Hyde and Seek (16 page)

“If you don’t want to go there with me, that’s your decision. But don’t try to take away my choice by telling me I can’t want you. Or what I should want.”

“You wanted me?” Jake asked quietly.

“Well, me and probably half the city of Boston, yeah.”

“You said want
ed
. Are those feelings in the past?”

“I wished they were, but no.”

“I really thought I was doin’ the right thing by lettin’ you go so you could be with someone better for you.”

I opened my mouth to argue but he interrupted.

Shocking.

“I was already feelin’ like I shouldn’t be havin’ these feelings about you. But when I discovered how innocent you really are—”

“You act like there’s something wrong with me, which, I gotta say, is killer for my ego.”

“I’m not—”

“My virginity isn’t something to be ashamed of.”

“I didn’t—”

“Yeah, I don’t have a ton of experience. And, thanks to you, what little I have now involves you being an asshole.”

“I’m s—”

“And, honestly, that whole situation was beyond fucked up. You didn’t want to have sex? Fine, but be cool about it. You wanted to slow down, talk, hammer out the details? Also fine. But what you did? Fucked up, Jake, seriously.” I slammed my juice down with enough force that some spilled. “I still don’t even know what your fuckin’ problem was!” I lifted my hands in exasperation, flinging the crumbs off my napkin.

“If you’d stop interruptin’—”

“Now you know how it feels,” I snapped, my eyes narrowing as I glared at him.

“And stop throwin’ your breakfast at me,” he continued as he used his napkin to wipe off. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled that night and I’m a dick for that. Truth? I was pissed at myself, not you. There’s not a thing wrong with you bein’ a virgin. I just felt like it confirmed that I was a dirty old man who had no business makin’ you dirty too.”

“Sex isn’t dirty.”

I lost my breath as his eyes darkened with a new intensity and his rough voice deepened. “It is the way I do it.”

Holy hotness. I don’t care what that means exactly, I just know I want it. Now.

“Especially what I wanted to do to you,” he added, making me sure I was about to pass out.

“Wanted? Are those feelings in the past?” I asked breathily, using his words.

“No, that is actually a very current want.” Reaching over, his hands spanned my hips and he pulled me towards him.

With no other choice, not that I’d want one, I shifted my legs to straddle him. Facing him, I settled in on his lap and felt the current-ness of that want.

Jake’s fingertips dug into my hips for a moment before he loosened his grip. “Can we give this another shot, see where things go?”

“I meant it when I said I don’t play games. Are you gonna push me away again and say I deserve better?”

“No, I’m gonna be selfish as fuck.”

“While we’re talking about all this, I like calling you Jacoby. But you aren’t Jacoby, the owner of Hyde, to me. You’re just… Jake.” I reached out and ran my fingertips on his jaw. “Okay?”

“Yeah. We good?” he asked softly.

It wasn’t lost on me that there’d been no talk of hearts and flowers. He wasn’t promising a future and I wasn’t asking for one.

I hadn’t believed in fairy tales when I was a kid and I sure as hell didn’t now.

I wasn’t walking into things wide-eyed in my rose colored glasses. There were no stars in my eyes as I tried to fuck a commitment out of him. That wasn’t him and, for all I knew, it wasn’t me either. I just wanted to spend time with someone I liked and have some fun without getting tripped up by unrealistic expectations.

Hanging out with a sweet, funny badass and having, hopefully, awesome sex for a while?

Yeah, there are worse ways to spend my time.

We were going to enjoy each other for however long it lasted. When one of us ended things, we’d move on and hopefully do so on civil terms. I wasn’t planning on inviting him over for a slumber party where we gossiped and braided each other’s hair, but I hoped that some amount of our friendship would remain.

Instead of answering, I closed the distance to kiss him. The little kiss, one that was supposed to let him know things were alright, quickly spiraled out of control.

Jake slouched down on the couch so his head was resting against the back of it and his long legs were spread in front of him. The position gave him better access to my mouth, neck, and chest.

Access that he took liberally.

His mouth was hot, his stubble scratchy, and his body so hard. Even being almost overwhelmed with the different sensations, I wanted more.

He gripped my hips and pulled me to him as he lifted his pelvis off the couch.

Feeling him so hard, pressed against where I wanted him most, I moaned into the kiss.

His hand slid under my shirt, my nipples tightening in anticipation as his rough skin trailed up my ribs. His other hand went into my hair and held me, as though I were about to jump off and run away.

Leaving was the furthest thing from my mind, especially since my brain was no longer functioning. I was focused on what I was feeling, and while it was amazing, I wanted more.

No, I
needed
it.

My hands went in between us, shaking as I worked at the button on his jeans. When I finally got it undone and was reaching for his zipper, a ringing filled the air.

Holy hell, do his pants have a security system?

Did I just trip his dick alarm?

Realizing it was his phone, I pulled back to get off of him.

“Ignore it,” Jake growled, grabbing my hands and moving them back to his zipper, before taking my mouth again.

I slid my fingertips into the waistband of his boxers when his phone stopped ringing just to start again.

I pushed back and fell to the side onto the couch.

He cursed, pulling his phone out and touching the screen to answer it. “This better be fuckin’ good. Yeah. Yeah. You’re fuckin’ kiddin’ me? It’s for a fuckin’ eighty year old car. Who the hell else would need that part? Alright, yeah, I’m on my way. No. No. Fuck no. Yeah, bye.” He touched the screen to disconnect before putting the phone, and other better things, away.

Boo.

Jake cursed under his breath as he stood. “I’m sorry, sweets, I gotta go.”

“Everything okay?”

