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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.”
