Fortune and Fate (Baum's Boxing Book 2)

by E M Lindsey

  Ryan felt another moan rip from his chest when Cole’s hand closed around his dick, and he thrust his hips into the circle of fingers, desperate for friction. “I’m not going to last either. Let me…” He reached between them, stilling Cole’s hand, then dropping off his lap to crouch between his spread knees. “I want to suck your cock.”

  “Fuck,” Cole murmured. His hand reached out, finding Ryan’s face, his thumb brushing his bottom lip. “Yes, yes, suck my cock.”

  Ryan needed no further invitation. He wasted no time at all getting Cole’s dick out, letting his hand curl around it, watching the head slide in and out of the foreskin as it wetted with need. Ryan felt his mouth water and didn’t want to waste another moment. He planted his knees firmly, braced one hand on Cole’s thigh, then swallowed him down.

  He could feel instantly the way Cole plumped against his tongue, the way his whole body went tense. He hadn’t been lying. He was too close. Ryan felt on the same edge, just a brushing of Cole’s hand would probably send him spilling, and he wanted it. He wanted Cole’s hand to bring him off just as his mouth was bringing Cole to that same wave of pleasure.

  He sucked hard, closing his mouth around Cole, letting the rhythm of the blowjob take the lead. Cole’s hips stuttered and his hand flew into Ryan’s hair, holding him steady in place while he thrust himself between Ryan’s lips. He let out a choked sound Ryan had come to know as his only warning, then hot seed erupted on his tongue.

  The moment Cole’s dick started to soften, Ryan wrenched himself away, up, ripping Cole’s shirt up to expose his abs, and he grabbed Cole’s hand, curling it around his cock. “I,” he managed as Cole began a fast rhythm. It was all he could manage as the warmth raced up his spine, lighting him up, pushing him to the edge.

  His balls tightened and his dick throbbed, then he spilled, short spurts of white come all over the soft hair of Cole’s belly. He gripped the arms of the chair so he didn’t collapse completely, and he let Cole’s mouth find his, tongue tasting the leftover spill as proof of having been there.

  “Holy shit, I needed that so badly,” Ryan said as he started to gather himself.

  Cole hummed in agreement, the sound wholly content as he brushed soft fingers along Ryan’s cheeks. “Not like we’ll have much chance at mine anymore.”

  “Well you know my bedroom is open whenever you want me,” Ryan told him. He pushed up and reached for the tissues on his nightstand, swiping at the mess he’d left. He’d probably be a little sticky, but no one would be the wiser except him, and he damn well-liked knowing Cole carried a little bit of him on his skin from time to time. “Now, you sit and I’ll pack, and we can get back to our plans.”

  Cole nodded, his face soft and grinning as Ryan hurried to find his travel bag. He grabbed a few things, not caring much for what he was wearing so long as it was soft and easy to touch. How much that had changed, too. He had always been into the latest trends, but now he chose what he wanted to wear thinking of how it would feel when Cole ran his hands all over him. A subtle, silly thing, maybe, but he couldn’t help it.

  He grabbed what he needed from his en suite bathroom, then moved into his walk-in to change into jeans and a t-shirt. “I don’t need to look fancy for them, do I?” he asked, voice muffled as he pulled on his hoodie.

  Cole laughed. “Just be comfortable. It’s a night in and trust me, they’re going to judge you for sweats as much as an Armani suit.”

  “Well joke’s on them,” Ryan said with a sniff as he strolled out of his closet, “I don’t own an Armani suit.” He froze, staring at Cole who was still in the chair, relaxed back in it looking cozy and delicious. Ryan suddenly didn’t want to leave. He wanted to shirk all responsibility, drag Cole into his bed, and keep him there for at least a week. He licked his dry lips and blew out a soft breath. “I’m ready when you are.”

  Cole pressed his hands to the arm of the chair and rose, reaching for Ryan who didn’t hesitate before stepping into his embrace. When Cole kissed the side of his neck, he shivered. “You’re nervous.”

  “I’m,” Ryan said, starting to defend himself, but Cole wasn’t wrong. It just hadn’t been the forefront of Ryan’s mind right then. “I’m glad we’re doing this. I want to meet your kid, and I want to help you prove to them that you can do this just as well as you could before.”

