Take Me (Take Me 1)

This time it was Kate who broke the kiss and pulled away.

She’d just woven a fantasy in her mind that stood no chance of surviving.

Her weekend was already planned out.

And…wasn’t this supposed to be a one-night stand only?

Jude’s jaw worked as he seemed to contemplate this new form of her retreat.

Then he said, “Don’t you dare go anywhere, Kate.” He slung his legs over the side of the bed and stood. “I’m not done with you tonight.”

Kate lost all train of thought at the sight of his ass as he began to strut away. She had the very unfamiliar urge to bite a cheek. Which made her laugh.

Over his shoulder, Jude asked, “Something amuses you?”

“Yes. You have an incredibly nice butt, Jude McMillan.”

He snickered. “And that’s funny?”

“Not funny, ha-ha. I just…I didn’t really allow myself to look before. Or let it register, I guess. I don’t know.” She shook her head again. “I’ve always known you have a magnificent body. This is just the first time I’ve been able to acknowledge it.”

“Glad you finally took note. I was getting damn pissed off that you always appeared unaffected by me.”

“That’s not the case—it’s never been the case with you, Jude. Not physically or emotionally. But I’ve had rules to follow. You know that.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not in your appointment book, so to hell with the rules.”

“It’s not quite that cut-and-dried, Jude.”

“For me it is. Now… I’m popping into the bathroom. Don’t you dare put that dress back on or inch toward the door. I want you again, Kate. Gimme two seconds.”

He disappeared into the bathroom while Kate’s insides sizzled. She took a few deep breaths, hoping to get her bearings. A tinge of what have I gotten myself into? caused her a healthy dose of nervous anxiety as she considered how correct Jude was about their volatile chemistry. And Kate couldn’t deny one very obvious and blatant fact: she didn’t want this one-night stand to be over just yet.

Not a reasonable revelation, but Kate brimmed with curiosity as to what else Jude had up his sleeve.

The man had the right touch, the right moves, even the right words to ensnare her. So that she once more threw caution to the wind and did exactly as he requested, rather than gathering up her clothing and getting the hell out.

When Jude strode back into the room, Kate couldn’t take her eyes off him. The man was a masterpiece from head to toe, and she wanted to enjoy what he had to offer one final time.

He joined her in bed and Kate couldn’t resist running her hands over his body as Jude’s mouth captured hers in a molten kiss.

Before they got carried away, however, he broke the kiss and asked, “Why aren’t you with someone, Kate?”

Breathless, she said, “Andrew is right…I do work too much.” Composing her thoughts, she told Jude, “I have a new project I’m engrossed in, traveling around the state to provide free mental health screenings, after regular office hours and on weekends. I’ve been invited to participate in an expanded version with global efforts. There’s a lot of red tape and juggling of schedules to wade through.”

“Plus meeting the needs of your current patients.”

“Of course. That’s the most critical factor.”

“So marriage and kids…not in the grand plan?”

Kate gave a small shrug. “Not everyone envisions that for themselves, Jude.”

“I’m not judging. I’m simply trying to piece together the puzzle.”

She stared at him in the shadowy light and quietly inquired, “You want to talk about this now?”

His gaze dropped to her lips. He licked his own, then said, “Not the best timing to broach the subject. On the other hand…something tells me I won’t have another shot at learning more about you.”