Chapter 22

Cole

It’s been three days since I left Haley’s apartment. I can’t stop thinking about her. After telling her I love her, we took a hot shower together and crashed for the night.

She didn’t say I love you back.

But honestly, she doesn’t have to. Her actions speak louder than words. Haley turned her world upside down and crawled her way back to me. Everything she’s been through, all the shit she’s put up with, it made her a tough girl growing up and forged her into the incredible woman she is now.

I’m a lucky motherfucker.

Too bad I’m also fucked in the head about it.

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve had this irrational fear of all the good things in my life getting taken away. As if bragging about a good grade will cause me to fail the next test. Having pride in myself will force the hands of fate to rip the rug out from under me and destroy my career.

Hell, I remember when I was really little, I was afraid that if I liked the color of my eyes too much, I’d go blind and never be able to see again. Yeah, like I already said, it’s irrational.

Doesn’t make it any less terrifying, though.

This fear makes me hold back in some things.

Even when I fell in love with Haley, I held my breath and didn’t say a word about it back then. The possibility of the universe looking down at me and saying, “Hey, this dumb fuck is insanely happy and in love. Let’s destroy it for him and knock his ass down a few pegs,” was a recurring nightmare for months.

Ironic that I didn’t have to profess my love to her for me to still get my heart shattered, right?

To this day, I have no clue why I’m always waiting for the other shoe to drop. It’s not like I have some unresolved past trauma that’s made me this way. My life is great. I can roll with the punches. I make adjustments as needed and don’t let things keep me down.

But in my darkest hours, I’ll admit I’m fake. I pretend to be okay even when I’m not. I act better than I feel. I’ve protected myself, my peace, my heart, and my pride by holding back who I really am and what I want out of this life. I put up with shit I shouldn’t have to.

I put up with people I don’t like. My boss.

I’ve let people slip through my fingers. Haley.

I keep my head down and work hard, so I don’t have to sit alone in my condo, wondering what I’m doing with my life and fearing I’ll forever be alone. Like my brother, Reid.

And even though everything is going great right now, I can’t shake the terror of knowing there’s a possibility of something, or someone, wrecking it all.

It makes me overly protective.

And seriously paranoid.

Haley and I have rebuilt our relationship so fast, it might be what gets hit first. I don’t think she’d ghost me again, but what if her parents come back and derail her hard work?

What if she falls out of love with me?

What if—

My cell vibrates in my back pocket.

The frenzied what ifs vaporize when I see who’s calling. “Hey, Angel.”

An immediate calmness pours over my head when she replies with a sexy, sultry, “Hey, Daddy.”

We can go into heavy detail on why these honorifics work for both of us, but I’m not about to dissect what doesn’t need to be pulled apart. Our dynamic is perfection for a bunch of reasons that are no one else’s business.

“Where are you?” I glance at the clock on my wall. It’s six-thirty already. Damn, today flew by. “I’ll come meet you.”

“What if I’m on my way to get a root canal?”

“I’ll come hold your hand and give support.”

“What if I’m in the middle of a gynecologist appointment?”

“I’ll still come hold your hand and give support.”

“What if I’m getting a tattoo of your face on my ass?”

“Then I’ll definitely come hold your hand and give support. It’s better to be there in person, anyway. Wouldn’t want them to make my nose too big or anything.” Her giggle is music to my ears. Closing my laptop, I get up and grab my coat, eager to be with her. “You hungry?”

“Starving. Want to meet up for dinner?”

“Tell me when and where. I’ll be there.”

“Your place. Half hour.” Haley starts her engine. “I have a surprise for you.”

I hope it comes with stilettos.

Hanging up, I bolt from my office, and nearly trample poor Tamara on my way out.

“Hey, Cole, I need to talk with you.”

“Tomorrow.” I holler from the elevator. “Whatever it is, it can wait until tomorrow.”

The door closes with her staring at me, slack jawed.

I make it home in pretty good time, considering rush hour. Shoving my door open, I stop in my tracks when I see Haley in a pair of red fuck me pumps, a white feathery tutu, and my collar. The leash attached to it hangs down her back, hitting her calves as she walks around what can only be described as the most pathetic Christmas tree I’ve ever seen in my life.

It’s three-foot tall, crooked, pre-lit...

And pink.

“What’s this?” I stalk closer.

Haley turns and now I see she’s got peppermint candy nipple clamps on her tits.

Holy. Shit.

“What’s it look like?” She saunters over and kisses me. “I got us a Christmas tree.”

Did I mention she’s wearing a headband that has candy canes attached to little springs that make them bounce all over the place?

“Well.” She purses her lips. “I didn’t get us this Christmas tree. I already had it.”

My chest tightens. I remember when she once told me she never had a Christmas tree growing up. Her parents couldn’t afford one or didn’t have a place to put one up. “This is yours?” I reach out and grab the wiry tip of a branch. It’s all plastic.

“Yup! I got it on clearance at the end of the season three years ago. It’s probably the first real thing I did to make a tradition for myself.”

Scratch that. This is the best Christmas tree in the whole wide world.

I kiss her head, torn between appreciating the tree and the view of her decorating it in that outfit. “What’s it doing in my house, Angel?”

“It brings me joy.” She grins, staring at it. “I thought it might bring you joy, too.”

“I love it.” Standing behind her, I wrap my arms around her waist and kiss the back of her shoulder. “It’s an amazing surprise.”

“Oh, that’s not the surprise.” She wiggles away from me and plucks a box up from under the tree. “This is.”

Arching my brow, I take it from her. “Do I open it now?”

“Mmm hmm.”

