6
THEA
I take a second to register what’s happened. The man is on his back on the road and Cole is standing over him. Where the hell did he come from? I glance in my rearview mirror. Sure enough, there’s a car behind me. The headlights are blinding, but I know it’s Cole’s Range Rover.
I’m speechless as I glance back at him.
His eyes are focused on the man who’s scrambling to get up. Cole’s body is tense with power. The sleeves of his white shirt are pushed up to his elbows, and the veins in his hands bulge as his fists clench.
The stranger looks like he might try to take Cole as he plants his feet and brings his fists up to his face. Cole’s hand flies out and grabs the man’s shirt with one hand while the other comes up under his jaw. His head snaps upward. He tries to shake off the punch, however his eyes betray him—he’s disoriented and can’t fight back.
Cole pushes him backwards and lets go of him. “Get outta here, asshole.” He doesn’t hesitate, taking off down the sidewalk.
My heart pounds wildly—I try to slow it. I’m safe now. Cole’s face ducks into view, worry creasing his brow. His voice comes softly, as if he’s found a beaten puppy. “Thea, are you alright?”
I nod. I can’t say anything—too afraid that I’ll break down. I keep nodding as he puts my window back up, tells me to wait, and closes the passenger door. My eyes search in the direction the man took off in, then flick to my rearview.
Cole’s headlights have disappeared.
I’m safe. He’s gone. The thoughts do little to tame the rush of adrenaline that’s pounding in my ears and knotting my stomach. While the threat of the stranger is gone, I’m admittedly terrified of Cole’s reaction. I’ve never seen a man look like he was about to kill someone before.
The tap on my window makes me jump.
Cole opens my door and reaches over to unbuckle the seatbelt. “Get in the passenger seat, love.” I don’t argue, instead I gracelessly crawl over the center console to get to the other side as Cole slides into the driver’s seat. He locks the doors.
“Are you okay? Really okay?” His eyes search mine, then he surveys my body, presumably to see if there are any signs that the man put his hands on me.
Taking a few deep breaths, I steady myself. “Yes. I think so.” It’s a lie, but Cole’s already thrown a punch for me tonight. I don’t want to make him feel responsible for piecing me back together as well. “Wh-where did you come from?”
I searched for his car before leaving the bakery. It wasn’t there. I was sure of it. His timing was nothing short of miraculous.
“I had to get gas, then I was heading home when I saw what was going on. I didn’t realize it was you until I was getting out of my car.” Cole’s hand reaches out and rests it on my shoulder. “You’re shaking.”
I take another deep breath and try to still my body.
“Is this the way home?” He points straight ahead and I nod. He lets out a sigh and pushes his hand through his curls. “Listen, I might be paranoid, but I won’t be able to sleep tonight if I let you go home shaken up like this. Not to mention, if that idiot sees your truck and decides to retaliate…” He trails off. “It’s up to you, although I’d feel better if you stayed somewhere else for the night.”
The thought hadn’t crossed my mind. The stranger took off in the same direction as my apartment. What if he recognized my truck? I shudder.
“I-um…I can call Cassie.” Hitting the call button, I wait as it rings. It goes to voicemail. “It’s fine, I can go home,” I lie. Now I’m terrified of being alone, however I don’t have much of a choice.
I try to reason logically against my raging emotions. The chances of this guy finding my truck and getting into my apartment are pretty slim. It does little to calm me. I know it’ll be hard to fall asleep with that thought bouncing around in my head.
“Come home with me,” he says tentatively. My eyes flick to his and he sees my hesitation at the invitation. “When Cassie calls you back, I will take you to her house. At least let me make you dinner. It’ll help calm you.”
I look at my phone—no notifications. Weighing the options, I can’t find another solution that will make both of us feel better about what just happened.
“Okay,” I agree. He puts the car in drive and I send a text to Cassie telling her to call me when she gets the message. “Thank you… for this and for the other thing.”
