by Calista Fox
He kissed her. Long and leisurely. As though they had all the time in the world to touch and taste and explore each other.
As though all the external forces ceased to exist when they were naked and tangled up in each other.
Her hands slid up to his shoulders, then her arms twined around his neck. Her breasts pressed to his chest, rising and falling in time with hers. Their tongues twisted and caressed and teased.
Kate wondered what it would be like to stay locked in this hotel suite with Jude for an entire weekend. How amazing it would be to order room service, turn their phones off and just enjoy each other’s bodies. Along with the huge Jacuzzi tub and the fireplace and this outrageously comfortable bed…
This time it was Kate who broke the kiss and pulled away.
She’d just woven a fantasy in her mind that stood no chance of surviving.
Her weekend was already planned out.
And…wasn’t this supposed to be a one-night stand only?
Jude’s jaw worked as he seemed to contemplate this new form of her retreat.
Then he said, “Don’t you dare go anywhere, Kate.” He slung his legs over the side of the bed and stood. “I’m not done with you tonight.”
Kate lost all train of thought at the sight of his ass as he began to strut away. She had the very unfamiliar urge to bite a cheek. Which made her laugh.
Over his shoulder, Jude asked, “Something amuses you?”
“Yes. You have an incredibly nice butt, Jude McMillan.”
He snickered. “And that’s funny?”
“Not funny, ha-ha. I just…I didn’t really allow myself to look before. Or let it register, I guess. I don’t know.” She shook her head again. “I’ve always known you have a magnificent body. This is just the first time I’ve been able to acknowledge it.”
“Glad you finally took note. I was getting damn pissed off that you always appeared unaffected by me.”
“That’s not the case—it’s never been the case with you, Jude. Not physically or emotionally. But I’ve had rules to follow. You know that.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not in your appointment book, so to hell with the rules.”
“It’s not quite that cut-and-dried, Jude.”
“For me it is. Now… I’m popping into the bathroom. Don’t you dare put that dress back on or inch toward the door. I want you again, Kate. Gimme two seconds.”
He disappeared into the bathroom while Kate’s insides sizzled. She took a few deep breaths, hoping to get her bearings. A tinge of what have I gotten myself into? caused her a healthy dose of nervous anxiety as she considered how correct Jude was about their volatile chemistry. And Kate couldn’t deny one very obvious and blatant fact: she didn’t want this one-night stand to be over just yet.
Not a reasonable revelation, but Kate brimmed with curiosity as to what else Jude had up his sleeve.
The man had the right touch, the right moves, even the right words to ensnare her. So that she once more threw caution to the wind and did exactly as he requested, rather than gathering up her clothing and getting the hell out.
When Jude strode back into the room, Kate couldn’t take her eyes off him. The man was a masterpiece from head to toe, and she wanted to enjoy what he had to offer one final time.
He joined her in bed and Kate couldn’t resist running her hands over his body as Jude’s mouth captured hers in a molten kiss.
Before they got carried away, however, he broke the kiss and asked, “Why aren’t you with someone, Kate?”
Breathless, she said, “Andrew is right…I do work too much.” Composing her thoughts, she told Jude, “I have a new project I’m engrossed in, traveling around the state to provide free mental health screenings, after regular office hours and on weekends. I’ve been invited to participate in an expanded version with global efforts. There’s a lot of red tape and juggling of schedules to wade through.”
“Plus meeting the needs of your current patients.”
“Of course. That’s the most critical factor.”
“So marriage and kids…not in the grand plan?”
Kate gave a small shrug. “Not everyone envisions that for themselves, Jude.”
“I’m not judging. I’m simply trying to piece together the puzzle.”
She stared at him in the shadowy light and quietly inquired, “You want to talk about this now?”
His gaze dropped to her lips. He licked his own, then said, “Not the best timing to broach the subject. On the other hand…something tells me I won’t have another shot at learning more about you.”
“Jude…” Kate let out a soft sigh. Gave this a moment’s contemplation.
How far did she dare to go with him? What sort of deep-dive into her life was he interested in taking, for that matter? And exactly how much carte blanche should—would—she grant?
Likely not enough to appease him. She knew Jude that well.
Kate was certain her look turned piercing as she told him, “I’m not sure there’s any relevancy here. I had to reroute my grandiose expectations in med school, when I finally accepted I wasn’t part of the norm and my name wasn’t going to be on the family practice letterhead.”
“You’ve built a successful career out of going it alone,” he offered.
“Yes. But I also had to put significant and careful thought into how to shape my future, my way, and without a partnership with my father and brothers.”
“Do you resent them for carving you out?”
“No,” she adamantly said. “Though they take exception to me for always making things so difficult—in their minds. They waste a lot of time and energy wondering why I have to go against the grain. Why I can’t enjoy dinner parties and spa days and manis and pedis with their wives/fiancées. Worse, they question where my ambitions come from. As though having them is what dictates I’m not a true female Stockman. Just some ‘redheaded stepchild’ they tolerate, adore, even…yes. When I’m not inconveniencing them. But they don’t really understand me. Choose not to relate to me, mentally.”
