The Fidelity World: Retribution Read online

  Annie blushed at his compliment. The look in his eyes as they roamed her body only furthered how serious he was. No one had looked at her like that before. When his eyes rose back up to meet hers, they were as black as the sky with no stars. He stalked toward her, every bit the predator. He filled his hands with her breasts, and Annie moaned.

  Cole kneaded them gently, but then his touch turned wild. He lifted her by her ass, her legs automatically locking around his waist. His mouth latched onto her neck sucking in hard, but then releasing, so he could slowly massage it with his tongue. Annie was breathless, she wanted to tell him she needed more, but when she’d open her mouth nothing would come out but small whimpers, letting him know she liked everything he was doing to her.

  He carried her to his bed and laid her down. Annie filled her lungs with much needed air as he stood back to take the rest of his clothes off. Just as soon as she had taken a sufficient breath, he knocked the wind out of her again. His powerful thighs were long and lean, trailing up to his impressive erection. The hair line continued up to his chest. Annie had seen him shirtless before but seeing him completely naked and standing before her was different. It was overwhelming and electrifying all at once.

  His body covered hers, rousing moans of pleasure from both of them. Cole kissed her softly again. Annie found she didn’t need his tenderness. What she wanted was his strength and his power. Knowing that he could control her but only because she allowed it, freed Annie from her past.

  “Be gentle later.” She gasped, when he released her mouth.

  Cole studied her for a second through lustful eyes. She could see how much he was holding back; how bad he was craving the same thing as she was. He slid down her body until his mouth hovered over her pert nipples. Their eyes remained locked on each other. After a long agonizing minute, he rolled his tongue around one and then sucked it inside his mouth. He nipped at it with his teeth and sucked just hard enough to make her gasp.

  Annie bucked her hips under him, restless for more; anxious for all of him. Cole released one breast just to move to her other one. This time his hand clamped down on the one he had just left, rolling her nipple between his thumb and forefinger. Annie dug her fingers into his hair, then she slid them down to his wide shoulders. His muscles flexed and rolled with every movement. The sight was beautiful. His body was stunning. Cole released her breast; Annie moaned at losing his mouth, but he immediately began placing soft kisses down her stomach.

  “Cole.” She sighed.

  “I know what you want.” He breathed, his mouth hovering over where she wanted it the most.

  “Please.”

  “Please? I wasn’t sure that filthy mouth had any manners at all.” He said, his voice thick with his own need.

  “My mouth is quite versatile, my Cole.” She said, wiggling her hips restlessly.

  Cole’s hands grazed her hips softly at first, and then he gripped them hard, digging his fingers into her flesh. He growled with pleasure.

  “Your body was made to be worshipped. It’s fucking flawless.”

  “Now who has the filthy mouth?”

  “What would you suggest I do with my filthy mouth?”

  “Fuck.” She breathed, loving his dirty talk, but not quite able to keep up.

  “What did you just say?” He said, his eyes suddenly level with hers, his hand holding her chin firmly in place.

  “Umm…”

  “Say it again baby, beg me to punish you.”

  “Fuck Cole.”

  He spread her legs and then slammed inside of her. Annie’s world ceased to exist. It was simply her and Cole, and the chemistry that had been slowly burning between them finally igniting. His fingers grazed over her clit as she screamed out in ecstasy, her orgasm thrashing through her. Cole was relentless; he continued to stroke her there, while he withdrew himself and slid back inside of her hard and fast.

  Annie’s body began to build up again to its next orgasm, but before she came, Cole removed his hand and stilled inside of her. She whimpered and thrust her hips against his. She opened her mouth to demand him to move, but he silenced her with a kiss. The kiss spoke volumes. It was demanding and passionate as he tore at her mouth with his own. He freed her mouth and then rolled onto his back taking her with him.

