Chapter 15
She had been gone when he had woken up.
He sat in the studio, occasionally stretching his left arm to rid himself of the still evident pain while watching her standing in the lobby, happily talking to her boyfriend as if the last night hadn't happened at all. He could accept that she didn't think much of the fact that they had slept in the same bed, albeit snuggled together very closely, but that she could forget the kiss that had happened prior to his hospital experience irritated him. He didn't like that side of her. He had come to know her as a very emotional person, always speaking out what she felt, and now she was either feeling nothing for him anymore, or she had decided to lie to herself as much as she was lying to him. He liked neither possibility.
"Hey you," Portia smiled, entering the room with a bouquet of sunflowers. "These are for you. I heard you crashed into a garbage truck last night." She didn't even attempt to stay serious, and instead laughed heartily. The image of that hideously expensive Ferrari of his crashing into that dumpster mobile had her almost shaking in merriment. "Poor you!"
"Funny. Really!" He rolled his eyes, and turned away from the door he had sternly stared at until now. He couldn't watch that repulsive moment between Jude and David any longer.
"Jealous," his ex-wife asked, noticing his adverting eyes immediately. She had always been good in telling who could spark a reaction in her former husband's mind. Admittedly, years ago he had been a little more obvious in his interest in the other sex, but nonetheless there were still signs today. For example denying when being asked flat out.
"Me? No!" He scoffed. "Why would I be jealous? Because Jude is talking to her stupid boyfriend?"
Portia grinned. Yep, he was so jealous! "I never mentioned Jude, and please do explain why her boyfriend is stupid."
Feeling like an idiot for having stepped headfirst into that trap, he tossed her a bothered look, and played the annoyed. "Have I ever told you that one of the reasons we got divorced is your maddening nosiness?"
"Oh really?" She was long over Tommy, and he had lost his power to hurt her. After about a million affairs of his, she figured that was a natural consequence. But, the fact that he dared to blame her over their marriage's faith annoyed her. "Here I thought it was your infidelity that made me divorce you! Look, I didn't come to fight, and the reason I'm nosy is your own fault. You behave like a rutting moose around her – Kwest's words, not mine – and it's ridiculous!"
"How so," he asked, half intrigued, half exasperated. He made a mental note to talk to Kwest about that 'moose'-comment.
Sitting down on what usually was Kwest's chair, Portia gave him a dreamy smile, something that always came when she remembered the good days they used to have. Those very few there were… "When you went after me, you didn't care I was seeing someone else. You wanted me, and you went for me. I'm not as naïve about you as I used to be, and I know if you hadn't wanted to rile up Darius, you would have never eloped with me, but motives aside, you were incredibly hard to get rid off back then. Part of what I loved about you what your unbreakable will to have me!"
Allowing her words to sink in, he sighed. "It's not that Jude doesn't know I want her. She wants too much from me," he found himself confessing. Maybe a female opinion could help him. "She wants me to admit that I love her before she'll even consider giving me a chance."
"So? Where's the problem?" The incredulous look on his face made her groan. "Oh, right. That would require admitting to yourself that you're in love with her! I forgot that's not your way of handling things. You're the sort of guy that denies until denying isn't possible anymore." A laugh escaped her lips remembering one particular time. "You denied having an affair although I found you inside another woman! But, to help you out here, use your advantages!"
"My looks," he asked with a smirk.
She rolled her eyes. Occasionally, and that rather often, he was a real idiot! "Your accident! Play the needy guy, and make her help you. She likes you, whether she wants or not. Seeing you helpless will make her want to support you. I know I fell for that number more than one time."
"I'm not helpless." That term didn't apply to him!
"Pretend, Tommy! God knows you know how to do that!"
He gave her a friendlier look, realizing she wasn't in the mood for jokes. "How come you're helping me? I don't necessarily earn that."
"You don't earn that," she affirmed fiercely. "But I like Jude, and she belongs to you. I saw you two on the soundboard the other day, and I know about the kiss from her sweet sixteen. I admit, in the beginning I thought you just wanted her for sex, but Kwest told me a lot of things, including that you already fell for her last year. If she's able to hold your interest for such a long time, she might just be the right girl for you. No one ever had you falling so hard. That is…" she stopped, remembering yet another reason why they separated. Maybe one of the reasons she wanted to help Tommy was guilt.
"It's a long while. Almost four years. I'm sorry," he said, realizing he should have done so a long while ago. "I made a lot of wrong choices back then. You didn't earn to be treated like that."
"No," she agreed. "But we were both young, and we both made mistakes.
"Thanks, Portia."
He put great interest in staying in his chair that day. After his conversation with Portia he had realized that he was really able to make something out of his accident. During recordings, he had more than once pretended to swallow painkillers when in reality he had eaten a lot of peppermints. Kwest had snickered each time Tommy had pretended to groan in pain, and Jude had more than once glanced worriedly at him. However, she had yet to talk to him. The only words they had exchanged were professional comments on her song.
Kwest had left early – after being commandeered by Tommy to do so – and now Tommy was the only one left at G-Major, next to Jude and David. "Jude?" He spoke quietly, almost shy, keeping her from leaving with her boy-toy. "Um…you have some time to spare?" He did his best to sound as innocent and sweet as possible, though sounding smug and cocky was by far easier.
Jude haltered to cast a confused glance at him. "Sure." She stopped in the door of studio A, taking in his humble figure. She had avoided him as much as possible today, the last days' events being too confusing for her. First the kiss in the elevator that had aroused her to the bone and shocked her just as much, and then the night in his arms. She had never felt more secure in her life before, and she was afraid she never would with anyone else. It wasn't just his warm arms that she had loved – it was also his presence. Knowing it was Tommy that was holding her had given her an odd sense of peace.
It hadn't been easy to stay at a distance to him. Quincy seemed still unfit. He had been in obvious pain; she had seen him taking a lot of pills during recording. And now it looked like he was about to start crying any second, helpless and almost broken. Nothing like the self-satisfied male he usually was. "You need anything?" She began to get really worried.
He nodded, stood up and winced in pain. "Um…can you drive me home? Kwest already left and…this morning I thought I could handle driving, but after all those painkillers I'd rather not push my luck."
"Sure!" Jude agreed right away. If he wanted her to drive, he must be really handicapped! And his eyes when he asked her had been so pleading. This side of Tommy was completely new to her, however, she didn't find it bad. "Can you walk to the car?"
David, who stood next to Jude, watched with silent infuriation, and scoffed at her question. Was he the only one seeing the grin on Tom Quincy's unmistakably boasting face? "He has scratches – not a broken leg!"