“That is compellingly tragic and fascinating at the same time,” Jude murmured as his lips glanced over hers. Against them, he whispered, “Everything that perplexes them is everything that draws me to you. Well…” He let out a low, titillating groan. “Your free spirit, intellect, ambition…and this sexy-as-sin body. Which I need to feel beneath me again, Kate.”
11
His head inclined to the side and his mouth crashed over hers. Jude kissed her passionately, in that unique way of his that made her forget they were even having a serious conversation. That made Kate lose all concern over what others thought of her and how she wasn’t as easily definable as her family and friends wished her to be.
Jude had the swoon-worthy ability to take her somewhere completely different. Another world. Another universe. One where Kate Stockman was sensual and desirable…and her decisions were neither questioned nor scrutinized.
As Jude eased her back onto the mattress and she settled atop the plump down comforter, Kate let all the doubts and dismay from earlier in the evening vanish once more, concentrating solely on the feel of Jude’s lips pressed to hers, his tongue delving farther, sweeping over hers. The gliding of his fingertips along her outer thigh, over her hip, into the dip of her waist. Up her rib cage to her breast.
His thumb whisked over her beaded nipple, tightening it further, making her tingle. Then he more assertively palmed the full mound, squeezing with just the right amount of pressure to cause her to writhe beneath him, raising her pelvis to grind against his. His erection slid along her slick folds and she anticipated with mounting need and excitement that one fantastically delicious moment when he’d slowly penetrate her.
Jude took his time. Increasing that anticipation. Until Kate was dying to feel him inside her, desperate to clench him firmly and let him stroke that mystical spot no other man had ever commanded so masterfully.
Tearing her mouth from his, she pleaded, “Stop toying with me, J
ude. Take me.”
“Jesus, Kate. You get me so damn hot.”
“And you feel how wet I am for you. I want you, Jude. Every inch of you, buried inside me.”
Without a word or even a span of a breath between them, he flipped her over, onto her stomach. Excitement seized her.
He kissed the nape of her neck, sending a shiver of delight through her. Then his lips and tongue glided downward, along her spine, in tantalizing, feathery strokes that had her squirming and moaning.
Jude scooted south on the bed, parting her legs and settling partially between them. His large hands cupped her ass cheeks and he spread them, his thumbs peeling away her dewy folds. Then his mouth was on her and Kate cried with pleasure.
He’d told her when she’d invited him to the engagement party that it’d be a real date and that he’d have her begging him to give her everything she wanted before the night was out.
Damned if he hadn’t been wholly correct and intuitive in his arrogant assumptions.
His wildly sexy assumptions.
“Make me come again,” she insisted.
As his tongue teased her most sensitive parts, flitting over her lips, fluttering against her clit before pressing into her, Kate’s heart pounded and little pants of air blew from her lungs. Her fingers c around the thick comforter and her hips lifted another inch or so, giving Jude more access to her.
“Kate,” he muttered against her quivering flesh. “I love how you respond to me.”
His fingers rubbed the tingling bud between her legs. Then slipped inside her and pumped as he bit her ass.
Actually bit her!
Kate’s body jolted, exhilaration rocketing through her.
“Jude!”
He chuckled, though it was a strained sound. “You’re irresistible, Kate.”
“And you’re too naughty for words.”
“Ah, sweetheart… I’m just getting started.”
Jude hadn’t been kidding. Not by any stretch.
He’d lit her brighter, had made her wetter, had had her whimpering and moaning until she’d been on the verge of orgasm. Then he’d eased into her from behind—so gradually, enticingly, she’d instantly fallen apart when he’d been fully ensconced…and all Kate could think about was how fabulously emancipating this sexual indulgence truly was.
Later, she slept better than she had in years. And was awake and shifting into high-gear as the sun was rising—while Jude slept soundly next to the space she stealthily vacated.
His steady snoring filled the room as she slipped from the bed and crept to the bathroom. She showered and then contacted the in-suite butler via the provided iPad and requested clothing from the gift shop for both her and Jude. She then applied some light makeup from the supply in her bag and was sipping her second cup of coffee when Jude strutted into the sitting room, so gloriously naked, Kate could barely breathe.
“’Morning,” he said in a sleepy tone that set all of her nerve endings ablaze. “Been up long?”
She glanced down at the robe she wore while awaiting the golf shirt and designer capris she’d ordered. Gazing at him again, she said, “Long enough, I suppose. Breakfast should arrive any moment. Along with some pants and a polo for you. All in black. Figured you’d appreciate that.” She tossed him a sassy smile.
Jude chuckled. “You’re a morning person, I see. All bright-eyed and sunshiny.”
“I’m guessing that’s a word you’ve never used before.”
“You guess correctly. Though…you epitomize it. Really, Kate… You are stunning.”
He scrubbed a hand down his face, then scratched absently at the hint of dark stubble on his jaw. Which she found destructively captivating. So much so, she completely forgot about the delicate china in her hand.
When a few drops of the bold French roast sloshed over the rim and trickled down the side, Jude’s brow slowly crooked.
Kate returned the cup to its saucer. Clutching her hands in her lap, both trembling slightly over Jude’s nearness—and the fact he was superbly naked—she strove for a more composed demeanor.
