Hands Off Read online

  Magnetized by the chemistry, she clung to him. And responded... from the swell of her breasts to the beading of her nipples skimming along her silky dress to the searing heat smoldering low, low in her belly to the curling of her red-painted toes against the sole of her sandals.

  He leaned into her, pressing his leg against the curve of her thighs, edging up her dress. She reacted by cuddling closer, crushing her achy breasts against his chest. Her backless dress hadn’t given her the option of a bra. And Jude seemed to realize this as he coasted his hand up and down her spine, stopping short of her thong each time.

  Oh, God. Another moan rose from her throat. The moan died, turning into a gasp as he broke the kiss and swiftly lifted her off her feet.

  “Jude?” She’d already felt like she was floating. The quick move made the lift seem effortless. Or maybe he was just that strong.

  “You’re safe,” he said simply, and she believed him.

  She relaxed into his arms, confident in his hold. She nuzzled into his neck, inhaling his clean scent and muted aftershave. Impulse took over and she licked a small path to see if he tasted as good as he smelled.

  Yep. Slightly salty, spicy, and all male.

  “Naomi.” Her name was said with a warning. A warning she refused to heed.

  She flicked her tongue along the sharp angle of his jaw, remembering the number of times her eyes had been drawn to that spot. He was devastatingly handsome. And she was thankful she finally had the opportunity to show him exactly how much she longed for him.

  “Christ.” Jude strode to the tub and sat on the edge with Naomi nestled securely in his lap. His erection pressed against her thigh, as hard and solid and large as the rest of him.

  You have to be kidding me. Her panties suddenly felt uncomfortable against her sensitive flesh. The thin moist strip strained mercilessly against her clit.

  “What are you doing to me?” he murmured. His eyes appeared heavy, showing he was as affected as she was.

  His hand scraped against the side of her delicate dress, curving along her waist and over her hip. His mouth returned the favor on her neck, licking a path along her beating pulse. She rocked forward on his lap, hoping for some sort of relief. Ragged gasps gushed from her lips.

  “Naomi.” His warm breath swept over her ear. Her eyes rolled back in her head. “We have to slow down, baby.”

  He was right. She was on sensory overload.

  “I don’t care,” she said, surprising herself.

  An addict. She’d quickly become an addict.

  “I need you, Jude.” Her hand dropped from around his neck and instinct shooed away all good sense as she pressed her palm against his steel-hard cock. One long stroke down and back up again. He was magnificent.

  “Fuck,” he muttered low and drew in a sharp breath. He grasped her wrist and brought her palm up to his mouth. He pressed his lips there, clenching his eyes closed as if to concentrate. Calm himself.

  Good. She was entirely too pleased to see the reaction she could summon from him. At least she wasn’t alone in this frenzied hunger.

  A bell rang from another part of the house, causing a renewed streak of warmth to rise up Naomi’s body and settle into her cheeks. Remembering she was in her friend’s bathroom was the cold shower she deserved, she supposed.

  Their ten minutes were up.

  “I took it too far, didn’t I?” she said, feeling the guilt hit her dizzy head. She’d started this. She’d purposely teased him, revved them both up. And there didn’t seem to be a way to end it. Leave? Yes. Millie would understand. “We should go to my place.”

  “No.” He shook his head, his jaw gritted tight as an unusual twinkle lit his eyes. “You and Millie wanted to play this game. We’re going to play it. To the end.”

  “Game?” She’d never been a good actress. She tried to look innocent anyway.

  “To the end,” he repeated.

  “Why? What’s the point in torturing ourselves when we can be completely alone?”

  “You want me. You can obviously see the feeling is mutual. But if we’re going to play a game, then I plan on being a participant rather than a pawn. You want to use me as the tool to help you feel again? Then let me do my best to make it worth your while.”

  “Alone,” she said in one last protest, her head still spinning. What was going through that clever mind of his?

  “Not until I say. Now let’s go before we’re disqualified.” He stood, placing her on her wobbly feet.

