Page 114 of Jake's Angel

“What the hell is wrong with you? Put me down.”

“Not a fuckin’ chance. We’ve got some shit to get settled. Now, calm your ass down or I’ll put you over my knee and handle your bratty attitude right here and now.” I give her practically bare ass a firm slap to emphasize my threat. That shut her up real fast.

Good.

Rubbing my hand over the hot spot to ease the sting only serves to rile her up again and make my cock throb against my jeans. As soon as I make it out to my bike, I set her back on her feet and look her straight in the eyes. “I didn’t come here for them. I came here foryou.You’re the only one I want.” Avery rolls her eyes and looks away.

God help me.This girl is going to be the death of me.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

AVERY

Jake’s glaringat me again. I swear he only knows three expressions. Intimidating as hell, panty-melting smirks, and this heated, lust-filled glare.Can we please pick another expression because I can’t win against any of these?I’m fighting a losing battle.

He grabs my chin, forcing me to look at him. “Let’s get one thing straight. Ido notwant those whores in there.” He points back toward the clubhouse. “I’ve never fucked Drea and I’m not starting today.”

Drea and the scarlet-haired silicone slut approached me when we first arrived at the clubhouse, while Sadie and Hawk were having a heated discussion of their own. He growled at Sadie. Told her they’d handle their shit in his room. I thought I heard him say something about thoroughly punishing her ass. I watched in awe as she let him drag her down the hall to his room.

Jayde was talking to Blake at the bar. They too were having a heated debate, but Jayde wasn’t bowing to his commands like hewas hoping. Instead, she reminded him of his place—a prospect. Then told him his authority over her was all in his imagination.

I was left alone on the couch waiting for Jake to come take me back to Liz’s house. I tried not to pay the twin twats any attention. Drea’s just another Bethany, only she wears far less clothing and doesn’t hide that she’s a slut. I’m not avoiding Jake just because of her, but what she said made sense.

“You know eventually he’s going to see through this little damsel in distress act you’ve got going on. The guys don’t want to be dicks, so they help people when they need it, but eventually they get bored. Then they find their way back to one or all of us.”

I ignored her at first, but then the crimson cunt added her two cents.

“You’re a novelty. Everyone wants to be the guy who bangs the President’s daughter. To break her in. It’s not because you mean anything to him. It’s all about bragging rights. Who gets to take the cherry of ‘the untouchable one,’” she said. “Sure, he’ll take what you’ve got to offer. Any man would, but once he’s done with you, he’ll come back to us. He never sleeps with anyone more than once, except us. He always comes back to us. Think about it. Don’t be fooled, sweetheart. You’re nothing but a challenge to be won. Hell, right after you left, he was kissing me in the hallway outside the bathroom. See. He always comes back.”

I know what they told me in there was only to scare me away from Jake. Her words got to me. Jake backed off since I told him what happened to me. Hell, he sounded disgusted at the thought of sleeping with me when Hawk asked him about it. When tonight I saw the two women all over him and he didn’t push them away. I knew he wasn’t interested in me as more than a duty to his club.

Even if he wanted me, how do I know he’d be faithful to me? I don’t see why he’d want to when he has all these half-dressed, ready and willing women surrounding him all the time. I refuse to be anything like them. If I wanted to be treated like a worthless piece of meat, I would’ve stayed in Baron’s Edge.

Still, he came to my rescue tonight. Comforted me.

Then rubbed it in your face.

I don’t know what to think anymore. I need to let it go. Lethimgo. I muster up every bit of anger I can, hoping he doesn’t hear the shakiness in my voice, because if he does, he’ll know I’m lying. I want nothing more than for his words to be true. I want him to wantme,but I need to push him away, to make him see we don’t belong together. It’s the only way to keep my heart intact. The best way to beat a stubborn man is to challenge him with the truth.

“You only want me because I’m a challenge. The President’s daughter. Untouched,” I shout in his face. “I’m not like those women in there. I won’t bow down to your every whim and spread my legs when you snap your fingers. I’m not that girl.”

“If there’s a reason Ishouldn’twant you, it’s because you’re Gabe’s daughter. But you know what, Avery? I don’t fucking care,” he shouts back. “He should’ve brought you home, protected you here with your real family. As far as I’m concerned, I don’t give a shit if he tells me I can’t have you. You’re alreadymine.”

“I’m not a whore, Jake. I will never be someone’s little plaything.” My eyes sting with tears.Don’t cry, damn it. We’ve had enough tears.

“You think I don’t know that? I want youbecauseyou’re nothing like them.”

“You expect me to believe you have women who look like them, offering themselves up to you day in and day out, and you’ve never slept with them?” I huff. “That’s not what thebitch said inside. And for the record, I could’ve been spared the fucking details.” I roll my eyes, as if appalled by what I’ve heard. It’s not far from the truth. The idea of him with any of those women disgusts me more than anything.

He steps toward me. I put my hand up to keep some space between us. Having him this close, I can’t fight this pull. There’s a battle going on between my head and my heart, and I’m scared to death of which one is going to win. Either way, I’ll get hurt.

I have to shut him out.

“It’s ok. Protecting me is your job. Your penance. Part of your club business shit you must take care of. I thought maybe I meant something else to you, but then I heard you tell Hawk how you didn’t fuck me like he was crazy to even think such a thing was conceivable. I get it. I’m nothing more than—” In a flash, his hands are on either side of my face and he doesn’t let me get out another word because his lips are now on mine devouring me.

Shit!What do I do? I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. How do I fight this?Do you really want to?

Jake runs his tongue over the seam of my lips. I hesitantly open to him but when I do, he takes full advantage. His tongue is swirling around in a battle against mine, and …oh God, I forfeit. I give in and a small whimper escapes from me. He must think it’s a good thing because he kisses me even more ravenously until we’re both breathless. When he finally pulls away, he’s searching my eyes. I remember what Drea said about him kissing her, and suddenly I’m furiously pushing out of his hold.