Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Jude
Morning came faster than it had any right to.
Not because I was tired but because I didn’t want to move.
Ever was wrapped around me like she belonged there, one leg tangled with mine, her arm draped across my chest, her face tucked into the space just under my chin. Her breathing was soft, steady, and every now and then, a faint little snore.
I huffed a quiet laugh and let my hand move along her back, slow and careful, not wanting to wake her.
This.
This right here.
This was new, but it was fucking amazing.
I’d never been the guy who needed someone beside him when he woke up. Never craved it. Never thought twice about sleeping alone, rolling out of bed, and getting on with my day.
But with her?
Yeah.
This felt… right.
Better than right.
Like something had settled into place that I didn’t even realize had been missing.
Her fingers flexed slightly against my chest, and she shifted, her nose brushing my skin before she went still again.
Another soft snore.
I grinned.
“Cute,” I murmured.
Her nose scrunched like she heard me somewhere in her sleep, and then she inhaled sharply, her body tensing for just a second before she woke.
Her eyes blinked open slowly, unfocused at first, then landing on me.
And then—
Awareness hit.
She stilled.
“Was I snoring?” she asked immediately.
I didn’t answer right away, just looked at her.
Took her in like I hadn’t already spent half the night doing exactly that.
“Jude,” she pressed.
“Just a little,” I said finally. “It was cute.”
She groaned and buried her face into my chest like she could hide from it. “Snoring is not cute,” she muttered.
I chuckled and tipped her chin up so I could see her face again. “On you, it is.”
She rolled her eyes, but she didn’t argue when I leaned in and kissed her.
Slow.
Easy.
Nothing like last night.
This one was soft, steady, a quiet kind of reassurance that didn’t need words.
She melted into it anyway.
Of course she did.
And when I pulled back, her eyes were a little dazed, her lips just as tempting as they had been before.
She blinked, then turned her head toward the clock on the dresser. Her entire body tensed. “Oh shit,” she breathed. “It’s eleven-thirty.”
“Yeah,” I said, not sounding nearly as concerned.
“I have to work,” she said, pushing herself up slightly. “And I don’t have time to go home.”
“You can shower here,” I told her easily. “I’ll find you something to wear.”
She hesitated for half a second, then nodded. “I just need a shirt. I can wear my jeans from yesterday.”
“Done.”
She slipped out of bed, and I watched her go without even trying to pretend I wasn’t.
The bathroom door shut behind her, and a minute later the sound of the shower kicked on.
I dragged myself out of bed and moved to the dresser, grabbing one of my shirts and sneaking into the bathroom to set it on the sink. “You’ve got a shirt in here,” I called to her.
“Okay!” she called back over the sound of the water. “Thank you.”
I headed back to the bedroom and leaned against the dresser for a second, running a hand through my hair, letting the morning settle.
Last night replayed in flashes in my head, and I couldn’t help but smile. When I had woken up yesterday, I had been dreading seeing Ever with Jesse, but the night had ended fucking amazing.
The shower shut off, and a few minutes later the bathroom door opened.
I looked up, and damn. She stepped out in my shirt, the hem hitting mid-thigh, her hair damp, and her cheeks still flushed from the heat of the water.
She did a small turn, one hand lifting slightly like she wasn’t sure what to do with it.
“Do I look okay for work?” she asked.
I crossed the room in two steps, hands going to her waist before she could even finish the question. “Yeah,” I said.
And then I kissed her.
Not slow this time.
Not careful.
My hands tightened, pulling her closer as her fingers slid up my chest, gripping like she needed the same thing I did.
It built fast.
Too fast.
That edge from last night right there again.
We both felt it.
We both knew it.
I forced myself to pull back, breath heavier than it should’ve been.
She blinked up at me, lips parted, a little dazed. “I’m going to take that as a yes,” she said softly.
“It’s a hell yes, beautiful.”
Her body went just a little still at that word; she didn’t say anything about it, though. Just gave a small nod.
I didn’t push it. Not yet.
“Come on,” I said, grabbing my keys. “I’ll get you to work.”
We headed out of my room and down the hallway, her hand slipping into mine like it belonged there. Like it had always been there.
We were halfway to the common room when she stopped short. “Wait.”
I turned back toward her. “What?”
“They’re going to know I spent the night.”
I lifted a brow. “And?”
“And…” she trailed off, clearly searching for something. “I don’t know what the ‘and’ is, but I know there should be one.”
I leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “They’re probably all still sleeping.”
She rolled her eyes.
I didn’t give her time to argue, just tugged her the rest of the way down the hall.
We stepped into the common room and I was right.
One person.
Eden.
She was sprawled across the couch, scrolling on her phone, and looked up the second we walked in.
Her eyes moved from me to Ever.
Then down to our hands.
Then back up.
A slow grin spread across her face. “Well,” she said. “Looks like you finally o-o-opened your eyes, Jude.”
“Morning, squirt,” I called.
She rolled her eyes hard. “I’m e-e-eighteen, you know. I think you could d-d-drop the whole squirt thing.”
“I’ll think about it. Maybe when you turn nineteen.”
Ever laughed beside me. “Morning, Eden. Did you have fun at your party?” she asked.
Eden snorted. “Would’ve been b-b-better if Dad l-l-let me drink. What’s the p-p-point of having a d-d-dad in an MC if he w-w-won’t let me have fun?”
I pulled my keys out and started toward the door, tugging Ever with me. “I’ll bring it up at the next church,” I said.
“Sure you will,” Eden shot back.
“Bye!” Ever called as I pulled her out the door.
The morning air hit us, cool and clean, a sharp contrast to everything inside.
I headed straight for my bike and swung my leg over.
She climbed on behind me a second later, and yeah, that felt damn right.
Her arms wrapped around my waist, her body pressing into my back, and something in my chest settled again.
This was where she should be.
Not on someone else’s bike.
Not anywhere else.
Right here with me.
I fired up the engine and pulled out, the ride to the Dairy Bar easy, and my mind clearer than it had been in a long time.
We rolled into the Dairy Bar lot, and I spotted Lark immediately.
She was getting out of her car just as we pulled up.
I killed the engine, and Ever slid off behind me.
Lark looked from her to me, eyes narrowing slightly. “Looks like I missed quite the party yesterday,” she said.
“Yeah,” I said. “Ever can give you the recap.”
Lark nodded slowly. “I will be a very willing listener.” Her gaze lingered. Sharp. Knowing.
Ever shifted beside me, clearly feeling it.
“I’ll just go in,” she said quickly. Lark turned, but not before shooting me a look that said she knew exactly what had gone down.
The door shut behind her.
And the second it did, I pulled Ever into me.
My hands found her waist, and my mouth was on hers before she could say a word.
She responded instantly, fingers gripping my shirt, leaning into me like she didn’t want to stop either.
“Do you really have to work?” I asked against her lips.
She laughed softly. “Yes.”
I kissed her again anyway.
Because I could.
Because I wanted to.
“What time are you done?” I asked.
“Eight.”
“I’ll pick you up.”
She hesitated just long enough for me to notice.
Then nodded.
“Okay.”
One more kiss.
Quick this time, but still enough to leave us both a little breathless.
She stepped back, smiling in a way I hadn’t seen before.
Different.
Lighter.
She lifted a hand in a small wave before turning and heading inside.
The door shut behind her and I just stood there for a second letting it all sink in.
Because damn, I hadn’t felt like this before.
Not once.
Not with anyone.
And now?
Now I couldn’t imagine not feeling it.
All because of her.