Chapter 15
By the time Jude parked the Porsche in the six-car garage and cut the engine, he was, if anything, more furious than he’d been while confronting Elton.
He needed an outlet. He needed to burn off the anger. Denny would understand his mood, but he couldn’t say the same for May. Going straight to the gym and talking to her afterward would be a wise choice.
Unfortunately, May had watched for him through the property monitors, and she met him in the side hallway that led from the garage to the main living quarters. Before he could even take a breath, she launched into an inquisition.
“Are you okay?” Leaving no time for him to reply, she clutched his sleeve and asked, “Is Ashley all right? Was it Elton?” She shook his arm. “You didn’t fight with anyone, did you?”
Hands on his hips, Jude stared down at her. “Have you been stewing this whole damn time?”
At his tone, which even he had to admit was surly, her back went ramrod straight and she looked at him over the top of her glasses. “What did you think I’d do? Play cards? Do my hair? Go to bed?”
Her sarcasm unraveled his control. “Any of those things would have been preferable to thinking that I’d let something happen to Ashley, or that I’d let Elton get the best of me!”
Disgusted and taking it out on her, just as he’d known he would, Jude watched her mouth fall open, and a split second later, snap shut in indignation. “You are not invincible, damn it!”
“I’m not a wuss like your idiot brother, either.”
She gasped. “You promised to stop insulting him!”
Growling, Jude stomped off for the kitchen, leaving May alone in the hallway.
He found Tim sitting at the table while Denny regaled him with stories from the SBC. Denny’s scrapbook of articles, stats, and interviews lay open on the tabletop as he lectured. “Always avoid a street fight when you can, but if you can’t, if your back’s to the wall, then just do it. You don’t talk about it. You don’t threaten. You don’t boast and blabber on and on. And don’t go in timid. Aim for the nose and plan on knocking that head a good fifty feet. Think that in your mind. A little tap is likely to just piss off the other guy. You want to take him out. Let him know from jump that you mean business.”
“Sounds bloody,” Tim said, but he looked fascinated.
“It should be.”
When Denny saw Jude, he went to the counter and calmly poured a cup of coffee. “Here you go.”
“Thanks.” Aware of May coming in behind him, Jude sipped the hot brew before commenting fur ther to Tim. “If you don’t see any way out of a fight, then plan on a lot of blood. Let the guy know he won’t be walking away unscathed.”
“Speaking of unscathed,” Denny said with a smile, “I see things didn’t turn physical. Elton must not have had his usual army with him.”
“Not an army, no.”
“So how many were there?”
He felt May seething behind him, her arms crossed, her bare foot tapping the floor. Confounding woman. “Counting Elton, only four.”
“Only four?” May repeated. “Are you out of your mind?”
Filled with contempt, Tim rolled his eyes. “Right. You took on four men?”
“Didn’t need to,” Denny said. “Look at his knuckles. Not a single mark, so they obviously backed down.”
Tim’s bruised face soured even more. “Because they’re afraid of Jude? Give me a break.”
Forced to honesty, Jude shrugged. “I wouldn’t stand a chance against four men, at least not those four. Regular guys off the street would be no problem. But Elton’s men are trained. Still, they knew if they started it, they’d be limping away. For certain there would’ve been broken bones.” He winked at Tim. “And plenty of blood.”
“Does your head count as a bone?” May asked with saccharine sarcasm.
Snubbing May, Jude spoke only to Tim. “The only sure way to end a fight is to disable your opponent. The best way to do that is to break something, preferably a leg or ankle. If you only break an arm, he could continue fighting, but if he can’t walk, then he won’t—”
May gave Jude a shove in the back that sent him staggering forward a step. He nearly spilled his coffee. Stunned that she would do such a thing, especially in front of two other men, he locked his jaw and narrowed his eyes.
Going on the offensive, she didn’t give him the opportunity to take her to task. “How dare you fill his head with that violent nonsense?”
Slowly, Jude turned to confront her. Enunciating every word, he said, “Your brother is not a baby just because you treat him like one. You don’t have to protect him.” He thrust the coffee cup toward Denny, who took it with alacrity. “You don’t have to protect me, either.”