  Her legs quivered unsteadily and she tried to shake the haze blanketing her.

  He picked up the pink razor, then after glancing around, he swiped a roll of toilet paper from its holder. “Good enough. On to the next room.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  LUST.

  Her blue eyes gleamed pure lust as she peered up at him once more before leading him out of the bathroom.

  Sex was all she was offering—one night.

  Jude knew lust. He’d become on expert on the subject. Each woman was slightly different in the way they’d allow themselves to be seduced... turned on. Much like calculating their body’s algorithms. When he thought of it that way, the possibilities were limitless. Discovering and analyzing the wants and desires of women had become a hobby.

  A diversion.

  And now the woman who meant more to him than anyone else was asking—begging—for him to please her.

  He wasn’t going to refuse her. No matter that she’d been his best friend’s wife. No matter that she was still grieving. No matter that Jude had secretly loved her from the day Davis introduced them at the homecoming football game his junior year of high school. Twelve after seven on a Friday evening, October 28th. The score had been six to three. The details of the scoreboard were etched in his memory as clearly as the woman before him.

  “Hands off,” Davis had murmured after he’d caught Jude staring as Naomi trekked up the bleachers with her friends to join them—her Westwood High tee shirt taut against her pert breasts, her jeans hugging her curvaceous hips and lean legs. He remembered hearing her laughter for the first time, the way she’d smiled up at him and said, “Jude?” Her expression turned serious... enchanting. “‘Hey Jude.’ Isn’t that a Beatles song?”

  Jude had heard that question a thousand times, usually as a corny joke, but coming from her, he’d thought it sounded genuine and captivating. He’d been so gobsmacked by her beauty, by the soft timber of her voice, by her delicate, petite frame, he’d forgotten to reply. Then, after a warm smile, she’d dashed off with her friends. Dazed, Jude had glanced back at Davis, who’d been glaring at him. “Seriously, hands off that one. Naomi’s mine.”

  There had been no reason for Davis to worry. Naomi had been entranced by Davis until the day he’d passed. The couple had been maddeningly inseparable.

  For that reason, Jude had kept his hands off. Until now. Never had he thought she’d come to him for anything more than a friendly hug, a shoulder to cry on. But here she was.

  What he’d done right in a past life to deserve this opportunity, he didn’t know. He didn’t dare question it. Not now, anyway.

  They passed by a few couples on the way to their hosts. Kara and Austin. Shawna and Charlie. Kristin and Geo. They were in their own worlds, playing their own games. Jude and Naomi murmured hellos and moved on, down the hall and into the living room. Millie and Michael were on the couch. The TV blared with the football commentator dissecting the last play.

  “Here.” Jude dropped the items onto the coffee table and stepped back behind his guilty-looking seductress. “What’s next?”

  “Toilet paper?” Millie raised her brows at Jude. “I thought your letter was ‘R.’” She sat on Michael’s lap as they shared a bowl of popcorn. Her gaze did a knowing once-over of Naomi’s naked lips and pink cheeks.

  Naomi wrapped her arms around her waist and looked away. No words for her friend, huh?

  “A roll of toilet paper,” Jude said, trying not to sound agitated. He’d tugged his
shirt down, attempting to conceal his erection. But Millie’s sly smile told him he and Naomi shouldn’t have bothered to adjust their clothing. Millie already knew her scheme was working.

  The only questions were how long had Naomi planned to seduce him and why hadn’t he figured it out before she’d bared her soul in Millie’s guest bathroom? And why she’d chosen to wait until now to tell him.

  Now. With their friends watching on.

  Like it was part of this game.

  Only he didn’t want to think of the reasoning behind it quite yet. Naomi had explained enough. She wanted to feel again and his only goal was to give Naomi what she asked for. A night. Just one night.

  “Clever, you two,” Millie said. “Having fun?”

  Luckily, the rest of the teams had already moved on with their next assignment. Really, how did any of them find this poorly concocted game fun?

  “Mill, why don’t you just give us our next room assignment?” Naomi finally spoke, her voice shaky. “Why didn’t everyone wait for us?”

