Chapter Two
Cole
I hadn’t wanted to be interested.
Yet as soon as she’d walked in the bar, a shudder had whispered down my spine at the sight of her. I’d known exactly what she represented. Everything I hated. Wealth. Privilege. Power. But I’d still had to snap my mouth shut, aware my slack-jawed stare had mirrored every other jackhole’s in the bar.
For the first time in what seemed like forever, my stale libido had roused itself from slumber. I’d taken note of the slashing cheekbones framing soft, brown eyes that oozed with hidden secrets. Sweet, sizzling secrets that would twine themselves around a man’s cock and squeeze until he couldn’t remember his own name.
How long ago had I sworn off women like Madison? In the not-so-distant past, I’d hunted rich socialites like prey, eager to exploit them before they used my name as a stepping stone to further themselves. Be their little bit of rough.
It had made me feel good, for a while anyway. That I’d held all the cards—at least in the bedroom. I got to say whether or not they received pleasure. I got to decide when I left. Except lately, even that had failed to make me feel better. Nothing seemed to soothe the bitter ache left behind from too many nameless encounters.
Then Madison St. James had walked in and my cock had jumped to attention. Still, I had firmly decided to go and leave it be. Until my phone had rung.
It’d been Marcus.
“Your timing is impeccable as always,” I had bit back a groan as I’d answered.
“Karma’s a bitch,” had been his reply. “And you deserve it after stirring things up between me and Abby.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. Marcus’s issues with his pretty taxation consultant had made life a lot more interesting. Everyone could see the two of them were on a collision course to greatness. Everyone except Marcus and Abby, that was. In causing trouble, I had been doing him a favor. Marcus just didn’t realize it yet.
“I wanted to make sure Abby had options,” I had goaded. “Wouldn’t want her missing out on a little bit o’ Cole if she’s that way inclined.”
Which we both knew she wasn’t.
But Marcus had taken the bait. “Abby has more sense than that.” he’d snorted.
“So, did you want anything in particular?” My gaze had kept straying to the bar and the beautiful woman sitting there. “Or did you just call to ream my ass?”
“What? Am I holding you up?” Marcus’s tone had turned sly.
If Marcus had been able to see Madison—who at that moment had been contemplating the shot glass of Russian nasty at the bar—he’d have been wondering why the hell I was still on the phone.
She’d flicked a quick glance my way, then tipped her drink back like a seasoned pro…and had just about spat it over the bar. Amusement had turned to grudging appreciation as she’d held it in, choked it back, her shoulders shaking under the onslaught. My cock had given me an extra little nudge, and had left me wondering if maybe this woman wasn’t exactly what I’d needed tonight.
“It all changes when there’s a pretty girl around, huh?” Marcus had said wryly. “Perhaps I should fly in and give whoever is occupying your time some options, in case a measure of ol’ Marcus is what she’s after.”
“Too late.” I had briefly diverted my attention back to the phone. The thought of Marcus approaching this beautiful woman had left a hard knot in my chest. “She’s already mine,” I’d told my friend. “But I’ll share the details tomorrow, when I untangle myself from her sheets.”
“I hope karma comes and takes a chunk from your ass.”
“What is it about my ass you love so much?”
Marcus had given a pained sigh. “I’ve been covering it long enough.”
“Talking of covering.” I had gotten serious for a moment. “I haven’t been able to get hold of Jess. Have you seen her?”
A long pause had followed. “You know your sister’s not so little anymore, don’t you?” Marcus had worded his question carefully.
“Don’t start with me. You know she’s not like other girls.”
A sigh. Then. “Okay. I’ll check on her. You know she wants to move out of the dorm, I’d think about that before she does something stupid.”
“I’ll take care of it,” I’d promised before ending the call.
Like hell my sister was moving out on her own. But with Marcus calling on her, I’d drained my beer and waved away the waitress who’d approached me for another order. I’d decided to go to the bar. Find out this beautiful woman’s story.
Karma. No such thing. Otherwise every fucktard that had stepped over me on their way to the top, wouldn’t still be rich and powerful. And while I was destined to join them as far as affluence went, I could honestly say I’d never used anyone else to get there.
Which didn’t mean I wasn’t thinking about going for a little exploitation with Madison right now. Yeah. I hadn’t intended to be interested when she’d first walked into the bar, but it was funny how fate intervened at just the right moment.
I hoped Madison had been a very bad girl. Because I was about to go all karma on her ass.