CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
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LIZ
MY ALARM BUZZED on my cell phone and I reached over and cleared it. Jake’s arm clasped onto me, dragging me back to him. As he pressed himself into my backside, his hot breath warmed my ear.
“Do you have time?”
“If you join me in the shower.”
Jake moved to the edge of the bed and hoisted me off the bed into his arms. I giggled as he carried me to his bathroom. He let me down, and as I turned the knob to start the shower, his hand came down on my ass. I squealed and jerked forward, glancing back to see his devilish grin spread wide.
“That ass, Peach, will make a grown man a whipped pansy.”
“You’re screwed then, aren’t you?”
“That I am,” he agreed, squeezing my cheek.
I stepped under the water and Jake came in behind me, placing his hands on my waist, slowly moving me against the wall. His mouth met mine as his hand reached down and gently caressed me. This tenderness was the opposite of what we’d given each other the previous night. His back still bore the marks of my nails and surely I’d have bite marks to cover with makeup. With his fingers slowly sliding into my wet folds, my head went back as a slow breath escaped me. Soft kisses trailed along my cheek as his fingers wound through my hair and held tight to the nape of my neck.
Now filled with need, he removed his hand and placed it on my ass before lifting me off the floor. My legs wrapped around his waist as both of his hands took hold of me and pressed his weight into me, pinning me to the wall. He reached down and lifted his swollen erection and slid into me, covering my mouth with his. Whipping his tongue in and out, he ground his shaft against my clit, sending shocks of pleasure through me. His grip on my ass tightened as he pulled me forward and back, grinding me hard against him.
“Come for me, Peach. I want to hear you moan for me.”
My held tilted back and my lips parted as the euphoric sensation swept over me. A moan escaped me and my back hit the wall as Jake gave one last hard thrust before his own orgasm claimed him. His head leaned against mine as his breath settled.
“I wanna lose myself in you every damn day.”
My palm went to his cheek and caressed him. “I’ll be home tonight. You can think of all the things you want to do to me between now and then.”
Jake let my legs down and kissed me with his skilled lips. “You sure you can’t skip work and stay in bed with me?”
“No,” I giggled and reached for the soap. “I have patients who need me.”
He took the soap from my hand and lathered it over my shoulder, arm, and chest. “I’ll drive you to work. What time do I need to be there to pick you up?”
“Six. I’ll bring a change of clothes, so if we want to go anywhere, we can.”
“I already have a place in mind.”
Making sure I had breakfast before leaving, Jake gave me a ride to work on his Harley. A couple of co-workers watched with peeping grins as he pulled me into his lap and kissed me before slapping my ass as I walked away. When he drove off, Sarah and Tracy waited for me to join them. Tracy pointed toward Jake riding down the road.
“Who was that hunk of meat?”
A girlish grin swelled my cheeks. “That’s Jake.”
“Boyfriend?” Sarah asked.
“Yes.”
Tracy fanned her round, freckled face. “You are one lucky woman.”
“I am. He rocks my world, one mind-blowing kiss at a time.”
“Does he have any friends?” Sarah asked as we stepped in sync toward the entrance of the hospital.
“He does actually. Jake is a member of the Kings MC club. You heard of them?”
“I have,” Sarah nodded. “Aren’t they doing the Riders Relay for Life?”
“Yep, that’s them. My brother is the President of the club. If you’re serious about meeting any of them, I can take you to the next party with me.”
“Not me, hun.” Tracy raised her hand and wiggled her fingers. “He’s balding, but I love him.”
Sarah and I both laughed.
“I’d like to come. When is the next party?”
“Just about any Friday or Saturday.”
“I’m in,” she flashed her pearly whites at me and her blue eyes sparkled. “I’ll check my schedule for my next weekend off.”
“Great! Give me a call when you’re free and I can meet you there.”
After a long day of reading charts, test results, asking questions and caring for patients, my feet were killing me, and I was ready to see Jake. When I left my shift, he was right outside the hospital, leaning against his bike, his arm resting on the handlebars.
As I neared, he stood straight and reached for me, his hands wrapping around my waist and pulling me in for a kiss. I hadn’t realized how much I missed those lips or how comforting they were until they shot electricity right through me.
“Ready to go to dinner?”
“Yes, please. I’m starving. I didn’t get lunch today.”
