Chapter 8
The pounding on the door echoed the pounding in her head. Not moving a muscle, Jude hoped that the noise would stop on its own, but she had no such luck. After five minutes and a yell from Sadie to "open the damn door!," Jude reluctantly stood and opened the front door. Without so much as a hello Portia walked in with a team of five stylists who had been hired to make Sadie—and everyone else who would be in the pictures—look incredible. Waiting until the last person entered, Jude then slammed the door shut and went back to her make-shift bed on the couch.
Rolling her head side to side, she tried to work out the kinks that had developed during the night. Oh how she had missed Tommy's bed last night. Not only was his company much preferred, but his bed was the most comfortable thing she had ever slept on.
The hair and makeup professionals had gone upstairs with Portia to get started on Sadie's look. Jude didn't know how, but Portia had estimated that they would be there until 3:00—nearly five hours! How the hell does it take that long to look "wedding appropriate"? Jude could feel a headache begin to develop from a lack of caffeine; what she wouldn't give for a large black coffee from the cafe a couple blocks away. Since Sadie was pregnant, she had purged all unhealthy things from the kitchen and pantry. Jude wouldn't have cared because she was never there, but in this moment, she was completely irritated.
If anyone expected her to be nice and smile for the pictures—let alone be awake enough to stand on her own—they better get her some coffee. Another knock on the door interrupted her thoughts of the impending need for caffeine, and Jude hefted herself off of the couch once again. At least this person wasn't pounding on the door like some barbarian, she thought.
Throwing the door open, she was going to tell the person to head upstairs with the rest of the crew, but the vision in front of her was so perfect she wasn't sure it was real.
"Coffee, Babes?" In one outstretched arm was a large coffee from her favorite cafe, the other arm was at his side holding a bag of what she hoped was doughnuts.
Greedily she accepted the coffee and took a big gulp, completely ignoring the burning sensation that enveloped her mouth. Closing her eyes in pure delight, she savored the moment. A chuckle from her coffee hero brought Jude back to the present. "You are incredible." Another sip, "Seriously, you're amazing." Motioning him into the house with a nod of her head, she finished by saying, "Thank you."
"No problem, hon. I thought you could use it."
"You thought right. This is exactly what I needed." Sitting down on the blankets she had been under before, Jude patted the spot next to her, expecting him to sit close, like usual. When he sat on the sofa across from her, she was slightly shocked. "What are you doing?"
Shifting uncomfortably, he shrugged, "I'm sitting down."
"No, genius, why are you sitting over there?" Patting the spot next to her more forcefully, she continued, "Sit by me. If you don't sit closer, it means I can't have some of the doughnuts you brought." Smiling widely and batting her eyelashes, Jude tried to entice Tommy closer. When he didn't move and only looked away, she didn't know how to react. Something must be wrong, and she knew it was her job to find out. Getting up, Jude moved over to the couch Tommy currently occupied. "What's going on?"
He looked away and shrugged. "I'm just tired."
"Liar. Tell me what's wrong." Jude knew that it was more than simply being tired, but she couldn't help fix it if she didn't know what the problem was.
"Fine. I just am a bit thrown off by the wedding. I had a…weird conversation last night that didn't make sense." He paused for a moment, eyes closed, and took a deep breath. After what seemed like forever to Jude, he finally spoke again, "But, none of that matters. What matters is that I'm here with you. Now, tell me about your night."
Jude shifted her position so that she was closer to him and felt his arm go around her shoulders. She loved this feeling—being close to him and being held by him. "Honestly, it wasn't that exciting. We talked for a bit and then Sadie went to bed. She had to get her beauty rest, you know?"
His laughter vibrated his chest, and Jude reveled in the sensation. After the chuckling stopped, he wrapped another arm around her, holding her close. "What about you though? Did you sleep well?"
The way he asked made Jude feel like he was truly concerned. Smiling, she snuggled closer. "Other than the giant kink in my neck this morning, I slept okay. But let me tell you, this couch isn't near as comfy as your bed." She didn't know how, but she could literally feel him smile. Her next comment was a bit more quiet. She knew she might regret saying so, but she couldn't seem to help it. "I don't think I slept as well because I was lonely."
"Really?" She knew his remark was accompanied by wiggling eyebrows and a giant smirk.