Cole drives past my street, heading towards the outskirts of town. The buildings become scarcer and the distance between the streetlights grows further apart. I hadn’t thought to ask where he lived, assuming his house was close to the bakery.
I quell the nervousness that pushes into my chest. This man has been nothing but kind and even came to my rescue. He won’t hurt me. Not all men are the same. The thought bumps right up against the memory of the man who got aggressive with me.
It’s getting harder to believe that mantra.
He turns onto a gravelly road after driving for about fifteen minutes. Darkness makes it impossible to see anything beyond the few feet that the headlights illuminate.
Cole’s hand finds mine, giving it a squeeze. “Hey.” Turning my head, I meet his gaze. “As long as I’m around, I’ll keep you safe.”
It’s a strangely intimate promise. Something about the way he looks at me when he says it makes me believe him and it soothes my nerves.
In the distance, I see light coming from a series of windows that form a triangle. As we approach the house, posts line the drive, illuminating enough to see that beyond the gravel lay dense forest. Quiet. Secluded.
Cole gives my hand another squeeze as he pulls in between two cars—one red and sporty, the other black and sleek. I count four parking spots. He must notice.
“You know those brothers I mentioned? We all live together.” I should be thankful I won’t have to feel the awkwardness of being alone with Cole in his house for the first time, although something about meeting the most important people in his life knots my stomach.
I’m second guessing letting him bring me here.
“I don’t want to impose. Honestly, I can drive myself home.” Cole lifts my hand to his mouth and presses his lips to it.
“I’d like it if you came in. They won’t mind.”
I check my phone once more. Nothing from Cassie. “Alright, if you’re sure that it’ll be okay.” I reach for the handle and he pulls me by the hand he hasn’t let go of yet.
“Let me.” Cole’s chivalry seems to know no bounds. He opens the truck door and carries my satchel for me.
From the driveway alone, the house is incredible, much nicer than I’m used to. Cassie’s family is well off and their house is the only comparison I can make to Cole’s—in size. Neatly trimmed shrubs line the paved path we’re walking on.
As I wait for Cole to unlock the door, I notice a tiny red light mounted to the awning. A security camera. It doesn’t faze me—Cassie’s family has them all over their property.
Cole opens the door and my breath catches.
His house is massive—like insanely huge. The floor to ceiling stone fireplace is the first thing that catches my eye. It must be fifteen feet across. The kitchen to my left is open and spacious, with sleek appliances and marble countertops. A rectangular chandelier hangs above the island, making the space feel warm and inviting.
“Cole… this is incredible.” I’m breathless as I take in everything around me. My cheeks flush red as I realize how awestruck I sound, as if I’ve never been in a beautiful home before. I have, however, this is entirely different.
To my right is a dining room with an obscenely long table. I count fourteen seats. It’s bare and I realize there are very few decorative touches to the home. They furnished it with the basics, although the price tag of those items are probably more than I could ever imagine spending.
He sets my things down on the table, then grabs my hand and pulls me further into the house, passing stairs that lead to a lower level.
Beyond the fireplace is the living room. Off white couches and armchairs form a cozy U-shape around the hearth. But it’s the wall of floor to ceiling windows at the far side of the room that catches my eye. Darkness swallows whatever lies beyond the glass.
“The view is indescribable.” Cole comes to stand behind me. His arm reaches out across my shoulder, pointing to the left as he says, “It looks out onto the river. There’s a little dock down there for fishing and kayakin—”
“Cole, what are we doing for dinner?” I turn towards the voice coming from the kitchen—it’s one of his brothers. The fridge opens, then I hear some jostling.
“I’ll get something going in a minute. Chicken good?”
The fridge closes and footsteps head in our direction. I shouldn’t be this nervous, it’s just Cole’s brother… friend… brother friend?
“Yeah, that’s—” The man comes to a halt, mid opening a bottle of water.
What is in the water around here that makes these men so incredibly attractive?
