Take a Breath (Take #1) - Jaimie Roberts Page 0,106

to leer at Jake. An overwhelming urge to stand in front of Jake and shout, “Back off, bitch!” comes over me. What the hell is wrong with me? She looks like she’s only about seventeen or eighteen, but I am the one who’s acting like a jealous teenager.

I shake myself out of it by giving Matthew a hug. “I’m so proud of you! You did really good out there,” I whisper.

“Thanks,” he whispers back.

As I pull away, Clive is suddenly holding me in an embrace. “Thanks for coming, Ana.” My eyes widen, and when I pull back, I’m surprised to see that Jake is just smirking at me. Stephanie, on the other hand, looks like she’s ready to murder me. I, on the other hand, feel rather smug.

As Stephanie continues giving me dirty looks, we say our goodbyes, and Jake grabs my hand again when we start walking towards the car.

As we near the passenger-side door, Jake pulls our joined hands up to my face. “So what was that about? I thought we were supposed to be keeping a low profile? Not that I mind. I just worry about you.”

I feel myself blush, and it’s so intense, I know my cheeks must be bright scarlet by now—a sure sign of how guilty I feel. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”

He gives me a knowing smirk. “Does it have anything to do with Clive’s girlfriend, perhaps?”

Oh, he did notice that then. How silly am I? “If I’m completely honest with you, yes. I saw her staring at you, trying for some sort of come-hither look, and I saw red. I couldn’t help myself. Sorry.”

Jake bursts out laughing and pushes me up against the car door. “Ana-Lucia Sinclair, are you telling me that even you can fall victim to the green-eyed monster? Are you actually feeling jealous?”

I frown at that. I don’t like this feeling. I know I felt a similar pain when my mum was with him, but this is different. I feel he’s mine now, and that makes it so much more difficult to control.

God, if I was a male animal, I’d be marking my scent all over the place.

“I might be … a little,” I admit.

Jake kisses me, and it doesn’t take long for the hunger to set in. “I think I like it. It makes me feel wanted. Now get in the car so I can take you home. I’ve already waited long enough to have you again.”

I eagerly jump in the passenger seat as Jake starts the engine. After he drives off, I immediately begin working on my plan. The imp in me clasps her hands together in sweet celebration. I’m not sure if it will work, but I’ll have a damn good time trying.

23

When we get back home, there’s an air of sexual tension between us. I have to think of something fast—before Jake goes all caveman on me.

“Jake?” I ask.

“Yes?” he answers.

“I have a little surprise for you. Do you think you could indulge me?”

He glances over and raises an eyebrow. “A surprise, huh?”

I nod. “I need to go upstairs on my own in order to get it ready for you.”

“Can’t we both go upstairs where I can have my wicked way with you—before I get my surprise?”

I violently shake my head. “Nuh-uh. No, sirree. You’re not going to get away with it that easy. Surprise first. No exceptions.”

He looks a bit put out, but when we get home, he lets me go upstairs on my own. That really surprises me, but I carry on with my mission, nevertheless.

As my heart rate picks up, I frantically start looking. I know he keeps a pair in his drawer somewhere. I go rooting through each one until I eventually come across a set in a box, placed in the top drawer. Heart pumping with adrenaline, I know I need to get Jake upstairs and get him positioned where I want him. That’s going to be hard.

Looking around the room, I grab a wooden chair that Jake keeps in the far corner. It’s perfect for what I’m about to do—although I can’t believe that I’m actually going to do it. I have never done anything like this in my entire life.

As quickly as I can, I grab one of his ties and call him up. I have the handcuffs hidden between my legs where I grip them for dear life.

Jake quickly emerges, pushing the door open. He looks at me and then the chair with