Jude, page 9
My brain was telling my feet to stop moving immediately when I charged up to the table like a bull in a china shop. But my overwhelming emotions fueled them, not stopping until they were standing next to Ariel.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I glared at the guy flirting with my girl. “Can I help you with anything?” Pointedly looking at the bundle of tickets in his hand, I narrowed my eyes.
He winked at Ariel, and I dug my fingers into my arms to stop myself from punching the smug look off his face.
When he leaned in with a flirty smile it took every ounce of my self-control to stay still. “Think about my offer. There’s no expiration date on it.
Ariel returned his smile with one of her own. “Thanks, Bill. I appreciate it.”
He finally left, and I sat down on the cheap plastic chair next to Ariel. Ignoring the next person in line, I turned to her. “What did he want?”
My plan to sound bored failed since the question came out like a growl.
“He offered to help me with my car.”
“Why? What’s wrong with your car?”
She turned her attention back to the next person in line, handing them their tickets. “It’s making a rattling noise.”
Grudgingly doing the same, I ripped off a row of tickets. “Why didn’t you ask me?”
“Since when are you a mechanic? I don’t exactly know what you do, but I know you don’t do that.”
Huffing, I ripped the next ticket too hard, tearing it in half. “I work for my family. We have an office downtown. And Chantal thinks I know my way around machines.”
Snorting, she smiled at the person handing her money. “She doesn’t care if you can fix anything. She just wants to get in your pants.”
“Jealous?” I couldn’t help but ask.
Ignoring me, she turned her attention back to selling tickets. I eventually did the same, praying this day would be over soon. There were a few things we had to get straight. It was time to claim my woman.
Chapter 13
Ariel
“My fingers hurt.” I turned to check out my backside. “And I can’t feel my ass.”
Jude pressed a kiss to my wrist. “I’ll massage it for you when we get home.”
Laughing, I leaned into him. “My hero.”
“Damn right I am. Which is why I’ll also be the one fixing your car.”
“You don’t have to fix my car for me. I can sort it.”
As soon as I had money. Because at the moment, there wasn’t even enough left over to fill up my tank.
It really was ridiculous earning more money than I ever thought I would but to never see a cent of it.
“You would have let Bill fix it for you. So why can’t I?”
“Bill’s a mechanic.”
“So? I’m your friend and neighbor.”
The statement bothered me more than I cared to admit, because we already seemed like so much more. “Who has no idea how to fix a car. He offered to do it for free. And I could use the break.”
“Do you need money?”
The last thing I wanted was to owe Jude money. “I’m not borrowing money from you. And I’m fine. I just can’t afford to fix my car at the moment.”
Or ever. But I didn’t say that.
“Then let me at least take care of your car.” We’d stopped in front of his truck that looked about as good as mine did. He crowded me against the passenger door, my body arching into his. “I want to help you.”
“Jude, no. It’s too much. Friends don’t pay for each other’s cars to be fixed.”
His reply was instant. “Fuck being your friend. I want to be more.”
After uttering the words in a low growl, he pulled me against him and crushed his mouth to mine.
I didn’t even care that we were still in full view of anyone heading to their cars. Or that the whole school was there. Because his lips on mine felt right.
“Is Jude going to move in with us?”
I froze at Lenny’s question, my hands that had been roaming Jude’s chest freezing. I pulled back, but Jude’s arms around me stayed in place. “No. He was just saying thanks.”
“I’ve never seen anyone say thanks to you like that.”
That was because he had never seen me with anyone. I’d made sure to keep my hookups away from him. And that was all they ever were, as few and far between as they had been.
Until now.
After I lightly pushed against Jude’s chest, he finally stepped back, giving me room to smooth down my top that had ridden up when he’d put his hand underneath the hem. “That’s because I’m extra grateful this time.”
Lenny’s narrowed eyes told me he didn’t believe our ridiculous excuse. But my brain was still scrambled from the kiss, and I had nothing better I could come up with.
“Are we stopping for pizza? I’m hungry.”
Thank heavens for the attention span of twelve-year-olds.
And for their bottomless stomachs.
Bailey’s mom had messaged me with updates throughout the day. Lenny had been exploring the fair with them, giving him an alternative to sitting at the ticket stand with me all day, so I knew he’d consumed plenty of food.
Opening the door, I slid in, knowing Lenny preferred to sit next to the window. And I’d come to appreciate being in the middle of the bench seat. “We had pizza yesterday,” I reminded him.
Lenny looked at me like I’d just suggested he eat whole wheat bread. “So?”
Jude slid into the driver’s seat, taking hold of my leg and dragging me to him until I was pressed against his side. “Since Lenny has no doubt already ingested more sugar and carbs than a person of his size should be able to digest, why not top it off with pizza?”
I groaned, slumping forward. “Because I can’t take more pizza this week. We’ve already had it three times.”
I’d never had to watch what I ate, but I did have a limit on how many nights a week I could eat the same food. And three was it.
Jude squeezed my thigh reassuringly before starting the truck. “We’ll get sushi for us and pizza for Lenny.”
