“Were you and your grandmother close?”
A single nod is all that I get in response.
It doesn’t take an expert to realize that Jude is uncomfortable being questioned like this, which is a bit odd, since the man is forthcoming with far more personal information. I’ve heard him brag about the women that he’s hooked up with. I’ve heard him immediately recount his favorite sexual position, over Sunday morning coffee. I’ve heard all kinds of things leave his mouth that a normal person would never say. Yet, I ask a few questions about his family, and he immediately changes the subject.
“So, I think that a ‘thank you’ is in order.” A wicked gleam takes over the darkness that had flashed in his eyes just a few moments ago. “I mean, I did share my El Dorante’s with you, Willow, and frankly, you didn’t deserve it.”
“Didn’t deserve it?” I pretend to pout, to which Jude just smirks. “How dare you!”
“No, you definitely didn’t deserve it. You’re mean to me, Willow Anderson. You pick on me all of the time, and if I were less of a man, your words would really hurt my self-esteem. Luckily, I’ve got quite a bit of that, so I’m still good. But somedays, your words do cut deep.”
When he winks at me, my heart does an unwelcome flip in my chest. I wonder if this is a normal reaction to a Jude Masters wink, or if I’m just losing my mind here. I’m guessing that most women react to him in this way, but by all accounts, I’m not most women. I have no intention of climbing across this island and throwing myself at the man, which I’m guessing, is the popular option among my species. Instead, I watch him, as he takes both of our plates and rinses them off, before loading them into the dishwasher.
When he catches me staring at him, his smirk only widens.
“You’ve gotta stop undressing me with your eyes. I’m not just a hunk of man meat. I have feelings, you know. And I’m still waiting for an apology and some appreciation.”
I could give him some appreciation, but I’m not going to. I already did that, and look where it got me. I’m now a flustered mess, sitting inside of Jude’s kitchen and staring at the man in front of me, remembering exactly what he looked like, sans clothing.
“Thank you for sharing your food with me, Jude. That was very kind of you.”
“And?” He kicks the dishwasher door shut with his heel, before returning to the island. Only this time, he doesn’t sit down across from me. He leans forward, placing his weight on both of his hands while locking his eyes on mine.
“And for hooking me up with your ladies. If I end up getting this residency, I’ll owe you one, for sure.”
“You don’t owe me, Willow.” He turns away from me, only long enough to cross the room to the fridge and remove two beers, offering me one, which I take. “But thank you for the appreciation.”
Drink it slow, girl. The little voice in my head has nothing but urgency in it. Remember what happened last time you drank too much around him.
Whether I like it or not, the visions of what Jude and I did just over a week ago flood my mind all of the time. They’re in bits and pieces, of course, since I drank enough that night to kill a horse. But still, they’re there. And honestly, they’re quite impossible to forget.
Now, granted, Jude has had nothing but experience in that department, which is the only reason that the visions are so engraved in my mind. Of course, the man is magic in bed. If there was a trophy for fucking, Jude would win first place. It’s literally like his second job. Which to be honest, makes me wonder a little more than I should about what he thought of me in bed.
I don’t have the kind of experience that he does, not by a long shot. I had one boyfriend in high school who took my V card, and then after we split during my freshman year of college, I steered clear of men up until I met BJ. I honestly thought that BJ was going to be it for me. I thought that he would end up being the last man that I ever slept with. I mean, after all, he put a ring on my finger, and I said hell yes. We seemed like we were the perfect match, both in the bedroom and out of it. He made me happy and wanted the exact same things that I did out of this life. My heart broke when everything between us fell apart, but then, I got drunk and sleep with a sex god.
Now, I just can’t be so sure what I think about anything. BJ has barely been a blip on my radar since everything went down between Jude and I. My heart is shattered over him, yes. I miss him like crazy, and I wish things wouldn’t have ended. But I cannot stop thinking about Jude, or the way that he made me feel that night. And it’s turning out to be a real problem.
