The King’s Alley Cat

by Lee-Ann Wallace

  Maybe she was naive to think he’d answer her honestly. In the past, he’d always told her the truth even if it made her cry, but now she didn’t know. She didn’t know if she could trust him anymore. She didn’t know if she should forgive him.

  Cole sucked in a breath and let it out so slow, she was surprised he didn’t turn blue. “I can’t promise you it will work out, Ally, and that we’ll be happy forever. Nobody can promise that, but I’ll give us everything I’ve got until you say you’re done. There isn’t anyone else like you, at least not for me.”

  She gazed up into his eyes, and he didn’t hesitate to gaze back at her. He didn’t hide anything from her, not the hope in his expression, nor the lust in his eyes. He was right, neither of them could guarantee it would work out, and it would take both of them putting in one hundred percent effort to make it work.

  Ally leaned up into Cole, the muscles of her shoulders and back protesting. “If you’re lying to me, or you do anything like that ever again, and you don’t let me make my own decisions about my future because you think you know best, you better watch out, Cole. I didn’t spend four years in Brisbane turning myself into some skinny, weak chick who can’t fight their own battles. I will beat the shit out of you, and leave you lying in the dust.”

  Chapter Four

  Cole blew out a breath and hung his head. “What did I do to deserve you?” he muttered so quietly Ally knew he hadn’t meant to say it out loud.

  But she wasn’t about to let him off the hook yet. “You don’t deserve me, not yet, but everyone deserves to be happy, Cole, and we have to fight for what we want.”

  His head shot up, and he glared down at her. “You didn’t fight for what you wanted four years ago, and don’t think I’m ignoring that crack about beating the shit out of me, alley cat, but you’re going to have to get in line. Troy’s already warned me he’ll cut my nuts off if I hurt you again.”

  Ally glanced away. He was right. Things would have been different if she’d stayed four years ago. Then again, she might have ended up hating him if she’d stayed and had to see him all the time and couldn’t have him as her own.

  If she’d had to see him with one more woman, laughing and kissing, she would have ended up being bitter. Instead, she’d left. Run away in a sense, but... she’d come back, and she might have told herself it was to see Troy and Sienna and find out what they thought of her idea, but she knew deep inside when she’d hopped in her car to leave Brisbane that she would see Cole.

  She knew she would get a chance to shove in his face the woman she’d become, to show him she wasn’t the chunky teenager anymore and he’d missed out by being an arsehole. She’d secretly wanted that, wanted him to see what she’d made of herself and that she didn’t need him, but in the end, she was here because she’d wanted one last chance to see if he felt anything for her at all.

  Coming to see Troy and Sienna was what she’d told herself she was doing. If her intention had been to come and see Cole, she would never have had the courage to do it.

  “You’re right,” Ally replied. “I didn’t fight for what I wanted four years ago. But I never thought you’d lie to me, Cole. And I needed that time to grow up and figure out who I was without you.”

  The heat closed in around her as Cole stared down at her, one eyebrow raised.

  His gaze roved over her face, and he leaned to the side so he could see all of her.

  From the soft-knit cotton, tight t-shirt she wore to the cut-off jean shorts that left most of her legs bare, there wasn’t one inch of her that looked anything like what she’d looked like four years ago. Even her face looked different without all the puppy fat.

  “I already knew who you were, Allison,” Cole murmured as he brushed his hand across the waist of her shorts and under her t-shirt to stroke the soft skin of her belly. He turned his blue-eyed gaze on her. “You were mine from the day you turned fourteen. I saw it in your eyes, and it scared the shit out of me. Troy saw it too, and warned me if I took advantage of you, he’d gut me and leave me for the crows.”

  Ally shook her head, ignoring her quivering stomach, and replied, “Cole, you would never have taken advantage of me. I wouldn’t have fallen in love with you if you were that kind of person.”

  “You’re right,” he replied, his voice a low rumble that rolled through her. “But fuck if keeping my hands off you wasn’t one of the hardest things I’d ever had to do.”

