Page 89 of The Dating Pact

Come over.

What about the kids?

Jude

They’re asleep. Come sleep with me. We’ll set the alarm to wake up before them.

Be over in a bit.

Iparked in front of Jude’s house, seeing every light in the house was off, confirming that the kids were indeed fast asleep. The tight knot of nerves that had taken up residence in the pit of my stomach loosened as I opened my car door, and it almost completely dissipated when I spotted him standing at the front door, waiting for me, haloed by a single porch light.

Late-night sounds of crickets and the rustle of wind sent goose bumps down my arms, even in the hot August air, as I stepped out of my car. I made my way up the sidewalk leading to the front door and rubbed my hands over my biceps. It didn’t occur to me until right this second that as soon as Jude told me to come over, I’d hopped out of bed, not bothering to change or throw anything over the overly large T-shirt that hung off my shoulder and the tiny cotton shorts I wore. I’d merely slid into a pair of flip-flops and snatched my bag from the kitchen counter.

“You cold?” Jude asked as I reached him.

“I didn’t think about putting on different clothes, and now that I’m here, I?—”

“You’re fine.” He cupped the back of my neck and brought his lips to mine in a searing, breathless kiss that obliterated every last ounce of self-consciousness. I rose up onto my toes, winding my arms around his neck.

Had it been last night he’d left my condo after tying my wrists together?

Felt longer.

And like only five minutes ago.

I supposed it had been a long time since I’d wanted to only ever be around one person. Not since I was a teenager and a twentysomething. Not since I didn’t have much to lose.

Now, we were real adults with a lot of responsibilities. There didn’t seem to be enough time to work out this new, clawing need that had suddenly taken root. Nothing but his familiar scent and taste would relieve it.

When we finally broke apart, a lopsided grin slid across his face. “I missed you.”

I touched three fingers to my mouth, agreeing with a hum. “Feels like it.”

His rough midnight laugh soothed me, and I wrapped my arm around his waist when he looped his arm around my shoulders. “Come on. Let’s go to bed.”

The kids’ rooms were on the first floor, so we had to be quiet as we snuck up the creaky staircase. We crept into Jude’s bedroom, and as soon as we turned the corner, he closed the door and pulled me into him, lifting me up in a bear hug.

The ultimate teddy bear of a man. As squishy on the inside as on the outside. I tucked my face into his neck, the bristles of his beard tickling my temple, my new favorite spot, where I could enjoy his warmth and hear his gentle breathing, feel his heartbeat.

“You all right?” he asked, setting me down.

I backed up, my palms on his pecs. “I am now.”

He kissed my forehead and gestured for me to get into bed, so I did, though it didn’t escape my notice that this was the same bed and bedroom he had shared with Mira.

“Is this okay?”

He shucked off his mesh shorts along with his T-shirt then hit the light and crawled in next to me in only his boxer briefs. “What do you mean?”

We rolled toward each other in the dark. “Me being here. In your bed.”

He understood my meaning and exhaled audibly as he lay on his back. I held my head up in my hand, my sight acclimating to the darkness as I waited while he gathered his thoughts. I drew my fingertips over his beard to rest at the base of his throat, feeling the vibration when he spoke.

“I like that you’re here. I want you to be here, but yeah, it’s…different.”

I heard more than saw him scratch his jaw, his fingers moving over the bristles.

“No one has slept in bed with me since Mira died. No one outside of my kids. How do you feel being here?”

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