Jake: The Hottest Guys You'll Love to Love (Best of the Bad Boys Book 1)

by Jessie Cooke

  “Knock that shit off, man. You’re such a fucking girl.” I left the house with the sounds of my brother’s laughter in my ears. That’s the stuff that gets you through the day.

  When I got to the truck I text Cassie:

  “Hey! What are you doing tomorrow night?”

  “I was going to Lizzie out. She’s kind of having a hard time.”

  “Can you cancel? I know its short notice, but my brother’s fiancé is out of the picture so her seat for dinner is open tomorrow night.”

  “Oh! I’d love to go with you, but Lizzie really needs me.”

  “I’m making my boo-boo face.” I took a picture and sent it to her. A few minutes later she text,

  “Lol, that was sad. Let me talk to her. Can I get back to you?”

  “Yep, but make sure it’s with a yes.”

  I got a smiley face and, “I’ll try.”

  I sent back, “Try hard.”

  When I got to the gym almost everyone else was on their way out. “Hey, there he is.” I wasn’t in the mood for Brock this morning.

  “Brock. Is Lance in there?”

  “Yeah, that fool worked out for hours yesterday and he’s back at it again today. I don’t know what’s going on with him.”

  “Okay, thanks.” I turned to head inside and Brock said,

  “Did Cassie tell you I apologized to her?”

  I turned back around. “No, I haven’t had a chance to talk to her.”

  “Oh, well I did. I’m sorry about hitting on your girl. It was supposed to be funny.”

  “I guess I haven’t given you any reason in the past to think I gave a shit about anyone’s feelings but my own. I like this girl, Brock. She…” I suddenly heard my own words to my brother in my ears about bullies. Shit! “I was going to say that she deserves better, but the truth is that they all do. We go around acting like we have a right to treat them like shit…I think I need to take a look at myself and why I do that. But anyways, thanks for apologizing to her. I appreciate that.” Brock was looking at me like I’d lost my mind. All of a sudden I’m a fucking philosopher. I left it there and walked away before they had me committed. I found Lance in the gym alone. His enormous torso was covered in sweat and he had veins popping out all over his body as he curled two sixties. The man is an animal. He saw me in the mirror and dropped the weights and sat up.

  “Hey, you’re hittin’ it kind of hard there.”

  He stood up, picked up his towel and wiped the sweat off his face. “Working off some steam,” he said.

  “I talked to E today, finally.”

  “That’s good.”

  “Lance, I don’t give a shit if you’re gay…” One massive arm came out. I wasn’t expecting it. He clothes-lined me down to my back on the mat and he was suddenly in my face with that big ass arm across my upper chest. I’m pretty sure I could take him, but I wasn’t here to fight. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

  “Do not call me gay,” he said, through gritted teeth.

  “Okay, fine. Let me the fuck up before I think you seriously want to do this.” I felt his arm relax and he jumped up to his feet. He reached a hand out to help me up, but I was pissed. I brushed him away and got up on my own and then I got in his face. “Don’t ever fuck with me again like that unless you want me to finish it.” He didn’t budge and he didn’t flinch. His eyes were almost vacant. It was kind of creepy. “Lance…talk to me, man.”

  “I’m not gay.”

  “Okay, fine.”

  “I’m not!”

  “Man I don’t care. I came here to tell you that. I was freaked out after…”

  “Don’t say it! I was drunk. I didn’t know what I was doing.”

  “Man, I really don’t care. But don’t lie, and don’t say you were drunk because then that makes my brother look like he took advantage of you.”

  “That’s what happened.”

  “You mother fucker you do want a beat down don’t you?”

  “It’s true. I was passed out. I didn’t know what he was doing to me….” I punched him in the face. This time he was the one not expecting it and I was pissed. I let my right hook go and knocked him about two feet back. He landed hard on his back and I saw his head snap up and fall back down. I thought he was out cold for a second until all of a sudden he turned over on his side and I saw his body shaking and he was making pathetic little sobbing sounds. Shit!

