Keeping You: KJ Elite Inc. (16 page)

Watching her join the girls was funny and heartwarming. I didn’t lose sleep over it, but Baby could really use more chick friends in her life; surrounded by dicks in our profession, she was one hard ass warrior, but a woman needed women friends. Often times, they all found her intimidating or too honest – they didn’t like that.

Then, as if I had called out to her, Jamie turned and looked straight into my eyes. Just like that, a fire has been lit under my ass.

She bites her lip but can’t stop the smile that steals over her face. It makes me smile like a dope. If only the others could see me.

Fuck. Matt can and he definitely won’t let me forget it.

Screw it.

Jamie pulls her gaze away to look at Taylor nervously and then begins working her hips into Taylor who is now sandwiched between Jamie and Baby. Tay’s hands go back to Jamie’s hips, making me ball my hands into fists.

I need to feel her and I need to feel her, now.

My dick and leg smart at the same time and I know I’ve got to do something before I combust right here.

Jamie is moving to the beat of the rhythm, eating me alive with her eyes. As the song changes, Tay whispers in her ear, still unaware of my presence; she strolls away with Baby toward the bar area which could either mean she’s getting a refill or going to the bathroom. Doc strolls over to her though; obviously it’s a tactic to make sure she’s not alone.

My cell vibrates in my pocket.

Carver: You just gonna sit there sulking all night like a stalker?

Me: Why don’t you stop worrying about me and keep your eyes on the girls?

And I do mean EYES, not hands.

Carver: Aw, did the big bad boyfriend get jealous?

Me: Eat a fat dick.

Carver: Bitch.

Before I can reply again, Charlie bumps his elbow against mine and points to the area of the girls.

Jamie is trying to refuse a drink from a guy who won’t take No for answer. Doc has walked off, dealing with bar business.

The guy grabs Jamie’s waist and tugs her to him.

I see red.

I push Charlie out of the way and vault the tables enclosing the dance floor, making sure to land with all of the power on my right foot.

“Back off you son of a-” Taylor has reappeared and is rearing her hand back to land a good looking punch to his right cheek – if she could reach.

“What part of no is too much for your thick skull to process, Chip?” I read the name on his cut, enunciating every letter, popping the p.

Where the fuck did Baby get off to? That odd feeling is back, like I’m being watched while being the watcher – I don’t like it.

“This doesn’t concern you, big boy. This is between me and the bitch. Shoo.” He flicked his hand at me, dismissing me.

“That’s funny, because last time I checked your mama wasn’t here.”

I could actually feel my mother gearing up to whoop my ass. I’d have to really apologize later.

“No, but yours is. Maybe she wants some of this after the little colored girl here.”

Chip gripped Jamie’s wrist and yanked her to him again.

I snarled and got right in his face, pulling her behind me.

“You fucking touch my woman or even disrespect her again and I swear on all that is holy, you will not walk out of here.”

“I bet she likes it real rough.”

It was a pre-planned miracle that Matt and Charlie were there or Chip would have been dead.

By the time I’ve remembered to breathe, Charlie and Matt are pulling me off of the guy; they should have been watching Tay, too. She was kicking him in the head, neck and groin over and over.

“No means no!” She shouted.

“I think you got him, Taylor.” Jessica shouted over the music.

“I don’t know. I think he could take one more.” I suggested, still struggling to get free of Matt and Charlie.

“Me, too!” Taylor agreed, kicking him in the tailbone with her stiletto witch point boots. “That one’s for my mama.”

“Who the hell is he?” Matt asked as Charlie turns him over, looking for his wallet.

“He’s a Devil. I’ll go get dad.” Jessica left for the back room and I pulled Jamie up into my arms.

“You have blood on your hands.” She said, voice shaky.

“More than you’ll ever know, sugar.” I sighed into her hair, closing my eyes and savoring the feel of her body safely plastered against mine. It wasn’t like I had never held a woman before, but she was the first who ever felt like she fit there beyond measure.

Jamie wrapped her head under my chin and squeezed me tight. Her heartbeat is still frantic and I want to have another round with that sack of shit.

Baby popped up behind Taylor, guilty written all over her face when she winked at me.

Great.

Charlie cuffed him and Doc came back with Rusty and his VP.

We had gathered quite the crowd now and Doc was instructing her security team to get everyone a free drink and get them some space.

“Fucking moron.” Rusty muttered, looking down at him.

“Looks like your guy thought his cut earned him some respect and free pussy- willing or not.”

My mother practically punched me in the back of the head with her purse.

“Sorry, ma.”

“You better be. I cannot believe your language.”

It wasn’t my language that upset her. It was my mother joke and the use of the word pussy, so freely while in the company of ladies. To real classy women of the south, all women were ladies regardless of how they carried themselves or where they came from, and they were all to be treated with respect. Always. No excuses. Foul language was only allowed in the bedroom; lady in the streets, freak in the sheets and all that.

I saw her lips fight a smile when she took in the whole scene.

“You get that girl home and clean her up.”

“And feed her for goodness sakes!” Aunt Vic added.

“Yes ma’am.”

Taylor gripped my forearm to stop me. When I turned around, she sucker punched me in the jaw, busting my lip. I couldn’t help but laugh; regardless of her reasoning, which I could probably guess, I deserved it from any number of people lately so I couldn’t be pissed. Clearly she was still feeling some adrenaline after her first attack.

“We’ll talk later, Annie.”

