Chapter 12
During lunch a few days later Kat and Jamie finally cornered Jude who had been preoccupied with work, her mother kicking her father out of the house and Tommy. The three friends sat at one of the outdoor lunch tables. Jude was running through lyrics in her head. Time to dream that love will last. Time to drive my car too fast. Tommy had promised to give her another driving lesson, albeit reluctantly. Jude was starting to learn exactly what buttons to push with him though and found the power heady.
"We have something to tell you." Kat said. Jude snapped out of her reverie and looked at them expectantly.
"Kat and I. Well we've become a 'we'." Jamie added and took her small hand in his.
Kat rolled her eyes at Jamie.
"What he's trying to saying, badly I might add, is that we're dating." Jude looked at them in surprise for a moment, as she processed their news. She had had no clue that this was going on. Had Jude become so self-absorbed in her new life that she had missed the signs of her two best friends hooking up? She thought about it for a few seconds more before her face brightened and she smiled.
"That's great." She stunned Jamie and Kat with her genuine enthusiasm. It must be true that people who are in love, want everyone around them to be happy too. Of course her friends had no idea Jude was seeing anyone. Shay had just supposedly broken her heart after all.
"Wow..." Kat said.
"What?"
"We thought you'd be kind of upset." Jamie said now a little uneasy himself. Jude was way too happy for them in his opinion.
"No. I think it's great my two best friends are together." Jamie was actually a little disappointed that Jude seemed to be completely okay with this. His feelings for her were still confused, even though he claimed to be over Jude.
"I heard you were auditioning back up bands too." Jamie brought up the second reason he had wanted to talk to Jude.
"Um yeah..."
"You should check out Spiederman's new band. They're actually coming together, under my sterling management. Surprisingly..."
"Say no more..." Jude said. "I'll see what I can do." This girl in front of him looked like Jude and sounded like her, but she was so Zen like Jamie was worried she was going to crack. Jude had never been one to hold anything in. She had just been dumped in public by her first boyfriend and it was all over the tabloids, yet she seemed okay with it. Her father had also just been forced to move out after confessing to her mother about his infidelity. Jude had always turned to Jamie when things got rough, but he hadn't really heard from her since he had tried to steal the newspapers from her front door the morning after her humiliation. She had to still be upset, her performance the other night confirmed that.
When Jude strolled off, humming a tune, leaving them alone, Jamie looked at Kat in disbelief.
"Am I the only one who thinks that went too easily?"
"Well...She seems happy for us."
"Does that sound like Jude to you? There's something wrong with this picture." Kat shrugged helplessly. She wondered if it had to do with whoever Jude had stayed out with on her birthday. She was happy for her, if her friend had indeed found someone.
Jude sat next Tommy at the soundboard watching him work on her song after school that same day. They had sent Kwest off for some fast food about 20 minutes ago. As soon as Tommy finished one part he dropped his pen on the floor deliberately and when Jude leaned over to pick it up, his lips pressed against hers in a drive by kiss, before he straightened. He licked his lips, tasting the lip gloss she had put on and grinned at the slightly stunned Jude. They had agreed to no PDA in G-Major.
"Mmm...Cherry." She blushed at the intense look he gave her.
"Tommy?" Her fingers made a slow trail up his arm.
"Yes Jude?"
"I need a favor." He looked at her expectantly, letting her tease him with her touch. "Jamie has a new band he wants to audition."
"Jamie?" Tommy rolled his eyes. He had never liked the kid, something about the puppy dog looks he gave Jude had always rubbed him the wrong way. When Jude had told him Jamie was dating her other friend Kat he had been surprised, because it was obvious to everyone but Jude that Jamie was in love with her. She gave him a cute frown and he sighed. "Is that what you really want?" She nodded and shot him a sweet smile, before Kwest interrupted, walking back in with two McDonalds bags in his hand. Kwest handed one of them to Tommy before sitting down and pulling two Big Mac's out and then two large fries. "Tell him to come by tomorrow morning and I'll talk to him."
"Thank you." Jude could only stare at the amount of food Kwest had in front of him and he caught her intent gaze on him after taking a big bite of his burger.
"What? I was hungry." She smirked at him and turned to Tommy who was busy taking the food out of the other bag, giving Jude her fries and bacon cheeseburger. Jude unwrapped her sandwich and proceeded to take the bun off to remove the pickles which she then handed to Tommy without thinking about it. He took them and popped them into his mouth without missing a beat. Kwest stared at the interaction, more suspicions racing through his mind. Regardless of whether or not Tommy had a thing for Jude he was not a relationship kind of guy, not since Angie anyway. Kwest was starting to get a headache at his own thoughts. He crammed a handful of fries to his mouth automatically as he threw surreptitious glances at the two people in the room with him.