“Oh, but I need protection? Because I’m the little woman? A member of the helpless sex?”
She sneered every other word, and even though the rational side of Jude’s brain knew it was because of her worry, he reacted to it. “If you’re asking me if I’m bigger, stronger, faster—”
“If you say smarter, Jude Jamison, I will not forgive you.”
Instead of anger, Jude now felt energized. Blood sang through his veins. Frustration faded beneath anticipation. All his focus landed on May. “I’ve never, not once, questioned your intelligence.”
“Thank God,” Denny muttered.
“But,” Jude continued, “if we’re talking about experience, especially in dangerous situations, then yeah, I’m heads and tails beyond you.”
Hands fisted at her side, May went on tiptoe. “So, genius, just how did you handle this dangerous situation that you insisted on walking into all alone?”
Jude slanted a look toward Tim, who watched with calculating curiosity. “I handled it. That’s all you need to know.”
Deflated by his lack of confidence in her, she fell back flat on her feet. More hurt than angry, she said, “Oh, really?”
“Let’s just say he knows how I feel about any further harassment.”
Denny laughed with glee. “Did you tell him you’d kick his sorry ass all the way back to Hollywood?”
“More or less.”
Denny nodded. “About damn time by my way of thinking. This taking the high road crap is for the birds. At least now he knows you’re on to him. By the way, I took care of that other business—”
“Not now, Denny.”
Luckily, Denny caught on and let it drop. “Oh. Right.” He tried for a quick cover-up. “I’m glad you got things settled with that bastard.”
Realizing that he wanted to keep the topic private, May withdrew. She looked wounded, but Jude couldn’t explain to her right now, not with Tim hanging on their every word. He trusted Tim about as much as he’d trust a starving bear.
Tim’s shifty gaze darted from one person to the other. “So…you’re sure he was the one behind it?”
“As sure as I can be.” Jude never looked away from May. “He’s been a thorn in my side for too damn long. Like I told him, if he’d stayed in Hollywood, I would have continued to ignore him. But by following me here, he crossed the line and forced my hand.”
“Hallelujah.” Denny clapped him on the shoulder. “Maybe now he’ll butt out of our lives.”
“You saw Ashley?” May asked, her manner more subdued.
Jude nodded. “Watched her drive off to the next job, unscathed.”
That ruined Denny’s good humor. “That child works too damn much.”
“Elton doesn’t know she called us?” May pressed. “He’s not connecting her to any of this?”
“Not unless he’s a mind reader.” Jude gave her a reassuring smile. “I wouldn’t do anything to endanger her.”
“Great.” She smiled back at Jude. “Then if it’s all settled, there’s no reason for me stay here. I can get back to work tomorrow. My boss will be thrilled.”
Words failed Jude.
Tim didn’t have the same problem. “What? No! We can’t leave yet.”
Denny jumped in. “Damn right you can’t. Just because Jude handled part of this mess doesn’t mean it’s all resolved.” He smacked Jude in the back of the head, taking him out of his stupor. “Speak up, damn it. Tell her she has to stay.”
“Save your breath.” May spun around and forged militantly from the kitchen. Over her shoulder, she said, “My mind is made up.”
“You’re not going anywhere tonight, May.” Jude’s sharp statement cut the air like a thunderclap.
She laughed, unimpressed. “Of course not. It’s late, and I’m tired. But first thing in the morning, I’m out of here. Good night.”
First thing in the morning. Jude started grinning. He had another night at least. A lot could happen in one night. He’d see to it. “She has plenty of spunk, doesn’t she?”
Denny looked at him as if he was nuts. “She’s royally pissed.”
Watching her bounce away in high dudgeon tickled Jude. Time spent with May would never be boring. “And I do love the way that girl exits a room.”
Denny followed his gaze, raised his brows as May cut around the corner, and nodded. “Nice.”
Tim sputtered. “What the hell are you talking about? She said she’s leaving. But we don’t know for sure that Elton Pascal was behind this mess, and until we do know, I don’t want to leave.”
Jude spared him a glance. “Then don’t.”