  Cole let out a slightly bitter laugh. “Wasn’t the best at it before, you know. I was the occasional weekend dad with fun trips to London before I’d fly back out and miss her for months. Trust me, I’m not like Wes. I wasn’t born to be a father.”

  “I think there’s a lot of new shit you need to get used to, and you have a strong support system in all of us to get through it,” Ryan told him. He cupped Cole’s cheek and pressed a soft peck to the corner of his mouth. “Now, let’s go watch some Disney flicks and eat some terrible food.”

  Cole laughed, then grabbed Ryan’s arm and had him lead the way out.

  12.

  Ryan was a confident guy. He’d been in some of the most difficult situations a person could have been in. He’d sat across from murderers and abusers and questioned them without a hitch in his voice. He’d allowed himself to be alone with people who could have easily, and without remorse, taken him out and hadn’t blinked an eye.

  However, sitting in Cole’s driveway staring at the front door and knowing that not only was he about to meet the mother of Cole’s child, her new husband, and Cole’s daughter had him trying to control a very visible tremor in his hands. He felt the sudden and irrational urge to call Noah, to have him talk him down and remind him he was worthy of all this. He wasn’t sure Cole would appreciate Ryan needing a pep-talk for this, though. Considering what was at stake, Ryan had to suck it up.

  “Okay,” Cole said before reaching for the door handle, “you’re freaking out.”

  “I,” Ryan said, spluttering a little. “That’s…I’m…it’s fine. I’m totally fine.”

  Cole laughed softly and instead of opening the door to let himself out, he reached for Ryan. “The day they got here, I was pacing a hole in my living room floor. When my doorbell rang, I was pretty sure I was about to be sick all over my feet. Then they came in and…and it hasn’t exactly been nice to have Isabel here and questioning my every move, but Claire quickly reminded me that I’m still her dad and in spite of the differences now, she still wants me around.”

  Ryan touched the edge of Cole’s glasses. “Has she seen you without them?”

  A tendon in Cole’s temple twitched and he sighed. “She will tonight. I meant to. René called me on it, but I wanted…I know this might sound er…more than we agreed on but…but I wanted you with me when I did.”

  Ryan let out a slow breath, then dragged Cole in for a kiss by the back of his neck. “She won’t care.” He lifted the glasses and placed kisses to the soft lids as he often did when they were alone together.

  Cole licked his lips, then nodded and slid the glasses back up. Ryan wasn’t going to push, and he didn’t exactly know the girl, but he felt it deep in his bones that Cole’s daughter wouldn’t be scared of her father no matter how he looked.

  “If you can grab my bag,” Ryan said, opening his door, “I’ll get the food and set everything down in the kitchen.”

  Cole gave a nod, then quickly got Kevin out of the car, hitching Ryan’s bag over his shoulder and made his way to the door without waiting. Ryan appreciated the quiet moment to himself, and before reaching for his bags, he gave in to his itch and pulled out his phone.

  A compromise, he’d send a text.

  Ryan: Hey. So. I’m about to meet Cole’s daughter and I’m kind of freaking out. What if she hates me?

  Noah: I doubt she will. Maggie thinks you walk on water most of the time. You’re charming, kids like that.

  Ryan: And if she doesn’t?

  Noah: Do you need me to call and talk you down?

  Ryan laughed to himself at how well Noah still knew him, knew what he needed. But a call would take too long. T
he front door was sitting partly open and waiting for him to come in and finally take that step. Even if it wasn’t a step toward what he really wanted.

  Ryan: Can we meet for coffee soon? I know you’re busy as hell with everything, but I just…don’t know what the fuck I’m doing here.

  Noah: Name the day and I’ll be there. You’ll be good at this. I love you, Ryan.

  Ryan: I love you too.

  He slipped his phone into his pocket, hung all the bags on both arms, and wriggled until he got the back closed. The sound of the shuffling plastic was almost too loud, and he could hear a little thudding of his heart in his ears as he approached the door. He heard Cole’s soft voice speaking somewhere from inside, and the voice of a small child, and the heavy accent of the man who had to be René.

