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Authors: Allie Juliette Mousseau

Tags: #Literature & Fiction, #Genre Fiction, #War, #Contemporary, #Military, #New Adult & College, #Romance

True North (10 page)

BOOK: True North
12.48Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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I can’t tell you, I’d scare you.”

Please tell me.
“I’m not scared of you.”

I meant my phrase seductively, but his eyes changed. “Maybe you should be.”

I tried to lighten him up again. “What, of your handcuffs?”

He laughed. “I
can
not
be having this conversation with you.”


Yes you can.” I took a few pulls from my glass while I held Jake’s eyes then offered it to him. “Want a sip?”


Are you trying to kill me?”

What did he mean? Was killing him a good or a bad thing?

A guy with short cropped black hair with purple streaks stepped onto the stage and took the mic from the stand as three other guys followed him and got into position with their instruments.


Are you ready for the best local musicians to bring down the house?”

Everyone whooped and applauded.


Then let’s get to our first performance from FURY!” he growled into the microphone.

The music was original grunge—hard rock. They were good. Of course seeing live bands meant talking was pretty much out unless we wanted to shout stuff at each other. That wasn’t bad. It gave me a chance to get my bearings again. In the car Jake had held my hand, but he hadn’t here yet, and I couldn’t decide if it was right for me take his hand or not. Damn stupid nervousness.

The place started filling fast during the first band’s half-hour set. It was getting harder to see the stage, as people were now standing over the open dance floor. Almost all of the tables looked like they were jam packed now. I was happy we’d gotten here when we did because we had the best spot in the house.

Strangely, I noticed Jake staring intently at each person that came through the doors. It might have been my imagination, but it looked as if he was studying them and marking them until they finally sat down somewhere or blended in with the crowd. It was definitely odd, but I eventually shrugged it off, figuring he was just watching the crowd.

The next band came up to play, and Jake and Caleb went to grab some more pitchers. Sam was trying to pace himself. He always got hyped before performing, but there was no room so he kind of jammed to the music. Nate was sitting at the table twirling his drumsticks. He was a great drummer. He and Jules looked like they were playfully teasing each other, with a lot of poking from Nate and slapping from Jules.

Jake came back and set a beer on the table. The way our chairs were situated, I sat with my back to him so I could face the stage. I thought about leaning back against him. Was I allowed to? Why was this so complicated? Were first dates always so complicated? Or did this only happen when you were already in too deep?

Soon enough it was Sam and Nate’s turn. As they took over, pandemonium ensued. They really were that gorgeous. Nate was wearing black jeans and a black t-shirt that had a red tattoo design over the front of it; simple but dreamy. Sam was hot in a more complicated way—a black and white vintage Led Zeppelin t-shirt under a black open button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up over his forearms. He was ornamented with leather wrist bands, a silver studded belt and several necklaces, from silver chain links to leather straps with pendants and charms.

Sam stepped up to the mic while Nate got used to the feel of the house drum kit. Afterward Sam exchanged some words with the house bassist, and a moment later anyone who hadn’t been standing on the dance floor now was. A sea of people surrounded our table too.

I felt a tap on my shoulder. Jake was standing on the hardwood chair and indicated for me to turn around with his finger.
Um, okay?

Then Jake took my upper arms into his strong hands and pulled me up onto the chair with him! I felt like I was in a dream! I kicked off my heels and positioned myself safely with one foot on his chair and one on mine while Jake’s bulky arms wrapped around my waist, anchoring me fast to him.

Everybody screamed as Sam introduced himself and the set began. The songs were a great blend of alternative and hard rock-metal with a post grunge feel. I knew several of the songs because Sam was always recording stuff and sending it back to Nate to lay drum tracks.

From my perch I could see everything. They were killing it.

Ahh … I got it.
Killing me
—in a good way.

Jake’s hands tightened on me, and his lips softly skimmed over my bare neck and shoulder. He wasn’t kissing me, just letting his breath leave a trail while his lips hovered, causing a tickling, sexy sensation that made me wish his teeth would press into my skin.

