King of Depravity: Chapter 4

My brother Triston is droning on about quarterly reports and sales margins. I barely listen.

This is not my part of the business, and I hate attending these meetings. He claims I should know all of this, but I don’t know why he bothers. I’m not one of them. I don’t have a head for business.

I fiddle with the cup of coffee I’m holding that I don’t drink. Caffeine is like liquor for me, it alters me in ways I don’t like. I have a hard enough time maintaining control without adding in uppers and downers.

Rush is sitting next to me, leaning back in his chair, while Gris stares at his phone, likely reading texts or looking at pictures of Arabella. I roll my eyes.

We have these monthly meetings out of the office, and in some public space because we’re supposed to be bonding or some shit.

Gris grimaces, understanding everything Triston says without much effort. Rush smiles like he hasn’t a care in the world. Little shit. Ryker is at the end of the table, looking as bored as I feel.

Of all my brothers, we look the most alike—he’s got the same crooked nose and straight brow. We’re less classically handsome then Tris, Gris, or Rush. I wonder how that works…

I’m not much for being in public during the day and I swear, Triston holds these meetings specifically to torture me or keep me in line. He’d probably say he’s helping me, but that’s bullshit.

I turn my cup, considering popping the plastic top off and shooting it down the table at Tris just to see what will happen, when the door to the coffee shop opens.

My eyes lift up and my hands still as Chloe rushes through the door. I watch her hurry over to a table where a single young college-aged guy sits. “I’m sorry I’m late. Super late night at work. I could not get this one customer to…”

I stop listening, my eyes travelling down her body. She looks completely different this morning. Gone is the sleek ponytail and all black clothing. This morning her hair is piled on top of her head in an adorable messy bun, her body encased in a cute colorful little dress, Keds on her feet. She looks younger and toothache sweet. I want to cum all over her again.

“No worries. Did you bring the notes for the Baroque era?”

“Got them,” she says in a rush, dropping some books on the table and rifling through them.

“Do you want coffee first or anything?” the guy asks, giving her a completely smitten smile.

“I’m good. Thank you for asking.” She waves her hand, sticking a pen in the middle of her hair. “I’ve got class in an hour and a half. Let’s get down to it.”

I find myself pushing up from the chair, standing, as I continue to stare.

“What the fuck, Killian?” Triston asks, but I ignore him, picking up my cup of coffee.

I have no idea what I’m even doing. It’s clear Chloe is not on a date, but I have this urge to mark my territory. Make sure that guy doesn’t try anything. Do I plan to piss on her leg? Cover her in more cum?

She senses me and turns, her eyes going wide as they meet mine.

It’s my cue to move forward, stand over her table, as I stare into her stunning eyes. The green is like the color of fresh morning grass on a late spring day. “Chloe.”

“Killian,” she hisses, pushing up from her chair, her eyes tinging with a bit of fear. “What are you doing here?”

The guy’s eyes have gone wide too as he takes me in, starting at my tattooed hands and moving to my massive muscles. I flex my hand, making the ink dance as the color drains from his face.

Chloe puts a hand dead in the middle of my chest and starts pushing me back away from her table and toward my brothers. Once we’re far enough away from the study buddy, she hisses, “You have got to stop following me. Seriously, Killian, it’s messed up.”

I hear Rush cough, and I know he heard her. “I didn’t follow you. It’s a coincidence I’m here,” and then I press my cup of coffee into her hand. “Here. Have this.”

She looks down at the cup, her brow completely furrowed in confusion. “What is it?”

“Coffee.”

“Why are you giving it to me?”

Fuck if I know. “I hate drinking it, but I get a cup because everyone else does.”

She wraps her fingers around the cardboard insulator, her chin notching up to look at me. “Just like your whisky.” In the flat sneakers she looks small, I want to wrap my fingers around the back of her neck, and pull her close, feel her body against mine. “You’re distracting me from the point.”

“What’s the point?”

“You can’t follow me like this. It’s illegal.”

“I already told you, I happen to be having coffee here. I’m not following you. Today.”

“You want me to believe you’re at the same coffee shop as me pretending to drink coffee?” She emphasizes the word pretending.

It does sound strange when she says it like that. “I’m attending a meeting.”

“Did you happen to be outside my apartment at two in the morning last night?” Her free hand comes to her hip as she tips the coffee cup toward me to accentuate her point.

“Killian,” Triston rumbles from just behind me. I ignore him.

“No. That time, I followed you, and good thing. You were nearly killed at knife point.”

She shakes her head, letting out a breath of frustration. “You are far more dangerous than Darrel could ever dream of being. He only extorts me twenty dollars at a time. You worked out a way to take⁠—”

I cover her mouth with my hand. I’ll have to go through more sensitivity training if she says the next bit.

