Hailey's Game

by Hailey's Game (lit)

  It didn’t work. It only got worse as Kyle and Hailey fell over into each other’s arms, leaving him there alone with his cold, sticky cock. That didn’t matter to him, Cole snorted. The only reason he felt any disappointment was because he hadn’t gotten what he wanted. A fact that he felt the need to point out right then.

  “You really screwed up my game, man.”

  From the opposite side of the bed came a snort. “Yeah, remind me to care about that later.”

  “Your knight isn’t always going to be around to protect you, princess,” Cole warned Hailey as he rolled out of bed. That got a deep sigh from the puddle of lush curves and tantalizing recesses all curled up along Kyle’s side.

  “I mean it, Hailey. You will be calling me master one of these days.”

  Sitting up, she cast him a dirty look. “You lost, Cole. Get over it.”

  “You want to start back at the beginning?” Hell, if he had the energy for it, but Cole knew he had the interest already growing down below.

  “What I want is for the Cattlemen to teach you morons more than just how to fuck,” Hailey snapped back as she started scooting down the bed. “Because, you know, what? There is such a thing called afterglow and you two really, really, suck at it.”

  With that fiery proclamation made, she slammed the bathroom door on both of them. It was just the kind of trigger that normally would have had him barging through the door to take that argument up, but Cole could still feel the chafe marks of his release on his heart. He didn’t like that sensation at all.

  “You know I’m going to beat the crap out of you tomorrow for not telling me Hailey was here.” Kyle didn’t sound the least bit upset with either him or Hailey as he got out of the bed.

  “Yeah? See, I was just thinking tonight made us about even.”

  “No.” Kyle reached the bathroom door but paused to finish the argument. “Because you hit me. Now I get to hit you back.”

  “See, I remember you hitting me back when I was hitting you.”

  “Well, I didn’t say you couldn’t hit me back. Now, you going to let a good shower go to waste?”

  Cole scowled at that just because he wanted to say yes too badly. “Nah, I’m going to get a piece of that pizza.”

  He didn’t wait to catch Kyle’s response or be tempted by him opening the door. Not bothering with clothes of any kind, Cole paced down the hall. Sure, he flashed his neighbors as he crossed the entryway from the living room to the dining room, but nobody had ever complained before.

  Heading for the greasy box Kyle had left on the counter, he flipped it open only to stare down at the cold pizza. The sight did not stir his appetite. Not in the least, though his stomach felt hollow enough to be hungry. It just didn’t seem like food would fill that ache.

  “Eh.”

  Cole popped the lid closed and turned to the refrigerator. It garbled back at him, earning it a few solid hits on the side until it stopped its bitching. That didn’t stop it from punishing him for his abuse by being pretty much empty. Beer, milk, something that had been wrapped in tinfoil and sitting there for way too long. It didn’t matter how long he stared in, nothing else but a ketchup bottle stared back out at him.

  “Eh.”

  Cole closed the door only to roll his eyes a second later and rip it back open. Milk it was. Maybe it would help with his heartburn.

  Where the hell did that come from?

  Rubbing his chest as if he could somehow smooth away the awful sensation, Cole scowled.

  It was probably Hailey’s fault. It was all that stubborn defiance that got under his skin and those last moments—they hadn’t meant anything. Cole had proof because he still felt restless. Itchy and unsure of what the hell would ever put the sensation to rest.

  For God’s sake, he’d just spent hours indulging in one of his greatest games with his biggest catch ever, not to mention having shot through an orgasm like some fucking shooting star and look at him. Cole looked down at the Mr. Man. The cock stood tall and ready for round two.

  “I think you’ve had enough tonight.”

  The Mr. Man didn’t even blink. Glaring straight back at him, there only came one thought echoing out of his balls. Pussy. What would it be like to lose himself in Hailey’s heat? Cole gulped down a large swallow of milk, trying to cool that thought.

  He’d been there, on the edge of his own climax earlier tonight. Not even five minutes into fucking and he’d been there, on the horizon of something that had so shocked him with its significance he’d forgotten himself in that moment of fear and retreated to her ass.

