Free Screwed by Sam Crescent

lad.”
    The distance between them thinned. Jesse wasn’t afraid. Piper was worth fighting for. He wore his Demons cut along with his golden jewelry he liked. In his back pocket was the gold band he’d bought in the city. He intended to make Piper his wife.
    “What the hell are you doing here, lad? My girl has been crying her eyes out over you. I told you to give her time,” John said, lowering his voice so it was only between them.
    “I’m going to marry Piper. I’m not here to cause a problem. I want her as my wife.” He didn’t raise his voice. This conversation wasn’t going any further.
    “Is this some game Charley’s playing?”
    “No, I don’t care about merging the clubs. I only care about Piper.”
    “What do you want, Jesse?” Piper’s voice invaded the tension. She stood on the edge of the group with her arms folded. The clothes she wore didn’t do her body justice. The sight of her sent a shockwave to his gut. She looked so sad with her arms crossed over her stomach.
    “I need to talk to you,” he said, turning his attention back to her.
    “What about?”
    “We need to go somewhere private.”
    “No. Anything you need to say to me can be done in front of the men. I’m sure everyone is very busy and wants to move on with their day.” She was cold. He saw it in the way she held her body. The tightening of her arms, and the shudder running through her showed the chill getting to her. She needed a coat.
    “You want me to say everything in front of all of these men?” Jesse asked.
    “Yes. They know you more than I do.” She pointed toward his leather cut. “I didn’t even know you were a member of the Demons. See, a lot I don’t know about you, including your last name.”
    “Name’s Jesse Jenkins. I’ve been a member of the Demons for the last ten years and I’m totally in love with you.” The words blurted out before he could stop them. The desperation clawed at him. Losing Piper was not an option.
    “What?”
    “I love you. Yes, I’m not going to deny the fact I started pursuing you because I wanted to know about Junior but I fell for you.”
    “You screwed me for information,” she said, spitting the words at him.
    Was he a freak to find her anger a turn on?
    “No. I screwed you because I wanted to.” Guns were loaded and aimed at his head. “I got the information because none of our clubs want a war.”
    “I can’t believe you.” She turned on her heel, heading in the opposite direction. He looked at John, who gave him the nod to follow her.
    “Believe what you want.” She was heading toward the side of the clubhouse where she’d appeared from. “Piper, fucking stop.”
    She stopped suddenly, turned and glared at him. “I work for my father. I’m not part of club business. You should have stayed well away.”
    Going to his knees, he lifted the box containing the gold ring he’d purchased for her. Piper shut up. Her gaze landed on the velvet box to his eyes and back again.
    “What are you doing?” she asked.
    He heard the sound of the boys joining them. Jesse didn’t care what they thought of him for begging his woman. One week without her was too fucking long. “I want you to marry me. This is what I have to do. I get down on one knee but seeing as I pissed you off I’m actually on two knees.” He tapped each knee for her to see. “I fucked up. I admit that but if I have to I’d do it all again because it brought me you. I love you, Piper.”
    Her eyes glazed over, tears forming.
    “I can’t believe you.”
    “Then give me time.” He stood, taking the steps to close the distance between them. “I’m promising you a lifetime commitment. There’s no other woman for me. I know my mind. Give me time.”
    Jesse wished for her to say yes. This had to be the hardest proposal in the history of all proposals. It sucked, but he knew it was the way it had to go. He’d fucked up, screwed her over, and this was the price he needed to pay.
    “I don’t know