Page 87 of Ruthless Protector

I jumped into his arms.

He made an oomph sound and took a startled step back before I was lifted against his big strong body. There was worry in his eyes as they searched mine. “What’s going on?”

I let him see my smile. “Not a damn thing,” I lied. The lies were raking up, but it was for the best.

Something moved through his brown eyes as he studied me for a moment, then his hand slid to my ass and he hoisted me higher. “So, does this mean you’re happy to see me?”

I dragged my nose along his strong throat and nipped his earlobe. “No shit, Sherlock.”

He chuckled, the sound deep and rough and sexy as hell.

“You doing anything tonight?” he asked.

I threaded my fingers though his hair at the nape of his neck. “I’m free as a bird. No shift at the club, and Tilly’s at a friend’s for the night.”

He hadn’t kissed me yet, and I really wanted him to. My gaze dropped to his lips. I was going to suck on those sexy lips, and other parts of him as well.

Jude’s wide palms cupped my ass more firmly, his fingers digging in. “You want to go for a ride?”

I swiveled my hips against his now obvious erection. “What kind of ride are we talking about?”

His gaze darkened and color hit his cheeks. They did that when he was really hot for me. Not a blush; more like his blood pressure had shot up and he was preparing to tear my pants off. I loved it.

“On the back of my bike.” His voice deepened when he said that. I knew he liked it when I rode with him. I liked it a hell of a lot too. “I want to show you something.”

“Then I want to see it.” I wanted to be with him, while I could. I didn’t want to think about why being with Jude felt so right, or what I would be leaving behind.

For once, I just wanted to go with it, go with this feeling. With the way Jude made me feel while I could.

A few minutes later, I had my jacket and boots on, and I was climbing on the back of his massive black Harley. The smell of Jude’s leather jacket, mixed with his own sexy scent, filled my head, and had me tingling in the best way from head to toe.

My inner thighs hugged his, pussy snug against his ass, breasts pressed against his back, arms around his waist. Perfect.

He started the bike, told me to hang on, and we headed out.

God, riding with Jude was freeing. Like all the weight I carried, had been carrying since even before Rebecca died, had been lifted off me. Jude did that, made me feel like that. It was a feeling I couldn’t get enough of, that I craved.

Who was I kidding. It wasn’t the feeling I craved, it was the man. Everything about him was impressive. He made me feel special, strong, safe. He was understanding, and most of all, he respected me. He’d shown me who he was, had let me see the kind of man he was without pushing. He’d let me learn I could trust him in my own time, on my own terms. I’d needed that time, and he’d given it to me.

He was the best man I’d ever known.

And I’d never forget it.

I’d never forget him.

I shut those thoughts out. I didn’t know what was happening between Jude and I, but I knew what came next. And that was something I didn’t want to think about right then.

I felt good right now, in this moment. I was okay. More than okay. I’d worry about everything else tomorrow.

I squeezed my eyes closed. This, right here, on the back of Jude’s bike, my arms wrapped around him, it was all I was. All I wanted to be, at least until the sun came up in the morning.

We rode around for a while. I had no idea where Jude was taking me, and honestly, I didn’t care how long it took to get there. We ended up in another part of Brooklyn.

Jude pulled over to the side of the street and shut off his bike.

I climbed off and Jude did the same, and after taking something from one of the saddlebags, led me to a liquor store cross the street. He bought a six-pack, then we headed to one of the older apartment buildings. He hit a button on the intercom and a male voice, older, by the sound, answered.

“Hey, Mac, it’s Jude. You wanna let me in?”