  Ryan was grateful he could slip into the kitchen and drop everything first without being seen. He was damn surprised at how much he cared. What they had was so precarious—what would he do if this group decided he wasn’t good enough? They hadn’t made promises to each other, and Cole had support in him, but this was his family.

  “Ryan?” Cole called out.

  Ryan shoved all the bags on top of the kitchen table, then fished out the ice cream. “Just putting the frozen stuff away, be right there.” He allowed himself that extra moment as he reached for the handle on the freezer.

  When a small hand touched his leg, he jolted, then turned to see a small girl standing beside him. He was startled at first at just how much she didn’t look like her dad. She had very round features, wide eyes that were an almost sapphire blue, and a heart-shaped mouth in a curious pout as she stared up at him. Ryan could see Cole, though, in her expression and in the locks of dark hair which were tied back into braids.

  “Are you my daddy’s friend?” she demanded.

  Ryan shut the freezer door, then bent over and offered his hand. “Yes, I am. He invited me to watch movies with you tonight if that’s okay? I’m Ryan.”

  “Mummy says I have to use school manners,” she told him, giving his hand a gentle shake.

  Ryan frowned, not sure what she was getting at for a moment until it dawned on him. “Oh. Well then, you can call me Mr. Anderson if you prefer it. But Ryan is fine with me for movie night.”

  She twisted her lips, then leaned in to whisper, “Maybe after mummy is gone?”

  He winked at her. “I think we can both keep that secret.”

  She looked utterly delighted, and his heart thumped wildly as though he’d just won a race. He didn’t stop her when she seized his hand once more and dragged him toward the living room where everyone was waiting.

  “Are you blind like daddy?” she asked.

  Ryan laughed for a second, though he became very aware of two sets of unfamiliar eyes watching him like a hawk. “No, I’m not. Which is why I drove the car and not your daddy.”

  “Yeah, he would crash it. Right daddy? You would crash it?”

  Cole, who was sitting on the sofa, laughed and beckoned her over. “I reckon I would until they make cars for blind people. Come over here so Mr. Anderson can meet your mum and René.”

  Her hand was gone from his, and Ryan turned his attention to the other two. They were both dressed well, clearly ready for a night out. The moment he looked at Isabel, he could see why Cole would have liked her. She was short, probably five foot or under, with wavy brown hair and deep brown eyes. She had a look about her that said she was attractive and well aware of it. She fit well next to her husband who was massively tall—at least Wes’ height, though he was far thinner. But he might as well have stepped off a magazine cover, reminding him of Rhys in that way. He had blonde hair, hazel eyes, and a jaw so sharp it could cut glass.

  He was smiling, too, unlike Isabel, and he quickly extended his hand to Ryan. “Bon soir,” he said in his deep, rumbling voice. “We’ve heard a great deal about you, so it’s nice to finally put a face to the name.”

  Ryan shook his hand, and he quickly realized Isabel had no intention of doing the same, so he didn’t offer. “Same here. Sorry it took so long, but I wanted to let you all get settled in.”

  René cocked his head to the side as he studied Ryan. “Cole says you practice law?”

  “Yeah,” he answered with a shrug. “I work for the State Attorney’s office as an Assistant State Attorney.”

  “That sounds important. You must have big, government cases,” René said.

  Ryan laughed. “No. No, it’s not…no. I know TV makes it seem like I’m going to take down big mafia guys or whatever, but that’s not what we do. We handle cases that go beyond civil. My department handles domestic violence, child abuse, stuff like that.”

  Both Isabel and René’s eyes widened, and she spoke for the first time. “You defend them or prosecute?”

  Ryan made sure to look her in the eyes as he answered. “The state prosecutes. My job is to put the offender behind bars as often as I can.”

  She seemed to settle a little bit after that. “You’ve been at it a while, then?”

  Before Ryan could answer, Cole cleared his throat. “I reckon you to should go before you’re late. You’ll have plenty of time to interrogate him tomorrow.”

  “Right. Because you’re staying,” Isabel said flatly.

  Ryan was a little startled, wondering if maybe she took issue with the fact that he was a man, or maybe there was lingering feelings Cole was unaware of. Or maybe she was just mean. Either way, he wasn’t about to back down in front of her. “Yep. Love a good sleepover. We have pizza and ice cream and movies.”