"David," Jude scolded, slapping his arm. She knew both guys had some sort of troubles, but it wasn't right to mock a man in pain. "Maybe you should go! I'll call you later." Her attention was already back on Tommy when he protested.
"We have plans, Jude."
Jude was looking at him again, not seeing Tommy behind her as he smirked provocatively mischievous at David. The latter however did, and he found no joy in it! "He's playing, Jude! He is just fine and doesn't need any help! And if he does, he can afford himself a nurse. I'm sure he already knows a few. Carnally, even!"
"Hey," she chided again, not used to defending Tommy. It wasn't like her producer to let people talk about him like that, but when she glanced at Quincy, he looked upset and defenseless. He looked precisely like the sort of person who was in pain, tired, and exhausted. It wasn't fair to pick on someone who had just had a car accident. Grabbing her guitar, she pushed it into David's hands with slightly more fierce than she had intended. "Here. Take that home for me? Please? I promise to call you later. Right now, I need to take care of my fried!"
"How will you get home?" David sighed, bit his tongue from lashing out at Tommy for that guy was still smugly grinning, and made a mental note to get back at Tommy for that as soon as he'd get him alone! That bastard was even shifting from one leg to another behind her back, demonstrating he was indeed playing a show for Jude. Nonetheless, David cared about her. "I can pick you up later. Or, I'll come with you." The smile fell from Tommy's face.
"Actually," Tommy objected, "I'd rather not. I'm having a headache, and I could really use some rest."
"Oh, yeah. He's right," Jude quickly agreed, feeling bad for Tommy when he gave her his pleading puppy eyes. "Please – just go, David." Pecking his lips chastely, she dismissed him, and he left eventually, acknowledging he wouldn't manage to convince her otherwise.
When David was gone, Jude walked to Tommy's side, picking up his jacket. "Can you walk to the car?"
"It'll work," he assured, but wrapped an arm around Jude's shoulders, pulling her close, "but stay close, just in case. This morning, the doctor informed me I have a bruised rib, and a painfully swollen ankle." Actually, the female doctor had told him he was absolutely fine, and the few scratches he had gotten would be gone by the end of the next week. Not to forget that she gave him her private number in case he felt any sort of pain. That, added to the wink she had left with, had him feeling very good that morning. "Ow," he wailed and handed Jude the keys to his car. "The Ferrari is totaled, so you'll have to drive the Porsche."
He saw the obvious happiness flashing over Jude's face. "I'll manage," she calmly assured. He was sure she was squealing on the inside. "How come they let you go so fast if you're having so much pain?"
"I wanted to leave. I didn't expect it'd still hurt so much."
"You want to go to the doctor?"
"No! That won't be necessary. I just want to be home, and see if I can manage to make myself something to eat." Another notch up the scale of helplessness. "But, I guess I still have an apple somewhere, or some dry toast." He was starting to pity himself!
"If not, I could help," she offered quickly, smiling encouragingly. She knew she liked food when she felt sick, albeit barely eating any of it. But, it was nice to now someone was spending time to cook just for the smile on her face. "Occasionally, I'm really good in making mac and cheese."
"Occasionally?" He chuckled, and inwardly congratulated himself for it had been surprisingly easy to make her offer that! "I'll be happy for anything you'll make me."
They reached the car, and he let go of his hold on her. Jude immediately felt the loss of contact, the chilly air outside wrapping around her quickly. Her jacket was cramped into her bag, but before she could even consider pulling it out, he had already wrapped his around her shoulders, gently tugging it into place. "You're freezing," he almost whispered, his head close to hers, noses almost brushing. Immediately, he sensed Jude's awareness of his proximity. Her breathing haltered for a few seconds, her eyes nearly fluttering. "I can't allow you to get sick for helping me."
The sincerity of these words, the sweetness of his offer, it caused Jude's heart to thud a little faster than it ought to do. She took a deep breath when he entered the car, and advised herself to not think too much of his actions. He was simply being polite. But was he really? Last night, in the bed, he had so naturally pulled her closer, had absentmindedly stroked her arm while falling asleep. She had expected him to make a move, to use her weakness for his situation to win the stupid bet they had made, but he hadn't. He had instead acted like the perfect gentleman.
"You're okay?" When she sat down behind the wheel, he cast her a worried glance, waiting for her answer.
"Yeah! Just…I don't know." She shrugged with a self-mocking eye-roll. "I'm alright. Let's get you home and fed."
Nodding with a laugh, he buckled up. "Maybe I'll get lucky and you tug me into bed."
Blushing, but grinning, Jude playfully slapped his arm. "Let's just get you home."
They sat at his big table, having mac and cheese. It was simple, but eatable. Which, for Jude, was a giant success!
She had spent an eternity admiring Tommy's apartment. She had been at David's, but that place was a typical bachelor pad mixed with arcade games and a pool table on which, in retrospect, he had been very eager to make out with her upon! Tommy's place though reeked of money. Expensive designer furniture, a whole lot of guitars, and even a piano. His living room was also his dining room, the space nearly unlimited for use. Windows from the ceiling to the floor were making one entire wall. There was a balcony, and Tommy had explained that it went from the living room towards the bedroom. She was actually jealous. She'd die for the perfect view over the city, but – She giggled. "David's tower really is blocking the view!"
"Told you!" Having finished with his meal, he was about to stand up to lead her to the window, showing her just how amazing the view really was, when he remembered that she had strictly ordered him to sit to rest his ankle, for she believed he was severely injured. Damn!
Jude spoke up again, her dreamy eyes perseveringly on the city outlines she was admiring. "But, you don't have to feel bad you live here. I like this apartment better. And I even think it's bigger," she added, a grin trailing closely behind.
"You're just saying that," he remarked, but his mind wasn't playing much attention to her words. As she gazed out of the windows, she didn't even realize he was unabashedly staring at her.
"I am, but I still like it here more. I like the guitars, and your kitchen!" Standing up, she walked to the windows and awed the sight. He followed her with his eyes, oddly blown by what he saw. The settling sun cast a golden glow over the city. The bit that fell through the glass made Jude's skin sparkle in a soft tone, like a yellow diamond. Her eyes seemed even bigger in that moment. Forgetting the pain he was supposed to suffer from, he walked over to her, stopping behind her, just close enough to take in her scent, and to brush the back of her head with his nose. She smelled like jasmine again, and more, and more he found himself addicted to it. Leaning another bit further towards her, his lips graced her earlobe. "Thank you for tonight."