"Oh, stop gloating you perv!" She slapped him on the chest to make her point. "But, being totally honest, I did miss you. I missed our routine." She felt him squeeze her a bit more tightly, and sighed in contentedness. The sound of his voice soothed her and brought another smile to her face.
"I missed you too, sweetheart. I felt lonely last night."
They stayed like that another moment before continuing their conversation. Tommy told her a little about the honeymoon that Kwest had planned. They talked about places they wanted to visit—she really wanted to go somewhere tropical, really get away and relax. Tommy agreed, thinking somewhere like Aruba or Sr. Lucia might be nice. Jude thought that would be perfect, an amazing chance to escape the hustle and bustle of normal life and just be. More, the thought of being in such a beautiful place with Tommy all to herself would be perfect. Quickly, she pushed the thought aside and focused on just being with him now. Regardless of what her future held, she wanted to embrace every moment they shared, she could worry about the effects it might have on her heart later.
…
Pacing back and forth in the small room at the back of the massive and ornate church, Tommy was getting restless. He had gone to visit Jude this morning, bringing the promised coffee, but after his dream last night, he wasn't normal around her. Eventually, he had snapped out of it and they had gone back to their usual interactions. Even though it had only been for a couple of hours, he had honestly enjoyed every moment with her. The mere thought of her brought a smile to his face. The anticipation of seeing her later made that smile get even bigger.
His happy thoughts were interrupted when the door to the small room opened and Stuart Harrison walked in. He shook hands with his soon-to-be son-in-law, and looked around the room. He nodded to James and then walked over to Tommy. Shaking hands with the older man, Tommy asked, "So, how are you doing? Your girls are growing up."
Tommy could see the hint of sadness in the father's eyes. He tried to imagine what it would be like to have a daughter who was getting married, trying to empathize with Stuart. The more he thought about it, the more Tommy realized that he would be okay with it, as long as he had someone by his side—someone like Jude who would know just when to make him laugh and when to hold his hand, when to distract him, and when hold him close. It had to be hard for Stuart not having someone like that with him.
Stuart finally responded to Tommy's words, "Yeah, my babies aren't such babies anymore."
The four men made small talk until the big event was supposed to start. A knock on the door signaled that it was time to begin, and the group headed towards the door. Stuart held the door open, but after James had exited, he stopped Kwest. "Kwest, I know that you make Sadie happy. Promise me that you'll take care of her." The look in his eyes was so intense, so sincere; Tommy could tell how much he loved his girls. Kwest nodded, grasping Stuart in a tight 'man-hug'. The two men separated, Kwest walked toward the door to the church, while the girls' father held his post at the door.
Tommy smiled at Stuart and began to walk through the door, but was stopped by a hand on his chest. Taking a step back, he looked at Stuart, trying to figure out what he wanted. He knew that the older man hadn't always liked him. He was told numerous times that he was a bad influence on the younger of the Harrison girls. At one point, Stuart had forbidden Tommy to spend time with Jude. Of course, when he found out that Jude was sneaking out of the house to help him record, Stuart had realized that their friendship was inevitable. The memory almost made Tommy laugh. Thankfully, Stuart and Tommy had been on speaking terms the past couple of years, even grabbing dinner or coffee when Stuart had been in New York on business. The older man had the same serious expression he had earlier, eyes sincere and almost pleading. Tommy was truly curious, and so, when Stuart still hadn't said anything, he asked, "Stuart, what's up?"
Taking Tommy's hand, Stuart answered, "Tom, I know you and I haven't always seen eye to eye." At Tommy's shrug, the father continued, "Promise me you'll take care of Jude." He must have been able to sense Tommy's protest, because he held up a hand and spoke again. "Tom, we both know how close you and Jude are. And I've come to see that you aren't quite the person I thought you were." Stuart paused again, obviously thinking of his younger daughter. "But, Jude was right. You are a pretty good guy, and I can see how much you care for my daughter. Now that you're back in Toronto and I won't be, I need to know that she'll be okay. She has always been stubborn and independent, but she needs someone looking out for her. She needs someone to take care of her and make sure she's happy. And even if you don't know it, I know that you make her the happiest. Promise me you'll be there for her?"
Tommy could only nod in agreement. He wasn't sure how to react to what Stuart had said. He knew it was all true, at least, everything until the last part. Words still would not come to him, so he too pulled Stuart into a tight embrace, much like Kwest had done. It wasn't even a question whether or not he would be there for Jude and take care of her, but he finally found some words and reassured her father, "Of course, Stuart. You know I'm always here for Jude."
