Baby, Don't Lose My Number (9 page)

“Jake,” she yelled when she caught sight of him. “Wait a—”

But he didn’t let her finish. He tore Larry with the wandering hands away from his girl and socked him straight in the mouth. Didn’t even pause to consider his actions.

Hell, he’d just punched Mia’s boss. What had he been thinking?

I wasn’t thinking.

Yeah, no shit.

Larry tumbled to the ground like the coward he was, holding up one hand as if to ward Jake off. The other hand cradled the side of his face, a moan of agonized pain emitting from him. “Keep your asshole boyfriend away from me.”

His hand was still clutched into a fist as he stared down at the jackass, his knuckles smarting from the direct contact with Larry’s smug face. Mia rushed to Jake and clutched his arm. He glanced down at her, saw the petrified expression on her face and he slipped his arm around her trembling shoulders to draw her close.

“You okay?”

She nodded, her eyes wide with worry. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

“What do you mean, I shouldn’t have done that? He had his hands all over you.”

“He’s my boss, Jake.”

“So that gives him the right to touch you like some sort of goddamn pervert?” He was yelling, he knew it but he didn’t care.

“Get out of here before I call security,” Larry mumbled from his spot on the floor. At least he sat up now. Didn’t cower like a pussy.

“Go ahead. I’ll tell them what I saw,” Jake challenged. Fury flowed through his veins, making him see red. He couldn’t believe the nerve of this asshole, threatening him. Acting like he was the one in the wrong with this situation.

“You didn’t see anything.” Larry stood, casting a piercing stare in Mia’s direction. She shrunk beneath Jake’s arm. “Neither of you did. If you know what’s best for you, you’ll both stick to that story.”

“Fuck you,” Jake snarled, leading Mia right the hell out of there. She struggled against his grip but he wouldn’t let go. Wasn’t about to leave her in there alone once again with her boss.

“You walk out that door, Mia, and you won’t have a job to come back to,” Larry threatened as they headed toward the door.

She stopped in her tracks, her head swiveling to first look up at Jake then back at Larry. “I—I don’t want to lose my job.”

“He’s an asshole, babe. Trust me, this’ll all work out in your favor,” Jake urged. The timing couldn’t be better regarding the accounting job at the construction business. He could arrange for her to have a job tomorrow, no problem.

“But…”

“You don’t want to lose your job do you, Mia?” Larry’s tone turned simpering and the sound of it made Jake want to puke.

“I’ll take care of you,” Jake promised, his voice low, solemn. “Trust me, Mia. I mean it.”

She looked between both men, the struggle clearly written all over her beautiful face. Terror clutched at Jake’s heart. He didn’t know if he’d be able to take it if she chose her job over him. He wanted her to trust him that he would make everything all right.

He
needed
her to trust him.

Chapter Seven

“Okay.” Mia swallowed hard, her gaze meeting Jake’s. The warmth she saw there, the emotion, it gave her the courage to finally leave Larry and her job, once and for all. “Let’s go, Jake.”

“You’ll regret this, Mia,” Larry yelled as they exited her office. “I can ruin you, you know. Make sure you won’t find another job. Come back here.”

“He’s such an asshole,” Jake muttered as he grabbed her hand, practically dragging her toward the elevator.

Thank goodness she’d grabbed her purse. She clutched it to her side, her fingers so tight her knuckles stretched white around the leather strap. She still couldn’t get over what happened. One minute, she’d been about to leave her office for the night and then Larry had pushed his way inside. Went right for her, his hands wandering all over her body, groping and squeezing so tightly it hurt. Hot, moist breath heavy in her ear as he whispered words, vulgar, revealing words that told her exactly everything he wanted to do to her. In stunningly graphic detail.

She shuddered, relief filling her when the elevator opened and revealed not a soul within. It had been such a close call with Larry. He’d never done anything like that to her before. Had never behaved in such an overt manner,
ever
. She swore he’d been drunk. She’d smelled alcohol on his breath.

That was the only explanation for his irrational behavior. Funny how it happened on the very day she received a lecture from her friends.

They’d been right. And she’d been wrong. Thank goodness Jake had showed up when he did. She wasn’t sure what she would’ve done. The entire floor had been virtually abandoned when it all happened. She could’ve screamed her fool head off and most likely no one would’ve heard her.