  “Lance?” I pushed against him with my foot. I know that’s not the compassionate way to do it, but I was still a little bit pissed. “Man, you need to talk to me.”

  He laid there for a long time. I was wondering who I could call to help me load his big ass into the truck when he finally sat up. He pulled his knees into his chest and said, “Why the fuck couldn’t I just be normal?” What the hell was I supposed to say to that?

  “Lance, your sexual preference doesn’t make you who you are.”

  “Tell that to my father.” Jesus, if I ever have kids I hope to hell I don’t screw them up. It seems to be an epidemic.

  “I have one of those fathers too. My chest hurts just thinking about E having to tell him.”

  He looked up at me and with his green eyes all red and watery he looked like a little kid instead of a mountain of a man. “I can’t tell my father, Jacob. You don’t understand. My family is Mormon. My dad is a Bishop of his church. I’ve already pushed all the limits with the tattoos and the womanizing and the fighting…If this got out…and you know because of what we do that it would, he would probably be run out of the church. None of my family would forgive me. I tried, Jacob,” he sobbed a big, deep sob and his whole body shook as he said, “I tried to be normal.”

  “Come on.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “I don’t know. But we need to get you out of here. Let’s go get something to eat or see a movie or play some blackjack…anything. It’s getting hot outside. Let’s go take a swim at the house. I’ll call Cassie and we’ll barbecue or something.” He wiped snot on his arm. I was trying to be compassionate, but I had my limits. “Dude, there’s a towel right next to you. You’re disgusting.”

  “Sorry. Does she know?”

  “No. I haven’t told anyone Lance and I don’t plan to. Now go get your big ass in the shower. Tomorrow you better be ready to work out with me hard man. I haven’t got to work out in two days because of you.”

  “At least you’ll have an excuse when you get your ass kicked Saturday night.”

  “Fuck you. Go shower before I change my mind and leave you here.”

  I text Cassie while I was waiting for him,

  “Hey! What are you doing? By the way, now that I have your number, you’re screwed.”

  She text me back,

  “I’m shopping with Lizzie. I haven’t asked her about tomorrow yet. I’m not sure how to do it. I feel so bad.”

  I rolled my eyes, girls and their friends. I’d blow Lance or Brock off in a second for a chick and they wouldn’t think anything of it.

  “Maybe you can offer her an alternative plan.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “I’m going to barbecue this afternoon. No big party or anything. Simple BBQ and swim. Bring her over. She’ll get out and get her mind off whatever’s going on and then you can go with me tomorrow night. Problem solved.”

  “Lol, I’ll ask her.”

  “She’ll say yes.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Who would turn down an afternoon with Jacob ‘The Lion’ Wright?” Her emoticon was rolling its eyes. I got a text a few minutes later as Lance was on his way out of the locker room. It said,

  “Lizzie said yay about the BBQ. Apparently, she’s heard of you. What time?”

  “Everyone has. An hour?”

  “Okay, see you then.”

  “Can’t wait.”

  Lance looked a little better. At least he didn’t have snot on his arm. “You ready?”

  He nodded. It’s a start I guess.

  17


  Cassie

  We had just started our shopping when Jacob called, so Lizzie changed her focus to a swimsuit. “I’m going to buy a new bikini and wear it while I can still pull it off,” she said. “Who else is coming?”

  “He didn’t mention anyone else. I think it will just be us.”

  “Good. For a second I started panicking about Lance showing up.”

  “You’re going to have to see him Saturday night. How are you going to handle that?”

  “It’ll be different at the fight. I won’t even have to make eye-contact with him.”

  She was going to have to sooner or later, and then there was the fact that she was going to get very pregnant one of these days. Would he wonder if it’s his?

  Lizzie ended up buying a dark pink bikini with a barely here strapless top and a pink and yellow flowered sarong that tied around her waist. She tried to talk me into buying something too, but I really didn’t need to spend eighty dollars of my hard-earned money on a piece of string when I have five of them already at home. Jacob had never seen any of them, so it will be the same as wearing a new one anyways.

