"Jude…" Tom began while straightening up slowly, glancing at the hallway behind me as if he couldn't figure out where I had come from. I just couldn't say anything—staring down instead at my sodden clothes miserably wondering, once again, if I was doing the right thing.
"I didn't think you'd come back." He said softly as I glanced back up at him with wide, expectant eyes.
"Neither did I." I replied slowly as my teeth chattered together loudly in the silent space. Tom stood up quickly, holding onto the side of his towel as he walked into his bathroom before turning on what sounded like the faucet of his Jacuzzi tub and I stood frozen as he walked back into the room and made his way over to me slowly.
"You're freezing, Jude." He said—stating the obvious as if he couldn't think of anything else to say. I just nodded mutely as he lifted my chin with his fingers, and I looked up into his eyes giving him a look that pleaded with him—for what, I didn't know. I still wasn't sure what I was doing yet myself. I just knew I had to be here—with him. Tom's pupils dilated and I licked my dry lips quickly watching with fascination as his eyes followed the movement before replacing the stare with his finger—outlining the skin of my mouth slowly as if mesmerized.
"Jude…" He mumbled desperately as I suddenly placed one of my cold hands against the skin of his chest—pressing there gently as he pulled my face to his—melding our lips together in one swift, ritualistic dance. I was floored—curling my toes into the material of my wet tennis shoes as I gripped at his arms—completely unaware of anything but him. A slight slick slap of my wet shirt made me aware that he was lifting it over my head, and I lifted my arms up in a helpful gesture—shivering as the air hit my already wet skin.
"You need to warm up, Jude." He mumbled against my lips as I tried my best to answer him as my body clung to his heat like a beacon. He chuckled lightly against my mouth as he pulled me up into his arms, cradling me, and carrying me as I protested into his bathroom before stooping down to turn off the water on the now full tub.
"Get in, Jude. It'll help." He said before turning away and walking out the door—closing it behind him as he went. I could have wept at his departure, but my body shivered instead as it remembered why it was in here. I stripped the garments off slowly-stepping into the water languidly—feeling as the heat emanated throughout my system, and I almost dozed as I lay there until a movement outside made me aware of Tom's presence, and I stood up slowly before wrapping a towel around me and walking over to the door. Cracking it open, I stared at him as he stood there in the middle of the room looking torn. He noticed me then, and I tried my best to smile past the tension that radiated between the two of us, but I failed miserably and I let my gaze fall to the floor sullenly.
"I want you, Jude." He said suddenly, causing my head to snap up furiously as I looked into his heated gaze in wonder. He didn't even smile—just shook his head as if it was something that really bothered him.
"God Jude…" He began as I pushed the door open hurriedly—stomping across the room in my towel in order to place the palm of my hand over his lips.
"Don't!" I cried desperately. "Don't say it!" I almost screamed as tears began to streak down my cheeks, and Tom shook his head hard enough that my hand fell off his mouth and back down to my sides.
"If we start now, I won't stop this time, Jude. You know what that means right?" He growled as his hands came to rest possessively on my bare shoulders. I sighed as one of his hands grazed my cheeks—brushing away the moisture that had gathered there, and I grabbed his hand before placing a kiss squarely in the center of his palm.
"Yes, I know what that means." I answered simply as I let my head fall back instinctively as his lips met once again furiously with mine, and I gasped as he pressed back against me—releasing the frustration and the fury that had been building up inside of him for over a year. And I met it fury for fury—collapsing as my knees went weak only to have Tom catch me before picking me up and pressing me into the fabric of his bed. His hand moved up my thigh and I held my breath as his lips settled near my ear in a strangled moan.
"I can't stop." He repeated again as if he needed me to understand that.
"Then don't!" I cried as he rolled us over before flipping off the light next to his bed.