“What’s on your mind, Willow?” Jude interrupts me at the worst possible time. My face immediately flushes, and I stare down at my beer, trying like mad to stop the fire burning in my cheeks. Why am I even letting myself think about that night at all, let alone, while I’m in the same room with him?
That’s a recipe for disaster, that’s for damn sure.
Sirens wail inside of my head. There is no fucking way I’m telling him what I’m thinking about right now. Not a chance in hell.
“My fiancé.” It leaves my lips in a rush, my brain barely having enough time to force anything besides thoughts of having sex with Jude out of my mouth. Jude eyes me curiously.
“I thought that the two of you had ended things.” His smirk is back on his face, but his eyes are dark and fixed on mine. “Did you guys work things out?”
I shake my head. I haven’t really talked to him since we broke up. I have no idea what to even say to him. My heart is still too damn raw over it to deal with it.
“Do you love him?” I immediately nod. It should feel wrong to own this kind of feeling in front of Jude, but I don’t even hesitate in answering the question. I do love BJ. I loved him enough that when he got down on one knee in front of me, I said yes without a shred of hesitation.
But then, everything between us went up in flames. He took my dream residency and I threw his ring back in his face, literally. I haven’t heard a single thing from him since that day.
“Has he tried to get you back? Sent you flowers, called you begging for forgiveness? Anything like that?”
I answer with a single shake of my head.
“The guy’s an idiot, Willow.” He slides another beer across the island to me. “You shouldn’t spend your time thinking about him. If he isn’t begging for you back, then he’s dumb as fuck. You’re the kind of woman who deserves all of that. You deserve someone who’s willing to fight for you.”
The air between us lightens, and a smile explodes on my face. It has nothing to do with his words, but more so, the fact that Jude Masters is now giving me relationship advice. Pretty fucking comical, right?
“What do you even know about relationships, anyways?” I hand him my empty bottle and take a sip out of the new one. “Have you ever even been in a relationship? And I’m talking like, a real one. Not sleeping with the same hootchie mama two nights in a row.”
“There she goes again.” Jude tilts his head back and stares up at the ceiling. “God, I know that you see this and hear this. Please forgive Willow for always being so mean to me.”
“I’m not being mean!” I swat him playfully, and instantly wish that I hadn’t. His skin sizzles underneath mine, causing the laughter to die right there, on my lips. I jerk my hand away, but it’s too late. Touching him was a mistake that there is apparently, no coming back from.
“You are always mean.” When he stares at me like this, I can’t seem to form words. “You give me shit all of the time, Willow. There are guys on the team who are way worse than I am, yet, you always come at me. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say it’s because you have a little crush on me.”
“Oh, please.” Ok, this is really turning out to be too much. I came here to steal some of Jude’s food, not to be accused of actually crushing on the guy. Which I’m not, by the way.
Not a chance in hell is that what is going on here.
Girl, please.
I drain the rest of my beer and then hop up from my seat
. The air has changed between us, and the heat is rising to the point that it’s making it hard to breathe. I can’t keep a clear head when I’m sitting this close to the man, inside of his own house, and being accused of things that aren’t true. It’s time for me to scoot back home, to the safety of my own bedroom, far away from Jude and his insanely gorgeous self.
“Oh, please is right.” That dangerous smirk is back, making my resolve to leave evaporate into thin air. Even still, I force myself to move past him, setting my beer bottle in the sink and then turning towards him to say goodbye.
I didn’t hear him moving closer to me, and I certainly didn’t have time to stop myself from spinning around and landing right into his chest.
My lungs seize from the contact, my heartrate accelerating as I try to collect myself and take a step back. My brain is screaming at my body to listen, but my limbs don’t get the message. My feet stay firmly planted on the ground.
