Blair

I’ll admit, I’m nervous about going to work after the night I’d shared with Jake. I’m fearful of how he’ll react. But those fears are quickly wiped away when I step through the back door and feel myself being pulled into a set of strong arms.

“Shh,” he whispers against my lips while walking me back toward the small office. Once we are safely inside and the door is closed, he pins me against it using the weight of his body to ensure I remain in place. “Hi.” How one simple word that I have heard a million times can make my heart race shouldn’t come as a surprise. I know Jake could say anything and it would gain the same reaction.

“Hi,” I say in return, and watch as his eyes roam over my face before once again locking on mine.

“You’ll have to forgive me but after last night, I can’t seem to help myself.”

“And here I was worried about things being strange between us.” I feel the heat rise in my cheeks when he arched his brow at me. “One night doesn’t mean anything.”

“You’re wrong.” Jake cups the side of my face, using his thumb under my chin to ensure he holds full access to my lips. “It meant something.” Chills break out over my chest and arms. “To me, anyway.”

He doesn’t give me the chance to agree or admit that I feel the same. His lips cover mine in a slow tantalizing kiss that I swear to god I feel in the tips of my toes. I may have even whimpered.

“I love that sound,” he grins against my lips. Yep, I whimpered.

Jake continues to kiss me, my body still pinned firmly to the door behind us. Our hands are exploring each other again, much like they did last night when he rocked my world.

“I’m pretty sure you’ve ruined me.” It’s my turn to smile triumphantly. Oh, how I hope his statement is true. I don’t want to go back to the way things were before our night together—watching him flirt openly with girls, having them paw him, and giggle like school girls whenever he’d toss a wink in their direction. “I told you things could get messy.”

I lean out of our kiss and look up at him. He wears a perplexed look on his face, still staring at me. There is something unreadable in his eyes, a sad look, almost like he is fighting an urge or even a desire.

“Messy, how?”

A few silent seconds pass, and my heart begins to race at the thought that he regrets us taking things too far. I remember the words he spoke when he asked me to tell him to stop.

“I just hope you don’t rely too much on those tips you get from those horny guys that think they actually have a chance with you.” My pulse quickens when he shifts his hips forward, ensuring that I feel how worked up he is. “Because I’m about to shatter their hopes and dreams.”

When he steps back I immediately feel his absence. I want to demand he come back and keep rubbing against me, but understand we can’t. We are at work and on the opposite side of the door is a bar full of people.

Jake rakes his eyes over me, taking in my appearance. I’ll admit I chose my outfit with him in mind. Short skirt, tight low-cut shirt, topped off with my favorite and most comfortable pair of heels that accentuate my long longs. His eyes get that heavy-lidded look, the one I’ve noticed he gets whenever he is turned on.

“Watch out how you bend over.” He reaches out and glides his finger along the flesh of my thigh just beneath where my skirt hits. “I don’t share.”

A knock on the door makes my body jerk forward. Spinning around I look at it with eyes wide. I hear Jake’s deep chuckle just before I feel his body press against my backside. “Let’s go get this shift over.” I close my eyes, fully taking in the sound of his husky voice. “Then afterward, I think you should show me what it is you’re wearing under that skirt.”

He cups my ass, and I squeeze my thighs tightly together. Memories of him moving inside me less than twenty-four hours ago hit me hard.

I feel the gentle brush of his lips over my temple just before he steps around me and opens the door. I don’t get the chance to see who is on the opposite side. I only see Jake walk out of the office as I reach out for the chair at my side to support my weight.

Like I said before, there is no way to prepare one’s self for a man like him. No way at all.

We are down to the last hour of the night. The band is playing, the bar is at capacity and that leaves very little time to interact with Jake. But it doesn’t stop him from looking in my direction every chance he gets. He winks, smiles, and a few times I catch him looking me over ever so slowly. It doesn’t seem to matter how big or how small the gesture, I’m on edge, and I think he knows it.

I busy myself with a round of drinks for a couple of guys who are sitting at my end of the bar. I am fully aware of the fact their eyes are glued to my ass and tits with every move I make. It never bothered me before last night, but now I feel like I just want to cover myself up.

“Hey, Blair.” I look up and see Tom, a regular, step up to the side of the two guys. “Can I get two drafts?” He holds out a ten and I reach out to grab it, but the blond guy at his side snatches it before I can.

“How about I tuck this right here,” he pushes the ten into the front pocket of his jeans, “and you come around here to my side and get it?”

I step back, crossing my arms over my chest only to bump into a firm body behind me. I don’t even have to turn around to know that it’s Jake. I can already smell his cologne.

“How about you put that bill on the counter and treat the lady like a fucking lady?” I shiver at the tone of his voice and wonder where this side of him has been hiding. “Or I can come around on your side and you and I can take a walk outside, you choose. You got two fucking seconds before I decide for you.”

The blond man shares a glance with his friend and after a few tension-filled seconds he reaches inside his pocket and pulls out the bill. “I was just messing around.” He holds up his hands in surrender.

“You wanna mess around, I suggest you try that shit on another girl.” Jake places his hands on my hips and pulls my body back closer to his. “This one is off limits.”

I have just been claimed.