He’s about as tall as Cole as far as I can tell, though his frame is more muscular and broader than his brother’s athletic one. The fitted black shirt and pants make it hard not to appreciate his physique.
I’m not sure if it’s his wavy dark auburn hair and matching stubble or the tattoos covering both arms, reaching down to his fingers, that hold my gaze the longest. Something about the black ink against his fair skin is mesmerizing.
I realize I’ve been studying him silently for too long. I give a polite wave.
“Damian, this is Thea. Thea, Damian.” He just stares. Is there something on my face? I fight the urge to check.
“Nice to meet you,” I assert as I walk towards him with my hand extended. Once I’m in front of him and holding his gaze, I notice a third feature competing for my attention.
Damian’s pale blue eyes are captivating. If mine are the color of sapphires, his are aquamarines—they remind me of the birthstone necklace I received one Christmas long ago.
He finally takes my hand, easily covering most of it with his firm grip. Against the warmth of his skin, I feel coolness—Damian’s ring. It’s the same that Cole wears, the wolf with red eyes staring at me ominously.
“Cole, you didn’t tell me we were having company tonight,” he scolds mildly, not breaking eye contact with me. He’s intimidating by all standards—I want to look away and a year ago, I would have. Tonight, I stand a little taller as I square my shoulders and decide to let him back down.
He smirks and drops his gaze down my body before letting my hand go. It’s such an odd thing, him checking me out in front of his brother. My face scrunches.
“I’m telling you now, Damian.” Cole joins me, sliding his hand around my waist—a subtle claiming of his territory. It sends a wave of heat through me, yet his need to do this is just as confusing as his brother’s once over of me.
I wonder in all the years they’ve known each other if there has been some kind of betrayal that is causing this faint thread of tension. “I’m going to show Thea to the guest room, then we can get started on the food.”
Cole looks at me to clarify. “There’s a guest room downstairs if you want to take a shower. You’ve had a long day.” Suddenly, I’m all too aware that I’m in the same clothes I hiked in all afternoon. He’s right, a shower is exactly what I need. “I can give you something to wear and then we’ll eat.”
I let him take my hand and lead me to the stairs.
As we descend, I chance a peek back at Damian. He’s turned to watch us leave, although his eyes are solely focused on me. There’s an icy fire raging behind them. I have the distinct thought that we won’t get along.
Across from the last step, there’s a door. “There’s a wrap around balcony. You get views of everything from out there.” He turns to the left and points. “Over here is the theater.”
He flicks the light on. A large screen is on the wall opposite of us. In front of it is a massive sectional that’s wide enough to sprawl out on. Blankets lie neatly stacked in one corner of the couch. “Snacks are here.” He points to a countertop holding a popcorn machine and clear racks with cookies, candy bars, and other sweets. In the corner is a fridge. “Drinks and ice cream are in there.”
My jaw wants to drop. I could live in this one room and be happy for the rest of my life. He takes me away from my personal heaven and leads me to the next door, turning on the lights.
“Here’s the gym.”
There are weight machines, treadmills, stair machines, punching bags, and tons of other equipment. This is less surprising than the theater. Judging by both Cole and Damian’s bodies, I can tell that working out is a priority.
“This is…” I try to find the right word. I don’t want to make it seem like all of this is over indulgent, although that’s how it feels, especially compared to my little studio apartment and old truck. “Nice,” I force out.
Cole smiles, his dimples catching my attention. “It’s a bit over the top, but Damian insisted on making this our dream home. Aside from going to work and getting the necessities from the store, we really don’t need to rely on the outside world very much.”
That’s sad. The outside world has so much to offer. I smile and leave it at that.
I hear the muffled sound of loud music coming from the last room, bordering the gym. “What’s in there?”
“That’s Wesley’s room. Sounds like he’s in a mood, so we won’t bother him.”
He walks to the door across from the gym and opens it, hitting the lights. Inside, the room is cozy, yet impersonal. Cole drops my hand and disappears into the room to the right of mine. He reappears with some clothes.