I set my head back onto his chest while I melted from his attention. His right hand pressed flush against my belly. When he brought me closer I felt the hardness between his legs press into my ass.

Oh. My. God.
This was a first for me.

But a moment later he pulled back a bit.
Grr!


Sorry,” he said directly into my ear.

I didn’t want him to be sorry. I wanted to feel him again.

Did I do that to him?
The thought excited me beyond words. I wanted to push myself back into him to show him I was okay with it, but he was holding my hip firm now.
Control freak much?

I let myself go back to enjoying the sweet innocence of the two of us standing on the same chair with his arms secured at my waist. Every now and again he tucked his face into my hair and neck, and I felt him breathing in my scent and shampoo, but he kept himself away from my throat and shoulder.

Sam was a great singer, and when he slowed the music to a love ballad every girl in the room swooned. Jake carefully turned me to face him. He looked into me like no one else ever had and embraced me for a slow dance right there on top of the chairs.

Best date ever!


This song always makes me think of you,” he mused, his mouth buried against me.

I hadn’t heard it before. Wait! Did he just say,
This song
always
makes me think of you
?

He must have seen my confusion. “Sam sent it to me last year when I was stationed in Kabul.” That’s all he said.

My heart beat a mile-a-minute; this was the first time he’d said anything about being there or about me …
Was he thinking of me there?
I didn’t know how to respond, so I shut my mouth and let myself be encompassed by the mystery and the moment and added this new question to my list.

The set ended, but I didn’t want to come down, literally or figuratively.

Jake slid his fingertips down the curve of my neck and over my shoulder and smiled before he helped me back to the floor.

He looked around us uncomfortably. We were pretty much sardines in a can. Once we sat, he poured us a half glass each and downed his fast. “I’ll be back,” he said, taking off towards the bar or the bathroom.

I wanted to ask him what it was like in Kabul, and what he thought, and how he thought of me when he heard the song. I wanted to know why, if he’d been thinking of me, hadn’t he written or called. Why had he acted like he couldn’t have cared less?

The next band took over. Their thrash metal cut through my thoughts, making it impossible for me to hold onto one.

When Jake came back to the table he didn’t look so good. It was warm in the building but not hot, but Jake had sweat beading across his forehead and his skin had a sickly pallor.


You feel okay?” I mouthed.

He sort of shrugged with his hands.

I tried asking again, almost screaming close to his ear. He nodded. But it was clear he wasn’t enjoying the music now or even paying attention to it. He also wasn’t paying attention to me; instead he kept a watchful eye on everyone else in the building as if he were studying them in some way. When people passed close to us he’d stiffen.

This band sucked. Maybe he needed to go outside and get some air? I started to lean in to ask him if he wanted to step out when the band started up some death-screamo song that included machine gun sound effects.

Without warning, Jake grabbed hold of my shoulders and threw me to the floor, his body on top of mine, and rolled us under the small table, knocking our chairs over in the process. A fierce panic and intense anger flashed in his eyes. His every muscle was tightly wound like a coil ready to spring. As he stared into my eyes, his expression rocketed fear through my gut. I didn’t know what to do or what the hell had just happened.

I reached up and held his face, making him focus on me. Then I mouthed, “We’re okay,” and smiled as best as I could to reassure him.

He closed his eyes as he worked to control his breathing. He still held me down.

Finally, Nate, Caleb and Jules all ducked their heads under the table.


What the hell happened?” Caleb shouted at us.

His voice startled Jake whose eyes snapped open.

When he didn’t answer I yelled back, “I dropped my bracelet. Jake and I jumped down here”—at that second the music went silent—“to grab it.” My last three words were really loud in the silence just before the crowd started cheering for the band. The three of them looked at us like we were nuts but shrugged it off.

Jake was shaking.


You want to go outside and get some fresh air?” I suggested.

He nodded without lifting his eyes. “Yeah.”


