Chapter Twenty-two

JACESON

S tepping onto the porch, I close the door softly behind me, then breathe deeply, my head bowed and my hands on my hips. Desperate to clear my head, I struggle against the urge to jump on my bike. I almost take a step to do it, then halt.

As much as I want to run, a bigger part of me wants to stay, and that scares the ever loving fuck out of me. Despite what people think, I rely on my brother almost as much as he counts on me. While he might be manic, I'm just as bad, barely speaking a single word some days.

It's not that I'm afraid of people, I just don't give a fuck about them.

It's different with Rue, and I'm terrified of being alone with her and saying the wrong thing.

I don't want to scare her away.

I know nothing about people, much less women.

Usually, if I want to fuck, I just join my brother.

That's the extent of my interactions with the opposite sex. Normally, if one tries to talk to me, James intercepts them or I just walk away, completely uninterested in anything they have to say…until now.

So, as much as I want to spend time alone with her, I…can't.

What if I fuck it up?

I can't risk it.

With a sigh, I shoot off a text to my brother, knowing that I'm going to pay for it later. Being out in public with James is a struggle at the best of times. Add Rue in the mix, and it's just asking for trouble.

With an even heavier sigh, I shoot a second text off to Gunner, asking him if he wants to join us. I don't wait for them to respond, just shove my phone in my pocket and jump off the porch, heading toward the car, already knowing their answer.

By the time I reach Gunner's car, James flings open the door to the house and bounds down the stairs. He launches off the last step, nearly crashing into me in his rush to get to the car first. "Fucker! You're lucky you invited me to join you, or I might have been mad."

I shudder at the idea of him in one of his moods, or what nasty surprises that might be waiting for me. Last time, when I went to bed, I slipped under the covers and slid into a bed full of shaving cream, and that was one of his milder pranks.

I watch him hover by the front door, then back door, before nodding and throwing himself into the back seat with a smile. Gunner slowly makes his way down the stairs, pausing by my side instead of crawling inside the vehicle. "You sure?"

My shoulders wilt a little as I blow out a breath, but I nod. "Yeah. Especially if there are any repercussions from last night. I don't want to be caught alone with her without protection."

Gunner grunts, his expression hardening as he clenches his fists. "No one will touch her."

It's both a vow and a promise.

Bruised and battered, he's intimidating than normal.

A person would be insane to fuck with him.

We pile into the car, then head next door. Just as I park, the front door pops open and Rue exits the house in an outfit that has my cock demanding attention. A short black skirt flirts with her thighs with her every move, and I swear if she bends over, I'll be able to see what color panties she's wearing…if she's wearing panties. A bright pink, fuzzy, short-sleeved sweatshirt hugs her every curve, the deep V-neckline showing off her breasts.

Knee-high black stockings are pulled up high, decorated with tiny pink skulls and crossbones. If that's not sexy enough, she's also wearing schoolgirl shoes on her feet with a chunky heel and straps that go over the top and around her ankles.

"Fuck me," Gunner mutters, adjusting his jeans, struggling with the same problem as me.

"Right?" James murmurs, completely enchanted, and I swear he has hearts in his eyes. "She's fucking perfect."

A heartbeat later, he throws open his door and jumps out.

"Pookie!" James bellows, then he rushes up the steps with the biggest, brightest smile I've ever seen on his face, genuine happiness radiating from him as he snatches the dangling keys from her hand and locks the door for her. Then, before she can escape, he captures her hand and threads their fingers together.

As he guides her to the car, I wait for a sting of jealousy to bite me on the ass, but I'm just grateful that he's here to pick up my slack—proof that I would have fucked this shit up because it would have never dawned on me to escort her to the car. Maybe with our two chaperones to keep her distracted, she won't notice that I'm lacking.

James skips at her side, his whole body turned toward her as he regales her with a story that has her smiling, and something clutches low in my stomach. I would do anything to have one of her smiles directed at me, one where she lights up the world around her.

As if sensing my thoughts, she turns toward me. The smile she sends me isn't as bright, a slight quirking of her lips, but it's more intimate, and the knots tying up my insides loosen a fraction.

I absently fiddle with the ring on my pinky, spinning it around and around. I should find the tiny ring an annoyance, since I'm not one for jewelry, but the small piece of metal makes me feel more connected to her somehow. I'm not normally a possessive guy, but I would kill anyone who tried to take the ring from me.

As Rue passes by my window, my gaze falls to her neck, and the impulse to stamp my claim, around her pretty little throat is just too irresistible.

When we're out buying rings, I'll search for the perfect necklace, nothing gaudy or flashy. Something that says don't fuck with me, I already have a master.

