Stay A Little Longer (Kadia Club Nights Book 2) Read online

  “Well,” Marcus started, “those fuckers took Zak.”

  Keesha looked up at him darkly. “I want Cole to answer. Not you. Let’s keep him talking. The last thing I need is you passing out and falling off the stool while I’m digging around in your arm looking for a bullet.”

  How was Keesha so calm and collected? Cameron couldn’t wrap her head around it. Her own hands were shaking so badly she wouldn’t have been able to do up the fly of her own jeans, let alone use a pair of tweezers in a bloody ragged hole in someone else’s skin—in Cole’s skin. The thought made her shudder.

  Cole’s good hand clenched into a fist as Keesha stuck the tweezers in him.

  He let out a growl. “Son of a bitch, Keesha, will you be careful with that thing?”

  “The bullet has to come out,” she said. “Don’t be a baby.”

  Marcus snorted.

  Keesha’s hand stilled with the tweezers and she looked up at Cole. “Start talking. What happened?”

  Cole glanced up at Marcus and sighed. “We still don’t really know what the whole thing was about. Five Russians showed up looking for Zak. He knew who they were and he went willingly with them. Things got a little out of hand when—ouch! Will you watch it with those things?”

  Keesha yanked the tweezers free. They came out of Cole’s arm pinching a blood-covered bullet. Keesha let out a victorious cry and discarded the bloody thing on the counter. It rolled five inches and stopped. “Keep going,” she said before pouring more alcohol over the wound.

  Cole flinched, collected himself, and kept talking. “Marcus got a little abrasive and things took a turn. One of the Russians pulled the trigger.”

  “Cole is downplaying it,” Marcus said. “He took the bullet for me.”

  Keesha had threaded the needle and had a piece of thread pinched between her teeth as she pulled the knot. She paused. “Is that true?”

  Cole shrugged, forgetting his wound, and cursed when it caused him pain.

  “We’re square now,” Marcus said. “An eye for an eye. Bullet for a bullet.”

  Keesha put a hand on Cole’s cheek the way a mother might with her son. “Thank you.”

  Cole nodded.

  She set to stitching.

  Cameron sat on his other side and did her best not to notice the way the needle dipped down every time Keesha pushed through his skin. That part didn’t seem to bother him, and he and Marcus were able to divulge the details of everything that happened immediately following Keesha and Cameron driving away. It seemed that they’d gotten out of there at the right time.

  “So Zak’s in trouble?” Keesha asked.

  Marcus opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of beer. He popped the cap off by leveraging it against the countertop and smacking the neck of the bottle with the side of his hand. “Yes, I’d say so. Fucker kept this shit under wraps this whole time. He knew those bastards were coming for him and he didn’t say a damn word.”

  “I’m sure he had his reasons,” Cole said.

  “Fuck his reasons,” Marcus hissed. “His reasons got you shot.”

  “To be fair, this bullet was for you, so I’m not taking it too personally,” Cole said.

  “Don’t get smart with me,” Marcus said.

  Keesha finished stitching and slid off her stool to sanitize the area and pack up her items. She took an extra minute to cover his wound with the bandage she’d pulled out, and once he was all done, she told him to go move somewhere comfortable like the sofa.

  Cole obliged and Cameron followed him into the living room while Marcus hung back with Keesha in the kitchen.

  She sat down beside Cole as he leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes.

  She snuggled in close to his good side and ran her finger along his jaw. “I’m so relieved that you’re okay.”

  He caught her hand and pressed her palm to his cheek before turning into her touch to kiss her hand. “I’m glad you weren’t there.”

  “What can I do? What do you need?”

  “Nothing,” he said softly. But his eyebrows furrowed.

  “What is it?”

  “I… I need you to know something.”

  “Yes?” she asked.

