There are a few gasps from some of the other girls in the shop and I feel all the blood in my body go ice cold. He’s staring at me in a way that leaves no room for debate, and as much as I want to continue with the ‘I’m an independent woman who can make her own decisions, thank you very much’ speech, I can’t. I’m too damn turned on, which partly angers me and more so makes me even somehow wetter. Jake is scary, there’s no doubt about it, but there’s something about knowing that that scary is on your side, has your best interests in mind, even when he calls you out in front of everyone.
“Yes…Daddy,” I say for all to hear, no idea how that flowed from my lips so easily, even though I’m in shock that I said it.
“And when I get back there your pants better be around your ankles, your hands pressed firmly against the wall and your feet braced. You jeopardize what belongs to Daddy and you get punished. And talking back to Daddy and making him wait just doubled it.”
“Who said I—“ I start, but immediately get cut off.
“You did. Last night you said you wanted to open the box and see what was inside. Well here’s a first hand look. Now do as you're told before you make Daddy mad.”
I swallow hard, wondering why I’m not completely humiliated by all of this. As I turn to move toward the storage room I know exactly why. All the other women and girls in the coffee shop are staring at me…with jealousy in their eyes. How can I feel bad about wanting what every woman in here with a pulse wants, just as badly as I do?
I can’t. And I don’t.
“What kind of weird shit are you into?” I hear one of the other bodybuilders say over his shoulder as I grab ahold of the spatula. Jake spins and delivers a kick right to his gut, flooring him immediately and sending the other two guys running out the front door.
I move past Cruella and I can’t resist getting revenge. “Trust me on this one,” I say, repeating her words from yesterday back to her with a smirk on my face, as I pat her on the shoulder. “Leave guys like him to little girls with a bit less experience, like me,” I change a few words to personalize it and make it sting. “Your time will come, sweetie.”
Just as I go to shut the door Jake’s eyes lock in on me, making sure I’m following orders, his orders.
Daddy’s orders.
I move to the wall and sit the spatula down on a storage rack, just as he instructed. Placing my hands on the wall I can feel my nipples pebble so hard through my shirt they could cut clean through the tiny glass window next to me. Thankfully it’s not big enough for anyone to see inside. As a matter of fact, without the lights on and with the door shut it feels more like a dungeon in here.
And I can’t wait to get my punishment.
8
Jake
Keeping the one asshole in a hand lock I move toward the other, grabbing him by the back of his sweatshirt that’s covering his tank top and drag him facing forward toward the exit where I dispose of both of them on the sidewalk.
I was half tempted to take them out back and stuff them in the dumpster, but it’s better to put their heads on display out here for the whole world to see. I want everyone to know the consequences of what happens when you lay a finger on what’s mine.
“These men have no honor,” I call out like a Medieval knight. People walking along minding their own business look at me like I’m crazy, raising eyebrows, as they slowly make their way to the other side of the sidewalk.
But they do look at the two losers and see the condition they’re in, and more importantly, they look at me, the crazy guy. Good. I am crazy. Crazy for my woman, and I want all these passersby to remember my face as the guy who’s not afraid to do anything to protect his little girl.
“They tried to harass a woman and one that was already claimed. So all you ladies out there passing by, get a good look at this pond scum. That way if they try approaching you at the gym or a club, you already know they’re not worth your time.”
A few of the women stop and their heads bounce from shoulder to shoulder as they ponder my crazy impromptu speech. “Thanks!” one says, offering me a high five. “I’m tired of dating jerks.”
“Don’t thank me. It’s what real men do, men who care about the safety of their women. Men who want to live in a real community of like-minded, good people.”
“You’re not going to high five me?” the girl asks, completely dismayed.
“Just like I don’t let other men touch what’s mine I won’t ever lay a hand on another woman, even in that way.”
“Wow, you are a possessive one, aren’t you?” she asks.
“I wish more guys were like that,” her friend whispers.
“He’s a keeper,” they both say at the same time and then high five each other and take off down the street.
Now I’m the one who needs to take off back inside the coffee shop because I’m taking time away from what I’ve been waiting for for weeks.
I run my hand across the back of my neck, squeezing tightly as I shake my head and push my way through the front door.
I’m not only pissed at these jerks, but I’m disappointed in Jewel. More accurately it’s not her I’m unsatisfied with, but the position she’s in on a daily basis. Granted, my actions will help, and people in town will see me as crazier than they already do now, but if I’m going to continue to work as a jeweler I can’t be here twenty-four seven to watch over her. And that means I don’t want her working here anymore, letting the boys around here thinking they have a shot at what belongs to a man, this man.