Letting Go (2 page)

“Sure did, but you can take care of me next.” Luc winked at Sarah. A sweet blush crept up her face.

Jake shot him a steely glare. He’d be damned if he would let that happen.

Sarah gave a throaty laugh as she leaned on the counter, her arms crossed just under her breasts, resting on the bar.

“Oh honey,” her low seductive whisper reaching only them. “I’m no match for Jake.”

She leaned back and slipped in front of Jake.

“I surrender.” She peered at him from over her shoulder.

For only a wisp of a moment, she had been in front of him, but the searing contact of her ass across his pants had sent his cock from hard to rock hard.

Had that just been a challenge?

“What?” Jake’s mouth went dry and the words were like dust.

She bent down and grabbed a few beers from the cooler. Her ass only inches from his body and if his dick had any say, he would turn and plant himself there. Instead, he held onto the counter behind him.

“Oh he’s all yours.” She winked and shot them both a flirty smile.

Jake blinked trying to clear his head of all the dirty thoughts. With all that blood flowing elsewhere, his brain wasn’t firing like it normally would.

“Well thanks, but he doesn’t have the right equipment to take care of me properly,” Luc said with a booming laugh.

Things clicked, and he was once again up to speed. Although slightly off kilter. His sweet little bartender was not only being flirty, but flat out coming on to both him and Luc. A frown started to form. It was one thing being flirty, but she was not meant for Luc.

“I don’t know. I’m sure his equipment is just fine.” With that Sarah started to slip past him again. When she was directly in front, she leaned forward, pushing directly on his imprisoned dick.

A low moan slipped out, and for a moment he wasn’t certain who it came from. Only when his hands landed on her hips did he know who the culprit was.

“Yup, just fine.”

He squeezed her tight against him and then dropped his hands to his side.

She glanced over her shoulder, holding up a few coasters.

“Just needed a few coasters.” Her voice came out deep and husky. It made him want to lean her over the counter and finish the game.

The sound of the door slamming brought Sarah out of the trance she was under. When she turned around, she was treated with quite a shock.

Did Lance really have the nerve to come in here?

Apparently so. To top it off the bastard had brought his new girl with him.

“Don’t move.” Two hands came to rest on either side of her, gripping the counter like he might decide to rip the bar in half. He shifted forward so his breath tickled the back of her neck. The close proximity did a number on her already spun-up libido. As if she had no choice, she leaned into the heat behind her. The comfort was everything she needed. She could feel his breathing pick up as it rustled the hair on her head.

When he slid a hand across her belly to puller her back, her insides melted. The ache between her legs intensified. Every twitch of her muscles caused friction on her clit and only added to the sensation.

“I want you to go into my office and wait for me,” he whispered into her ear. His thumb rubbed slowly across the soft material. She closed her eyes in order to concentrate on his words. Never before had she had this sort of reaction to a man.

“Once I get rid of him, I’ll come get you.” He slid his hand off her stomach and moved back. Gently he turned her and gave a slight push. She found herself moving toward the back room. When she turned to look, Lance and his friends were oblivious to the situation. Of course, it was a little hard to assess a situation when your face was planted on another person. She snorted her irritation and walked through the doors.

“Wanna have some fun?” Jake looked at Luc. His brown eyes lit up at the chance for trouble.

“So I’m guessing they aren’t together anymore?”

“Yup. Cheated. Not that it’s a bad thing for her. Should have helped her cut that cancer a long time ago.”

“So,” Luc said as he stood to stretch his muscles, “What did you have in mind?”

“Just enough to make sure he never comes near the bar or her again.”

Jake cocked a brow and smirked at Jake.

“Planning on staking a claim?”

Jake barked a laugh. “I’ll be damned if she isn’t the one doing the staking around here. Never would have thought it, but I’m not about to say no.”

He rounded the corner of the bar to stand and stare at the bunch. The other drinkers sensed the hostility and quickly made their retreat. Only a fool would have stayed to see what the two large men would do. Road House was a biker bar and by God, it was living up to that name tonight.

