Jude Read online

  Chapter Four

  Sadie

  Oh Lord. I still can't believe I'm here now, at this very moment, with Jude Malone, touching my hair while his words cause my whole body to shiver. I could get lost in his warm, dark eyes, so calming and comforting.

  "So where is he?" he asks, glancing around the room.

  "Not here yet."

  "Do you miss him?"

  "No," I answer right away, surprising myself when I realize it's the honest to God truth.

  "No?" Jude repeats, sounding skeptical.

  "Nope. I'm still pissed at him because I trusted him. I thought he actually cared about me, but...it was all just a bunch of lies and bullshit. Now he keeps saying...things about me to everyone, and there's nothing I can do about it."

  "You can try to relax and have fun. Forget that stupid bastard. Don't let him ruin your night."

  Jude is a pretty nice distraction from the pain in the ass Ryder. More than nice. In a tux he looks like he belongs on a billboard, not fighting in a cage. After crushing on him for years I only have this one night with him. The way he looks at me is...different tonight. He barely glances in my direction, but when he does, it almost seems like he wants me based on the tenting I thought I saw going on below his belt. But that's just ludicrous and my own wishful thinking.

  I look over my shoulder at Brayden sitting at the table behind us. She starts using hand signals to try and tell me something. She pushes her breasts together, and then, tongue in cheek mimes sucking a cock. Wow, she's completely nuts.

  A little flirting probably won't hurt, though. Jude doesn't have any way to leave and is far too sweet to bail on me now.

  "You look really nice in a suit," I tell him before bravely rubbing my fingertips down the center buttons of his blue vest. I feel and hear his intake of breath. Is that a good sign or a bad one?

  "Ah, thanks."

  I re-cross my legs so that the slit in the fabric spreads open, leaving both of my legs bare from my one upper thigh all the way down to my ankle. Jude shifts away, because he doesn't care or...because he's trying not to look? I need to say something to get his attention.

  "Is this anything like your prom?" I ask.

  He shakes his head, still not looking at me, but keeping his eyes steadily in front of him on the dance floor. "I wouldn't know," he says. "I didn't go."

  "Why didn't you go to your prom?"

  "Because I was in California at Jax's third championship title fight that weekend," he says.

  "Oh."

  Jude missed his senior prom to go support his brother. His older brother who has always had the spotlight, the championship titles, the fame, the fortune, the hordes of women.

  "So, I'm sorry, but I have no idea how these things work," he says, finally facing me again to flash a hesitant or embarrassed grin. The normally courageous fighter looks almost nervous.

  "From what I've heard, there's dancing," I say, gesturing to the dark dance floor with colorful strobe lights that's starting to fill up. "Then there's a two hour break where everyone heads up to their rooms to either fuck, get drunk, or both. Last but not least, there's an early morning breakfast to gossip about what you did during the break, before going home and passing out."

  "You're kidding," he says seriously, glancing down at my bare leg before quickly looking away again. His reaction is too funny, making him look more like a nervous teenager than a sexy as hell grown man.

  "Nope." I laugh.

  "Hey, it's your song!" I exclaim when the first notes to Macklemore's Can't Hold Us fill the ballroom.

  All fighters have intro songs that they play when heading into the arena for a cage match. This one is Jude's, the upbeat lyrics talking about "tonight is the night'” and "we'll fight til’ it's over."

  The speakers crackle before a man's voice says, "Give it up for Silver Spring's own Jude Malone who's partying with us tonight. Come on, Matrix, you've got to show us your dance moves."

  I can't believe it, and am so freaking embarrassed when the DJ calls Jude out in front of everyone!

  "You heard him. Let's go!" Grabbing my hand, Jude suddenly pulls me to my feet and heads toward the dance floor. I have no choice but to follow, and I have to admit that thinking about rubbing my ass and other parts on this fine man is well worth the embarrassment of looking like a fool.

  "Just a warning, I learned all my moves from Dirty Dancing," he jokes as we make our way through the other bodies grinding to the upbeat song, and of course, staring at us in anticipation of what he's going to do.