Jake handed me his helmet. “I’m taking you back to your favorite place.”
“As long as you promise to feed me dessert.”
“You like it when I put things in your mouth, don’t you?” Jake’s lips curved upward into a devilish grin.
“You’re terrible.” My stomach rippled with laughter. He got on his bike and glanced back, flashing me that same grin.
“You wouldn’t have me any other way.”
The bike rumbled to life. He was absolutely right, and I was falling for the impulsive, smart ass, sexy, hard shell of a man.
As we pulled up to Illano’s, I felt Jake’s muscles tense. He glanced at a couple of tatted bikers wearing Wild Royal colors coming out of the tattoo parlor across the street, then avoided looking their direction. I heard a whistle and someone shout. Looking over at them, I could see that they were calling to Jake and making their way across the street.
“Go inside, Peach.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Go inside.”
I recognized that tone. It was the same one I heard before he and Nix got into a fight. My stomach bunched into a knot. I quickly set his helmet on the bike and headed toward the restaurant. I was yanked back by someone’s fisted grip on my jacket. In my peripheral, I saw Jake take a hit to his face. He was off his bike in seconds and wrestling the guy who’d hit him to the ground.
Large hands took hold of my waist and spun me. My back slammed into a sign post, sending pain rippling through my spine and into my neck.
“You must be his ol’ lady,” A smoker’s voice grated, putting the stench of stale cigarette much too close to my face. “I bet you’re a nice piece of ass.” His hand touched my inner thigh, and I shoved him away.
“Don’t touch me!”
Jake’s fist came crashing into the man’s face. He buckled over and Jake spun and round kicked the guy, dropping him, face to cement. Putting the guy on the ground didn’t stop Jake. He was on him in an instant, pummeling his fist into anything he could contact. Blood was splattering onto the sidewalk and people were starting to notice the fight.
“Jake, stop!”
In his adrenaline-fueled anger he didn’t hear me. His fists kept slamming into the guy. I reached out and touched him. “Jake.”
The contact shook him from his fury. He pulled back and worked on slowing his breathing. He looked at me, examined my face before pulling me into his arms and locking me tight against him.
“Did he hurt you?”
“I’m okay.”
He put his bloodied hand to my face and raised my chin before accepting I was all right. He surveyed our surroundings, then looked back at me.
“We need to go. Cops will be here soon.”
He helped me back on the bike and we took off toward home. Back inside Jake’s house, he strode into the kitchen and grabbed a beer, downing most of it before setting it on the counter. He washed the blood from his knuckles while I ordered us food. As I set my phone down on the counter, he came to me and pulled me close. His touch sent a dull pain across my back.
“Owe.” I reached for my back and slowly eased out of his grip.
His eyes darkened. “You’re hurt.”
I slid my jacket off and set it on the stool before turning my back to Jake. He carefully lifted my shirt.
“That fucker.”
“How bad is it?”
“Take your shirt off.”
I removed my shirt, and Jake took my hand, leading me to the bathroom. In the mirror I could see the gash across my back and the bruising of the surrounding tissue. Jake pulled out alcohol and gauze from his cabinet and poured the alcohol onto the gauze before carefully dabbing it on the wound. After a good cleaning, he placed fresh gauze and taped it. His anger hadn’t settled. He was still steaming when he pulled my back to his chest and kissed along my neck and shoulder.
“If anyone tries to hurt you like that again, Peach, I’ll kill them. I won’t think twice about it.”
The warmth of his body on my sore back was soothing, so were his protective words. “I trust you, Jake, with my heart and my life.” I turned in his arms and his hand took hold of my face before leaning in to kiss me with a fiery need simmering just below his lips.
His hands cupped my ass and brought my legs around his waist before carrying me to his bedroom. He laid me down on his bed and kept his eyes on me as he removed every piece of clothing he was wearing.
I stared up at the face of the most handsome man I’d ever seen, one I knew would do anything to protect me. My eyes stayed on his as he undressed me. His kiss came with passionate, heated need as he ran his hand along my thigh until he reached my ass and held tight. His erection eased into me as he laid himself above me. His thrusts were slow and sensual, his lips trailed across my skin, biting and sucking, ending with gentle wisps of his lips.
The intensity of his touch and the sensation of every stroke of him filling me was consuming my heart. This man had claimed me from the moment he set eyes on me. I was never in control. He owned me from the start.