Total pages in book: 244
Estimated words: 236705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1184(@200wpm)___ 947(@250wpm)___ 789(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1184(@200wpm)___ 947(@250wpm)___ 789(@300wpm)
That’s it. That is all.
His words launch me into blissful oblivion, and I shoot all over his golden skin, groaning savagely, the world blinking off.
He’s right there with me, coming hard too.
When he lets go, I collapse onto him, our orgasms smearing together on our chests. All the evidence that past Jude and present Jude are here with me.
And maybe, just maybe, there’s a new future with Jude too.
It starts tonight, as we stay together in bed.
Only, in the morning, he’s on his phone, his eyes glued to the page.
What is he reading so intensely?
A glance at the screen gives me the answer.
He’s figured me out.
33
JUST CALL ME DETECTIVE
Jude
As the sun rises, I jolt awake.
His books.
Holy fuck. That’s what he’s doing. He’s playing his heroes. Last night, I had a feeling he was putting on a show for me every now and then. Certain phrases tickled my brain.
Well, two can research, TJ.
I confirmed he’s been giving me lines with a quick scan of his books on my e-reader. As he sleeps next to me, I hunt through his stories. No wonder I had déjà vu. Last night, he played Hudson in Mister Benefits with a touch of Tanner from The Size Principle. I read a few reviews of those titles—they’re considered his coolest, most alpha heroes.
I shake my head, but I’m not annoyed, per se. I’m damn curious why he’d need to do that.
A few minutes later, TJ stretches, yawns, then opens his eyes. I don’t think before I speak. I dive right in. “Have you heard this scene from Mister Benefits?” I clear my throat and read from his novel. “I had a feeling you’d want champagne, so I ordered it for you.”
TJ’s eyes go wide.
I jump ahead to the next spot I bookmarked. “Why did I get you champagne? Because I want to know how it tastes on your lips.”
TJ swallows, then mutters shit under his breath.
“Hold on, stud. I’ve got one more. Ahem. Let me put on some tunes. Then Hudson plays a moody, sexy number.”
He pushes up in bed, holds up a finger. “In my defense, that’s not a unique move during sex. A lot of people play music when it’s business time,” he says.
I roll my eyes. “Fine. That’s true, but what the fuck, TJ?”
He sits, drags a hand down his face, sighing heavily. “My heroes also always brush their teeth first thing in the morning since they hate morning breath as much as I do. So, can I please do that first?”
I laugh. “Funny, but I knew that too. That you hate morning breath.” I flash my pearly whites. “I brushed mine already.”
He gives a sheepish grin. “You remembered.”
Last night, I barely wanted to admit how much I remember. Now that I’ve learned he was secretly trying to impress me, I don’t mind admitting the truth I didn’t speak last night. “I remember a lot of things, TJ.”
He licks his lips. “Me too.”
Then, he swings out of bed, pads to the bathroom. I watch him go, admiring the curves of his strong ass. I do enjoy his devotion to the gym. A few minutes later, he returns to bed, flops down. “So, you busted me, Jude.”
I shift to my side, prop my head in my hand. “You’re not even going to protest? Try to deny it? Dance around it?”
He shrugs. “First off, I’m not a good dancer. Second, what’s the point? You figured it out.”
But I didn’t figure out the reason, and the only way to know is to ask. “Why did you do it?”
TJ stares at the ceiling for a few beats, breathes out hard. Then he looks at me. “Imagine how you’d feel if you made a deal on a bridge to see this guy again. This guy you don’t see for seven years. Don’t talk to or text for seven long years. And then boom. He reaches out, he invites you to see him, he gets you tickets for his play, and you’re like fuck yes. And you see him again after all that time. How do you think you’d act?”
I don’t have to imagine. I did the same thing he did, for all intents and purposes. I acted. “Touché,” I say, even though his fuck yes makes me feel like gold.
The intensity on his face tells me this isn’t easy for him, but he’s doing it anyway, like when he told me about his name. I give him all my focus as he talks.
“Jude, I got off that plane, and it hit me. I was seeing you. And I didn’t know how the hell to act with you. I just figured I’d act like a guy who knew what he was doing.” He scratches his jaw, shakes his head like he’s annoyed. “That sounds dumb now that I say it.”
“No, it doesn’t. Look, I didn’t know how to act with you either,” I confess, since finally, fucking finally, we’re getting somewhere. We’re getting to the truth. That’s where I hoped the bedroom would lead us. Maybe our intimacy paved the way.