“But May said…”
Denny jumped in. “She’s not your damn mamma, boy. Stand on your own two feet. God knows they’re big enough.”
“Sure, that’s easy enough for you to say. You don’t know how May can be once she’s made up her mind. She’s stubborn as a mule. She digs in and refuses to budge.” He beseeched Jude. “You have to talk to her. You have to convince her that we need to—”
Denny rolled his eyes. “Get a grip. Men don’t go hysterical. Besides, Jude will talk her around.” He turned a furious eye on Jude. “At least, he better.”
“Yeah,” Jude told them both with laughable confidence, “I’ll talk her around.” It might not be easy, but one way or another, he’d convince May to stay. Hell, he had no choice. He wasn’t ready to let her go.
He wasn’t sure he’d ever be ready.
That thought didn’t sit well, so Jude faced both men. “Before I do that, though, I think I’ll go work out.”
Denny looked at his watch. “Now?”
“I need to burn up some energy.”
“Oh.” Nodding in understanding, Denny said to Tim, “Then now’s your chance to see how it’s done. Let’s go.”
Tim gave his best poor puppy dog expression. “Forget it. I’m beat. I was ready for bed. I was—”
Together, Jude and Denny caught his arms and lifted him from the chair. Tim whined and carped and complained all the way to the basement. But after Jude got the gloves on him, he had to concentrate on not getting hit.
And Jude saw what Denny saw.
With a little training, a little guts, and a lot more independence, Tim just might make a damn fine fighter. If that happened, he’d stop being May’s problem.
That was incentive enough for Jude to spend extra time with him.
Midnight rolled around, and May felt like crying. With each second that had passed, she’d become more despondent. She’d asked herself a hundred questions but didn’t have a single answer.
She was no Uma, so why had she assumed Jude would follow her? Why had she assumed he’d want her to stay?
Tucked under the covers in the guest room Jude had first given her, she tried to sleep—and couldn’t. Damn him, why did he have to be such a jerk? First, he’d left her behind, which okay, she sort of understood. After all, she wouldn’t want to deliberately lead him into a dangerous situation. When given a choice, she’d always protect him the best she could.
But then he’d blown off her concern, treating it almost like an insult. And he’d been outright rude in the kitchen.
She didn’t want to argue, and she didn’t want to sleep alone. Not tonight. When morning rolled around, she’d leave, and who knew if she’d ever spend another night with him?
God, why had she declared such a stupid thing, anyway?
Because she knew it was the right thing to do.
She wasn’t a woman who shacked up. With the danger past, she had to get on with her life. Both she and Tim had imposed on Jude enough.
He said they had a relationship. But did that extend beyond her time in his home? Would he call her and ask her out on dates? Would he miss her?
Would he return to Hollywood to party with Uma?
May smashed her head farther into the pillow and curled a little tighter, trying to contain her hurt. Damn you, Jude Jamison.
She no sooner cursed him than a thin ray of light danced across the floor, over the bed, and up the wall as her bedroom door slowly opened. Even without her glasses, May recognized Jude’s tall, shadowed form when it appeared in the door frame. Her heart punched against her ribs.
Without a word, he stepped into the room.
May squeezed her eyes shut, which only made her more aware of Jude’s overwhelming presence and the clicking of the door when he closed it again. His silent footsteps approached the bed. May felt him standing over her, felt his intense study. She even felt his determination.
The muted sound of rustling reached her ears, and she knew he’d just removed his clothes. Oh boy.
Say something to him. Say something—
The covers lifted, the bed dipped, and Jude’s large, warm body settled in front of her. Every fiber of her being started doing cartwheels of joy. He’d come to her! But because he didn’t speak, she didn’t either.
Keeping perfectly still, her eyes closed, she tried to meter her accelerated breathing into a semblance of sleep. It wasn’t easy, especially when a hairy thigh moved over hers and warm breath fanned her face.
Gentle fingers sifted through her hair, smoothing it over her shoulder, trailing along her back. He smelled of soap and shampoo, and she knew he’d showered.
But that would have taken minutes, not hours.