  “I’m not stopping the clock. The ten minutes begins again when the first team brings me the goods.” Millie leisurely picked out two more strips of paper. “Now, let’s see. Master bedroom.” She waggled her brows at them and Jude held back a groan. “And the letter ‘T.’ For you two, I’ll set the clock back a couple of minutes.”

  “Great. Ready?” Jude murmured and grasped Naomi’s hand, anxious to continue what they’d started.

  Before she changed her mind.

  She peered up at him with a worried brow—perhaps one last plea for him to take her away. Only Jude wasn’t certain he was mentally prepared to invite her to his bed. He was still in shock, still wondering how he was going to give her what she wanted and protect himself from falling more in love with someone he had no right to.

  Naomi nodded and they headed up the stairs and into the master bedroom. Her ass swayed nicely in her slinky black dress. Usually he’d allow himself a glance before getting himself in check. Tonight he’d allow himself much more.

  He locked the door behind them and immediately heard voices coming from the en suite master bathroom. Another couple was locked away on the other side. Millie’s sister, he guessed from the voice—Amy. And that douchebag with the sweater vest. Nicholas.

  Amy was laughing as something bumped against the closed door.

  Naomi, getting to work, began searching the dresser drawers. Her hands skimmed over neatly folded piles of clothes. She bent at the waist, causing her dress to ride up. His breathing deepened as he took in the curve of her hips, the length of her thighs, how her calf muscles tensed as she leaned on her right heel.

  They didn’t have much time. And for a moment Jude wished he’d given in to her request and left while they had the chance. He wanted all of her attention for as long as she would give it.

  He went to her as she lifted a silky slip out of the drawer. She turned and her smile faded when she found him so close. He braced her waist, reveling in the feel of her body at his fingertips.

  “A teddy,” she whispered, showing him the fuck-me-red lingerie.

  “Good thinking.” He returned a smile, not finding it difficult.

  “Thanks. Did you see anything?”

  “Just you.” He took the teddy from her and let it fall to the floor. “All I can think about is you.” The honesty poured from his mouth.

  “Oh.” She licked her sweet lips and the light of lust in her blue eyes clicked back on. “What are you going to do about that?”

  “Everything.” He leaned down and brushed his lips along the elegant column of her neck. A light floral scent soothed his nose, calmed him. “All that you’ll let me do,” he whispered next to her ear, then licked the outer shell.

  “We’re not alone.” Her voice shook. “They could come out any second.”

  He nipped at her earlobe and let his hand roam down to cup the soft flesh of her ass. “Does that turn you on? The idea of being found?”

  She laughed a short nervous laugh. But didn’t say no.

  “Listen to them, Naomi.” His lips touched her ear as he spoke. “They’re being awfully quiet in there. I think they might be fucking.” He wasn’t sure if he used the vulgar word to shock her or to test her limits. But it didn’t have the results he expected.

  “Really?” The idea seemed to pique her interest. Voyeurism, or at least the thought of getting caught with her skirt down, turned her on. He would run with that.

  He bent to pick up the silk teddy. “Give me your hands.”

  “What? Why?” She wrapped her arms around her waist, hiding her hands in the process.

  “Trust me.” He didn’t wait for her compliance. He gripped one wrist then the other and quickly tied the slip of lingerie around them in a snug knot.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, but didn’t protest.

  “Making you feel again. Remember?” He grinned easily, having more fun than he’d counted on. “Come here.” He guided her to the bathroom door, where on the other side the muffled sound of a woman panting caught his attention.

  Amy and Nicholas were taking advantage of their alone time.

  Good. This was good.

  He pressed Naomi against the door and lifted her arms, pinning them above her head with one hand. If the door opened, they’d be found for sure. But from the sounds of it, the other couple was preoccupied.

  “Jude, wait,” Naomi mouthed, her eyes wide.

  He leaned in and whispered, “Do you hear her moaning?”

  Naomi nodded. Her cheeks flushed pink.

  “I’m going to make you do the same.”

  Her pretty mouth gaped open, fixed in an O.

  He used his knee to spread her legs enough to edge the stretchy material up. He helped it along, using his free hand to shove the hem higher and higher. Teasing her, he brushed his knuckle along the inside of her thigh, up until his thumb lightly skimmed her panties. She was warm. Her panties were wet.

  Damn.

  The moans grew more persistent on the other side of the door. Jude didn’t have time to linger.

  He stroked the soft skin along Naomi’s thigh again and pressed firm kisses down the line of her cleavage. Her chest rose and fell in fast breaths. His finger journeyed higher, boldly shoving her thin strip of panty out of the way.

  Yes, she was wet, ready.

  Jude glided his lips along the curve of her breast, only the thin layer of dress keeping him from her sensitive skin. He inhaled her sexy flowery scent, closing his eyes until his bottom lip brushed her beaded nipple.

  There.

  He licked and she whimpered. Under her dress, he maneuvered his finger along her clit then downward until he found her hot, wet entrance. He slid inside, loving how she instinctively contracted around his finger. Deeper he went, curving his finger against her G-spot.

  She rocked her pelvis forward, silently asking for more. Jude ground his palm against her clit and clamped his lips around her nipple.

  The woman on the other side of the door moaned louder.

  Jude slipped a second finger inside Naomi’s tight pussy. Her breath hitched. But he forced himself not to ask if she was all right. Not now.

  Instead, he concentrated on a rhythm. Thrusting in, grazing her G-spot, pressing his palm against her clit, flicking her nipple with his tongue. And repeat.

  Again and again.

  Her body tensed. She panted and whimpered. Jude held tight to her wrists for support while continuing the tempo. She would come. He’d make sure of it.

  Again and again... thrust, graze, press, flick. Thrust, graze, press, flick. A formula. A code to be cracked. Escalating. He quickened the cadence, never letting up.

  Not until she let out a low bellowing sound—a hearty release of power, of control, of nerves. Sexy as hell.

  She rocked against his hand, her body shaking, frantic.

  He closed his mouth over hers, absorbing the remaining moan, all the while celebrating his accomplishment. She’d come har
d against his hand.

  He’d made her feel.

  When she finally stilled, he fixed her panties and tugged down her dress. Carefully, he lifted her now-limp body into his arms. He thought he spotted tears brimming in her eyes, but she quickly nuzzled her face into his neck. Hiding, she curled her bound hands against his chest.

  He sat on the bed and held her close, reminding himself that this wasn’t just any woman. Nothing like any of the women he’d been with in recent years.

  Jude would be her second lover, unless there’d been a boyfriend before Davis. Certainly not after. He would have known.

  He tugged the silk teddy loose. With a tenderness he wasn’t accustomed to, he stroked her hair and kissed her temple. Seeing her orgasm had changed something inside of him, knocked something loose. All he could figure was he wanted so much more.

  The bathroom door opened slowly with a creak and Amy and Sweater Vest Boy stepped out, both with a goofy grin on their faces.

  “Hey,” Amy said, combing her fingers through her hair. “Naomi okay?”

  “Yes.” Jude motioned toward the bedroom door. “Can you close the door? Tell Millie this room and the bathroom are taken.”

  “Gotcha.” The couple left without another word. Most likely, they’d heard Naomi give in to her release. Hell, the whole house probably heard.

  “I’m so embarrassed,” Naomi whispered, obviously coming to the same conclusion.

  “Don’t be. You sounded damn sexy. I’d bet that was a long overdue orgasm.”

  “You’d be right. Jude”—she pulled back to meet his eyes—“thank you. God, that was amazing.”

  He grinned, feeling light. It was so easy to be with her, which was why he’d always found a reason to be in her presence.

  Suddenly this game didn’t matter. His ego didn’t matter. All that mattered was being alone with her.

  “I’m not done with you yet. We’ll wait until everyone is out of the halls, then we’ll make a run for it. You still willing to leave?”

  “I, uh—” She held her hand to her chest.