Jude stiffened under his closeness, feeling the warmth that flooded from his body and the electricity that suddenly made the air sizzle. Staring straight out to not look at him, she suddenly hated the striking, yet extraneously beautiful scenery in front of her, since it gave this moment a sense of surrealism. This didn't seem like reality, but rather like a moment in a romantic movie, where the viewer was expecting the main couple to kiss any second. This moment was by far too perfect. He was there, alone with her, the light, the mood, the sparks between them… She gulped, and stepped away. So far this night had been very good, and she had finally felt a little like once again – before her sister, and before all that heartbreak. It was nice and horrible at once, reminding her with cutting sharpness of how little she was over him, and of how much she still longed to have back what used to be between them. But, did she really? Sure, there used to be only the two of them in the beginning, but there were hardly make out sessions in elevators, or sleepovers in hospitals. Now it was better, and yet worse, because now she no longer fooled herself into believing he was in love with her, or ever would be. He wasn't, right?
The last thought made her nearly jump in objection. "I need to go. David is waiting for me to call him, and you're home now. And you had something to eat," she rambled on, hectically collecting her things. "Because, like I said, David waits and… You know, he's my boyfriend and…um…anyway, I should go. Bye."
"Jude!" Tommy tried calling her back, but she was already out the door.
The next day, Jude was an entirely different person. She had spent the night thinking about her thoughts, if that was even possible, and had realized she was being ridiculous. She wasn't that lovesick groupie of his anymore, but a wiser, almost grown up woman, who knew for sure Tom Quincy wasn't in love with her. Figuring she needed to apologize for her fast, and most likely ridiculous departure from last night, she brought a bag of Chinese food as a bribery, and knocked on studio A's door. Then she rolled her eyes. Had she ever knocked on that door? She entered.
"Have you ever knocked before?" Tommy asked first thing, chuckling.
"Sorry," she mumbled. "Listen, about last night. I sort of felt um…weird and, anyway, to make up for leaving so quickly…" Then it dawned on her she didn't need to apologize for leaving!
He already noticed. "You apologize for leaving?" His brow quirked in that one way that she found so adorable. "Are you really okay?"
"Yes! I'm perfect! Anyway, food?" Better change the topic. Her thoughts started to confuse her!
Suspicious, but not pushing her to tell, he nodded. "Always. Kwest just left to get sandwiches, but I'm sure he won't mind eating mine, too."
Giggling, Jude sat down, and held out the bag. "What do you want?"
"What do you have," he asked. Jude fell flustered, the question holding an odd, entirely different meaning. She ignored it.
"Food. 's menu, or most of it." They divided the boxes, but in the end Jude ate from each one, and Tommy got only a few things from all that she brought. He was used to that, and half-considered keeping the sandwich he should receive soon for later after all.
"So, feeling better? Does your rib still hurt? And your ankle?"
Thanks, he inwardly yelled, and felt like an idiot for forgetting that he was supposed to be feigning pain! But, the image of Jude in his apartment had given him quite a dream last night, and he had tried getting over that one the whole morning. It was another one of those sexual ones. This time he was having her against his windows, hard and passionately. Her legs were around him, her ass tightly gripped by his hands. His lips hot on her throat, she had breathlessly begged him for more. Over and over had he pounded into her slick heat, while fondling artlessly like a horny teenager with her breasts, kneading and squeezing till he got dizzy by it. He had been so close in his dream, and so used to the stickiness in his sheet when he had woken up…
"Tommy?" Jude narrowed her eyes, observing him as he 'woke up' from whatever daydream he had drifted to. She had noticed that he did that a lot lately, and somehow it always happened when she was around.
He blinked, needing a second to comprehend that he was in the studio with her, and not in his apartment, inside her. The impatient look she gave him told him she waited for some sort of reaction. "Huh?"
"I asked you if you're still in pain?"
Pain? "Oh yes! Very much, actually! Think you could bring me home again, tonight? Maybe have some more mac and cheese?"
She nodded warily, wondering if it were the painkillers that got to him.
Jude was on the phone with her sister as she packed up her belongings in the studio. "No, I'm sorry. Sadie, he needs me to take him home. I know you think he's faking it, but you didn't see him today. He looked sort of…" What did he look like? Jude frowned. He looked weird, that was sure. "He…um…he's just not himself."
"Are you sure you don't need my help? I can – oh, don't do that! It tickles…"
Holding the phone away from her ear, staring at it in shock, Jude gaped. There was another guy with Sadie! Jude hoped for the Lord Almighty that they weren't doing something that people just shouldn't be doing when they were on the phone with someone else! "Sadie," the younger Harrison called into device, "I'll handle! Just… Are you even listening?" When no answer came, Jude shut the phone with rolling eyes. She definitely had to find out who the new man in Sadie's life was!
Once she had everything, she made her way to Tommy's office, gasping when she heard him on the phone…
"Kwest? Kwest, talk to me!" Tommy groaned. "Listen – if you call me again during sex, you'll regret it." A pause followed. "Yeah, I don't need you to take me home. Jude agreed to do so. After all, I'm faking it to get her, not to you. And tell my ex I said hi!"
So many thoughts raced through Jude's head, and they all varied immensely. A few centered around Sadie and Kwest, and how it irritated Jude since she felt she had seen it coming. Then of course, there were those thoughts that centered around Tommy, or more precisely, items to torture and kill Tommy with! He was faking it? That smug bastard! A minor little thought included David, and how she owed him an apology, but she quickly dismissed that urge. She could do so tomorrow. Tonight, she needed to give Tom Quincy a good lesson about things not to do around her! Because if he faked it, then so could she!
"Bed," Tommy repeated with an unsteady voice, the stunning request startling him. "You want to take me to bed?" They had just finished eating mac and cheese, which turned out to be the only thing Jude was capable of preparing. Then she had shocked him, suggesting out of nowhere to take him to the bedroom. He still tried to make sense of that preposition. "Why?"
"To help you undress," Jude stated as a matter of fact. She smiled sweetly at him, pretending to be the perfect little helper. "I feel bad for yesterday night. I google'd broken and bruised ribs, and read that it's a nasty and painful thing. You must have quite the bruise on your body where the wheel hit you. I'll be very gentle helping you undress!"
The bruise? Shit… "Look, I'm very appreciative of your help, but…" He couldn't believe he was stopping her from taking his clothes off! Wasn't that the core of what he wanted? "Do you think that's a wise idea? With us…" He trailed off.
