Hands Off (7 page)

Which was all fine and good. But there were times he wished he was equally adequate in his social endeavors. Maybe Naomi had been right when she’d said he chose the wrong women to date. Maybe the only woman he needed was waiting for him on his sofa, naked and hungry for him.

Yes.

“Have a safe drive home, Arielle.” Without further ado, he shut the door. Arielle banged against the other side once. Then silence.

He’d have to have his home phone number changed. He doubted this one would go away quietly.

Shoving his hand through his hair, he strode down the hall toward Naomi. Hell. He hoped she hadn’t overheard the conversation. As far as he knew, Naomi didn’t think poorly of him. She never criticized him. She never asked him to be someone he couldn’t be.

After tonight… shit… after tonight, he hoped she wouldn’t change. He hoped she wouldn’t become another regrettable memory.

A split second passed with the idea of cooling the evening off and sending Naomi home as well. But the thought evaporated when she stood from the couch, the blanket clutched to her chest, doing little to hide the curves of her bare hips.

His cock responded, straining against his pants once again.

“Jude.” Her tone sent off a warning signal to his crowded mind and he lifted his gaze to meet hers. “Should I leave?”

No
, he wanted to shout. But he bit back the strong urge. Being emotional never helped. Asking a woman to stay never worked. He learned that early on in life.

“Is that what you want?” he asked as calmly as possible.

“If you don’t know the answer to that, we might have a problem.” Her lips quivered into a half smile. “I mean—” She waved her hand, letting the blanket reveal her right breast.
Oh, hell.
“I heard who was at the door. You told her you can’t see her tonight.”

He forced himself to look her in the eyes when all he desired was to walk over and tear the blanket from her white-knuckled grasp. Did she have any idea what she did to him?

She licked her lips. “I can’t help it. I have this gut-wrenching, nauseating feeling. And I can’t—” She inhaled a long breath. “Jude, I can’t sleep with you tonight if—”

“What? Why?” Air evacuated his lungs. Here we go again. Only this time the rejection hit him harder than ever. This was Naomi.

“Let me finish. God. What am I saying? Of course I’m going to spend the night... if you still want me to. It’s just...”

“I want you to.” There. He said it. With force. She would stay the night if he had to get down on his knees and plead.

“Okay, good.” She laughed nervously—one of her habits. Why was she nervous? “But you might change your mind.” Her smile disintegrated into a frown. Her eyes glistened with unspent tears.

Hell.

“Talk to me. What’s going on?” He approached her and held her beautiful face in his hands, brushing his thumb down her cheek. Wanting nothing more than to calm her and let her know everything would work out no matter what she was feeling about him.

“I need to confess something but I don’t want to scare you away. I’m terrified I’m going to lose you.”

Jude swiped a tear trailing down her cheek. “You’re not going to lose me. And I’m a tough guy, so hit me with it.” He smiled, hoping she’d follow suit. It tore him up to see her upset.

“I don’t want you to see that woman again.”
 

“Done.” Whatever she asked, he’d do. His hopes rose.

She swallowed. “Or any other woman. I want you for myself. Jude, I’m in love with you.”

~ * ~

NAOMI LOOKED AWAY, not having the courage to watch his expression. Hearing that woman at his door had knotted her stomach painfully. Every word that horrid bitch had said had echoed off the apartment walls. It had taken every bit of self-control not to rush over and punch her.

But she didn’t want Jude to know she’d heard her harsh whispers. From his dating tales, she knew Arielle was the type of woman he had always been drawn to. Casual and apparently heartless. This one had only wanted sex and obviously hadn’t taken the time to look deeper into the man Jude truly was.

It all made sense now. She’d once told him he didn’t choose the right kind of women to date, or else they’d last longer. Now she understood. And she could only assume he was replaying his youth, always striving to get the affection of a cold, neglectful woman, like his mother had been. Perhaps he thought all women were like that. Or perhaps he was hoping to change their minds.

Her heart wept for the little boy inside of him.

So much so that she’d pushed aside her fear of losing him and told him how she really felt. She loved him. If ever there was a time to tell him, it was now. He needed to hear that she wanted more than just sex. She wanted him. Forever.

