Hyde and Seek Read online

  When I finished drinking, Jake took the cup from me and set it on the window ledge. Pushing my hair to the side, he leaned down. “How drunk are you, sweets?” His mouth touched the skin behind my ear, sending goose bumps across my body.

  “I’m not. A bit tipsy maybe. Why?”

  “You ready to go?”

  I was having a blast and knew the party was not even close to slowing down. Staying would mean playing hooky from classes tomorrow, which I was okay with. As long as I had copious amounts of caffeine, it would probably even be worth the rushing around I’d have to do to stay on schedule with my cakes.

  However, I wasn’t stupid. Jake wasn’t asking because he wanted to get home and get some shut eye. I also seriously doubted he was asking with the intention of taking me home, giving me a chaste kiss on my porch, and then leaving.

  I was willing to bet a dozen of my best cookies that if I said I wasn’t ready to go, Jake would be cool with that. He’d been focused on making sure I was having a good time the whole night. I’d never really had that before.

  But, like I said, I wasn’t stupid.

  I nodded. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

  Jake’s grip tightened on my hips before he released me. He jerked his head towards the door at someone, but I couldn’t see over the crowd.

  Using a hand at my back, we moved through the room, and once again Jake had no trouble maneuvering us around the crowd. We stopped in the entryway and I saw Jet coming our way.

  “Taking off?” he asked when he reached us.

  “Yeah.” Jake pounded his shoulder in a man hug. “Good luck, brother. Stay safe, yeah?”

  Jet laughed as he returned the shoulder thump before stepping back. “Takes the fun out of being a rocker, but I’ll do what I can.”

  “Good luck on tour, not that you’ll need it.” I ended on a yelp when Jet grabbed me, lifting me in a full hug.

  “Holy shit, she smells like cake.”

  “I know. Now put her down,” Jake said.

  “But she’s so little.”

  “I am not!” I huffed.

  “Okay, you’re fun-sized.”

  “That I’ll accept.”

  “Great, we’re in agreement. Now put her down,” Jake ordered, his voice losing some of its amusement.

  “Damn, Jacoby, cool your jets! Get it? Jets? I’m hilarious.”

  “Yeah, Shamus, a laugh fuckin’ riot,” Jake grumbled sarcastically, clearly no longer enjoying the humor.

  I, however, was amused enough for the both of us.

  So, Jet’s real name is Shamus? Hot, and explains the giant Celtic knot. And Jacoby? Double hot.

  “It was cool to meet you, Piper,” Jet said, ignoring Jake.

  I grinned up at him when he set me down. “You, too.”

  “I know, I’m awesome.”

  After our goodbyes, Jake grabbed my hand and turned to leave.

  “Don’t forget about those cookies!” Jet yelled.

  “I’ll drop them off at Hyde’s on Tuesday,” I called over my shoulder.

  *******

  Fifteen minutes later, we pulled up to a nice condo complex and Jake cut the engine. I got off the bike and removed my helmet, handing it to him.

  “Jacoby, where are we?” I asked, unable to resist using his real name. He looked down at me with a brow lift, one side of his mouth quirked up. “What? It’s a hot name.”

  “Fair enough.”

  “So, where are we?”

  He opened the front door. “My place.”

  I walked in first, stopping as Jake punched his code into the beeping alarm.

  Minus a coffee mug and a small stack of mail, the room was clean. As in, really clean. It was dominated by a plush looking couch and large flat screen TV on the wall. That was it. There were no personal effects. No framed pictures or hanging sports memorabilia. None of the write-ups about Hyde or any of the awards they’d won.

  Before I could look around more, Jake grabbed me and pulled me to him, his mouth covering mine. Light and teasing, his tongue danced with mine.

  I pushed myself against him, needing more.

  His hands traveled down my back to my ass, cupping it as he lifted me. I wrapped my legs around his waist, gasping at the hardness of his very evident arousal.

