Take a Breath (Take #1) - Jaimie Roberts Page 0,94
at the moment, okay?”
We all sit in uncomfortable silence for what seems like an eternity until Jake finally pulls in to the Sunnyside apartment complex in Fairfax. I immediately get out of the car with Jessie while she thanks Jake for taking her home.
We give each other a hug, and she whispers, “Are you going to be okay?”
I’m still fuming, but I nod at her, and we say our goodbyes. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I watch as Jessie walks off before climbing back in the car. I snap my head towards Jake, still feeling as mad as hell, and I can tell he feels the same. He won’t even look at me. Instead, he faces forward, hands tightly wound over the steering wheel as his jaw tics. It makes me wonder something as I stare: Will he still be like this even after the killer’s caught?
He pulls away, still not looking at me or uttering a word. Once we get home, Jake reverses into the garage. I quickly get out as he stops, and I let myself in. Matthew isn’t here, but I remember he has football practice at five on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, so that’s where he’ll be right now.
Without a moment’s hesitation, I rush up to my room and slam the door, not wanting to see or speak to Jake.
A minute or so later, I have no choice as Jake practically rams his six-foot-four frame into my room. “I haven’t finished with you yet. Not by a long shot.”
I run around my bed towards my bathroom, but before I can even reach the door, he grabs me. Lifting me up, he takes me kicking and screaming into his room. “Put me down, arsehole!”
Jake rewards me with a swift smack to my bottom. “Language!” He places me by his bed, and I edge myself up against his wall. “You deliberately went against my wishes. And not only that, when I do find you at the bar, you have those three assholes hovering around you like you’re a bitch in heat and they’re the fucking dogs they really are.”
I purse my lips. “I didn’t ask for that. They came up to us when Jessie and I were sitting at the bar together. It wasn’t like I had an advertising beacon above my fucking head.”
Jake inhales sharply, closing his eyes. He places one hand over my shoulder, leaning forward as he momentarily turns his head away in anger. When he glances back to me, all I can see is the combination of fire and fury in his eyes. “What have I told you about that mouth of yours?”
“Plenty,” I blurt. “But not in ways I want to get into now. You’re batshit crazy. All I was doing was having a drink.”
Jake leans in close, allowing me to catch a whiff of his aftershave. My legs almost turn to jelly. “What was that asshole John doing there?” he practically growls. “What the fuck did he want?”
Wow is he pissed! Right back atcha, Mr. Bennett!
“He just wanted to see how I was, that’s all. His friend left a lot to be desired, and probably deserved the shit you gave him, but that doesn’t mean you can go around throwing me over your shoulder every five minutes, dragging me back to your cave.”
Jake steps even closer to me, so close that it sets my breathing off and my heart racing. I want to be so mad at him, but he makes it so hard at times.
“No one fucking touches you. You got that? You’re mine. You never disobey an order from me like that again.”
I glare at him. “You’re ordering me around now … like we’re in the military, and you’re my commanding officer?”
How dare he?!
“Yeah! Fucking right, I am. You obviously don’t have a clue about the serious shit that’s going on around you. You think it’s wise to put yourself out there so that anyone who wants can just grab you and take you away? I’m not letting that fucking happen. I know what’s best for you—even if you can’t see that for yourself.”
I close my eyes. “And what happens after this killer is caught? Are you still going to be throwing me over your shoulder in bars and forcing me to go home?”
He places one finger in between my breasts and trails it down towards my belly. An intoxicated moan escapes me that I did not wish to let out.