Page 84 of Fighting For You
I rolled my eyes. “From there, you pack of gossipy old ladies disguised as ex-soldiers spread it around. Got it. Did Barbie even officially pass SERE?” Frustration and something closer to… happiness, sifted through me.
“Hey, I’m happy for you,” Bruce said, a genuine Bruce Camden special sparkling back at me.
“Thanks, Jaws. Cookie… see you both tomorrow.”
With that, I left, eager to get home, anxious to see Beast, and reeling from the idea that Bruce had called Judemy manand the realization that I very much wanted it to be an accurate title for Jude Rawlins… as long as he wanted it just as much.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Jude
Jess stood outside my door at a few minutes after eight.
Air rushed from her lips, the heat from her body freezing into a white cloud in the chilly autumn air. Temps had dropped and I wouldn’t have been surprised to see snow in the forecast again, though tonight was crystal clear with glittering stars winking behind her.
“What are you doing without a coat? Come in.” I pulled her into the house and Bones immediately dismounted his post on the couch and sped toward her, only stopping when he’d headbutted her calf and rubbed himself along the leg of her jeans.
“The temperature dropped like crazy since I went home. I didn’t realize.”
She shivered, and I pulled her into a hug.
All the wild, rampaging pieces of me settled as she wrapped her arms around me and rested her head onmy chest. She breathed long and slow breaths, and I did the same, relieved to have her here in my space again.
The stolen moment yesterday had left me longing for her, but when I woke today, it hadn’t been with lust in mind. I’d had this aching hollow in my chest that begged me to find her, be close to her,love her.
Nothing in me was surprised, and yet I didn’t want to push her.
So this quiet moment brought necessary soothing to so much of my heart.
Bones’ desperate little meow broke the spell, and she pulled back with a soft smile, then dropped to a knee to pick up my boy.
“You are just a little beggar, aren’t you? But I love you so much.” She buried her face in his neck, and he closed his eyes as though just her nearness was bliss.
As usual, my cat and I were on the same level.
“Lucky guy,” I said, chuckling at the semi-truck level rumble coming from the little purr machine.
Jess carted him back to his bed on the back of the couch and he kneaded it into submission before circling up and tucking his face into his hind legs for another nap.
“All that hard work wore you out, huh? Sleep well, sweet boy.” Jess gently petted his head, then joined me in the kitchen.
“I love your cat.” She pumped soap onto her hands.
There was that word again.Love.I couldn’t be sure I’d heard her use it ever before, and so soon after I’d thought it in my head.
“He seems to return the sentiment.” I stirred the sauce on the stove.
“Whatever you’re making smells amazing,” she said,sliding one hand up my spine in a way that made me feel instantly ravenous.
“Roasted red pepper sauce. We’ll put it over tortellini if that’s okay, and I have some burrata?—”
Her hand firm on my neck, she guided my head toward her and took my mouth in a kiss that notched up the hunger levels to never before experienced. When she released me, I took in the kiss-ravaged lips and glittering eyes.
“You like pasta that much?” I asked, desperate to know which part of the meal had prompted the kiss and planning to provide it for her whenever possible.
She laughed softly. “I likeyouthat much. And I am very excited for more of your cooking because everything I’ve had has been amazing.”
“Omi taught me. She insisted I learn more than the basics—for myself and for whoever I ended up with.” I didn’t glance at her meaningfully and betray just how much I wanted that to be her.Too soon.
