Chapter Five #2
“She’s in danger. Her drug addict brother broke into her apartment last week. I told you this. Come on.” I place a hand on Tanner’s back. The man holds on to the three of us like a lifeline, and I should have realized I needed to come down here long before now.
Tanner narrows his gaze. “Who is she to you, Jase?”
I run a hand through my hair and meet my friend’s gaze.
“I wish to God I knew. I don’t believe in love at first sight, but I haven’t slept with her and she already means something to me.
And trust me, I tried like hell to keep an emotional distance.
You know me. You know I keep people out and why. We all do.”
Landon strides over and places a hand on my shoulder. “If she’s important to you, then we all step up to help. Right, Tanner?”
The other man grumbles but nods. He’s always the last to come around when it comes to outsiders in our small circle. Which is weird, since Landon lost his twin, but Tanner’s life hasn’t been an easy one in all ways.
“I appreciate it. Now as for the club, how are the improvements coming?” I walk over to the glass window that overlooks the downstairs bar area, which has grown even more crowded since we arrived.
Bartenders are serving drinks, people mingling and dancing, as if they don’t have a care in the world. All in all, a perfect Friday night at Club TEN29.
“We’re coming along at a faster pace than expected.
Audio guys had an opening in their schedule, so they’ve upgraded the speakers and sound system.
They’ve been able to work during the day since we open at night.
No issues.” Landon strides over to the bar.
“Soda water?” he asks, glancing from me to Tanner.
“Not for me.”
“Me, neither.” Tanner shakes his head. “Security’s also been upgraded. You need to switch the app on your phone, and you’ll be able to see the new cameras and the areas we can watch.”
“So now it comes down to acts, scheduling, and launch dates,” Landon says.
I frown. I’m not ready to make decisions on who I want to open the new direction of our club, especially when it comes to using Charlotte, my ex. “Let me talk to Grey,” I say. Avery’s husband is a safer bet and as big a draw.
“I have a list but it’d mean reaching out to managers, so see what you can get from your brother-in-law.”
“Are you staying for the night?” Tanner asks.
“I’d like to see how Faith is feeling before I decide … if you don’t mind.” I glance at my partners.
“So that’s how it is already?” Tanner snickers, and Landon shoots him a dirty look.
“It’s fine. We can handle a regular night here.”
My friends are solid, I think. Even Tanner, despite his tendency to dig at a person’s weakness.
“I’ll hang for another few minutes. If you think of anything else you want to discuss, let me know.” Faith is safe in my office.
But I need to find her brother and get back to my life before I am so wrapped up in hers I lose track of what is important to me.
* * *
Faith
I sit at Jason’s desk, waiting for him to return.
I’ve looked through my phone, checked my apps, which are minimal because I deleted all my personal social media accounts when I left Iowa, and now I have nothing else to do but look around at the man’s office space.
The room is similar to the larger area where the other two men were waiting for us.
Sleek chrome borders accentuate glass desks along with black and chrome chairs.
Modern area rugs lie over natural wood floors that have a deliberately stripped, gritty look.
Although I don’t intend to pry, my gaze falls to the pictures along the far edge of the desk.
There is an obvious family shot of Jason in the middle of a group of men and women, many of whom have similar features and who have to be his siblings.
There is a wedding photograph of an older couple I presume are his parents and a picture of a much younger Jason, Tanner, and Landon and another man identical to Landon in front of a statue.
Landon’s twin I saw on the website, to whose memory the club was dedicated.
I feel for all three of the men. With my mother’s passing, I understand loss, and theirs happened way too young.
It doesn’t escape my notice that Jason never discusses that part of his past with me.
Never mentions Levi or the fact that they named the club after him.
I wish he’d unburden himself. He’s already done so much for me, and I just know if he talks about the pain he keeps so close to his heart and carefully walled off, it might help.
As I frown, my gaze travels to the last picture.
A photograph of an attractive woman with blonde hair with a little boy in her arms. I have no idea who the female is, and an unexpected knot of jealousy forms in my stomach.
It’s silly. I trust that Jason isn’t married.
He obviously lives alone, and he’s made his views on relationships crystal clear.
There is no doubt he possesses an inherent protective streak from which I am currently benefitting despite him keeping most people at a distance.
And yet there is this woman and child he’s never mentioned.
I rub my hands against my denim-clad thighs, growing antsy sitting here with nothing to do while Jason meets with his partners, but I owe him at least this and much more. So I lean back in the chair and relax myself, accepting I might be here awhile.
I begin to doze off when the sound of the door opening startles me awake. I jump in my seat, my heart doing a rapid pounding of fear inside my chest.
“It’s okay, it’s just me,” Jason says, stepping into the room and closing the door behind him.
My mouth tastes dry, like cotton. Although I’m used to it, waking often in the middle of the night in such a state, I’m surprised I fell asleep and dreamed here.
“I guess I had a nightmare about Colton and then the creaking of the door and the noise downstairs scared me. You just took me by surprise,” I say, catching my breath, as I rise from my seat.
“I think that answers my question,” he says cryptically from the doorway.
He is a welcome sight, handsome and sexy, in his dark jeans and black shirt.
“What question?” I ask, confused.
“I was going to ask if you wanted to eat something here and hang out downstairs at the club for a while, but I don’t think the crowd and the noise are a good idea. We’ll order something in back at my apartment.” He strides up to me, joining me behind the desk.