  I laugh out loud when Jude spins me around so that my back is against his hard chest. Placing my arm up on the back of his neck, his fingers trail slowly down the underside of my arm to my side, Johnny Castle style, causing goosebumps to form and a shudder to run through my body.

  Now I know why Baby couldn't hold still.

  After that signature move, the crowd on the floor with us cheers with approval. I pull my arm away from his neck, and then Jude rests both of his hands on my hips in a more contemporary fashion while we began to move against each together to the beat.

  Feeling his big, muscular frame molded against my backside and surrounding me is enough to ignite a furnace in my lower body. By the end of the next song, I'm not the only one heating up below the belt. I forget how to breathe when his hard length presses firmly against my bottom.

  "I'd apologize," Jude's deep voice speaks against my ear. "But that won't make it go away."

  Even though I'm surprised that he's turned on dancing with me, I don't want the proof of his arousal to go away. Rolling my hips, I press back harder against his lap and smile to myself when I hear a groan rumble out of his chest.

  "Don't do that again," he says gruffly.

  When I look up at the other people on the dance floor, a lot of eyes are still on me and Jude. My cheeks flame hot like the inferno in my lower belly in embarrassment, so I take a step forward to put some distance between us.

  I forget everyone else in the room except the man behind me when Jude's big, warm palm suddenly spreads across my bare stomach, yanking me flush against his bulge again. My eyes close and I gasp in surprised.

  "Changed my mind. Don't stop," he says, burying his nose in my hair. "If feels too fucking good."

  My own arousal is no longer just a thought but liquid heat. I try squeezing my thighs together to prevent the sensation but that only makes the warm pulse worsen. I glance over at the door, wondering what I can do to get Jude to agree to take me upstairs, remove our clothes, and try this position again. I want him to take me from behind, hard and rough, and more times than I can count. And I'd give anything to pay homage to his incredible, rock hard body with my mouth, running my tongue over every inch, especially the impressive ones against my ass, making me go crazy.

  I'm about to turn around and beg Jude to fulfill my erotic fantasy when I spot him in the crowd.

  I freeze from the icy chill caused by seeing Ryder’s lying face. Telling me he loved me and all the other nonsense to get into my panties a few times, then dumping me for his next conquest. Sabrina's known as a sure thing, screwing every guy she goes out with on the first date. Her parents are always out of town, unlike my constantly hovering father, so the possibilities of Ryder getting regular romps with her are endless. She can have him and his small cock. With as many guys as she’s been with she’ll probably laugh when she sees Ryder’s for the first time tonight.

  Over the last two weeks the asshole's been spreading explicit details about fucking me to anyone who will listen. I've even heard one rumor where he said I’d let him record us in the act, which is complete bullshit. He does have a topless photo of me that he took with his phone, and I'm almost certain a few of Ryder's friends have seen it. God, I'm so stupid.

  "What's wrong?" Jude asks against my ear, making me realize I've stopped dancing.

  After I shake my head, he spins me around to face him. His beautiful, dark eyes assess me, seeing more than I'd like him to.

 
"Find him?" he asks in understanding, clenching his sexy, chiseled jaw.

  "Yep."

  "Where?" he asks, looking over in the direction I've been glancing in.

  "Um, blonde hair in a white tux with red vest and tie, standing beside the girl in a red dress."

  "Oh, you are so much hotter than that skanky cum-dumpster he’s with. And that scrawny, pussy-ass dweeb probably can’t open a fucking pickle jar on his own. Do you want me to kick his ass?" he asks, making me laugh at his compliment and offer.

  "Nah, he's not worth it."

  "Then do you want to keep dancing or take a break?"

  "Break," I say, even though I don't want him to stop touching me.

  "Let's go find something to drink," he suggests. My heart falters for a few beats when Jude absently reaches for my hand and intertwines my fingers with his before leading me out to the hallway where refreshments are being served. I've only had two sips of my Diet Coke when he finishes his entire bottle of water.

  "Thirsty?" I ask.

  "Yeah. It's hot as fuck in here with all this shit on."

  "You could take some of it off," I reply. He arches a dark eyebrow suggestively before shrugging out of his black jacket and throwing it over his arm while he rolls up the sleeves on his white dress shirt. "Better?" I ask, thinking he looks even hotter.

