Happily Ever All-Star: A Secret Baby Romance (15 page)

“You are beautiful, smart, and…” Jude grinned. “What was the last one?”

“Talented? You really couldn’t remember—”

He interrupted me. “I was too busy thinking of other qualities I admire in you.”

“Oh.”

“Like how brave you are for doing this, for keeping the baby, for facing the world.”

This was better than a back rub. “Keep ‘em coming.”

“How amazing you are for becoming a doctor. I remember you as a kid, slapping band-aids on me and Eric when we got cuts and scrapes.”

“You’re very sweet.”

“And so are you,” he said. “You’ve always been sweet. And kind. I only wish we hadn’t lost those years while I was playing ball and you were in school.”

I shrugged. “I watched you play any chance I could get.”

“Really?”

“Even DVR’ed your playoff game while taking my MCATs.” I bit my lip. “I wore your jersey for luck.”

“Yours or mine?”

“Both?”

“Cute,” he said. “Anyone ever tell you how cute you are?”

“Just the words every woman wants to hear.”

His gaze wove over me, casting shivers I hadn’t expected and a warmth I tried to suppress. “What if I called you
sexy
instead?”

“In a tank and sweats?” I tugged at the white top and my super cool purple yoga pants. Genie was a bit more noticeable now than she had been before. I didn’t know if I was supposed to flaunt it or hide her. “Maybe I should get you on the table again, make sure your head didn’t get walloped during the game.”

“I’m serious.”

“But I’m
pregnant
.”

He hesitated. “I told you. That makes you more beautiful. It’s forbidden fruit.”

“Oh really?”

“Something about you just makes me want to take a big, juicy bite.”

Juicy was right.

And wrong.

“You shouldn’t talk like that,” I said.

“Sorry. Too forward?”

The nerves bundled inside me. “No…I might like it.”

“Is that so bad?”

I bit my lip. “I might want you to take that bite. And then where would we be?”

“Probably a lot more relaxed around each other.”

“And confused,” I said.

“And satisfied.”

“And never able to look each other in the eyes again.”

“Very, very satisfied.”

“You already said that.”

“It bears repeating. That’s the important one.”

“This isn’t fair,” I murmured. Jude brushed a lock of hair behind my ear. “You know the kind of mood I’m in.”

“What if I said I wanted to help?”

“I’d say you’re very generous.”

“You have no idea how generous I can be.”

“Jude, we can’t do this. Things are already so complicated—”

“Who said anything about complicated?” His fingers grazed my chin, bumping my head back. I stilled as he pressed his lips to my neck. “You need a little relief.” He kissed. “I told you I’d help you in
any
way.”

“I can’t ask you to do this.”

“I’m the one asking. All you have to do is say
yes
.”

And what if I never
stopped
saying yes? “Are you sure?”

“You don’t have to convince me. I’m offering. As a friend. As a man who knows how to please a woman. As someone who thinks it’s a damn crime that your life changed so much with this baby, and you didn’t even get to enjoy yourself when it happened.”

“That’s the least of my worries now.”

He kissed me, quiet and sweet. “You shouldn’t worry at all, Rory. I told you I’d take care of you. And that’s just what I plan to do.”

I trembled, head to toe and everything inside of me. It twisted, turned, burned, and
ached
.

“I didn’t get to please you the last time we touched,” Jude said. “That makes me as bad as your other dates.”

“You’re
much
better than those men.”

“I don’t want to be better. I want to be the
best
.” His fingers wove over me. “I want you to remember this moment for the rest of your life.”

I nearly came then.

Jude cupped my cheek, drawing me into a sensual kiss. He didn’t have to ask or tease—I parted my lips and sunk against him.

His earthy scent still smelled of soap and the outdoors—the field, the grass, masculine and sweaty and delicious that made him everything I’d ever wanted.

His hands teased over my shirt. I stiffened as his warm fingers traced under the material.

He would see the bump. I tensed for it.

But the instant his hand warmed my skin, the guilt…faded.

Maybe this
was
just what I needed. A night I’d secretly love, even if the instant it was over we’d both admit it had been a mistake.

