She’s like the perfect fantasy, and she doesn’t even know it. I’m picturing Carl’s face or those horrible television commercials where they show abused animals. Those fuckers get me every time, and there’s no way I can sustain maximum hard-on with the poor puppies’ sad faces on my mind.
“Reagan,” Lexi says through the door and knocks lightly. “Can I come in now?”
I take a few steps, capturing Reagan in my arms. “No matter what happens, Reagan, I’ll never hate you.”
“Jude,” she says and frowns. “We can’t do this again. We can’t.”
“Shh.” My hand grips her neck, holding her close to me, and we stare into each other’s eyes. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to resist you.”
She closes her eyes and sighs. “You have to,” she whispers.
My lips find her mouth and I kiss her once more, conveying everything I feel inside—need, want, lust, and love. The last word instantly makes my cock wither away and almost curl back inside me.
There’s no way I can love Reagan.It isn’t the type of love that has me ready to drop down on one knee, but I know I’m not ready to say good-bye to her either.
When the kiss ends and she pulls away, she says, “Good-bye, Jude.”
“Until next time,” I tell her because I don’t think I can say good-bye to her.
I step backward and collect myself before giving Reagan one last smile, memorizing her slightly disheveled look and loving that I caused it. When I open the door, Lexi’s practically pressed up against it.
She doesn’t speak, just purses her lips and narrows her eyes before pushing past me and slamming the door just after I clear the doorway.
That went better than expected.
Chapter 16
I should still befurious at myself over my disastrous debate performance. Normally, I’d be seething and staring daggers at anyone who even tried to talk to me during the bus ride to the hotel.
But instead, I’m feeling warm and achy. Jude came looking for me when he knew I was upset. He risked getting caught so he could kiss away the hurt and coax himself back into my good graces with his strong, capable hands.
It’s not just the feel of him still resonating within me but also his words.
“Then we can be together.”
He wants me to drop out of the race so we can have more than a few stolen, guilt-ridden kisses. Or does he? Maybe Jude is playing me hard—trying to make me fall for him so I’ll drop out and he can coast on to his Senate seat.
That make-out session in my dressing room felt real to me. His heat and his words were laced with the same passion I feel for him. But a voice of doubt still nags in my head.
Why would he want to commit to me when he could have any woman he wants? He doesn’t have to settle down with a woman who busts his balls at every turn—he could have someone who fawns over his every word. Someone who lives to deep throat him while he laces his fingers through her hair and groans with pleasure.
Stop it, Reagan.
I’m tingling with warmth at just the thought. Jude has made me into a parody of myself. I’ve always been strong and decisive. Every man I’ve ever dated has known from Day One that I expected a 50/50 relationship in every way.
But Jude Titan—my supposed nemesis—makes me fantasize about being on my knees before him, eyes big and lips sealed as I wait for him to slowly unzip his pants and give me what I crave.
And I crave it so badly. I told Lexi I need a room to myself tonight at the hotel, and she didn’t even blink, probably thinking I was in one of my moods after my shitty debate showing. But it’s actually because I need to satisfy the clawing need I’m feeling for Jude. It’ll be my hand between my legs in bed tonight, but I’ll be imagining it’s his.
“I know, baby.”
The memory of his deep voice saying those words in such a heartfelt tone, his brow furrowed with concern, makes me lick my lips and take a slow breath in and out. It’s like Jude sparked a fire in me, and try as I might, I can’t put it out.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to resist you.”
He feels it, too. This deep, maddening connection that defies good sense and reason. I’m not the only one who worked hard to get where I am. Jude has worked his ass off and even risked his life to get himself where he is. It’s never easy to be a contender for a Senate seat, but at our young ages, it’s even harder.
Jude wakes up something in me I didn’t even know was there. I actuallylikethat he challenges me and isn’t intimidated by me in the least. It’s brutal, feeling this way about someone and only sneaking in an occasional moment to be honest about it.