  “If you want no part of this, I’ll understand. Marcus can drive you home right now. He’ll make sure you’re safe. And you don’t ever have to see me again. Tonight was a fucking shit show and I’m sorry I put you through it. You deserve something steady. Something where your man won’t come home to you with a bullet hole in his shoulder and a mission to go out and get the guys who shot him. I can’t give you that. With me… with me, this is what you’ll get. This is the norm.”

  Cameron gazed into those blue eyes of his.

  What had she told her father earlier tonight during their fight that felt like it had happened years ago now? She’d told him she was a grown-ass woman. She’d told him she could make her own decisions.

  And she’d meant it.

  Cameron went to her knees on the sofa and held Cole’s face in her hands. She leaned in close and kissed him softly. “I’m not going anywhere. I want you. I want you and everything that comes along with you. I love you, Cole. I love you with my whole heart and I can’t imagine not being with you.”

  Cole closed his hands over hers. “I love you too.”

  “You’d better after what you put me through.”

  A smile curled the corner of his lips that she captured in her mind to look back on the next time they had a hard night like tonight. If and when that time came, she’d remember how good it felt to have him in her arms again and to see that smile and to gaze into the eyes of the man who loved her as much as she loved him.

  This was more than enough.

  Epilogue

  Cole

  Cole woke up in his own bed the morning after the showdown with the Russians. His shoulder ached like someone had hit him a dozen times over with a crowbar, gotten tired, and handed the job off to the next guy. He felt a little lightheaded, probably from so much blood loss, but other than that, he felt like himself.

  Although he could have done with some food.

  He rolled over gingerly, acutely aware of his bad shoulder, and reached across the bed for Cameron.

  She wasn’t there.

  Frowning, he propped himself up on his good arm.

  He heard the shower running. The bathroom door was open a crack and steam slipped out. He caught a whiff of her floral-scented shampoo and body wash. He breathed in deeply, savoring the smell of it, and lowered himself back down onto the pillows.

  As he waited for her to finish, Cameron started singing softly in the shower.

  She didn’t have an angel’s voice, that was for sure, but it sounded magical to Cole. It was a familiar song he couldn’t put his finger on. Her voice competed with the sound of the shower, making the melody fade in and out until she simultaneously fell silent when she turned the shower off.

  He closed his eyes and smiled.

  She continued to hum the same tune while she dried off. He’d learned from the nights she spent at his place that she had a post-shower routine where she’d moisturize her entire body from head to toe, including her hair, which she said she put some sort of mask in. Usually, it smelled like coconut and pineapples. She would also apply numerous products to her face before wrapping her hair up in a smaller, thin towel.

  It was in said hair towel that she emerged from the bathroom about ten minutes after the water shut off. She had the other towel wrapped around her chest and pinched together in one hand. She hadn’t yet noticed that Cole was awake. He watched her with one eye cracked open while he lay on his back.

  She tiptoed around the bedroom looking for something to wear. She didn’t have an overnight bag with her, only the things that had slowly accumulated during the nights she’d crashed with him, but most of those things that were clothing related were tight dresses or things she’d wear on a night out. She had no sweats or otherwise more comfortable clothes to change into, so she always fou
nd herself one of his shirts.

  Today wasn’t any different.

  She went to his dresser, rummaged through the second drawer from the top, and pulled out a worn-out old T-shirt. She dropped her towel and pulled his shirt on over her head. It became briefly caught up in her hair towel but she managed to get the neck over it. She let it fall around her thighs and Cole watched as she gathered the neckline of the shirt up to her chin, dipped her nose into the collar, and smelled it. She closed her eyes and smiled as she breathed in his smell.

  Cole couldn’t help but smile, too. Apparently, he loved the smell of her shampoo as much as she loved the smell of his shirts.

  “Hey you,” he said.

  Cameron turned to him with the collar of his shirt still gathered up around her chin. She smiled warmly. “Hey.” She padded across the floor and perched herself beside him on the edge of the bed. “How are you feeling?”