His hand trailed up, teasing beneath the cami. The first time he’d touched me, I’d been without panties. Now I wasn’t wearing a bra—the material too sensitive for my swelling chest. He’d think I was some sort of naughty trouble-maker.

And maybe that wasn’t so bad?

I nearly leapt off the couch as his fingers grazed my nipple. The bud hardened into a fierce pebble. Jude jerked his hand away as I gasped.

“Good?” he asked.

“
Good
.” Did the word have to tremble off my tongue? “Very good.”

His calloused hand was gentle as he cupped me. No one had ever been so delicate before, and my skin tingled from the brush of his fingers. His thumb rolled over my nipple, and I bit my lip to silence myself before everything I’d ever felt for Jude tumbled out.

I’ve dreamt of this moment.

Take me now.

I’ll be yours forever.

I’ve been in love with you for as long as I can remember
.

I opted for a whimper instead. It worked just as well, fueling Jude’s smile. He grew bolder, gripping me tighter.

Now or never.
I was having a lot of
now or never
moments lately. I’d revealed too many secrets because I
had
to, not because I wanted to. That ended now. Right here.

I rose to my knees and gripped the shirt. I tugged it free of my body and tossed it aside.

Jude softly swore. “Beautiful.”

“Touch me?”

“You don’t even have to ask.”

Jude surged towards me, but even that motion must have ached his injuries. It didn’t slow him. His lips captured mine once more before slowly drifting lower and lower. His heated breath warmed the hollow of my throat, and I gripped his shoulders as his daring tongue lapped a playful tease over my collarbone.

I sucked in a breath as he dipped low. His kiss warmed over my breast.

For once, I was glad my chest had swelled during this pregnancy. Jude swore a happy sound and kissed a path over the plump curve.

Could a running back get to second base? Maybe it was more like second down? I knew one thing. I wasn’t kicking him away at the end of this series.

His mouth curled over my nipple, and a shock of delight tore through me. I jolted straight, Jude groaned another grateful grunt, and I thrust more of my breast to him.

Wantonly.

Unapologetically.

As if the
whoremones
needed any more encouragement.

His tongue flicked over the bud, nibbling the aching tip. The greatest and most sensual experience of my life became a sweet torture, I crashed into Jude, pulling away from his mouth if only so I could taste his lips once more.

That didn’t ease the need in me. I groaned against him. Frustrated. Worse than a mood swing and more insistent than any craving.

I
needed
him. I needed
something. Anything
. My body practically hummed, but the humiliation of revealing those feelings seared away as every nerve in my body sparked alive.

And he understood.

Of course
he
understood. He was Jude. He was perfect.

All he wanted to do was help me.

This time, I’d ask for that help.

Jude’s hands wove over me, following the softness of my pants to graze the part of me that desired him the most.

“Just once,” I promised. “One. That’s all I need.”

“One? You sure?”

“
One
. Something overwhelming. Consuming. Something that will just shut my body up and let me think again. I can’t go on like this.”

“Like what?”

I groaned. “Like I’m waiting for one little push to send me over the edge. I’m so…
desperate
. I’ve been. All week. I can’t think. I can’t move. I can’t sleep. I know it’s the worst thing to say and do, but I need—”

I shuddered as Jude’s fingers rubbed over my own personal mute button. My body flinched in a perfect way, and I sucked in a harsh breath.

So did Jude.

He pulled away and massaged his knuckles.

“
Damn it
.” He squeezed his fist tight, but the motion obviously pained him. “I bruised my hand pretty bad during the game. Not sure I can…” He shrugged. “Wiggle my fingers.”

Tears nearly sprung to my eyes. This couldn’t be. Fate wasn’t that cruel.

And neither was Jude. His eyebrow rose. “I don’t need to use my hand.”

I swallowed. “I don’t think a Jedi mind trick will work.”

“No…but I could use my mouth.”

Oh. God.

The air rushed from my lungs.

Jude
.

Between my legs.

Kissing. Licking.

Staring at me with those silver eyes.

I couldn’t. A touch was crazy enough. Stripping even more of a mistake.

“If you want it…” Jude whispered with a growl. “Just ask.”

“But that’s so…
intimate
.”

“Tell me someone’s done it for you before.”

