Page 31 of Scorched King

There had to be something I could do…

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

JD

I looked down and read the text from Sasha for probably the tenth time since she’d sent it. I’d headed home not long after, but after seeing the little party going on in my house and how happy she looked amongst all of her friends, I’d taken my annoyance to my office to keep up with all the data Tel kept sending over.

However, I’d had all I could take of fruitless meetings about a traitor who still seemed like a ghost. The club meeting had not produced a confession and even though I hadn’t expected it would, I was still pissed over it. To add insult to injury, half the guys had made themselves at home at my place until Patty had hustled them out. All but Bear.

He’d stayed behind and every time I thought of him and Sasha in my fucking living room, I thought I would go out of my mind—or smash something. I’d had enough.

Their play time was over.

I stomped out of my office after locking the door behind me and walked back to the living room where they were curled up on the couch watching another movie.

“If you want to go to your apartment to grab some of your personal belongings, we can. Right now, in fact.” I stood, grabbing the half-eaten bowl of popcorn out of her lap and pulling her gently to her feet. “What do you say?

“Right now? But—” She looked back at Bear.

“Why not? It’s not like we have to go far.”

“Bear and I are in the middle of a movie.”

I eyed first her and then cocked my head in his direction and practically dared him to fight me on this with my own version of a death glare.

“We can finish watching this another time, babe,” he quickly said, accurately reading the room and the vibe I was giving him. He jumped to his feet and started to make his way to the door.

I had to grind my back teeth together to not punch him in the face every time he called her babe, though. She was not his babe.

She wasn’t mine either and yet, that didn’t stop me from calling her that too.

But fuck… I wanted her.

She looked up at me, wide-eyed, still caught off guard from how fast I’d pulled her to her feet. Too close.

My fingers were still wrapped around her soft wrist.

Let go.

I didn’t.

I felt the little hitch in her breath. Saw the way her lips parted, just slightly.

My grip flexed. Not enough to hurt, but just enough to hold.

One pull, and she’d be against me.

One step, and my mouth would be on hers.

I swallowed hard and let go, forcing my fingers to uncurl.

I needed to pull my shit together and remember that I wanted Sasha to be happy. And if that meant Bear, then I had to accept that.

Although watching it play out in my living room had turned into too much. A man like me had few limits but apparently this was one of them.

“Bear, I thought we—” she started to protest, but stopped herself mid-sentence and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to hear the rest of it or not.

“I’ll come back tomorrow. If that’s okay.” He looked between Sasha and me, clearly looking for permission.

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