  Cole flinched from that memory. He’d never once caused a woman harm, never once lost control, and look what he’d done to Hailey. The mere fact that the woman loved it didn’t change the fact that he could have really hurt her tonight. He might be all sorts of a bastard when it came to women, but he wasn’t that bastard.

  Shoving the milk back in the refrigerator, Cole tried to leave those thoughts behind as he traipsed back down the hall. The shower had stopped and from the murmurs coming through Kyle’s door, Cole figured the couple moved into Kyle’s bed.

  Well, that was good because he couldn’t sleep with anybody in his. Hell, it was even better for Kyle. Shit, Kyle loved the girl, and all Cole had for her was a few inches of meat that would one day lose interest. Better he just be good sex and bad at afterglow because then nobody would get any wrong ideas.

  Turning into his room, Cole hoped they’d closed the bathroom door on their side because he didn’t want any kind of awkwardness. He knew how women could be, and she’d probably make it weird if she saw him. All his worries ended in annoyance as he saw the door was indeed closed.

  Apparently, they hadn’t been expecting him to join. Well, that was just fine by him, Cole thought as he wrenched on the shower. Of course, they could have at least left him a smidgeon of hot water, and why the hell did the steam smell like cinnamon?

  He’d never been so grumpy after sex, but Cole didn’t bother to fight the emotion as he took it out on his own skin. Between the hard scrubs and the cold water biting into him, he still glowed red when he stepped out and wrapped the towel around his waist.

  Pausing for a second to glare at Kyle’s door, Cole couldn’t help himself but to open it. It was worse than he expected. Cuddled under the covers, they snuggled up together, their hands rubbing against each other as they talked. The smooth motion of those fingers interlacing caught him for a second, and he could already see the gold bands that would be shinning there one day.

  “Hey, man.” Kyle’s happy greeting had him looking up to his best friend. Cole had never seen Kyle look like that. “You have enough hot water for that shower?”

  That had Hailey giggling as she flashed that wicked grin at him. “Nice tent.”

  “Yeah, take a good look, princess, because tomorrow night we going to be back at it,” Cole shot back, turning to proudly display the deformity in his towel.

  “Tomorrow night?” Hailey shared a look with Kyle. “What the hell is he talking about?”

  “Oh, come on, Hailey.” Cole grinned. “What’s the point in that no-sex rule now? Might as well enjoy the next four weeks, get you ready for what’s coming. Unless, of course, you think you can’t handle it.”

  That had her gaze narrowing back on him. “Ha. Ha. Cole. You aren’t going to trick me into nothing. This was a onetime deal.”

  “Because you were horny,” Kyle weighted in, and thankfully it was on Cole’s side. “You really want to go three more weeks without sex?”

  “Am I to assume this it’s either him or me has now been settled into its either both or none?” Hailey retorted.

  The considering look Kyle cast his way reminded Cole of just all the reasons Kyle had to say no. The grin that crossed his friend’s features didn’t make him feel any easier.

  “Well, I guess you might as well consider us a pair.” Kyle’s hand lifted where it had lain across her back. Brushing back the hair from her cheek, the look he gave h
er was so full of love Cole wondered if the idiot realized he was wearing his heart on his sleeve again. “What about just once a week? Kind of like a hold over.”

  Hailey’s hesitation had Kyle’s head dipping. He rubbed a yes from those swollen lips. With a sigh, she settled down against his chest and gazed over at Cole. She looked as content as a kitten, and for some reason that really irritated the crap out of Cole.

  “Fine. Once a week, but next time I expect to get some pizza and beer. After all, there are traditions to be kept. Right, Cole?”

  That was his Hailey. Kyle’s Hailey might be all sweetness, but Cole got the spice. “Yeah, I remember that, princess. You remember this, no panties and your legs stay spread. After all, there are traditions.”

  “You’re such a perv, Cole.”

  “Back at you, princess.”

  “You two going to fight all night?” Kyle complained. “Because I actually need some sleep.”