Voice dark and deep and low, he whispered, “May, honey, I’m sorry I yelled at you. I’ve had such a hell of a time with Elton, seeing him left me in a rage.”
She understood. When Jude had gone to see Elton, a man who meant him harm, she’d done a little raging herself.
“I wanted to pound on him,” Jude explained. “God, how I wanted that. But it wouldn’t have helped to resolve things. So instead, I was grouchy at you when I shouldn’t have been.”
He continued to stroke her hair, lulling her with his touch and soft words.
“I spent the last couple of hours in the gym sweating and working out. I beat the heavy bag, and I sparred with your brother.”
Her brother?
“You’re right. I shouldn’t insult him to you.”
Which meant he’d insult Tim to other people? And did she even really care?
“Just so you know, I didn’t want Denny to talk openly in front of Tim. If I seemed secretive, that’s why. I don’t trust Tim.” His body crowded closer. “But you’re another matter.”
He said that as if it had special meaning.
“So, I’m telling you now. Denny hired some reli able men we know, guys we’ve used in the past. They’ll keep Elton under twenty-four-hour surveillance. They’re from out of town, but they’ll be here sometime tonight, and they’ll get straight to work. As soon as we have something concrete, we’ll go to the cops.”
What a service like that would cost Jude, May couldn’t begin to imagine.
“I promise you, while Elton’s in Ohio, he’s not going to make a single move without me knowing it.” Featherlight, Jude touched his mouth to her forehead; his voice went hoarse. “I’m not going to take any chances with you.”
For one of the few times in her life, May felt cherished. Tears clogged her throat, she started trembling, and her heart melted.
“Come on, May,” he teased, “stop playing possum and tell me you forgive me.”
Sighing, she opened her eyes. His face was very close to hers, but without her glasses, she couldn’t discern his expression. “How did you know I was awake?”
His hand curved over and around her breast, kneading, caressing. “Your nipples are hard.” She heard the smile in his words, and it made her smile, too.
How could she not react when Jude got near her? Snuggling closer to the heat and warmth and security of his body, she put one hand on his chest and turned her face up to his. “It seems you always have that effect on me.”
His mouth touched the corner of her lips, and he murmured, “Good to know.”
That made her laugh. “Like every woman you look at doesn’t go all mushy and adoring and…well…”
His grin widened. “What?”
Feeling it herself, she whispered, “Hot.”
“Mmm. Is that right? I never realized. So what about you, May? Are you hot?” He brushed her nipple with his thumb. “Maybe I’ll just find out for myself.”
Releasing her breast, he ran his hand over the T-shirt she wore, down her side and the dip of her waist, over the rise of her hip, and along her thigh. He brought his hand back up again, this time on the inside of her leg to the crotch of her panties. As his fingers pressed snug against her, he gave a gruff hum of satisfaction. “Very hot.”
Closing her eyes, May accepted the pleasure of his touch. Now that the majority of the danger could be over, she wanted to show Jude that she hadn’t come to him for only money or protection. He’d been hurt so badly with negative publicity and false accusations. He’d proudly put up with so much from so many.
When it came to her feelings and motivations, she wanted no doubts in his mind. She wouldn’t start making claims of love, because that’d be unfair, putting him in a position to reciprocate, or send her packing. She knew he wasn’t in love with her, and she didn’t want to leave. So it’d be better to give to him sexually what she couldn’t give verbally.
Hoping for a level of seductiveness, she said, “Turnabout is fair play.”
The stroking fingers between her legs went still. “Meaning?”
Smiling, May trailed her hand downward, over the play of muscles in his chest, through his crisp chest hair, and onto his taut abdomen. His body had probably inspired many female fantasies. All over, muscle sculpted his long-boned frame. He was toned and strong, with dark body hair and an innate cockiness that only made him more appealing.
She toyed with the sexy, silky line of hair that bisected his body, leading a path to his erection. “Meaning I want to touch you, too.”
When she paused over his navel, he held his breath. “May?”
“I love how you feel.” Without warning, she dipped lower and wrapped her fist around him. He was as naked and hard as a Greek statue, warm and vibrant and throbbing with life. He tightened, pushing himself more firmly into her hand, clenching his fingers carefully between her legs.
