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“Bend over in front of him,” Gemma says. “Let him see how those jeans hug your adorable ass.”

Aubrey groans. “Don’t take flirting advice from a virgin who’s literally dated no one. Gemma lives in a false reality. Just ask her Instagram following.”

Gemma flips her off but doesn’t argue. “Whatever.”

“Maybe just go in there and talk to him,” Willa suggests. “About last night and how he left so abruptly.”

“No,” Aubrey says, shaking her head as she grabs onto my shoulders and backs me toward the gym door. “Go in there, walk up to him, and say, ‘thanks for the blue balls, asshole. Care if I return the favor?’ Then grab him by the dick, give him a little squeeze, and walk away. Trust me, he’ll be unable to resist.”

“Oh God,” Gemma groans. “Jude’s not Spencer. He’s going to require a little more finesse than your horny baby daddy.”

“I agree with Gemma,” Willa says, wincing. “Tate’s not like…”

“Me?” Aubrey asks, lifting an eyebrow in challenge. “Maybe he ought to be. I don’t have any issues pleasing a man.” She smirks at me. “Or two.”

I’m about to argue that we should all just leave, when a cold breeze swirls around me. The scent of cinnamon and manly sweat fills the air. I don’t have to look behind me to know who’s standing there. Every hair on my arms stands at attention, buzzing with electricity.

“Oh shit,” Aubrey mouths to me.

Jude’s palms gently grip my hips as he pushes me aside. Fire licks at my body at his touch. All too soon, he pulls his hands away and steps past me. All three girls smother their giggles with their hands while I attempt to reorient myself now that I’m no longer in his orbit but still spinning.

He strides several steps away but abruptly stops. His hoodie is soaked with sweat and clings to his muscular back. I’d give anything to peel it off his body right about now.

Jude looks over his shoulder, locking eyes with me. Heat sears a fiery path straight to my balls when he drops his gaze to my neck.

Where. He. Marked. Me.

His hand curls into a fist and I wonder if he’ll pounce on me. Hell, I’ll welcome it. He doesn’t attack me with his hungry mouth, unfortunately. All I get is a small nod before he pivots on his heel and stalks away.

God.

Why does he affect me this way?

As soon as he disappears, Gemma digs her freaky cat claws into my jaw, jerking my head toward her. Her eyes glitter with mischief and her grin is devilish.

“He is so hot for you,” she whisper-yells. “Oh my God. Did you see that barely contained lust?”

Willa and Aubrey both nod fiercely in agreement.

“You could cut the sexual tension with a knife, Tate pie,” Aubrey says with a crooked grin. “I got pregnant looking at you two lick at each other with just your eyes.”

“Me too,” Willa says breathily.

“You two already are pregnant,” I say lamely. “It was probably nothing.”

Gemma’s nails are back, nearly puncturing my cheeks as she turns my focus back on her. “It was notnothing, idiot. It was everything. Jude has it so bad for you.”

Does he?

My heart does a nosedive, taking my stomach with it. I feel slightly dazed and lightheaded as I allow myself to consider her words.

Jude has it so bad for you.

Well, apparently, I have it bad for him too.

I should do something nice for him. To show my appreciation for…him. Yeah, that’s all I’ve got. I’m appreciative for the way he looked at me just now, for the way he kissed me last night, for the way he let me take off his mask and trusted me with such a vulnerable part of him.

“I’m going to woo him,” I blurt out. “But I’m going to need wine.”