  “Eh.” Cole turned and strutted off. He didn’t doubt Kyle would be doing more than sleeping with Hailey in his bed, but fine. Cole would leave him to it. He didn’t like having nobody take up room or drape all over him in the middle of the night. The very last thing he’d ever want to sleep with was some spasmodic spitfire who might bite him in his sleep.

  Much better to crawl into a nice, empty bed. Except that his bed smelled like Hailey and sex. There was some biological matter smeared about, too.

  “Eh.”

  Chapter 27

  Tuesday, May 27th

  Hailey glared Cole down without blinking. “I said no.”

  “I said yes,” Cole shot back. This was the problem that came from giving a little savage too many free orgasms. They got temperamental and pushy.

  “That is an original R series 289 V-8. It’s a classic.”

  “It’s a rusted piece of junk.” Cole leaned in to make sure she heard him good and clear. A move Hailey copied that just proved how very little she feared him.

  “Then fix it. That is what you do, isn’t it? Or are you just some parts guy, Cole. All you know is how to rip and replace?”

  “Don’t even.” That had been an insult too far. Cole never just replaced a part to shirk his responsibilities. The suggestion that he would had his ears burning. “I’m telling you now, Hailey, this piece of shit can’t be saved. It’ll cost too damn much.”

  “Okay.” Kyle appeared just about out of nowhere to push a good foot between the two of them. “I think maybe it’s lunch time, and don’t either one of you give me that look. You’re not having that argument here and now.”

  “Tomorrow night then,” Cole conceded, casting a smirk at Hailey’s narrowed gaze. Tomorrow would be their third and final “do-it” date before the clock wound down toward Cole’s day of ultimate victory.

  “You ain’t going to fuck me into agreeing, either,” Hailey shot back.

  “At least not here,” Kyle tacked on with a pointed look at Cole’s snickering cousins.

  “Not anywhere.” Hailey’s gaze hadn’t followed the clue but stayed locked on Cole.

  “You want to take that test and see who passes?” Cole stepped into that challenge, easily pushing Kyle out of the way. “We’ll let Jacob and Aaron declare the winner.”

  That had her nose wrinkling up as she finally cast her dirty look in their direction before laying it back on him. “That isn’t even funny.”

  “I wasn’t joking,” Cole assured her with a grin. “You see, we got this tradition down at the club where we publicly compete—”

  “Never mind!” With that snap, Hailey turned and stormed off toward the shop sink. Her retreat brought to life the chuckles that had been building in his chest, and he could hear them echoed from his cousins across the shop.

  “Oh, come on, princess, you won’t know if you’ll like it until you try it.”

  “Fuck you, Cole.”

  Cole laughed outright at that as Jacob and Aaron brought their own bales closer. Clustering around Kyle and Cole, they all watched as Hailey started to scrub her frustrations out with her vigorous hand washing.

  “I cannot believe you actually managed to get that girl into your bed.”

  “You’re the king.” Aaron’s shaking head turned to a nod at Jacob’s comment.

  “What about me?” Kyle did a good imitation of a highly insulted man, not that Cole cared.

  “You.” Jacob sized Kyle up as if he had to consider his answer. That moment only had Kyle’s gaze narrowing before Jacob’s hand dismissed him. “You’re kind of like the heir apparent or whatever they call them.”

  Cole had to shed a few chuckles for that insult, especially when it earned Jacob the same attitude he’d bought off Hailey.

  “Fuck you, Jacob.”

  “Why you so cranky? Just be happy Cole shares his good luck with you, buddy.”

  “Try my good luck.”

  “Try proving it.” Jacob’s hand patted the top of the Daytona. “Right here, right now, and we’ll all call you the king.”

  Like that would happen. Like Kyle would do that to his precious Hailey. Jacob knew it, too. He backed Kyle into a corner with that offer and then had the gall to smirk when Kyle remained sullenly silent.

  “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

  “You done having your fun?” Kyle asked.

  “With you, yeah.” Jacob turned his gaze on Cole. “But you. Aaron and I need to have a word or two with you.”

  Cole bristled over that tone. “What the hell did I do?”

  “How about we explain that to you at lunch?”