  He carried me through a doorway and set me down on a soft bed. His mouth left mine, kissing down the curve of my neck as he pushed my bolero down my arms.

  I pulled it the rest of the way off and tossed it to the side before reaching behind his head. Gently tugging the hair tie, I freed his hair and finally, finally ran my fingers through the softness of it. It was better than I’d thought it would be, and I’d put a lot of thought into it.

  He lightly kissed the top of my chest. An intense pleasure grew low in my gut, taking my breath away.

  “Jacoby.”

  “Hmm?” The noise vibrated against me.

  “Please, I need more,” I pleaded.

  “More what?”

  “More of you, touching me.”

  Jake sat up to pulled my shoes and pants off, throwing them to the side.

  I grabbed the hem of his shirt and yanked it over his head, exposing tan skin and defined muscle. An intricate tattoo of gears, pistons, and other mechanical parts covered his shoulders and down one arm, giving the illusion that his skin was split open to show a robotic inner. The left side of his stomach was covered in a colorful swirled design that I wanted to explore with my tongue.

  The definition of his pelvic muscle leading into his pants would require a month, at least, to explore.

  Drawing my attention from the ink to something much better, Jake went up onto his knees and undid his belt. Opening the button and zipper, he pushed his pants partway down. A pair of dark blue boxer briefs covered, but did nothing to hide, his hard cock, though I’m not sure anything could have.

  I knew my face gave away my thoughts when Jake’s voice grew rougher. “Shirt off.” Shifting to his side, he kicked his jeans the rest of the way off.

  I sat up and undid the tiny hooks down my side, peeling away my top.

  “Fuck, you weren’t kiddin’.” He covered my body with his.

  “What?” I asked hazily as I laid back.

  “You show up in my shop lookin’ good and wholesome in an outfit that should’ve turned me off but made my dick hard, thinkin’ of ways I wanted to corrupt you. Now I know under all that prim and proper was rock ‘n’ roll. Ray?”

  “Yeah. She was nervous about doing them. Her hands are solid and she never shakes, so I knew she could do it. It was our awkward and very personal bonding experience.”

  He leaned down to lick around the barbell in my nipple.

  “Please, I need more.”

  His mouth closed around my nipple, his tongue and teeth working together to torture me. Stretching out on his side next to me, he trailed his long fingers down my stomach.

  A shiver of anticipation ran through me.

  Jake’s large hand covered me over my panties, his middle finger firmly tracing up. He released my nipple and sat up, taking his hand away from my aching pussy.

  I whimpered at the loss, raising my hips to follow his hand.

  He hooked his thumbs into the side of my panties and slid them down, kissing as he went. He positioned himself between my shaking legs.

  I tried to close them a little, but his hands on my inner thighs pushed them further apart.

  “Perfect, baby.” Jake moved his eyes to mine before returning them down. “Everything about you is perfect.”

  This is why I’ll never settle. I deserve someone who thinks I’m perfect, not someone who tolerates me.

  He bent low and licked slowly up, his groan vibrating through me. My hips moved unconsciously as my hands fisted in the sheets.

  “Please. More.”

  Ignoring my pleas, Jake added his thumb to my torment, rubbing my clit. When the tension had built to near unbearable levels, he went up on an elbow, pulling his mouth and thumb away.
/>   My whimper of protest turned into a gasp when his finger began to enter me.

  “Fuck, you’re tight,” he growled, working in a second finger.

  My body tightened, the discomfort of being so full turning to flat-out pain. I flinched and instinctively pulled back.

  Before I knew what was happening, Jake abruptly sat up and moved away.

  Far away.

  He clenched his jaw, his whole body tight. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Tell you what?” I tried, and failed, to play clueless.

  “You’ve never done this before, have you?”

  I sat up, staring at the unconcealed anger, and what looked like disgust, on his face.

  “Answer me!” he roared.

  I jumped at his outburst. “Uhh, no,” I stammered, freaked out and confused.

  “What have you done?”