They came up to the table as the last of the patrons filtered out, leaving only the prick and his entourage.

“Hey, dickless,” Jake said to Lance when he finally looked up. “Out of my bar.”

Lance frowned. His eyes crossed as if the room were out of focus.

“Where’s Sarah?” His words slurred together.

“Not your business.” Jake moved closer to the table. Several of the guys at the table shifted worried looks between Luc and Jake. “Now get out.”

“Oh that’s too bad,” Lance said. He reached for the blonde next to him and squeezed her tight against him. “Wanted to show her what a real woman could do.”

Several of the men at the table laughed nervously.

Jake could feel the vein in his neck throb slightly as he tried to maintain his control. This asshole was not worth jail time.

“Last time. Get out before I throw you out.”

The friends around all stood and started to shuffle toward the door, which Luc had kindly opened for them.

“Come on.”

Lance got up and stumbled around to Jake’s side.

“Good luck, man.” Lance smirked at him. “You’re gonna need it with that frigid bitch.”

Jake felt the rage start to boil over. He reached his meaty arms out and grabbed the shit by the scruff of his shirt.

“Wanna say that again?” Jake said. He pulled one hand back, ready to fly at the hint of something nasty, when his head suddenly reeled from a blow. The blonde had picked up a nearby pitcher, half full of beer, and tossed it at him, clocking him on the side of his head.

The shock made him release his hold, and Lance slumped onto the panicked girl.

“Out,” Jake backed up to let them get by and pointed to the door. The quiet controlled rage was almost worse and the two quickly moved out of reach. His temple throbbed where a lump formed.

As they passed through the door, Luc tried to hide his grin. Jake, still dripping wet and angry, watched the two leave.

“I’ll just make sure they get to their cars without any trouble.” Luc’s grin grew. “Maybe you should go change. I’m sure Sarah would be happy to help.”

He winked at Jake and closed the door behind him.

Sarah sat curled up on the couch in Jake’s office. It had been quiet out front, and she was dying to know what was going on. Not that she wanted to cause Jake trouble, but it would have been a treat to see those two in action.

The door to the office swung open, and Jake charged in.

“What hap—” she began.

She watched captivated as Jake pulled the bottom of his shirt up to his face and wiped. The hard plane of his stomach rippled with the movement. A bead of liquid dripped from the end of his hair onto his stomach before disappearing in the trail of hair leading to the front of his pants.

She licked her lips when her mouth went dry and glanced up when he went still.

His eyes locked with hers. She shivered at their heat.

Keeping his eyes on hers, he slowly lifted the shirt off and tossed it to the corner.

Sarah wanted to say something, but nothing came out. She had never seen a huge man like him up-close. Once again she found herself wet and wondering if he was huge all over. Everything previously indicated that.

“Shit,” he said and sat down in his office chair. He rested his elbows on his knees and placed his head in his hands. “Not smart.”

Sarah found the capacity to talk again.

“Did something happen?”

Jake raised his head up and shook his head.

“Oh, he’s long gone.”

“I don’t understand,” she said. Sarah stood and placed herself in front of Jake and stared at his drippy head. She noticed the pale streak of red running down his neck. Quickly, she dropped her knees.

“Oh my god. What happened?”

She gingerly touched the lump. His jaw twitched from the touch. When he brought his fingers up and they came back stained with blood, he looked a little surprised.

“Guess she got me pretty good.”

“Who got you? The bitch he was with?” Sarah jumped to her feet. “Someone should teach her some manners.”

Jake’s hand shot out as she pulled toward the door.

“It’s fine. They’re all gone, and this is no big deal. First time getting hit with a pitcher, but at least it wasn’t a pool cue.”

Sarah’s eyebrow’s knitted together with worry.

“The hell it’s fine. What if you have a concussion? You need to lie on the couch.”

She grabbed his hands and pulled until he stood. She shuffled him over to the couch and shoved him down.

“Now you just rest, and I’ll get some ice.”

With that she walked out the door.

