Chapter 10
Jude didn’t move a single muscle. May’s compliance meant so much to him, more than he’d expected. When he’d started linking intimacy with trust, he didn’t know. He only knew that she would never get sexually involved with him if she doubted him, if she didn’t genuinely like him.
Celebrity, popularity, power…those things meant nothing to May. He thought of how the night would end, how he’d make it end, and the heated thoughts expanded his lust. No matter what, he wouldn’t let May hide from him any longer. She claimed to want him; now he’d see how much.
He’d been patient far too long.
The intrusion of Tim’s whining voice jolted Jude into action. Her brother made him see red, but he kept his voice moderate. “Let’s go.”
She didn’t say a word, but he could feel the trembling in her hand, see the added flush to her cheeks. Driven by urgency, he hurried her along, giving her no chance to console her brother, and Tim no chance to cry on her shoulder.
He and Denny worked well together, because while Jude led May one way, Denny led Tim another. As Tim’s complaints escalated, May looked over her shoulder with fretful concern.
Because he wanted her attention on him, and only him, as soon as he got her out of sight of Tim, Jude said, “I’m going to strip you naked, you know.”
She faltered to a stop at the bottom of the stairwell. Feathery lashes fluttered, her lips parted, more color rushed into her cheeks.
The subtle, sexy scent of her skin intensified with her blush. Jude breathed it in—and knew he couldn’t wait to kiss her.
Out of view, Tim’s and Denny’s muted voices placed them near the pool. The memory of each earlier kiss came back to Jude with the effect of a tsunami. Lust tightened his muscles and thickened his breath.
“Jude?” she whispered, sounding pretty turned-on herself.
He caught her arms above the elbows and lifted her to her tiptoes. Her eyes widened, her lips parted—and he took her mouth with all the savage intensity that boiled inside him.
On a groan, she went limp, slumping against him, her mouth warm and wet and open to his. His tongue thrust in, withdrew, entered again for a more thorough tasting, lazily twining with her tongue, exploring her mouth. It was a kiss of complete possession, whether May realized it or not.
She pushed closer to him, and he could feel her stiffened nipples on his chest, her belly against his crotch. From one heartbeat to the next, he got an erection that even a virgin wouldn’t miss.
With a sound of approval, May rubbed against him, countering his every move. Soon he’d kiss her like this again—with them both naked, her legs around his waist, her nails on his back.
Only when Jude heard the loud splash and Tim’s curse did he recall the here and now.
“My room,” he whispered against her lips. “Tell me yes, May.”
Eyes still closed, she swallowed, nodded, and breathed, “Yes.”
“Thank God.”
One hand on his chest, her face tilted up to his, May laughed. And that, as much as anything else, caused the coiling tension to snap. His patience was at an end.
In all the many times that he’d imagined making love to May, not once had he thought of racing her up the steps. He’d never considered his loss of finesse, or hearing her giggle at his haste, or the heavy, nearly impossible weight of his heart as it seemed to expand in his chest.
In the carpeted second floor hallway, she stumbled, and Jude scooped her up. Mortified, she flailed around, trying to get loose, but no way in hell would he let that happen.
“Settle down, May.”
“You can’t carry me!”
“Apparently, I can.” He kissed her mouth, hard and fast, and took the last few steps to his room. Her mortified groan fired his blood, and he added, “I like holding you, May. You’re a very soft, warm armful.”
Knotting one hand in the hair on the back of his head, she growled, “Is that another crack on my weight?”
Jude looked down at where her hefty breasts smashed up against his chest. “No.” He shifted his arm, jostling her behind, and he kissed the frown off her forehead. “You’re perfect, every ounce of you.”
Shoving his bedroom door open, then kicking it shut again, he strode for the bed.
May looked up, and her mouth dropped open. “Holy crap.”
“Like it?” He didn’t pause in his trek toward the bed, but when he started to lower her to the oversized mattress, she clung like a vine. “May?”
Reaching out, she ran her fingertips lightly along the bottom left Corinthian column of his iron and walnut bed. “I’ve never seen furniture so big.”
“It’s a big room.”
Her dark eyes focused on the plush down comforter. “And you’re a big man?”
Damn. “You won’t have any complaints.”
Her smile came and went. She looked at the curving wall of windows and the double doors that led to his bath. Her gaze skimmed over two paintings he’d bought from her, the wall monitor, and then the floor-to-ceiling fountain on the opposite wall that supplied the soothing sounds of running water. “You actually sleep in here?”
“It’s a bedroom. What’d you think I’d do in here?”
Perplexed, she stared up at him. “It’s so big. Don’t you feel…lost?”
