Chapter Seventeen
Ivy poured her heart, her strength into the kiss.
This strong man, burdened by grief so huge that it had shackled him for most his life, still had the drive and compassion to help others.
He deserved love more than anyone she’d ever met.
He thought himself a monster for killing the men who’d taken the lives of his mother, father, and little brother.
She wasn’t about to condemn him for his actions.
Anyone who could create such fear and terror for others, in her opinion, didn’t deserve the air they breathed.
Words weren’t going to convince Jude that she didn’t fear him, that the depths of her feelings for him were pure and true.
His hands roved her bare skin as they kneeled on the floor of the living room.
She pushed him back gently, framing his hips with her inner thighs.
Each tear she tasted was a gift. A symbol of his emotional submission.
He’d trusted her with information that could lock him away for the remainder of his life.
If he could do that, she had hope that he could trust her with his heart, his devastation, as well.
She didn’t have any illusions that she could heal or change him, but she could give him the love and support he needed.
She could give him a family with her, Ash, and Jess.
Of that, she was sure. Taking her time, she unbuttoned his shirt and parted it over his shoulders.
He rose on his forearms, allowing her to slide the material over his arms one side at a time.
She moved down his body, taking her time to touch and taste.
Ivy unbuttoned his jeans, sliding them over his engorged length.
She held the base of his erection, slowly rubbing the tip between her wet folds.
“Ivy.” He spoke her name reverently as he massaged her breasts, tugging and tweaking as she lined him up at her entrance. “Condom,” he groaned. “I don’t have a condom.”
“I’m on birth control, and I’m clean. Just me and you, Jude. No barriers between us.”
“It’s been years for me, baby.”
She took him inside her, slowly sinking down until he filled her completely.
Her inner walls stretched around his girth, gripping him tightly.
“Look at me,” she whispered and his pale eyes, foggy with desire, locked on to hers.
She held her palms out facing him and he laced his fingers with hers.
They moved together, letting the pleasure build to gasps and sighs, their gazes never wavering.
He held on to her hands like she was his last thread of sanity.
“I love you,” he gasped as their lovemaking became frantic.
Her heart pounded, the space inside her chest filling with his words just as he filled her body.
The pressure built and coiled between her hips, then snapped.
The muscles in Jude’s throat clenched and he tipped his head back, her name on his lips, and he emptied inside her.
They lay together for several minutes, each catching their breath before Jude stood, taking her with him.
He cradled her in his arms, carried her down the hall, then into the bedroom.
The kitten was curled up on one of the pillows and Jude laughed at the sight, making her heart warm.
He placed her down on the side of the bed, then turned and walked to the bathroom.
She heard the faucet turn on, and he came back a moment later carrying a washcloth.
He used the warm, damp cloth to clean her before tossing it into a hamper in the closet.
Pulling down the covers on one side of the bed, he tucked her in, slipping beneath the comforter with her and pulling her into his body.
“I meant the words. I love you, Ivy. I know it’s ridiculously fast, but I know what’s in my heart. In a matter of days, you’ve made me feel things I never have before. Your presence gives me peace. Each time I look at you, I can see my future. Something I never took the time to examine before.”
“I love you, too, and I promise to fight for us when you’re not able to see past your job or your grief. Trust me to be strong for us.”
“I do, Ivy,” he murmured into her hair. “I already do.”
With his words echoing in her heart, she closed her eyes, and together they drifted off.
Ivy woke to something soft against her cheek.
She opened her eyes to find Milo curled up in a ball on the pillow next to her.
Sitting up, she slowly looked around, not seeing Jude anywhere.
She drew in a deep breath and smiled when the rich scent of coffee filled her lungs.
She tossed off the covers, throwing her legs over the side of the bed.
The wooden floor was cool beneath her bare feet.
She used to the bathroom and took a fast shower before heading down the hallway to the kitchen.
Jude was standing at the stove in a T-shirt and jeans, flipping omelets.
“I thought you said you couldn’t cook. Were you holding out on me?
” She smiled and skirted around the island.
He turned to greet her, and some of the uncertainty that made her chest tight loosened when she noticed his wide smile.
Placing her hands on his chest, she leaned in and met his lips in a quick kiss.