  She frowned at him. “What was the hardest?”

  Cole leaned down, right down, until their noses were touching. “Hurting you, and seeing the pain and anger on your face and knowing you might never forgive me. Will you forgive me, alley cat? Will you give me a chance to make it up to you?”

  He didn’t give her a chance to respond. Cole licked at her lips, darting his tongue out to catch her top lip so he could draw it into his mouth and suck on it gently.

  Ally’s breath caught in her throat and locked, then rushed out in a ragged woosh when he did the same thing to her bottom lip. All she managed was a nod before he caught her up in a kiss that stole her breath all over again and left her panting.

  “Is that yes?” he demanded.

  “Yes, Cole. I forgive you for what you did, but I haven’t forgiven you for not ringing me at any time in the last four years to apologise and explain. You’re going to have to do a bit more to earn that,” she replied.

  Cole’s eyebrows rose, and he barked out a laugh. “I can earn it, alley cat. I’ll earn it every bloody day.”

  He sat up beside her and reached for the hem of his t-shirt.

  Ally groaned when he stripped it off to reveal the new ink covering his chest and torso—tattoos that hadn’t been there four years ago—and muscles he must have worked bloody hard to develop.

  Her pussy clenched at the knowledge that she was finally going to get what she’d wanted for so long. The ripple running through her made her hips twist.

  His gaze snapped to hers, one eyebrow raised.

  Ally raised her own eyebrow back at him and pushed up on her hands, the grass spiky under her soft palms.

  “If you want to earn it you’d better hurry up, Old King Cole, or you’ll start racking up interest,” Ally said, using the nickname she’d given him what felt like an eon ago.

  Cole barked out a laugh and leaned down until they were nose to nose again. He flicked his tongue out to tease her top lip. “That’s interest I’ll be more than happy to pay. But if fast is what you want, little cat, then I’m happy to oblige.”

  “Cole, I didn’t—” But she didn’t get a chance to finish... again.

  Cole caught her up in another kiss, this one far hotter and wetter than the last. There was no teasing, not little nibbles or sucks on her lips. There was just Cole and his wicked tongue that was making her feel things she’d never felt before.

  He didn’t just kiss her, he stroked every inch of bare skin he could reach, and he held her still with one hand behind her neck while the other delved under her t-shirt to stroke up the sensitive skin of her stomach to her breasts. He stroked a rough thumb over one sensitive nipple.

  Ally gasped, her back arching. Oh god, he needed to do that again.

  But Cole had other ideas. Ideas that include pushing her back down to the ground and pulling her t-shirt up, then pulling the cups of her lacy bra down to expose her breasts to the hot, dry air. Ideas that included him cupping her now bare breasts in his even hotter hands as he trailed little biting kisses down her chin and neck, before he replaced one hand with a hot wet mouth.

  A gasp lodged in Ally’s throat turning into a moan. She drove her hand into his hair to hold him to her.

  Cole sucked her tight nipple into his mouth and flicked his tongue over the tip, making her moan again.

  Ally melted as liquid heat spread through her limbs, her nerves thrumming in time to the insects in the garden all around her.

  He stroked her other breast, teasing her already tight nipple until
it throbbed and sent sparks shooting down to her pussy, while he worshipped her breast with his lips, teeth, and tongue. His beard scraped the sensitive skin of her breast, driving Ally mad with need.

  She whimpered, everything inside her tightening. Her hips lifted off the ground of their own accord, her back flexing as he drove her higher and higher. She clenched her hand in his hair and stroked every inch of skin she could reach with her other hand.

  God, he hadn’t even managed to get his hand down her pants yet, and she was on the verge of begging him. “Cole,” she gasped, needing him to do more, needing him to touch her where she throbbed and ached, where she wanted him inside her.

  Cole let go of her breast with a gentle rake of his teeth across her aching nipple and rested on his elbow over her.

  Ally’s hand drifted down to land on a hard, muscled shoulder, and she dug her fingers into his hot skin, needing something to anchor herself, so she didn’t float away on a cloud of euphoria.

