Chapter 9 #2
“You’ve forgotten how different Babylon can be from the rest of the world.
Whoever you were out there, he can’t survive here.
The sooner you heed that advice, the easier your life will be.
You’re not the big man on campus. You’re nothing now.
Nothing. Leave or learn some respect. Those are the only choices you have left. ”
I leaned back on the counter, resting on my elbow as I watched her deal with him.
“You’ve no idea what you’ve just done,” Jacob whispered like he was talking to himself.
“Excuse me?” I asked, raising both brows.
When he lifted his head in my direction, I saw that look again. I saw something familiar that had me frowning with curiosity as all my old enemies rattled around my head chanting one by one, not me, not me, it ain’t me.
I studied him as he studied me, and if I’d been more in tune with things, I’d have understood what he was trying to tell me.
I’d seen that face a thousand times before.
When someone hates you, there are two ways they look you in the eye: one with fear.
One with the knowledge that it might not be their time yet, but one day they are going to fuck you over… you just won’t know when.
“You’ll see,” he all but growled as he slid off the stool and stood on shaky legs.
My brothers taunted him as he tried to leave, and Ayda’s eyes followed him all the way to the door.
“It’s your choice, Jake.”
He turned at the door and glanced at each and every one of us. “Fuck all y’all.” Then he pushed out through the door, smacking it against the wall with rage before he disappeared into the parking lot.
I didn’t feel the need to tell Ayda I’d had one of the boys cut his wires so his car wouldn’t start. I was too high on the look of satisfaction she was wearing when she turned back to me.
“Oops,” was all I offered her.
Pressing her palms on the counter, Ayda used the surface to lift her body, her top half swinging closer as she kicked out. It was a silent request for a kiss, but the words were my incentive. “Have I told you that I love you today, Tucker?”
“Nope,” I answered, popping the P, even though she had. I was still leaning on my elbow, staring at her like she was something I could devour on the spot.
“I love you.” She pushed that little farther over the counter and pressed her lips against mine. Rocking back, she repeated the cycle all over again until, after the fourth I love you, she slipped her tongue between my lips, ignoring the catcalls that rose around us.
I wasted no time pulling her to me and keeping her there, my tongue assaulting hers with a possession I had no shame in showing.
I could never get close enough. There was no such thing as too much when she was kissing me, touching me, or pressed against me.
It took two seconds for our kiss to turn desperately hungry, and that was when I picked her up and spun her around, planting her on the stool where Jacob had been sitting before I stepped in between her parted legs.
The men around us grumbled. Deeks made cries of how he couldn’t see his girl doing that.
Kenny pretended to be sick. Jedd made himself known for the first time with his wolf whistle.
Slater’s cackle filled the air enough to tell me he was turning my name into a joke at whatever table he was sitting at.
I didn’t give a shit. I was alive. I was pumped, and I’d gone through every emotion possible during that day until it had turned into night. All I wanted to do was kiss Ayda and smile against her lips every time we bumped in the wrong direction.
When we eventually pulled away from each other, I pushed both hands through her hair and held her at the back of the neck.
“You okay?”
“Never better,” she said huskily, as Janette slid our food onto the counter beside us. She looked up at me, those blue eyes searching mine, plowing beyond the surface and venturing deep enough so I could feel her there. “Thank you.”
“Be careful what you’re thanking me for. Something tells me I’ve just woken a beast dressed as a skinny coach,” I told her honestly. “He isn’t just going to go away. You ready for another fight?”
Ayda laid her palm flat against my cut and her gaze turned serious.
“I’m thanking you for always having my back.
Jacob’s not smart enough to cut his losses and run.
He’s too proud to take that on the nose and live quietly.
I don’t care what words he throws my way, but if he even tries to take our differences out on Tate…
” Her eyes flashed. “He’ll find out just how much I’ve changed. ”
“Tate will be safe. Everyone has a skeleton in their closet. I’m gonna find out what Jacob’s is, and I’m going to exploit the fuck out of it.” I pushed my forehead to hers and whispered, “I got skills, darlin’.”
“I know you do. I just hope there’s enough there to crush him like the bug he is.”
“No one is ever that confident without having a colorful history.”
She looked thoughtful for a moment. “Then let’s look, and when we find whatever it is, let’s nail his ass to the wall.”
“I love it when you get violent,” I whispered as I brushed my lips over hers.
“I love it when you encourage me,” she said, nipping my bottom lip.
The sound of yelling from outside the diner pulled everyone’s attention, including ours, away from what they were doing. Jacob’s frustrated shouting and ranting filled the air before he cursed The Hounds in every which way imaginable.
And while everyone else in the diner laughed and cheered at the way we’d screwed him over, I couldn’t help but narrow my eyes and fake a smile as I looked around at them all.
I knew that kid.
I just had to figure out where from.
And why the hairs on the back of my neck stood to attention when I thought about those green eyes staring back at me.