Hands Off (4 page)

Jude had heard that question a thousand times, usually as a corny joke, but coming from her, he’d thought it sounded genuine and captivating. He’d been so gobsmacked by her beauty, by the soft timber of her voice, by her delicate, petite frame, he’d forgotten to reply. Then, after a warm smile, she’d dashed off with her friends. Dazed, Jude had glanced back at Davis, who’d been glaring at him. “Seriously, hands off that one. Naomi’s mine.”

There had been no reason for Davis to worry. Naomi had been entranced by Davis until the day he’d passed. The couple had been maddeningly inseparable.
 

For that reason, Jude had kept his hands off. Until now. Never had he thought she’d come to him for anything more than a friendly hug, a shoulder to cry on. But here she was.

What he’d done right in a past life to deserve this opportunity, he didn’t know. He didn’t dare question it. Not now, anyway.

They passed by a few couples on the way to their hosts. Kara and Austin. Shawna and Charlie. Kristin and Geo. They were in their own worlds, playing their own games. Jude and Naomi murmured hellos and moved on, down the hall and into the living room. Millie and Michael were on the couch. The TV blared with the football commentator dissecting the last play.

“Here.” Jude dropped the items onto the coffee table and stepped back behind his guilty-looking seductress. “What’s next?”

“Toilet paper?” Millie raised her brows at Jude. “I thought your letter was ‘R.’” She sat on Michael’s lap as they shared a bowl of popcorn. Her gaze did a knowing once-over of Naomi’s naked lips and pink cheeks.

Naomi wrapped her arms around her waist and looked away. No words for her friend, huh?

“A
roll
of toilet paper,” Jude said, trying not to sound agitated. He’d tugged his shirt down, attempting to conceal his erection. But Millie’s sly smile told him he and Naomi shouldn’t have bothered to adjust their clothing. Millie already knew her scheme was working.

The only questions were how long had Naomi planned to seduce him and why hadn’t he figured it out before she’d bared her soul
in Millie’s guest bathroom?
And why she’d chosen to wait until now to tell him.

Now. With their friends watching on.

Like it was part of this game.

Only he didn’t want to think of the reasoning behind it quite yet. Naomi had explained enough. She wanted to feel again and his only goal was to give Naomi what she asked for. A night. Just one night.

“Clever, you two,” Millie said. “Having fun?”

Luckily, the rest of the teams had already moved on with their next assignment. Really, how did any of them find this poorly concocted game fun?

“Mill, why don’t you just give us our next room assignment?” Naomi finally spoke, her voice shaky. “Why didn’t everyone wait for us?”

“I’m not stopping the clock. The ten minutes begins again when the first team brings me the goods.” Millie leisurely picked out two more strips of paper. “Now, let’s see. Master bedroom.” She waggled her brows at them and Jude held back a groan. “And the letter ‘T.’ For you two, I’ll set the clock back a couple of minutes.”

“Great. Ready?” Jude murmured and grasped Naomi’s hand, anxious to continue what they’d started.

Before she changed her mind.

She peered up at him with a worried brow—perhaps one last plea for him to take her away. Only Jude wasn’t certain he was mentally prepared to invite her to his bed. He was still in shock, still wondering how he was going to give her what she wanted and protect himself from falling more in love with someone he had no right to.

Naomi nodded and they headed up the stairs and into the master bedroom. Her ass swayed nicely in her slinky black dress. Usually he’d allow himself a glance before getting himself in check. Tonight he’d allow himself much more.

He locked the door behind them and immediately heard voices coming from the en suite master bathroom. Another couple was locked away on the other side. Millie’s sister, he guessed from the voice—Amy. And that douchebag with the sweater vest. Nicholas.

Amy was laughing as something bumped against the closed door.

Naomi, getting to work, began searching the dresser drawers. Her hands skimmed over neatly folded piles of clothes. She bent at the waist, causing her dress to ride up. His breathing deepened as he took in the curve of her hips, the length of her thighs, how her calf muscles tensed as she leaned on her right heel.

They didn’t have much time. And for a moment Jude wished he’d given in to her request and left while they had the chance. He wanted all of her attention for as long as she would give it.

He went to her as she lifted a silky slip out of the drawer. She turned and her smile faded when she found him so close. He braced her waist, reveling in the feel of her body at his fingertips.