“Our butler sent our evening-wear to the dry cleaner. Your suit will be delivered to your office,” she informed him. “With new buttons, of course.”
“How thoughtful of you. Though…” The brow remained arched—almost comically now. “You felt the need to cover up?” His gaze swiftly canvased the room—devoid of any staff. It was just the two of them.
She reached for her coffee and sipped. Then said, “I do have a couple of appointments today. I need to prepare—”
“Mentally,” Jude commented with a nod. “I understand.”
“Do you?”
“We’re both professionals, Kate. And while I have experienced frustration over your ability to simply discount the attraction between—”
“Jude.” She set her cup aside and stood. She solemnly said, “There has been nothing simple between us. From the very beginning, nothing has been simple.”
His teeth clenched.
She continued. “I haven’t discounted the undercurrent riding the emotional intensity. I confessed to as much last night. If you’ll just consider that I have a professional obligation to focus specifically on what’s most disturbing to you, what’s affecting your behavioral health—”
“Kate.” He gave a sharp shake of his head. “I get all of that. Come on. For fuck’s sake…” He raised his hands in surrender. “Maybe I feel a bit protective of your behavioral health, in turn.” His tone lightened a touch, helping to diffuse the sudden strain between them as he mused, “You’re always working.” He said this in a commiserate way, not a derogatory one. “I understand, Kate. What you told me last night…”
He crossed the room, snatched up the pale-gold chenille throw draped over the corner of the sofa Kate had sat on and slung it around his hips. Giving her the tiniest bit of a reprieve from the mesmerizing sight of him.
“You have a smart strategic plan,” he added. “I admire that.” His expression morphed into a contrite one as he told her, “I wouldn’t change a fucking thing about you, Kate.”
Her heart fluttered.
Jude contended, “I hear everything you say. All of it. So don’t worry about how to reconcile what’s happened between us. Don’t obsess over how we’re supposedly going to work it all out. I grasp what’s transpired, Kate. But you have terms to come to that aren’t black and white. Something else I comprehend.”
The doorbell chimed. Kate pulled in a breath. Jude strode toward the door and permitted the butler to pass the threshold.
The tuxedo-clad attendant handed a garment bag to Jude and said, “Your clothing, sir.” Without batting an eye at Jude’s state of undress.
“Thank you.” Jude shot Kate a look and told her, “Don’t leave just yet.”
He disappeared into the bedroom. She collected her bag and tipped the butler. Then she changed into her new clothes and wrapped up the tidbits related to her departure just as Jude emerged, freshly showered and looking too lethal for words, his hair casually tousled, his expression a caustic one.
“What?” she said of this particular expression. “I didn’t slip out while you were in the bathroom.”
“No,” he told her with a half-assed grin that nearly had her tackling him and taking another tumble in bed with him. “But you’re much closer to the door than you are to me.”
She propped a hand on her hip. “How am I to blame for the geography?”
He leaned against the doorframe with a shoulder and folded his arms over his wide chest. The polo with the hotel’s logo in gold might be a refined garment, but Jude still appeared darkly sensual and so damn hot, Kate wondered if her heartbeats would ever return to a normal cadence. Or if she was forever destined to be hyper-charged just being in the same room with the man.
He said, “I thought we were having breakfast together.”
“I told you it was about to arrive; not that I intended to dine with you. I have to be on my way to Long Island in an
hour, and I need to stop at my apartment first.”
“Long Island? Sunday brunch with girlfriends?”
Kate cringed. A natural response over having to justify her impending workload on a weekend. “It’s not a social gathering. I’m meeting with the woman heading up the conglomerate I told you about. Logistical planning is on the agenda, as well as a mile-high stack of paperwork to fine-tune. Contracts to negotiate.”
He shoved away from the frame and closed the gap between them, his gaze steadily on her.
“You’re serious about these global therapy sessions—this opportunity.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t have bothered mentioning it last night if it wasn’t something I was willing to commit to at this point.”
“Damn, Kate.” He combed a hand through his hair, ironically making it a tad messier—which caused a moan to swell in her throat. “When are you leaving town?”
“Soon. I told you I have to be on the road in an hour—”
“I meant, when are you heading out of the country?”
“Oh, well. That’s still up in the air. Remember, I have patients who are evaluating my referral recommendations and there are plenty of other details to sort out.”
“And once you get everything squared away…” His penetrating gaze didn’t waver. “How long will you be gone?”
“That’s debatable,” she admitted as she shifted from one sandaled foot to the other. “This is a small operation at present. Completely in its infancy. In fact, we have numerous legal issues to iron out and additional training to go through. But when we are ready to travel overseas, we’ll have a lengthy itinerary to make the most of the time and expense associated with the journey.”
“I think it’s great what you’re doing, Kate.”
Despite his words, she heard the hesitancy in his voice. The reticence to accept her new plight—and all it entailed. Tension exuded from him and it unnerved Kate.
She could easily interpret his emotions, his reluctance to acknowledge last night honestly was designed to be a one-time occurrence. An amazingly scorching experience, to be sure. One Kate would never forget. One she’d relive in her mind over and over, without doubt.