Insidious warmth spread through her. “I see I have an effect as well?”
“I think of you, and I want to be inside you. I see you and I get hard. You have an effect all right.” His forehead touched hers. “Harder, baby. Squeeze me harder.”
Tantalized by the idea of instruction, May did as he ordered. “Better?”
His hand remained between her legs, immobile, but there, burning and thrilling and heightening her excitement. “Yeah. Now stroke. Like that, but slower.” He groaned, breathing hard, heat pouring off him. “God yeah.”
A sense of power filled her. She felt daring and sexy, and she wanted to push him the same way he’d pushed her. Turning her face until her mouth touched his, her voice a mere whisper, she asked, “Would you like my mouth on you even more?”
Time seemed to stand still. The air around them went static. And then Jude kissed her, grinding his mouth over hers, his tongue stroking deep, eating at her, possessing her.
She couldn’t continue to pleasure him; she could only hold on and weather the storm of excitement.
His hand curved over hers, making her squeeze him tighter still, stroke harder and faster. He started to groan, low and raw, and suddenly he pulled her hand away. Rasping with every breath, he put his mouth to her throat and sucked, marking her, then did the same to her shoulder, the tops of her breasts. With blatant hunger and loss of control, he kissed her everywhere, leaving her with the sense of being devoured.
His hand plunged under her shirt, shoving it roughly out of the way. He plumped up her breast, and then his mouth latched onto her nipple and he sucked hard, drawing on her, wringing a high-pitched cry of excitement from her.
His teeth nipped, tugged, and she couldn’t stay still. “Jude, now.”
“Not yet.” He growled out the words and switched to her other breast, making her wild.
“Now, damn it.”
Using both hands, he shoved her shirt up and over her face. While May struggled to get it off, he sucked and kissed a path down her belly. “Open your legs.”
Oh God, oh God. “I don’t know—”
He ripped away her panties, shocking her, ratcheting her sexual thrill up another notch.
Pressing his face against her, he inhaled. “You smell so good.”
Never, not in her most vivid dreams, had she imagined anything like this.
Jude lifted one of her legs over his shoulder and pushed the other out to her side. “I’ve thought about eating you so many times. For months. Ever since first meeting you. Now you’re here, and I’m going to get my fill of you until you come.”
A promise, or a threat?
And then his mouth was on her, hot and wet, and she pressed her head back, arching in acute pleasure. His tongue lapped over her, plunged into her, and curled around her clitoris. The feeling of his tongue and lips was indescribable, so soft and gentle, but wild and burning, too. His fingers moved on her, opening her more, and as he began to suckle, he pushed two fingers deep.
Sexual fulfillment had never been an easy thing for her, but now, she knew she’d climax. Already the pressure built, throbbing throughout her, drawing tighter and tighter. She couldn’t hold still, couldn’t stop her moans or harsh gasps. She squeezed her eyes shut tight, clenched her teeth, and an almost violent pleasure ripped through her. She gave a harsh, tearing groan—and didn’t care.
Jude stayed with her, and as the release began to fade, he gentled her, lightening his touch until he merely kissed her, soft and sweet.
“Beautiful,” he murmured.
May lay there, sprawled out, utterly limp and spent, a tiny bit embarrassed, but really, who cared?
As Jude climbed up to rest atop her, she breathed, “Wow,” and heard his triumphant chuckle.
“Wow, indeed.” He kissed her, startling her because of what he’d just done and where his mouth had just been. But then she decided she didn’t mind. Even that was sort of exciting. He licked her mouth and said, “You’re delicious.” Then he rolled to the side.
Her breathing yet ragged, she asked, “Where are you going?”
“Condom. You, lady, are about to get the ride of your life.”
“Oh, good,” she said, still with her eyes closed and her limbs spread out. Then she rethought that. “No, wait.”
“Can’t.” She heard the crinkling of the foil packet as he tore it open. “I need to get off. Now.”