“I’m not sorry for what happened that night, Willow.” His finger dips underneath my chin, causing a wave of need to ripple through me. “You can pretend that you don’t, but I’ll be man enough to admit it. I’ve got a little crush on you, myself. I’ve been crushing on you for a long time now. I would have never acted on it alone, but, since we’ve already crossed the line…”
We’ve crossed more than a line. We’ve crossed the border to another fucking planet. In no way, shape, or form, do Jude and I together, make sense. We couldn’t be any more different. There’s no possible way that something between us could ever work out.
Neither one of us needs to say it. It’s clear as damn day.
And yet even still, the attraction between us is palpable, and I have no doubt that if I don’t walk away right now, the next time my feet move away from him, it’s going to be on my walk of shame tomorrow morning.
“Wyatt will kill you.” It’s a feeble attempt at this point, trying to drive home the fact that I am yet again willing to sleep with my brothers’ best friend. I know that it doesn’t change the need within me, but I’m hoping that it changes Jude’s mind. I need him to be the one who takes a step back, because apparently, I just can’t do it.
“He’s going to kill me anyways, Willow.” That damn finger of his moves from underneath my chin, traveling down my neck, until finally, it traces my shoulder. It’s a simple touch, and yet, at the same time, it’s enormous. Just the feeling of his skin on mine is really just too much to bear. “We might as well have some fun until that happens.”
Fun.
That’s the only thing that this could ever be. A fun time, a quick fling. That’s Jude’s MO, and I know that. I’ve seen it, firsthand. He’s a fun guy, looking for a good time. The only question here, is whether or not I’m a fun kind of girl.
I just can’t be sure.
“I’ve never just had a fling.” The words leave my mouth in a rush. “I’ve always been a relationship kind of girl.”
The way that he stares down at me, causes desire to pool inside of me. Jude is the forbidden fruit, and I know that. The problem is, I already took a bite out of the fruit, and even though I know it’s toxic, I want more.
Good fucking God, I want more.
“I’m not a relationship guy, Willow, and I’m sure as hell not the guy that you end up with.” As his hips rock against me, and I feel the massive erection pressing into my stomach, all of my resolve to walk away flies out of the window. I’m toast here, and frankly, I’m ready for tomorrow mornings walk of shame. “I’m just the guy that you have fun with until you find your forever.”
I have no idea how I’m even speaking, since I’m so breathless, that I can hardly breathe, let alone speak. Even still, words manage to leave my mouth, and while they are true, they sting, even to me.
“Perfect, because I’m down for some fun, Jude. And since I’ve already had you, we might as well turn this into a fling.”
Bitch, please.
13
Jude
It’s happening. Good fucking God, it’s happening.
I didn’t plan on things taking this kind of turn, but fuck me, I’m not sorry. As Willow’s mouth mashes against mine, and her sweet tongue slips inside, the taste of her overwhelms all of my senses. The slow, burning need that’s been simmering inside of me since the first time I tasted her erupts, swallowing me whole. The only thought consuming me is getting every stitch of clothing off of her body, and then laying her on her back, in my bed. The need to claim her is so strong, that in this moment, I contemplate just taking her right here, in my kitchen. Maybe I’ll explore that option later, but right now, I want to see what she looks like, on my bed, completely naked, with her legs spread open wide for me.
I’m a dirty motherfucker, like that.
I grab ahold of her and move quickly through my house. Her legs wrap tightly around my center, and as we move, she pulls her shirt over her head, tossing it onto the floor in the hallway before we even make it to the bedroom. I’m hanging on by a thread by the time that we make it through my door, and as she pulls her bra down, exposing her perfect tits, I almost lose it, like a fucking teenage boy who just hit puberty. This is not a normal issue for me. Never in my memory have I ever almost dropped my load in my own pants, but every naked inch of Willow tests my limits.
Once the door is kicked shut behind me, things get a little messy. Her teeth nibble on my lips all while she begs me for more, our hands hastily grip and grope all over each other, little pants leaving both of our lips.