“Not well.”

“Then it doesn’t count.”

Jude rose to his feet, but he swore as his knees popped. He ripped his shirt off.

The bruises spanned his entire body, tracing dark and purple, just the right color to set off warning bells in my head. This wasn’t good. Every movement agonized him. Jude gritted his teeth as he slipped my pants low. His shudder was
not
from pleasure.

“You’re really hurting,” I said. “I took an oath that says
do no harm
.”

“I’m not feeling pain, Doc,” he whispered. “Just the opposite.”

“I can’t make you do this.”

“Who says you’re making do anything?”

His arm looped around me. I hardly recognized the growl in his voice, but it was a welcomed side to a hidden, mysterious part of his personality. His kiss stole my protests, but it couldn’t hide his flinch. There was no way I’d make him bend and move and pleasure me at his expense.

“You need ice, not sex,” I whispered.

“And you need to come on my tongue.” The words shocked us both. “I rather taste your heat than ice myself down…and I know just how to do it.”

Jude slipped my pants lower, lower, lower, until I stepped from the material and stood before him.

Only one set of panties. I should have followed my own advice.

He curled a finger as he returned to the couch. “Take those off and come here.”

I’d follow him off a cliff if he promised to touch me on the way down.

Jude rested on the couch, and the relief coursed through his expression. His eyes darkened as he watched me, impatiently waiting for me to follow his order.

A strip tease?

He stared at me, hungry and waiting. Jude wanted me as badly as I wanted him. I didn’t take my eyes from him. I dipped my fingers into my panties and ignored the swelling low in my once-flat belly. I pushed the material away as quickly as I could without tangling myself in the cotton.

I revealed
everything
to him

Every fold. Every secret. Every slickened part of me that wetted for him and only him. Jude studied all of me, feasting with his eyes.

He curled his finger for me to approach.

Somehow, my feet moved. I drew near him, but I wasn’t ready. Jude grabbed my waist and pulled me closer.

Onto the couch?

No! Onto him!

I gasped as he laid down and rested me on his chest. This wasn’t what I thought would happen. I straddled him. Jude’s hands tugged me higher.

Towards his face.

“Oh, wait…” I gripped his chest. “I…I don’t think.”

“Easiest way for me to taste you.” His voice almost muffled on my legs.

“But…But I’m…”

“Never done it this way before?”

I untwisted my ankle and plunked down onto his chest.

I couldn’t. I
wouldn’t
.

“You want me to…”

Jude grinned. “You want me to take it easy. I want you to come. I’m not gonna disregard a doctor’s orders…not when there’s an easier way.”

“But’s it’s so…”

“Sexy?”

“
Naughty
.”

Ten minutes ago, I’d never have imagined me
naked
in front of Jude. Now he wanted me to
sit
on his face? Where he’d be able to hold me, lick me, taste me,
take
me without even moving?

“Come here.” His voice was a soft command. “You set the pace. You tell me what you want. I’ll do anything that makes you feel good.”

“But you’ll be…” I swallowed. “Close to me.”

“That’s the best part, Doc.”

He tugged on my hips.

Oh, this was a bad idea.

Thoroughly humiliating. Absolutely shameful. Entirely immodest.

I never had sex with the lights
on
, and he expected me to spread my legs over his face and offer every last part of me for his tongue?

His hands curled over my waist. He pulled me close, and my knees pressed into the couch on either side of his head.

Was I trembling, or did my heart pound hard enough to cast me off balance?

I couldn’t do this. It was too embarrassing to have Jude Owens near me, staring at me—

Tasting me.

The first swipe of his tongue teased my petals with the broad heat of his mouth.

The second series of flicks batted at the most sensitive part of my clit, unshielded and exposed for the delicate, gentle caress of his kiss.

The third lap of his tongue abandoned pretense halfway through. His lips sealed around my nub.

He suckled.

And my hips bucked forward in utter ecstasy.

“Oh my God.”

If Jude responded, his words were muffled in my own slit. Vulgar. Immoral.

This was, without a doubt, the sexiest thing I had done in my life. He had access to every part of me. My folds opened, and he twisted his tongue within my petals. Shocks of delight thrilled me…and soaked him.