"Oh nonsense," Jude declared with a grin. "I promise not to rape you, and since you're in such pain, hot and kinky sex with me is probably the last thing you want right now! Don't worry." She stepped forward, took his hand and tugged him off the chair. "I'll be your perfect nurse tonight, innocent and gentle!"
Standing up right then proved to be more difficult than he had expected. In her little speech, she had given him a whole lot of unsolicited ideas for his nightly dreams of her. Nurse, innocence, gentle touches… And why on earth did she have to remark that sex with her would be hot and kinky? She was a virgin! She should be afraid of sex, not looking forward to it! That was one of the reasons he rarely ever had those! Innocent girls were either expecting entirely too much love from their deflowerers, or they were so nervous they barely came! Though Jude… He was sure he could bring her passionate soul to a release that would leave her sensual body shaking. Come to think of it, hot and kinky sex wasn't far from the truth! Not a good idea to have now, he realized with a fair amount of self-pity.
"Come on," she pressed and pulled him with her. "It's probably best if you go to bed as early as possible. You need a lot of rest!"
It was then that he found it was barely nine pm. Had he ever gone to bed that early? He rolled his eyes, and allowed her to lead the way he had told her to go. "That's the door."
Jude pushed it open, not awing the room as he had figured she would. Nope, his girl went straight to work. They hadn't even entered yet, when her hands were already on the snap of his pants. "Whoa, calm down!" He carefully nudged her away from him, his breath shaky and his palms sweaty. She was too close to him, and by far too close to a certain, moving muscle. "Jude, I can assure you I don't need help taking off my pants!" Which didn't mean he didn't like the idea of her doing it, preferably opening his fly with her teeth…
"You are helpless," Jude corrected, and folded her arms in front of her. "After all, that's why you want me here, isn't it? So I can help you? Because if you're fine, I can go!" She spun around, smirking to herself when he caught her by the arm.
"Wait."
She waited. It was hard not to burst up in laughter. His face when she had wanted to open his pants was equal parts shocked, stupefied, and aroused. A part of her felt flattered he was this aroused by the idea of her in his arms, but the more dominant part of her still fretted over his lame attempt to use her good nature, and so she managed to stay cool with ease. Though, a few nervous flutters had been in her stomach! After all, it was Tom Quincy's pants she had nearly taken off!
He cleared his throat, and released her arm. "I do need help. Can you…pull back the comforter of my bed? I'd prefer taking off my own clothes." Rolling his eyes at himself, he wondered where his smugness had gone. Shouldn't he push those moments with her? Making her blush? Maybe even startle and intrigue her by the bulge in his pants she'd have clearly been able to see forming had she continued? He sighed.
"Aw," Jude cooed, knowing fully well the only reason he didn't want her to undress him was because he had no bruise and that would prove he was not as injured as he claimed. "You're nervous? That's so sweet." She stepped towards him and squashed his hands away from the snap of his jeans. "But useless! I know how a naked man looks like, Quincy. TV taught me that lesson. Now stop being a baby and let me do what I came for!"
He was muted. He, the cocky, arrogant, self-confident man he considered himself to be, was silenced by a sixteen-year old virgin, who was most likely having the time of her life playing his nurse, knowing fully well he could do nothing about it. Because, he was injured and in pain. What a ridiculous idea had that been!
When she unzipped his fly, he gulped, staring down at her hands, not sure how she'd react once she saw what was hiding behind. To his great relief she didn't push the jeans down right away, but went on to remove his shirt. He could only watch motionlessly. A million women had undressed him before. Why was Jude doing so wrecking havoc with his sanity? She wasn't even a seductress! She was just…Jude!
He had a boner! Oh my God, he had a boner! Jude was sure she was as red as a ripe tomato. Initially, she had planned on pushing those very fine fitting jeans right down his well-built legs, but then she had felt the swell, and courage had left her as fast as Tommy's Porsche was able to drive. Thank God, she hadn't been on eye-level with that part of his anatomy. Who knew how that had ended! Having bunched the fabric of his shirt up she was almost breathing raggedly when he haltered her hands. "Please, let me finish," he pleaded.
Braveness was not on her side tonight, and so she gratefully nodded. In her mind she had told herself to be the icy, cool girl with no troubles stripping one of the hottest men in this city, or even country, down to the bone, but reality was a bitch, and in the end she had to acknowledge that her limited experiences were having quite the fun biting her in the ass. "Nice comforter," she complimented, feigning to be still calm and on top of her game. It was only a little reassuring to see he was just as uncomfortable.
And then she realized. He wasn't smug. She had had her hands only millimeters away from what she considered quite an impressive erection, and he hadn't even tried to make her blush! She was getting to him! It worked! She bit the smirk from her lip. She had to stay serious! "Come on, lay down. I can pull your pants off when you're in bed."
"Or," he croaked, rather desperately, "You can bring me a glass of water. I'm in need for a pill, I think." He needed her to leave the room. Between being hard, and being confused, he still remembered being only partially wounded, and if she saw him shirtless it would be apparent he did not have a bruised rib!
"Just lay down," she insisted in spite of his pleading his expression. "Water then." She didn't want to give him the opportunity to hide beneath the covers, and by that keep her from confronting him about his lie. "But first, take the shirt off!"
"Jude," he protested again. She wasn't blushing anymore, as he had thought she had done only a moment ago. This girl seemed more like a dominatrix in training. "Please! Water?"
"Shirt," she countered. "Now!"
"My bedroom," he pointed out, a little out of context. As he felt being trapped, his temper began to show. "You can't tell me what, and what not to do. Please, get me a glass of water!"
"You get water once you're in bed," she declared, and sat down on his mattress, patting the spot next to her.
Fine, she wanted it that way – she'd get it that way. Walking over to her with his open pants and his shirt, which had fallen back down to cover most part of his upper body, he plopped down, gave a faked grunt of pain, and laid back. "It's not very warm today, I think I'll keep the shirt on. Kicking his shoes and socks off, he pulled his legs up the bed and lay back. With an inner smile of victory he found a stubborn pout on Jude's lips.
"Don't look so sad, girl. I'll strip for you another time." His ability to stay ahead of the situation returned to him.