He remained quiet and his soft grip on her face didn’t falter. The only changes were the uptick of his heartbeat as she laid her palm against his chest and the slight intake of his breath. She was used to his reserved personality. It was one of the traits she’d grown to love. He chose his words carefully. He was dependable and strong. He was the sturdy oak she could hold on to when a hurricane arose and tried to uproot her sanity. She could vent and cry and he would listen and comfort.

But right now, she really hoped he’d say something to acknowledge the life-changing words that had poured out of her mouth.

She began to second-guess herself until he finally spoke.

“Come with me to the bedroom.” His voice was low and controlled.

“The bedroom?” The knot in her stomach had lodged up in her throat. What was he trying to tell her? That
he
only wanted sex?

She quickly dismissed the thought. Jude wouldn’t treat her that way. He wouldn’t dismiss her feelings. They were friends before tonight. Close friends. That hadn’t changed. She hoped.

“Okay.” She tried not to sound wary. Because really, how many times had she fantasized about following Jude into his bedroom, falling onto his bed and having him take advantage of her in every way possible?

He clasped her hand and led the way. She’d only been in his bedroom one time, briefly on the way to his walk-in closet. She’d helped him pick out a tie before an important business meeting.

Now, she’d have a better chance to check out where he slept.

She clenched the chenille throw tighter to her chest and quickened her step to catch up with his brisk, long strides. He opened the door and let her enter first. His jaw was tight, stretching his scar, showing that he was just as on edge as she was.

His room hadn’t changed. A dark, solid maple four-poster bed centered the far wall. Yards of black silk covered the duvet and king-size pillows. Jude treasured quality. Nothing but the best fabrics in his life, including his clothes.

Her body had a mind of its own as she walked the distance to the enormous bed and sat on the edge. She peered up at him. The ball would be in his court until he at least acknowledged her declaration of love. Two could play the quiet game.

“Scoot back, Naomi,” he said in a coaxing tone, while extracting the throw from her tight grip. “Lie down. Relax.”

“Sure. Okay.” She had no willpower. And it didn’t help she was still on a high from what had happened on the sofa.

With as much grace as possible, she scooted back, farther and farther until she was able to fall back onto the heavenly soft pillows. She propped back up on her elbows when she realized she’d lost sight of him.

He leaned over, tugging his pants off again, his gorgeous cock springing free. She pressed her trembling thighs together. She was already wet and aching for him, wondering what he’d feel like deep inside of her, as she craved to run her hands along his muscled body as he climbed on top of her.

Keeping his gaze fixed to hers, he walked to the side of the bed and picked up a condom from the nightstand. His movements were slow and deliberate... excruciating... as he opened the wrapper and rolled the rubber down his cock.

“Don’t you want to talk first?” Her voice shook.

He pulled in a breath and released it, seeming to think over the question. Then he shook his head and crawled onto the bed. His muscles flexed as he crept toward her. His eyes were fixed on hers. His hair fell over his cheeks and along his jaw.

Instinct had her sitting up halfway to push the locks behind his ears before they covered his eyes. He always waited too long for a haircut. She loved it that way. Loved everything about him.

So much.

And it finally dawned on her that she was at his mercy tonight. Ever since she’d opened the doors to an intimate relationship, she’d been at his mercy. She’d do anything for him, with him.

Please don’t break my heart.

NAOMI’S HEAD SWIRLED as Jude’s hands slid up her calf, brushed the sensitive area under her knee, then slowly curved along the inside of her thigh. Her hips lifted in response. Heat stewed low and deep.

Glancing down at herself, she noticed reddened splotches on her otherwise pale skin. Had to be the fevered passion Jude was arousing.

“I’ve never made love with the lights on.” She blurted her thoughts.

She had no idea if the splotches were normal, nor did she care. Her experiences with Jude would be new—she had to remember. He was the polar opposite of Dav—

Stop thinking.

She reached for Jude, grabbing hold of his forearm, just as his finger grazed her clit, then slipped lower to push into her. Watching him was highly erotic.

