sheâd walked in the bar, a shudder had whispered down Coleâs spine at the sight of her. Heâd known exactly what she represented. Everything he hated. Wealth. Privilege. Power. But heâd still had to snap his mouth shut, aware his slack-jawed stare had mirrored every other jackholeâs in the bar.
And for the first time in what seemed like forever, Coleâs stale libido had roused itself from slumber. Heâd taken note of the slashing cheekbones framing soft, brown eyes that oozed with hidden secrets. Sweet, sizzling secrets that would twine themselves around a manâs cock and squeeze until you couldnât remember your own name.
How long ago had he sworn off women like Madison? In the not-so-distant past, Cole had hunted rich socialites like prey, eager to exploit them before they used his name as a stepping stone to further themselves. Be their little bit of rough.
It had made him feel good, for a while anyway. That heâd held all the cardsâat least in the bedroom. He got to say whether or not they received pleasure. He got to decide when he left. Except lately, even that had failed to make Cole feel better. Nothing seemed to soothe the bitter ache left behind from too many nameless encounters.
Then Madison St. James had walked in and his cock had jumped to attention. Still, Cole had firmly decided to go and leave it be. Until his phone had rung.
Itâd been Marcus.
âYour timing is impeccable as always,â Cole had bit back a groan as heâd answered.
âKarmaâs a bitch,â had been his friendâs reply. âAnd you deserve it after stirring things up between me and Abby.â
âFair call.â Cole couldnât help but chuckle.
Marcusâs issues with his pretty taxation consultant 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, Cole had been doing his friend a favor. Marcus just didnât know it yet.
âI wanted to make sure Abby had options,â Cole had goaded. âWouldnât want her missing out on a little bit oâ Cole if sheâs that way inclined.â
Which they both knew she wasnât.
But Marcus had still taken the bait. Heâd snorted. âAbby has more sense than that.â
âSo, did you want anything in particular?â Coleâs gaze had kept straying to the bar. And the beautiful woman sitting there. âOr did you just call to ream my ass?â
âWhat? Am I holding you up?â Marcusâs tone had turned sly. He knew his friend too well. âWhat happened to âdonât you just get sick of it allâ?â Heâd mimicked Coleâs jaded words from the last conversation theyâd had. The one which had come right after Coleâs sex-drive slid from fourth gear to reverse.
âYou know me.â Cole had thrown out a laugh heâd far from felt.
Heâd meant every word. Then.
But if Marcus had been able to see Madisonâwho at that moment had been contemplating the shot glass of Russian nasty at the barâheâd have been wondering why the hell Cole was still on the phone.
Sheâd flicked a quick glance his way, then tipped her drink back like a seasoned proâ¦and just about spat it over the bar. Amusement had turned to grudging appreciation as sheâd held it in, choked it back, her shoulders shaking under the onslaught. His cock had given him an extra little nudge, and left Cole wondering if maybe this woman wasnât exactly what heâd needed tonight.
âYeah I knowâ¦when thereâs a pretty girl and all that,â Marcus had said wryly. âPerhaps I should fly in and join you. Give whoever is occupying your time some options, in case a measure of Marcus is what sheâs after.â
âToo late.â Cole had briefly diverted his attention back to the phone. The