The two men separated and went different directions: Tommy to the front of the church, Stuart to the back to greet his daughters. From there, the wedding went just as planned. Sadie was a beautiful bride, and it was obvious to anyone with eyes that she and Kwest were in love.
There was only one moment that caused Tommy to choke up, but surprisingly, it wasn't from watching Kwest and Sadie. He had seen a few stray tears roll down Jude's face, and his heart clenched in his chest. For that brief moment, he couldn't breathe; he had wanted nothing more than to sweep her into his arms and hold her. It wouldn't have been so bad if her eyes had only shown excitement, but it was the hint of sadness that had broken his heart.
Eventually, it had come time for the vows, and Tommy had been struck. "...to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part." In all of his years working in music, Tommy had never heard such powerful words. Amazingly enough, it was the first wedding he had been to where the bride and groom had stuck to the simple and time-honored words. He had been blown away by the magnitude of what those words promised. Would anyone ever commit to him like that? Would anyone ever promise to be with him no matter what, through everything life threw at them?
Any sense of his surroundings left as Tommy contemplated if there was such a woman that would promise those things. He didn't know if he could even let someone get that close to him, or promise that to someone else. The only woman he had ever let in like that was Jude. She didn't care where he came from or what he went through, she was there.
The thoughts of Jude made him recall the night before. As he looked at her standing beside her sister in that incredible dress, he thought how perfect she was. As much as she was stubborn and emotional, she was passionate. She was beautiful whether she had just woken up or had been styled and primped for hours like today. The way she lived her music was inspiring—always striving for complete perfection. She always knew how to have a good time and laugh, but knew when to be serious. When it came to taking care of him, she was the best. She had this innate sense of what he needed at any given moment, and he knew that she would do anything for him.
Maybe there was more to his relationship with Jude than friendship. Maybe Kwest was right and he actually cared for her...possibly even loved her. The consideration that he might love his best friend startled him so completely that he nearly fell over. Stepping slightly to regain his balance, he was brought back to the present. Hearing the cheers echoing in the large and ornate church, Tommy looked to the newly married couple kissing for the first time as husband and wife. He wanted that—a partner, a lover, a best friend.
Before he could process those thoughts more, the wedding was over and he was walking out of the church next to Jude. They went through what seemed like hours of pictures in thousands of combinations, and then the group was off to the reception. In the limo, Tommy made sure to sit next to his favorite girl, just wanting to be close to her. Even after all of the confusing thoughts that had been bogging him down, he still missed his best friend. He was perfectly content sitting there with Jude tucked close to him. In that moment Tommy was happy.
Finally arriving at the monstrous reception hall, the group got out of the limo and went to the back door. Sadie had wanted everyone to make a grand entrance and, though Tommy would never do anything like that for his own wedding, it was her day. After their "big reveal," the six sat down at the head table and dinner was served. Partway through the feast, Jude stood up and walked toward the stage, and Tommy was immediately struck by how he missed her presence. Shaking that off, he watched her step out from behind the curtain on the stage.
"Hi there, everyone. Thank you so much for being a part of today and sharing in celebrating Kwest and Sadie's wedding. A few weeks ago, Sadie came to me and asked me to sing something for their first dance. Well, I know this probably isn't what she was expecting—its not exactly a sappy ballad—but I think it is perfect for them. Love isn't always pretty and easy, but between Kwest and Sadie, its real, and that's all that matters. I'm so blessed by you guys, and I love you both so much. Congratulations."
The smile on her face was radiant, and Tommy couldn't stop looking at her. The moment she opened her mouth and began to sing, he was hooked. Though he had seen and heard the song before, this time it was different—there was a different energy in the room. By this time, Kwest and Sadie had gotten up and were dancing together. But, not taking his eyes off of Jude for even a second, Tommy was oblivious. The words of the song captured his heart as he felt their honesty grab hold of him.
