Veils of Rivalry Chapter 86

Blaise's POV

Cole narrows his eyes, like he always does, and a smidgeon of jealousy creeps into his gaze. It doesn’t matter how many times I tell him that he doesn’t need to worry about women. Or men. I only have eyes for him.

“I’m bisexual,” I explain.

Dad rises from his seat, walks up to the fridge, and pulls out a bottle of vodka. Cole’s mom offers me a smile while my dad pours a large glass and takes a sip, studying me from across the kitchen.

“You like both genders?”

I shrug. “I guess.”

“You guess?”

“I only want Cole. I only have eyes for one person, and that’s your son.” The last part is directed to Cole’s mom. “I promise I’ll always look after him.”

Dad drinks his vodka like it’s soda, then blurts, “Fuck,” when he spills some down his shirt.

I rise from the chair and round the table. “Talk to me, Dad.”

He glances at the back of Cole’s head, making me stiffen, but then he puts his empty glass down and slides his hand over his tie. I wouldn’t say he looks happy about the prospect of Cole and me, but he doesn’t look at my boyfriend like he wants to murder him anymore either, and that’s a start.

My boyfriend.

My heart does a little jolt.

Dad puts his hand on my shoulder. It’s awkward at best. He pats me once, twice. “It will…” He clears his throat. “It will take me some time to get used to.”

Clenching my jaw, I look down. I guess that’s all I can expect from him, but a part of me still feels disappointed. The idea that anyone could be against us or find the idea of us difficult to swallow leaves a bad taste in my mouth, but that’s the reality we live in.

“I understand.”

His fingers dig into my shoulder briefly, and then he pulls me to him and wraps his big arms around me. “I want to be a better dad to you, and that starts with accepting you for who you are and who you love.”

I tentatively slide my arms around him and hug him back, my nose buried in his shoulder. “Thank you.”

“I haven’t forgotten what you asked of me.”

Easing back, I look at him questioningly, but he’s no longer focused on me.

His sole attention is on Cole.

Leaving my side, he puts his hand on my boyfriend’s shoulder. “I want to apologize for how I’ve treated you all these years. It wasn’t fair on you or your mom. I know it’s a little too late, but I hope with time, you’ll accept my apology.”

“Thanks,” Cole replies, his eyes sliding in my direction, brimming with emotions.

“And I will always love you, no matter what,” his mom says, stroking the back of his head. “All I’ve ever wanted for you is to be away from your father’s shadow.”

“He’s gone now,” Cole says in a choked voice. “That monster will never hurt us again.”

He looks at me then, and it takes all my willpower not to drag him upstairs like a caveman.

***

Cole shuts the bedroom door, his eyes taking me in with an intensity I feel to my core, but for once, I don’t have sex on my brain.

Well, that’s a lie.

I always want to fuck, but I actually have something else in mind.

“What are you doing?” Cole asks when I hold my hand out.

“Don’t you trust me?”

He flips the lock, the sound whispering filth to my dick, and then he walks up to me where I wait by his bed with slow, purposeful steps. “That’s a very loaded question.”

I drop my gaze to the outline of his hard dick inside his shorts. “It’s a yes or no question. Don’t overthink it.”

He smirks, hiking a brow. “It depends.”

“On what?”

“On what you have in mind.”

“Take my hand and you’ll see.”

Slowing to a stop in front of me, he slides his hand from his pocket and lets it hover above mine.

“What scares you, Cole?”

He finally trails his calloused finger across my palm, tracing the lines with his warm touch before entwining them with mine. “Nothing anymore.”

A smile spreads across my lips, and I kiss his knuckles.

“What are you doing?” he asks when I release him and disappear beneath his bed. His socked feet shuffle closer, and then he kneels and peeks at me.

“Join me.”

The corners of his lips twitch. “Why are you under my bed?”

“Stop asking questions and join me.”

“Fine…” he grumbles. “Bossy.”

I scoot over to make room for him when he slides underneath the slats. There’s almost no space for two grown men, but I doubt Cole cares. I know I don’t.

“This is the first place you let me in.”

Cole stares up at the slats before he turns his head and searches my face. “What are you scared of, Blaise?”

I ease up his T-shirt and trace his scarring with a featherlight touch. “I’m scared to wake up and learn that our happy ending was only a dream.” My fingers brush through his happy trail, and I smile when he shivers.

A sharp V points the way to Cole’s cock, like a dangling carrot. While I’m not a reindeer, I still deserve a fucking medal for resisting the strong urge to pull out his cock and suck the soul from his body.

“Do you think Jackson will leave us alone now?” I ask.

Cole’s brow furrows. “You don’t have to worry about him. That shit is over.”

“And Allie?”

“Are you jealous?” he asks teasingly, looking pleased and a little smug. It takes a Herculean effort not to take the bait. Instead, I shift over onto my side, cursing the small space. My shoulder squishes against the slats, which is fucking uncomfortable, but it’s worth it to be here in Cole’s safe space.

I stroke his cheek. “I’ll always be possessive of you.”

“You’re very territorial.”

“And you’re not?”

Cole scoffs, a smile teasing his lips. “I’m above petty jealousy.”

“Is that so?” I hum, tracing his dark brow. “It didn’t seem like it when Tiago stood too close the other day and you threatened his existence.”

“Threatened his existence?” Cole has the audacity to sound offended. “I would never⁠—”

“You said, and I quote, stand that close to him again, and I’ll string you up by your balls.”

A blush colors his cheeks before he can stop it. “I didn’t say it quite like that.”

“I’m pretty sure those were your exact words. Want me to phone Tiago and Ronnie to confirm?” My hand falls away from his cheek when he shifts onto his side.

We stare at each other in the semi-darkness, and then he drops his eyes to my mouth and licks his lips. My heart beats harder in response. Cole always has that effect on me.

“I’ve seen him kiss you, Blaise. Short of bleaching my eyes, I can’t eradicate that image from my mind.”

“Trust me…” I kiss his lips. “You have nothing to worry about. You’re the only one I see. Besides, Tiago is as straight as they come.”

When I lie back down, Cole does the same. He takes my hand as I cushion my head with my arm. The feeling of his fingers entwined with mine is all I can focus on. That, and the soothing sensation of his thumb stroking the back of my hand.

Exhaling a content breath, I close my eyes.

For once in my life, I’m where I need to be.

I’m home.