“Do you really think there would be any way in hell that I’d share you?” He grabbed the back of my head. “As long as that’s crystal fucking clear, you can call us whatever you want.”
“I’m a big fan of your possessive side.” I kissed the corner of his mouth, still flattened in a hard line. “Although, the dirty side is still my favorite.”
A smile twitched at his lips.
“I’d like to do one last thing in my apartment before I go.” I fidgeted with the neck of his T-shirt. “The bathroom has a big tub. Surprising for an apartment in the boroughs, and I wanted one more soak before I bid my city life goodbye.”
I skated my hand down his chest.
“Two people will be a tight squeeze, but if you go in first, we can sort of fit. All these muscles must be sore from lifting boxes all day.” I ran my hands up and down his arms. “From just watching them flex and staring at your ass every time you’d squat, I worked up a pretty good sweat myself.”
“The tub didn’t seem that big, but,” he sighed, clenching his eyes shut, “telling you no isn’t something I’m good at, so I’ll squeeze myself in for you.”
“Come on. It will be fun. We can’t do bathroom sexy stuff at home. At least not ye—”
I trailed off at Jude’s raised brow, remembering our quick but mind-blowing interludes in Peyton and Jake’s basement after Jude had pulled me into the tiny bathroom.
“Okay, that sort of counts, but now there’s no time limit and no reason to be quiet.” I skimmed my hands down his back and jutted my lip out into a pout.
I gasped when he pulled me flush to his body.
“Are you going to get naked, or do I have to strip you?”
“I love when you go all hot authority,” I rasped, brushing his lips. “I’ll get it started and meet you in there.” I pulled away when he went for another kiss. “Don’t waste time, Sergeant. Lose the clothes and follow me.”
My footsteps echoed in the empty bathroom. I turned the squeaky faucet to fill the tub, now seeming even bigger without a shower curtain. I’d expected to feel more emotion leaving everything in my old life behind. I’d waxed a little sentimental at dinner with my parents, but I wasn’t even a tiny bit sad at the thought of locking the door behind myself tomorrow morning and handing my keys to my landlord. In fact, I wanted to leave as early as possible to get back home—because home wasn’t here anymore. I wasn’t sure when that had changed, but when I wasn’t looking, I’d moved on and had no inclination to look back.
“I thought I said strip,” Jude whispered behind me.
“Oh, I am, just wanted to get the water started. It usually takes a while to fill—”
My words fell away as my gaze roamed up and down Jude’s body. Even though I’d seen him naked more than enough times not to be so tongue-tied, he was just that beautiful—strong legs, a sculpted chest and muscular arms, and a long, hard cock big enough for me to have to brace myself every time he slid inside me. But as gorgeous as he was on the outside, that wasn’t what had me hooked. Sure, it made me take a second and tenth take, but his heart was what grabbed me and wouldn’t let go.
“Cat got your tongue, Ms. Ng?” The corner of Jude’s mouth tipped up as he pressed his lips against mine for a quick kiss. I smiled at his groan when his gaze drifted to the tub, and I watched him climb in and hold on to the sides as he sat down.
Quiet but fierce love poured out of him, and even if I couldn’t find the words to tell him, I wanted to give him all the love I had in return. I could leave my life in Brooklyn and the career I’d spent years cultivating with nothing more than a shrug, but picturing life without Jude was physically impossible. My brain couldn’t even go there in the hypothetical.
It seemed too soon to be so certain, but if I’d learned anything this summer, moments were more important than timelines.
“See, plenty of room,” I said, pulling off my shirt and leggings and tossing them in the corner. I took extra time with my bra and panties and slowly lifted one leg in front of the other as I climbed in. I caught his gaze as his eyes roamed over me. “I thought this would hold two people. I knew the bed would since—”
Jude pressed his finger against my lips and shook his head.
“I don’t want to know how you know.”
I rolled my eyes. “Really, caveman? You were married, so neither of us is—”
“Doesn’t matter how unreasonable it is, I don’t like thinking about you with anyone but me,” he said, his eyes thinned to slits. “And while I don’t think we fit in here, the view is pretty fucking spectacular.” He leaned back and crooked his finger at me. “Having that beautiful body up close and wet will be worth all the leg cramps I’ll probably get trying to get out.”
“Oh please, Mr. Athlete,” I scoffed, pulling off the hair tie around my wrist to wind it around the knot of hair I twisted on top of my head.
“I know you get off on my trophies, but that was a long time ago.”
“But this is all current.” I straddled his legs, reaching over to shut off the faucet. Holding his hooded gaze, I dipped my hands into the water and slid my palms over his chest and down his arms. “So hard everywhere,” I whispered, leaning over to suck on his bottom lip and let it go with a nibble. I grazed my hands over his torso in slow circles, grinding my hips over his growing erection under the surface.
“I loved having you with me today. Thank you for driving all the way here and in advance for driving all the way back home.”
“I love the sound of that,” Jude said, his voice low and husky as he drifted his hands down my back and kneaded the backs of my thighs.