  “Not… much.”

  Growing up the way I did, it was hard enough to sneak out for a backseat make out, much less anything more. Even if I’d had the chance, there weren’t many people I wanted to spend regular time with let alone naked time. Once I moved out, school and trying to get Piper’s Cakes off the ground took over my life.

  Everything else just seemed like it could wait.

  It wasn’t like I’d never had an orgasm. There was a reason my showerhead was so high-tech, and why I happily paid my steep water bill every month. Coffee might be my lifeline to get me through the day, but it wasn’t what woke me up in the morning.

  That’s not even counting the drawer of assorted sized Battery Operated Boyfriends.

  I wasn’t unknowing. Just unpracticed.

  “I can’t do this,” Jake said, moving further away to sit on the side of the bed. His long, muscular body bent as he put his head in his hands.

  Of course he wouldn’t be interested in my inexperienced fumbling.

  Maybe he thinks if he fucks me, I’m gonna get clingy and follow him around. Like I’m holding onto my virginity while I wait for Prince Charming and a happily ever after.

  If that was the case, it would be me, my virginity, and my showerhead for life.

  Whatever. All I know is I need to go.

  Now.

  I got up and started looking for my discarded clothing. I picked up my panties. “I’ll just… I’ll call a ride.”

  Smelling him, seeing him, still feeling him everywhere, I wanted to curl up and hide. To curse my upbringing and my virginity. Most of all, though, I wanted to scream in severe sexual frustration.

  How could someone turn from so hot to so cold that quickly?

  “No.” Jake stood up, pointedly not looking my way as I scrambled around trying to locate my clothes. “I’ll give you a ride home. I’ll just be…” He turned towards me while I was getting my shirt on, his words trailing off.

  I’m sure there was a time in my life when I’d been more embarrassed. Like in third grade when I kissed Billy Mason and then threw up on his brand new sneakers. They were the expensive ones, with the pump on the tongue and everything. After that, all I wanted was a new school.

  Or when I grew boobs before anyone else and Mandy Plose started a rumor that I stuffed my bra. It was bad enough to have everyone analyzing my chest, but when a bunch of kids filled my locker to overflowing with tissues and toilet paper, I’d put some serious thought into changing schools and my name.

  However, standing in the middle of Jake’s room in my panties, my chest bare as I awkwardly fumbled with the tiny hooks on my top, I couldn’t remember ever feeling so mortified.

  I’m never wearing anything but t-shirts again. Ever.

  Jake cleared his throat. “I’ll just be in the other room,” he muttered as he left.

  Blinking back tears, I quickly finished dressing.

  I thought riding on the back of Jake’s bike again would be torture. As we started towards my place, though, it became obvious how preferable it was to taking his car. There was no uncomfortable silence, or worse, awkward conversation.

  I’m sure the conversation would’ve been awesome. He’d probably just grunt at me while I discussed my vow to maintain a monogamous relationship with my showerhead and plans to adopt a cat.

  Or ten.

  Unlike the ride to Jet’s, I didn’t hold on tight or enjoy the view of the city passing by. I let the cool air whip around my overheated face as I blocked the world out.

  When we arrived at my place, Jake still walked me to my door even though I didn’t want him to. I bit my lip to stop myself from saying something stupid to break the tense silence.

  Thankfully, Jake spoke first, though we both knew there wasn’t anything to say.

  “Piper, I—”

  “Just… don’t.”

  “Yeah.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’ll… I’ll see you around.”

  Unlike last time, I knew his words were a blow off.

  I gave him a small, tight smile. “Yeah, Jake. Bye.”

  I hurried in, locking the door behind me. I leaned my back against it, listening as his bike roared to life. A minute later, he took off.

  Dropping my head back, I couldn’t help feeling like there was more wrong than I knew.

  Chapter Four

  Changes

  “Maybe a penis tattoo would’ve been a better idea.”

  Looking around the packed club, I was relieved no one heard me talking to myself.