Instead of placing a kiss on Jude’s cheek like I really wanted to, I went with a light nudge of my leg against his. “I love sushi.”
He nudged me back. “I know.”
Satisfied with Jude’s answer, Lenny nodded, then turned back to look out the window. The setting sun was tinting the sky a light orange. Lenny loved watching sunsets. Always had. Even when he was little and could barely walk.
I used to take him to Lake Michigan to watch the sunset over the water. But like so many other things, it had taken a back seat. Sometimes I wondered if Lenny resented me being gone so much and if he wished he were still with Mom.
But would I let him go if he said he wanted to? Because even if he wanted to live with her, I didn’t know if I’d let him.
We got our dinner, Jude insisting on paying, and ate it in front of the TV, watching a show about dinosaurs.
And as I was looking at Jude teasing Lenny about only taking three bites to eat one slice, I realized that I wanted this for the rest of my life. With Jude. He fit into our little family like he’d always been there.
Lenny ate all but two slices, then slouched on his side of the couch in a content food coma.
Jude had been tugging me closer and closer until I was almost sitting on his lap. Not satisfied with the arrangement, he took one of my legs and draped it over his.
“I’m going to bed.” Lenny yawned, then eyed us with a wrinkled nose. “If you’re staying over again, I want donuts for breakfast tomorrow.” He got up, stretching. “My love can be bought. Mostly with food. But I won’t turn away other bribes.”
I narrowed my eyes at my little shithead brother. “Seriously?”
He shrugged. “What? You always tell me to be honest.”
Groaning, I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Whatever. Go to bed.”
“I was. Until you were getting ready for a lecture before you thought better of it.” He saluted Jude. “You should know she’s a seventy-year-old trapped in a twenty-three-year-old’s body.”
“Lenny.” My outraged shriek was followed by a pillow thrown at his grinning face.
He ducked out of the way and disappeared into his room with an evil laugh.
Jude lightly tugged on a strand of my hair. “Does that mean he’s okay with us being together?”
Turning to face him, I traced his jaw with my finger, loving the way he leaned closer as if he couldn’t help himself. “If you keep feeding him, definitely. But if the food stops showing up, you might find tomatoes in your shoes and your clothes gone.”
One corner of his mouth tipped up. “Tomatoes?”
“He did that to me when he was six. Didn’t like that I sent him to school. Believe me when I tell you, putting your foot in a shoe filled with tomatoes isn’t something you ever want to feel first thing in the morning.”
Jude bellowed out a laugh, and I couldn’t help but lean in and place a kiss on his bicep. Grinning up at him, I noticed he’d stopped laughing. Instead, his molten gaze was hungrily drinking me in.
“Just so you know, I’m staying the night.”
“Just so you know, I won’t stop you.”
He was up immediately, taking me with him and throwing me over his shoulder. I shrieked at the sudden movement, unable to see anything since my hair tie had come loose and my thick tresses were now covering my face.
I found myself airborne before landing on my bed. Jude closed and locked the door, then ripped off his shirt. There was a tearing sound, but it went ignored by both of us because his pants were gone next, leaving him in his boxer shorts and socks.
Tearing my gaze away from his rippling abs, I pointed at his feet. “Don’t even think of leaving your socks on.”
They were gone immediately, and then he was next to me, trailing his hand up my arm. “So soft. So perfect.” His voice was quiet, as if he didn’t want to break whatever spell had woven around us. “Beautiful. You own me.”
I felt a connection to him that I’d never felt before. There was something about Jude that left me spellbound.
The heat I saw in his eyes made me shiver, the words he whispered making me tingle. “I’ve wanted you from the first time I saw you.
A husky chuckle escaped me, followed by a moan when he trailed his tongue over my collarbone. “I’m glad slamming the door in your face didn’t deter you.”
He raised my shirt, his hands tracing every dip and curve of my body on their way up. I sat up, lifting my arms, and he slid my top off.
He found the back clasp of my bra and expertly undid it with one hand. I kissed his neck, then lightly bit his earlobe. “Show-off.”
Pulling off my bra, he kissed his way down my chest. “There’s a lot more I can show you.”
He tongued my nipple, then lightly sucked it. I savored each kiss he placed on my heated skin, basking in the warm feeling his touches elicited.
He bestowed equal attention to each breast, leaving me in a panting heap by the time his kisses moved farther down.
My heart was beating out of my chest, my body humming with need. Seemingly as desperate, Jude divested me of my pants and underwear, leaving me bare beneath him.
Tugging on the waistband of his boxer shorts, I scrambled to push them down. “Off. Take them off.”
The command was breathless as I squirmed underneath him to get rid of the offending garment. As soon as it was gone, my hands found their prize. I leaned up, pushing him to his back. Since he was a lot bigger than me, I couldn’t have moved him if he hadn’t let me.
And the fact that he was willing to let me explore, to let me take the lead, made me even hotter. I never believed I could ever have someone who seemed to fit me so perfectly. Yet here he was, stretched out before me, his eyes hungrily watching my every move.