Jake groaned at his stupidity. He had ten years on her and a world of experience. What the hell did a kid know about real life? He should just retreat upstairs to his bed and forget the whole day. Catching a girl on the rebound was a dumbass move.

He threw his arm over his eyes and tried to remember the last time he had even been with a woman. It wasn’t like he didn’t have needs, but the bar had taken a great deal of his time. Jake groaned when he realized he was going to have to find some way out of this room without ripping Sarah’s clothes off.

“Does it hurt that bad?”

Jake jumped when he felt her breath on his skin. He could feel his cock swell with her sweet smell drifting over him.

She gingerly placed the ice in the towel on the lump. He lay frozen as she stretched her arm across his chest, her breasts firmly against his side. When he focused on her, he could feel her quick intake and two firm peaks form against his side.

She licked her lips. Her eyes became hooded with lust. She leaned toward him and gently placed her lips to his. Jake could feel his resolve slipping as she tested the water. He broke completely when she tentatively nipped at his bottom lip.

A hand snaked to the side of her face, sliding down her neck and around the back of her head. Jake pressed his lips firmly against hers and licked the seam. He groaned when she opened and he thrust his tongue in. His cock pushed painfully against his jeans, and he was certain if he didn’t do something about it soon, there would be a permanent zipper imprint.

Sarah broke the kiss and began trailing open-mouthed kisses along his neck. When she reached the flesh of his chest, she nipped and licked her way down. Her fingers followed in the wake of her mouth. When she had reached his stomach, she brought her face back to his for a carnal kiss.

Her hand hit the button of his pants. Jake realized where things were headed. He pushed Sarah back onto her knees and sat up on the couch.

“What’s wrong?” Sarah leaned toward Jake. His breathing came heavy as his head rested in his hand and his elbow propped on his knees. “Is your bump bothering you?”

Sarah reached out to touch the bump but stopped when Jake raised his eyes to her.

“No,” he said slowly. He sighed and threw himself back on the couch, staring at the ceiling. He looked back at her. “You know this isn’t a good idea right?”

“And why is that?” Sarah crossed her arms under her breast, ready for war.

“First of all, I’m your boss.”

“Fine. I quit.”

Jake sighed. “I thought you needed this job?”

“I do, but I can find another.” She leaned in closer. “We have something. You know it.”

“Okay, well how about that I’m ten years older? We are worlds apart in life experience.”

Unfolding her arms, Sarah leaned in even closer, nearly resting on his knees.

“Oh really. It’s eight years, and I’ve got a world of experience, you just haven’t bothered to ask.”

Jake arched his brows.

“You know the reason I love this job so much? It means that I can be home with my mom during the day. When it’s time for me to work my aunt is nearly home for the evening.”

Sarah watched as Jake’s eyebrows came together in concentration. She knew she had been tightlipped about her mother, but it just wasn’t something she wanted to explain to everyone.

Jake leaned in and took hold of her hands. Worry was written all over his face, and she felt guilty for not telling him sooner. It had just been easier to let him think she was like Lance, carefree and self-absorbed.

“What’s wrong with your mom?”

Sarah sighed. She hated the idea of him knowing. The pity would come, and suddenly she wouldn’t be the woman he wanted to ravish but a problem to help solve.

“Multiple sclerosis. It started when I was a kid and my dad was still around. She started getting terrible headaches. My dad would complain that she was just being lazy.” Sarah’s eyes misted remembering all the fights they had. “Finally she went in and after some testing, came back with MS. Dad couldn’t handle it and split soon after. But this was only the start of it all. She eventually started to get excruciating pain. Not all the time but it would come on suddenly. Sometimes there’s numbing, which was even more annoying. She’s lucky though. Mostly she’s able to control it with medication. We’ve been lucky enough to have most everything covered by insurance and grants, but there’s always something to buy.”

When Sarah looked up at Jake, he was stared at the door. Burning a hole through it with his angry glare.

Sarah sighed.

“Listen, I’m sorry to lay this all on you.” Jake turned to her, confusion clearly written all over his face as she stood. “It’s obvious that I like you, but I’m not going to push.”