Take a Breath (Take #1) - Jaimie Roberts Page 0,49

my body. “You look delicious in that dress. I just want to—”

“I think you’ve said quite enough now, James.” Eyes widening, James spins his head around to find Jake hovering over him.

He clears his throat. “Okay, Captain. I was just telling Ana that she is always welcome to a night out with me.”

Jake glares at him. “Yes, I know exactly what you’re up to. Now, you should go before I do something I might regret, or—more importantly—before I do something I won’t.” Then he suddenly smiles wickedly in James’s direction.

James waves his hands around. “Okay, okay. I’ll go. You can’t blame a man for trying. See you next week then.” He walks away, leaving me alone with Jake.

Once he’s out of earshot, I turn to him. “Are you always going to pull this caveman act with me?”

The side of Jake’s mouth turns up. “The caveman act? You think I’m acting like a caveman?”

I smile. “Don’t you think you’re acting like a caveman?”

He actually rolls his eyes. I think that’s the first time I’ve ever seen him do that. It’s cute. “Don’t pull the analysis crap on me. I’m just protecting you from the predators. They descend quite rapidly whenever you’re around.”

I gaze into his eyes, smiling at what he’s just said. “So you’re protecting me now, are you?” Feeling flirty, I bring a finger up to my lips while I await his answer.

I watch as his eyes travel to the area of my lips. “Stop doing that,” he says with a slight growl in his voice. It seriously turns me on.

“Doing what, Jake? What am I doing?”

He keeps his stare directly at my lips. “That thing with your lip.”

“What thing with my lip? Do you mean this?” I gently wet my finger before stroking the bottom of my lip back and forth. I do that for a second before placing the finger into my mouth and biting down.

“Fuck!” he hisses. Immediately, he storms off, making me laugh.

“So where’s Mr. Grumpy going off to now?” Tony asks, walking up to me with Bill and Alison.

“I think he just needs the little boy’s room. He’ll be out in a bit.”

Bill smiles. “We are going to say our goodbyes now and head off, but I’ll wait for Jake before we go.”

Giving Alison and Bill a kiss on the cheek, I excuse myself and go into the kitchen to start cleaning up. I’m in the middle of gathering all the paper plates when Tony walks in. “I’m heading out now too. I just wanted to say—”

At that point, Jake comes strolling through the door, causing Tony to stop talking. “Did you have a good time, Tony?”

I know Jake doesn’t give a damn if he did or not. He just wants him out of his kitchen and away from me.

“Yes, sir. Thank you. I was telling Ana I was leaving.”

Jake smiles broadly. “Okay, great. We’ll see you next week.” You can suddenly cut the tension with a knife. Anyone who’s anyone can tell Jake’s stamping his authority. It makes me feel quite sorry for Tony. Jake’s definitely going all alpha-male and showing him who’s boss. “I’ll show you out,” Jake says, motioning to the door.

Knowing he has no other choice but to leave that very moment, Tony walks over to me and places a kiss upon my cheek. When I glance over at Jake, I notice him clenching his teeth together. “Call me anytime. I’ll see you soon.”

I say my goodbyes, and Tony, along with the remaining guests, walk out the door. As Jakes sees them all out, I finish stacking the dishwasher with glasses when he walks back in. Standing near the table with a dishcloth in my hand, I’m frozen to the spot. For a few seconds, nothing is said, just the same intent look in his eyes I see time and time again. As I deepen my gaze, his face turns predatory as he stalks straight towards me. Before I know what’s hit me, he grabs me, crashing his lips straight onto mine as he holds me in a ferocious embrace. He runs his hands through my hair and starts kissing the side of my neck.

“Oh, Jake,” I moan.

Lifting me up onto the table, my dress rises above my hips. “I’ve been waiting all night for this moment. I never want to wait this long again.”

I’m frantically trying to unbutton his jeans as I rip at his shirt. He growls into my ear, and then I hear the tearing of another pair