“No.” He pried her loose and followed her down onto the bed, sliding his hands from her shoulders down to her wrists and beyond, until he could twine his fingers with hers. He stretched her arms up high, and then just stared down into her beautiful dark eyes. “This is my favorite room. I love the furniture, the fountain, the view, and especially the incredible artwork that one very talented gallery owner helped me choose.”
Tipping her head back, she studied the majestic columns at each corner of his bed, visually tracing the fluted wood up to the broad, masculine finials, and then up to his ceiling.
Her eyes rounded. “Jude?”
Already knowing her thoughts, adoring her more by the minute, he said, “Hmmm?”
“Why is there such a bright light right over your bed?”
Grinning, Jude slid his right hand under the hem of her shirt, up her waist, and over her breast. Her eyes closed, her lips parted on a sharp breath.
Feeling her, the plump flesh, the stiffened nipple, made it difficult for him to speak. But he enjoyed playing with May too much not to take advantage of the silly questions.
Instead of pointing out how much he enjoyed reading, Jude said, “During the day, the windows let in plenty of light, but at night, it can be dark as Hades in here.” He gently squeezed her breast. “But I’m a guy who likes to see what I’m getting into.”
She started to protest when he stroked his thumb over her velvety nipple, and all that came out of her mouth was a small sound, barely heard, not much more than an aroused whimper.
Knowing exactly what that female sound meant, Jude shoved the T-shirt up, intent on replacing his hand with his mouth. Haste rode him again, but around May, he had no choice.
Before he could put plan to action, her hands tangled in his hair, holding him off.
Behind her glasses, her brown eyes looked solemn and too serious. “I’m not a skinny starlet, Jude.”
“Thank God.” Again, he leaned forward. May’s fingers tightened to the point of pain. “Ow.”
“Listen to me.”
“Couldn’t we talk later?” He turned his head to kiss the inside of her elbow, then studied her soft, swollen lips, now damp from his kisses, and the pulse that tripped wildly in her throat. “I have the sexiest broad on the earth in my bed. I’m finally about to get her naked—something I’ve wanted to do from the second I first saw her. She’s ready, I’m anxious, and if I don’t get inside her soon, I’m going to self-combust.”
Her shaky laugh made her breasts shimmer. Such beautiful breasts. Later, he’d take his time with her. For now, he wanted her enough that he hurt.
Using only his fingertips, Jude rolled her nipple and got a heated gasp in return. “Can I please take that as agreement?”
She nodded, removed her glasses, and handed them to him. Jude quickly set them aside, and by the time he turned back to her, she’d already whisked the shirt off over her head.
Sitting up on his haunches astride her thighs, Jude got to look at all of her.
He’d expected May to be shy. Overly modest. But instead, she smiled and stretched, putting her arms above her head and arching her neck, thrusting her breasts toward him. The shorts rode low on her shapely hips, displaying her belly and the tops of her hipbones.
On fire, Jude opened his hand over the sexy rise of her belly. “You are so soft.”
“And you’re so hard.” She made a purring sound, squirming under him. “After seeing you, other men look like boys. You’re so solid in layered muscle, so strong in body and confidence.”
“I’m just me, May.”
She shook her head. “I’m not talking about you the movie star. Or even you the fighter, though I like the fighter a lot.”
He started to question that, until she went on.
“I’m talking about you the man who takes whatever life throws at him and is still so damn successful, and so honorable.” Her voice lowered. “And so sexy.”
Jude smiled. “But?”
“We’ve known each other a while now.”
“True. And it’s made me nuts, wanting you while you kept me a safe distance away.”
Appearing reserved, she stared at his throat and whispered, “From what you’ve said, how you are, you enjoy all things…carnal.”
“I’m a guy.” He kneaded her breast while speaking. “Of course I do.”
“It’s more than that. When I’m near you, I can feel your masculinity, your iron will.” Her legs shifted on the bed. “Your sex appeal. You think women stare at you because of your reputation or your fame or your money. But you’re just so macho, so…powerful.”
Because Jude knew women, he knew that’s what most of them saw. For them, his appeal was his wealth and celebrity, and most didn’t even bother to deny it.
But May confounded him. From the word jump, he’d had a hard time figuring her out.
“Don’t you see, Jude? You could be a poor street cleaner who no one had ever heard of, and you’d still draw female attention everywhere you went.”
He didn’t want her idolizing him. When he fucked up, as all men did on occasion, he wanted her to understand and forgive. If her expectations were too high, he’d never be able to live up to them.
“As long as I have your attention, I don’t care about the rest of it.” Staring down at her body, at the luscious swells and dips and her soft, pale flesh, he couldn’t even remember any other woman. She was his fantasy come to life, an ache in his heart and groin, a need he’d never fully appease. The more time he spent with her, the more time he wanted with her.
