by Sadie Carter
“Thank you for being so patient with me. I know it hasn’t been easy for you.”
“I always want to do what’s best for you, Cassie, always.” She hugged him, aware of how lucky she was to have found such a wonderful man.
* * * * *
He was impossible.
For the last two nights, he’d sat in Fat Eddy’s and scowled menacingly at every male customer who’d come in. Didn’t matter how old, young, fat, smart, or dumb, he seemed to take exception to every one of them.
She was getting the worst tips ever.
She’d attempted to get him to stay at home, but he’d refused, insisting on coming with her. Each night she hoped he’d get better. That he’d see she wasn’t in any danger. But if anything, he was getting worse.
“Stop growling.” Her hands found their way to her hips as she glowered at him. He was sitting at his usual table, his back to the wall, facing the door so he could see everyone who entered.
“What?” he snapped back. His previously rare displays of temper had become more common of late. She knew he was feeling the strain of being away from the pack, but each time she tried to broach the subject he brushed her aside.
Yep, he was impossible.
“You’re scaring all my customers. I’ve made a measly seventeen bucks in tips tonight. If you can’t be nice, stay at home.”
“They’re flirting with you, and you’re encouraging it.” Anger had brightened his eyes, so they seemed to shimmer, even in the dim light of the bar.
“That’s the way it works, Jay. If I want tips, I give my customers what they want. If they want to flirt, I flirt.”
“You give them what they want?” His voice was ominously soft as he frowned up at her.
Cassie sighed. “I didn’t mean it like that, you fool. You’re being absolutely ridiculous. Women the world over go to work without a guard dog. I don’t need your protection, Jay.”
“Too bad,” he rumbled, his tone telling her that he didn’t care what she thought. “You’ve got it, and I’m staying where I am. Stop the flirting, or I’ll stop it for you.” His gaze roamed the room once more, dismissing her.
Holding back the impulse to stomp her foot and screech like a banshee, she turned away.
Stubborn, arrogant ass.
Gripping the dirty plates tightly in her hands, tempted to smash them over his stubborn head, she walked into the kitchen. She knew male werewolves were protective of their mates, but this was over the top. The gloves had come off. She’d given her commitment to a relationship with him, and he’d dropped all pretense of normality and had become a possessive, overprotective lunatic.
“You have got to do something about your damn guard dog out there.” Ella slammed her way into the kitchen and dropped the pile of plates she held onto the bench. The bottom one smashed, which sent her off cursing loudly. “Bad enough that he growls at any male customers you have. But now he’s scaring away mine as well! Even my tits aren’t getting tips, and we both know the girls never strike out.”
Cassie had to smile at that, even though Ella wasn’t joking.
“I’m serious, Cass. At this rate, I’m not going to be able to buy any groceries, let alone this cute pair of heels I saw online.” Ella was addicted to online shopping.
A pang of guilt hit Cassie. Ella was right. Jay was acting like a pit bull guarding his bone. It had to stop.
“I know, I’m sorry, but he insists on coming with me to work each day. I’ve tried talking, pleading, yelling—he ignores me. Maybe I should go back to Landon with him now instead of working out my notice.”
Ella suddenly grabbed her by the shoulders, spinning her around before shaking her hard.
“If you want to work out your notice, work out your notice. Although believe me, you don’t owe that sleaze Jimmy anything. Stand up to Jay.”
“Do you know how hard it is to argue with a brick wall?” Irritated, Cassie shrugged off Ella’s hands.
“Then do what I do. Use sex to get your way.”
A snort of laughter escaped her. “Yeah, I don’t think I can do that.” I don’t have the gumption, do I?
“You’ve gotta do something, Cass. We’re dying out there. I know you’ve got a brain, get creative.”
Cassie spent the rest of her shift thinking. As the last patrons were leaving at closing time, she grabbed Ella, drawing her aside.