“A teddy,” she whispered, showing him the fuck-me-red lingerie.

“Good thinking.” He returned a smile, not finding it difficult.

“Thanks. Did you see anything?”

“Just you.” He took the teddy from her and let it fall to the floor. “All I can think about is you.” The honesty poured from his mouth.

“Oh.” She licked her sweet lips and the light of lust in her blue eyes clicked back on. “What are you going to do about that?”

“Everything.” He leaned down and brushed his lips along the elegant column of her neck. A light floral scent soothed his nose, calmed him. “All that you’ll let me do,” he whispered next to her ear, then licked the outer shell.

“We’re not alone.” Her voice shook. “They could come out any second.”

He nipped at her earlobe and let his hand roam down to cup the soft flesh of her ass. “Does that turn you on? The idea of being found?”

She laughed a short nervous laugh. But didn’t say no.

“Listen to them, Naomi.” His lips touched her ear as he spoke. “They’re being awfully quiet in there. I think they might be fucking.” He wasn’t sure if he used the vulgar word to shock her or to test her limits. But it didn’t have the results he expected.

“Really?” The idea seemed to pique her interest. Voyeurism, or at least the thought of getting caught with her skirt down, turned her on. He would run with that.

He bent to pick up the silk teddy. “Give me your hands.”

“What? Why?” She wrapped her arms around her waist, hiding her hands in the process.

“Trust me.” He didn’t wait for her compliance. He gripped one wrist then the other and quickly tied the slip of lingerie around them in a snug knot.

“What are you doing?” she asked, but didn’t protest.

“Making you feel again. Remember?” He grinned easily, having more fun than he’d counted on. “Come here.” He guided her to the bathroom door, where on the other side the muffled sound of a woman panting caught his attention.

Amy and Nicholas were taking advantage of their alone time.

Good. This was good.

He pressed Naomi against the door and lifted her arms, pinning them above her head with one hand. If the door opened, they’d be found for sure. But from the sounds of it, the other couple was preoccupied.

“Jude, wait,” Naomi mouthed, her eyes wide.

He leaned in and whispered, “Do you hear her moaning?”

Naomi nodded. Her cheeks flushed pink.

“I’m going to make you do the same.”

Her pretty mouth gaped open, fixed in an O.

He used his knee to spread her legs enough to edge the stretchy material up. He helped it along, using his free hand to shove the hem higher and higher. Teasing her, he brushed his knuckle along the inside of her thigh, up until his thumb lightly skimmed her panties. She was warm. Her panties were wet.

Damn.

The moans grew more persistent on the other side of the door. Jude didn’t have time to linger.

He stroked the soft skin along Naomi’s thigh again and pressed firm kisses down the line of her cleavage. Her chest rose and fell in fast breaths. His finger journeyed higher, boldly shoving her thin strip of panty out of the way.

Yes, she was wet, ready.

Jude glided his lips along the curve of her breast, only the thin layer of dress keeping him from her sensitive skin. He inhaled her sexy flowery scent, closing his eyes until his bottom lip brushed her beaded nipple.

There.

He licked and she whimpered. Under her dress, he maneuvered his finger along her clit then downward until he found her hot, wet entrance. He slid inside, loving how she instinctively contracted around his finger. Deeper he went, curving his finger against her G-spot.

She rocked her pelvis forward, silently asking for more. Jude ground his palm against her clit and clamped his lips around her nipple.

The woman on the other side of the door moaned louder.

Jude slipped a second finger inside Naomi’s tight pussy. Her breath hitched. But he forced himself not to ask if she was all right. Not now.

Instead, he concentrated on a rhythm. Thrusting in, grazing her G-spot, pressing his palm against her clit, flicking her nipple with his tongue. And repeat.

Again and again.

Her body tensed. She panted and whimpered. Jude held tight to her wrists for support while continuing the tempo. She would come. He’d make sure of it.

Again and again... thrust, graze, press, flick. Thrust, graze, press, flick. A formula. A code to be cracked. Escalating. He quickened the cadence, never letting up.
 

Not until she let out a low bellowing sound—a hearty release of power, of control, of nerves. Sexy as hell.

She rocked against his hand, her body shaking, frantic.