The door slams shut, startling me, and I peer into the rearview mirror. My eyes immediately connect with Rue's calm teal gaze, and I start the car. James keeps up a steady stream of chatter, not even noticing that none of us are participating besides a nod or hum every once in a while.

I shouldn't be surprised that Rue actually listens to everything he says. She focuses entirely on someone when they speak. She doesn't space out or get lost in her own head. It's a heady experience to be the center of her attention.

I am shocked to see that instead of winding James up, her acceptance calms him to a degree where he could almost pass for normal.

It's not long before we're pulling up behind the large shopping mall. Normally, I avoid shopping like the plague. Shopping with my brother is a nightmare. We usually tell him to order his shit online, but he is an extreme extrovert, and that will only hold him off for so long.

When in public, we take all his credit cards, hand him five hundred dollars cash, then stick a couple of trackers on him and unleash him on the unsuspecting public. We try to go during off-peak hours to mitigate how much trouble he attracts or stick him with a group of girls. He won't risk putting a girl in danger, so they can usually keep him shackled well enough.

As I turn off the engine, James is unusually quiet, and I pin him with a harsh look. "No shenanigans. We get in and out. Understand?"

He bobs his head, slings an arm around Rue's shoulders, and drags her close, kissing her temple. "Whatever my pookie wants."

When I don't receive a firm confirmation, I sigh in exasperation, but I guess that's as good as I'm going to get. If I push him, he'll only dig his heels in and put up an even bigger fuss.

Throwing open my door, I climb out, and the others follow. I take the lead and head directly toward the jewelry store I researched yesterday. We are right on time for our appointment. I don't bother heading for the front door, instead taking the private entrance at the back of the shop.

It opens easily under my grip, and I hold the door open for the rest of them, bringing up the rear. We walk down a bright hallway and enter a small, discrete showroom. Instead of cases under glass, select pieces of expensive jewelry are sitting out, waiting for us.

As we step into the room, a chime sounds. Not even a minute later, a second door immediately opens, admitting a stunning woman in her early thirties. She's dressed in a sparkling black dress that shows off her curves, her cleavage practically falling out of her dress. Her blonde hair is swept up in some fancy hairdo with a few strands hanging down to emphasize her heart-shaped face.

I mentally groan when her gaze scans us like we're a side of beef ready to be consumed.

Thankfully, when her gaze lands on Rue, her expression turns professional. "You must be my ten o'clock appointment."

Rue is busy surveying the rings on the table, but she turns at the sound of the shopgirl's voice. Her eyes widen when she takes in the woman, then they narrow, and her lips purse. "We were. Unfortunately, I'm not seeing much that I like here. While I said I wanted plain jewelry, I didn't mean crappy pieces. I need durable metal for men to wear that won't crush their fingers if they give a good handshake."

The businesswoman's eyes sharpen, then her smile becomes more natural. "My name is Monica. You're buying pieces for your men?"

Rue barely pauses for a second, her shoulders going back as she nods. "Yes. I need two pieces now, and possibly more later. They need to be engraved today. Is that something you can do?"

"Of course," Monica replies, picking up the few trays sitting on the table. "Let me bring you a better selection."

It's only then that I glance at the items on display, and I nearly swallow my tongue when I see the prices range anywhere from three hundred to three thousand dollars. I wait for Monica to leave, then whirl on Rue. "You don't need to spend so much on a simple ring. I don't need?—"

"Actually, yes, I do. The rings need to contain a certain combination of metals for it to be effective. The pieces I wear are custom items crafted by a metalsmith hundreds of years ago, while the pieces created today are factory made by machines and bent into form. The metal won't be able to hold the runes well. The inscription might remain, but not the intent behind it. Understand?"

Fuck me.

There is something hot about the no-nonsense way she spouted off the facts while looking through a catalog. She doesn't even look up at me, and it's all I can do not to lean over and nip the base of her neck.

I bet my bite would look good on her skin, and my teeth ache with the need to mark her. I'm not even aware that I'm stepping toward her until the door opens behind me, and I whirl, putting myself between Rue and the threat.

It's only when Monica steps into the room then halts, her eyes wide, that I realize I'm practically snarling at her. With a scowl in her direction, I step back and turn my focus to Rue.

If she noticed my misstep, she doesn't show it. She walks past me, close enough that she brushes against my chest, and something inside me relaxes under that small touch. As she takes a seat in front of the table, I come to stand behind her, which gives me a view of her perfect breasts.

Gunner nudges me hard enough that I almost fall to the floor. When I glance at him, I expect a scowl, but he's watching the room and the guard who accompanied Monica.

James takes a seat next to Rue, looking over the offerings, but I know he's hyperaware of her safety. If anything, he would go completely berserk if anyone tried to touch his precious pookie.

For once, we're in complete agreement.