“You know, I do have an idea. I’m going to need some help, though.” She quietly outlined her plan to Ella. When she was finished, Ella let out a small whoop.
“And here I thought you were such a nice girl.”
Chapter Nine
“Well?” Ella asked two days later. She placed her hands on her hips. “Are you going to do it?”
“I don’t think I should. He’s just being protective.”
“And meanwhile, my tips are worse than ever!” Ella raised her hands in the air. “He’s being impossible.”
He really was. He was scaring everyone away. And it wasn’t fair on Ella. That thought steeled her determination.
She nodded. “Right. I’m going to do it now.”
“That’s my girl. I’ll tell everyone to steer clear of the storeroom.”
Her nerves were wound so tight she felt a little lightheaded and ill. She could do this, though. She had to do this. It was time to show Jay that she wasn’t a pushover. If she let him continue bossing her around, then she’d never break him of the habit.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want his protection, she did. But he was overwhelming her with his hovering.
Guilt gnawed at her. She’d heard so many women complain about how little attention they received from their husbands and boyfriends. Their men went to work, they came home, ate, drank, watched TV, went to bed, and that was it. She didn’t want that, to be ignored. But she needed to have her views heard and taken seriously. To do that, though, she had to first get his attention.
Boy, was she going to get his attention.
Ella undid a few of the buttons on Cassie’s shirt. “Go get’em, tiger.”
Go get him. Right. Go get Jay, lure him into the storeroom then lock him in.
This was the stupidest idea ever.
Cassie walked into the main bar to see two drivers who’d been sitting in her section race out the door. One of them looked over their shoulder at Jay, their face filled with fear.
Shit.
They hadn’t even ordered yet.
Cassie growled under her breath. This had to stop.
She knew it was tough on him, being here when the pack needed him at home. They hadn’t figured out who had bombed the shop yet, but Jay said Cooper was waiting for Dusty to come home to organize a gathering with the local packs. Hopefully, the werewolf who bombed the shop belonged to one of the packs nearby and Dusty would be able to pinpoint who he or she was at the gathering.
She’d tried to convince Jay to go back to the estate. That she would follow. But he refused every time, and each day he got grouchier and more overprotective. She knew he liked to be in control. As an enforcer, he was used to taking care of others, taking charge. It was instinct, second nature. But Ella was right, if she let him get away with this behavior now, it would send him the wrong message. He would think that he could act this way all the time. No way was she going to have that.
“Jay,” she whispered huskily, leaning over him, so he got a good look at her breasts.
His eyes widened, and she heard him gasp softly. His mouth dropped open slightly as he stared at her.
“Umm,” he murmured. Hunger was clearly etched on his face, and she felt her body stir in reply. Suddenly, he stiffened, looking around. Then he reached up and grasped hold of her shirt, pulling the two sides together.
“What are you doing?” he asked. “Button up.”
“Come with me.” She freed herself and beckoned with one finger. God, she felt like an idiot. What did she know of seduction?
But he rose and walked towards her. She took hold of his hand, leading
him to the storeroom out back. Ella said she would warn the others to steer clear. Cassie didn’t know what she planned to tell them.
She didn’t want to know.
He followed her into the room, his gaze hungry. She shut the door behind them. “What are you doing?”
“Seducing you.”
His eyebrows rose. “That so?” A smile twitched around his lips.
“It is so.” She moved her hands to undo his belt.
Surprisingly, he let her strip him without another word, his gaze, piercing in its intensity, locked on her face.
“Sit back.”
When he sat on the crate, she almost sighed in relief. Instead, she covered her reaction with a long, searching kiss that left them both panting like racehorses after a heat.
He was going to be furious with her, she knew. But he’d get over it, and hopefully, he’d realize his behavior was out of order. She might be fragile in comparison to him, but she wasn’t weak, and she wouldn’t be smothered. It was a fine balance, she realized. She loved having his attention, loved knowing that he cared so much about her. She loved him. Even if he had been driving her nuts lately.
