Page 48 of Jake's Angel

“Something funny to you, Angel?” Jake asks, catching me off guard and instantly grating my nerves.

Why do you have to be so good-looking? Bastard.

“No, asshat. You can stop calling me Angel now. You know it’s not my real name.”

“Mmm. But I think it fits.” A shadow passes over his face, like he’s seen a ghost. When he catches himself in whatever thought he was having, his expression goes back to the inquisitive look he had before. “What was it you were laughing about just now?”

“I was just admiring your patches on your cut.” I say ever so sweetly, running my fingers over the letters just like I did theother day when he was pressing me against the wall with his body. The way he’s looking at me, the heat in his eyes, tells me he’s thinking about it too.

Maybe I shouldn’t taunt him. I don’t know these men and they sure as hell don’t know me. But then again, that’s just what I need, isn’t it? A new place, where people don’t know me, where I can be whoever I choose to be. The thought gives me the little extra bit of confidence I need to press forward.

“I think they got the letters wrong.” I carefully trace over each letter, one by one. My voice dripping with a little extra sweetness for shits and giggles.

“How do you figure?” He stands with his legs wide, his hands moving to my hips, his still heated eyes looking down at me. The temperature between us has jumped up ten degrees, searing me from the inside out. The door to the clubhouse opens again and I catch the movement of two men walking toward us, but I keep my attention on the handsome jackass before me. If he wants to challenge me, I’m going to give him a run for his money.

Be brave. Obedient, submissive Avery is no more.

“I believe the abbreviation should be SOB,” I goad him, while Hawk and Declan chuckle from somewhere behind me.

“Damn, Jake. She’s only been in town a few days and already she’s calling you on your shit.” I hear the sound of a door opening, followed momentarily by Gabe and Mack walking into the room in deep in conversation. At the sound of their voices, Jake releases me, taking several steps back.

“Tell me Avery, what did our Sergeant at Arms, or as you so eloquently put it, our SOB here do to get on your bad side today? I’d like to avoid repeating his mistakes,” Hawk asks, throwing an arm over my shoulder.

“Don’t think you didn’t help him get into this doghouse, asshole.” Sadie jumps in.

“You mean besides the fact you all broke into Sadie’s house, stopped me from leaving town, and forced me to come here, where I feel completely overdressed and underwhelmed?” The mention of the other women's lack of clothing causes Sadie to almost spit out her drink.

Whore.

That’s what they called her.

I’m ticking off each offense on my fingers one by one.

“We did not break-in. You heard Sadie. Shelet usin.” Hawk slants his eyes at her, scoffing at the words she used. She laughs him off, focused on finishing her drink.

“Jake, here, is just making an ass out of himself again by making assumptions about me.”

“I’ve made no assumptions, at least none that I’ve spoken out loud,” Jake says, smirking at me. His eyes rake over me. His scorching gaze sets my entire body ablaze.

Ugh! Ass!

“Haven’t you, though?” I ask, placing my finger on my chin, trying to remember his exact words.

“You know what they say about assuming, don’t you?” I wink at him. Hawk smiles back, telling me he’s enjoying our back and forth.

“Let me see … the first time we met, I called you on your caveman bullshit with Sadie and you assumed I was a spoiled bitch. You can’t deny it. We all saw it written on your face.” He says nothing, only arches one eyebrow at me. “It’s why you call me princess, isn’t it?” He smirks.

Jerk!

“Then when I tried to leave after ourconversation,you assumed I needed rescuing, so you followed me into the hallway at Magpie’s. Turned out I only needed a distraction.” It’s my turn to wink. “And today, when I mentioned wanting to practice my pole dancing skills, you automatically assume I want to be one ofyour many stripper friends. Wait—that’s not right.Whore.You assumed I wanted to be one of your manywhores.No offense, ladies.” I toss out for good measure. “Those are some pretty bold assumptions …Ass.” Jake still doesn’t say anything. He’s glaring at me, his face unreadable, leaving me to hope he can’t sense how nervous I am taunting him this way.

The silence carries on for what feels like hours, but must only have been a moment or two, however it’s enough to cause everyone else to walk away from the showdown.

I look up to find Sadie, Declan, and Hawk have gone back to the bar across the room, leaving me alone with Jake.

“Aren’t you going to kiss me, Angel?” Jake asks, stepping into my personal space. I watch him cautiously, trying to figure out what he’s up to now. He drops his arms to his sides, crowding closer into my space, but I don’t dare retreat. Grabbing my wrist, he tugs, forcing my body to smack into his. To catch myself, I plant my other hand on his chest. His back blocking me from everyone else’s view.

“Now this feels familiar, doesn’t it?” His voice is so low I can feel the rumble in his chest against mine.

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