"Let me at least see if your rib is okay." She straddled him so fast he couldn't even stop her. Stripping him wouldn't work, so she had to re-plan. As she sat on top of his still bulging erection, she grinned to herself as she watched the movements on his face and how they alternated between pain and pleasure. Confusingly, those little flushes of heat even overflowed her own skin, and she found her adolescent self intrigued by the possibilities. But he had used her for his own fun, she recalled, and refocused on her initial plan! Pretending not to notice his aroused state, or her own, she placed both of her hands gently down his ribcage, above the shirt, and stroke up and down the gentlest way possible. No matter how tenderly she touched him, Google had said a bruised rib pained continually, and touching it even with a feather was a horrible thing. So much for a bruise on Tommy! He'd be lucky if she didn't leave one!
"Does that hurt," she whispered, leaning down as her hands roamed his chest. Blonde curls fell into his face, but he didn't mind. The scent of her silken hair, the warm body of hers on top of his, not to forget the amazing friction she caused without even realizing, it all had him lose control at once. He had long forgotten to play the injured and helpless guy. There was only so much he could take, and she had just crossed the big fat line of 'too much'! Placing his hands swiftly on her ass, he flipped them over, and pressed his hungry mouth on her gasping lips, plundering her mouth in a long, deep kiss. It took a moment before she pushed hard against his shoulders to stop him. Her shock over his kiss would have been a lot more convincing, hadn't she kissed him back just as eagerly. "Tom Quincy! You're a lying, manipulating, mischievous-"
"Make it short, Jude. I'm having plans with you!" Oh yeah, his smugness was back!
Chapter 16
"Make it short, Jude. I'm having plans with you!" Oh yeah, his smugness was back! And it came back with force.
Shoving his dominantly hovering, distinctively male, very rousingly smelling body off her, Jude found herself unwillingly pulled on top of him. She tried to get away, struggled even, but his clutch on her thighs was firm. She thanked the broken washing machine that she didn't have any skirt to wear that day. Otherwise, there might have been some 'joining' already! The poking hard-on was unmistakable, big and eager, even through the rough denim of her jeans. She didn't dare to look down, afraid that piece of meat had already tangled its way out of his underwear. She did not want to see him! Now matter how much her very thriving interest was peaked.
"What plans," she bit back instead. "You shouldn't be able to move! Bruised rib? You promised never to lie again!"
Leaning up, his hot breath stole the oxygen right from her lips, leaving her with nothing but a little, sensual gasp. "It wasn't a lie," he quickly clarified, not the least bit willing to start the discussion about his integrity all over again. "I exaggerated when it came to the facts, but I do have a scratch on my ribcage, and on the ankle!"
"The painkillers," she asked with fury, still wiggling to free herself. Maybe it was the scent of his aftershave, or the heat coming from every pore of him, or maybe it was simply he, but she couldn't sit still. She needed the fight, the battle to get away. If she stopped, and just looked at him, she knew she'd lose it and kiss his gorgeous lips so hard that there might even stay a little bruise behind. The movement did not leave the wished effect of stopping this. If anything, it made him want her more – And her him!
Tommy groaned at the very unsatisfying but strongly enticing action, shocking her when he gripped her slim hips to guide her up and down his rigid shaft. He knew exactly what he wanted, and Jude could see it clearly in his nearly black eyes. Why on earth was she complying? And why was it starting to feel…good? Biting her lower lip as a consequence, she didn't completely understand what was occurring, and worse – she started to wonder if she needed to. She didn't even desire to be there. She despised Tom Quincy. Confused emotions, or not, but she could doubtlessly say she did not want to have sex with him! At least her head didn't.
"Peppermints." The word brushed her skin, leaving her nerve endings crave for more as he leaned up to nip on her throat. Her sharp intake of breath, a clear marker for her appreciation of that gesture, had him groaning. The delicious friction her rolling hips were creating was driving him insane. He wanted more and more, and yet he knew it could never be enough to satisfy the needs he really had. He nipped again, and then kissed a blistering trail down her jar. Jude gave a small shudder that spurned him on even more.
"Stop," she whispered breathlessly, but he knew she wanted what he was doing. He could see it in her eyes, and taste it on her flawless skin. Her head had rolled back, her throat now curved just right for him to take a bite, not allowing this chance of marking her as his drift away. His. That was a new term! Feeble hands still rested on his shoulders when he rolled them over once again. Rubbing himself against her, he sucked hard on her flesh, loving the reward of a keen moan that drifted from her lips unasked. "Jude," he hushed. He yearned for her. He wanted her. He needed her. Insatiable, his lips took hers.
The kiss was ravishing, and hot, and erotic, and not at all what she wanted, so why couldn't she leave? His hand had found a way beneath her shirt, giving her breast a squeeze through the lace of her bra. Then those guitar callused fingers of his slipped beneath the fine material, and she purred in voracious greed for more when those very digits began to flick and twirl her aching nipple. She couldn't take it any longer. She ached for something so overpowering that she lost all train of thoughts, and just acted on instincts. She craved for him, ever fiber of her body did. "More," she pleaded, pushing herself against him as he still rubbed along her heat. With bated breath, she couldn't even stop calling for him. "Tommy. Tommy, oh Tommy…" She nearly had tears in her eyes – that's how incredulously much she hungered for something she didn't even know would feel yet.
Suddenly he was gone. Hazy eyes fluttered open, seeing him towering over her, hastily yanking his shirt off. There were scratches, she realized, dimly remembering there was a reason she had been here in the first place. Now all that mattered were his lips, and his hands, and ever other inch of his body. She couldn't just watch. She needed to touch. First one hand, then the other, and suddenly she was all over him, feverishly kissing his neck, and his shoulders, his biceps, his flat abdomen, the outlines of his muscles. She was on top again, and found that somewhere during the last minutes her shirt had come to bunch beneath her bra and her pants were opened. It was too hot to wear clothes anyway, and that aside, she longed for Tommy's lips on her skin, wanted him to scorch every inch of her with that wicked mouth of his. Once she had tossed her shirt away, he made quick work of her pants, socks, and shoes, and then her bra was gone and his big hands replaced the cups. His mouth followed, leaving her boneless when he sucked and licked both nipples. Without even noticing, he removed the last article of her clothing. She wondered if there was anything in the world more erotic than being naked in the arms of someone so strong and handsome.