I took my time drinking him in, tracing every part with my eyes. He had a huge dragon tattoo winding down the side of his body and up over his shoulder. It continued down his arm in a full sleeve.
The ink suited him. And I couldn’t help but make it my mission to trace his dragon tattoo with my lips and hands, exploring each line.
He mapped my body with his touch as much as I did his, and soon I had no sense of where he ended and I began. His lips found mine again, claiming them in a hungry kiss.
He leaned back, looking at me as stunned as I no doubt looked at him. The feelings that had been shaken free inside me were new and scary. But they were also exhilarating and addictive. And I wanted more.
He flipped us over, then leaned to the side, retrieving his pants. I watched with hungry eyes as he pulled out a condom. As he slowly rolled it on, I watched his big hand squeeze his thick shaft. And I vowed that next time it would be my hands on him instead.
He pushed my legs apart, his eyes glowing like a lion’s. He kissed my knee before his gaze met mine. “I need to be inside you.”
I silently answered by dropping my legs open as far as they could go. He braced himself above me, his mouth finding mine.
When he slid into me, I held on to him with all I had, my head thrown back. My body erupted with a need like I’d never felt before, and I struggled to get as close to him as possible.
And when his strong hands took hold of my hips, moving me so he was sliding in and out of me with deep, slow strokes, I spiraled further and further into an abyss I didn’t know if I’d ever emerge from. He cradled my head in his big hands, his eyes holding mine, the need and longing within them burning bright.
He took a shuddering breath in, skimming his mouth against mine. Our movements grew more unrefined, his strokes becoming more desperate. And when I came, it was with a sense of completeness and satisfaction that overtook all my senses.
Jude was warm against me, his thrusts never slowing, drawing out my orgasm. The shudder that went through him when he followed reverberated against me. Our bodies pressed tight together, seeking, touching, worshipping.
He kissed my shoulder, then lifted his head. “If I’d known about the magic juju you can weave with your body, I would have dragged you into bed a lot sooner.”
Giggling, I ran my hands through his hair, taking in the bright spark in his eyes and the way his full lips had formed into a half grin.
God, he’s gorgeous.
“I thought you only wanted to get into my pants.”
He kissed my forehead as his body vibrated with his laughter. “I definitely wanted to get into your pants.” He trailed kisses along my cheekbone, stopping when his mouth was hovering near my ear. “Would I be pushing my luck if I asked you to take a shower with me?”
Shaking my head, I was unable to stop the wide smile from spreading over my face.
He sat back on his haunches, his eyes drinking me in. The heated gleam told me we weren’t done. Not by a long shot.
Not only did we take a shower together, but he also stayed the night, holding me close the whole time.
And in the morning, he got up before everyone else to bring back donuts.
Chapter 14
Jude
“Are you there yet?”
“How fucking long does it take to drive out there?”
“What can you see?”
“Why aren’t you answering?”
I ignored my brothers, who were making my head hurt with all their questions, and looked at the gate up ahead.
The castle-like building behind it loomed dark, the towers like silent sentries watching anyone who dared enter.
My brothers had fussed over me like mother hens while I was getting ready, clucking around me and checking that my earpiece was working. They’d tested it over and over to make sure they could hear anything that was said.
Too bad I couldn’t turn off the sound the other way so I couldn’t hear them.
“I’m here. Now shut up and let me do this without interruptions.”
“Don’t take any chances. And don’t insult them. These guys are old-school.”
Rolling down my window, I was greeted by a robotic voice. “Welcome, Master Olysses. Please proceed up to the manor.”
My brothers snorted, and I had to suppress my own grin. “Old-school indeed,” I muttered as I rolled my window up.
A butler stood outside the massive front doors that were decorated with intricate carvings, huge brass handles attached to the outside.
The gold door knocker shaped like a lion’s head didn’t even seem out of place. Its uniqueness only added to the eclectic decor of the place.
“Master Olysses. Welcome to the Forum,” he greeted me when I climbed out of my Maserati.
My gaze wandered around the curved driveway, stopping on a huge statue of a half-naked dude.
The butler cleared his throat. “If you’ll follow me.”
Once he was sure he had my attention, he stepped back inside the building.
The interior was as grand as the outside. There was marble as far as I could see and more statues scattered through the round entrance hall.
And there were snakes on every surface in the form of statues, paintings and engraved on doors and door handles.
Big ones, small ones, angry ones, and ones made out of diamonds. Someone had a serious obsession. And not in a healthy way.
Our steps echoed through the hallway big enough to drive a car through. Whoever built this must have really liked wide-open spaces.
We stopped in front of a closed door, and the butler pulled a golden rope. A bell chimed inside the room, and then the door opened. Two guards stood inside the huge theater-like room.
The only light was centered on the four hooded figures sitting on a dais in the middle of the space, snake statues lining the walk to it. I trailed a hand down a snake’s head, attaching a small bug to it.
The man on the right indicated the space in front of the large table they sat behind. “Jude Olysses. Please, approach.”
“You have been deemed worthy.”
I couldn’t make out which one had spoken, but I didn’t think it mattered at this stage.