  His gaze seared through her as he raked it up and down her torso.

  Her back bowed and a low moan welled up in her chest.

  “Fuck, look at you, alley cat.”

  He stroked his hand down to the waist of her shorts, making her belly quiver and the muscles dance. He gave her a questioning look as if expecting her to stop him, but Ally just stared back at him through hazy eyes.

  Seconds passed before he was popping the button on her shorts and sliding down the zipper. Cole stroked his fingers across her lower stomach slipping lower and lower, teasing her sensitive skin, teasing her with the promise of what was to come.

  Ally whimpered when his fingers skated close to the top of her panties, then away again. Close and away again. Closer, the teasing bastard, then away again. Each stroke made her tighten a little more, made her insides ache and her clit throb, and her fingers dig into his shoulder.

  She bit her lip to keep her moans inside and shifted her leg to give him easier access to where she wanted him to go.

  But Cole didn’t dive straight in like she expected him to. He slipped his hand into her panties and stroked his fingers across the short thatch of hair she had on her mound, then pressed down and massaged in a circular motion.

  Ally’s hips jerked, lifting off the ground, and she gripped Cole’s forearm. Her eyelids fluttered shut, and the moan trapped in her throat broke free. Oh God, she’d never known that spot could send little bolts of pleasure straight to her clit.

  “Are you wet, alley cat?” Cole asked right next to her ear, his hot breath washing across her sensitive skin. “Am I going to dip my fingers in you and find you slick and hot and ready for me?”

  A gasp caught in Ally’s throat when his fingers finally stroked in a soft barely-there touch over the lips of her pussy.

  A low groan rumbled out of Cole, and he pressed his forehead against her temple. “Fuck, you’re soaked.” He slid a finger through her dampness, circling the gate of her pussy, then delved inside, a groan rumbling in his throat.

  Ally whimpered, the sound pulled from her against her will, and her back arched. She needed him in her, all of him. Every long, thick inch she could feel him pressing against her hip.

  Cole pumped his finger once, then withdrew and drove two into her depths.

  Ally dug her fingers into his arm and shoulder and cried out, “Cole!”

  “What, alley cat?” Cole demanded, his husky voice sending a violent tremble through her. “Think I’m gonna fuck you before you’re dripping and ready to come?”

  God, who gave him the right to be so fucking sexy, to say things like that and almost make her come on the spot? She whimpered, her hips lifting again when he slid his fingers out, the tips curled up to drag along the front wall of her pussy.

  Ally’s neck arched, her leg drawing up and tilting her hips towards Cole as he stroked those long, thick fingers of his inside her over and over.

  Little gasps and moans slipped from her in a steady stream, and her muscles trembled as he strung her tighter and tighter, her pussy squeezing his fingers in a vice like grip.

  Cole passed his thumb over her clit and Ally’s breath caught.

  Her eyes fluttered shut. Oh, God, he was going to make her come.

  But Cole ripped his hand from her.

  Ally’s eyes popped open, and before she could cry out in protest, he grasped her shorts and panties at the waist and dragged them down her hips and off, taking her thongs with them.

  He pressed her knees apart and settled between her legs on his own knees. Cole dragged his wallet out of his back pocket and pulled out a black foil condom packet. He dropped his wallet on the ground, unbuckled his belt with one hand, and ripped open the condom with his teeth and his other hand. The whole time he kept his gaze on hers, his eyes telling her without words that he needed her as much as she needed him.

  Ally dropped her gaze and watched Cole shove his jeans and jocks down his hips. She sucked in a breath when the rigid length of his cock sprang free. Oh God! All those girls’ and women’s giggles and whispered comments made perfect sense now. Ally swallowed, and her gaze followed Cole’s hands roll the condom down his cock, a ripple starting deep in her pussy and rolling outward.

  “Fuck, Ally. If you keep looking at my dick like that, I’m going to embarrass myself,” Cole said.

  Her eyes shot to his to find him smirking down at her from his position between her knees. “Bullshit, Cole,” Ally replied. “I’ve heard the stories about you. Now shut up and fuck me before I go mad.”

