Because Naughty Holidays Can Be Oh So Nice 2015

by Nicole Edwards

  Maybe.

  They made it through the reception area, which was now decked out in all things sparkly.

  “It looks like someone vomited glitter in here,” Luke grumbled, making Cole smile.

  It didn’t look bad. A little over the top, maybe, but he figured that had also been the plan. The point of a New Year’s Eve party was to celebrate the coming of a new year. A fresh start, a time to look forward to the unknown and leave the past behind you.

  Cole followed Luke into the club proper, noticing there were a few lights on. A couple on the main floor and one on the second floor, in Trent’s office.

  “What’s different?” Luke asked, glancing around, his tone alluding to the fact that he knew something was, just not what.

  “I’d guess it’s all the new furniture,” Cole said, chuckling.

  “The chairs,” Luke said. “Where the hell did those come from?”

  “My guess is that Trent went a little overboard.” They were kind of cool, though.

  Cole recalled seeing an ad from one of the furniture manufacturers they did business with. The chair was referred to as a yoga chair, but thanks to the design, it was quite useful when it came to various sexual positions. Looked as though Trent had thought so, too, because there were about twenty new leather chairs now interspersed throughout the main floor.

  “That’s what he bought?” Luke asked, sounding oddly relieved.

  “Looks like it.” Though Cole wouldn’t put it past Trent to have other things on their way. The last time they’d had a major party, Trent had purchased several Sybian machines—which had honestly been a huge success.

  Funny how Trent didn’t refer to himself as a Dom, but Cole could see it. Maybe Trent wasn’t interested in putting labels on himself, or possibly he didn’t embrace the full lifestyle the way Xander and Mercedes did because he was still in the public eye. Either way, it looked as though Trent had definitely found his niche.

  “Y’all are here early.”

  Cole looked up to see Trent heading down the stairs. Unlike his normal attire of fancy suits and movie star hair, Trent was sporting sweat pants, a hoodie, and running shoes. His blond hair had that just-rolled-out-of-bed thing going on, and his light blue eyes had zeroed in on Luke—as they usually did when he’d done something questionable.

  “What do you think?” Trent asked when he approached.

  “I like the idea,” Luke said, shocking Cole as much as he’d apparently shocked Trent. “Any other surprises I need to know about?”

  Trent smiled, one of those smirks that his female fan base went crazy for.

  “Not today, no.”

  “Good.” Luke glanced at Cole, then back to Trent. “What else needs to be done for tonight?”

  Trent frowned. “Nothing that I know of. I’m pretty sure this is the party to rival all. Hell, even Travis Walker is coming, which means it’s gotta be better than what AI is putting on.”

  Cole covered a laugh with a cough. Trent had serious issues when it came to Travis Walker. It was obvious he liked the guy, but he didn’t like the fact that Travis had made a name for himself in the same industry.

  “His brother Sawyer is running point at the resort this year,” Luke assured Trent. “Otherwise, I’m sure he’d be there.”

  Trent ignored the jab, and Cole’s grin widened.

  “I talked to Xander,” Trent stated. “He said we can definitely utilize the cigar bar next week to meet with the potential investors. If you want, I’ll contact Phoenix and Max.”

  Apparently, after seeing Phoenix Pierce’s name on the guest list, Luke had sent Trent a text asking what he thought of him as an investor. Cole wasn’t privy to Trent’s response, but it was evident he thought the idea had merit. As for Max Adorite, Cole still wasn’t sure how he felt about that one. Since Max was the boss of the notorious Adorite family, it seemed a little questionable—Max’s clubs had been known to be raided by the FBI, and everyone knew that wasn’t good for business. Not that Cole would question Luke. The man hadn’t made it this far in life by making stupid decisions. If he was seriously considering Max as an investor, Cole knew he had his reasons.

  “Great idea,” Luke said. “I contemplated talking to them tonight, but I don’t think it’s the right time.”

  Trent nodded. “Agreed. So what brings you by so early?”

  “It’s my club,” Luke said firmly. “I need to ensure everything goes off without a hitch.”

