Page 34 of Jay

“You need to leave, Dale. My boyfriend will be here any minute to pick me up.” At the word boyfriend, his face turns nasty. This is the Dale I remember andloathe.

Oh, fudgemylife.

“Who the fuck has been fucking my girl? You belong to me, Peaches.” I shrink back from his anger. He has always scared me with his voice. His general character scares the bejeebers outofme.

“Fucking answer me, Cassie. Who the fuck has been sticking his dick in the pussy that belongs to me?” he screams at me, coming around the side of the reception desk. I go to scream, when the voice of a superhero echoes throughtheroom.

“That would be me, fuckface,” Jays says, standing just inside the door. In my fear of Dale, I didn’t hear the bell ding. Dale snaps his head in the direction of the voice and he straightenshisbody.

“And who the fuckareyou?”

“I’m the boyfriend, fucknut. Now, who the fuck are you?” Holy cow, Jay looks lethal. He is wearing all black; boots, jeans, and leather jacket. Sexy, hot, but lethal. He looks like someone out of abikerclub.

“This.” Dale points to Jay. “This is who you have been shagging behind my back. How much are you paying him? There is no way in fucking hell this guy would shag someone as plain and boring as you. What a joke.” He laughs, his face fullofevil.

“What the fuck did you say?. Now, I suggest you leave. You aren’t welcome here, and you won’t come near her again. Do youhearme?”

An evil smile creeps across Dale’s face as he speaks, ignoring Jay’s threats. “She sucks cock like a pro, doesn’t she?”Igasp.

“LEAVE,” Jay growls. Dale doesn’tflinch.

“Please, Dale, just go. You were told not to come near me again. Now leave me be. I belong to Jay, not you. Now GO.” I yell the last word. I have never, ever raised my voice to Dale, but having Jay here with me is giving me the confidence thatIneed.

“You aren’t welcome here. You are a fucking monster, Dale Harris. A fucking bully. You beat me within an inch of my life. Why? Do you remember why? Let me remind you. You beat me because I refused to come and collect your drunk arse from the club at three in the morning. You phoned me when a girl was sucking your dick, Dale. I was hurt and humiliated, and yetIgot the beating for being in the wrong. You sicken me. You disgust me. You don’t deserve anyone’s love. I hope that one day a woman knocks you off your arse, makes you fall in love with her, and then rips your heart out. I hope she leaves you as broken as you left me. But, you know what?” He shakes his head, clearly shocked by my outburst. “That man right there. That man has stitched me back together. He is mine and I am his. Now. GET. THE. FUCK. OUT,” I scream, tears streaming down my face. My heart is pounding so freaking hard. It feels like it is going to crack a few ribs anysecondnow.

Both men are looking at me, but with different expressions on their faces. Dale looks shocked as hell at the words I just spewed to him, and Jay… Well, Jay is smirking at me. He looks proud as shit at my outburst towards Dale. I catch the little movement of Jay pushing down on his erection. Cockybugger.

“You need to learn to keep your dog on a tight leash, fella,” Dale says to Jay. Jay chuckles andreplies.

“Oh, believe me, my leash is plenty tight round her neck when I’m fucking her hard from behind, because that is howmygirl likes it.” I gasp at his crudewords.

“You fucking motherfucker.” Dale screams and lunges for Jay, but Jay sees the action coming. He ducks out of the way and lands a punch in Dale’s stomach. Dale gasps and falls to his knees. Weakling. Jay lands one more punch to Dale’s face, and he falls to the floor. Jay is breathing heavy when he brings his gaze to mine. His shoulders are rising and falling with each breath, his leather jacket straining against his muscles. The look he is giving me is feral, but oh so sexy. He bends at the waist and grips Dale’s coat in his hand, getting right inhisface.

“I find out that you came anywhere near my girl, or are even thinking of contacting her in any way, this,” Jay gestures to Dale’s face, “will be the least of your problems. I fucking know people. Just remember that,fuckface.”

“Fine. Keep the slag, I can do better anyway.” Dale staggers to his feet and spits blood on the floor in my direction. He sneers at me and walks over tothedoor.

“You will never get better than her,” Jay points to me. “She is the best of the fucking best. It was you that was lacking in the bedroom department, mate, not her. Now fuck off.” Dale doesn’t say another word, he just walks out of my salon, and out of my life, for good this time. I hope. I tear my eyes away from the now closed door and look at Jay. His breathing has slowed, but he still looksangry.

We stare at each other for Lord knows how long, and get lost in the each other’s eyes. My work phone rings, making me jump and breaking the connection. I take the call and arrange the appointment for next week. I slowly hang up the phone and jump a little when I see that Jay is now standing right next to me. His eyes look softer now, I can see that he has let some of the anger go, but he still seems a littlepissed.

“Why washehere?”

“No clue, he just turned up,” I say quietly, the fear of seeing Dale again still racing aroundmybody.

“Strange, isn’t it, that you don’t talk to me for a few days and then there he is, at your work.” I step back from Jay because his question soundsaccusing.

“What are you trying to say, Jay? That I would cheat on you? If I am correct, you were the one celebrating New Year’s Eve with another woman. So, do not come in here and accuse me of seeing my ex-boyfriend - myabusiveex-boyfriend - behind your back. If you truly think that, then I suggest you leave and don’t come back,” Ihuffout.

My anger pulsing through my blood, I turn and leave him standing there. If he walks out that door, or doesn’t apologize, then he is so not the man I thought he was. I go about busying myself, forcing myself not to count the minutes that Jay stays in the waiting area. Trying to strain my ears, waiting to hear the door open and close. I pick up an empty shampoo bottle, but knock over a few others, my trembling fingers making me clumsy. I brace my hands on the worktop and take a deep breath, willing the stupid tears not to fall. I am over crying over men. I am! Believe me, I am. I think. Oh fuck, I’m not. A sob breaks free, and I slap my hand over my mouth to stop any soundcomingout.

Leather-clad arms wrap around my waist and chest from behind. I’m not scared, because I can smell him. The Jay Castle scent. Today he smells like leatherandink

“I’m sorry, baby. I fucked up.” His warm breath tickles my ear, and I shiver. “I didn’t mean what I said out there. I honestly have no clue why the fuck I said it. I know you would never cheat on me. The shit that has happened in the last few days got to me when I saw him. Forgive me?” He kisses my neck and my skin becomes covered in goosebumps. Even annoyed at him, he still has this effectonme.

“The words hurt, Jay. I thought you would know that I would never do anything with him ever again. Hell, any other man. I am with you and only you.” My anger starts to build again. Memories from our phone call rushes back into my mind. “Unlike you,” I say, and step sideways out of hisembrace.

“What do you mean? I haven’t been with anyone in months.” I shrug and look away. “Hey, look at me, Kitten. Have I ever lied to you?” I turn my gaze to meet his sincere ones, and I shake my head, because he is right. He has never lied to me. It is the one thing that I am grateful for in our relationship. The pure honestly that we both have. My chest aches at the look on his face. I can see the truth he is telling me. I messed up inignoringhim.

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