  Claire let out a tiny cheer, and both Cole and René chuckled. “Okay mummy, you can go. I’m fine.”

  Isabel looked torn, but when René took her hand, her shoulders deflated, and she gave a terse nod. “Fine. We won’t be too long.”

  Ryan gave her a pointed look as he moved toward the sofa to stand near Cole. “Take as long as you want, okay? Just trust us, we’ve got this. One of my best friends has a kid and he made me get CPR training before I was even allowed to breathe her same air. And there’s no better hands to keep her safe than her dad’s.”

  Isabel looked unconvinced, but when René tugged her arm, she went willingly. Ryan stood there until the door closed, then he let out a sigh and shook his head. “Well…”

  Cole looked a little tense, then he clapped his hands and said, “D’you know what sleepovers need most?”

  “Nope!” Claire said.

  “Pajamas, pillows, and blankets,” he told her. “Why don’t we all change and then Mr. Anderson and I can start tea, hmm?”

  “Daddy,” Claire said, stopping by Cole’s side and taking his hand, “he…your friend…he said I could call him Ryan when mummy isn’t listening.”

  Cole’s mouth twitched. “Did he?”

  “I’m not sure I’ve ever been grown up enough to be a Mr. Anderson,” Ryan added helpfully.

  “Well, for sleepover night I think it’ll be fine,” Cole said. “Go on then, get changed.”

  She hurried off and Ryan slid up to Cole’s side, wrapping an arm around his waist for a moment to kiss his neck. “Seeing you parent her is weirdly sexy. Does that make me a freak?”

  Cole chuckled softly. “Maybe, but I find I rather like you that way.”

  They moved quickly to the bedroom to change, Ryan throwing on a pair of sweats and his softest t-shirt, and Cole wearing some flannel bottoms with a black shirt and a logo that Ryan was fairly sure was the Royal Marines. Something inside him twinged to see it—whether it was from knowing that was how he got hurt, or that he was hiding something, he wasn’t entirely sure. But he decided it was best to focus on the task at hand.

  They could hear Claire in the living room setting everything up, so Ryan grabbed up the pillows and one of the duvets and slung it over his shoulder. “Alright, then food?”

  “Then food,” Cole confirmed. He hesitated a minute, then removed his shades and set them on the dresser. “Ready?”

  Ryan reached out to squeeze his h
and. “Ready.”

  Cole led the way into the living room, and as he turned the corner, Ryan watched as his foot came into contact with a pair of discarded shoes and he pitched forward. Too far away to catch him, Ryan watched him hit the ground on all-fours and catch the side of his cheek on one of the side tables.

  “Bloody hell,” he hissed.

  Ryan dropped the bedding and walked over to offer a hand up, which Cole took with a grimace. “How bad does it hurt?”

  Cole gingerly prodded his cheek. “Not too badly. Bleeding?”

  “Not that I can see,” Ryan said, taking him by the chin and turning his head left and right. “It’ll probably bruise a little bit.”

  “Did Claire see that?” Cole asked even softer.

  “No,” Ryan all-but whispered back. “I think she’s snooping through all the shopping bags in the kitchen.”

  Cole let out a relieved breath, then turned back toward the place where he’d fallen. “What was it?”

  “Shoes,” Ryan said. He moved around Cole and picked them up. “Yours?”

  Cole touched them, then sighed. “No, not mine. René’s.”

  Ryan felt his entire body go tense as he tucked them between the small table and the TV stand so they weren’t in anyone’s walking path. “Tell me he hasn’t been doing stuff like this on purpose.”

  Cole shook his head, still rubbing at his sore cheek. “No. They’ve mostly been alright with the rules, but it hasn’t been perfect. Luckily I haven’t fallen in front of them but…”

  But you probably will, Ryan finished for him silently. He hated that for Cole, the expectation that he needed to be perfect in order to be considered bare-minimum acceptable as a parent for his own child. Who lived up to that? No one Ryan had ever seen, even Wes and Anna who loved Maggie beyond words. He pushed down his frustration, knowing voicing it wouldn’t add anything good to the night.