“Everything you need for your shower is in there. Towels. Shampoo. Lotion. If there’s anything you can’t find, let me know. Take your time. I’ll be upstairs whenever you’re finished.”
Cole leans down and kisses my forehead before heading up. I’m sure I must be dreaming. Any second I’m going to wake up.
DAMIAN
I watch as Thea follows Cole downstairs. She isn’t who I was expecting when he told me he’d went on a first date. And I certainly didn’t think he’d bring her around this soon.
She’s not his usual type. I mean, I can see how she would appeal to him, but he’s read her all wrong. The few women that Cole’s brought home in the past have been… innocent looking. Big smiles with nothing much going on behind the eyes kind of women. He falls for that eyelash batting and doe-eyed thing.
Thea’s big blue eyes must have fooled him because she’s not innocent and she’s definitely not going to bat her eyelashes to get what she wants. I could tell as soon as she stepped up to me and took my hand. I’m an intimidating guy and my cold stare only made her stand straighter.
There’s some darkness in her. I don’t know if Cole can handle it.
Serves him right. He’s been distant lately. It’s pissing me off. I don’t know if it’s because of her or if he has something up his ass. Either way, we’re going to have to have a sit down. Tonight, I’ll let him have his fun. I’d be lying if I said I’m not jealous. Thea’s exactly my type.
The moment I walked into the living room and saw that long dark hair waving down her tits, I had to restrain my thoughts. She’s small, no more than five-seven, and curvy. Even in her yoga pants and loose top, I can imagine her in nearly nothing.
When they walked past me, I couldn’t help sneaking a peek at her ass. Fuck, it was full and round, perfect for what my hands are capable of. My cock twitches at the thoughts that swirl in my head.
I walk to the kitchen and wait for Cole to come back up. He knows the rules of the pact and he’s walking a fine line of breaking it. He should have told us he was planning on taking Thea out, that he was bringing her here.
Open communication—it’s the only way the pact works.
Cole’s head bobs in to view as he comes up the stairs. “I don’t want to hear it tonight, Damian.” He pushes his curls off his forehead and opens the fridge, taking out a package of chicken.
“She seems nice.” I test the waters.
Opening a cabinet, he pulls out a bag of white rice and turns to me. “She is. Thea’s a nice girl.” The way his words come out as a warning tells me everything I need to know. He’s worried that if she’s around us, we’ll corrupt her. I chuckle to myself.
More and more these days, I think that he’s leaned into this sweet bakery owner thing a little too much and forgotten our rebellious roots. Corruption is half the fun. Fucking with no inhibitions is the other half.
I bet Thea fucks like a wild animal. She has that energy about her—dark and mysterious, like she’s into some kinky shit or wouldn’t be opposed to trying some new things.
“She new to town?” I don’t get out much, however, Willow Hill is still pretty small and you get to know people’s faces after a while. We’ve all lived here our entire lives, except for our college years, but otherwise, this has always been home.
She’s not anyone I recognize.
Cole chops some peppers, refusing to meet my gaze as he answers. “Yes. She moved here a few months ago.” He doesn’t elaborate and I’m getting annoyed.
“Where does she work?” It’s like pulling teeth. “Please tell me she doesn’t work at the bakery. You know how messy that can get.”
He looks up at me and rolls his eyes. “No, she doesn’t work at the bakery. She has a photography studio, just opened it.” I know the one he’s talking about. I’ve seen it in passing.
I nod, waiting to see if he’ll say anymore, but he turns to the stove and dumps the peppers into a pan. The sizzling breaks up the silence. “What kind of photography does she do?”
Cole sighs. “Boudoir. How many questions are you going to ask? Should I pull up a seat? Get comfortable?” He’s awfully defensive, however I’m done asking.
Boudoir. I know the style. Lingerie, sultry poses, silk sheets. Thea spends her days taking photos of nearly naked women. I smile. I love when I’m right.