  She slid her body up his length and then back down, dropping her head back. Once again, he filled his hands with her breasts, grazing his thumb over her sensitive nipples. She continued her slow and steady movements, savoring the way he felt under her. Then Cole grabbed her hips and thrust her down on top of him. Her eyes locked onto his; they were still dark pits of sex and power.

  With Cole in control, Annie could feel her body begin its climb to another orgasm, but as she closed her eyes, Cole grabbed her face. Her eyes flew open and found his.

  “Look at me, my Annie. I want to watch you come undone.”

  She nodded, or she thought she nodded; she wasn’t sure any more. Everything was clouded and all she could do was feel. She felt Cole’s hard chest under her finger tips, felt his beautiful length driving in and out of her, felt his pleasure through their eye contact. Annie had never felt so much. No man had ever ruled over her body like Cole. She felt him swell inside of her and with one more powerful thrust they both climaxed together.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Cole

  Cole woke up before Annie. She was still naked, and her legs were tangled around his. Cole had never slept with a woman after sex. Annie rubbed her hand across her face to rid it of the stray curls that had fallen down in her sleep. Cole ran his hand along one of her curls. They had felt just as good as he had imagined they would bunched in his hand. His night with Annie had been more incredible than he could have ever imagined. No one or nothing else compared. Cole slipped out from underneath of her and made his way into the kitchen.

  Their clothes were strewn through the apartment. Cole picked up his coat jacket and dug his phone out of his pocket. He needed answers on Trey Pennington. Just thinking of the man putting his hands on Annie made Cole’s blood boil. He dialed the one person he knew could get him the information he needed.

  “Nox, it’s Cole.”

  “Cole, sorry we missed you at the charity event last night, Charli and I got a little tied up.”

  Cole heard Nox’s wife Charli’s voice come through the phone no doubt reprimanding her husband for embarrassing her. Cole chuckled. Nox was a wealthy and powerful man for his role at Demetri Enterprises, a company his father Oren had built from the ground up. Nox and Cole had met several years ago at a charity event that neither of them had wanted to attend. They had bonded over their disdain for the high society.

  From time to time, Nox would call Cole for advice when he would dabble in the oil and gas world. Cole was going to use one of his favors from Nox today to gain the information he needed on Trey.

  “You didn’t miss anything new. I left early anyway. I’m calling because I need a favor.”

  “Whatever you need.”

  “I need information on a man named Trey Pennington.”

  “Pennington, like the Pennington Construction Firm?”

  “He was at the charity event last night, so I can only assume, yes.”

  “Those are deep waters, Cole.”

  “I can fucking swim. Can you get me the information?”

  “You’ll have something from my assistant soon.”

  “Thanks.”

  “No thanks necessary, just keep your head above water, and watch for sharks.”

  Nox disconnected the call after his warning. Cole didn’t a give a shit who the Pennington’s were or how deep their ties went; the bastard would pay for putting his hands on Annie.

  “Cole.” Annie called from behind him.

  She was wrapped up in a bedsheet, her face ashen, telling Cole she had heard his conversation.

  “Cole, please don’t go after Trey. If he finds out, he’ll hurt my parents.”

  “Nothing will happen to your parents, I promise, bu
t Trey Pennington will be dealt with.”

  “This isn’t your battle, Cole. It’s mine.”

  “Let’s just say it’s quid pro quo: you help me with mine, and I’ll help you with yours.”

  “You’re already helping. Why do you think I took Karen up on this whole arraignment in the first place?”

  Cole looked Annie over as he dissected what she had just said.

  “You’re going to use the money to go after him.”

  “Yes, and protect my parents. Plus, now that I had to withdraw from school I’ll lose my scholarships. I need the money to pay for school.”

  “Annie, I can pay for your tuition if you want to go back.”

  “No, I can’t ask that of you. I have a plan; please just let me see it through.”

  Cole didn’t get a chance to further the conversation with Annie. His phone rang again.

  “What.” He answered the unknown number.

  “Cole, it’s Barry from the foundation.”