Believing it was unfair to leave him hungering, Cassie began kissing her way down his smooth chest. She licked her way down his stomach.
He let out a loud moan as she licked up his shaft before twirling her tongue around the thick head.
Drawing back, she clasped his cock between her hands, running them up and down, loving the feel of him—warm, heavy, satisfyingly aroused. Then, clasping the base of his erection, she took as much of him as she could into her mouth until his tip touched the back of her throat. Swallowing, her own need grew with his appreciative moan.
“Cassie. Come here. Ride me.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
Sighing in irritation, she shook her head yet again. “Have you forgotten who is in charge here, mister?”
“My sweet little dictator, you can make all the moves.”
“Really?” she asked in disbelief.
“Really, but I know you want to strip naked and ride me. Did you lock the door?”
“Nobody will come in here.”
He reached for her.
“Stay still,” she ordered. She took him deep once more. Fast then slow. She licked him then sucked him in deep. Her movements grew faster and faster until he gave a shout of satisfaction. She swallowed him down quickly then stood to kiss him.
“Wait here. I have to get something.”
“What?” he asked, looking surprised. “Cassie—”
She raced out of the room then slammed the door shut, quickly locking it.
“Cassie? Cassie!” he roared. The door rattled and she flinched.
Shit. Would they be able to hear him from inside the bar? Hopefully, the music would be too loud.
“I’ll be back later. I just…I need to work without you glaring at everyone.”
“Cassie, let me out now.” His voice was filled with a dark warning.
She reached for the key that was still in the door.
“Cassie, I need your help.” Ella appeared down the other end of the passage.
“This is crazy, I’m going to let him out.”
“No, you’re not.” Ella moved quickly forward and grabbed her hand. “Now, come on. He’s fine, and things are getting busy out there. I might actually make some decent tips tonight.”
Cassie let herself be led away, but a voice inside her screamed that she was making a mistake.
* * * * *
“Jeez, Cass, will you chill out? Break one more plate, and you’ll be owing this place money rather than making any. Bad enough that pit bull of yours has all our regulars wetting their pants, now you’re so nervous they’re wondering when the tornado’s going to hit.”
Cassie attempted a smile, but her nerves were too jumpy for anything more than a meager offering.
“Sorry.” She blew out a breath. “I feel bad, you know? I mean, I only have another few days of work, I should have—”
“Cassie!” Ella took her by the shoulders and shook her. “Stop worrying. He’s perfectly safe. You’ll let him out when your shift ends. Sure, he’s probably going to be a bit pissed off and embarrassed, but he’ll get over it. I mean, what’s he going to do when you both go back to Landon? He can’t go to work with you then, can he? He’s turned into a lunatic. Now he’ll get the message that we don’t need him here, scaring all our customers.”
“Oh, he’s gotten the message all right.” The dark, lethally quiet voice came from the kitchen doorway. Letting out impressively theatrical gasps, both women turned to find Jay standing in the doorway.
“Oh fuck,” Cassie swore, feeling her heart sink as she gazed into Jay’s livid eyes. His face remained expressionless, aloof, but his eyes betrayed his fury.
She gulped. “You’re really mad, aren’t you?” she whispered back, feeling herself pale.
With her brain screaming at her to run away from the big, mad wolf standing before her, it took all of her strength to stand her ground and face him.
“I’ll be waiting in my usual place,” Jay told them before he turned and left the kitchen.
Both women let out sighs of relief that would have been funny in any other circumstances. As it was, Cassie had to lean against the kitchen counter to stay upright. She felt weak with shock.
“Shit. You want to sneak out the back? You can hide out at my place,” Ella offered.
Cassie shook her head. “Thanks, but he’d find me.”
“How the hell did he get out?”
Cassie groaned, exhausted. “I don’t know.”
“Well, come on, we better get to work or else you’ll be fired before you can even work out your notice.”