Two soft hands, distinctly feminine, covered Tommy's eyes as he sat at the soundboard working on Jude's music. He stiffened immediately, because the perfume wafting off this mystery girl was not the scent he had grown to love.
"Guess who." He turned in his swivel chair, forcing her hands to drop to his shoulders instead. Sadie gave him a sexy little pout as Kwest watched them silently.
"Hey Sadie..." Tommy said warily. Jude had gone off into his office to do some homework and he was afraid she would pop out at anytime. "What are you doing here?" Sadie rolled her eyes.
"Mom insisted I pick Jude up. It's such a drag carting my little sister around." Tommy didn't like that piece of news. Sometimes the only time alone he and Jude got was when he drove her home. Sadie's eyes took on a predatory gleam as she stared at Tommy. "Maybe we can finally go out again sometime." Sadie said coyly, batting her blue eyes at him, a small sexy smile gracing her lips.
"Look Sadie, you seem like a nice girl..." He untangled her arms from around him. "But I'm already seeing someone." Sadie frowned. He must have just met this mystery woman, because he hadn't mentioned her when they had gone out after the dinner with Shay. And if that was true how could he already be that committed to her? It's not like he could have been with her that long.
"Oh... I didn't know." Kwest watched the scene play out quietly. Sadie left them, her cheeks tinged pink with embarrassment.
"You're seeing someone?" Kwest asked once she was gone from sight.
"No..." Tommy lied. "I was just trying to let her down easy."
"Why? She's hot and she wants you... and she's legal. Why wouldn't you be interested in her?" Tommy just gave him a look that had him shaking his head.
"You're not still hung up on Jude are you?" Tommy took a beat too long to answer.
"Of course not...."
"You were telling Sadie the truth. You are seeing someone." Tommy didn't confirm his friend's suspicions, but couldn't seem to deny them either. "Man you better be careful...If her parents find out..."
"I know."
As Sadie drove Jude home in her lime-green VW Beetle she turned to look at her sister.
"Do you know who Tommy's girlfriend is?" Jude just looked at Sadie blankly, so Sadie rolled her eyes. "Why am I asking you? Like he would tell you anything personal."
"He said he had a girlfriend?" Jude's insides grew warm. Sadie rolled her eyes again.
"He told me he was seeing someone. Weren't you paying attention? Anyway have any girls come by G-Major looking for him?" Jude shook her head. Tommy never invited women to work even if there was one. "I used my best material on him." Sadie wailed in confusion. "I can't believe he met someone so fast. I mean that date wasn't more than a month ago."
"Date?"
"Oh...Tommy thought you'd be upset, so we didn't tell you. You aren't are you?" Sadie was oblivious to the thoughts flitting through Jude's eyes as she shook her head.
The following morning Jude brought Jamie in to the studio to meet with Tommy. Jamie had his chance with Tommy and for Jude's sake Tommy had given SME a chance to work on their music. He let them have studio C to rehearse and almost regretted it.
Georgia and Tommy had just come from another round of auditions, with no luck, when they heard the noise masquerading as music coming from said studio. Georgia was getting antsy since Jude needed a band for her live mall radio concert the very next day and they still hadn't found anyone hopeful. They stopped to listen and Georgia complained about the migraine she was getting from whoever was in Studio C when Jude came up behind them listening as well.
"Maybe they need to sing a different song." She contemplated for a second. "A better song. A song I wrote." Jude said excitedly. She hurried towards the doorway as Tommy called after her.
"Jude you're not serious."
Georgia and Tommy listened from the doorway. Although the band was rough, they seemed to mesh well with Jude as well as being the same age. Jude had found her 'bonafide garage band' as Georgia had called it. She looked up and grinned at Tommy who could not help but grin back. They needed work, but seeing the smile on her face was worth it after all the hurt her family life had been causing her.
Jude came in after school to find Tommy in the hospitality area, excitement brimming in her eyes as she grabbed his hand. He pretended reluctance, but the truth was he would have followed that perfectly curved ass anywhere. She pulled him into his office, shutting the door behind them where she took her acoustic guitar out of its case.
"I take it you have something to show me?" Tommy asked with amusement as he folded his arms in front of his chest. She sat on the edge of his desk, adjusting the strings.
"What haven't you seen?" She gave him a pointed look that had him coughing. "So I changed that song I was working on, on my birthday a little, but I finished it."
"The one for 'Shay'?"
