Cherish Me (The Protected Love Series) (13 page)

“Ow!” Abbi laughed. “That shit hurts.”

“Babe everything ok in here?” Jace peeked his head in the door. Judy and Abbi looked up like two children that had just been busted in the cookie jar before bursting out in laughter. “What on Earth is going on in here?”

“Abbi wanted to know what it felt like.” Judy gasped in between laughs. She could barely catch her breath as she collapsed down next to Abbi on the bed.

“Jace everything ok with the girls?” Ryan called from Jace’s office.

“Yep. My girlfriend is just spanking your fiancé. Nothing out of the ordinary.” Jace laughed as he headed back into the office across the hall.

“Oh they will never understand us.” Judy took a deep breath to regain her composure. “Now to find my leather ball gown!”

It had taken a bit of convincing from both Ryan and Abbi for Jace to agree to a night out, but as he watched Judy laughing and enjoying herself, along with the wives and girlfriends that had come tonight, he knew this was what she needed. From the first day he’d laid eyes on her she’d been through hell and back because of him. He wanted her to have a good time tonight and try to let loose.

After their private dinner at Red, the newest restaurant in town, they had all loaded into the stretch Hummer limousine and headed toward the nightclub. Sitting back in the VIP section of the club
, Jace kept a watch toward their three body guards that stood at the front of the roped off area. He couldn’t help but feel exposed. Checking Judy’s cell phone one last time for any missed calls he tucked it into his suit pocket and made his way over to where Judy stood.

“Are you having a good time, Love?” He grabbed her around the waist as her hips danced along to the music.

“I am! Thank you for bringing me out. I can’t believe everyone who came out with us tonight!” Her words buzzed from the champagne that she’d been sipping.

“Well, they all love you as much as I do.” He grinned.

“You wanna come dance with me?” She grinned up at him as she turned, gyrating her hips towards him.

“That might lead to dangerous things. Like me stepping on your foot.”

“Oh come on! Just one dance.” She pouted her beautiful red lips up at him as the beat of the next song began pounding off the walls.

“One dance.” He took her hand spinning her out towards the dance floor.

“Oh no! Jace is about to bust out his best moves ya’ll!” He heard Ryan’s voice echo over the chatter.

“You better get your ass out here with your woman too, Asshole.” Jace yelled back.

“Challenge accepted. Come on, Babe. Let’s show these fools how it’s done.” Abbi grabbed Ryan’s hand and pulled him out onto the dance floor.

A few others from the group followed loosely behind them as they gathered around on the dance floor. Jace watched as Judy and Abbi began bouncing along to the music over to the side.

“Let’s see what you got boys.” Judy smirked. “DJ hit it!”

Suddenly the music shut off as the DJ switched the record and
Bust a Move
by Young M.C. started playing through the speakers. Jace shuffled across the dance floor as whistles and shouts came from the crowd. He shook his hip and snapped his fingers with each step before sliding to the ground into a split and back up again. Turning his back towards Ryan he back stepped into the Moon Walk turning back to him just a few steps away and pretending to faint to the ground moving into the Caterpillar.

Judy cheered and laughed from the side as he jumped back up and passed the floor back over to Ryan who looked more like he was having seizures than dancing. Jace let out a loud laugh as Abbi attempted to help him. As the crowd filled into the empty spaces around them his hands traveled to Judy’s hip and pulled her to him.

“Who knew you had moves like that!” She laughed as her hips swayed against him, as she brushed off the front of his suit.

“I keep those locked away for special occasions. Birthdays, weddings,
Bar Mitzvahs…”

“Right.”

Jace’s hands traveled down the sparkling material of Judy’s dress. She looked stunning tonight. When she’d stepped out of the bedroom in her black dress and heels he wasn’t sure at first he was going to let her leave the house. She curled her hair into loose ringlet curls with dark make-up encompassing her eyes.

“Well, well. What do we have here? I feel like it’s my birthday
not yours and you’re that sparkling present I can’t wait to unwrap.” His eyes lit up as she came down the hallway towards him.

“Oh yes, those eyes were what I was going for.” She spun a circle in the middle of the room. “You like?”

“I love.” He made his way to where she stood in front of the fireplace. “We can always bail on the party and go back to the bedroom.”

“Oh no. I am going to make you work for it.”

“I am suffering already, Baby.” His hand grabbed hers and placed it onto his growing erection.

Her fingers traced the outline of his cock against his pants. “Mmmm. We could always have a quickie. We do have this big house all to ourselves for once.” She grinned up at him as she slid the zipper down on his pants.

Her fingers slowly released his belt before opening the button of his pants. Her eyes never left his as the glow from the fire bounced off of her face. He could see the flames in her eyes from both the fire and her passion. He took her hand and led her over to the couch slowly bending her down onto the seat. His fingers ran slowly up her thigh as he lifted the black material of her short dress up exposing her bare ass.

“Already ready.” He leaned down and placed a kiss against her ass cheek.

“I was hoping this dress would get me laid before we left.” She eyed back at him. She leaned up against him as he knelt on the floor pillow behind her.

His hands traveled down the front of her dress running his finger into the low cut V skimming across her hard nipple. He could hear her low moan as his lips pressed against her throat. He grabbed his cock and slid it deep into her causing her breath to hitch as her nails dug into the fabric of the couch. He placed his hand onto her upper back and gently bent her down onto the couch. He reached around her hips and slid his finger along her clit.

“Oh fuck, Jace.” He could feel her body shaking as he thrust his cock back inside of her.

“Do you like the way I fuck you, Baby?” His words were deep as his fingers circled her clit.

“Yes, Jace.” She sucked in a deep breath as her eyes fluttered closed and her hips rocked backwards towards him.

