Veils of Rivalry Chapter 58

Blaise's POV

Cole looks confused as I drive us through a remote village. It’s the ‘blink and you miss it’ type of town. My dad drove us here once to drop something off for someone, and I’ve come here since.

I pull up in a small parking lot, big enough to fit four cars and exit the vehicle. Cole climbs out, too, and looks around like he expects me to drag him into the bushes and strangle him. “Where the fuck are we?”

“You’ll see,” I say, walking toward an opening in the cliffs. The sandy path crunches beneath our soles, and a warm breeze ruffles our hair from the sea to our left. A seagull screeches as I shove my hands into my jeans pockets to stop myself from reaching his hand.

The cliffs part and the small rocks beneath our feet shift to soft sand. We step onto the beach, which is this village’s hidden gem. Very few people know about this place.

Walking ahead, the sun heats my shoulders through my T-shirt as I pick out a dry spot of sand. Kicking off my shoes and socks, I sit down.

Cole comes to a stop beside me, and I shield my face from the sun as I peer up at him. “Join me.”

A small smile plays the corner of his lips, and he looks out at the crashing waves. The wind shifts his dark hair as I feel my heart beating harder. Reaching for his hand, I pull his attention back to me. “Please.”

He lowers himself, and we sit in silence while watching a seagull ride the breeze.

“The space beneath your bed is your safe place,” I say, and Cole looks at me. I lift a shoulder in a shrug. “This is mine.”

Resting my arms on my knees, I let my eyes drift over an incoming wave. It builds in strength, much like my emotions where Cole is concerned and, with a ferocity that’s both terrifying and exciting, it crashes against the shore. “You’ve met my dad,” I reply, staring at the white sea foam as the wave retreats out to sea. “While your father abused you both, my father…” I drift off, unsure how to express myself. Scratching at my temple, I try again. “My dad is cold. He provides for your mom, takes her on holidays, and makes sure she has everything she needs. On the flip side, when it comes to her emotional needs, he’s completely clueless. You’re her son, the most prized possession she has, and he won’t even try with you. It’s emotional abuse, Cole.”

Cole listens without interrupting, and I appreciate that he lets me stumble over my words.

“I like you, Cole. Fuck, I’m falling for you.” Reaching for his hand, I squeeze his fingers. “I want this for us, but I share my dad’s blood and fear that maybe⁠—”

Cole kisses me before I can finish that sentence, his lips pressing against mine. “Shut up,” he whispers and nips my bottom lip. “You’re not your dad.”

“And you’re not yours,” I remind him, making him pull away and bounce his eyes between mine.

“This is all very new to me.” Scooping up sand, I feel it pour through my fingers. “For the longest time, I thought I was incapable of feeling. I was fine with it.”

“What are you saying?”

Another wave crashes against the shore.

“I’ve done some things… You might not look at me the way you do now when you find out.”

“What have you done?”

I should tell him about the time I drugged him and recorded him fucking Mia while his girlfriend blew me, all because I wanted blackmail material to hold over his head. I should also tell him I know he’s the masked man and that he’s the only one I want.

There are a lot of things I should say.

But I don’t because I’m scared of losing him. I’d rather keep him in the dark, regardless of how selfish that makes me. But maybe I deserve to be selfish for once. I’ve always lived up to my dad’s high expectations of me, and sometimes—no, a lot of times—it forced me to be someone else.

Dad wanted me to get a girlfriend from a high-standing family, so I brought Mia home.

Dad wanted me to play football, so I joined the team.

Dad wanted me to follow in his footsteps, so I took up majoring in business.

If Dad wanted me to jump, I asked how high.

As long as I did as he asked, he clapped me on the back in passing. If I disobeyed him, he gave me the cold shoulder.

Instead of answering Cole’s question, I do what I do best. I distract him with a blinding smile before rising to my feet and pulling my T-shirt over the back of my head.

Cole catches it mid-air when I toss it at him. “What are you doing?”

Unbuckling my belt, I pull down my zipper. Cole’s eyes widen, and he whips his head around to scan the beach.

“There’s no one here,” I say, stepping out of my jeans.

“What are you doing?”

“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m going for a swim.”

He opens his mouth to speak, but snaps it shut as I hook my thumbs in my boxers. My cock springs free, and the knowledge that someone could come walking through the opening in the cliffs quickens my heartbeat. “Do you like what you see, princess?”

His eyes fly up to my face, and he growls, making me laugh. I kick off my boxers, cup my junk, and look at him from beneath my dark lashes. “First to the water wins a blowjob.”

“Oi!” he shouts, shooting to his feet when I run for the water. “You fucking cheat, I’m still clothed.”

“Tough luck, princess.”

Kicking up sand, I’m just about to enter the cold water, when Cole darts past me fully dressed, not giving a shit about soaking his clothes. He dives into the waves as I come to a skidding halt ankle-deep. His head pops up, and he spits out water and whips his wet hair out of his eyes. “What are you waiting for, princess?” he calls out, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Looks like you owe me a blowjob, after all.”

I raise a brow as laughter rumbles in my chest.

If this is what happiness feels like, I want more.

Cole curls a finger at me. “Come here.”

Wading into the water, I allow myself to be called forward by the darkening look in his eyes, knowing far too well that at some point, my lies will blow up in my face. Secrets can only stay buried in the murky waters for so long, but who can deny the siren’s call when he’s smirking like my tailor-made devil?