He was so close to shooting he wasn't sure how he managed to get his pants off, or his boxer briefs. She was clinging to him, legs around his waist, arms around his neck, kissing him in a way he had never been kissed before. It was pure, unfettered want, and he'd have gambled his life that a virgin was incapable of doing so. He wasn't surprised it was Jude who proved him wrong. She was more beautiful than he had ever imagined, and her matching passion turned him on even more. He was as hard as a rock, probably able to cut diamonds with his cock. A small voice in his head kept telling him to go slow, but the primal need inside him to find the most earth shattering, blissful release in her was overwhelming. He knew he wouldn't last long. He promised himself he'd make love to her afterwards, to show her how beautiful it could be, but first he needed to have her his way. Probing her entrance with his fingers, he found her wet and ready. She arched in his arms, clearly thriving for more of that wicked bliss he had just teased her with. In the middle of a breath-stealing kiss, she cupped his face and stared up at him. Out of the blue, there was no air left in his lungs. Her eyes were the clearest shade, dark and longing. The smallest smile graced her swollen lips, making him wish this moment would never end. There was no woman more beautiful than she was; he was sure. And suddenly it dawned on him. He was in love with her. The suspicion had been in his head for a while, but he had always managed to ignore it, or push it away, but in that moment it was as clear as her sparkling midnight blue orbs. Tom Quincy was in love with Jude Harrison. The fact was again tossed from his mind when she leaned up to kiss him with all her might. Then they were both fully naked, and the only thing left to consider was the position so it'd be most pleasurable. Hauling her body as close as possible, he penetrated her slowly at first. His control was stretched to the very limit, and yet he managed not to shove through her last barrier. Warmly, he looked at her, his hands brushing the hairs from her forehead in a loving gesture.
"It'll hurt." His voice was so strained, so thin he barely heard himself speaking.
Between sinfully erotic pants, Jude looked almost sad as she touched his forehead with hers. "I know it will." Suddenly there was a gnawing feeling in the pit of his stomach that this wasn't right. It wasn't supposed to happen this way, and Jude's words hadn't referred to the same thing his had. But she shifted her hips in that moment, and he broke through without conscious action. It was too late to withdraw; the pain in her eyes was already giving room for the ensuing high of sexual ecstasy. "Jude…" He breathed, holding on to the last straw.
But, she shook her head, and her eyes fluttered close. If they made this about emotions just then, she'd start crying right away. "Take me. Just take me, please!"
And he did. As feared, it wasn't the marathon he had wanted this to be. It was fast and sweaty, but nothing less of spectacular. The slick dampness between them allowed them to slide along one another. His chiseled chest brushed repeatedly over her provocatively peaked cruxes, the soft mounds molding perfectly against his muscled front, creating an unbearable fervor to reach the ultimate high. His hands gripped her legs deftly, both of them bent, her knees behind his shoulders. She tried to meet his thrusts, the movements yet new to her – and maybe even a little overpowering. Nonetheless did she bring him to an orgasm that left him shuddering in bliss, while she bucked against him as she was drifting into her own world of perfection, and of course – satisfaction.
When it was all done, and he gained back the strength to take even breaths, he found she had drifted off to sleep. The softest snore was coming from her red lips, a sound he considered quite a wonderful melody to fall asleep to. If only there wasn't that biting sting of remorse for having made what could possibly be the worst thing ever done in his life. Rolling to his side, he pulled her with him. He was still inside her, and his bad conscience was betrayed by another shiver of bliss that spread like liquid heat through his veins. As she curled into his arms, he pulled up the sheet to wrap around them, and then hollowly stared at the drawer of his nightstand. Right inside there, next to a pen, a stash of papers, and some aspirin, was a full package of condoms, and he hadn't been able to use only one. Because, never in his life had he been so desperate to be inside a woman. The likeliness that she was pregnant was very little, and yet so very real. Closing his eyes, he nuzzled his head into the curve between her shoulder and her head, bathing in her scent while trying to come to terms with what had happened. Doubtlessly she'd hate him once she knew. She had every right to. He should have remembered! He should have…he should have just remembered.
He wasn't sure how long he had slept, but when Tommy opened his eyes, it was still dark in his bedroom. The blinds weren't closed, and he remembered what had kept him from shutting them. Or rather – who. The warm body next to him was moving, and as he became more and more aware of what had happened, a flash of remorse overcame him. He hadn't used a condom; he recalled in shock. But, the even scarier thing was that he felt no panic! He would handle. A baby. If she were pregnant, he'd handle. Wow, was he actually growing up? It also dawned on him that, next to a possible pregnancy, Jude had also lost her virginity to him only mere hours ago. That, for now, seemed the more apparent issue to handle. As he watched her climbing out of the bed, he realized she was about to leave. "Jude?"
Her body, surrounded by a soft shadowy darkness, froze. Her slender back was turned to him, the tiniest amount of moonlight highlighting the curves that he couldn't wait to kiss and trace all over again.
He was awake; Jude noted with misery. This would make it all needlessly more complicated. "Go back to sleep," she told him faintly, putting on the shirt that he had worn prior to this, and which was clearly too big for her. Her arms wiggled through the sleeves while she turned around, a sad smile on her lips. She wondered if he could even see it, for she barely saw his sleeping figure at all. "It was just sex, Tommy. Don't worry, I won't make a big deal of it."
What? What if he wanted her to make a big deal out of it? He wasn't the sort of guy a woman just…let go! The whole idea of it was utterly irritating. And it hadn't been just sex to him, either. "Jude, stay! I…" He scrambled out of the bed, switched the light on the nightstand on, and stared at her. She wasn't even crying, just somberly looking at him with those big blue eyes that he had come to find irresistible. Right now, he found them unnerving. Pressing his lips down hers, having never been one to argue with words, he felt her giving into the kiss immediately. When he leaned back, half-convinced to have clarified all open questions, he was startled to observe her reaching for her jeans. "I mean it," he affirmed resolutely, uncharacteristically straight, but also helpless. "Please! Stay the night. Not just the night," he corrected himself immediately, not wanting her to think she wasn't more than a fuck to him. She was anything but that.
Shaking her head, she pulled her pants up, not bothering to search her slip or any other articles of clothing that were scattered all over the room. "It's nice that you pretend this is more," She gently spoke into the silence, her voice almost too calm, "but I think we both know better."
She left him almost speechless, and it took him until she was halfway out until he finally hurried after her, slightly desperately bringing probably the worst argument of all to make her reconsider. "The bet? If you…"
Jude stopped in the doorway of his apartment, her shaky hand on the doorknob. Switching the bright ceiling lights on, he saw her clutching her bag tightly. Tousled hair was giving her a very alluring bedroom look, not that sex should be on his mind just then.
"I had sex with you, Tommy." Her voice was low, and he had to step closer to hear her. Then he saw the mistiness in her eyes, and his heart broke at the sight.