“You have it,” she promised. “You’ve had my attention for a very long time.”
“Good.” From May’s breasts to her hips and up again, Jude touched her, teasing them both.
“I hope you like what you see,” May whispered, “because I’m not changing.”
“Trust me, I like you just as you are.” Using both hands, he cupped her substantial breasts. “God, you’re stacked.”
She laughed—but only until he tugged on her nipples.
When she started to lower her arms to reach for him, Jude rasped, “No, leave them up there. I like seeing you like this, all stretched out across my bed.”
“All right.” She pressed her head into the mattress and closed her eyes—but she didn’t move her arms.
“Do you know I get light-headed just looking at you?”
Her hips lifted in a bid to hurry him along. Needing no more encouragement than that, Jude shifted to sit beside her. “Don’t move.”
Untying the drawstring at the waistband of the shorts, he eased them down until he could just see the top of her underwear. He’d often wondered about it, curious as to what type of lingerie she’d choose. But what he found shouldn’t have surprised him. “Pink cotton?”
“Shut up, Jude.”
Even while making him red hot, she amused him. “And little blue flowers?” With one finger, he traced a tiny bud that decorated the waistband of her undies.
“I mean it.”
“These are cute.”
Eyes still closed, arms raised, she said, “I’m warning you.”
He felt his smile in his heart. Hell, he even felt it in his soul. “Yes, ma’am.” Skimming the shorts down her thighs, her calves, and finally, her feet, he admired her silly underwear, how whimsical they seemed on a woman usually hidden in a boxy suit.
And then he removed her panties, too.
Amazed, breathless, caught in a whirlwind of desire, May gave herself over to the moment. It helped that without her glasses, she couldn’t really read Jude’s expression. He’d slept with some of the most beautiful women in the world.
If her very average body didn’t satisfy him, she wouldn’t see it.
But the way he touched her, the added heat pouring off him, and the intent way he explored her told her that he had no complaints.
“This isn’t really fair.”
His fingers tickled lazily up the inside of her thigh. “What’s that?”
“You seeing me naked when, without my glasses, even after you do finally get rid of your clothes, I won’t be able to see you that well.”
She felt his pause, then the brief skimming of his fingers through her pubic hair. The bed dipped, he stretched away, and then came down close. “Here you are, ma’am.”
Using great care, he slid the armatures of her glasses onto her ears. May opened her eyes—and the burning need in his stole her breath.
“Better?”
She nodded.
His mouth took hers in a claiming kiss that destroyed all doubts. With her limp and overheated, he sat up, and in one quick movement, pulled his shirt off over his head.
The sight of his body always aroused her. But now…now she’d get to touch him and taste him, too. She started to lower her arms to do just that, but Jude caught her wrists.
“Not yet, honey. I’ve thought about this too many times to rush through it, but I swear, I’m not myself.”
“You look like Jude Jamison to me.”
“No. Normally I’m a decent lover.”
Her mouth quirked. “Meaning I should expect substandard treatment?”
He closed his eyes. “Meaning there’s always been something about you that just pushes all my buttons. Holding back at all is killing me, but I’ll be damned if I’ll fuck this up.”
Judging by his strained expression, his loss of control really nettled him. He looked pained. And almost angry.
Maybe…explosive.
Ignoring his order to stay still, May put both hands on his chest and stroked his burning skin. “It’s all right, Jude.”
On a raw laugh of frustration, he sat back on his heels, his knees spread wide. Breathing hard, he let her pet him, until in a sudden burst, he threw his shirt against the far wall. “It’s not all right.”
“Jude—”
He lowered himself over her again, taking her mouth, his hands everywhere.
Caught up in a whirlwind, May could do little more than cling to him. His tongue thrust into her mouth, exploring, hot and wet. His right hand kneaded her breasts while his left held her head still for ever deeper kisses. The denim of his fly scraped against her belly as he started a slow, methodical rhythm that mimicked lovemaking.
“Jude.”
He covered her mouth again, and slowly, tantalizingly, moved his hand down her waist, over her hip, and then inward…until his fingers delved between her legs.
Overwhelmed by the bombardment on her senses, May opened her legs more and heard Jude’s rumbling growl of approval.
Finally freeing her mouth, he kissed her throat, her shoulder, and then, just as his middle finger gently sank into her, he latched onto her nipple.
The combination of sensual assault melted her modesty. Acutely aware of his finger inside her, his knuckles pressing against her mound, his forearm brushing the tender insides of her thigh, May felt every nerve ending in her body.
She’d never been the type for demonstrative sexual displays. For her, intimacy had been restrained and polite. She’d enjoyed sex, and felt fulfilled, yet no one would ever call her abandoned.