  We went back to my house and got ready and I left Dad a note. When Lizzie wasn’t looking I added at the bottom, “I might stay at Lizzie’s tonight, so don’t worry.” A girl can hope. I wore my blue bikini. Lizzie was pushing for the red one, but the bottoms were like a thong and as ridiculous as it sounded since we’d already had sex twice…I wasn’t ready to walk around in front of Jacob in that. I wore a blue lace cover-up and braided my hair just in case I got in the pool. It was too soon for the wild look.

  Lizzie’s mood had significantly improved. She talked excitedly all the way over about finally getting inside of the den. “You know, his housekeeper used to work at the center. She told us some wild stories.”

  “I don’t want to hear them.”

  She laughed. “Baby girl if you’re going to be with a guy like Jacob in a town like Vegas, you’re going to hear the stories.”

  “Probably, but I don’t want to hear them right now. Right now I just want to enjoy this and see where it goes…no complications.”

  “Okay honey.”

  “You said she used to work at the center?”

  “Who?”

  “His housekeeper. She’s not there any longer?”

  “No. She sold one of her stories to the tabloids. Jacob was livid. He fired her on the spot and Aaron, he’s the guy who manages the fighters, he fired her too.”

  “Oh, poor guy!”

  She giggled. “The story was about…”

  “I don’t want to hear it. I was just thinking about how hard it would be to not be able to trust people not to spread your personal business all over town. I would hate that.”

  “You better get over that,” she said as I pulled into Jacob’s big, circular drive. “If you stay with Jacob, they’ll pull you into it to.” I let that comment roll around in my head as we made our way to the front door. “This house is crazy big for one person,” she said. “Look at that garage! How many cars do you think he has?”

  “I have no idea. I’ve only seen him drive his pick-up.”

  “A guy who only owns a pick-up doesn’t need a five-car garage. Man this is nice.” Lizzie was a little more impressed with money than I ever have been. I think his house is really nice too, but Lizzie was actually salivating over it. I started to knock and he pulled open the door. He looked at me like I was edible and he couldn’t wait to consume me. I should have brought a change of panties.

  “Hi,” he grinned and the dimples clinched it. I was already wet and I hadn’t got anywhere near the pool.

  “Hi.”

  “Hello! I’m here too!” Lizzie was waving. Idiot. Jacob grinned and stepped back.

  “Come on in, ladies.” He closed the door and then led us into the kitchen. I couldn’t take my eyes off the way the white t-shirt set off the vivid colors of the tattoos on his arm. My fingers tingled with want. I wanted to touch him so badly.

  “Nice kitchen!” Lizzie said. Jacob grabbed a big metal pan with steak marinating in it.

  “Thanks. You ladies want something to drink before we go out? I have water, beer and wine and soda…”

  “I’m okay right now,” I said. Once again he let his eyes run over me from head to toe. I wasn’t okay anymore, now I was on fire.

  “A beer sounds good,” I heard Lizzie say. I looked at her with my brows furrowed. “What? Oh! Shit!” she covered her mouth. Jacob was looking at us both like we were crazy. “Um…water will be fine, thanks.”

  He gave me a questioning look but he didn’t ask. He grabbed a green bottle of Perrier out of the fridge and handed it to her and we followed him through the living room and out onto the patio. I watched Lizzie’s face when she saw what it looked like out there. I heard her suck in a breath when she saw the salt water pool with the waterfall.

  “Wow! This is gorgeous! I should be a fighter….”

  Before Jacob or I could say anything a voice came out of nowhere and said, “I’ll spar with you.” I saw the color drain out of Lizzie’s face as Lance came out of the house behind us.

  “Hey Lance,” I said, trying to cover for her until she could regain her composure. “I didn’t know you would be here.” He was wearing a pair of black board shorts and he had on a tank top. His tatted-up arms were bigger than both of my thighs put together. He had a fresh bruise on his jaw. It looked like it was just starting to turn purple.

