Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 91266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
He wanted to hear her say yes. For all his pushing her, if she actually wanted to leave, he wasn’t about to stop her. She wanted him to push her, to corner her, to let her pretend she wasn’t making this decision every step of the way. Fuck that. He gripped her hips, lifting her and standing her on her feet. She blinked, obviously confused. “I thought…”
Jude unbuttoned his jeans, drawing the zipper down, his gaze never leaving hers. “You thought I’d take what we both know you want to give me? Newsflash, sunshine—I might get off on the lady protesting too much, but that only goes so far. We both know you want to be here the same way you wanted me there last night, even if your pride is still pissed that I left instead of cuddling you like some soft-hearted asshole.
“You want to leave, leave. I’m not going to chase you down and club you over the head, no matter how much I want you.”
She swayed a little. “That’s not fair.”
“What’s not fair is how goddamn hard I am for you. I watched your little yoga show this afternoon—don’t even pretend you didn’t know because I saw you shooting looks this way. Seeing that pert little ass of yours in the air, like you were offering yourself to me, and not being able to take what I wanted?” He grabbed her hand and pressed it against his cock. “I’ve been like this for hours. Because of you.”
“Because of me?” She didn’t take her hand away even after he let her go.
“Don’t play coy. It doesn’t suit you. You know you were teasing me on purpose. I wanted to tell the blonde to get lost and play with you right there. How long do you think you could hold downward dog with my mouth on your pussy?”
Her whole body shivered, her hand clenching around his cock. Sloan’s brows slanted down. “You’re doing it again. That thing where I should slap you across your face for talking to me the way you do.”
“Do it.” Jude took her free hand and set it against his cheek. “But whatever you’re going to do, if you’re not leaving, then get those fucking pants off. I’m starving for you.” He flashed her a grin, even though he didn’t feel the least bit amused. “If it will make you feel better, you can pretend you don’t have a choice in the matter, but we both know that’s a fucking lie. You want me as much as I want you.”
* * *
Sloan almost gave in. With his length in her hand and his whiskers scraping against her other palm, she already ached in a way she was coming to fear only he could assuage. The things Jude did to her made her weak in the knees, and with him challenging her with his dark chocolate eyes, she wanted nothing more than to climb into his lap and let him chase away the last of the fear clinging to her.
But she hadn’t left her entire life behind to hand over what little freedom she had to another man.
She took one step back, and then another. “You’re wrong. I don’t want to give up control.”
“If you say so.” His tone told her exactly what he thought. That she was biddable. A sure thing. Meek. Everything that Sloan used to be.
She wasn’t that woman anymore. She refused to be.
So she took another step back. The way he eyed the distance between them made her body spark, as if he’d cross it in a bound and take her to the floor. She wanted him to…but it wouldn’t solve anything and, when they were done, she’d still be left with a different kind of ache. One he’d told her multiple times that he couldn’t—wouldn’t—be responsible for.
She reached the front door, hesitating. Even though the feeling of danger had passed, the thought of going back to her empty house left her cold. Or perhaps that was the fact that she’d put half a house between her and Jude and, without the warmth of his big hands on her, the entire world seemed a little bit colder. She clutched the doorknob, her heart beating too fast. Lay the terms out. You don’t want this to end, but he can’t run the whole show. You can’t let it happen like that.
Sloan lifted her chin, faking a confidence she didn’t feel in the least. “I want you, that much is true.”
“I know.”
She ignored him. “But even if this is temporary, I want it on my terms.”
Jude went still, completely unbothered by the fact that he was exposed to her. “I’m listening.”
The only way you can get what you want is to say it. She bit her lip and then charged on. “If you’re sleeping with me, then you’re sleeping with me. I don’t care if you aren’t a fan of cuddling. It’s something I require to continue this thing.”