Page 83 of Saved By My Buyers

My backpack is still at the apartment, and I’m coming back feeling a little lighter. I was so nervous and scared when I was in the car at the beginning of the weekend.

“I think inflation should be brought into consideration, Jack,” I tease him. “A penny seems way under the going rate.”

His lips twitch as he shakes his head. “You’re asking for a red ass and dripping wet cunt, baby girl,” he grunts, making me start to pant.

I am not at all used to Jack’s mouth. Holy shit. How does Bronwyn get anything done around him?

“Your face is priceless,” Jack says with a chuckle. “Seriously, what’s going on in that pretty little head?”

“A lot,” I admit. “Right now? I had no idea you had such a dirty mouth. I mean, probably with good reason, but damn. I also don’t know how Bronwyn manages to get anything done around you.”

Quiet for a moment, Jack blows out a breath. “Bee and I have been the equivalent of fuck buddies when we’re sad or drinking since she turned eighteen. It changed over the last few months,” he says.

“Neither one of us is proud of it, least of all me. We were both holding onto you so tightly. I wasn’t treating her right.”

“You decided to let me go when you decided I’d come find you, huh?” I ask, beginning to put things together. “I told you, I?—”

“I didn’t know that,” he sighs. “I want to explain that we didn’t just hook up and forget about you, because we never did. I still was stalking you through security cameras and systems, always looking. I didn’t want to hurt Bee anymore.”

“She’s amazing,” I growl, surprising myself. I’ve always been protective of her, and that hasn’t changed. “Bronwyn isn’t someone you can use to get over your pain or regret, Jack.”

“I know,” he murmurs, reaching over to squeeze my bare thigh. I’m still wearing shorts from earlier today, and he rubs the skin absently.

“Bronwyn somehow managed to get past my walls, despite how hard I tried to simply be her friend. I worry when she’s at school or work, call her throughout the day just to chat. It’s why I told her I wanted to figure things out, go on dates, do ‘couple things’, since we were already doing it anyway. I was tired of the push and pull between us.”

“How grown up of you,” I say, smirking. “I’m glad you did. You may not have been the one to buy me this weekend otherwise.”

The frown he makes is priceless as he pulls into the club parking lot.

“Please don’t joke about that,” he grunts. “I can’t tell you how close we were to losing the bid. I just kept urging Bee to continue to hit the button until we won.”

I still can’t believe they paid three million dollars for me. I had tunnel vision toward the end, so I didn’t even pay attention to see whether or not the ending bid was announced or not. I still wouldn’t know if Bronwyn hadn’t told me.

“You did, though,” I remind him.

“We did,” he says, eyes piercing and possessive. I’ve never been stared at quite this way before. “Go on, baby. I’ll be following you back.”

Leaning forward, he captures my lips in a fierce kiss as he unclips my seatbelt to both encourage and discourage my departure. God, why is it so hard to get out of the damn truck?

A few minutes before midnight, I get out of the vehicle and talk to the people I need to check out. I set up a bank account specifically for this purpose, which Jack has his team moving to an account in my new name as soon as it clears.

Once I’m done, I slide into the back seat of the town car, knowing that Jack is following. The ride to Belmont goes by quickly, since there isn’t much traffic tonight, and soon I’m getting out in front of Percy’s strip club.

I had the weekend off because I made sure to tell her I couldn’t work it. While she gave me a funny look because I usually pick up as many shifts as possible, she didn’t say anything.

Jack’s truck parks in the lot, making the coiled nerves in my stomach release. Biting my lip, I begin walking toward him. His smile feels as if it’s mine alone as he gets out of the vehicle, closing the door behind himself.

His long strides carry him toward me and I run across the parking lot to jump into his arms. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this.

“It felt like we were apart forever, huh?” he says, his lips slanting over mine as he reminds me he’s here and not going anywhere. Jack Katz can claim me over and over, I’ll never get enough.

“Yeah,” I breathe. “I just want to pop inside to talk to Percy, and then we can go.”

“I want to go up to your apartment,” he says, in a voice that says it’s not for discussion.

“My roommates will definitely be home,” I mutter as I slide down his body. “They’re nightmares, especially if they’re getting high or strung out, which is most of the time.”

“That’s fine,” he grunts, but not in a way that makes me believe he’s letting me win anything.

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