Chapter 41
JESSI
Over the next few weeks, I get the hang of the club.
I manage to only lose one invoice. Jack helps me find it, since it’s for the job he recently finished.
Women flaunt themselves at not only Jack but all the men.
Some are nice, but I wish they had more self-respect.
They are willing to sleep with any member who gives them attention.
They have frequent meetings in the back room.
Members are the only ones invited in. My curiosity about what exactly happens in that room nags at me, but I don’t ask.
Often, when they go on runs, one or more come back in rough shape—split lips, bruised faces.
Everyone pretends not to notice, and no one asks questions, so I follow their lead.
I get to know Sonny more, and she’s great. Bubbly, full of tea and spice.
Jack and I avoid any more lust-filled interactions at work and at home, despite our almost nightly movie nights. But it’s hard to wrap my head around who Jack is with me and who he is at the MC. In some ways he’s himself, but in others he’s . . . someone I would usually stay away from.
“Would you like to catch a movie sometime?” Sonny asks.
“Sure, let me know when. I don’t do much on the weekends besides grocery shop and meal prep with Jack,” I reply.
“Cool. Friday night it is! It’ll be our first official hangout outside of work. Does this mean we’re real friends and not just coworkers?”
“I think it does.”
She squeezes me into a hug. “P.S. With a weekend as boring as that, you and Jack sound like an old married couple. I would think twice before giving out those details again. If you do, you might never get a boyfriend.”
The door bangs open, grabbing everyone’s attention. Medusa saunters in, acting like she is the queen of the castle. Greeeeat. Of course she would make an entrance that puts her at the center of attention.
“What’s wrong?” Sonny asks, catching my expression.
“Medusa’s here,” I say flatly.
“Ahhhh.” She laughs so hard she snorts, which makes me spit out my drink. “That’s really funny, and now that you say it, I see the resemblance, but why do you care about her?”
I regain my composure. “Just because Jack and I are not together or anything doesn’t mean I don’t care about him, and she uses him. Plus, she was a bitch to me the first day I visited, remember? I don’t like her.”
Sonny’s eyes travel behind me. A familiar raspy voice warms my back.
“Looks like you’ve infiltrated our ranks, haven’t you?
” Natasha says. “What’s the story with you and Jack?
Ever since you came around, he hasn’t answered my calls or texts.
He can’t possibly be fucking you. If he were fucking someone other than me, it wouldn’t be a goody-two-shoes kid.
Jack needs someone who understands his needs.
That’s over your head and experience level, little girl. ”
I scoff, whipping around, no longer able to ignore her and rein in my anger.
“We are not fucking yet. However, I can assure you that Jack has thought about it, especially when I wear nothing but his T-shirt to bed. I guess he isn’t calling or texting you because he’s no longer interested in a dried-up biker bunny. ”
She barks. “Aw, honey. How would you know about anything between us adults?”
I stand tall and lower my voice, speaking for her ears alone. “I know everything about you and what you don’t do for him. If a man isn’t happy, he will find what he wants and needs elsewhere. Believe me. He wants nothing to do with you.” I reel back, smiling sweetly.
Her face is purple with fury, her body shaking with rage. “You bitch.”
She raises her hand to slap me, but Jack catches her wrist. Her furious gaze never leaves mine.
She is fighting to free her wrist from Jack’s hold.
“You will pay. You don’t know who you are fucking with.
You think you can just waltz in here? Some of us have been at the club for years.
You need a lesson in how things work around here. ”
“Oh, I can tell you’ve been around here for a while,” I say. “What are you? Forty? Forty-five?” I know damn well she’s probably in her thirties, but screw her for thinking she lays claim to Jack or any other man here.
Jack stands between us. “Natasha, that’s enough. Jessi works here. If you can’t leave her alone and you keep disrespecting her, you’ll be removed and not allowed back.”
Her face scrunches into an ugly mask. “Jack, this is ridiculous. We have been together for years, and you’re going to throw us away over some young piece of ass?”
Jack grabs her wrist tighter. “I’m going to give you a pass because we have history, but we have not been together for any span of time. We fucked. That’s it.”
My skin crawls, and jealousy flares through my veins.
“This will be your only warning, Natasha,” Jack continues. “Whatever we had is done. Do not call or text me. When you’re in this club, you respect Jessi, or you’ll not come back. As for tonight, I think it’s best to go home.”
“Fuck you, Jack.” Natasha flips her hair and spins on her too-high heels. She swings the door open so hard it slams against the wall.
“Don’t let the door hit you on the way out,” I say.
Sonny leans back against the bar. “She’s tried to get with multiples of the girls’ boyfriends and even some husbands.
She isn’t liked around here. I think the only reason she’s still hanging around is because of Jack.
