Page 65 of The One I Stood Beside

“Where do we go from here?” he asks.

“Well, I haven’t gotten last night’s kiss out of my mind.” We shared some chaste kisses at the ceremony and the reception, but nothing like last night. “How about we start with another kiss?”

He holds my gaze, looming over me, and I inch up, our lips meeting. He’s sweet and tentative, not rushing. His thumbs rub circles over my hips, his fingers tightening as if he’s restraining himself.

God, I can’t wait to have him. A euphoric sensation hits me, and my tongue slides over his lips. He chuckles but opens for me, his hands gliding to my ass.

He tastes like red velvet cake, and our kiss turns more frantic. Jude runs one hand up my back, sliding it into my hair and angling my head, exploring my mouth with his tongue. My core clenches, wanting more.

Just when I can’t get enough of the kiss, he strips his lips off me, trailing them down my neck.

“Is this real?”

“Very much.” His teeth nip at my collarbone. “Can I take off your dress?”

“Please,” I beg.

His fingers search for and find the zipper, the sound filling every corner of the room. I’m about to be naked in front of Jude. Oh god, my best friend is about to see all of me.

I step out of his hold, and he falls forward but catches himself.

“Did I overstep?”

I shake my head. “I… I suddenly got nervous.”

“We don’t have to. We can wait. Whatever you want.”

“No. I don’t want to.”

“Okay. That’s fine. Your decision.”

I chuckle. “I don’t want to wait.” I place one hand on the sleeve of my dress and slip it off my shoulder. Then I do the same with the other side. I push my dress so it puddles to the floor.

Jude’s eyes flare with lust. “You’re stunning.”

“Are you just going to stand there?” I ask, smiling at him, calming my nerves because it’s Jude. I have nothing to worry about.

“So, it’s a yes?” he asks.

“Yes.”

He rushes at me and takes me in his arms. “Thank fuck.”

His lips land on mine again. This time, I’m not letting anything get in the way of having the wedding night I always dreamed of with Jude Noughton.

Chapter Twenty

Sadie

My core presses along his length. The same hardened length I couldn’t stop grinding against last night in the barn. A moan slips from my mouth, and my hands fall to the waist of his slacks.

He looked so handsome tonight in his traditional tuxedo and cowboy boots, it was hard to tear my gaze away from him.

Giving me room, he steps back so I can unfasten his pants. My fingers graze his skin, and his stomach sucks in, his breath hitching. I lower his zipper, and my fingers slide to his hips, pushing the pants down until they rest at his ankles. His hands hold my face, cradling my cheeks, and I look at him. My heart beats too fast, too hard for this man. How did I ever last this long without having him like this?

Jude’s an easy man to admire in his black boxer briefs, his muscular thighs on display. Farm work has done his body good over the years.

He must grow impatient because he crushes his lips to mine, his tongue seeking entrance, which I happily offer him. My knuckles trace down his sides, and I cup his length through the thin fabric. I rub my hand up and down the bulge. He pulls away from our kiss, his forehead resting on mine.

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