  Cole still didn’t understand why Luke was all up in arms about this party tonight. They’d had several since Devotion opened its doors, but Luke was hell-bent that this be the best one yet. There was obviously something on his mind, and Cole wondered if it was really because he wanted to impress the potential investors, or if Luke was merely being Luke, or perhaps working another angle.

  Problem was, when it came to Luke, Cole probably wouldn’t know until it was too late.

  9:48 a.m.

  LUKE FINISHED WITH Trent, then headed up to his office, leaving Cole behind to do whatever he needed to do in order to ensure tonight’s party had no hiccups.

  Not that Luke was entirely worried; he simply had a reputation to uphold. Everyone expected him to be a little uptight. Well, a lot uptight was more like it, but whatever. Truth was, Luke knew that Cole and Sierra would see to it that everything was as perfect as it could be. And not only because they feared he would go off the deep end. That was just who they were, which was one of the many reasons he loved them.

  And then there was the matter of him keeping everyone on their toes. It was something he enjoyed. Especially Cole. Though the man Luke loved more than life itself wouldn’t coddle him, Luke did like the fact that Cole would put him in his place when necessary. Considering he’d spent the longest time pushing Cole away, only to find out that by giving in, he had finally found peace with himself, Luke looked forward to those moments.

  In fact, he was hoping for one in the very near future.

  But not yet.

  A knock sounded on his office door, and he looked up to see Trent standing there.

  “What’s up?” Luke dropped into his chair, glancing down at his desk.

  “Got a minute?”

  He nodded, then looked up at Trent, watching him as he crossed the room.

  “You seen the guest list?” Trent’s tone was casual as he eased into the chair across from Luke.

  “Yeah. You?”

  Trent nodded. “Got any concerns with the Adorites showing up?”

  Luke had several, but he wasn’t going to mention that to Trent. First and foremost, Luke knew that Max Adorite was a businessman. Sure, the guy had his hands in some dirty dealings, but he did have some legitimate business, including Devil’s Playground—one of Dallas’s most popular nightclubs.

  “Not really, no. Something I should be worried about?” Luke leaned back in his chair and regarded Trent.

  “Other than him being a mobster?” Trent said snidely.

  “Other than that.”

  Trent shook his head. “I’ve been thinking about him wanting to invest in the club.”

  “And?”

  “And I think it’s not a bad idea. In fact, I wanted to get your take on looking into a Las Vegas version.”

  “Las Vegas?” Luke couldn’t deny that the thought had crossed his mind a time or two. Considering the clientele they could reach in a city known for sin, it wasn’t a bad idea. “Who would run it?”

  Trent shrugged. “I hadn’t gotten that far. Just wanted to see what you thought.”

  Luke liked Trent. He liked the guy’s business sense, his willingness to go to the extreme, to take chances when a lot of other people wouldn’t. Didn’t mean they always saw eye to eye, but Luke knew that was partly because they were so alike.

  Not that he’d admit that to anyone. Ever.

  “Let me think on it a bit. We’ll get together next week. If you’re really interested, put together a proposal. I’ll take a look at it.”

  “Cool,”
Trent said, getting to his feet. “Need anything before tonight?”

  Luke shook his head. “I think we’ve got it all covered.”

  Trent nodded as he turned for the door. Before he stepped out into the hall, Luke called his name. “Tonight’s gonna be great,” he told Trent. “Thanks for helping to pull it all together.”

  “Anytime. And I’ll put something on the calendar for next week, and I’ll get in touch with Max.”

  Luke gave Trent a quick nod, then glanced down at his desk. When Trent closed the door behind him, Luke tried to relax. Tonight wasn’t about business—not entirely, anyway—and he needed to remember that.

  Glancing at his watch, he noted the time. Ten o’clock. Roughly twelve hours before the night would be in full swing.

  And he fully intended to be ready.

  But first, Luke needed to check a few things and make a few calls.

  So, that was exactly what he did.