“But your partners—” I shake my head. I don’t want the men to resent me more than they already do. Or at least, more than Tanner seems to.
“Shh.” Jason touches a finger to my mouth, then removes it, leans in, and replaces it with his mouth, gliding his lips over mine.
I blink in surprise, then lean into the kiss, softening against him.
He licks the seam of my lips and I part, letting him in.
At the touch of his tongue to mine, I forget everything but the warmth and feel of him, the butterflies in my stomach, and the excitement suddenly racing through my veins.
Desire replaces my earlier fear and I lose myself in his thorough, devouring kiss.
He raises a hand to my hair, tangling his palm in my ponytail, using the pull to tug my head to the side so he can deepen our connection.
I can’t remember the last time I had a long, leisurely, arousing kiss that seemingly has no end.
I let everything go but the pure enjoyment of being so close to this man I’ve wanted for so long.
The long nights of sleeping in a room near his, wondering if he slides naked beneath the sheets, of running into him in the family room in his boxer briefs, his state of arousal upon looking at me clear, finally catches up with me.
I brace my hands on his cheeks and kiss him for all I’m worth, dropping my walls and my guard for this one moment in time.
When he finally releases my kiss-swollen lips, I’m dazed.
“Good,” he says in a desire-laden voice. “You’re relaxed now.”
I narrow my gaze. “Is that why you kissed me? Because I was worked up and frightened?”
His eyes darken. “I kissed you because I’ve been wanting to do that for days. But the end result? Yeah, that’s what I was aiming for. Ready to go home?” He slides his fingers into mine, and I curl my fingers around his bigger hand.
“Ready.”
“Then let’s go.”
I glance away from his potent stare, my gaze coming to rest on the bulge in his pants. The erection he can’t hide.
I slide my tongue over my lips, well aware of the pulsing deep inside my core.
“Don’t look at me like that or I’ll take you right here in my office. With my partners next door,” he says in a gruff voice that wreaks havoc on my senses.
And I know that I’m so aroused, I just might let him. So I grab my purse and rush out the door.
* * *
Faith
After arriving back at the apartment, we order in Italian food, eat, discuss his issues at the club, and never mention the kiss.
It doesn’t matter that Jason’s lips on mine are at the forefront of my mind, or that I want to take things further; he is back to being the perfect gentleman.
It is as if he used the kiss to jerk me back to reality and ground me in sensations other than fear, but he isn’t going to act on the arousal he inspired now.
Unsure of what to do, I’m taken off guard when he says he’ll clean up and instructs me to turn in and get a good night’s sleep.
Since he seems to need the time alone, I nod and stride out, struggling with my conflicting desires: the need to keep a distance from Jason so it is easy to walk away when this is over and the yearning I feel for Jason Dare.
I wash up and undress, changing into a pair of my soft shorts and camisole. I crawl into bed, hating to admit that Jason is right and I am exhausted…
I awake to hands around my neck, my brother’s face in front of mine, his breath fetid. “You know what I want, Faith.”
I cough, but the sound strangles in my throat. How does he expect me to answer him if he is choking me to death? “Colton.”
“The money. It’s half mine and I want it.”
I shake my head. Mom left it to me, I think, knowing better than to waste my breath. Precious air I’m not getting. “Can’t breathe.” Spots dance in front of my eyes, fear spiraling inside me.
He loosens his grip enough for me to draw in a painful breath. “Get me my money. I’ll be back, and next time I expect you to give me what’s mine.”
I wake up choking, unable to breathe until I realize it is just a dream.
A real dream, but a nightmare that isn’t happening now.
I’m safe. I blow out a breath and lift my hair off my neck.
It isn’t the first time I’ve had this nightmare and it won’t be the last. Most nights I go into the living area and work on my business plans, knowing sleep will be impossible after the nightmare, but tonight there is another option on my mind.
I need comfort, and I want a pair of strong arms around me to reassure me everything will be okay. Jason’s arms. More than solace, though, I desire him more than any man I’ve ever met. And he admitted to wanting me.
I understand he has demons and past hurt and pain he hasn’t yet come to terms with.
He doesn’t want a relationship, doesn’t want the happily ever after I dream of having one day when I’m free of Colton.
I don’t want to be alone forever, even if I don’t allow myself to think of having friends and people in my life again now.
So I know the score. I won’t be going into whatever this is with Jason with stars in my eyes, thinking I can change him. We are two consenting adults who desire each other. When my brother is behind bars, we’ll go our separate ways. End of story.
But we have now.
Drawing a deep breath for courage, I make my decision and walk out of my room and turn to go into his. I open the door, glad when it doesn’t squeak, shut it behind me, and tiptoe quietly up to the bed. Then I have a silent debate with myself once more. Clothes on? Or clothes off?
There is nothing stopping me except my lack of courage, so I draw another long breath and slip off my shorts and panties, then pull my shirt over my head.
There. I’m naked, and before I can change my mind, I climb onto the bed and slide up behind him, finding him as nude as I am.
Drawing a deep breath, I wrap my arms around his waist.
He shifts but doesn’t wake up. So I cuddle closer, finding comfort in his warmth. I really don’t want to disturb his sleep, something I desperately need myself. He’ll wake up, find me here, and realize what else I want come morning. I’ll deal with my mortification at what I’ve done then.
I lay my cheek against his broad back, inhale his masculine scent, and begin to breathe slowly, matching his tempo and finally relaxing enough to fall asleep.