Chapter 9

With tears in my eyes, I grabbed my jacket and purse. In a hurry, I stumbled on the stairs, falling flat on my face. As the pain soared through my hand, a strangled cry fell from my lips. This was his fault; he had caused this and for what?

"Leah, hey, what the hell has happened?" Alanna was helping me to my feet, but I pushed her away. I just wanted to get home and away from here, away from him.

"Hey," Alanna yelled.

"Ask your brother, Alanna." Wiping my eyes, I pushed my way through the crowd in the main club area and tried to find the exit. Pushing the double doors, I sighed when the cold air hit my face.

"You alright, little lady?" The bouncer from before stopped me by standing in front of me. I burst out crying. I couldn't hold it in any longer. "Hey now, did someone hurt you? Are you hurt?" I was cradling my hand to my chest. The pain shooting through it was excruciating.

"I-I just want to go home," I stuttered.

"Stay right there. I'll be back." As he rushed off, I started to look about myself to see if I recognized where I was. Taking a seat on the curb, I kicked off my shoes, sighing with relief when the coldness from the ground hit them.

That felt good.

Just my luck, it started to rain. Could this night get any worse?

"She was hysterical, boss. I didn't know what to do." The bouncer from before was back, but he wasn't alone.

"That's alright, Jimmy. I'll take it from here."

Looks like my night could get worse.

Leaning my head against my knees, I turned it to the side. I felt his presence beside me, but I wasn't interested. I didn't care what he had to say. After what he said to me in there, I didn't want to be around him anymore.

I was silently crying. I had to bite my lip to stop myself from making any noise. I didn't want him to see me cry. I didn't want him to think of me as weak. As I felt his hand on my back, I shrugged him off. I didn't want his help.

"Leah," he sighed.

"Go away," I cried, cursing myself for how I sounded.

"Baby, you're drunk and you're hurt. I'm not going anywhere."

I didn't reply. The rain was getting heavier, and the night was drawing to an end. Everyone was starting to leave the club and make their way home. Still, I sat in the pouring rain with my head against my knees.

"Leah." He sounded frustrated.

"Go away, Jake. I don't need your help." Truth was, I needed someone's help; I just didn't want it to be his.

"It's pouring with rain, and you're soaked to the bone. You'll catch a cold if you sit here any longer. At least wait inside until I can get someone to drive you home." Everyone was gone; it was just me and him left.

Getting to my feet, I kept my hand close to my chest. This didn't go unnoticed by him. "I don't need your help. Now leave me alone." Maybe a little childish, but I didn't care. Shoes forgotten about, I started to walk down the street. I had no clue where I was going; I just wanted to get away from him.

He followed my every movement.

"Just let me drive you home," he snapped.

By this time, I was shivering with how cold I was. My clothes and hair were drenched, and I knew it was time to give up and let him take me home.

"Okay," I whispered.

"I live the other way." I frowned when he turned left instead of right. I was still shivering, and my nose was runny. He had turned the heating on full blast, and for that I was grateful.

"I'm taking you to a doctor."

"What? No, take me home," I demanded. I just wanted to go home, crawl into bed, and forget all about this night.

"No." His voice was stern.

There was no point in arguing. He was the driver, and I clearly had no say. Leaning my head against the window, I listened to the rain as it battered off the car. As the car started to slow down, I lifted my head and looked out the window.

We weren't at the hospital.

"This isn't a hospital, Jake." I was starting to get crabbit. I was tired, sore, and feeling sick to my stomach.

As he got out of the car, I watched as he came to my side. Opening the door, he leaned in as if he was going to lift me into his arms. I pulled back.

"Touch me and I'll bite your nose off," I warned. I didn't care that I was bare-footed. He wasn't touching me.

Sighing, he moved out of my way so I could get out. Closing the door behind me, we made our way up the drive. "You could have just dropped me off at the hospital." But no, he had to be fancy about it. Knocking on the door, we waited for someone to answer, and then the door opened. An older gentleman was standing there.

"Jake." He lowered his head, and I made a face. Was he bowing to him?

"Sorry it's so late, doc, but I need you to take a look at her hand for me." The doctor moved to the side and let us in.

"It's never too late when it's you calling, Alp—Jake."

What was he going to say?

"Appreciate it, doc." As he took a seat on the arm of the couch, I waited for the doctor to return. He looked so smug, I wanted to punch him.

"Just because you're doing this doesn't mean I'm going to talk to you again." He made me angry tonight, but he also hurt me with what he said.

"I know," he sighed.

"And just—wait, did you just agree with me?"

"Babe, look—"

"Don't 'babe' me," I snapped, cutting him off. "Stop calling me that. In fact, just don't talk to me." I regretted it as soon as I said it. But what he did tonight trumped how my body and instincts reacted to him. He was a loose cannon waiting to explode.

"Just let the doctor look at your hand, and then I'll take you home."

My hand was, in fact, broken.

I had spent hours at this man's house getting a cast fitted. He had prescribed me with painkillers, and Jake was kind enough to pick them up for me.

"4 every 4 hours. 2 of each."

Smiling at the doctor, I placed my good hand on his cheek. Can you tell I had already taken some of them? I was out of my face and loving it.

"Time you get her home, Jake." As he lifted me into his arms, I didn't protest. "Thanks, doc. I owe you one."

"Jake," I whispered, trying to poke his nose. "Your face is so beautiful, and your body." Sighing, I smirked at him. "I've never wanted to be with someone so bad." His body stiffened, and I giggled. "You're smoking." As he placed me in the passenger seat, he clipped my seat belt in.

"Jake," I whined.

"Leah, close your eyes and try to sleep." As he started the car, I leaned my head against the window and just stared at him.

"I danced that way tonight because I knew you were watching. I wasn't shaking my body for all those guys. I was dancing for you."

His jaw clenched.

"You do things to my body, Jake. I want to be near you all the time, I want to touch you, I want you to touch me." Reaching my hand over, I grabbed his arm. "I've never felt like this before. I feel attached to you in ways I can't even explain. I'm so confused," I cried. "Why do I feel like this? If Jack wasn't in your kitchen tonight, I would have fucked you on the kitchen floor." Suddenly the car came to a stop. "I want you, Jake Taylor, and I have no idea why."

"Leah, babe, you need to stop talking and just rest. We're nearly home." He was holding onto the steering wheel so tight his knuckles were turning white.

"You make me feel alive," I whispered. "Being close to you is all it takes." I moaned, feeling that sweet little feeling build in the pit of my stomach. "Be with me, Jake, please," I begged.

"Leah," he growled.

Within seconds, I was out cold.