Jace could feel his cock getting harder as he thought back to before they had left for the party. Judy turned rubbing her ass against his hips as her hand gently slid back between them rubbing and grasping at his growing erection.

“You keep that up and you are gonna be leaving the party early.” He leaned down whispering in her ear.

“That was my plan.” She eyed back at him.

*****

Judy’s head buzzed as she and Jace made their way back over to the VIP section. They had been dancing for what felt like hours and the five inch stiletto heels she had decided that she’d had to wear were starting to make her claves burn. She plopped down onto the couch next to Abbi.

“Oh man! I need another drink.” She slurred as the waitress came by.

“What can I get you?” The waitress smiled.

“A Mojito please and a water.” Judy answered.

“Two waters please.” Abbi breathed heavily towards the waitress

“I think we are getting old.” Judy giggled as she leaned back onto the couch.

“Speak for yourself!” Abbi laughed. “I have an excuse. I am pregnant.”

“Ok. I am getting old.” Judy laughed out.

“You’re like a fine wine, Dear. You just get better with age. Jace wrapped his arm around the back of her seat.

“Overall tonight has been great. I am so happy you were all able to come tonight.” Judy looked around at the crowd. Aaron and his wife were cozying up in the corner, Gabe and Mason were both chatting about military techniques, and the rest of the party all laughed and chatted.

“Ok Judy. I would like to make a toast if I may.” Aaron’s wife Bridgette stood in the middle of the crowd.

“As long as it’s good!” Judy laughed up at her as she took Abbi and her drinks from the waitress.

“I have known Jace for a long time and though you haven’t been a part of our little family here for as long as some, I wou
ld just like to say thank you; thank you for putting the light back into Jace’s eyes. I see it every time I run into him at the office and it’s all because of you. You have become such a special part of all of our lives and we are so happy to be able to celebrate this special day with you.” Bridgette smiled over at Judy before raising her glass. “Cheers to Judy and happy birthday, Darling.”

“Ok. You’re all gonna make me cry on my birthday!” Judy smiled as she sipped her drink.

“My turn.” She heard Mason’s voice chime out from the other side of the room.

“Oh no Mase. You really will make me cry.”

“Always good tears, Sis.” He stood. “I have been gone for a long time. I, along with many of you here, have been away fighting a war that felt like it would never end. Jace, I would like to say thank you to you. Judy has always been my reason for coming back home. She has taught me so much over the years. I am so thankful and happy that you have been by her side and taken care of her when I couldn’t. Judy, I promise that I will never leave again like I did. I am gonna be the brother that I should have been. I can’t wait to see what the next few years have in store for us, Sis.” She could see him swallow back the lump in his throat before he continued, “Happy birthday and I hope we have many more to celebrate.” He raised his glass to the group.

Judy felt Jace wipe the tear that was running down her cheek. So much had happened over the past year. She had never in her wildest dreams imagined that she’d have this amazing group of people around her. She couldn’t doubt the love and support they had for her.

“You assholes.” She laughed as she wiped at her cheeks. “Thank you and I love all of you. Thank you for coming tonight and sharing this special day with me.” She smiled up at Jace as she continued, “I could not have asked for a better man,” she looked back to the group, “Or family.”

“What do you say we go freshen up?” Abbi grabbed Judy’s hand giving it a light squeeze.

“I will be right back, Babe. Can I get my phone from you?”

“Sure, Babe. Make sure one of the guys accompanies you.” He handed her phone to her before planting a light kiss on her cheek.

Mark followed closely behind Abbi and her as they made their way to the back of the club. After waiting for the line to empty out Mark stepped into the bathroom getting strange looks from the attendant. After checking the stalls and giving them the go ahead he walked back towards the door.

“I will be right outside.” He said as he slipped back out towards the angry curse words from the other women that had been waiting.

Judy stumbled into the first open stall she could reach to use the bathroom. She glared down at the fuzzy words on her cell phone screen. Attempting to see it better she placed her hand over one eye and tried to bring it into focus.

One missed call from: Number Unknown.

Her heart started racing as she finished in the stall and rushed out towards the sink that Abbi stood at touching up her lip gloss.

“Abbi, there’s a missed call.” She slurred.

Abbi slowly reached over and grabbed the phone from her. “There’s a message too. Do you want to listen to it now or wait?”

Judy thought for a moment that she should probably wait for Jace, but that all went to hell after about five seconds.

“Let’s listen to it. You’re sober so you will be able to remember it.”

“What if it’s bad Judy?” Abbi’s eyes were concerned as she glanced over at the irritated bathroom attendant.

“What if it’s from Ashley?” Judy countered.

Abbi looked at her for a moment contemplating what to do before pressing the voicemail button and placing the phone to her ear. Judy stretched up onto her tiptoes trying to listen to the message. She couldn’t really hear anything but mumbled words.

“What are they saying? Who is it?”

“Shh.” Abbi whispered trying to listen harder to the message before pressing a button on the phone and handing it back to Judy.

“Well?” Judy’s eyes were big as she looked up at Abbi.

“We need to go get the guys. Now.” Abbi grabbed Judy’s hand before throwing some money into the attendants tip jar.

“Thank you ma’am!” The bathroom attendant gushed as she noticed the amount of the tip.

“What’s wrong Abs?”

“Mark, we have a problem.” Abbi stopped outside of the bathroom door.

“It’s about damn time.” One of the irritated women who’d been waiting spouted out.

“Hey!” Judy stepped up in her face. “You shut the hell up! We have a problem! Didn’t you just hear her?” Judy held her stare as a hiccup escaped from her mouth.

“Ok, Rocky. Time to go.” Abbi tucked her arm into Judy’s and led her back toward the VIP section.