Confidence fully restored, Ella smoothed down her skintight t-shirt before striding out into the bar. Moving at a much slower, far less confident pace, Cassie followed her and soon learned exactly how Jay had escaped.
He’d been set free by his stern, disapproving older brother.
“Who’s the hunk?” Ella whispered.
“Jay’s older brother, Reed.”
“What’s he doing here?”
“I don’t know.” Why would Reed be here when the pack is already down three enforcers? She had a bad feeling about this.
“Hmm, I tell you what. I’ll do you a favor and take their table for you.” Without a backward glance, Ella strode toward the table where Jay and Reed sat.
Cassie couldn’t help but watch. Much as she’d like to turn away, she couldn’t.
She looked on as Ella rocked up, all sexy allure and confidence.
She stared as Ella leaned right over into Reed’s face, giving him a good view of her breasts.
She gaped as Ella rocked back on her heels, standing straight and stiff.
Then she turned quickly to wipe at the table beside her, as Ella turned on her heel and stormed her way across the room.
“Forget it, you take care of them.”
“Oh, yay,” Cassie muttered, procrastinating. She continued to wipe the table even though it was as clean as it was going to get. When she noticed Jay walking toward the restroom, she breathed a sigh of relief. As soon as he was out of sight, she stalked over to where Reed was sitting.
“What can I get you, Reed?” she asked.
“My brother back home where he belongs, without you,” he replied harshly. “You don’t belong with him.”
Air left her lungs in a huge whoosh at his cold, disdainful tone.
“I-I’ll see what I c-can do,” she stuttered before turning tail and practically running out the front door of the bar. Leaning against the wall, she concentrated on breathing. She held a trembling hand over her eyes.
“Fuck. Fuckity-fuck-shit.” Why had she just run off like that? Why hadn’t she told Reed to get lost?
Because he’d looked at her with such disdain, such revulsion.
“What’s wrong, Cassie?”
She dropped her
hand, startled to find Jay standing before her. “Don’t sneak up on me,” she snapped. Taking a step forward, she attempted to move around him.
But Jay merely shifted, so he was standing in her way. She moved to the other side, attempting to dodge her way around his irritatingly quick, wide body.
“Let me past, Jay.”
“We need to talk.”
“I have to finish my shift,” she replied.
“Don’t try to shut me out, Cassie. We’ll talk now. Ella can handle it all for a bit.”
“Jay—”
“You’ve got a lot of explaining to do. I can’t believe you locked me in that storeroom. What did you think you were doing, Cassie? What possessed you? Was this Ella’s idea?”
“No, this was not Ella’s idea.” She glared at him. “I can think for myself. This was all my idea, and it’s all your fault.”
“My fault?” He put a hand to his chest. “Really? My fault?. You owe Jimmy a new window, by the way.”
Oh. She’d forgotten about the window in the storeroom. It was so small she hadn’t thought anything of it. Idiot.
“I thought Reed must have let you out.”
“He called me just after I freed myself. You also forgot to take my cell. Why, Cassie?”
Her anger deflated at the hurt she heard in his voice.
“I had to have some room to breathe. It’s just—”
“You think I smother you. You don’t want my protection, my attention?” He started to turn away, but she grabbed his arm, stalling him. Hugging him from behind, she whispered against his back, knowing he could easily hear her.
“No, it’s not that.” She bit her lower lip.
“Tell me then, Cassie. What is this about?”
“I love the attention you give me. That you protect me. Nobody has ever loved me or noticed me the way you do.”
“Then why?”
“I guess it’s like being freezing cold and then stifling hot. Going from one extreme to the other is hard for me to deal with. I didn’t quite expect it. I mean, I’ve seen Cooper with Laney, I’ve seen how attentive he is, but I didn’t think you’d act that way toward me. Look, we’ve been together for such a short time. It’s going to take us a while to get used to each other, to iron out all the kinks. We need to get some better communication happening. I tried to talk to you, but you blew me off.” She tried not to make it into an accusation.
