Chapter 44

Jack

I watched Juno as she slowly relaxed, Alma and Kai keeping an eye on her with me. It had only taken a whispered word to get Kai to realize she needed the extra watchfulness, and Alma already knew the threat.

It had taken all my control not to clock Logan when I'd walked into the kitchen and seen his arm around Juno. At first, I'd thought she had been happily getting to know him, but then I'd seen the fear in her eyes, that wide-eyed look, and the relief that had passed over her face the second she'd spotted me.

Either she was a very good actress, or she had been terrified. And I'd been angry either way. Now that I'd calmed down a little, I didn't feel like I could relax. I didn't want anyone else to have her or go near her. The very thought made me want to break something. Or someone.

Of course, I couldn't show that at a party for the band. It wouldn't be right for me to show my anger, but Kai had picked up on it anyway and asked me what had happened when I'd finally let go of Juno and let her sit with Alma and Eve to talk over girl stuff.

I'd mentioned Logan's interest and gained another ally and a promise that we'd all keep her away from Logan or Logan away from her as best we could.

It didn't make me feel much better, but it was a start. Logan wasn't always easily dissuaded. And there were rumors. Rumors he'd used drugs to get what he wanted out of women in the past. Of course, we would never have allowed something like that if we'd had proof, but there wasn't always a way for us to prevent it.

Sometimes, the predators slipped through, careful enough not to get caught. And for the first time in a long time, the thought terrified me. He was now interested in Juno, and she'd been through enough. She didn't need a man like Logan making her feel even worse or putting her through more hell.

Trying to relax, I focused on the conversations around me, but they weren't interesting, most of the groupies talking about another gig they'd been to recently.

I got up and moved closer to Juno again, Alma also moving off and glancing my way to see if I'd noticed. Before anyone else could do so, I sat beside Juno and put my arm over the back of the chair near her shoulders.

Immediately, she leaned into me, and I noticed she held her drink in one hand with the other over the top of it. It made me feel a little better to see her clearly being careful, but I still couldn't quite relax.

I'd noticed how a lot of the women were avoiding her, too. Were they being catty, or had something happened before I arrived? I had no way of knowing, and I wasn't going to ask when we were in the middle of the party.

"You seem preoccupied," she whispered as she leaned closer, almost resting her head on my shoulder.

Instantly, I felt a little better. I wrapped my arm around her and looked into her blue eyes.

"I wanted to make sure you were okay after…" I trailed off, also keeping my voice down and not wanting to say anything too derogatory about Logan while others could hear.

"I'm a lot better now you're with me again. You make me feel safe."

Without thinking, I pressed my lips to hers, my groin stirring with the desire to screw her brains out right then and there. I heard murmurs around us, our kiss the first time anyone had directly seen what was happening between us.

It almost made me pull away, but she relaxed into me, either oblivious to the reaction we were beginning to get or not caring that we'd been noticed.

"Get a room," someone yelled a moment later, finally making her pull back a little, looking toward whoever had yelled it. I didn't as she looked back at me again, her eyes searching mine as if she didn't know what to do and wanted my opinion.

I pulled back just enough that it was clear I didn't plan to go any further or kiss her again, and she settled her head onto my shoulder, letting out a small sigh as she did.

For a moment, I could almost believe we'd been a couple for a while and this was the comfortable way she'd feel near me whenever we were at social gatherings together, but then I spotted Logan again, and it all came flooding back.

A part of me wanted to have him slung out and to make a scene just to make sure everyone knew that Juno was mine, but I also knew we hadn't known each other long, and what little we'd done together had been fraught with problems and setbacks.

Thankfully, the night wore on, and Juno didn't appear to even want to leave my side or talk much to anyone else. I didn't encourage her to. It felt good not to be alone, and it gave me a way out of awkward conversations.

Juno seemed to enjoy conversing with others and made me envious of her ability to steer a topic more than once. Still, I noticed that not everyone was interacting with her, some going out of their way to avoid her entirely.

If she noticed it, she ignored it and kept talking to whoever would be civil to her. However, it made me angry, and as the last of the evening passed, I felt more and more on edge. It had been a shitty party, and by the time people started leaving, finding places to sleep or some private time with others they were hooking up with, I was more than ready to go find somewhere quiet with Juno.

Kai found us near the front door as I slipped my shoes back on my feet.

"Here," he said. "The keys to the one around the back. It's the quietest out there. Pop back for brunch when the pair of you are up in the morning. Or afternoon. You know, whatever."

I grinned as Juno's eyes went wide.

"Have fun," Alma added as she took Kai's hand and led him away.

"They're an interesting couple," Juno whispered as they went up the stairs, going around a couple with their lips locked together on the bottom step.

"They're still in love. And they have no problem showing it. But he's always gone home to her and no one else. It works for them," I said as I helped her put her jacket on and then opened the door.

No one appeared to notice us leaving, and it made me feel relieved. I wanted Juno. And in that moment, I'd have given anything for what Kai and Alma had. To know there was always someone on your side. Someone who accepted you the way you were. I tried not to be too eager as I strode around the side of the house and looked for the alleyway that led to the house at the back.

I was just about to go down it and lead Juno with me when she stopped and patted her pockets.

"Fuck," she said a moment later. "I've left my phone there."

I let out a growl, unable to help it, but she'd already turned.

"I'm pretty sure I know where I left it," she added. "I'll catch up to you. Do I just follow this path to the other house?"

"Yeah, but…"

"Turn the light on and get comfy. I won't be long." Without another word, she walked off and left me standing there.

I growled again, more than a little pissed off but not wanting to be too angry at her. She'd be back, but I found myself staying on the spot to wait despite what she'd suggested.