It’s really fucking hard to not stare at her. She’s hot dressed like a sexy candy cane. And those nipple clamps? Fuuuuck. I want to lick every inch of her.

“Focus, Cole.” She taps the box.

Oh. Right. The present.

Unwrapping the box, I pull out a new mask. It’s heavier than what I’m used to wearing, but the details are insane. It’s a skull with gears and metal bolts all over it.

With a knowing glance, I pull off my shirt and slip it over my head.

Haley’s pupils blow wide like a cat with catnip. “Holy hell, I was not prepared.”

Instead of talking, I tip my head to the side and study her. Then I hold my pointer finger up and rotate it, silently telling my girl to spin around.

She backs up and gives me a three-sixty that makes my dick hard as steel. “I went with candy canes because I figured they’re sweet and twisted like me.”

After grabbing her leash, I snap my fingers and point to the ground. She goes down on her knees automatically.

Such a good girl.

The way she looks up at me with those big blue eyes and pouty little mouth, it’s no mystery why I call her Angel. She isn’t here to save my soul. She’s come to fucking snatch it.

“I want your dick in my mouth.” Haley pulls on my belt, unfastening it in no time. Slipping my cock out, she pumps it a few times before licking the tip. “I’ve been thinking about it all day.”

My chest rises and falls with each breath, and it’s a struggle to see straight. Christ, the way this woman gives head is dangerous. It’ll make a man offer her the world and be willing to die at her feet for even an ounce of her precious love.

It’s me. I’m that man.

Tipping my head back, reveling in the way her mouth is so hot around my dick, I can’t help but wonder how we got here. We’ve fallen right back into a routine where we work hard, fuck hard, and fall asleep every night at either her place or mine. It’s exhilarating. It’s perfect.

Maybe even too good to be true.

My eyes roll back as she takes more of me down her throat. I rest a hand on the top of her head as I fuck her pretty mouth. Red lipstick rings my shaft halfway down. Her tits sway, those little nipple clamps pinching her hard buds, and I want to come all over them.

My mask holds a lot of heat, making it hard to breathe. Sweat builds on my brow. But I love it. With only a large cut out for my eyes, I’m concealed from reality. I’m not Cole. She’s not Haley.

I’m a stranger face-fucking a candy cane imp.

Fuck, she feels good. “I want to blow my load on your tits.”

She looks up at me, her lashes clumping together, eyes watery from how hard I’m thrusting. Sweet, delicious gurgle noises fill my ears. “Hold them up for me, Angel.”

I pull out of her mouth and pump my dick hard and fast. Jets of cum spurt out of me, painting her tits white. Her mouth hangs open, tongue out, and I shove back into it after my release is over. “Suck.”

My tip is so sensitive it’s almost too much to handle as she gives it all her attention. “That’s my good girl.”

Ripping the mask off, I inhale cool air and slowly pump between her swollen, red lips. I hold the sides of her head, rocking back and forth until my dick hardens again.

“Ready for Daddy’s cock to fuck your pussy?”

Haley nods and groans.

I pull out. “Get on your hands and knees. Put that ass up for me.”

Wrapping my hand around the leash attached to her neck, I give it a little pull. “You’re such a beautiful bitch in heat.”

Haley’s back and shoulders drop as she melts. “Only for you. I go all day desperate for you to come home to me. To take me and use me.”

Before giving her my cock again, I spread her ass cheeks and rim her tight hole. She makes a sound that encourages me to do it again. “I want to fuck this ass.”

She looks over her shoulder at me, eyes wide, brows pinched. “How bad do you want it?”

Bad enough to beg. “I want to play with it first and put a plug in it.” Otherwise, I might hurt her without meaning to. “Stay.”

I quickly fish out the new toys I bought last week that I’d planned to save for Christmas. So much for that idea. Plucking a smaller butt plug out of its box, I prep it and pour extra lube on her ass. There’s a hot pink jewel on the end, which I bet will look spectacular between her cheeks.

“Give me that ass, Angel.”

She puckers the tight hole on purpose just to taunt me.

The act earns her two smacks, one on each cheek. My handprints bloom a bright red on her sweet skin.

“Do it again,” I dare her. But she’s too busy groaning against the sensation of the plug pushing in. I twist it around, probing her a little at a time until her body opens up and takes what I give it. “So fucking pretty.”

I slap her ass again.

Haley’s face down on the floor, wiggling her ass at me. “Fuck me, Cole.” She reaches between her legs and plays with herself. “I need this hole filled badly.”

“Did I say you could play with yourself?”

She stops and puts her hand back up by her head on the floor.

“That’s what I thought.” I slap her ass again, so she learns her lesson. “Dirty girl thinks she can call the shots here, huh?” Angling my dick to her entrance, I shove inside her with one long, hard thrust and give her zero time to adjust. Her pussy’s a tight fit, and with that plug in her ass, I bet she’s having a hard time taking it all.

But she does anyway.

“You’re doing so good for me, Angel.” I pump in and out of her slowly, my hand winding around her leash again.

I’ve never seen a sexier thing in my life. Red, marked up ass. Jewel glinting. Pussy wrapped around my big dick. Collar fastened. Leash hooked.

She’s all mine, and that’s how she’s fucking staying.

“Who do you belong to, Angel?”

“You.” Her breath catches when I bottom out. “You, Daddy.”

“That’s right. And I take care of what’s mine, don’t I?”

“Y-yes.”

Her thighs shake when I fuck her a little harder.

“Does my dirty little cock slut want to get off?”

“Yes,” she rasps.

I yank on the leash until she has no other choice but to lift onto her knees. Then I growl into her ear, “Beg harder.”