Her hips lifted higher off the mattress.

“Never in the light,” she murmured, completely in awe of how his forearm muscles bunched as his finger did delightful things down there.

“Are you thinking of him?” Jude’s coarse voice startled her.

Naomi glanced up to see lips formed into a terse frown. It was obvious he was talking about Davis.

“No. Why would you ask that?” She sounded defensive, even to her own ears. Guilty. But not in the way his undertone had suggested. She’d only marveled at the difference between them.

She sat up, pulling away from him. Yet her heart still raced and her body still thrummed. “Why?” she repeated.

“Tell me the truth, Naomi.”

Her cheeks blazed as she shook her head. He was killing the moment. But why?

“Tell me.” He wasn’t backing down.

“How could I not at least compare when you’re so different in every way? I’ve only been with one man, you know. He was all I knew. And you... you’re so...”

Jude cocked his head. Naomi licked her lips. Her gaze traveled down his torso as he kneeled, hunched forward, muscular but still lean. An athletic build.

“What am I?”

She laughed nervously. “You’re an eyeful. You’re incredible. I could stare at you forever and never grow bored. Jude”—she sighed—“don’t you see?”

“You said you loved me. Why?”

“Because I do, of course.”

“But I’m so different from him. You just admitted that. We had nothing in common.”

“You’re right. Other than your passion for business.”

Passion. That’s what they had in common. Though she’d never been aware of it to this degree. Not in the bedroom. Not like this.

She shook the thought from her mind. What was Jude trying to prove by bringing up Davis now anyway? She’d laid out her heart by admitting she’d fallen in love with him. She’d bypassed her guilt for realizing Davis might not have been the only love of her life... when all throughout her marriage she’d thought exactly that.

Now things had changed. Now her heart was open and ready for Jude. Only apparently, he wasn’t ready to hear it. Was this how he pushed women away?

 
“You said you didn’t want to talk,” she said, stubbornly and more than a little upset. “I don’t either.” Yet she couldn’t help but add, “Are you trying to talk me out of my feelings for you?”

“No,” he said, before she’d had a chance to finish. “Hell, no.” His frown grew taut, and before she could blink, he grabbed for her waist and lifted her onto his lap.

Air gushed from her lips as she straddled his naked hips. His strength astounded her. In his arms, she’d felt light, utterly feminine.

Frenzied butterflies swooped low in her abdomen. Her breath halted as her pussy grazed his solid shaft. The rapid pulse of his heart beat against her palm.

Passion, yes. More than she could bear. Her body trembled under his embrace.

His hands slid down to grasp her ass and held her close. “I want you to say it again,” he whispered roughly against her ear.

“Wh-what?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he lifted her, edged the head of his cock against her slick entrance... then slowly eased her down.

Naomi held her breath as he filled her, his cock stretching her pussy walls. A desperate moan vibrated up her throat, sounding raspy and raw in the otherwise quiet room.

She sank down on his lap. Her thighs spread against his hips, her knees finally reaching the mattress. His thick length lodged deep inside. She couldn’t move. Nerves, long-neglected, sparked and frolicked throughout her body. Her breasts crushed against his hard chest.
 

She was going to orgasm just sitting there, not moving an inch. And, damn, did she want it bad. When the sensations smoldered rather than peaked, she grew anxious.

Jude’s hands on her ass stilled, only pressing her close. His lips worked over her jaw and down her neck, spreading licks and skilled kisses.

“Jude, please.” Naomi attempted to lift off him for friction... for more. But his hold on her was firm.

“Tell me again,” he whispered. “Tell me.”

She sucked in a breath and tried to clear her mind. Tell him again. Tell him what? Whatever it was, he sounded desperate to hear the words.

Then it clicked.

Of course
.

He needed to be reassured. The neglected little boy inside the successful, intimidating, brutally handsome man needed affirmation.

“I love you.” She scraped her fingers into his soft hair, pulling him closer so not an inch of space separated them. “I love you.” And she did love him—as much as he wanted, as much as he needed.

His hands on her ass hitched her up as his hips shifted down. Then up in a slick, full thrust that ground against her most inner wall.