Author's Note: Heee Hee, I loved all of your reviews for this one. And I have to tell you guys, I'm ecstatic about some mano y mano testosterone action myself. It's time someone fought over Jude instead of girls fighting over Tommy. Here's the next installment. I love you guys! Please keep reading and let me know what you think. Smiles.
I entered my apartment later that night feeling drained and more than just a little upset to find Chris lounging on the couch flipping through my television without much interest in what was on. He threw the remote onto the chair opposite him as I walked over to the sofa before holding out his arms, and I crawled over the cushions to rest against his chest as he stroked my hair.
"Long day?" He asked as I just nodded against his shirt. He sighed. I just laid there breathing in the scent of his cologne as I tried to forget the scent of another smell known as Tom Quincy—that confounded brand of Eternity he sometimes wore that drove me nuts. And I hated myself just then for even thinking of him. Stop it, Jude. Grabbing Chris by the chin, I melded my lips to his—trying to drown memories in passion. He kissed me back thoroughly before flipping me over onto the couch so that he was leaning over me. I sighed as he ran his palm up under my shirt—grazing the skin there with his fingertips. The feeling was almost heady, and I arched into his touch as he kissed me harder—more demandingly. I fell into the kiss—letting it take me away as Chris lifted me up to carry me to the bedroom before setting me down gently onto the bed. He pulled his shirt over his head as we rolled together when he fell over me again, and I pushed at his muscles as he moved to nibble on my earlobe. I felt his hand hover near the clasp of my pants and I hesitated. Simple as that, I hesitated. He looked down at me—gazing into my eyes as if he noticed my reluctance and I shook my head at him. He just smiled before moving to lie beside me.
"I thought it might be too early. We've only been together four months, Jude. I'm not pushing you." He stated on a whisper as I folded myself into his embrace—letting his hand run down my back in mesmerizing circles. What was wrong with me? It wasn't too early—really it wasn't. I just lay there with my nose pressed into his bare chest for what seemed like hours until his breathing deepened, and I knew that he was asleep. I eased away from him before letting my feet fall to the floor of the room silently. I needed to get away for a little while. I needed to think. Grabbing my car keys, I looked back at Chris one more time before sneaking out of the apartment. Silence invaded my space as I climbed into my car and drove—heading in a familiar direction only to pull into the parking lot of an overhang that overlooked the city of Toronto. The lights were mesmerizing as I sat there wondering what everyone else in the city was doing. Were they eating supper, sleeping, watching TV, listening to the same radio station I had tuned at the moment? Were they just as confused as I was? My window was down as the breeze blew against my face, and I inhaled the moist evening air.
"You always did come here when you were conflicted." A voice said suddenly from outside my window and I clenched my teeth together harshly as I realized it was Tom.
"I'm not conflicted." I stated simply as he shook his head before walking around the car and climbing into the passenger seat.
"Sure you're not, and I didn't just act like a total jackass back at the studio earlier tonight either." Tommy muttered sarcastically as I threw him a sideways glance.
"So, you're admitting it then?" I asked as he chuckled. The same old aristocratic Jude Harrison.
"Yes, I admit that I was an ass. And I'm sorry. You just caught me off guard that's all. Now, admit you're conflicted." Tommy stated simply as I threw him an amused look before shrugging.
"I'll admit no such thing Little Tommy Q." I replied on a laugh as Tommy threw me a look before grabbing my foot to remove my shoe. He knew I was ticklish, and I fought him.
"Jude Harrison…" He warned as my foot burned from his touch. I had to stop this. Pulling my foot away, I looked over at him solemnly again.
"I can't admit that, Tom. Please don't make me. I really do love Chris and since when did it matter. You returned home today—walking into the studio as if you were my possessive boyfriend and we've never even gone on a date. What's with that?" I asked sullenly as Tommy sighed before leaning back in the seat.
"I told you this on your seventeenth birthday Jude, and I'll tell you again. You know why." He stated softly as I just shook my head.
"Do I Tom? Huh, because I don't think I know anymore." I remarked almost on a whisper. He just peered over at me in the dark. It made me nervous.
"And if we went on a date, Jude?" He asked me quietly as I just stared out the front window.
"Then I'd have to tell you it's too late for that now, Tom." I uttered as I stepped on the brake to switch gears before looking over at him pointedly—telling him with my eyes that it was time for me to go. Tom shook his head before opening the door.
"Four months, Jude. He's known you just four months. I've known you two years." Tom said quietly as I just shook my head right back at him.
"And yet he's loved me longer." I replied simply as Tommy laughed into the darkness surrounding us.
"Are you so sure of that, Jude?" Tommy remarked as he pushed himself out of the vehicle. I looked behind me uncertainly as I processed that statement just about to back out as he rounded the car again to stand at my window.
"Darius needs us at the studio at eight in the morning." Tom mumbled as I nodded my head.
"Fine, but I have to be somewhere at one that afternoon. Chris is racing a car in a local race here in town. It's a hobby of his." I stated simply as Tommy raised a brow.
"Is it now?" Tommy asked as I shrugged.
"Must be all the adrenaline. If you ask me, it scares me to death. Too much of the Fast and the Furious for me." I remarked on a small grin as Tommy looked over at me with a glint in his eye. Okay, what was with the glint? Glints were never good.
"Hope all goes well for him." Tommy replied as he backed away and tapped the hood of my car as if to tell me I could go. I stared at him in my rearview mirror as I drove off. Tommy used to race cars didn't he? I could have sworn I heard Kwest mention that once. Oh, shit!