Rue bends over the three trays spread out before her. Unsurprisingly, none of the items have price tags. To my naked eye, they just look like plain rings, even cheaper than the first batch, without the silver, gold, or bling that usually accompanies jewelry.

Rue pushes two trays away, barely glancing at them. I notice when her gaze finally locks on her prize. She picks up the ring and turns it carefully, testing the weight in her fingers. She slips it over her thumb, rubbing the metal almost worshipfully, then she gives a sharp nod. "Two of these."

She sets the ring on the table, then points toward me and my twin. "Measure them. I'd also like the bracelet and matching necklace in your catalog." She rattles off the numbers by memory, even as she pushes me forward.

She lifts her shirt, revealing the top of her skirt and the tiny little wallet tucked in the waistband. The sight of the pale, toned skin of her stomach has my fingers twitching to touch her, and I quickly turn so the fucktard of a guard doesn't steal a view of what's mine. Completely oblivious, Rue pulls out a card and a tiny piece of paper and hands them over without blinking. "The instructions for the engraving are enclosed. Add them to each piece of jewelry."

Monica accepts both without pause, glances at the instructions, then nods. "We can do that. As long as we have the sizes in stock, it will take about three hours to complete. If we don't, we'll have them done by tomorrow morning."

It doesn't take long for us to be measured. Monica checks her phone, then nods. "We have your catalog pieces in stock, and our sister store carries the rings. It will take four hours, or we could have them delivered to you tomorrow."

My brows rise at the offer for delivery, and I gulp at what she must have spent on us if they are offering that option. Rue glances at me in question, but James answers before I can speak. "We'll pick them up later today."

After signing the receipt, Rue collects her card, and I swallow hard when I see the cost is more than I paid for my bike. As we head outside, I shove my hands into my pockets to keep from grabbing her. "I'll pay you back for the rings." My voice is gruff, and I don't dare look at her.

I almost slam into her when she steps in front of me and slaps her hand against my chest. My eyes immediately drop to hers, and my eyebrows shoot up when I see she's pissed.

"No, it's a gift. You don't get to devalue it by trying to pay for it." Her teal eyes sparkle in the sunlight, and I don't have the heart to deny her anything, even if it rubs me the wrong way to let her spend so much on me.

"Okay." My voice is low and soothing, a silent apology, and I hunch my shoulders slightly when her eyes narrow. "You have my word that I won't try to pay you back."

Her anger slowly eases, and she gives a firm nod.

"Why don't we walk around for a bit?" Gunner suggests, breaking the tension.

Rue nods in agreement, and we all fall into step around her. Gunner and I naturally fall back, taking up positions in the rear to stand as guard, while James takes his spot at her side.

It's only then that I notice James is quiet, his hands shoved in his pockets. He watches the ground as we walk, and I can practically feel misery radiating from him. My gut clenches at the thought of him unleashing that mayhem on unexpecting people.

I open my mouth to speak but stop when Rue slips her hand around his elbow and leans her head against his shoulder. "What's wrong?"

James shrugs, not talking for a moment as he collects his thoughts. "Why did you buy me something?"

He sounds so lost that the back of my throat burns. I'm so used to his antics that I sometimes forget he feels things more than most. He isn't used to kindness or soft words or something as simple as presents.

They throw him into a tailspin.

If he isn't handled carefully, complete and utter madness will reign.

Rue doesn't brush off the question but answers thoughtfully. "Do I need a reason to buy you something?" Her tone is light, but the scowl on James' face only deepens, his pale blue eyes almost completely white as he struggles with his emotions.

Rue doesn't look at him as she stares blankly ahead. "Truthfully? A couple of reasons. I've never bought a present for anyone before. I never had anyone I cared about enough to even buy one. I kind of liked how it made me feel. It's a memory that I get to keep forever, if that makes any sense."

James slowly nods, like he understands her reasoning. After a moment, he peers at her, a tiny hint of a smile on his face. "And the other reason?"

"I'm experimenting on your brother," she mock-whispers in a conspiratorial tone, hugging his arm tighter as she snuggles against him. "I didn't get you something as an afterthought. I wanted to get a little something for everyone." She bumps his shoulder with a laugh, then her nose crinkles and her tone turns slightly begrudging. "Even Hicks."

She winks up at him, a teasing smile on her face. "I'm a very dangerous woman. If you guys are determined to hang out with me, then you each need protection."

Her gaze catches on something across the street, then her eyes widen in delight. A moment later, she's dragging James across the road…right into a tattoo shop.

And I suddenly know what I want to get her.

I'm not sure if I'm more intrigued or turned on by the idea of her wearing my ink, something that can never be removed or forgotten. It's the perfect way to mark my claim.

Now, I just have to find a design to decorate her gorgeous milky smooth skin.

Something in black and gray so it stands out more.

Something that says mine.