But apparently covering her mouth is enough to set my brothers off because suddenly Gris is up, and he grabs my wrist, pulling it away from her mouth. “Killian,” he hisses in a whisper. “What the fuck?”

Triston has come around my other side and reaches out a hand to Chloe. “Lord Triston Smith, President of Smith Real Estate Development, at your service.”

She slides her free hand into his and white-hot jealousy punches me in the gut as she gives Tris this cute little grin. “Lord?”

“Our eldest brother is heir to a dukedom,” Triston says with his playboy smile as he points to me.

Chloe looks back at me, her eyes wide. “Are you a lord too?”

“Yeah,” I say with a frown. It doesn’t mean shit. “So are all my brothers.” And I wave at the table.

Chloe sweeps her gaze across my family, her lips parting in surprise. “You have four brothers who are in real estate development?”

“Yes. Why?”

She shakes her head, turning back to Triston. “Crazy,” she whispers under her breath. And then louder, “It’s nice to meet you.”

“And you,” Triston reaches into his pocket, pulling out a card and handing it to Chloe. “If you need anything…” And then the fucker glances at me, his eyes full of accusation. “Please call. That’s my personal number.” He points to the bottom line of the card.

Chloe nods. “Thank you.”

“It’s a delicate situation and I just want you to know that we’re happy to help.”

I snarl at Triston, irritated he’s talking about me like I’m not here. Like I’m some problem and not frequently the solution.

Chloe fingers the card, her brows furrowed. “Does your brother make a habit of stalking waitresses?”

I’m sick of their conversation. “I already told you, I did not follow you here, and as for last night, I just like your ass.”

Chloe’s cheeks flame with color as both Gris and Tris step between me and her. Which is really starting to piss me off.

I go to push Gris away, but he’s planted his feet.

I do a lot more fighting than my brothers, but they are strong and scrappy each in his own way. Besides, we’ve got history, and they know my weak points.

“Jesus fucking Christ, Killian,” Triston mutters as he turns back to Chloe, apparently ignoring me. “I didn’t catch your name, sweetheart.”

I let out a half growl at the word sweetheart. “Triston,” I push out through clenched teeth. “Watch your fucking tongue.”

All my brothers stare at me then. I’m not sure why. I’m being my normal prickish self.

“My name is Chloe Baros,” she answers Triston. “And I won’t take up any more of your time.” She steps up on tiptoe to glare at me over Triston’s shoulder. “It isn’t polite.”

Rush actually smiles as she takes my coffee and walks back to her table, the brightly patterned fitted dress doing an excellent job of highlighting just how amazing her ass is. And now that I’ve pointed it out, all my brothers are looking.

“If she wants me to leave her alone, she shouldn’t wear a dress like that,” I say to no one in particular.

“Killian,” Gris thumps my shoulder. “Tell me you’re not stalking a college coed.”

“I’m not stalking a college coed,” I say even as Chloe takes a sip of my coffee. It fills me with satisfaction, seeing her drink from the cup I gave her. Maybe she’s not wrong. This is getting kind of fucked up. I want to feed her?

“Fucking hell, Killian. Did you really follow her home?” This from Ryker.

“It was late and a bad neighborhood.” I don’t go so far as to lie and say I did it for her benefit, but I’m painting a picture and I hope they follow the breadcrumbs on their own.

“What did you take from her?” Rush asks, returning to his seat.

“Not a thing.” And that’s the truth. Mostly.

“Tell me what happened,” Triston says in a voice that has dropped to a whisper. “I need to know how bad this is.”

“No.”

“Tell me so I know how much money I need to float her so that she doesn’t sue you.”

“You and your lawsuits,” I mumble. “Nothing happened.” It’s none of Triston’s business.

“Where did you meet her?” Ryker asks.

“The piano bar,” Gris answers. “He’s been hanging out there nearly every night.”

I’m surprised he put that together, but he is a smart guy. I’ll give him that. “She waits tables there.”

“So Killian has finally caught feelings. I’ve been afraid of this day for a long time.” Ryker takes a sip of coffee to hide his frown, his carefree look from earlier gone. I’m not sure why everyone is making such a big deal out of this. It’s none of their business.

“I don’t have feelings,” I spit back. “I just want…” I look over at Chloe. I want to cum on every inch of her skin.

“That’s good because whatever you did last night, she doesn’t want anything from you other than for you to be gone.”

Maybe.

Then again, I felt her orgasm. I barely touched her, and she exploded under my hand. She might want a bit more from me than she’s willing to admit.

I intend to find out.