The Men with the Golden Cuffs (Masters and Mercenaries #2)(55)

He slowed down. Adam wasn’t the only one making an ass of himself. Serena was unsure and scared, and she’d just had her first sex in years and what had her Dom done? Her Dom had shoved her into her clothes and made her race through the club.

He groaned and pulled her close. “Serena, baby, I’m sorry.”

Her head shook against his chest. “It’s my fault. You said we shouldn’t do anything.”

“No. It was bound to happen. And Adam will come around. He’s just pissed, and he’s pissed at me.” He better be pissed at me. If Adam was mad at Serena, then they really would fight. He kissed her forehead. They should still be in bed. He should be cuddling her close. Hell, Adam should have tossed off his clothes and climbed in with them.

“I don’t know about that,” she said sadly. “I screw up a lot.”

He tilted her head up. “No. Not this time. You were perfect, baby. Don’t you forget that. And you’re mine. Mine and Adam’s. Don’t forget that, either. Go and get dressed, and we’ll take you home. I gotta warn you. He’s going to want equal time.”

Adam would most likely take more than equal time, but Jake was willing to give it. He’d f*cked up. And he’d do just about anything to see Serena smile again.

She shook her head. “He doesn’t seem interested now. It doesn’t matter. I would really like to head home. I’m tired.”

He held his temper in check. It wasn’t directed at her. He kissed her again. “Serena, I meant what I said before. We’re together now. I won’t allow you to pull away because it got a little scary. Now go and change. We’ll all talk when we get home.”

She nodded, but there didn’t seem to be a lot of hope in her eyes. She walked into the locker room. Jake turned and found his quarry. Adam was standing in the bar, talking to Liam. He was probably telling Liam how he could take over his assignment now that Jake had stolen the girl. Drama queen. Goddamn it.

Adam didn’t even look up as Jake walked into the bar area.

“So you’ll need to coordinate with Jake,” Adam was saying.

“You, f*cker. Do you have any idea what you just did to her?” He knew he should start with apologies, but that sad look on her face was too fresh in his mind. She was in the locker room all alone because Adam hadn’t been able to hold his own f*cking feelings in.

Adam turned his face up. “I certainly know what you just did to her. Let’s see. You f*cked her. You claimed her. I believe your words were something like ‘You’re mine. All f*cking mine.’”

Liam hopped off his barstool. “I am not getting in the middle of this. You two need to work this out. And Adam, I ain’t taking your place. Not until Ian tells me to. This is a f*cking job. This ain’t about your love life. She’s still in some sort of danger. Put your dick aside. You’re getting paid to do a job. This is exactly why Ian told you to stay away from her.”

He started to walk away. Jake got ready to lay into Adam, but Liam turned back.

“You two are supposed to be f*cking partners. Fucking partners don’t split because one partner did something stupid. You two better get your shit together. You have no idea what it’s like to be alone. No f*cking idea.” Liam didn’t wait for a reply. He stalked away.

Alone. Jake had been alone most of his life, even among his family. No one had understood him. He’d been that trashy Dean kid who hadn’t lived in anything nicer than an apartment or Army barracks until he’d become Adam’s roommate. Hell, a good portion of his life had been spent in communes or living in his dad’s truck because his parents wanted to find nature or some shit. It might have been nice if his parents had paid a moment’s attention to him, but they were far too busy finding themselves to deal with their kids.

Adam had taught him most of what he knew about moving through society. Adam had been his touchstone. Adam had been the first time he’d truly connected with another human being. He didn’t want to sleep with Adam, but he cared about him deeply. He couldn’t imagine his life without Adam. But now he couldn’t imagine it without Serena, either.

“I am sorry, Adam.”

“You knew how I felt about her.” Adam sat back in his chair. He sounded tired.

“Yes.” He probably wouldn’t have moved forward if he hadn’t known how Adam felt about her. It wouldn’t have worked if Adam hadn’t wanted her, too. “You’ve made it clear. And you’ve pushed me into her arms.”

Adam’s eyes narrowed. “And you damn well knew I should have been there. You want the upper hand.”

Jake growled. “What f*cking upper hand? You’re the one who likes to play little mind games, Adam. I don’t do that. I wanted her. She was naked. End of story. You’re the one who pushed me to initiate her into D/s.”

“That’s your excuse?” Adam huffed the question out. “You were initiating her? I get put on the f*cking back burner because I don’t walk around with a crop in my hand twenty-four seven?”

Jake leaned over, getting into Adam’s space. “She writes BDSM. What did you think would happen?”

Adam’s eyes came up, narrowing. “She also writes ménage. I rather thought I would be invited to that f*cking party. I didn’t realize that Jacob Dean would take the woman I fell for as his sub. Ten f*cking years, Jake. How many women have I been serious about? And you claim the one who might have worked. Ten years. Ten f*cking wasted years.”