Sometimes I feel like throwing my hands up in the air Sometimes it seems that the going is just too rough When food is gone you are my daily meal You got the love
I know I can count on you
Sometimes I feel like saying "Lord I just don't care"
But you've got the love I need To see me through
And things go wrong no matter what I do
Now and then it seems that life is just too much
But you've got the love I need to see me through
When friends are gone I know my savior's love is real
You Know it's real
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
Time after time I think "Oh Lord what's the use?" You got the love You got the love Sometimes I feel like throwing my hands up in the air
Time after time I think it's just no good
Sooner or later in life, the things you love you lose
But you got the love I need to see me through
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
I know I can count on you
Sometimes I feel like saying "Lord I just don't care"
But you've got the love I need to see me through
Jude finished singing, eyes closed, hand on her heart, and Tommy was stunned. He realized that Jude was that person for him. Jude was the one who helped see him through every difficult situation in his life. She was the one who kept him going. She was the one that helped his life make sense. The thoughts tumbled awkwardly through his brain at warp speed, but no matter how many different ways he looked at it, the conclusion was the same. He loved Jude.
…
As she finished singing, Jude opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was a stunning set of deep blue eyes, filled with confusion and passion. She couldn't look away, so instead she closed her eyes. The depth of emotion she had seen in Tommy's eyes had startled her. The whole day had been filled with thoughts of love and marriage. And though it wasn't surprising considering that her sister was getting married, Jude didn't want those thoughts to get the best of her. Over the past few weeks, she had resigned herself to loving Tommy. She would try to get over him, but those feelings didn't go away on command.
After his coffee visit this morning, Tommy hadn't left her thoughts for a moment. Even when she was standing with Sadie at the alter, thoughts of him filled her mind. She thought of how it would be a dream come true to stand there with him. She thought of how suave he looked in his tux, but she much preferred to see him slightly more casual. Even the song she wrote was about him, not Kwest and Sadie. Sure, it fit the newlyweds too;but it had been inspired by and written for him. She had been singing for him.
She stepped behind the curtain and then got down off the stage, retrieving a bottle of water. Drinking half of it in one gulp, Jude felt composed enough to face the nearly 300 guests, and stable enough to face the man she loved. However, walking toward the dance floor, she was startled to see Tommy holding a beautiful woman in his arms, gliding across the expanse. Her heart sunk, and tears sprang to her eyes. She walked to her chair, taking deep breaths along the way, trying to calm herself down.
When she sat down, her eyes closed. Almost more frustrating than seeing Tommy and the woman dancing was knowing that the woman was wonderful. She was Kwest's cousin, and probably one of the nicest women Jude had ever met. She was a model, but so down to earth that she could make anyone feel comfortable. Jude knew that the beautiful woman was married to one of Tommy's old coworkers, but it did nothing to ease a smidge of the jealousy she felt.
Not a second later, a hand on her shoulder interrupted her thoughts. Opening her eyes, she was met with Spied's ginning face and outstretched hand. "Let's dance, Lady Harrison."
Reluctantly, Jude stood and followed him to the dance floor. As he held her close and they swayed and spun, Jude heaved a large sigh.
"Dude, I wouldn't worry about Squinty dancing with that fine woman."
It was just like Spied to know exactly what she was thinking. "I'm not."
"Seriously, Dude, I'm not an idiot. I saw your face when you were walking back and found them dancing—it wasn't pretty."
Smacking him on the arm at his insensitive comment, Jude let a small laugh escape. She knew that his intent wasn't to be mean, but it certainly hadn't made her feel good. "Honestly, Spied, I'm not worried about it." After pausing to think about the emotions she had felt, Jude continued, "Its more that...Well...I once again realized that I'm not the one he'll ask to dance and I'm not the one he wants to be with."
"Don't take this the wrong way, Jude, but you shouldn't give up on him yet."
Spied had always been pretty insightful, but at his comment, Jude was confused. "What do you mean?"
"I think something changed tonight. You know how closed off he usually is, right?" At her nod, he finished his thought, "Tonight he had this look in his eye when you were singing. And even when you finished, it was obvious that you were the only thing on his mind. But more than that, he had this determined look on his face. When that girl came up and told him to dance with her, he was stunned. It was like he was in this daze and she was not what he had wanted."
Soaking up his words, something still bothered her. "If that's true, why doesn't he do something about it?"
"Because he's a good guy. He may have been an ass years ago, but you know that changed when you came into his life. Talk to him." Looking up, her eyes connected with Spied. Her uncertainty was obvious to him, so he simply said, "Talk to him."
She nodded her agreement as the song came to and end. The friends separated, and Jude told him, "Thanks, Dude. You're a good friend."