  TWO HOURS LATER, just a few minutes before noon, Luke was sitting at his desk, facing the floor-to-ceiling window that overlooked the main floor below. The place was empty, but by ten o’clock tonight, it would be packed from wall to wall with a wide variety of people who appreciated an even wider variety of sexual fetishes. Even people who didn’t quite understand what it was that compelled them just yet.

  The guest list was proof.

  As he thought back on that list and the new people who would embrace this world, he wondered what their first thought would be. Granted, coming to Devotion on New Year’s Eve wasn’t going to be a gentle introduction into the world, so if that was what they were hoping for, they needed to look elsewhere. Then again, the people who were coming to the club knew that, understood it even before they stepped foot into the place.

  Still, Luke looked forward to seeing their reactions and to spending time with the diverse group.

  Luke’s phone rang, and he turned back around to face his desk, peering down at his cell. He smiled, then hit the talk button and put it to his ear.

  “Hey, baby,” he greeted his wife.

  “Just checking in,” Sierra said sweetly. “We’re still at Ashleigh’s. The kids are playing, and I’m hoping to tire Hannah out so she doesn’t run my mom ragged tonight. You need me for anything?”

  “I need you for a lot of things,” he told her.

  “Luke McCoy, you have a dirty mind. You know what I mean.”

  Luke chuckled. “We’re good here.”

  “What’d you think of the decorations?”

  Luke turned back to face the window. “I’m thinking you bought every speck of glitter they make.”

  Sierra laughed softly. “I tried. So that means you’re good with it?”

  “It’s perfect, baby. Everything you do is perfect.” And he meant that. Sierra and Cole had changed his life for the better—in every way. They’d given him Hannah and Liam, making an incredible life even better. They would forever be his saving grace. All four of them.

  “Aww,” she said. “You’re buttering me up, Mr. McCoy. What devious sexual things do you have planned for me tonight?”

  “I’m still thinking on that.” He had plenty of ideas, but it would depend on where the night led them.

  “Well, when I get there, I’ll give you a few ideas I’ve been tossing around,” Sierra teased.

  “Looking forward to it.”

  “I’ve gotta go round up Hannah. Sounds like Ashleigh’s got her hands full. See you tonight.”

  “Love you,” he told her.

  “Love you right back.”

  With that, Luke hung up the phone and stared out the window once more. Time to get back to business.

  12:10 p.m.

  “ARE THEY BOUNCING off the walls yet?” Sierra asked Ashleigh when she rejoined them in Ashleigh’s living room.

  “Almost,” Ashleigh said with a smile. “How’s Luke?”

  Sierra grimaced. “He actually sounded … calm.”

  Ashleigh chuckled. “I like how that confuses you.”

  “I know, right? I should be happy.” She was happy, but still, she couldn’t deny that she was a little thrown off to hear Luke so at ease. By now, she expected him to be ranting at anyone and everyone who would listen. Perhaps he didn’t have anyone to order around if the club was empty. She hadn’t bothered asking if anyone else was there. She doubted they were. Most of their friends were married at this point, so spending New Year’s Eve day at the club—when nothing was going on—probably wasn’t on their agenda.

  Only Luke. And Cole.

  And maybe Trent.

  “Who wants a snack?” Ashleigh asked the girls.

  “Me! Me!” Hannah and Riley sang.

  “So what are your plans for tonight?” Sierra asked Ashleigh when they followed Hannah and Riley into the kitchen.

  “We’re gonna hang out right here. I invited my brother over for dinner, so I figured we’d eat, put Riley to bed, maybe watch the ball drop on television.”

  Sierra knew that Ashleigh’s brother, Dylan, was a recovering alcoholic. For as long as she’d known him, the man had drowned his sorrows in liquor, but from what Ashleigh had told her, he’d recently come to realize that the bottom had dropped out of his world completely and it was time for some action. As for what that meant for Dylan’s future, Sierra didn’t know, but she was glad to hear he was focusing on himself.

  “That sounds like heaven,” Sierra told her friend. Although she loved going to the club—more so now that she didn’t go that often—she still looked forward to those nights spent at home.