“Some shit’s been goin’ missin’. Lots of little stuff mostly. But now a part I need to finish a job, that’s gotta get done like yesterday, is gone. Havin’ to stay on a creeper for ‘Inappropriate Hard-on Time’ is seriously makin’ me run behind schedule.”

“Oh no, woe is you. I’m so sorry, I’ll try to be less desirable,” I joked, trying to ease the stress I could see settling on his face.

“Somehow I don’t think you’ll be successful. Especially now with your lips so swollen. Fuck. Okay, I have to go. Right?”

“Oh, I dunno, it’s just your livelihood and your company. Who cares if it goes under.”

“Good point.”

I backed up against a wall as Jake stalked toward me. “Ah, I was kidding! Go, go, go. I hope it goes okay.”

“I’ll figure it out. Come in later and see your boys. See me. Consider that an order from Mr. Bossy Pants.” He pushed against me and kissed me hard, hot, but way too short.

Oh yeah, some risks were
way
worth taking.

*******

Two days later, I walked into Hyde through the garage. I was greeted with loud catcalls and whistles because of my outfit. These turned into proclamations of everlasting love when they saw the homemade cinnamon rolls I was carrying.

When I didn’t see Jake, I went into the break room to put the thick layer of cream cheese icing on the rolls. I was finishing up when I heard someone approaching. I glanced over anticipating one of the guys. Instead, I saw a woman looking just as surprised to see me.

Wearing a cropped tank top that strained across what I was fairly certain were fake boobs, a pair of almost indecently short jean cut-offs, and motorcycle boots, she was obviously a biker. In fact, if they ever made a Biker Barbie she could be the model it was based on.

Her blond hair had crazy volume, making me think she was responsible for a much larger ozone hole than I was. Her face was heavily made up and looked very rock ‘n’ roll night time.

I was all for rock ‘n’ roll at any time, and had been known to push the limits of acceptable glam, but even I knew this was not the best look.

Even still, she was a definite biker babe.

I had a meeting at the bank later that morning, so I was dressed almost the complete opposite of Biker Barbie. I was wearing a tailored black pinstripe skirt with a matching short vest and a fitted red button down tucked in underneath. I'd added some rocker flair with my favorite pair of back seam black stockings and a pair of shiny, black sling-back pumps. The front of my hair was up in victory rolls and the back was down in soft waves.

What’re they gonna do, re-deny my loan?

My eye makeup was more subtle since I’d gone with a bold red lip stain. It was all a trade-off. Otherwise I’d end up looking less ‘rocker’ and more ‘Krusty the Clown’.

“Sorry, didn’t know anyone was back here. Jake," she said, drawing out his name while her eyes swept over me, "said I could come back and use the bathroom,”

“It’s down the hall to the left,” I said, going for polite.

“Oh, trust me, I know. I’ve been here a few times with Jake. After hours, of course…”

In addition to one’s hair always being worn up, my mother had other clear ideas on how a lady should act. Most of the time I tuned her out. Today I was grateful that something actually stuck.

Never let your emotions show.

“Okay then. Have a nice day.” I turned back to finish the cinnamon rolls.

“So, whose are you?” She moved into the room just enough to lean against the counter in the corner.

Because of the size of the room, there was still distance between us. Even so, when I caught the calculating look in her eyes, I had the overwhelming urge to step back.

Way
back.

“Excuse me?”

“Well, you’re in here making breakfast for the guys. I assumed you were one of their
current
pieces.”

“I’m not anyone’s.”

“Who you after then? I’m just sayin’, I don’t think whatever this play is,” she said, flipping her hand out to gesture to me, “will work with any of them. Best bet, though? Focus in on Kase. It’s a long shot, but more likely than getting with Jake. He’d be more than you could handle anyway.”

Try as I might, some reaction must have shown.

“Oh, hon, really?” Her tone was condescending as she slowly shook her head. “Jake doesn’t date. I’ve known him a while and I’ve never seen him with a woman more than once. It’d be a few hours and then she’d be gone just like that.” She threw out her hip and her hand to snap with attitude. “He goes to great lengths to avoid commitment. Nothing happens at his place, no sleepovers, and he only uses condoms brought by him. I’m pretty sure he even got the big snip,” she added, making a scissor motion with her fingers.

Well, that was oddly specific. Guess if I ever wanted a definitive answer, I could ask Jake whether Biker Barbie’s boobs are fake. Pretty sure he’d know from experience.

“Jake’s the big leagues, baby. You gotta learn to handle a bat before you try stepping up to that plate. You wanna make breakfast and play house, you’re playing a whole different ballgame. Jake isn’t about wining and dining. He’s about fucking.”

“Thanks for the heads up.” I feigned boredom and indifference as I frosted the last roll.

“Plus, no offense hon, you’re cute, but that’s not his style. Some guys get off on teaching barely legal but Jake isn’t one of them. He likes a woman with enough experience that she’s gonna be down to get it exactly how he likes to give it.”

I was used to bitchiness. Biker bitches might be good but rich bitches were better. It was just that what she was saying was a little too spot on. I couldn’t help but wonder if that was part of why Jake had originally ended things.

Was he worried about me, or that I wouldn’t be able to do what he wanted?

I worked hard to not show the response she was looking for. As I cleared the clutter, a genuine yawn came over me.

Her eyes narrowed and her face got tight at my lack of reaction. I knew things weren’t over when her face smoothed out and her lips quirked up in a snide smirk.

She looks like something smells nasty.

Makes sense, I get the feeling there’s about to be some bullshit spewed.

“I’d just hate for you to be embarrassed if he came back here and saw you with your little baked goods. Why don’t you just hurry and scamper out with them? I’m sure you’ll have no problem eating them yourself.” She placed her hands on her tiny hips for emphasis.