"I know." Spied said it in such a cocky way that Jude wanted to smack him. But, after his thoughtful comments, she felt like she shouldn't.
Instead, she rolled her eyes and told him, "I'll talk to him, but first I need a drink." She could hear Spied chuckle as she walked away, the noise bringing a smile to her face. Reaching the bar, Jude pulled out a stool and sat. It was a serious relief to not be on her feet—the shoes she was wearing were killing her. They looked sexy as hell, but they were also painful as hell. Ordering a vodka on the rocks from the surprised bar tender, she closed her eyes and thought about what to say to Tommy. As much as she knew that Spied was right, she didn't want to ruin their friendship—she loved him too much for that.
A drink was placed in front of her and Jude guzzled half of it before placing the drink back on the counter. It took only a few minutes before the rest of the drink was finished off. She had ignored everything around her, being so lost in thought. Though her eyes were focused on the bride and groom to her left, she didn't even realize when the man who occupied her thoughts sat to her right and ordered a drink of his own.
…
A vodka on the rocks was in his hand not even a minute after sitting down at the bar. After Jude had finished singing, he knew that he had to talk to her at some point tonight. He hadn't been sure what he was going to say, but he needed to be close to her. As soon as she had put the mic back on the stand, Tommy's nerves kicked in. As much as he wanted to go over to her and grab her and kiss her, he couldn't move a muscle. He kept trying to stand, but nerves had taken over.
The feeling of someone's arms wrapping around him was startling. Almost expecting to see Jude, he quickly turned. The disappointment was clear in his eyes when his girl wasn't there. Instead, Kwest's cousin, Alana, had been standing there. Giving her a brief hug, Tommy said hello, even though he barely looked at her rather trying to focus on the stage area where Jude was bound to be. Alana hadn't picked up on the fact that he didn't really want to talk to her, and pulled him to the dance floor.
The moment they had started swaying, he felt like he was cheating on Jude. That wasn't even a possibilty, especially considering that Alana was married to one of his coworkers from New York and her position as Kwest's cousin. Regardless of the fact that Jude and Tommy weren't an item, he felt tied to her...connected to her. He now realized those feelings as love. He still couldn't get over the idea that he loved her—it was such a foreign concept.
During the dancing, Tommy had spun Alana out and caught a glimpse of his girl dancing with the cooky guitarist, Spied. Instantly, he had been filled with a sense of jealousy—another foreign concept to him. He knew that Jude didn't feel anything for Spied, but he also knew that the guitarist had some deeper feelings for her. The smile she had given her dance partner had made his gut ache, the jealousy growing.
Finally, the song had ended, and Tom knew that his first order of business was finding his girl. Well, getting a drink to calm down and then finding his girl. After getting caught by some coworkers and friends on his way to the bar, Tommy had finally reached his destination. He sat and ordered his standard vodka on the rocks, sighing his frustration. His gaze was focused on the many people to his right, not realizing that the beautiful girl that currently inhabited his thoughts was just to his left.
Only moments later, he finished off his drink and asked for another, his hand bumping into that of the person to his left. Looking over to apologize, he was startled to see the bright blue eyes of his favorite person—his Jude. "Babes, what are you doing here?" He saw her reluctance to answer, and nudged her, encouraging her to be honest. "Hon?"
Looking over at him and rolling her eyes, she waved her hand in the direction of her sister and his friend, "Escaping the wedding madness. I couldn't take too much more gushing from Sadie."
"I don't blame you. It seems like she hasn't stopped giggling all night." Tommy understood Jude's slight annoyance with her sister. Sadie had been smiling like a crazy woman the whole day, especially since they had arrived at the reception hall. But, he also knew that there was more to it than that. Her stubbornness would keep her from telling him right away, he just had to get a few more drinks in her.
Toasting her, they both threw back their drinks, finishing them off quickly. Round three started with the clinking of glasses, and Tommy almost laughed when he saw Jude's hand shake a bit. After only two drinks, she was starting to feel the effects of the alcohol. They talked about their day apart, Jude shared the craziness that came with a hair and makeup crew, Tommy told her about playing video games before going to the church.
Thirty minutes later and another drink gone for each of them, Tommy and Jude were definitely feeling the effects of their liquid reassurance. They had been chatting nonstop—not about anything particularly important, but about the little things that had happened that day.