  “Lucky,” he said. He meant it. He could have died last night. As soon as the bullet ripped through him, Cameron had been the first thing he thought about. He’d known the injury wasn’t fatal, and he was grateful for it because he finally had something good in his life that he didn’t want to fuck up.

  He had something worth fighting for.

  Cameron put her hand on his chest. “Me too. But I meant your shoulder.”

  “I know what you meant. I feel fine. I’ll be good as new before you know it.”

  The look she gave him suggested she wasn’t convinced but she left it alone. “Have you heard from Marcus yet?”

  He shook his head. Unless Marcus had called in the night, the last he’d talked to him had been at his apartment last night before he and Cameron made their way down to a taxi to go home. Marcus had told him he’d be in touch sometime today.

  First, Marcus had to get in touch with Demetri.

  Cole didn’t envy that job.

  He doubted Demetri would take too kindly to five Russian strangers walking onto his property—or rather blasting the doors off his property—and taking one of his employees for their own. There was still a lot of mystery swirling around what these men wanted Zak for but there was no doubt in Cole’s mind it wasn’t a good thing.

  With any luck, Demetri would give them a course of action to get Zak back. Or on the flip side, he might decide it wasn’t worth wasting resources to retrieve one man who left willingly. He might even brand Zak as a traitor.

  Everything was still up in the air.

  “Do you think Zak is all right?” Cameron asked.

  “I don’t know,” Cole admitted. “I know he can handle himself. But those guys? There’s history there. I’m sure of that much. Whoever they are, Zak’s important to them. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have gone to so much effort to get him. And I think he’s been avoiding them for at least a week. That’s when he started acting strange.”

  “But he never confided in any of you?”

  Cole shook his head. “Never said a word. Not even when we asked him what was wrong.”

  Cameron sighed. “I’m sure he had his reasons.”

  Cole hoped that was the case because from the outside looking in, it didn’t look good.

  “If they wanted him dead, they’d have done it already,” Cole said. That was the one fact he’d been holding on to since leaving Kadia last night. “They had plenty of chances and they didn’t take them. They needed him alive.”

  Cameron nodded slowly.

  “Are you sure you still want to be part of this?” Cole asked. “Your father is right. I’m dangerous by default. If things spiral and turn bad, this could spill over onto you. Your shelter might be compromised. Those women need you.”

  “Cole,” she said, shaking her head at him and pressing a finger to his lips. “There is risk involved with every chance worth taking. Everything about you is a wild card except for how much I love you. I’m not going anywhere. I can have you and the shelter at the same time. I don’t have to choose.”

  “And if things turn south?”

  She ran her fingers through his hair. “Then we will face them together.” Cameron leaned over him. Her skin was dewy and shiny from all her oils and moisturizer. “Besides, I always get what I want. I’ll fix things with my father. And you bet your ass I’ll open my shelter. And I’ll keep loving you through whatever happens next.”

  Cole gazed up at his woman and again marveled at how lucky he’d gotten to have her as his second chance. “Good answer.”

  They crashed together for a passionate kiss. He ran his hands all up her back and under the shirt she wore. Her skin was soft and supple, and all of her smelled like flowers and sugar. She giggled against him and swung one leg over his hips. She braced herself with her hands planted on either side of his head and held herself there for more desperate kisses. She tasted like toothpaste.

  She worked her way down the length of his body, pausing to press kisses to his stomach and hips. Cameron settled between his legs and looked up at him. Her dark eyes burned with lust. His cock hardened and she took him in her hands to gently work him over. When she pressed her tongue to his tip, his breath hitched. She smiled before taking him deep in her mouth. He pressed up against the back of her throat and she leaned over him to suck him off.

  “Fuck,” he growled, reached down, and pulled the towel off her head.

  Her wet hair tumbled free. It was cold against his skin. He relished the sensation and gathered her hair up for her. He held it back and used it as leverage, working her on his dick, pumping his hips so he thrust into her throat. She moaned around his thickness and took him until her eyes were glassy.

