Page 30 of Mr. Perfect

Jude retracted his hand and turned back to Felix. “What are you doing here, Felix?”

“I’ve come to fuck my cares away,” Felix lied. He wasn’t opposed to engaging in sex as a distraction, but not if he had to pay for it. That hit too close to home for him.

Jude’s face was granite—hard and cold. He hooked a thumb in Rocky’s direction. “With this guy?”

“Hey,” Rocky said. “I detect a heavy note of derision. I’m a fantastic lay, I’ll have you know.”

Okay, so maybe Major wasn’t fully back to his usual self. This version was feisty as hell, and Felix liked it a lot. Felix casually crossed his arms over his chest so he wouldn’t reach for Jude or thrash Rocky.

Jude practically vibrated with anger. Or was a completely different emotion riding him hard?

Riding him hard.

Felix wasn’t sure what mortified him most: Jude thinking Felix had to pay for sex or the semi-erection triggered by Felix’s errant thoughts. He made a living from writing words, so he knew how powerfully they could paint images. Couldn’t he pick phrases that wouldn’t elicit visions of hot, sweaty sex?

“Can we go somewhere and talk privately?” Jude asked. “Please.”

“No,” Rocky and Felix said at the same time.

Jude snapped his head in Rocky’s direction. “I wasn’t talking to you, friend.”

Rocky slid from the booth and slowly stood up. Felix wasn’t sure if the pace was due to the alcohol still in his system or because Rocky wanted Jude to know just how little he was concerned about him. Jude pivoted to fully face Rocky.

“I’m not your friend,” Rocky said, a menacing growl creeping into his voice.

“Does that make you my enemy, then?” Jude asked, sounding as cool as a cucumber.

Jude took a step toward the PI, who balled both hands into fists. Felix knew he needed to act fast before this escalated further, and all three of them were thrown out on their asses. He slid from the booth and placed himself between the two men, squaring off against Jude with Rocky at his back.

“I’ll give you five minutes and not a second longer,” Felix said.

Rocky chuckled. “Bet he only needs two and a half at best.”

“I’ll show you—”

Felix placed both his palms flat against Jude’s chest, halting both his physical surge and whatever words he’d been about to say. Jude’s big body crashed into his, and Felix nearly whimpered out loud when he felt how hard Jude was…everywhere. Jude’s nostrils flared as he placed his hands on Felix’s hips as if he had the right. Jude doubled down by flexing his fingers, gripping Felix tighter. He knew it was his overactive imagination at play, but he felt branded.

“Time is wasting,” he said to Jude. Then he turned to Rocky, pulling free from Jude’s embrace. “There’s no need for you to wait here for me. I’ll find you when we’re finished.”

Rocky searched Felix’s eyes, looking for any sign he should stay. Felix winked as if to say “I got this” when they both knew he didn’t. Felix could tell Rocky wanted to say so many things, but he gave him an abrupt nod before turning and heading in the direction of the door with the blue diamond above it.

“Is he your boyfriend?” Jude asked from behind him. His voice was closer in Felix’s ear than he was comfortable with.

Felix slowly pivoted, allowing him time to think up a satisfying response. There were so many options. He could lie and say yes, he could string Jude along and make him work for the answer, or he could tell him the truth. Each had merit, but he decided to take door number two.

“Is that really any of your business, Jude?”

Jude opened his mouth to respond, but Felix tapped his watch.

“You’re almost down to four minutes.”

Jude’s lips tilted at the right corner, and a hint of a dimple played peekaboo with Felix’s heart. Damn, he’d loved those adorable divots that appeared whenever Jude smiled. There hadn’t been much for his nemesis to grin about during their past half dozen encounters. This wasn’t a full-blown smile, but Felix still felt it in his loins.

“What?” Felix asked.

Jude’s eyes glittered and dark pink circles bloomed on his cheeks. “Your friend’s guesstimate was probably too generous.”

Since when?Luckily, Felix hadn’t voiced his thought out loud. “That’s nothing to boast about.”