  “Good Morning, Mr. Allen.” Cole decided against apologizing for his abruptness; one thing he had learned in business is that there was no room for apologies.

  “I wonder if you would have time for lunch today?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “I’m headed down to the Boxcar; it’s a lovely little café just across from the foundation’s offices. Meet there around one?”

  “Sounds good Mr. Allen; I’ll be there.”

  “Bring Annie with you too please. She was a delight.”

  “We’ll be there.”

  “Who was that?” Annie asked, as Cole set down his phone.

  “That was Mr. Allen from the foundation. He wants to have lunch, with us.”

  “Us?”

  “Yes. Go get ready; we’ll need to leave soon to get downtown.”

  Annie turned and disappeared back to her bedroom. Cole watched her struggle with the long bedsheet around her body, and he had to fight the urge to rip it away letting him soak in her beautiful curves in the daylight. He knew if he did that though, there would be no making it downtown on time. He headed off to his bedroom and quickly dressed. His cell phone rang again. It was nothing for him to spend most of his days working, but the constant alerts and ringing of his phone were irritating him.

  “Yes, Amy.” He answered his assistant’s call.

  “Good Morning, Cole. Mr. Sinclair just called and wants to move up your meeting with him to Monday morning at eight.”

  “Okay?”

  “You have a meeting with a Mr. Simmons from the construction company to hear his bid on the new office building for the Omega plant.”

  “Shit. We’ll have to push him back. Ted’s wife isn’t doing well, and he needs me to meet the new point of contact. If he moved up the appointment, it’s probably because his wife needs him. Call Mr. Simmons and push him back to ten. He’s flying in from New Orleans, so he should be able to handle the change.”

  “Will do. Is there anything else you need me to focus on today?”

  “I have a lunch with Barry Allen; I’d like you to handle all of my calls during that time. I don’t want any interruptions.”

  “Will do.”

  “Thanks Amy.”

  As soon as Cole disconnected, he forwarded his cell phone calls to Amy’s desk. He didn’t want any other distractions until after he met with Barry.

  Annie emerged from her room. The woman managed to look stunning in a pair of jeans and a blouse.

  “Is this okay? I wasn’t sure what to wear to a lunch.” She said, peering down at herself.

  Cole’s eyes skated down her body, her jeans hugged her curves, and her shirt teased the top of her cleavage. She was a menace and a distraction.

  “Let’s go,” he barked, grabbing his keys and turning to leave.

  “Well, aren’t you a sweetheart.” She sneered.

  Cole turned abruptly, causing her to bump into him.

  “You’re a menace Annie Longston.”

  “A menace? What the fuck is that supposed to mean, Cole?”

  “There’s that word again. I should have you on your knees right now.”

  “I’d like to see you try.” She spat back at him.

  He grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her up against him. He traced his thumb across her bottom lip. No one could stir him to life like Annie. Her ferocity was arousing and refreshing. Her lips instinctively parted for him, and her eyes were wide, but not out of fear. He could see the lust there. She wanted him as badly as he wanted her. Their one night together hadn’t rid her of her desire for him any more than it had rid his for her. Cole leaned in to kiss her, and when he was just a breath away from her lips, he stopped.

  “I could have you anyway I want you.”

  “What is it about you that makes me want to punch you and kiss you at the same time.”

  “God, I love it when you talk dirty.” He smirked. “But, we’re in a rush. Get a move on, my Annie.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Annie

  Annie flipped through the menu while Cole and Barry talked. When Cole told her that Barry had asked him to bring her specifically, she had assumed that Mrs. Allen was going to be there. Not that Annie thought she’d have any more to say to the woman than she did to Barry, but at least she wouldn’t have to sit awkwardly while Cole and Barry talked business all day.

  “So Annie, what part of West Virginia are you from?” Barry asked her.

  “I’m from a small town along the Ohio River.”

  “How small?”

  “There’s about three-thousand people there give or take.”

  “In the whole town?”