Okay, let’s get out from under here first.” We pulled each other back to our seats. Standing made my bladder remind me how much I’d been drinking. “Just give me a second to use the bathroom,” I said. “I’ll be right back.”

Somehow I made my way through the human herd and then waited for an empty stall.

On my way back to the table some idiot grabbed my ass.

I turned on him. “Hey! What the fuck?”


I’d love to fuck you. Where do you want to go?” The guy stood up to get closer to me while his buddies around the table were laughing and cheering him on.


Yeah right, dickhead.” I started to walk away, when he gripped my arm hard and yanked me back.


Come on, baby, don’t be so stuck up,” he crooned.


I’m not your baby. Now fuck off.” I tried to pull my arm free, but he wasn’t having it.

He put more pressure on my arm and leaned into my face. He smelled sour and sweaty. “Feisty. I like when a girl puts up a fight.”


You’re sick. Let me go before I scream and you die.”

He and his friends burst into laughter.

One of them said, “She’s like sex-on-a-stick … my stick. I wonder if she’d party with all of us.”

I brought my knee up, but douche-bag anticipated my move and blocked me with his arm. Before I could throw a punch, his fingers loosened their grip as Jake pulled one back until it snapped, making the guy scream.

Jake let go of the finger and snapped his elbow into the creep’s nose. Blood spurted over the floor as the guy hit it, hard. His friends—about fifteen of them—stood up and threw their tables over. They were a group of hulking oil rig workers, definitely
not
from around here.

Jake smiled like he was in his element. “Do it.”

The first guy came at him, and Jake twisted him around and brought an elbow into his spine. As he threw the guy down, he caught the leg of another one of them in mid-kick. Jake pulled the guy’s leg straight then came down on it with some kind of martial arts move. The snap of bone was audible. The fourth guy got in a punch to Jake’s face before Jake pummeled him.

That’s when the Calvary arrived. Nate, Caleb and Sam cut into the melee fast. Sam was laughing and shouted, “Now it’s a party!” as he took his swing.

Nate and Caleb worked together like they’d done this before.

Jules pulled me back. “Are you okay?”


Yeah.”

The bouncers started ripping everyone apart, but Jake wasn’t having it. He was fighting three of the guys, including the one who’d started it all. His face was disgusting, covered with blood, and his hand looked mangled. I assumed it was some issue of pride now for these idiots. That’s when the bouncer grabbed Jake. Not a great move; Jake was like an angry bull in a China shop. He tackled the bouncer. I didn’t even think he
knew
it was a bouncer; it was like he’d become a machine.

Caleb was screaming at him. “JAKE, ENOUGH! IT’S OVER!”

Jake finally seemed to hear him and slowed himself. Two of the bouncers grabbed him and pushed him off their co-worker.


FUCK, MAN! WHAT’S YOUR PROBLEM?” the bouncer shouted as he picked himself up off the floor and spit a wad of blood to the wood.

Jake held up his hands. “They were nearly raping my date. I didn’t know who you were when you got into it.”


Yeah, Jake, we caught on,” the head bouncer stated. “Eject the assholes. You don’t get to treat the ladies in our town like that, you stupid fucks.”


He broke my nose and my fingers,” the guy who’d grabbed me moaned.


And he busted Eddie’s leg!” another shouted, indicating the man rolling and crying on the floor while holding his leg.


You’re lucky you got out with your lives, now get the fuck out! I won’t say it again.” The head bouncer looked like he was ready for them to make a stupid move.

Meanwhile, the entire bar had formed a perimeter around us.

The fifteen guys all grabbed their coats and stalked away. Most of them had just suffered minor injuries, but a few would be visiting the emergency room.


HELL, YEAH!” Sam shouted and plunged himself into the sea of people around us to a set of pretty blonde twins who were just waiting for him. He didn’t have a scratch on him.

Caleb turned to Jake. “You okay?”


What do you think?” he snapped.

Nate looked at me at the same time Caleb did. “Fine,” I answered without being asked.


I’m getting out of here,” Jake growled, and he tore towards the door.

BOOK: True North
12.48Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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