what he must be thinking, and it tears my heart in two. The tears come again, and it’s then he puts two and two together.
“It was one-sided, wasn’t it?” I grip my eyes shut and nod again. A little sob escapes my lips, and he leans over, wrapping his arms around me. “I wish you had told me about this. I would have been there for you. I want nothing more than to take the pain away.”
I inhale his sweet scent, thinking there is nothing more I want in the world than to have Jake take my pain away.
I pull away from his embrace and begin my story about Alan. He sits there, gripping the steering wheel tightly, but lets me pour the whole story out to him—without interruption.
When I finish, he closes his eyes as though he is willing his anger under control. He’s got that look about him. The one I’ve seen a lot of times, and I know exactly what it means. He wants to kick ass, and to be honest, I would very much like to see Alan’s ass get kicked.
Jake shakes his head with a sneer. “Now it all makes sense.”
“What does?”
“What Stella said.”
My stomach drops. “What did she say?”
He grips the steering wheel tighter, his mouth forming a hard line. “It doesn’t matter what she said. She’s not important.” He manages to compose himself, then he turns to me. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you always said yourself that I was a magnet for trouble, didn’t you? What would you have thought of me if I let this little gem out? First Tony, and now him. What must you think of me? Stella already thinks it.”
Narrowing his eyes, Jake grabs my hand. “Ana, look at me.” When I shake my head, he states firmly, “Look. At. Me.” My head turns, answering the command in his voice, seeing the pain in those beautiful green eyes.
“Fuck Stella and what she thinks. She was supposed to be a mother—a responsible parent. She was meant to protect you, and she failed miserably.” He sighs, closing his eyes. “I was an asshole for saying you were a magnet for trouble all those months back. I knew it was wrong the minute it left my lips. What happened at Harley’s bar that night with that jerk off made me mad because I couldn’t kick the crap out of him for thinking he could lay his hands on you. I wanted to be the one to hold you and dance with you. I was angry that some stranger thought he could walk up to you and touch you the way that he did. I was angry at him, at the situation. I could never be angry with you. I was frustrated, and you were the nearest person I could vent my frustration on. What happened at the bar, Tony, and what’s happening now is not your fault. You have to believe me, Ana. It’s. Not. Your. Fault.” He emphasizes the last four words with such force that it’s almost like he’s trying to burrow them in to me.
When I let out a small sigh, Jake cups my face and leans his forehead on mine. We stay motionless for a few seconds, and then I hear his breathing pick up. He pulls my head down and gently kisses me on the lips. He slightly pulls away and looks me in the eyes like he’s searching for a reaction. My body screams for me to take him as I pull him in for a deeper kiss. Our tongues quickly find each other, causing a deep moan to spill from both of us.
The heat’s rising, burning its way deep into my core. It seems like it’s been years instead of mere days since we last kissed. Again, like every time, my limbs go limp at his touch. He rakes his fingers through my hair and grips my head, pulling me deeper into his kiss—as if getting this deep is not enough. My hand reacts and yanks at his hair, making him growl. That noise sends my heart rate soaring. I want him on me… in me. I can’t stand it any longer.
But then, as if he senses things are getting out of control, he pulls me away, pain evident on his face. “I want you home with me where you belong. At lease there, I know I can keep you safe.”
Those words are what pull me from the hot, fiery situation we’ve so easily