” She leans forward. “You can say all you want that nothing is going on between you two, but I call bullshit.”
Jack swings around, his eye landing on me. He crooks his index finger for me to follow him. And I do. He leads me outside and around the side of the building, where it’s quiet. “What the hell happened in there?” he demands.
“She doesn’t like me,” I respond.
“Well, what set her off so bad?”
My hands clench and my arms stiffen at my sides.
“If you care so much about that, why don’t you go look for her and ask her?
Is she what you want, a trashy biker bunny who will turn a blind eye to everything?
Someone who is okay being held at arm’s length as nothing more than a booty call?
” I turn around, not wanting to hear another word of his interrogation. For all I care, he can go find Natasha.
Jack grabs my hand, spins me back around, and pulls me close. “I don’t want to ask her. I am asking you. You know damn well it’s not her I want.”
“Get off me.” I try to fight him, but he pushes me against the side of the building and pins me in place.
I’m still trying to free my arm when he presses one leg between mine.
He holds both my hands next to my head against the wall.
His entire body is flush with mine, rippling with power.
“Get off me, Jack.” I grit out. I’m furious.
He knows the shit Natasha has done. My heart hurts from betrayal.
I thought of all people, Jack would have my back.
Jack lowers his face toward mine, his breath hot against my cheek. “I’m going to ask you again, what did you say?” His lips hover above my ear, waiting for my reply.
His nearness turns me on, makes me forget how to speak, how to think. I go limp as the heat of anger melts into need. I’m deadly still, acutely aware that the slightest movement of his leg between mine will cause it to brush against my center. Can he hear how hard my heart is pounding?
“I told her we aren’t fucking,” I say. “She said she knows we aren’t because I’m not your type. I told her she isn’t yours anymore either.”
I feel his wicked smile curl against my cheek. His face swings back into focus. “What else did you say, Jessi?”
“Nothing,” I quip, fighting the urges inside me.
“You didn’t say anything else? You sure?
” He slowly starts moving his leg against me.
I suck in a deep breath and purse my lips.
He adds more friction, and I let out a moan from deep in my throat.
If I weren’t drunk on pleasure, I’d be embarrassed.
He rests his head against my forehead and whispers, “Does this feel good? Do you want me to keep going?” I bobble my head.
I can’t possibly speak without letting out another moan.
“Then tell me what you said that made her so jealous. I have an idea, but I want to hear it from your lips, baby.”
He keeps going, teasing my center before slowing. I get the message. He’ll walk away if I don’t tell him. “Don’t stop. Please, don’t stop. Oh god,” I whimper.
“Tell me, and I’ll give you what you want, what you need, and what I know you have been craving just as much as I have.”
I try to focus. “I made her think you wanted me. That you no longer want her because you want me. I told her I wear your shirt to bed. I may have implied that we are going to sleep together. God, please don’t stop. It feels so good.”
He growls into my ear, dragging his tongue along a sensitive spot below it.
Then he sucks my earlobe into his mouth, his teeth nipping and tugging.
He adds more friction between my thighs and picks up his pace.
His hard length grows along my abdomen. I’m drowning in sensation. I groan. “I love making you hard.”
“Good girl. Now come for me, baby.”
That’s all I need. My eyes roll back into my head, and a burst of pleasure courses through me before detonating. “Jack!”
Jack places both my hands in one of his above my head, holding his other hand over my mouth so no one hears me. He lifts my body up as I lose the strength to stand.
My eyes flutter at him in amazement. His beautiful green eyes are now dark and wild. His length is more apparent as I slowly come back down to earth. I know without a doubt that he wants me.
“Was that what I think it was?” I ask.
“Wait, you are not telling me that was your first orgasm, are you?” He sounds horrified.
All the pleasure and euphoria leave me. Confusion and embarrassment flood me. I stutter, “You know I’m a virgin. I told you that.”
He stands back, letting me go. “There are other things you can do to get off. I can’t believe I let myself do this.” He starts pacing, running his hair through his fingers. “Dammit. You’re too young, and you need someone who isn’t me. I’m so sorry, Jessi. I never meant to let this happen.”
I move toward him. “I’m not. It felt good. What’s wrong? We clearly both want this.”
He runs his hands down his face. “You are nineteen. I’m thirty.
I don’t want you to look back on this and think I took advantage of you.
I’m supposed to be protecting you, helping you.
This can’t happen again. I can’t tolerate the thought that in a few years, you’ll feel deep regret and resentment about our time together.
I’m not a good person. If you knew the shit I’ve done, you would run, and that’s exactly what you should do. I won’t tarnish your innocence.”
I try to keep my tears from falling down my face but fail. Now I know why they call it heartache. My heart literally breaks in half at Jack’s declaration. All I can do is force out the words, “Take me home, please.”