“Are you all right?” Jake asked, his voice soft, his gaze concerned.

The doors slid shut as she nodded, and he drew her into his arms. Held her close. The reassuring beat of his heart thumped close to her ear, and she turned her face into his chest, breathing deep. Absorbed his fresh, masculine scent.

“I’m so glad you came. Why are you here?” she asked, her voice muffled.

“I wanted to surprise you. Come by and pick you up.” He hugged her closer, so close she almost couldn’t breathe. But she didn’t mind.

He was reassurance. Safety. She clung to him as if he was her anchor and she was drowning. As if she didn’t want to let go.

“You’re shaking,” he whispered. A soothing hand slid up and down her back. “It’s okay. You’ll never have to deal with him again.”

She withdrew from him slightly, stared up into his face. “I—I probably shouldn’t have quit. It’s not like I have another job lined up.”

Jake’s lips tightened when the elevator doors slid open, indicating they were on the ground floor. They exited the elevator without a word, their hands clasped, fingers intertwined. Mia followed behind him as he led her out into the parking lot, not even protesting that she needed to drive her car home.

Her hands were too shaky, her thoughts too scattered to concentrate on driving. Thank goodness Jake was here. Taking care of her. Protecting her.

The drive back to her place was quiet though not uncomfortably so. He seemed preoccupied, and she couldn’t stop reliving the moment with Larry. What had triggered his attack? Why had he come out of nowhere and treated her in such a lecherous manner? She didn’t understand it.

Most likely, she would never understand it.

The moment they walked into her apartment she noticed Jake’s serious expression, the tension in his jaw, the darkness in his eyes. He looked furious. And she knew he wasn’t angry with her. It was all directed at Larry.

“Maybe I should ask if you’re okay,” she gently teased as she shut the door, and he went to her, enveloping her in his arms once more.

“Seeing him with his hands all over you and how helpless you looked…he’s damn lucky I didn’t rip him apart,” Jake admitted.

She should take offense at Jake calling her helpless. It should go against her feminist sensibilities. But she couldn’t find the gumption to get worked up over it and besides, she had felt extremely helpless, struggling to get out of Larry’s hold.

“It’s over,” Mia said, sliding her arms around him. He was so solid, so warm, so big. “And like you said, I’ll never have to deal with him again.”

Sadness filled her at the thought of not being able to see Morgan and Jenna on a day-to-day basis anymore. She’d have to call them as soon as she could. Knowing how that place worked, word of her encounter with Larry would be all over the building by 7:59 tomorrow morning.

Of course, for all she knew Larry would somehow find a way to keep everything quiet.

“I just wish I had a job,” she murmured, hanging her head. Nerves ate at her insides and she picked at the front of Jake’s shirt. Felt the warmth of his skin from beneath the fabric, easing her.

But only slightly.

“Hey.” Strong, firm fingers curved around her chin and lifted her face so she gazed up into his eyes. “What if I told you I could get you a job?”

Mia frowned. “What are you talking about?”

Excitement filled his expression, his fingers stroking along her jaw. “You can start tomorrow if you want.”

“Start where? Jake, what’s going on? You’re confusing me.”

He shook his head slightly. “Sorry. Jumping ahead of myself. The construction company I own with my dad, we need someone in the office to handle well…everything. I think it would be the perfect job for you. You’re so organized I know you’ll have us straightened out in a matter of days.”

Her heart constricted. Was this man too good to be true or what? “You’re offering me a job?”

Jake shrugged. “Well, my dad will be the one offering you the job since I leave that stuff up to him but yeah. If you want it.”

“I want it.” Maybe she shouldn’t sound so eager, but she was past caring. She needed the job. It was as if it had fallen into her lap.

All because of him.

“This means you’ll see me every day you know.” He frowned. Looked a little worried which she didn’t quite understand. “Do you mind? Can you handle it?”

“It sounds like a dream come true,” she answered truthfully. “Does this mean you’re actually going back to work?” He’d expressed some of his fears only a few nights ago. Worry over returning to work after such a traumatic injury. Would he be able to do it? Would he be able to bear it? They’d lain together after an exceptionally sweaty and delicious bout of sex, curled around each other, whispering in the dark. She’d found his vulnerability endearingly sweet.

