Take Me (Take Me 1)

“You did claw me, Kate. And I fucking loved it. But…it was just oral with Britney—I told you that. I swear it didn’t go any further.”

“Hell of a wicked tongue you possess.”

He tore his gaze from the ceiling and speared her with a serious look. “No more mention of Britney. That night… It was different, Kate. Different than tonight. Everything before tonight was different.”

“How so?”

“None of those women were you, Kate.”

She sucked in a breath.

Jude continued. “Admit it. We couldn’t get enough of each other. And we’re not done.”

“Jude.” She gave a slight shake of her head. “It was just sex, remember? Serving a purpose for us both. But…it was just this once.”

He groaned. “You keep telling yourself that the next time I’m inside you. And the time after that.”

Kate’s clit tingled. Not a good reaction by any means, because it indicated she liked hearing Jude say he intended to fuck her again. And again.

She sh

ifted away, planning to slip from the bed. But Jude’s hand shot out and he grabbed her forearm, pulling her toward him again.

“No retreating.” He kissed her, keeping her riveted right where she was. “I want to know something about you, Kate.”

“Jude.” Now, she said his name with a hint of exasperation. Her gaze dropped to his mouth and she gave a slight pout. “Kissing me isn’t going to sway me. I told you there’d be no dissecting me this evening.”

“Wanna bet?” His mouth sealed to hers again. So possessively, so electrifyingly, Kate innately knew she wasn’t going to win this battle. When he pulled a tiny bit away, so that she felt his breath on her cheek and inhaled his expensive cologne, he said, “I want to know what happened with you and Lexington.”

“Oh,” she said. “Is that all?” She leaned into him to nip his lip. “That’s really quite simple.”

Jude eased back against the mound of pillows. She pouted some more.

“Playing hard to get after you’ve pursued me so aggressively?” She crooked a brow at him.

“I don’t want us to get too distracted at the moment.”

“Then I’ll make this quick. After we graduated high school, Andrew went to Harvard. I went to Princeton. We both returned home our first winter break and I chose not to pretend we’d somehow make a long-distance relationship work, that it was what I wanted. It wasn’t, and I owned up to that.” She scooted closer to him. “I believe I just earned myself another kiss.”

He smirked at her. And it was damn sexy.

His lips swept over hers as he surmised, “You disappointed your family in the process?”

“His as well. But…” She sighed. “I’m used to disappointing these people. They wish I was someone I can’t be; at least, not without compromising my own integrity.”

Jude stared at her. Raked a hand through his disheveled hair and told her, “I do respect that, Kate.”

She smiled at him, her heart melting. “Thank you, Jude. I don’t hear that often, not when it comes to all the Stockman complications.”

His hand left his hair and threaded through hers. He cupped the back of her head and coaxed her to him again. “I think you’re incredible, Kate.”

He kissed her. Long and leisurely. As though they had all the time in the world to touch and taste and explore each other.

As though all the external forces ceased to exist when they were naked and tangled up in each other.

Her hands slid up to his shoulders, then her arms twined around his neck. Her breasts pressed to his chest, rising and falling in time with hers. Their tongues twisted and caressed and teased.

Kate wondered what it would be like to stay locked in this hotel suite with Jude for an entire weekend. How amazing it would be to order room service, turn their phones off and just enjoy each other’s bodies. Along with the huge Jacuzzi tub and the fireplace and this outrageously comfortable bed…