  Or, if they had, they were pretending they hadn't.

  As much as I wished I was sitting at home in my yoga pants, watching mindless TV and eating Chinese food delivery straight from the carton, I knew I needed a change of scenery.

  I was in a rut. And not a minor one.

  Ray must’ve known, too, since she’d threatened me with an obscene face tattoo if I didn’t come out.

  For almost two weeks straight, I’d been swamped with school and cakes. I’d also started pouring over my financial books. The bank had been in contact quickly to tell me that my loan had been denied. I’d researched everything in hopes that there was an obvious cause but I hadn’t found any.

  It was easy to not dwell on Jake ending things when I barely had time to think.

  Can you end something that never even began?

  Well, I didn’t dwell too much, at least.

  When I’d gotten home that night, I was mentally drained and physically exhausted. Even still, I’d forced myself into the shower to wash away the smell of him. Skipping all of my usual nighttime routines, I’d collapsed into bed though sleep was hard to find. My mind wouldn’t settle as it replayed the night, once again filling in all of the things I should have said.

  I’d wondered if he would try to clear the air again.

  He hadn’t.

  I wasn’t sure how the situation with Jake was going to affect things with the other guys. I’d hoped it wouldn’t, but knowing he was their boss, I’d understood if they didn’t want any weirdness.

  That didn’t mean I’d like it.

  My worry was for nothing. The guys texted and acted like nothing was different.

  Unfortunately, I couldn’t say I did the same.

  *******

  The day after my epic crash and burn with Jake, Kase texted to invite me out with them. I was so swamped, I couldn’t have gone even if I wanted to.

  For over a week, every time one of the guys invited me out, I used my schedule as a crutch. I was busy, definitely. But I could’ve found time if I tried hard enough.

  After flopping on the bed one night, too exhausted to even pull the blanket up, I couldn’t fall asleep. Instead, I found myself wondering what the guys were up to. I hadn’t wanted everything with Jake to change things between me and them, but it had.

  And I was the one responsible for the change.

  Waking with the sun the next morning, I began baking a giant batch of donuts in three different flavors. I texted Kase when it reached a suitable time and asked him to come pick them up to take to work.

  “Hey, these were on your porch,” he blurt
ed out quickly as he handed me a giant vase of Stargazer Lilies.

  I looked around for a card, but there was none. It wasn’t uncommon for me to get flowers from clients but I liked to know who sent them. Knowing that something I did made someone happy and that they appreciated it was a thrill that never lessened.

  I took the flowers before handing him two big containers of donuts with instructions to freeze them at the shop. I also gave him a box to be eaten right away.

  Since Kase seemed perpetually cheerful, I was surprised when he leaned against the open door frame and his expression turned serious.

  “Jake’s being a real dick around the shop. Barking at everyone over stupid shit.”

  “So it’s business as usual?” I joked.

  “This is worse than Jake’s normal warm and snuggly personality. I don’t know what happened and I’m not asking you to share. All I know is you two looked tight at Jet’s. Next day you’re suddenly too busy to do anything and Jake’s a major prick.”

  “I really have been busy.”

  “I don’t doubt that. I’m just saying that there’s more to it. I know Jake can be a little… controlling.”

  Yeah, and a hurricane is just a little windy.

  “It’s not that, Kase.”

  “But if there was something he said to make you end things or—”

  “Honey, I appreciate this. I really do. But I’m not the one that ended things.”

  “Jake did? Shit, we’d all just figured…” Kase shook his head. “Well, it doesn’t matter what we figured. Really?”

  “Yup.”

  His brows lowered. “What the hell is wrong with him?”

  “Sometimes people just want different things. Doesn’t make either of us right or wrong.” I smiled up at him. “Now get going. I have cakes to bake.”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Kase began walking off my porch towards his car before stopping. “Don’t think any of that means you can get rid of me and the guys.” Though his voice was teasing, I was pretty sure his words were more of a warning than a joke.