"It's not about him anymore." His lips curved as he looked at her. With a grin on her face she started playing.
You never lied to me not once
Its not your fault that I can't trust
Its in my past, its in my path and I can't go there
Making a mess out of this game
To see it all go up in flames
So tired of being ruthless and reckless
Time to be your only one
To almost be your way too young
Time to crash into the sun
Time to be your 21
Time to dream that love will last
Time to drive my car too fast
Time to walk before I run
Time to be
Ohh time to be your 21
I don't believe in love and I
I pull it to the wall
I tasted sweetness there to laugh so hard as it falls
And I could push you there if you don't stop me
Push you there if you don't stop me
Please stop me
Time to be your only one
To almost be you're way too young
Time to crash into the sun
Time to be your 21
Time to dream that love will last
Time to drive my car too fast
Time to walk before I run
Time to be
Ohh time to be your 21
Its gut wrenching sometimes
Its life threatening sometimes
Seems like nothing can wash it all away
Time to be your only one
To almost be you're way too young
Time to crash into the sun
Time to be your 21
Time to dream that love will last
Time to drive my car too fast
Time to walk before I run
Time to be your 21
Time to be your 21
As she finished Time To Be Your 21 his eyes scanned her face. She put the guitar down on the visitor chair and waited for his reaction. Okay so he had innocently said one late night with her that it would have been so much easier if she were older, then he wouldn't have had to drive her home, claiming it was just another late night recording session. She apparently had not liked that comment.
"Are you mocking me?" He finally said teasingly.
"How could I possibly do that?" She asked innocently. He gave a growl low in his throat and grabbed her by the waist, pulling her into his chest.
"Because I couldn't wait." His teeth found the delicate shell of her ear as he bit down softly. This was so wrong, but she felt so right in his arms. His hands cupped her ass, as he lifted her back onto the desk. He stood between her legs, and drank in her mouth. She pulled him closer with her arms around his neck, wrapping her jean clad legs around his waist. His insistent arousal pressed against her through the denim of their jeans. He thrust against her, driving them both a little mad, the friction making her whimper against his mouth. The rubbing pressure had her gasping against his lips, until she let out a tiny cry. He drew back from her swollen mouth and looked at her with a glint in his eyes.
"Did you just....?" She could see the amusement lurking in that sapphire gaze. He knew exactly what he could do to her.
"I..." Her cheeks turned a light shade of pink, as she caught her breath. "I hate you Quincy." She said without heat as she pushed him back and moved away from him.
"Jude." He reached for her hand, but she slipped out of his grasp. "Jude what about me?" He said with the faint tint of desperation, his arousal still straining against his jeans.
"I thought we had to be professional at work." She blinked at him with her guileless blue eyes, and he wondered how she could still pull that look off; the look of a beautiful red haired angel. Jude Harrison was no innocent, not anymore, thanks to him. She gave him a small grin as she grabbed her guitar and opened the door to leave his office. He fell back onto the visitor chair, wondering how he, the man who had spent years avoiding complications and entanglements, found himself loving every minute of the ones he found himself in.
They were at his apartment, in one of those semi-regular times when Victoria was out of town for work. Jude had told Sadie she was staying over at Kat's to work on a history paper, not that her sister really cared. They sat together on his leather couch, a movie in the DVD player that hadn't been turned on yet, legs resting on his lap.
"You never told me you went out with Sadie." Jude said in a too even voice, that Tommy did not trust for a second. He knew her well enough to know she was not the most rational creature, even on a good day. She was fire and passion and there wasn't a single thing he would ever change about her, well except maybe for her age.
"Uh...Jude it's not what you think." The expression on his face was priceless and she couldn't help the grin that leaked out.
"I was just asking Quincy. You don't have to look so terrified."
"I'm not." It came out on a croak, so he cleared his throat and tried again. "I mean I only went out with her to get away from your Dad that night you had your school dance."
"Oh...Did you have a good time?" He blinked at her, unable to get a fix on her mood. Was she upset or not?
"It was alright." He said warily as he eyed her. She twirled a loose strand of hair in her fingers.
"Sadie would be upset to hear that. I mean guys usually fall at her feet." He did not trust the glint in her eye.
"Are you actually upset over this?"
"Sadie said, you said, you had a girlfriend." Tommy relaxed. She had been teasing him all along and he had fallen for it.
"She, unlike you, is resistable." Tommy said drawing her onto his lap. Her insides grew warm, even though she didn't show her weakening state. She wrapped her arms loosely around his neck.
"Is resistable even a word?"
"You're a songwriter. Since when has that ever stopped you?"
"True..." He caught her gaze.