“Jude.” My name leaves her lips in a plea. “Please, touch me.”
No worries there, sweetheart.
I grab ahold of her, leaning her against the wall and locking her in with my body. I pull her pants down in one tug before dropping to my knees in front of her. She whimpers for me and thrusts her hips into my face. Within seconds, my hands trace the lace of her panties, and in one simple tug, I rip them right off of her. She cries out for me, and then grabs a hold of my head before dropping herself right against me.
It’s so fucking hot, so damn daring, and so unlike the image that Willow portrays, but I fucking love it. I adore the fact that she puts on the sweet girl front, when actually, she’s a dirty girl in the bedroom. It’s my favorite part about her.
My tongue glides along her slick folds, and with every stroke of my tongue, her breath quickens, and her moans get louder. She’s rocking her hips hard against my face, her hand twisted tightly into my hair as she moves my head at the pace that she needs. It’s so hot. So utterly perfect, that I swear, I could stay down here and let her fuck my face all day.
I have no idea how long I taste her for, but when a guttural sound leaves her mouth, I swallow hard and fast, drinking down every last drop of her, as she crumples into my arms.
“Jude.” Her voice is weak, as I lower her onto my bed. “I need you inside of me.”
“I know, baby. Spread your legs for me.”
She does exactly as I ask, opening wide and then staring at me with eyes that I could easily get lost in. I don’t even hesitate any longer, even though I’d love to just sit here and stare down at how sexy she looks, with her legs spread wide for me, her perfect tits on full display, and the hazy look covering her face from the orgasm that just ricocheted through her.
Stick it your memory bank, fucker. The voice of good inside of my head shouts. This is the last fucking time you do this
The devil inside of me takes back his control. Then shut up and let me enjoy it.
“Jude.” Willow whimpers, snapping my attention back to her sweet self. “Please. I need to feel you.”
I need to feel less.
Without wasting another moment, I slide inside of her slowly, spreading her wide with my thick length, as she curls her back and screams out for me to do it harder.
That’s my girl.
I give it to her, fucking her hard and then slowing down, and with each thrust, I lose myself more and more. The sound of her voice whimpering my name washes over me, causing an unwelcome ru
sh of emotion to fill me. I can’t even look down at her, at least, not into her eyes. If I do, I’m going to fuck up here, and say some words that I’m certain I can’t actually mean. This is just lust. Lust.
It’s not her fault that it’s also perfection. Willow and I have good sex, and witty conversation. Even still, this has to be it. Otherwise, both my head and my heart are going to end up in a place where they don’t belong.
“Jude.” Her hands grip my biceps, as I thrust myself inside of her again, feeling her walls quake all around me. “Oh, dear God.” The second that she wails, I lose myself inside of her. It’s the climax that never fucking ends, either, causing both my vision to blur and my head to spin.
What in the actual fuck? As my body sags against hers, and I roll onto my side, she cuddles right into me, her soft breath causing every hair on my chest to stand on end. It’s in that moment, that I realize exactly how fucked I am. Willow Anderson has wrecked me. This dirty, sinful, saint of a woman has completely wrecked me to my core.
And now, I have no choice but to push her away, before we both get hurt.
“You seem awfully peppy today.” Gigi bursts into my office and pauses in the doorway. Her eyes roam over me, before she raises an eyebrow in my direction. “And why are you humming? You shouldn’t be. Your voice sounds like a broken goose.”
Was I humming? I honestly wasn’t paying attention. I could have been, though. My mind is stuck on replay, and the events of last night keep circling my brain. I’ve showered this morning, and even still, I can smell Willow all over me. It’s as though I absorbed her into my skin, and now, the sweet smell of her perfume is forever etched within me.
I shuffle the papers on my desk that I’ve been staring at for the last hour and shake my head, trying to force myself to pay attention to the task at hand.
No Touch Zone (Saints of Love Book 2) Page 8