As she was about to take the first sip from her fourth cocktail, Jude turned to him. The look in her eyes was particularly serious, and Tommy was a little surprised at the sudden change in mood. After a moment, she said, "I didn't like seeing you and Alana dance." She took a drink and continued before he got a chance to interrupt. "I was jealous and sad—I don't like seeing you with other women...especially when you look so yummy."
Her words shocked him. Yummy? With wide eyes he tried to decipher whether or not this was the alcohol talking through her or just her being honest. Or maybe it was the alcohol making her honest. Nonetheless, he felt the need to confess his own jealousy when she danced with Spied. "I think I was jealous too."
She seemed surprised at his confession, and then asked, "You think or you know?"
"I've never really been jealous, but I think that was what it felt like. I don't like being jealous of that punk-ass kid." His comment was mostly true. Really, he just didn't like being jealous—it made him feel somewhat helpless and out of control. "I didn't really want to dance with Alana, you know." He wasn't sure why, but he needed to make sure that she knew that.
"I know. And even if you did, it's not like there was something between you guys—she's not a cheater."
The smirk on her face and the sparkle in her eyes told him that she was joking. She knew he wasn't a cheater either, at least not anymore. "Yeah, yeah. But seriously, I was going to come find you." Apparently he was going to be honest and tell her what had been on his mind lately, at least part of it.
"How come? What's up?"
She looked surprisingly curious and alert, despite the alcohol she had consumed up to this point. Tommy wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but decided to forge ahead anyway. "I've been thinking a lot lately."
"Wow, aren't you talented."
Jude's teasing eased his nerves slightly, but he brushed her comment off and continued. "This wedding has made me re-evaluate a lot of things and Kwest and James said some things the other night that...confused me. I just..." he paused, unsure of how to proceed. He couldn't just tell her that he loved her and they should be together forever, but he couldn't not say something. Her hand on his arm and a look of compassion calmed him slightly. Taking a deep breath, Tommy looked into the eyes of his best friend and was surprised to see something more than compassion and friendship. Could it be love? The way he felt looking into her eyes was the way he wanted to make her feel. Loved. Taken care of. Beautiful. Perfect.
He closed his eyes, gathering his thoughts. "You look so beautiful tonight, Babes. So beautiful. You are so perfect and your song was perfect—I loved it. When you came down the aisle I could barely breathe and when I saw you crying I wanted to take you away because you were sad. I want to be the one you dance with and the one who saves you. I promised your dad I would take care of you, but he didn't have to ask because I would always take care of you." His rambling stopped for a moment as he gathered a breath.
"Dad asked you to take care of me?"
Of all the things he just said, that was the one she commented on? Nerves began to creep up, but Tommy answered anyway. "Yeah." He was about to ask her for a reaction to the rest of his words, but she interrupted him before he could do so.
"He told me he got another transfer. He's moving farther away. Did you mean all of those things?" She asked so nonchalantly that he almost didn't answer her question.
After a second, he processed what she had asked and immediately responded with a resounding "Yes!" He took the drink in her hand and set it on the bar. Then, he grabbed both of her hands and looked at her intently, "I will always take care of you. I lo..." Before saying those monumental words, Tommy stopped himself. He shouldn't say them here, he should wait. Instead, he told her, "I love being around you. Just being next to you makes me smile." The smile that adorned her face at that comment made his whole life worth while. Lost in her eyes, he was struck by how serious their moment had gotten. Wanting to lighten the mood slightly, he pulled her towards him, making her stand up. His hands found their way to her hips, pulling her even closer, and whispered in her ear, " And you look seriously mind-blowing tonight. Those shoes make me want to do things to you and I just want to rip that dress right off of you."
His comment had been meant to make her blush, but when the hint of a moan escaped her mouth, he felt himself grow rigid. Granted, he had been slightly affected since seeing her at the church—he couldn't help it, she was the best looking woman he had ever seen. She didn't even know how sexy she was—understated and glamorous all at the same time. And those shoes...they were oozing sex. He had been fantasizing what she would look like wearing only those shoes and a pair of black lace panties. Eyes glazed over as the picture invaded his mind, but the movement of her shifting slightly and rubbing against his hard length quickly snapped him out of his reverie.
"What's stopping you?"
Her question was spoken in a hushed and husky voice that made his erection stand even taller. "What?" he squeaked. Was she serious? Was it the drinks? Was this real?