Trying to keep from crying in that moment, Jude gulped the heavy, guilt-stricken emotions away. "The second I tell David what I did tonight, you can be sure he won't even look at me again. Consider yourself half a winner already."
"It's not David I care about. I want you," he professed. "And not just this night."
Her head shook as she declined his words. She turned and stared firmly at the door, not granting the water to drop from her eyes. It wouldn't be fair to him if she made him date her now. She had been stupid enough to give into him, and now she had to deal with the consequences. She gulped again. He was a good man after all; she knew that. And she hadn't exactly been fair, having known fully well she was playing with fire the moment she had decided to make him undress in front if her. After having wailed for months about how he had broken her heart, she didn't find it surprising he'd rather date her than hurt her again. "It never happened, Tommy."
"I'm in love-" He confessed, but was stopped midway as she raised her hand.
"You don't need to say those things. I'm not mad at you. Just…let me leave. Please."
There was such a raw plea in her voice that he couldn't bring himself to deny it. Even though all this brain cells told him that letting her go would be the worst thing to do, especially when he could clearly see, even hear the tears in her voice. Yet… "Call me as soon as you get home. You don't have a car," he remembered. "You need me to drive you?"
"No! No. Just…no."
"Take the car, then. Or a cab. I'll pay!"
Why was he making it so awfully hard for her to open that damn door, which handle she already held? Reaching for the keys of his Porsche, the ones she had placed there only a few hours ago, she mumbled a faint "thanks…" on her way out, and ran until she had finally reached the inside of his car. "Damn!" She yelled into the dark and wiped the tears from her eyes. His car smelled like him. Never before had she noticed just how much.
As she sat in the soft seat, she kept asking herself one question: Had she made a mistake? Had she been supposed to stay? From everything she had been told about Tom Quincy, begging his one-night stands to stay the night had never occurred before. That meant she was more than a one-night stand, didn't it? And if she were more, then wasn't it also possible she was more than just a friend? He had told her he wanted to date her, and not to forget the half-finished 'I'm in love with you.' It was she, who assumed that he had only had the honorary thing in mind. Tom Quincy and honor? It was funny, and yet somewhat true.
Now that she gave it a real thought, he had never done anything to purposely break her heart, she realized. All those times she had yelled at him for hurting her, she now understood that he had just done something stupid, while not remembering better judgment. Why could she tell? Because she had acted just as stupid this night! She had cheated on her boyfriend! New tears fell. The one thing she had promised herself she would never do, she had done, and truth be told, she had damn well enjoyed it! That only made what she did worse!
Resting her forehead against the steering wheel, Jude heavily groaned, angry with herself, and angry with Tommy. Why did that man had to look so damn attractive? Wiping yet another tear, her mouth turned a self-pitying smile as she caught her reflection in the windshield. She had just had sex with Tom Quincy. Talk about Kwest's words that she always caved! No, she then firmly decided; this would not make it to the public. If she had to kidnap and gag Kwest, and every other gossiper at G-Major, but she would not allow anyone to ever find out about this! She was not a notch in Tom Quincy's bedpost. It never happened. He had better understood that, too!
The next day, Tommy found himself at odds with how to behave. Jude was blatantly unfazed. She acted as if truly nothing had happened. She had come in on time, greeted him, and she had even smiled. If he could go back in time, he'd go back to her sweet sixteen, and make sure his then present self wouldn't even dare to think about those faithful words! 'It never happened.' Now she was throwing the remark back at him, and above that she even flaunted it around! She wasn't just not talking about what happened! No – Jude also made sure he saw her not talking about it, too. She behaved as if it really, truly hadn't happened. Should he be happy about that?
He knew she couldn't possibly feel as fine as she tried to come off. But, should he corner her, and make her admit that she was feeling hurt all over again, and that this time she couldn't even blame him for it? Whom would that help? That aside, he also felt the annoying need to apologize for having brought up the bet in the most impossible moment!
It took him three hours until he finally had a moment alone with Jude. Kwest was out to get lunch. He hadn't even noticed that something was wrong, and that in return assured Tommy that something definitely was wrong! So, once the engineer was gone, Tommy made a beeline into the kitchenette, tugged on Jude's arm after she hadn't noticed his approach, and then he gave her his best stern look, telling her to better follow him. She did. Relief overcame him when he realized he'd at least have a moment to explain himself. This morning he had been afraid she wouldn't even show up for work, and instead hide somewhere! Not that it would have been the first time!
"Why are you imprisoning me," Jude barked in her characteristically offended matter. She always played the victim of rudeness. He found that laughable. Most of the time he was the victim of her moodiness! That, and her remark was completely off grounds.
"I'm not imprisoning you! I'm not even locking the door," he tossed back. His patience was stretched thin, mainly because he was becoming desperate. The two of them had just managed to work things out and 'be civil' around each other again, few flaws aside. Now it was all back to being a chaotic drama! "We need to talk. Why'd you just left last night?"
"Because we were finished?" She made it a rhetorical question. And also a tricky one! Were they finished? As friends? Staring into Jude's eyes, searching helplessly for an answer to that question, he was equally happy and miserable to find sadness in her ocean blue orbs. "Last night," he started, his voice much softer, "you didn't let me say what I wanted to say. I'm in love with you." How odd, he thought. He'd have figured those words were harder to speak out!
"You don't need to say that!" Jude's eyes looked anywhere but at him. She couldn't look at him. If she did, she'd see if he really meant what he had just said. The worst part was that a piece of her wished he wouldn't. She had managed, hadn't she? Life without Quincy had worked out! She had survived the last weeks, and she had more than that. She had moved on. Somewhat, at least. All what was missing to let go for good was the final proof that he didn't feel any affection for her. If she found that in his eyes, she'd be a little happy. It'd be something like a last goodbye to any adolescent hopes of a relationship with him.
But, if she found he was telling the truth, she'd be sucked into his cosmos again, with him as the sun around which her whole world would spin. In ten years from now, that might not be the worst thing, but now? As two full adults, they might have had a chance. But, after having witnessed his typical dates with her sister – dates that included clubs and bars – she had come to understand that there was a reason he had always argued with age. And with David, who was in her school, she had admittedly a lot in common which one could build a solid dating foundation on! What would she and Tommy do? Watch movies and play arcade games? Hardly.
"Jude," he said, pulling her from her thoughts. "Last night wasn't some meaningless fuck to me!"
"For me, neither," she immediately affirmed, not wanting him to think that. For God's sake, it had been her first time! She had loved it in so many ways. He had been simply perfect, having made sure at all times that she was okay, and comfortable. He had even snuggled with her afterwards, which was more than she'd have ever imagined coming from him! "But…" Her face slowly tilted upwards. "It wasn't… It was nice. But, I don't want to date you. I don't want to be with you."