"Sadie's a pretty girl. I won't deny that." Jude stiffened in his arms, but he would not let her get up. "But you are the one I took home that night. I didn't even notice her in the bar."
"Does that mean you like me more than Sadie?" Jude teased.
"I like you more than anyone." His mouth hovered a hairbreadths away from hers. Neither of them closed the distance, until Jude shifted her butt on his lap and he couldn't help but brush his lips against her full ones. She deepened the kiss and he soon shifted her so she was lying underneath him. He had not forgotten earlier when she had left him hanging. Of course it was true he should never have started anything at work either.
He made short work of her shirt and bra, his lips finding the aching nipples. He pulled back just long enough to remove his own shirt, his chest pressed to her belly as he teased her breasts with his mouth, taking all his skill to make her moan. His tongue made a trail down her chest to her belly and his hands went to her jeans to undo them. As he slid the denim down her legs his mouth hovered above the fine satin covering her. She shivered as he blew on the thin fabric. His fingers hooked under the string of her panties and slid them off of her slowly. As she raised her hips to help him, he placed a small kiss on her curls, but went no further. His thumbs skimmed her inner thighs as he spread her legs to his gaze.
Jude screamed out as his tongue lapped once over the length of her nether lips. She was already wet and open to him, but he seemed to be taking his time. Finally she felt his mouth take her clit and suck, causing her to buck against him.
"Tommy..." She moaned as his tongue swirled and stroked over her clit. His hands went to her ass to lift her against his mouth. She breathed shallowly, unable to bring enough oxygen to her lungs, as he tormented her swollen flesh with his mouth and when she felt her muscles begin to tighten he stopped suddenly and let her fall back onto the leather. She looked down at him in confusion as stood up and started to take off the rest of his clothing.
"Did you really think I'd forget about earlier?" Tommy asked with a grin as he slid his pants off. It took Jude a moment to process his words past the haze of lust, but when she did her own lips curved in a wicked little smile.
When he started to lean over to cover her body with his own she shifted off the couch, letting him fall onto it. He turned to see what she was up to and her hands went to his chest to push him back. Her mouth closed on his rock hard arousal before he could even blink and at that point he could no longer find the will to protest their sudden reversal of roles. She took him deeper into her mouth than she ever had and her hand encircled the base of his shaft so when she began to move up and down it felt like, she had taken all of him into her lips. As her head pulled back she started a sucking motion that had him groaning as his fingers tangled into her hair. She bobbed her head up and down on his erection, his breath growing ever more erratic.
"Oh God...." He panted. "Jude stop...I'm going to..." With her other hand she squeezed his balls as she sucked on his shaft. He thrust up in an involuntary motion as he pumped his pleasure into her mouth. She pulled back, kneeling before him, her bare ass resting on the pads of her feet and Tommy watched her lick her still glossy lips.
"Where did you learn to do that?" He asked suspiciously; no woman had ever done that to him quite like that.
"I read..."
"What exactly have you been reading?" She just gave him an enigmatic smile as she slid up his body to place her lips against his. His hand fisted in her hair again as he kissed her, tasting his own salty fluids on her tongue. It wasn't long before she felt his erection pressing against her belly. Jude found herself suddenly on her stomach, against the cool material of the couch, as he had somehow flipped their positions. Tommy had one hand on her back holding her down as he slid a condom on. His hands went to her hips pulling her up so she was on her knees, ass in the air.
Jude felt the tip of him grazing her entrance and she tried to push back, but his arm snaked around her belly holding her in place. The fingers of his other hand slid through her downy curls and found the kernel nestled among her folds. As his callused fingers stroked she gasped. Without warning he thrust into her in one smooth motion, causing a cry to escape her lips, as his fingers continued to work on her swollen flesh. She came almost immediately, squeezing his cock tightly, but he was not done with her yet.
He pushed in and out of her in one continuous motion, stretching her inner walls as he pressed himself deep inside. Jude braced herself on her arms as he pounded above her, her mouth biting at her lower lip to keep from screaming out loud. When his fingers found her clit again she did cry out and her convulsing muscles caused him to quicken his pace, his mouth biting down on her shoulder as he too felt the rushing wave of sensation focused on where their bodies joined. He cried out against her skin as the orgasm shot out of him on every last thrust.
Tommy rolled off of her and pulled her down to his side. They lay there silent, Jude's long hair sticking to his sweaty body. He thought he could feel the pounding of his heart and was amazed all over again that he had found someone who could do that to him. He smoothed the fiery strands from her face and kissed her forehead. She curled more fully against him, placing her palm on top of his pounding heart.