Chapter 19
Everything that happened next was a blur. I felt the weight of thing one, as he slammed my body to the ground. I could hear Zoe's gasp from somewhere behind me, and the guilt I'd felt a moment ago suddenly multiplied ten fold. I instinctively brought my hands to my face, expecting a fight, instead Cole's laughter rang through the large room, and I was being pulled back to my feet by the same man who had just tackled me.
“Glad to see your balls are still intact.” Cole joked.
I looked him dead in the eye, righting my suit jacket. “I don't know what you're doing Cole, but this... it isn't you.” Turning away, my gaze caught Zoe's and I reached for her hand. To my relief, she actually took it, and I led us both out of the building, and onto the balcony without looking back. I needed air, to breathe, but mostly, to make sure I hadn't ruined things with the woman whose hand was tightly clasped in mine.
“He was bating you.” Zoe whispered, as soon as we were alone.
“I shouldn't have let him get to me.” I said, releasing her hand and walking towards the railing that wrapped around the balcony. I leaned on my elbows, head bowed, wondering what I could do to fix the damage I'd caused in there. Before I could contemplate any further, small hands slid underneath of my open jacket from behind me. I let out a breath I wasn't aware I was holding. “I'm sorry Babydoll.” I whispered.
She responded by resting her head on my back, and twining her hands around my middle. “If I'm being completely honest, it was kind of sexy, you defending my honor and all.” She teased, brushing her fingertips up across my chest.
I laughed, placing my hands over hers. “That wasn't Cole in there.” I said, needing her to know that I would never deliberately let someone, anyone speak to her that way. “I'm not making excuses, I just, I don't know how to help him.”
“I might.” A deep voice boomed from behind us, making me spin around and tuck Zoe safely into my side. I narrowed my eyes, recognizing the man, but not believing he was standing in front of me. “Allow me to introduce myself.” He said, taking another step towards us. “I'm Robert Drake.”
“I know who you are.” I said, my hand resting possessively on Zoe's hip. “What do you want?”
“I have a proposition for you Mr. Granger.” He said, cocking his head to the side as if he were sizing me up for something. “You and I want the same thing.”
“Yeah? And what's that?”
“Cole Stephens, off my throne.” He said, bitterly.
“I wasn't aware Cole was the new king of the douche crew.” I bit back.
“I'm going to forgive that little dig Mr. Granger, because I understand you care about that clown parading as me. But the next time you insult me, you won't be so lucky.”
“What do you want with me?” I asked.
“I heard you just purchased a piece of property I've been trying to aquire for a number of years. I want it. Rather, I need to use it.”
“Hell no.” I said standing taller, and cocking my head to the side. “Let's go Zoe.”
Drake lifted his hand in an attempt to halt us, but I wasn't having it. There was no way this prick was going to strong arm me into letting him use my new building for fuck knows what. “Ill give you twenty four hours Mr. Granger.” He called to our retreating backs. “Think about it!”
When we were safely inside Zoe's car, and a quarter mile down the road she finally spoke. “What are you going to do?”
“I don't know.” I said honestly.
“Look, I wasn't made to be subtle, so I'm just going to say something, and I hope you don't hate me for it. You have covered Cole's ass for his entire life. A part of me thinks he's expecting you to save him. But what if, just once... you don't. What if you let him deal with the consequences of his own actions?”
“What if it were Jake?”
“That's not fair. Jake would never put himself in this kind of situation. When is it your turn to be happy Wes?”
“I am happy. You make me happy. In my head, my heart, my pants.” I winked, causing her to bite her lip in an attempt to keep the laughter at bay. “Don't bite your lip Babydoll. I want to do that.” I said, running my hand up her thigh.
I felt her tense beneath my touch, as she shifted into second gear. I knew she was right about Cole. I needed to let him pave his own path in life. He wasn't a kid anymore, and neither was I. But if Drake had an option to get him out of the life he'd gotten himself into, maybe I should at least hear him out. I'd have to keep the meeting from Zoe though, and I knew right then, that I would. With any luck she'd never find out, and Cole would be safe.
We pulled up to her house a little after nine. It was early, since we didn't stay the entirety of the event, which I was grateful for. Jackets and ties weren't really my thing, so before we even reached the dining room I was already down to my dress shirt fiddling with the buttons on the cuffs.
“Help me with my zipper?” She asked, pursing her lips.
Shrugging out of my shirt, I stepped behind her, moving her hair over her shoulder. I pulled her zipper down in silence, as I watched her dress fall to the floor at her feet. She stepped over the material as if it were nothing, and stepped right out the french doors that led to the pool in nothing but her panties and heels. “Damn” I whispered under my breath following her, and losing my own clothing along the way.
She was already in the water, her panties and heels abandoned beside the ladder. I couldn't help but smile, after the night we'd just had, unwinding in the water with Zoe's slick body against mine, was just what I needed. I slid into the cool water, swimming towards the woman beckoning me with her eyes. “I thought you were going to be mad at me.” I said when I reached her, caging her in between my arms, her back pressed against the wall of the pool.
“I'm not mad.” She said on a sigh, reaching her arms up to wrap them around my neck. Her legs were next, and with a little maneuvering on my part, I easily slid myself inside of her. “I'll write a check to the school.” I said gruffly, thrusting my hips slowly. In, and out, in a torturous movement, that had her biting her lip again. I bent down then, capturing that lip in my mouth instead. Making good on what I'd said in the car on the way over. I nipped her gently, all while continuing my thrusts into her perfect body. She moaned, her hands raking the back of my neck. “I could have every single inch of your body pressed tight against mine and I'd still say, pull me closer.” She breathed out, her words like ammunition to my throbbing cock, and in three short thrusts I was bringing us both over the edge and into oblivion. I knew then, that I'd gladly live there, as long as I had her.
We swam a little while after that, splashing, and joking, enjoying each other's company. When she tried to hop out, I was there in an instant, gripping her thighs and burying my face into her wet core. I made her cum right there on the cement, before pulling her back into the water, warming her goose covered flesh, and thrusting my tongue into her mouth. Making her taste herself on me, imprinting it in her very soul. She was mine, and she would know it. She grounded me, made me forget everything else. But, she was also my kryptonite.
It was made all the more clear by what happened tonight with Cole. He'd intentionally used her to bait me, to make me fight. I still didn't understand why, but I intended to find out. Tomorrow morning, when Zoe left for her first real day back to work, I would be meeting with Robert Drake. The thought of working with the man left me feeling uneasy, but what other choice did I really have? If someone didn't step in and save Cole from himself, he was going to end up dead, it was as simple and as complicated as that. I wanted nothing more than to heed Zoe's advice, and let him fend for himself, but I wasn't built that way.