But Jude magnified everything, both sexual and emotional. The raw moan that ripped from her throat made her sound like a wanton—and she didn’t care. She couldn’t hold back the evocative sounds, not while Jude made love to her. Each moan, each frantic twist of her body, seemed to urge him on.
He sucked at her nipple, nipped and teased, and licked with his rough tongue. He pulled out of her, then pressed deep again, this time with two fingers, stretching her, working her. Using his thumb, he circled her clitoris, all the while sucking at her nipple.
An unfamiliar tightening began inside May. She clenched her muscles, trying to hold on to his fingers. Her hands gripped his shoulders. She lifted into him, groaned, and whimpered. She was so close…
Jude thrust himself away from her.
Cold, panting, May opened her eyes only to see him shucking off his jeans in furious haste, then fumbling with a condom. He glanced up and caught her stunned gaze. “Sorry, honey.”
May held her arms out to him. “Hurry.”
He laughed, groaned, and with the condom finally in place, stretched out atop her. Cupping her face, he said, “We’ll go slow later. I’ll show you how good it can be. I’ll—”
Frantic, May wailed, “Stop talking about it and just do it.”
His nostrils flared. Using his knee, he nudged her legs wider apart and wedged one hand between their bodies. His fingertips slicked over her damp, sensitive flesh, and she felt him opening her, then she felt the broad head of his penis pushing into her.
Her eyes started to drift shut.
“No,” Jude said, his voice harsh with lust. “Keep looking at me. I want to see you when you come.”
May nodded. “Okay.” But it wasn’t easy. Her eyelids felt heavy, her emotions exposed. She wanted him with her, every bit as wild as she felt.
Lifting her legs and wrapping them around him, she dug her heels into the small of his back to hurry him. She wanted all of him, right now.
Jude locked his jaw. His shoulders went taut. And then he thrust hard, burying himself inside her.
They both gasped, going still as May adjusted to his size, and Jude tried to find lost control.
But May didn’t want him controlled. She wanted him as lost as she felt. Needing to push him, she touched his mouth with her fingers and tightened her legs around him. “Jude? You feel so good.”
His expression darkened as he fought it, but he lost the battle. “Shit,” he snarled, even as he began riding her hard, driving into her, pulling all the way out, thrusting in again.
“Yes.” The feelings were so much more than physical. Seeing Jude, breathing in his scent, seeing his excitement and lust while holding him, all made it more than she’d ever experienced. Sharp sensation came in ebbs and flows, growing stronger each time until the tension snapped, flooding her body with pleasure. “Yes, yes, yes.”
Jude held her closer, their gazes still locked, and through the clouded haze of her orgasm, she saw the moment he went taut—and the incredible release that slowly drained him.
Seconds ticked by. Jude let out a long breath, smoothed her hair back from her face, and low ered his weight onto her. So in love she felt sick with it, May turned her face into his throat and just hugged him.
“Damn,” he muttered, kissing her temple. “I’m sorry.”
She sighed. “Why?” For her, it had all been pretty wonderful.
He shifted his weight, leaving her body and turning to his side, but taking her with him so that they stayed in a warm embrace. “I didn’t do half of what I wanted to do.”
Sleepily, she asked, “Like?”
“Like feel your hands on my cock, or your inner thighs on my jaw.”
Her eyes popped open, and even though they were both naked and had just indulged in some incredible sex, she blushed. “Um…”
But Jude wasn’t finished. “I didn’t make you come with my hands and my mouth, the way I’ve dreamed of doing.”
“Jude…”
His hand smoothed down her back to her behind. “And I didn’t tell you how incredibly beautiful you are.”
Her heart turned over, making her eyes damp. “Thank you.”
“If you weren’t so exhausted, I’d start again, right now.” He raised himself to one elbow, destroying her attempts at hiding. Smiling, sexy, he made a temptation no woman could resist.
“Well, then…”
To shush her, he traced her mouth, his expression intent. “But you are exhausted. So I suppose I’ll just have to bide my time until we’ve both had a nap.”
May would have protested that decision, but in a diabolical act sure to distract her, he left the bed and, his back to her, stretched.
Wow. She should commission an artist to paint him just like that. She could have prints done and make a fortune.
Over his shoulder, Jude said, “I’ll just go clean up. Get comfortable. I won’t be long.” And he strode across the room, through the double doors to the bathroom.
Feeling very satisfied, May curled to her side and nestled her head into the pillow. Her body seemed to sink into the sinfully soft mattress. The gentle sounds of the fountain lulled her. Lethargic and sexually replete, smiling from the inside out, she closed her eyes.
Within seconds, she was asleep.