  "For now," he says with a smirk.

  Is he implying that he'd like to take off more clothes later? Oh, I beg the prom gods above for just one chance to see Jude Malone naked.

  "I'll be right back," he says, nodding to the restroom down the hallway.

  "Okay. I'll be...here."

  Once he disappears I take a few deep breaths now that I can relax a little. The man is so intimidating he has me constantly on edge.

  Apparently I let my guard down too far because I don't notice Ryder's approach until he speaks. "Ah, Sadie. Did you decide to come alone after all? That's just sad," the asshole says from behind me.

  I straighten my spine before I turn around to face him. Why did I ever find that sneer attractive? "What do you want, Ryder? Other than to be a dick like usual, I mean."

  "Oh, was it so good you're still thinking about my dick?" he asks, his hazel eyes raking up and down the length of my dress. “I told the whole baseball team that I couldn’t get your mouth off of it. They didn’t believe me, so I showed them the proof.”

  I turn to flee since I don't want the reminder of being stupid enough to ever touch him, and have no interest in letting him embarrass me any further. Instead of escaping, I run right into a hard chest.

  "Whoa, you okay?" Jude asks, steadying me with his hands that are grasping my upper arms.

  "Yeah, sorry."

  "Don’t worry, sweetheart. I've got you," he replies with a dimpled smile, shocking me with the sincere weight of his words.

  "Wow!" Ryder exclaims and then snickers from behind me. "How'd your dad convince him to be your pity date tonight?"

  Oh God. Is that why Jude offered? Because of my dad? No, it couldn't be since my dad had refused to let me come with him, even adamantly so at first.

  "Yeah, it is a pity date," Jude responds for me, stealing my breath away. If I don't get air in my lungs soon I'm going to pass out. "It's a pity Sadie has to put up with me constantly trying to get her out of this goddamn cock tease of a dress."

  Wait, what did he just say? He wants to see me out of my dress?

  "Good luck with that," Ryder scoffs. "It'll take forever to actually convince her to give it up, and then when you finally do, it won't be worth all the effort. She'll just lie on her back and wait for you to finish."

  His words hurt and embarrass me, but then Jude slides his hand down my arm and intertwines my fingers with his before giving me a support squeeze. I suddenly feel more confident with his larger than life presence, so I turn around and face down the asshole.

  "I have a feeling it'll be a little more enjoyable and fulfilling with him since his cock is more than three inches long. Oh, and I bet his rodeo lasts longer than eight seconds," I respond, which makes Jude chuckle.

  "I'm not...it's more than..." Ryder stutters, his face turning red.

  "All right, then why don't you pull it out right now for a comparison?" I goad him.

  "Fuck you, bitch," he spits and starts walking away. Or at least he tries to walk away, but Jude's hand shoots out and grabs him around the throat.

  "Apologize now." Jude gets in Ryder's face, towering over him by several inches, but speaking calmly and quietly. "And if I ever hear about you making another disparaging remark about her, I'll beat some goddamn manners into you."

  "Sorry," Ryder barely mutters through clenched teeth, and after Jude lets him go, he heads in the direction of the bathroom.

  "I think you scared the piss out of him," I tell Jude.

  "What an asshole," he remarks, shaking his head. "You did good standing up to him, just don't let the shit he said get to you."

  "He's forgotten. I'm not sure what I ever saw in him," I say honestly. Jude makes every other male look like chopped liver, and top that off with his sweet personality, well, I'm a goner.

  "And I'm still not sure what your dad was thinking, letting you go out in public in that damn dress," Jude counters, eyeing me up and down with such intensity in his eyes that the pulsing between my legs returns in full force. "I almost want to give you my jacket to cover up, so guys will stop checking you out, but then I won't be able to see it."

  "It's not that bad," I respond, looking down at my two piece outfit. My face has to be burning so bright it practically glows. I'm at a loss for what to think about his flirty words. I don't want to fool myself into thinking he actually wants me.

  "Yes, it is that bad," he says seriously. "No shit, every jackass that looks your way has to reach down to adjust himself."

