Page 26 of A Billionaire Rebel

“Thank you,” I said, “for asking me instead of making assumptions and getting pissed off.”

It was nice to know that my judgment of his character was holding true. Maybe I didn’t have awful taste in men. Spencer had been a mistake, and one that had burned me for a long time, but if nothing else, Damon proved that there were good guys out there and that I could recognize one when I saw him.

I just wished I’d figured that out before I’d gone out with Spencer. It’d been more than three years ago, and I was still dealing with him being an asshole. I couldn’t help wondering just how things would’ve been different if I’d turned him down the first time he’d asked me out.

Fourteen

Damon

What sortof people had Jae been around if she felt like she needed to thank me for not getting angry and yelling at her for not telling me about being a virgin? It wasn’t like I’d shared my sexual history with her before we’d gone to bed. Honestly, the only reason I’d brought it up to her at all was because I’d been worried that I’d been too rough with her.

And now she was frowning. Just a little frown, but enough of one to make me curious.

“What are you thinking about?”

She blinked, coming back from wherever her mind had gone. “My ex. He was a real jerk, that’s all.”

That’s all? After she’d acted like it was strange for me to have treated her with respect and acted rationally? I almost asked her to explain, but then I saw her gaze go over my shoulder, and her entire body went stiff.

I half-turned, following where she was looking. In the parking lot was a guy who hadsleazebagwritten all over him. I’d been around enough squealing fans to recognize that he was good-looking, but that smirk on his face made me want to knock out a few teeth.

“Is that him?”

“Yes.”

My Dad and Davin would have my ass if I went out and punched a guy in the face without him throwing the first punch, and the record label had enough to deal with right now without me adding any antics to the mix. Which meant my original impulse needed to be curbed.

But that didn’t mean I couldn’t do something to wipe that smarmy expression off his face.

I leaned over the counter, wrapping my hand around the back of Jae’s neck to pull her toward me until our lips met. I kept the kiss soft and public-appropriate, but the zing of electricity that went through me was anything but appropriate. I let her go far sooner than I liked, not wanting to press my luck.

“I probably should have asked first,” I said.

“I had time to stop you if I hadn’t wanted you to.” Her cheeks were stained pink, and her eyes sparkled.

It’d been too dark last night for me to see her reactions this well, and I wondered what it would be like to make love to her when I could see everything. Every inch of soft skin bare for my pursual. And no one else had ever gotten to see or touch her as intimately as I had. Not even the asshole ex.

The moment I heard the bell above the door ring, I knew it was him. Even if I hadn’t guessed he’d be pissed about my little show, the expression on Jae’s face would’ve been enough to tell me.

“I wouldn’t bother with the tease. She doesn’t put out. I can direct you to some of my better leftovers.”

I turned toward him, ready to gently escort him back to the parking lot and hope that he put up a fight, so I’d have an excuse to knock him on his ass, but Jae put her hand on my arm.

“He’s not worth it.”

“What did you say, bitch?” He came farther into the store, his face red.

“Watch it–” I took a step forward despite Jae’s warning hand, but I didn’t have to go any farther than that because, at that moment, Starla emerged from the back room.

“Get out.” She pointed at the ex.

“Fuck off, dyke.”

“I’m going to kick his ass,” I was half a step ahead of Starla.

“No. Jae, take Damon to the back while I deal with this.”

Starla’s voice didn’t leave much room for debate, and I wasn’t about to insult her by acting as if she couldn’t handle things, no matter how much I hated not laying the bastard out.

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