Page 6 of Street of Dreams
Black boots came into view, slowly. First one, then the other. Then they stopped a few inches in front of Mac’s sightline. He heard the strike of a match and the smell of sulfur, then saw a small flicker of light as the lit match fell to the ground next to his head. He watched it flare briefly with a bluish color before it extinguished on its own. There was the distinct inhale as Jake drew on the cigarette and then blew the smoke from his lungs.
“Let him up,” Jake told his brothers, sounding more annoyed than anything else. As if this whole thing was a waste of his time.
The moment the twins lessened the pressure on Mac’s back, he shot to his feet and swung at the two of them with both his fists, but they still had him by the arms. He thrashed and tried to kick at them, almost knocking the three of them to the ground.
“Whoa.” Jake raised his hand. “Rein it in, Mackenzie, before someone gets hurt. That someone being you.”
“Fuck you!” Mac spat the words at Jake, anger making him red hot.
Jake’s jaw fell open, and a surprised laugh fell out.
The twins tugged on Mac’s arms. “Don’t talk to our brother like that,” Danny barked.
“You’re gonna get it now,” Henry warned, with a sick eagerness to his voice.
“I was gonna give you a pass.” Jake took a long drag of his cigarette, then waved it in front of Mac’s face. “But now, you’re gonna pay for that last fuck you.”
The twins tightened their hold on Mac. “We got him,” Henry said. “Go ahead. Take a shot.”
Jake’s eyes shifted to his brother, and he shook his head. “I fight fair. I don’t take cheap shots.”
“Fair?” Mac shouted. “How the fuck is three against one fair?” He was so fucking furious. He had no idea how he’d been attracted to this fucking thug. He wanted to punch Jake right in his big fucking mouth. The twins still had Mac by the arms, but he was leaning forward with all his weight toward Jake. “You don’t do anything without your brothers to back you up. You’re not tough, Jake. You’re just a fucking bully! You’re nothing!”
Jake’s face turned to stone, and he forcefully threw his cigarette to the ground as he stared at Mac with dead, lifeless eyes. “Let him go,” he told his brothers.
The twins loosened their hold. It sent Mac stumbling, and he almost fell into Jake, but he caught his balance at the last second. He should have knocked Jake on his ass, but he wanted Jake to throw the first punch. He clenched his teeth and huffed in and out with labored breaths, preparing for a fight that probably should have happened years ago.
“You two,” Jake called to his brothers. “Go find that other douchebag and bring him back here.”
“That guy left ten minutes ago,” Danny complained. “He probably jumped on the L and is across town by now.”
“I don’t care. Don’t come back until you find him. And don’t touch him. Don’t lay a fucking hand on him. Ya hear me?”
The twins grumbled, but nodded, and kicked at a discarded beer can as they walked down the alley.
Now it was just Mac and Jake. Alone. One on one. Mac took in a deep breath and steeled his muscles. He knew he was going to get hit. Hard. But he was no pushover. His family were Scotsmen. Warriors who fought with purpose. He clenched and unclenched his fists as he glared at Jake without an ounce of fear.
Jake stared at Mac with soulless eyes and took a step closer. His gaze washed over Mac from head to toe, and then a cocky grin appeared on his lips, as if amused by Mac’s posturing.
Mac wanted to knock that fucking smile off Jake’s face. He swung a killer right hook straight at Jake’s nose, but Jake ducked out of the way with cat-like speed, and Mac’s fist sailed through the air, missing its intended target. Shaking with pent up anger, Mac tackled Jake around the midsection and ran as fast as he could, leading with his shoulder, until Jake slammed into the brick wall of the opposite building. The air left Jake’s lungs with a deep grunt, and he slid to the ground, taking Mac with him and squeezing Mac’s torso between his strong biceps. They held each other in a massive bear hug in a test of upper body strength as they rolled on the ground, as if in a back-alley wrestling match. Mac’s hair got caught on something and yanked his head back. Dirt and gravel dug into his shoulders, knees, and back, as they continued to grapple on the ground until they slammed into a dumpster and came to a halt.
Jake was on top of Mac, staring down at him and panting heavily. They still had their arms locked around one another, and Mac tried to tug himself free by thrashing violently.
Jake gave Mac a shake. “Knock it off! Just calm the fuck down!”
Jake’s breath hit Mac in the face, hot and filled with authority. Those black eyes smoldered down at him and turned hypnotic. In an instant, everything changed. It was like the flip of a switch, and Mac’s hormones were on fire.
Without warning, Jake’s mouth slammed into Mac’s, delivering a kiss that knocked the wind out of him. Jake’s tongue was insatiable, exploring every inch of Mac’s mouth as if he’d been waiting for this moment his entire life.
It was unreal, as if Mac were daydreaming or having some kind of distorted perception of what was really happening. Maybe he was delirious and imagining the entire thing. Just as the thought crossed his mind, Jake’s erection hit him in the hip, solidifying that this was no dream. The air left Mac’s lungs in a sigh as he allowed himself the pleasure of experiencing a kiss he never thought would come to be. His hands traveled across the black leather jacket that always gave Jake that sexy hard edge. To hell with the jacket. Mac wanted skin on skin and slipped his hand under the leather and across the hard muscles in Jake’s lower back, allowing his fingers to slip inside the waistband of Jake’s jeans.
Jake suddenly broke the kiss and shot to his knees. They stared at one another as if frozen in place. So much was going on behind Jake’s eyes – fear, uncertainty, and most of all, lust. A silent exchange passed between them, and they connected on another level. It was as if all the years of constant back and forth and butting heads was foreplay for this moment, and Mac never wanted Jake more.
They reached for the other’s jeans at the same time, tugging with impatience. They were both on their knees now, panting heavily. Mac stopped, with his hands on Jake’s thighs, as soon as he caught sight of the massive erection facing him. His heart began to pound as he realized this was really happening. Another kiss landed on Mac’s lips with enough force to knock him back to the ground. He grunted from desire, and from the rough abrasion of the unforgiving asphalt permeating his thin briefs.
Jake pulled back again, this time with a wild hunger in his eyes. “I hope you like the bottom.”
Mac displayed a broad smile, as if Jake was anything but a top. “I do.”
