6. Jake #2
I love the glint of anger in her eyes even as she winces at my harsh tone.
Taking a deep breath, she steals her spine and crosses her arms, deliciously pushing up her tits.
“Yeah, Jake. All of that is on you. If you took my comment about your business as a comment on your sex life, then that’s your problem.
And I told you I had never done that before. ”
I bite my cheek to keep my angry words from flying out again.
I’m not the only one in the wrong here. The way she came onto me at Lily’s sounded like a proposition.
Yeah, I might have been annoyed with her before she even spoke to me, but who wouldn’t be?
She was moping around crying at her best friend’s celebration.
That’s a desperate cry for attention if I’d ever seen one.
I’m not wrong on being mad she didn’t tell me she’s a virgin, though. She didn’t make that clear at all.
I rest my elbows on the armrests, steepling my hands in front of my face, my fingers tracing over my lips.
I’ll wait for her to admit equal fault and apologize.
We stare at each other, the tension building between us before she heaves out a heavy sigh.
“What do you want me to say, Jake? I need the space. Are you going to let me have it or not?”
I pull Socks down and snuggle him into my chest. His little paws bat at my fingers, drawing a smile from me.
Amber eyes me warily, but I don’t have an answer for her yet.
I don’t need the space at the moment. One room will hold all my tools and spare wood, and the main space is plenty big for my worktables and current projects.
It wouldn’t hurt to have some extra money coming in from a space I’m not using anyway.
“Why should I rent to a liar?”
She stands up and moves to a table of folded shirts, reorganizing them. Even with her back turned, I can see the flush traveling up her neck. “I didn’t lie. You just didn’t care to clarify.”
“Don’t pull that shit with me. You know you weren’t clear about being a virgin.” After taking a breath to try to calm down, I ask the question that’s been bothering me the most. “Did I hurt you?”
Her eyes cut to me over her shoulder, a scowl covering her pretty face. “Like you care. But no, you didn’t. It was … better than I anticipated for my first time.”
The knot in my chest loosens a little at her confession. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to punish her with that fuck, but I’m not into pain in that way. I want my women to experience pain at my hands, but only when it’s mixed with pleasure and we have talked about what they can handle.
“Look, we both got what we wanted, let’s move on. Are you going to rent to me, or do I need to find a new space?”
So she wanted to lose her virginity to me?
I believed her when she said she was talking about my woodworking the night we met, but maybe she lied about that too.
Or maybe she just means we both received an unexpected orgasm and all is good.
Either way, it doesn’t matter. She clearly needs the space, and I’m not that much of an ass that I’ll kick her out of it for no reason.
“I’ll rent to you. How does a six-month contract sound?
That way if I end up needing the space we both have time to make other arrangements?
” It also gives me an out if I no longer enjoy this back-and-forth between us.
“I can’t afford more than four hundred a month,” she mutters .
I hadn’t even thought of a price, but any money is better than none. Plus, I know better than most how expensive owning and running a business can be. The money is fine, but I want something more from her; I just don’t know what it is yet.
“On one condition, I want an IOU that I can call in at any time.”
Her huff of annoyance is cute, as if I actually care. “Men always want something. What gives you the right to demand more after the way you’ve treated me?”
I bristle at her insinuation. Putting down the kitten, I step up behind her, crowding into her space. The hitch of her breath gives away how affected she is, even as she continues refolding shirts.
“My storage space means I get to make the rules.” Using my pointer finger, I caress from below her ear, over her shoulder, and down her arm.
I get enjoyment watching goosebumps follow the path, and she stops breathing altogether.
Leaning in, I put my lips to her ear. “Those are my conditions, take it or leave it.”
“Fine,” she grumbles. “But I still don’t like you.”
It’s satisfying that she refuses to turn and look at me. There’s no doubt I’m under her skin the way she’s under mine. I prefer an even playing field, but I wouldn’t complain about having the upper hand.
Walking to the front door, I chuckle, flipping the lock. “Feeling’s mutual. See you around, then. Lock the door behind me, Amber.”
With that, I step out and walk back to my bike.
This buzz coursing through my body can only be worked out one of two ways, so after making sure she locks her door, I head toward the gym.
I have a feeling I’ll be spending a lot more time there in the coming months.
For the first time in almost a year, though, there’s a genuine smile on my face, and I intend to make sure it stays.