He closed his mouth over hers, absorbing the remaining moan, all the while celebrating his accomplishment. She’d come hard against his hand.

He’d made her feel.

When she finally stilled, he fixed her panties and tugged down her dress. Carefully, he lifted her now-limp body into his arms. He thought he spotted tears brimming in her eyes, but she quickly nuzzled her face into his neck. Hiding, she curled her bound hands against his chest.

He sat on the bed and held her close, reminding himself that this wasn’t just any woman. Nothing like any of the women he’d been with in recent years.

Jude would be her second lover, unless there’d been a boyfriend before Davis. Certainly not after. He would have known.

He tugged the silk teddy loose. With a tenderness he wasn’t accustomed to, he stroked her hair and kissed her temple. Seeing her orgasm had changed something inside of him, knocked something loose. All he could figure was he wanted so much more.

The bathroom door opened slowly with a creak and Amy and Sweater Vest Boy stepped out, both with a goofy grin on their faces.

“Hey,” Amy said, combing her fingers through her hair. “Naomi okay?”

“Yes.” Jude motioned toward the bedroom door. “Can you close the door? Tell Millie this room and the bathroom are taken.”

“Gotcha.” The couple left without another word. Most likely, they’d heard Naomi give in to her release. Hell, the whole house probably heard.

“I’m so embarrassed,” Naomi whispered, obviously coming to the same conclusion.

“Don’t be. You sounded damn sexy. I’d bet that was a long overdue orgasm.”

“You’d be right. Jude”—she pulled back to meet his eyes—“thank you. God, that was amazing.”

He grinned, feeling light. It was so easy to be with her, which was why he’d always found a reason to be in her presence.

Suddenly this game didn’t matter. His ego didn’t matter. All that mattered was being alone with her.

“I’m not done with you yet. We’ll wait until everyone is out of the halls, then we’ll make a run for it. You still willing to leave?”

“I, uh—” She held her hand to her chest.

“Don’t say no. I have one night, remember?”

A slow shy smile formed. “Take me home with you?”

Jude smothered a relieved sigh. “Yes, of course.”

THE ELEVATOR RIDE up to his apartment was excruciatingly slow. And the tension in the air was palpable. Naomi leaned into Jude and wished he’d wrap her in his arms and kiss her again. Instead, he kept his gaze directed toward the elevator numbers as they lit up with each passing floor. His hand rested gently at the base of her back. His thumb stroked her skin in steady movements that seemed to match the changing numbers.

She closed her eyes, reliving what had happened in Millie’s bedroom. An orgasm that had not only made her feel something but had rocked her senses. She’d felt intoxicated afterward.

And overwhelmed with emotions she couldn’t explain.

No more tears.
She’d spent enough of those. Now, she planned to be happy. If only she could shake the whisper of guilt lingering at the corners of her mind.

What would Davis think? Jude had been his best friend since high school.

But Davis was gone, she reminded herself. After three years of grief, she’d finally accepted she’d never again wake up beside him and find him safe and sound. His scent had faded. His clothes and belongings had been packed and dispersed between his relatives and the rest to charity. His financial dealings were wrapped up. His ashes had been scattered. Yes, Davis was gone.

Jude was here. He was warm and secure and he smelled so good. And somehow he’d become her best friend. Always there. She spent hours on the phone with him. He patiently listened to her talk about her day, at times giving her his no-nonsense advice, like a formula to be solved.

And she’d listened as he spoke about his newest venture, his latest date, his latest breakup. Mostly she liked listening to him breathe, strange as that sounded. She liked knowing he was there.

The elevator dinged at the seventeenth floor, the top floor, and the doors opened. Jude led her down the marble-floored hall.

“It’s likely Rose hasn’t left yet,” he said. “She’s been staying late, trying to earn extra cash for her granddaughter’s college tuition.”

Rose—his housekeeper, who was more like a mother hen to Jude.

“That woman is amazing.” So kind. And she was good for Jude.

But Naomi wanted to be alone with Jude, to explore these new feelings… and this new adventurous side to Jude. The thought excited her.

“She’s also stubborn,” he said, bringing Naomi back to reality. “I offered to pay the tuition but she refused. She wouldn’t even accept a pay raise, saying she’d take a raise when she earned it. She actually acted offended, can you believe it?”