  One eyebrow rose up his forehead, and he stared down at her for a long moment before he chuckled and came down over her to rest on his elbows. “I won’t let you go mad, alley cat,” he said and leaned down. “At least not this time.”

  Ally snorted and wrapped one arm around him delving a hand in to clutch the hair at the nape of his neck. “Just shut up and fuck—”

  Cole caught her up in a kiss that made Ally hold him to her. The blunt head of his cock pressed against her entrance, and Ally moaned.

  Yes. Now. Do it, Cole.

  He pressed in, just the head of his cock, and Ally groaned and clutched him harder, her knees coming up and angling her hips to give him better access as he stretched her wide.

  Cole pushed past the knot of nerves just inside her entrance, sending a spark of pleasure through her. Ally gasped, then moaned as he drew back all the way out and did it again, just until the fat head of his cock had stroked over her g-spot.

  Everything inside her tightened, and Ally stiffened, her breath catching and her eyes closing.

  “Not yet, alley cat. Don’t you fucking come,” Cole ground out against her lips.

  “Cole,” she whimpered.

  Her thighs trembled, and he did it again. A short thrust that dragged the head of his cock over her g-spot, then he was pulling out to do it again.

  Ally froze, her fingers gripping his hair and digging into his arse.

  “Can’t stop it,” she gasped.

  Cole thrust again, deeper this time making Ally’s eyes pop wide and her breath lock in her throat. Her neck arched, and her pussy clamped down on Cole making him grunt.

  “Fuck, you’re tight,” he groaned and slammed all the way in.

  Ally moaned. Her orgasm rolling through her like a thunderstorm on a summer afternoon. Her arms and legs locked around Cole holding him to her, and she bucked, her hips rising to meet his thrusts.

  Cole cursed and slammed all the way into her again, ripping a cry from her. He pounded into her, every stroke dragging a little noise from her. Every stroke driving her mad as it seemed to intensify her release, or was he building another one?

  Oh, god, he was going to make her come again.

  “Gonna mark this body, alley cat,” Cole ground out. “Gonna cover you in my ink, so every time you look in the mirror, you know who loves you.”

  Ally bucked and sucked in a breath, her neck arching, then cried out as she shattered into a thousand pie
ces.

  Cole groaned, “Fuck, Ally.”

  He stiffened under her hands and caught her up in another kiss, slammed in and moaned low and sexy as he came.

  Ally stroked her hand up into Cole’s hair, her fingers snagging on a knot in the short dark curls, simply feeling his heat and weight over her. She’d never imagined when she left Brisbane that she’d end up here, like this.

  Cole released her lips, and Ally’s eyes fluttered open to stare up into the cool blue of his gaze.

  “Were you serious when you said you’d live anywhere?” she asked. Right after sex might not be the best time to be asking, but she needed to know before she talked to Troy and Sienna. Her whole future was hanging on what Cole said next.

  He raised one eyebrow. “Why?”

  She bit her lip and glanced away. “I had this idea, but it would mean you’d have to move and open a new shop.”

  Cole’s other eyebrow rose. “Is that what you wanted to talk to Troy about?”

  Ally nodded, and held her breath. Now that she was asking to move, would he still say yes?

  “Alley cat, I’ll live anywhere you want to, and if you go without me, I’ll keep chasing you until you have nowhere left to run.”

  Her breath rushed out in a whoosh. Cole might change his mind when he found out the details, but it was good enough... for now.

  One month later.

  “So, what do you think?” Ally asked.

  She stood looking across the main street of Summerton at a Federation-era building a few doors down from the town’s most popular pub.

  Cole scratched his head. “You want to buy that?”

  “How many shops are there?” Troy asked, and took his hat off to run a tattooed hand through his hair before settling his cap back on his head.

  “There’s four,” Ally replied and let her gaze wander over the timber framed doors and shop windows of the building, then up to the veranda above with its intricate fretwork and timber posts.

  “But we only need three,” Sienna said.