  "Like you did back at the house?" I ask with a grin, unable to help myself.

  Jude barks out a laugh and scratches the thin line of sexy, dark scruff covering his jaw. "Caught that, huh? I thought I was being discreet."

  "I'm just glad my dad didn't notice or he probably would've canceled my room reservation," I tell him, feeling braver with the knowledge that he admitted that he got aroused just looking at me.

  He leans down closer to ask, "I'm sorry, your what?"

  "Room. Upstairs." I point toward the ceiling just to make it clear.

  He blinks silently at me for several seconds. "You're fucking kidding. Why would a parent in their right mind let you go out looking like that and voluntarily give you a hotel room?"

  "Almost everyone's staying here tonight. My dad thinks Brayden and I are sharing one, but I'm pretty sure she's gonna stay with Graham."

  Jude's wide-eyed surprised expression is hilarious, a strange mixture of let's-get-it-on and something else I'd almost say is...fear or nervousness, maybe? But that’s preposterous.

  "So you...you have a room here? Upstairs? All to yourself?"

  "Yeah."

  A battle seems to be waging in Jude's midnight eyes. If I had to guess, I'd say his personal devil and angel are having it out, competing in their very own brutal cage fight. I’m rooting for the red guy with horns to beat the shit out of the guy with a halo. As soon as Jude rolls his broad shoulders back I assume an official decision has been reached by the judges.

  He hooks his finger into the waistband of my skirt, and grazing my sensitive navel, pulls me forward until I'm flush against his enormous, rock-hard body. His other hand slides down the back of my dress, almost cupping my bottom. Just the heated look in his heavy lidded eyes has my heart racing before he even asks, "Then what the fuck are we doing down here?"

  …

  Jude

  This is it. Tonight is the night. The night I'll finally lose my virginity. How ironic is it that it'll be during a high school prom? It's time, way past time, damn it. And I can’t handle any more dancing with this sexy woman before I go off like a rocket.

  "Let me grab my purse from the table and I'll go
check in," the temptress says without hesitation and with a stunningly beautiful smile, letting me know she's ready to climb aboard this train to Fuck-Me-Town.

  Good, so I hadn't been too forward.

  And great, now I can't stop the annoying tune of Funkytown from playing through my mind, replaced with my new lyrics.

  Won't you take me to Fuck-Me-Town?

  Won't you take me to Fuck-Me-Tooowwwnn?

  "I need to...check on something real quick. So why don't you go...do that and I'll meet you in the lobby?" I ask, running the back of my finger along her soft stomach, and getting distracted. I like making her gasp a little too much, so I really need to stop touching her. Otherwise I'm two seconds away from dragging her into the men's bathroom, peeling back the slit of the cock-teasing dress, wrapping her legs around my waist, and fucking her hard and fast against the wall.

  Oh hell, and the way she's looking up at me right now, like she's a goddamn genie ready to give me any three wishes I want, I know she'd let me do it, too.

  If Sadie is in fact a genie, I have my wishes all lined up. My first wish would be to pop my cherry, rubbing one off deep inside of her. The second would be for her to use that sexy, cock sucking mouth to rub one off on the back of her throat. And the third wish of course would be for an unlimited supply of wishes one and two.

  I'm fucking losing it.

  Despite the urgency and need, I remind myself that Sadie deserves better than a men's room. Damn it, I deserve better than fucking her beside a disgusting urinal. After waiting for so long, I don't need chick shit like rose petals and candles or whatever, but screwing in a public bathroom my first time is just too damn gross.

  "Hurry because...God, Sadie, you are so fucking gorgeous. I haven't even told you that tonight, have I? No? I'm such an asshole. But you are, and I've blown completely past wanting to get you naked, and dove straight into needing to be inside you. And it has to be right now because for some reason it feels like my life depends on hearing you scream my name." After I hear the words leave my mouth I realize how goddamn selfish I'm being, and face-palm myself. "Dammit," I grumble, running my hand down my face in shame because I'm fucking this all up and coming across as a demanding asshole. "And here I am being all presumptuous and shit, pushing you into something you may not be ready for or even want-"