kept his involvements at a certain level for a reason, to allow himself the full immersion of his senses into his sexuality when the opportunity arose.
He was a businessman, running not just The Club, but also overseeing the various businesses his father had left him, as well as the multitude of other interests. His life was often fast-paced, filled with on-demand questions, answers, and lightning-fast business reflexes. He thrived on it. Craved it. But the stress level often became tremendous.
It was then that Ian found his sexuality rose to the fore. He began to hunger, to need the excesses he found such enjoyment in. In all honesty, he would have found relief for that by now, if it had been any other woman. He had dated the innocents, hell, he had even bedded several women whom he had known were not cut out for the life he lived. And he had always, without fail, found his ultimate satisfaction, the relief of the building stress, the loneliness, the need to just fucking give, when he was helping to send a lover to the very pinnacles of ecstasy.
It was where he hungered to send Courtney.
It was beginning to torture him, to torment him. He was beginning to fear he couldn’t hold out much longer.
“Let’s make a little bet. ” Cole’s voice drew him back from his own musings.
“What kind of bet?” Ian narrowed his eyes on his longtime friend.
“Ten thousand says she pushes you into it. That she does something that shatters all that careful control you’re forcing on yourself, and before you know it, you’ll have her tied and blindfolded, screaming for mercy while you and a third work her over. Another ten says you choose Khalid. ”
Ian snorted. Khalid was a given. None of the other Trojans, save for Cole, understood that particular kink.
Hell, the first was a given. He was fucked and he knew it. The only question was how much longer he could possibly hold out. He was actually beginning to pray that Dane got a clue and arrived quickly.
“Go to hell. ”
“Bet still stands. Club rules. I set the challenge, it’s up to you to make or break it. Time allowances. ” Cole narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. “I’ll make it easy for you. A week. ”
Could he hold out a week? Sure he could. A week would be easy. Especially after the phone call to Dane that he intended to make. Ian wasn’t above admitting he was drowning in a puddle of his own making.
“A week,” he agreed as Cole rose to his feet, a mocking smile tilting his lips.
“Damn. I have to come to The Club more often. This could get amusing,” he snickered as he moved to the door. “Good luck, buddy. And no padding your own bet. I wouldn’t be pleased. ”
“Meaning?” Ian rose slowly to his own feet.
