Jayden wasn’t sure what to say to her. He’d seen the look of fear in her eyes at what he’d done, at how out of control he had gotten.
He wasn’t going to apologize for beating the shit out of that asshole. He’d put his hands on Haley. His brain had gone automatically alpha, his only wish to tear that guy’s throat out.
But tearing out a guy’s throat in front of a room of human witnesses would probably piss off Barrett. So Jayden had settled for a bare knuckles brawl.
“Hold up, Jayden. Kate wants to stop in here,” Braxton called out.
Jayden stopped but didn’t turn around.
“We’ll be right back.” From the corner of his eye Jayden watched Braxton and Kate enter the tiny ice cream shop. He checked his Luminox watch. It was almost midnight and the damn store was still open.
He shook his head and forced himself to look at Haley.
“They probably just said that to give us some privacy.” He looked away.
“You scared me back there.”
“I didn’t mean to.” He flinched. “But when I saw him putting his hands on you I lost it.”
“That’s not why I was scared.”
He frowned and looked at her.
“I was scared you were going to get arrested, that they were going to take you away.” The tiny hitch in her throat had him pulling her into his arms.
He kissed the top of her head She snuggled closer to his chest.
“Don’t worry. I’m not leaving. You’re still safe. And I promise I’m going to do everything I can to catch this stalker and then you’re going to get your life back, baby. You’re going to get your freedom back.”
She pulled back and met his eyes, some unknown emotion crossing her features.
She nodded, lifted up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his.
He knew it was an innocent kiss, a gentle comforting kiss. But the second she touched him, all Jayden could think was, he wanted more.
Her lips parted and he slid his tongue against hers, kissing her with a bruising need.
Yet it wasn’t enough.
Gripping her hips, he pressed into her, rubbing his cock against her willing body. She moaned and tugged him closer.
He was going to explode in his jeans. Right there in public.
She dug her nails into his scalp as their kiss turned frenzied. He growled, as his body demanded he take her.
“All right, all right. Am I going to have to separate you two?”
Jayden pulled back and glared. Braxton watched them with amusement as he licked a chocolate ice cream cone. Kate giggled as he held out the cone for her to taste and then snatched it away at the last minute to settle an open mouth kiss on her.
“You’re the pot calling the kettle black.” Jayden arched his brow and pulled Haley against him. “You really did get ice cream.”
“Yeah. What’d you think I was making it up?”
Jayden shook his head and glanced at Haley, who was eyeing the ice cream cone. His erection strained against his zipper as he imagined her mouth on him
He took her hand as they walked down the sidewalk.
“Where are we going?”
“To get ice cream.”
#
“I’m sorry we didn’t get to finish our pool game.” Jayden pulled her into his embrace just as they entered the living room.
She looked up loving the feel of his warmth against her. “You’re just saying that because I was winning.”
He laughed and shook his head. “Oh no, baby, I was ahead with my last shot, remember?”
Haley frowned. “Yeah, but before that I was ahead in the game. So, technically, I was winning. You just got lucky.”
“There are no technicalities in pool. You either win or lose. And I won.”
She pulled away and propped her hands on her hips. “I want a do over.”
His face lit with amusement and surprise. “A do over?”
She nodded. “Yes, a do over. We play another game to see who the real winner is.”
“You just want to get out of making good on your end of the deal.”
She shifted her weight from foot to foot as her face heated. “No, that’s not it.”
“I think it is. I think you don’t want to pay up. I won. I sunk the last ball before I leapt over the pool table.”
“I never saw that.” Her mouth dropped open.
“I did.”
“Maybe I don’t believe you.” She narrowed her eyes.
His face broke into a wide smile and he pulled out his cell phone. “Okay, here, call Braxton. He’ll tell you who won.”
She was sunk. She knew it.
Jayden had won their bet.
Which meant she was going for a late night dip in the campus fountain.
“Fine. Do you want to head on over to the fountain now? Or do you prefer to wait until class is in session?” She forced a smile.
Jayden laughed, the deep sound reverberating in the room. She had never heard a sexier laugh.
“No. Not now. I’ll let you know when I want to collect on my debt.” His expression grew serious and he took a step towards her. “Although I think there is something else we can do to pass the time.