She leaned back so she could look into his eyes. "Babes, you look good enough to eat, and I want to taste. I was so jealous of you and Alana earlier, it made me ache for you. If you want, we can say it was because of the drinks, but know that this is me wanting you." She leaned into him and put her mouth near his ear. Her warm breath was hitting his ear, nearly making him shiver in want. "So I ask again. What's. Stopping. You?" Each of those three words were followed by a kiss on his ear, and that was all it took for him to grab her by the waist.
Before he completely left the building with her in tow, Tommy had enough sanity to take a good look at her, making sure she was being honest. He was surprised to see a sureness and determination in her blue orbs. The way her eyes had changed to a dark midnight blue and were sparkling was evidence of her excitement. The lust was becoming more and more apparent, obvious by the increasing darkness in her eyes.
Feeling certain that she wanted this at least as much as he did, Tommy held firmly onto her waist and led her to the doors. Once outside and waiting for the valet to arrive with his car, he pulled Jude close and was again struck by her beauty. This was something so crazy for them, but she looked perfectly content wrapped in his arms. He echoed that sense of contentment and moved her so she was facing him. He was literally taken over by the desire to kiss her, his mouth moving towards hers almost involuntarily.
The moment her lips touched his, every thought was lost. The only thing he could focus on was how her lips felt and tasted. They were like nectar—sweet and fulfilling. All he wanted was to taste more of her. The way her body molded to his was like heaven. Why hadn't he realized how perfect it would be to take this step with her?
The clearing of a throat invaded his thoughts and actions, and he grabbed the keys from the valet attendant who was holding them out. He ushered his girl into her place in the passenger seat and ran to the other side, nearly jumping into the car. Though his place was halfway across Toronto, it only took ten minutes until the couple was in the garage and parking his car.
The whole ride, Jude had been shifting in her seat, crossing her legs back and forth, giving further evidence to her arousal. Those actions had made him even harder, and he had pressed down on the accelerator. He let out a burst of laughter when she had exclaimed, "Finally!" under her breath upon the arrival in the parking garage at his complex. Her dress had ridden up slightly when she exited the car, causing him to stare for a moment. When she realized what he was doing, she smacked his chest, but followed by massaging the place she hit. He couldn't help but sigh in pleasure at the feeling of her hands on him.
He grabbed her arm and removed it from her chest, drawing her arms around his neck and kissing her soundly. At her attempt to deepen the kiss, he stopped their actions. "Babes, I don't care how completely sexy you are, we aren't doing this in my garage. Come on." He took her hand and led her to the direct elevator leading to his place.
She would never know how hard it was for him to stop, but it was true. She deserved much more than a dark garage. Really, she deserved the world. As they rode the elevator, he thought how tonight was the start of something...hopefully something amazing. Even something as simple as riding in an elevator seemed so right. He had never understood how perfect it was to have her next to him, but now that he had his epiphany, there was no going back.
The doors opened in to his penthouse, and he practically shoved Jude into the place. Immediately he threw off the coat he had lent her and took in her beauty. Recovering from his momentary pause, he pulled her to him, his hands on her hips, then sliding up her waist and reaching her breasts. Gently squeezing them through the fabric of her dress, his need for her doubled as he felt her draw in a jagged breath. Sliding his hands up her chest to land behind her neck, he brought her closer and placed a determined kiss on her lips. Not allowing it to go further, he moved his hands down her back, over her rear, and to the back of her legs. In one swift motion, he lifted her into his arms, holding onto her lace-covered ass. Her legs automatically went around his waist, and her lips attached to his neck, just below his ear.
Her sucking made him crave her even more, wanting her to suck and lick and kiss every inch of him. With her still in his grasp, he ran up the stairs to his master suite as quickly as he could. Reaching the top of the stairs, he stopped and pushed her against the wall. She detached her lips from his neck and looked at him in surprise. Her now unoccupied lips were soon against his, moving in perfect rhythm. As her arousal increased, so did her movement against his hips—grinding and rolling to relieve her need for him. Her husky voice begged for more, "Baby...please..." That was all it took for Tommy to move from their post on the wall and carry her into his room.
Finally reaching his room, he was about to drop her onto the bed when he realized that they were both still fully clothed. Instead, he let her slide down his body to her own two feet. Their lips were still attached as he tried to unzip her dress blindly; however, his inability to do such a simple task caused him to part from her lips. Finding the side zipper, he made quick work of it, then gliding his hand over the shoulder strap, he removed it, making the dress easier to remove. Her hands stopped him, "Let me," she hushed.