  He pulled her up by her hair and she climbed back up on top of him. She wiped her mouth with his shirt and settled on his lap. She slid her wet pussy across his cock until he nearly lost it. When she tired of teasing, she reached back, lifted him up, and lowered herself onto his length.

  A soft moan escaped her.

  He gripped her thighs and pulled her down hard. Her moan morphed into a yelp and she pushed against his stomach.

  He rocked beneath her, driving himself in deep, and she rolled her hips so she could feel him every which way. She was tight and perfect, slippery and soft, and the sight of her basking in her pleasure was enough to bring Cole to the brink.

  He gripped her hips and forced her to be still.

  “Take it easy on me,” he managed.

  “Easy on you?” she mused, her eyes dancing with mirth. “I never thought I’d hear you say that.”

  Cole chuckled. “Well, I did just get shot.”

  “True,” she purred, leaning over him. “Tell me how to make it better, baby.”

  “This is helping.”

  She rolled and rocked but didn’t bounce. She knew just how to use him and keep him under control.

  She drew her wet hair over one shoulder as she rode him. He watched, transfixed by her beauty, as she pulled his shirt off over her head. Her ivory skin beckoned for him to touch her, so he did. He squeezed her breasts and flicked her nipples until she trembled on top of him and gave in to her own desires.

  She rode him hard and fast until her breathing descended into euphoric moans. Her eyes closed, and she hung her head, and he bucked furiously beneath her until she let out a cry of pleasure and gave in to her orgasm. Cole clenched his teeth and tried to maintain control, but her pussy gushed and tightened around his cock. He broke and lifted her off. Cameron descended upon him and sealed her lips over his cock. He thrust once into her mouth and that was it. He lost control. Cameron moaned and swallowed as he breathed heavily and closed his eyes.

  She settled onto the pillow beside him. He could feel her watching him, but he didn’t open his eyes.

  “Can I ask you something?” Cameron whispered.

  “Anything.”

  “The next time you’re in a room with men with guns, can you not throw yourself in the line of fire? I know you owed Marcus, but now you’re even. You have no more debts.”

  He opened his eyes and turned his head to
her.

  She stroked his cheek. “I need you to be loyal to me as well as your syndicate, Cole. I need you to think of me when you’re in those situations. I don’t know what I would do if I lost you. I know it’s not fair of me to ask, but please just don’t put yourself in unnecessary danger. Okay?”

  She was his woman. It was his job to keep her safe and to make her feel loved. He couldn’t do that if he was dead.

  “I will never leave you,” Cole promised. “And if I do for some reason, know it wasn’t my choice. And know I did everything I possibly could to stay.”

  Cameron nodded as her eyes filled with tears. She smiled and one fell free. “I’m sorry.”

  He wiped the tear away. “Don’t be. I understand. This isn’t easy. It won’t ever be easy.”

  Cameron snuggled in closer. “Loving you will always be easy.”

  Cole kissed the top of her head and breathed in the smell of her shampoo. “Not as easy as loving you.

  Cameron lifted her head and smiled playfully at him. “Did getting shot make you soft?”

  “Never. I’m just telling you what you want to hear.”

  She laughed softly. “Right. Sure you are.”

  He reached down and squeezed her ass. “What does a guy have to do around here to get some breakfast?”

  She kissed his lips and let out a soft sigh. “You just did it. I’ll go get us coffees and breakfast sandwiches. You stay here and rest.”

  Cole agreed and enjoyed every second of watching his girl get dressed. Before she left, she flashed him a smile over her shoulder, promised to be back soon, and vanished around the corner. Cole closed his eyes and never thought about the old life that used to haunt him. He thought about his new life, his new future, and his new love.

  It wouldn’t be easy, but the best love stories never were.

  The End

  Want More?

  Want to read where Cole got his start? Check out his brother, Ian's book, "Forgotten Bodyguard."