  Cole cast his gaze over at Hailey. They’d eaten lunch every day, all seven of them in a week for the past three straight weeks, and he kind of like the ritual. “But I got plans.”

  “We were thinking barbeque,” Aaron stated clear and pointed.

  “The Picnic Table sounds good to me.” Jacob nodded.

  “Cole paying sounds better.”

  “Well, it sounds like you have new plans, sire.”

  Kyle relished that one a little too much. Cole got the sick feeling he’d be hearing a lot of that in the coming days. Hell, Kyle would probably tell Hailey all about it over lunch, and he’d have to listen to her smart ass call him that, too.

  Of course, it wouldn’t be so bad if she were panting it, begging me to—

  “Hey, dumbass.” A slap to the back of his head pounded Aaron’s rude interruption into his fantasies. “We’re talking to you here. Lunch. The Picnic Table. You’re buying.”

  “You’re rude.” Cole glared at his kin. “Didn’t your mama ever teach you any manners?”

  “Yeah. She taught us family always comes first,” Aaron shot back.

  “Which means you do about any dumbass thing for your blood,” Jacob tacked on.

  “Even taking a beating or helping a buddy out when he’s in a jam.”

  “But there are limits.”

  “And apparently whatever you asked them to do hit theirs,” Kyle concluded as if he had any place in this conversation. “Which kind of makes me wonder. I mean, what would be something these two would object to, given they’re pretty much game for anything?”

  “Nothing.” All three Jacksons gave him that answer at the same time.

  “Yeah. Okay.” Kyle shrugged. “I’ll pretend to be that dumb and go have a pleasant lunch with my lady.”

  “My lady?” Aaron repeated in total disgust.

  “What the hell, man? Next you’re going to be baby talking to some purse size dog.” Jacob shook his head. “You just got demoted from heir apparent.”

  That didn’t seem to bother Kyle at all. “Say what you want, Jacob. A least I ain’t got to go begging around town for my meals.”

  “I ain’t got to beg.” But he did have to shout thanks to Kyle strutting off. It made Cole’s cousin sound a little too defensive. So did the look Jacob turned on him. “We gotta talk.”

  * * * *

  “You really know how to rock a sandwich.” Kyle got that out from around a mouthful of b
read, cheese, and meat as he hunched over Hailey’s kitchen table. The sub she placed in front of him not minutes ago had already started to rapidly disappear, and he was already eyeing the second one she worked on.

  Normally that would have Cole’s name on it, but today it was all his. Kyle shoveled in the last chunk of his first sandwich just to clear his plate, so she had a place to put the sub. Hailey didn’t even recognize his compliment as she settled the new sandwich down in front of him.

  Kyle eyed her over the wheat roll and decided she looked a little too thoughtful. A little grumpy, actually. Over the past three weeks, he’d gotten pretty used to Hailey’s moods and considered it nothing short of an epic accomplishment that he and Cole had kept her away from grumpy.

  Not that it took much effort these days. Kyle’s plan to simply insinuate himself into every facet of Hailey’s life worked. All three of them ate breakfast together every day at the Bread Box, they worked all morning, then went to lunch, dinner, worked all night in the shop.

  About the only time they weren’t together was the afternoon and the few hours of sleep they got every night. Even then, once a week for the past three weeks Hailey had been at his side for those moments. Those were the best moments, and in six more days, they’d become permanent.

  Six days, that’s all that stood between Cole and his reckoning. Kyle fully expected that event to change everything. Once Hailey had truly given herself over to them, learned that she could trust them, she’d settled down.

  Before, though, she looked to get prickly. That’s just how she sounded, too. “You know I think tomorrow we should do lunch at your place and maybe you can do the cooking.”

  “Cook? It’s just a sandwich.” Kyle knew the minute he heard his own words he stepped full on in it. Snapping his head to the side, he caught her dark look. “But really, Hailey, you rock the sandwich.”

  “Oh, shut up.” Hailey snapped the refrigerator door closed and shot him a dirty look. “That’s not what I mean and you know it.”

  Not willing to give in to criticism for fear it would spur her ill temper, Kyle just widened his grin. “I do?”