May got one eye open but couldn’t see much, not in the dark and without her glasses. “But I wanted to kiss you, too.” She licked her lips, rejuvenated just from saying it. “You know. There.”
Jude muttered something she couldn’t make out. He hesitated, making her wonder what conclusions he drew, then he said, “I won’t be able to last.”
“So don’t. You already saw to me. I’m good. Better than good. And truthfully…I’m curious about how you taste, too.”
“Ah, fuck.” He sucked air like a drowning man.
“What’s wrong?”
“Just hearing you say it damn near sends me over the edge.”
May reached out and found his thigh. “Should I say pretty please?”
“Tease.” He scooted up, propping his back against the headboard, his big body taking up a lot of space. “Okay, then. Have at it.” He drew a deep breath, letting it out slowly, as if preparing himself. “But hurry or I’ll be a goner before you even get started.”
Encouraged, May asked, “Will I need my glasses?”
“No.” He gave a short laugh. “Just feel your way around.”
“Good idea.” She did just that, crawling over one of his thick thighs so that she rested between his legs. On her stomach, her head propped on her left fist, she carefully reached out until she touched him. “Tell me if I do anything wrong.”
“Yeah, sure.” His legs shifted. “Whatever you say.”
Very pleased with his reaction, she wrapped her fingers around him and leaned forward to brush him against her cheek. His scent was strong and masculine, and a new surge of sexual awareness unfurled in her belly. Oral sex would be nothing new for Jude, but that didn’t seem to matter. She couldn’t imagine a man more excited than he was right now.
Because she couldn’t wait, she moved her thumb over the head of his erection, spreading a silky drop of fluid. He jerked hard, his penis flexed in her hand, and May drew her tongue over him, licking that salty droplet away and earning a harsh groan for her efforts.
“You taste good, too,” she whispered, then closed her mouth over him. He was large enough that she wasn’t quite sure how to proceed, but she took the head all the way in, rolling her tongue over and around him while she stroked with her hand.
His fingers suddenly knotted in her hair, not hurting her, but grounding her, drawing her closer. “Take me in, May,” he begged. “As much of me as you can.” And his hips lifted so that he slowly penetrated.
She breathed through her nose, fast and hard because of her own flooding arousal, and opened her mouth wider.
“That’s it. God.” He stiffened, gasped. “May…”
She withdrew a little, pulled more of him in. Getting the hang of it, she began sliding her mouth over him, taking him in, out again, in deeper…
“That’s it.” A shudder went through him. His hands held her head, guiding her in the rhythm he preferred, urging her on, and in a gravelly plea, he said, “Suck on me.”
She did—and he went right over the edge. Only the fingers of his left hand remained tangled in her hair; his right hand clutched a fistful of the covers with incredible power. Hips rising from the bed, he strained against her and growled out an incredible release.
Jude wondered if he’d survive his association with the elusive and enchanting May Price. Every time he thought he had her figured out, every time he thought he had a handle on his feelings for her, she managed to throw him for another loop.
A blow job.
He grinned. Never had he expected such a thing from her.
But then, he hadn’t expected her to give him hell, either. Or to trust him so completely. Or to…care.
Did she? Given what he’d always known about her, he would have said yes. But now…she changed more than a damn chameleon, so he just wasn’t sure.
Curved against his side, warm and soft and very pleased with herself, she drifted off to sleep. Jude stared at the ceiling, wishing he’d carried her back to his bed. It was bigger and more comfortable, better suited to his size. And he liked the sound of his fountain.
But after that awesome release, he’d sort of zoned out, his body buzzing, his thoughts adrift. The next thing he knew, she’d rearranged the displaced covers on the bed, kissed his forehead, and snuggled into his side.
She was so damn sweet. And exciting. And sexy.
He could trust her. He could count on her. He could probably…love her.
Disgusted with himself, Jude rolled his eyes and silently called himself an ass.
He already loved her, so now what he had to do was get her to admit how she felt. They then could figure out what to do about their future. Together.
With that thought gnawing away his peace of mind, he closed his eyes and concentrated on the feel of May beside him, right where she belonged. They’d have time to work things out.
One way or another, he’d claim her as his own.