I just need Jude.
Chapter 28
Jude
Rolling over, I wrap my arms around Claire’s waist and pull her in tight against my chest, but before I can settle into her, she turns, cuddling into my chest, and I coil around her as if I’m shielding her from the world. I want to stay like this, never let her go, but I know she has to get up soon. I wasn’t expecting her last night, but she texted me early in the morning saying she couldn’t sleep, so I offered for her to come here and I’m glad I did.
Moving my lips along her temple, I inhale deeply, memorizing her scent as a smile settles on my face. “I love you,” I say, and each time I utter those three simple words, my heart constricts because I know what she’s going to say back.
“I love you more,” she says, placing a kiss right on the tattoo on my chest. “Shh, I have at least an hour.”
I smile, kissing her, and say, “Twenty minutes actually.”
She groans as she nuzzles closer, draping her leg across my hip. If she didn’t need the sleep, I would slowly slip it in her, but since I know she has to go to the studio soon to teach little girls, I leave her be. One would think that would annoy her, but when she talks about the girls, she gets a dreamy look in her eyes. It’s sweet and I like that about her. She loves her job; she has such a passion for dance. It’s beautiful and I enjoy watching her do something she believes in. I can’t wait to see where we will be in a year’s time. I wonder if she’ll follow me wherever I go, and I wonder if it is selfish of me to expect her to. What if she wants to finish school? Or stay here? What will we do then?
I’m not sure, and even though it worries me, I know we’ll make it. She’s mine.
Closing my eyes, I’m about to fall asleep when her alarm sounds. Sitting up, she grabs her phone and turns it off before running her hands through her hair and then looking back at me. “Good morning.”
I smile. “Morning.”
Lying down on me, she frames my face with her hands, dusting my jaw and lips with hers. Looking down in my eyes, she smiles as she says, “Thanks again for letting me come over. I just couldn’t sleep.”
“Anytime, babe, you know that.”
“I feel bad,” she says with a sheepish grin. “Kicking Jayden out and all… Maybe next time I can drag you out of bed to come to my dorm?”
“But we can’t kick Skylar out,” I point out. “Jayden doesn’t mind.”
“The hell I don’t,” he says suddenly and Claire covers her mouth, holding in her laughter as I smile.
“Of course he doesn’t ’cause he sneaks back in once we’re asleep,” I say and Jayden agrees.
“Yup, I need my bed.”
“Sorry, Jayden,” she says over her shoulder and I reach up, placing my lips to her bare neck. She giggles, leaning into me and then falling on top of me. Liking her position, I grin as I run my hands down her bare back to her sweet ass.
“You have to leave, huh?”
“Yeah,” she says, letting her legs drop to either side of my hips, pressing her sweet center against my hard one.
“So no time to, you know?” I say, waggling my brows at her as I thrust up against her.
She laughs as she says, “No time to kick Jayden out of the room? Nope, no time.”
“So disappointing,” I say as she kisses my nose and then rolls off me.
“Agreed,” she says with a wink. “Roll over and close your eyes, Jayden.”
“Roger that,” he says and then she goes down the ladder to get her clothes. I lean on the railing and watch as she gets dressed.
Once she’s dressed in some Assassins sweats, she looks up at me expectantly. “Are you going to drive me to the studio?”
“Oh yeah,” I say, getting up and out of bed. “I forgot, sorry, babe.”
“You don’t have to. I can drive, but you’re the one who offered.”
I shake my head, grabbing my jeans and then a tee. “You’re right, I did ’cause I want to.”