Page 56 of Stronghold

"Dinner's ready," he announces as if this is a situation that happens every day.

Sure, I have a drop-dead gorgeous man, with tattoos for days, almost naked in my kitchen every day. Doesn't everyone?

"What's for dinner?"

"Slow-cooked shredded beef ragu pasta."

"Slow cooked?" Does that mean what I think it means?

Jud must see my thoughts scattered all over my face because he says, "You can stop those ideas right now, hotshot. This beef has been cooking since this morning and the whole thing is ready now." He raises his finger and wiggles it at me. "No shenanigans."

"You should have said that before you decidedthat'swhat you're wearing to cook in my kitchen." I wave my hand in front of him, and he grabs it, pulling me closer.

"Okay, fine. