This was great in terms of being able to rely on him, but utter shite when I hadn’t finished getting ready yet.
Although I had no idea what I was getting ready for. Jude and I had never been out on a date. We’d never been seen together as a couple, because we weren’t one, although we’d managed to make up a ton of reasons why we shared a lift home together after a night out or he had to come by mine after training.
No one had found it suspicious so far. There had been no questions asked, not even from Amber, which didn’t mean much because she was knee deep in nappies and feeds.
Jude was dressed in thick grey sweatpants and a tight fitted hoodie. He held a box of goodies and wore a lopsided smile that we both knew could get him out of any sort of trouble – with anyone, not just me.
“Happy New Year’s Eve.” He walked into my hallway like he owned it, shoulder checking the door closed behind him and walking straight into my kitchen, placing the box on the table.
With his hands now free, his next move was to take hold of me, pulling me close and stealing a kiss.
Jude was the master thief of kisses. He stole them in the open, risking everything to take a taste and grinning smugly when he succeeded. He’d mastered the art of the kiss, knowing when a peck was enough, or messy and needy was required, or long, slow and tender was necessary. A kiss from him could have my underwear drenched and off before I’d even blinked.
At first, I’d wanted to protest his skill level, not sure how he’d managed to acquire those talents and refined them, but after a few nights together, I’d given up, accepting it that just like he had on the pitch, Jude had this natural talent.
“Happy New Year’s Eve,” I managed to get the words out once I’d caught my breath that his kiss had pinched. “Are you sure you don’t want to be at one of the parties?”
He laughed, still holding me. “If I wanted to be at one of those parties, I’d be at one of them.”
“Okay.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and stole my own kiss, already feeling the need to climb him like a tree and swing off a certain branch. “I feel bad keeping you from your friends.”
“I’d rather be with you.” There was a quick peck on my lips.
He lifted me up and carried me out of the kitchen to the stairs, my legs wrapping around his waist, giving him all the control here.
“Let’s say goodbye to this year in the best way.” He pushed my bedroom door open, depositing me on the bed with a bounce, then caging over me. “Then at midnight we can see the New Year in.” His mouth dropped to the side of my neck, tender kisses pressing against the skin there.
I was caught between needing to escape, fear being the driver, and stay right where I was. It was too easy to drown in Jude’s words and kisses, too easy to lose myself there in the torrent of endorphins he elicited.
Nothing was going to come of this. I was a deeper notch than usual on his bedpost, the older woman box ticked, as well as the woman at his work who broke their balls on the regular.
I hadn’t broken his balls; I’d done the opposite and he knew it.
“Your fucking tits are amazing.” He already had my top and bra off, his tongue flicking over a nipple.
I was melting from the inside, already embarrassed at how wet he was going to find me.
“I swear I spend half of my life thinking about these unless I’m with you. You’ve wrecked me.” He switched to the other breast, mouth dipping to the nipple there, taking it in his mouth and pulling on it, just enough pinch to zing a shot of electricity to my centre.
I moaned; it was impossible not to. Jude’s hands landed on my hips, pulling down the leggings I’d quickly pulled on when he knocked on my door. Really, I shouldn’t have bothered getting dressed. A robe would’ve been enough.
He was still dressed and I was naked now, laid out in front of him like a spread at a banquet. His eyes feasted over my skin, lingering over my tits, between my legs, back to my eyes.
“You’re beautiful. I can’t believe you let me do this with you. How did I get so lucky?”
He’d said those words before, more than once. They’d sent shivers up my spine before and this time was no different.
“I think you’re delusional.”
He shook his head. “No. That insults both of us.” Jude pulled off his hoodie and T-shirt in one go, exposing a chest that was very much all man. He was taller than your average outfield player, and broader. Rather than keeping to just lean muscle, he’d bulked up just a little, making it harder to knock him off the ball.
Making it harder for me to keep my eyes off him.
“I think you’re stunning. I spent two years looking at you every time you were in the same room as me and I wondered what the hell I had to do to make you notice me, because I didn’t think that a woman like you would ever look my way.” He crawled lower.
My centre ached, my lower back lifted in anticipation of where his mouth was headed.
“I didn’t know you were looking.” I’d never noticed.