“I can usually manage breakfast. There’s about a fifty percent chance that I’ll burn everything.” He kissed the top of her head and used the spatula to move the omelet around the pan.
“Sounds a bit better than my success rate.” She grinned.
“Why don’t you sit at the table, baby? I’ll bring you a coffee.”
“Are you sure you don’t need help?”
“From someone with less than a fifty percent success rate with breakfast?” He laughed.
“But, yes. I’m sure,” Jude said smiling as he poured her a large mug of coffee.
He leaned down and kissed the top of her head again when he placed it on the table.
It was such a tender gesture that she’d never tire of.
Jude returned to the stove and shut off the burners, then plated the omelets and brought the dishes over to the table.
“Thank you.” She smiled at him over the rim of her mug.
Soft steps tapped down the hall, and she glanced up to see Milo prancing along like a dog.
He meowed and jumped up onto Jude’s lap.
From there the kitten hopped onto the kitchen table, settling right beside his plate.
Jude laughed and cut a small piece of egg, holding it up.
The kitten sniffed it tentatively then scarfed it down.
Ivy chuckled. “I guess that answers our question about him being able to eat solid food.”
“No more bottles for you, buddy.” Jude scratched the cat beneath its chin.
“What’s your plan for today?” she asked, reaching out to stroke Milo’s orange creamsicle coat.
“I’m going to go into the office to read the interview notes.
I got a text from Agent Levine this morning that Jon is stable, but only family is allowed to visit for now.
I’ll meet up with Cameron and Ross sometime this morning and we’re going to interview the woman who deposited the 2.
5-million-dollar payment in the bank account that funded the sniper.
” He reached across the table and squeezed her hand.
“I hate to ask you this, but it would ease my mind if you stayed in the apartment. I can grab anything you want. There’s the bookstore right down the street if you’d like to write down some titles you’re interested in, or you can use one of my laptops.
I’ll be back as soon as possible. Just know this isn’t forever.
If we weren’t close to solving this case, there wouldn’t have been as much desperation to silence the man who was brought in yesterday.
” His thumb smoothed over the back of her hand.
“It’s really okay. I don’t mind staying. I’ll take a bath, relax, maybe watch some television, and then I’ll get dinner going for when you come home.”
“I like when you say that.”
“What?” she said tilting her head to the side.
“When you call my apartment home.”
Her heart grew warm as Jude continued to hold her gaze.
“I’ll give Ash a call and make sure he and Jess are all right.
He texted me yesterday that the grocery store let him take the week off.
It’s been a very long time since he’s taken a vacation and his work seemed happy to let him have the time off. ”
“That’s good, baby.” He moved his hand, lacing his fingers with hers.
“I love you,” he said staring into her eyes.
“I know last night was intense, but I wanted to let you know my feelings haven’t changed from what I told you last night.
I’m not gonna lie, when we were at the hospital, I had already decided things weren’t going to work between us.
That I didn’t want you exposed to all the violence and crime in my life, but fuck if I can let you go.
The guys gave me some tough love. Reminded me that letting you go would be the biggest mistake of my life and I don’t disagree. ”
“I could feel the moment you pulled away, and I knew you were grappling with what to do about us. Your SEAL friends’ women also told me their stories of meeting their men.
By all accounts, you seem like a difficult brood.
” She laughed. “But I’m more than up for the challenge.
I know there will be times you’ll try to withdraw.
Just know I’m strong enough to withstand it. ”
“I know you are.” The full weight of Jude’s gaze was on her as he gave her all of his attention.
“That’s what makes me have hope. I want this to work between us, Ivy.
I want you to be my partner in all things.
I want to fall asleep with you every night and snuggle with you and the cat every morning.
I want normalcy. Family dinners. I want to get to know Ash and Jess, and I want to meet your parents. ”
“I want all those things, too.” Ivy grinned up at him.
Jude stood up and cleared their empty plates.
She watched him as he came around the center island and hovered over her.
His hand slid to the back of her neck, and he kissed her deeply, then he growled and lifted her with ease, stalking toward the bedroom.
She laughed as he tossed her on the bed and crawled up over her.
They spent the next hour delaying his trip to the office.