  “Hi Cassie. How are you?” Lizzie still had her back to him. She was frozen to her spot. I wanted to poke her or something. She didn’t look pregnant at all. If she would just act natural…

  “I’m good,” I told him while trying to relay to Lizzie with my eyes that she needed to snap out of it. Lance looked at her and said,

  “Hey Lizzie, I heard you say you needed a sparring partner.”

  The color was back, but now it was concentrated in her cheeks. Her face was bright red. “Um…hi Lance. I think I’ll stick with cage girl for now.”

  He ran his eyes over her and took a swig of his beer. “Damn, I was looking forward to it,” he said. Jacob was at the grill, putting the steaks on. He coughed…or choked? Lance shot him a glare and took another long pull off his beer. “Have you seen the rest of the house, Lizzie? I’d be happy to give you the grand tour.” This time I know that I saw Jacob roll his eyes. He reached up and dropped his sunglasses down over them like he was afraid of what they might look like.

  Lizzie looked at me and I shrugged. “Go ahead, I’ve seen it.” Lance put out one of those crazy big arms and Lizzie took hold of it. Her cheeks were on fire. I watched them go back in the house and when I looked at Jacob, I completely forgot they existed…or anyone else did for that matter. His sunglasses were back up on his head and he was staring at me again with that erotic look in his eyes…like he wanted to take me right then and there. He’s so freaking hot. I can feel my blood heat up when he looks at me like that and my pulse pounds so hard that I can hear it thumping in my head. The deep yearning in my core stirred and this bikini was done for.

  He glanced into the house and then crooked his finger at me. He calls I come…literally. When I got close he wrapped his arm around my back and pulled me up against his chest. He tipped his head down and brought his lips almost to mine. Close enough that I could feel vibrations and heat from his breath. I put my hands against his chest as the soft heat of his lips brush against mine. I shivered and let my hands wrap around his back and pulled my breasts into him. He parted my lips with his tongue and he kissed me with long, languid strokes of his tongue. The fire in my belly was raging and an involuntary moan escaped between us.

  I heard the door slide open and I expected him to stop. He didn’t though and I really didn’t care who was standing there watching us. When he broke the kiss and brought his head up to look at me, he smiled. I melted. Everything inside of me turned into liquid. Another kiss like that and I might vaporize and vanish into thin air. It would be worth it.<
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  “Hi guys!”

  “Hi E,” he said, without taking his eyes off my face.

  My head was still spinning as I reluctantly pushed back and looked at his brother. “Hi Ian.” My voice sounded husky, like I just had sex. Damn…I wish.

  “Hi Cassie. Good to see you again. I’m sorry to interrupt. I just came out to tell you I’m going to go grab something to eat.”

  Jacob looked at him like he was crazy. “I have like half a cow on the grill. Why would you go get dinner?”

  “Oh..Um…I just thought the two of you might like some time alone.”

  Jacob looked at me again and his tongue darted out over his bottom lip. Then he looked back at his brother who looked really embarrassed and said, “We will…later, as soon as we get rid of the rest of the company.” The flutter in my stomach went from butterflies to propellers.

  “Oh, okay. Who else is here?”

  Just then, Lance and Lizzie came out of the house. They were laughing and he had his arm around her. Ian turned his head towards them. Lance froze and the smile fell from his face and Jacob let his sunglasses fall back over his eyes. What the hell was going on?

  18

  Jacob

  This was going to be a long, fucking night. My cock was already aching and throbbing to be alone with Cassie…fuck me if she didn’t look hot in that little lacy thing she was wearing. My brother and Lance are making wide circles around each other. Lance is laying it on thick with Lizzie…I’m not sure what he’s trying to prove since Ian and I both know she’s not what he really wants. Lizzie seemed to be the only one having fun. Even Cassie seemed a little bit subdued. Lizzie and Lance were in the pool and she had wandered over there while I finished the meat but she was just sitting in one of the chairs watching them. She had this pensive look on her face. Ian went inside to “change and make a salad,” he said. I think whatever Ian feels for Lance goes a lot deeper than sex. This was not one of my better ideas.

  “Do you want garlic bread?” E called out to me from the kitchen.