She stood on tip toes and I leaned down so she could kiss my cheek before hugging Jamie.

“Sometimes you gotta get them in line, okay? Don’t be afraid to tell him no or smack him around, James. He will never raise a hand to you, I swear it. No Kane or Jameson man ever will.”

Jamie just nodded and hugged Taylor again before we walked away from the scene.

Matt led us out while I held her in my arms, cocooning her.

“Forget Happy. I’m gonna start calling you Jelly.” He laughed.

“Please don’t make me slit your throat. Jamie and Taylor seem to like you and I would hate to upset them.”

“They do like me, don’t they?” His grin was taunting and I wanted to wipe it off his smug, pretty boy face. “I know that’s why you don’t. You’re afraid they like me better than you.”

“I’m still pumped from back there, do you want to push me?”

I grabbed the handle of my truck and yanked opened the passenger door.

“You wanna know why I’m not jealous of you, Captain America?”

His head tilted to the side, asking me “Why?” without saying the words.

“Because jealousy is what you have when you want something. I’ve already got her so I’m territorial. Don’t confuse the two, it’ll just make you look even dumber than those bleach blonde J.T. locks do.”

Matt chortled and bid us a goodnight.

I set Jamie up in my lifted truck, doing the seatbelt and everything.

When I climbed into the driver’s seat, Jamie looked over at me from underneath her eyelashes and blushed.

“What’re you thinkin’?”

“You’re territorial?”

“Absolutely. I don’t like to share and I really don’t like it when other’s touch my things.”

“So you’re mine and I’m yours?” I could tell it just spilled out – she hadn’t meant to ask, even if she really wanted the answer.

I just nodded. If she didn’t know that she owned me, I was doing something wrong.

Shit, I probably was doing everything wrong.

A brilliant smile graced her face, lighting up the cab of my pickup.

“My turn for a question?”

She shook her head ‘no’ knowing what I was going to ask.

I turned the engine over and drove to the house in silence, holding on to her hand like it was a lifeline.

In a lot of ways, it was; she was my link to humanity and innocence and the good.

Jamie was my lifesaver in a turbulent, never-ending ocean.

Hitting the codes in both security gates, I waved to dad who was reading Louisa a story in the rocking chair while she lay limp in his arms, drooling. Jamie was laying with her head in my lap, eyes closed. Halfway through the drive she had begun to fall asleep so I tugged her over and laid her head down.

“That man is in heaven right now. Four boys and all he wanted was one girl.” I clicked my tongue and shook my head. “My little Lou Lou is going to be so spoiled, Baby ain’t gonna know what to do with herself.”

Jamie smiled, distant.

“You ever thought about having kids, Jamie?”

I pulled into the driveway, shutting off the car but staying put.

“Oh, I could never have kids, Noah. My body just is not made for child bearing. Look at me.”

“I am, sugar. I always am.” She had no idea. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of her. It’s a wonder I’m not always touching her, too. But then again, I was.

“You can’t carry my babies now, but that ain’t nothing some good home cookin’ can’t fix. Don’t worry, we’ll get you in good shape first. I was a big ole’ baby. Can’t have you tryin’ that as little as you are now.” I winked and she sat up, eyes as big as the moon.

“How many kids do you want?” She asked, conversationally. Maybe it was more to be polite but she definitely wanted to know.

Jamie wants to know everything without having to ask while appearing nonchalant and indifferent.

“To be honest, I’ve never thought about it. I suppose I’d be blessed to have just one. I’d take what I could get. You?”

“I’ve never thought about it too much, but I do know this. If I ever brought a child into this world, I would show them what real love is and make sure they knew every single day how a parent should treat their child.”

I hopped out and walked over to her door. Wasting no time, I opened it for her and pulled her back into my arms cradling her to my chest.

“Let’s get you cleaned up.”

Jamie wrapped her arms around my neck and said, “You too.”

My blood stained hands didn’t deserve to hold something so perfect. Jamie was light where I was dark, soft where I was hard, and so on and so forth. She deserved to find a good man who would provide for her, love her and protect her.

Shit, I could do all of that for her.

But another man wouldn’t have all the death on his conscience that I do.

Or he could have more.

It was a constant battle letting myself be with Jamie.

I needed her but couldn’t let myself have her.

My brain was constantly playing Pong.

“Can I try something?” Jamie asked, pulling me out of my reverie.

She was sitting on the counter of my double sinks in the bathroom with me an arm’s length away.

“Hold that thought.” I held up my finger.

Being so fucked up in myself, I had absently strolled into my house and went straight upstairs without paying attention to anything.

I tried to think back to a minute ago – was the door locked, did it look like anyone had been inside, was the alarm set and was Diesel here? Forget it. I picked up my phone, called Luke and he assured me all was well; Diesel was with him and I could relax.

“Forgive me. You were saying?”

“Can I try something?” She nibbled her lip and balled her hands in her lap tightly.

I stepped into her legs, and grabbed her hands, towering her frame.

“Kiss me first and then you can try whatever you want.”

Jamie touched my cheek before closing her eyes and kissing me lightly on the lips.

I was hungry for her.

Insatiably.

My hands gripped her hips and pulled her into me. A gasp fell from her lips when my erection pushed into her center.

“Would you start the shower, please?”

“Yes ma’am.” I kissed her again and then slid away to do as she asked.

When I looked back, Jamie was standing and starting to strip.