Page 27 of Hard Luck (Blackstone House)

“Bed.”

CHAPTER 10

JEZEBEL

Priest would have condoms in the nightstand. He might have been a fool when it came to women, but even he wasn’t dumb enough to get a member of the one-minute wives club pregnant. Cole carried me into the bedroom—I managed to swipe the teddy bear into the laundry hamper as we passed—and set me on the bed, then unbuttoned his shirt. He was dressed smarter today, in suit pants and a white dress shirt with the top button undone. No tie. Damn, he was so pretty. And this apartment was cursed because whatever affliction Priest suffered from when it came to the opposite sex, it was affecting me too.

I pulled off my T-shirt.

And hoped Priest had replaced the mattress after wife number six because the thought of him— Never mind. Thinking wasn’t my strong suit right now. Cole unbuckled my belt, and I raised my hips so he could wriggle my jeans over my hips. Marcel had bought the jeans as a “sorry your life sucks” gift when I couldn’t fit the cast into my regular pants, and I looked as if I was about to skateboard into a hip-hop video.

“What happened to your leg?”

I glanced down at my thigh and saw a dark shadow where blood had seeped past the stitches onto the underside of the dressing. To lie or not to lie? That was the question.

And for me, there was only one answer.

“My friend has a California kingsnake who’s a real escape artist, and he got out again. I mean, the good news is that I found him.”

“He bit you?”

“I think he was scared. The worst part was that he coiled around my leg and wouldn’t let go.”

“Did you get it checked out by a doctor?”

“He said it was nothing to worry about. Maybe you could just take my mind off the problem instead of talking?”

“Is that a good idea?” Cole asked.

“I’m not a china doll. You won’t break me.”

“Bella, you’re literally on crutches, and your thigh is injured. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Then the door’s that way.”

He hesitated, and for a moment, I thought he might actually leave. Which would have been for the best. But after a moment, he hooked his thumbs into my panties and slid them down.

“Good choice,” I murmured as he nudged my legs apart and settled his face between them. There were far better uses for this man’s mouth than talking. He said he wasn’t a man who paid for sex, but if he charged for it, he could make a fortune.

And he insisted on doing all the work. Cowgirl was out of the question, but I wouldn’t have been averse to doggy with a side of spanking if he’d let me do anything other than lie on my back. It was strangely sweet. Which was another red flag. Bastian had been overly considerate inbed, and I’d tucked the dark parts of myself away, ready to compromise in the search for a perfect relationship. But now I had no idea how much of him had been real. Looking back, I thought that perhaps he’d been too nice. Too good to be true.

Because our whole relationship had been a lie.

But Cole wasn’t Bastian. As far as Echo could tell, his life was in San Gallicano, and if Brax hadn’t lost his mind and decided to get married with twenty-four hours’ notice, our paths would never have crossed at the Black Diamond. I hadn’t even decided whether to attend the ceremony until an hour before he said “I do.”

The pills were wearing off when I came for the third time, and a sharp twinge of pain shot up my thigh. I gritted my teeth as Cole buried his face in the crook of my neck and grunted his release.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m glad your car broke down,” he said as he rolled off me. “Back in a second.”

He headed for the bathroom while I sorted through the jumble of feelings in my head. I wasn’t entirely unhappy that Thelma had thrown another mechanical tantrum, but I was angry with myself. I should have been able to resist temptation. On the other hand, I didn’t have anything critical on today’s schedule, and Priest was always telling me to loosen up. More than once, burnout had been mentioned. I denied that, of course, but secretly, I felt charred around the edges.

And I’d never admit it, but the two-night stand with Cole hadn’t been terrible either. He remembered what I liked from the first time around, and he’d given me a repeat performance. Would another visit to his house be out of the question? Obviously, I’d have to make damn sure I wasn’t followed this time, but I could put cameras outside just in case. Maybe motion sensors too, and?—

“I’d better head off.” Cole stooped to pick up his shirt, and I propped myself up on my elbows. His tone had changed. “Thanks for a good time.”

“You okay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

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