Page 37 of Jake

“I can show you a better time than Cade,” he slurred out, wobbling as he walked away from the wall he had been holding up.

He was taller than her, about Jake’s height, and he quickly made her seem small as he pulled her. She yanked on her arm, trying to get away from him.

“Leave me alone,” she said through gritted teeth.

“You know, I can show you a good time,” he slurred, getting in her face as he pulled her closer to him.

Lauren felt the panic start to rise and tried to back away from him. The grip on her arm got tighter each time she tried. She looked around, hoping anyone would notice and get this man away from her.

“Do we have a problem?” came Jake’s voice from behind her.

“Just having a little fun. Mind your business,” the man told Jake, pulling on her again.

“Doesn’t look like the lady is having fun.” Jake’s voice was getting deeper, and she may not have known him that well yet, but she knew enough to know that was anger creeping in.

“You can have your turn next, fuck off,” he told Jake.

Jake put his hand on her shoulder, letting her know he was there, as she tried to back into him, away from the unknown man.

“I said let go.” Jake’s voice was more gravely than she’d ever heard. If the man wasn’t such a creep, she’d feel bad for him.

“Fine, she’s not even worth it, anyway.” He let go of her and she backed up until she was behind Jake. “You need to leave, now,” Jake told him.

“You can’t tell me what the fuck to do,” the man said and tried to walk away.

“The hell I can’t.”

Out of nowhere, Ryker and Cade appeared, approaching them casually, but both men were clearly taking stock of the situation.

“What seems to be the problem here?” Cade asked casually.

“The trash needs to take itself out, now.” Jake reached behind him and moved her to his side.

Ryker was the first to see her arm. She knew the moment he made the connection. Cade was next.

“Get the fuck out, John,” Cade demanded.

“What the fuck? She was out here begging for it and you’re going to side with a whore over me?”

Jake moved first and pushed her toward Ryker, who moved to block her from what was about to happen. The punch connected with its target of the man’s face, and he went straight to the ground.

The man yelled, but Jake backed away, satisfied with the punch he landed being enough. Cade and Ryker each grabbed an arm of the man, pulling him to his feet.

“Blue room is empty,” Cade said as they went past with the man.

Jake gave him a nod, took her hand, and pulled her the opposite direction. Just as well, she didn’t want to see him again.

They made it into a bedroom and Jake shut and locked the door behind them. “Are you okay?” he asked, holding her hand up so he could look at her arm.

“I’m fine,” she assured him then lifted his hand to take a look at his knuckles.

He pulled his hand away from her. “Don’t worry about me. I’ve seen worse.”

“Jake,” she whispered, pulling his attention to her face from her arm.

He seemed to know what she wanted as he cupped her face and kissed her. She gave everything she had to the kiss, wanting him to know how much he meant to her right now.

Chapter Twelve

---