Stepping closer, leaning his forehead against hers, he shook his head slightly. "I can see in your eyes that you're lying." His whispered words had the desired effect. Her mouth parted the tiniest bit, the tip of her rosy tongue darted out to wet her dried lips, and she gulped, obviously feeling the sizzling air between them. He pushed further against the barricades of her heart, brushing the tip of his nose along hers before his lips met hers in the softest kiss. He stopped before she could respond. Rasping, "I know you know I'm not lying. And I know you want to be with me," his fingertips trailed up her waist, a little ticklish for she bit back the smile that threatened to show. His nose caressed a path down her jaw line. Stopping at her neck, he nipped and teased, soothing the insignificant pain with the soft heat of his tongue. She shivered. Curling her slender fingers into the hem of his shirt, she moaned unwanted.
"Tell me," he kept hurling past her defenses, "that you really don't want to be with me."
Whispering unconvincingly, she complied. "I don't want to be with you."
"Then leave," he sharply countered, his mouth sucking fiercely on her neck, the move punishing for she was lying and he knew.
Jude's throat curved, her collarbone at display. He instantly took advantage, giving the flesh as passionate kiss. She shivered again. Hands clung faster to his shirt, her back arched, and her lower belly now pressed deftly against his erection. She shut her eyes, squeezing them close to fight every intruding moment of reality. If only life could be Tom Quincy's office, with a closed door to hide behind. But it wasn't. So, if she knew better, how come she couldn't walk away as he had told her to? "I can't. I just can't."
It was all he needed to hear. Painfully aroused by now, he frantically began to tug on her clothes. She was mirroring his actions, just as needy to feel more of that wickedly amazing feeling from last night. Between hot kisses, and hungry gropes, Jude's pants where soon on the floor, pooling around only one leg while the other was around Tommy's hip. His own pants were somewhere around his knees, out of the way. One hand on her breast, fondling the mound like a horny teenager, his mouth latched onto her other peeked nipple, his remaining hand was already spreading her slick moisture around her craving sex. Wearing a thong that was ripped at one side, dangling between her legs as he tugged it further out of the way, and still having on a bra that was pushed out of the way, too, she was squirming impatiently. Begging with a sultry "Tommy," she didn't understand why he needed so long.
His hand left her breast, causing Jude to whimper protest. A grunt came from him. "Condom," he croaked, annoyed and desperate because he couldn't find one in his wallet. He remembered that he yet had to bring up last night's missing-protection-issue, but then she shifted, and her lower lips wetted his rigid cock in a self-control-crushing manner. He really shouldn't take her without a condom again, but what she did was so convincing!
"Pill," she whispered and kissed him. So very close to a release, and yet so incredibly far from it, she gasped for air when he swiftly lifted her up to push into her. So much for a baby! Thank God, he thought, before thinking became impossible. With arms firmly wrapped around his strong shoulders, she held on to him as good as she could while he spiraled them higher and higher towards that perfect feeling of an orgasm. Jude hadn't expected she'd love it so much, but she did. She craved it. "More, oh please!"
Stroking faster into her, he was lost to the world around him. All that counted was Jude's tight heat and how amazing it felt to be snuggly sheltered inside her. The soft scent of jasmine drifted up his nostrils, and he dug his nose into her neck to gain more of it. "Jude," he breathed, heavily grasping for oxygen as he neared his release. It overcame him like a shock, triggered by a bit from Jude down his neck when she was having her own high. Almost slithering down his body, she warily stood on her own feet, hazily gazing up into his dazed eyes. Between fighting to fill her panting lungs with air, and being shocked about what she had just done, she tried to speak up. Her voice only came as a weak rasp. "I don't want to date you."
Tired of trying to convince her otherwise, he deftly planted a kiss on her swollen lips and silenced her. "You will eventually." With that he pulled his pants up and left her standing alone against the wall while he adjusted his clothes a few meters away. He hardly acknowledged her. Jude felt strangely irritated. She'd say she felt used, but that wasn't really it. If anything, she had used him, too. Putting her shirt back on, before ridding herself of the ripped thong she narrowed her eyes. "I meant what I said. I don't want to be with you. This changes nothing. We won't work out. And your confession…" she trailed off, not willing to speak his love-declaration out so clearly, "I don't-"
"Believe me?" He scoffed and turned around, smugly observing her as she pulled up her pants. She flushed a crimson red. "I get that. Well, about our bet." Understanding he wouldn't manage to convince her with words he tried a different approach. "We had sex, I told you I'm in love with you, and you broke up with David. I assume – that is. Are you still seeing him?"
"Of course not," an offended Jude bit back. "You think I cheat on him twice? You're not that irresistible!" She ignored his eye-roll. "I explained everything to him, and we're still friends." Last night, after leaving Tommy's, Jude had gone straight to David and confessed. Both had agreed that having started dating was wrong to begin with. One couldn't force love to grow. His pride hurt, but his heart okay, David had assured he wouldn't tell anyone about the real reason for their split, and he had assured her he was still there when she'd need him. He really was a good friend. "And you did not win the bet! You know what I want from you to believe you."
"That won't happen," he declared then and there. "You think I'll tell you I'd die for you after you made it clear you don't even want to be with me despite feeling the same as I do?"
"That's not at all what I said! I never said I'd feel the same!"
"Yet you keep spreading your legs for me."
Jude's eyes flashed a dark black. This time though it wasn't arousal. It was pure rage. "Consider me out of your life, Tom Quincy. You think after that comment I'm still going to be friends with you?"
Within a split second he had her backed up against the wall again, his tongue against hers and his hands on her ass. He wanted to laugh at her. First, she claimed to cut him from her life, and then she responded to his kiss this eagerly. Just as sudden as the kiss had come, Tommy retreated, and left her with nothing but an unsatisfied moan of protest. "Really convincing, Jude. It's just a matter of time until you'll beg me to have you again. I can taste it in your kiss that you still want me. You think the thing between you and me is over?" He smirked and cockily crossed his arms. "It has just begun. And now," he said as he stepped towards her, "please move your cute little ass into the studio, because we've got work waiting. Unless…"
Too angry to form a proper response, Jude mutely stepped aside, staring after him as he swaggered out of the room. He didn't really believe she'd beg him to have sex with her, did he? Ha! He could be lucky if she ever spoke with him again!