  “I’m sure it will be. That is, if I can keep Alex and Dylan in line. They tend to get a little competitive when they’re around one another.”

  “What’s Xavier doing tonight?” Sierra asked, referring to Ashleigh’s grandfather, who just so happened to be Sierra’s stepfather. Sierra smiled at that. It wasn’t easy to think of him as her stepfather, although she loved the man to pieces. Xavier had married Sierra’s mother six months ago, not bothering to tell anyone other than Sierra, Ashleigh, and Dylan before he did. They’d wanted something simple and easy for their nuptials, so they’d all obliged them. But not without throwing them a lavish wedding reception afterward, which had come as a total surprise to them both.

  “He’ll be at home. You know him. Pops insists that he’s too old to party on New Year’s.”

  At eighty-three, Sierra understood why.

  “I would take the kids to their house,” Sierra told Ashleigh with a wink, “but I think they’d drive him up the wall.”

  “Probably,” Ashleigh agreed, doling out sliced bananas and milk to the girls.

  Liam’s abrupt wail called a halt to their conversation.

  “He hungry?” Ashleigh asked.

  “Yep. It’s lunchtime for him. Mind if I…?” Sierra pointed toward the living room.

  “Not at all.”

  1:37 p.m.

  SIERRA WAS EXHAUSTED by the time she got Hannah and Liam back to the house. As soon as they stepped in the door, she put Liam down in his crib, hoping he would stay asleep for at least another hour. Hannah wasn’t quite as easy. Being fiercely independent, she didn’t do naps anymore, but they had started allowing her to watch television for an hour in the afternoon, to help her to calm down some.

  “What do you wanna watch?” Sierra asked her daughter.

  “Paw Patrol!” Hannah squealed.

  Sierra put her finger over her lips in the universal sign for quiet. Hannah grinned sheepishly, then grabbed her hand and pulled her. Sierra followed her to the living room, then turned on Paw Patrol, which would keep Hannah occupied for at least half an hour.

  More than enough time for Sierra to relax.

  She was tired, but no more than any other mom on the planet. Probably less than some even. But she still needed a few minutes to regroup.

  And she intended to do that right now. With a little nap.

  Chapter Three

  2:03 p.m.

  COLE COULD HEAR the yelling from do
wnstairs, and he knew exactly where it was coming from. Only he didn’t know who the hell Luke was yelling at, but he fully intended to find out. They had roughly six hours until people started arriving at the club; there was no way Luke could go off the deep end already.

  With a sigh, Cole pushed open Luke’s office door, coming to a halt when Luke slammed down the phone, his hazel eyes slamming into Cole’s face.

  “What do you want?” Luke barked.

  Cole studied his husband momentarily. “Figured I’d come see whose life needed saving.”

  Luke spun around and faced the window, huffing as he did.

  “What’s the problem?” Cole asked, closing the office door behind him and locking it for good measure.

  No one else was at the club, but Cole knew better than to invite trouble. The last thing he wanted was for some unsuspecting person to walk in and witness what would be coming next.

  “Nothing for you to worry about.”

  Cole shook his head in disbelief, but Luke couldn’t see him. He wanted to smile, but he managed to keep that to himself. For the past … probably a year … Luke had been having tantrums very similar to this one. He would fly off the handle, only Cole never knew who was at the receiving end of his tirade. Which made Cole believe that there wasn’t anyone at the other end.

  And yes, he was on to Luke’s game. Not that he minded, because the outcome was always worth his while.

  Always.

  “Sit,” Cole ordered.

  Luke pivoted around to face him, his eyes hard.

  “You heard me,” Cole snapped. “Don’t make me tell you again.”

  As was usually the case when there wasn’t a legitimate fire needing to be put out, Luke slowly lowered himself into the desk chair. Had there been a real issue, Luke would’ve continued his tirade.

  Didn’t look as though there was a real problem, other than Luke needed someone to give him a little attention. Generally, Cole would be the one to come and soothe Luke’s frayed nerves, going to his knees before this impossible man, sucking his cock just to get his mind off his troubles because it was something they both enjoyed immensely.