Even sweeter? That he trusted her enough to confess such fears. Whispered in her ear his worries, nodded his head in agreement when she reassured him.

The memory made her heart constrict with emotion for him. Emotion she was almost afraid to express.

It was just so soon. And so incredibly overwhelming, she wasn’t quite sure what to do about it.

He smiled, tenderness and hope shining in his eyes. “If you say yes to this job offer you’ve given me more than enough reason to return to work.”

“Then yes. I’ll take it.”
I’ll take you.

I think I love you.

They moved closer together, bodies shifting, heads tipping and lifting until their mouths melted into each others. Their lips parted, tongues danced and warmth cascaded through her body as his hands wandered all over her.

“You probably think I’m moving too fast.” His husky whisper sounded in her ear, his hot breath blowing across her skin and she shivered.

“I think we’re in mutual agreement here,” she admitted, curling her arms tight around his neck. Her hands sunk into his hair at his nape, fingers tangling in the soft strands. She imagined touching this man every single night for the rest of her life and it just seemed so right.

“My father might drive you crazy.” He paused and dropped hot little kisses down the length of her neck. “I might drive you crazy.”

“Never.” She didn’t doubt they would. But she didn’t mind. It would be worth it.

Jake lifted his head and stared at her, eyes bright, lips damp and swollen. “You feel it too, huh?”

She nodded slowly as she withdrew from him, her hand catching his. Without a word she led him back to her darkened bedroom then tugged him close when they stopped at the foot of her bed. They removed their clothes quickly, naked in seconds and then she was falling. Falling onto the bed, his big, hard body lying on top of hers, pressing her into the mattress. She accepted his weight, reveled in it. Her hands slid down his back to stroke his firm ass, pulling him close so that his erection ground against her.

Their agonized groans mingled in the air.

“You’re driving me crazy right now,” she murmured just after he kissed the very breath from her.

“A good kind of crazy though, right?” His tone teased, as did his mouth. It skimmed down her throat, across her collarbone, between her breasts. He cupped her breasts with his wide palms, thumbs skimming her hard nipples and she arched into his touch.

“Oh, yes,” she agreed, surprised she could even form words. She couldn’t think, could only feel and when he drew her nipple into his mouth and sucked, she actually screamed.

It felt that wonderful.

“Shh,” he soothed, his tongue lashing at first one nipple, then the other. She squirmed beneath him, wanting him inside her, wishing she could touch him better but he scooted lower down her body. Until he was poised above her sex, studying her between her legs as if he wanted to devour her.

“Please,” she whispered, wanting his mouth on her, his fingers inside her. She spread her legs, putting herself on full display for him and his eyes widened in appreciation.

“Pretty.” He touched her, a single finger stroked down her slit, searching her folds and she could hear the wet sounds of her pussy fill the room. “And so wet.”

“Jake.” His name came out a strangled plea and she cried out when he bent his head, lips latching about her clit. Exactly where she wanted him.

He licked and sucked, sunk first one, then two fingers deep inside her and pumped. She writhed beneath him, her hands clutching the comforter as he worked her into a frenzy. A frenzy that was about to come crashing down upon her at any second.

“Come for me,” he murmured against her as he licked her clit, his tongue circling again and again, playing with the swollen bit of flesh. “Come for me, Mia.”

As if his words were magic, her orgasm slammed into her. Her entire body shook with the force of it as a low keening sound escaped past her lips. His mouth softened though his fingers still pumped and he drank her climax, eased her through it until she slumped into the mattress a still-quivering mass of flesh.

“Oh, my God.” She blew out a harsh breath, pushed the hair out of her face. He came above her, a condom already in his hand and she watched in utter fascination as he sheathed himself.

He had a magnificent body. Solid muscle, golden smooth skin and those wide shoulders. Shoulders a girl could count on. A body a girl could lose herself in.

And a heart a girl wanted to capture and make hers. Forever.

“I love to watch you come,” he said, wrapping his hands around her hips and holding her tight. Preparing her for his entry. “I love to make you come.”