  “In the whole county.” She clarified.

  “Wow, I don’t know what I’d do.”

  “Honestly growing up I couldn’t wait to leave, but now that I’m here in New York of all places, I miss the quiet small town.”

  “Where did you shop?”

  Annie looked at Cole to see if he thought Barry’s questions were weird, but he didn’t show any outward reaction.

  “There’s some stores there in my town, but about forty-five minutes south there was a bigger town with a mall and lots of shopping.”

  “Any small businesses, or were they mostly chain stores?”

  “Um, a mixture of both.” Annie said, her confusion obvious.

  “Annie, I’d like very much to go to your hometown and look for a new location for my beard oil business.”

  Cole’s eyes showed his shock briefly, but then just as fast it faded. Annie knew her shock was all over her face.

  “I mean I’m happy to explain where it is, but I’m not sure what I can do for you.”

  “I find that it’s best to have someone local, and unbiased, show me around a location. If I contact the local business committee, they’re going to show me all the bells and whistles. If you take me, I’ll get to see the places you and your friends and family shop. How actual consumers view the area. What do you say Cole, do you have time to visit the future in-laws?”

  Annie choked on her own air at Barry’s choice of words. Cole squeezed her thigh under the table and offered her a gentle smile.

  “When were you looking to go, Barry?”

  “Whenever is convenient for you.”

  “I’ll have my assistant look at my schedule, and we’ll get back with you.”

  “Great.”

  The conversation lagged into normalcy. They chose what they wanted to eat and chatted about the charity event. Annie tried to keep up with Barry and Cole’s topics of choice, but her mind was still reeling from Barry’s bomb. Part of Annie was thrilled to be able to possibly help Barry in any capacity with his company and possibly bring new business to her home state. Another part of her was wondering what Cole would think of her humble beginnings.

  In the two years she had known Trey, she had begged for him to visit her parents and let her show him the beauty of the small area she called home. Trey refused. Annie realized now that Trey didn’t have what it
took to appreciate her home state. If a person was going to live in West Virginia, they had to have a zest for adventure and love sweet tea. Trey only had a zest for making his next million or finding new ways to torment her—quite literally.

  Annie studied Cole’s features. He had dressed semi-casual for their lunch with Barry, but he was still all crisp lines. His jaw was clean shaven and had all the right hard angles. His jeans seemed pressed but considering she hadn’t ever seen him iron, she wondered if it was just by luck. His blazer was blue, which made his eyes more piercing. Every time she made direct eye contact with him, her heart would skip a beat. Annie knew that even though Cole seemed clean cut and put together in public, he had a rebel heart.

  The only time he ever used a driver had been for the charity event, as if it were some sort of requirement. Every other day, he drove his truck that just so happened to be sitting on a six-inch lift kit and thirty-four-inch tires. The boy Annie had gone to her senior prom with had a truck much older but similar to Cole’s. In lieu of the after parties, he had taken Annie out to some of the local mudding holes. The entire experience had been both exhilarating and petrifying for Annie.

  “Annie?” Cole purred, luring her from her thoughts.

  “Hmm?” She responded, as she looked around for Barry.

  “He’s in the restroom. You’ve been staring at me as if I hold the answers to all of life’s most important questions; wanna tell me why?”

  “Have you ever been muddin’?”

  “No, have you?”

  “Yes, after my senior prom.”

  “I see. Is there a reason you’re thinking about this now?”

  “Remember when you told me there was a fire inside of me? Well my Cole I believe there’s a rebel inside of you, and I plan on unleashing him, real soon.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Cole

  Cole slipped out of his bed, careful to not disturb Annie. His meeting with Ted Sinclair, and the new kid on the block, was later in the morning and Cole had put off cramming the necessary numbers over the weekend. With a quick glance back at Annie, he thought he would feel annoyed by the distraction Annie had once again been on his work, but the woman was under his skin. She wasn’t a distraction but a light in a life he didn’t realize had been so dark.