Excited at what her offer might bring, he stopped his actions. Still with enough awareness to make some decisions, he walked over to his stereo system and put on some music. He didn't want anything sappy or too jazzy, but a playlist of some beats and music he had created over the years was the perfect mood-setter, not that they needed any help. Turning back to face his girl, he was stunned and speechless. Only in her high heels and lace boy shorts, she was a vision. Had he not already seen her in a similar state in Europe, he would have sworn he was dreaming. Stepping close enough to reach out and feel her, his hands skimmed over her barely clothed hips, taking in her every curve.
As his hands continued to caress every inch of skin they could find, she moved her hands to his shirt, unbuttoning each and every button slowly. Her actions were torture, all he wanted was to throw her on the bed and finally be inside of her. They could discover each other later, but he needed her now. Finally, she reached the bottom of his shirt and shoved it off of his shoulders harshly. The lithe hands went to his belt buckle and quickly rid him of it, then getting rid of the pants that were still a hindrance. His shoes had been left somewhere on the stairs, so Tommy was now standing before her in his boxers and a pair of socks.
Her hands traced every muscle and line of his chest, but after a moment, moved her mouth towards him and tasted his hardened abs and chiseled pecs. He couldn't take any more of her wicked tongue's actions, and picked her up and tossed her onto the bed. Ridding himself of his socks, he then moved toward her, placing his hands on her ankles. Slowly he took off each shoe, tossing them behind him, not caring where they landed. As much as he would have loved it if she had kept them on, they would only get in the way and slow things down.
His hands ran up her legs, soon reaching her hips, and landing on her breasts once again. Again, he squeezed them gently, and again, she moaned in pleasure. That sound made his whole body tense, and he quickly climbed onto the bed next to her. He felt like a teenager: anxious, slightly nervous, and pure excitement racing through his veins. Straddling her, he began to kiss her, moving from her lips to her neck to her chest. His mouth found her nipple, sucking on it before stroking it with his tongue. He could feel it grow harder as he continued his ministrations, reveling in the sounds coming from her mouth. After showing equal attention to each one, he moved lower, trailing kisses and nibbles and pecks down her abdomen, pausing briefly in her belly button, and continuing on to her center. As he reached the line of her sexy black underwear, his teeth tried to pull it away, but he was far too impatient for that. Quickly removing the garment, his mouth met her below her hip, pleased to find her obviously wet and ready for him.
As much as he had wanted to take things slow and memorize every inch of her with his tongue and lips, his need was too great. Placing a small kiss at her center, he felt her muscles contract and an "Oh!" escape her mouth. Any drop of blood not already in his pulsing hardness quickly rushed there, and it was all he could do to remove his own boxers before sinking into her. She met his initial thrust with her hips, taking him full to his hilt, and he groaned in pleasure. "Babes...more..." No more words could be said because he was already out of breath.
Her hands found his back as he continued to thrust into her wetness, slowly picking up his pace. He ignored the slight pain they caused, being overwhelmed by the pure perfection that was being with her. Her legs came up and wrapped around his middle, meeting his stroke for stroke, thrust for thrust. Never in his life had he wanted anything as much as he wanted this...with her...completely around him. Staring down at her, he lost all sense of control, and the feeling of her muscles clenching around him sent him spiraling over the edge, groaning her name. The "Aaahhhh Tommy!" gave evidence of her pleasure, the last erratic motions of pleasure moving them against each other.
He collapsed against her, their breathing ragged and labored. After a few moments, he rolled to the side, bringing her with him and pulling her flush against him. With all of the many one-night-stands he had over the years, and even the girl friends he had managed to stay with, he had never felt as completely undone and yet completely satisfied as he did now—the love of his life folded in his arms, naked body against sweaty naked body.
The moments grew longer, and the spent pair eventually drifted off to sleep. Tommy's last thought was that this was perfect. There had to be more to this night and this encounter than sex. If he didn't know better, he would say this was love. Nothing short of pure, perfect, passionate love. A smile on his lips, he placed a sweet kiss on the forehead of his girl and drifted off to a restful sleep full of sappy dreams of "happily ever after."
The song Jude sings at Kwest and Sadie's wedding was You've Got the Love, by Florence and the Machine (I'm slightly obsessed:)).
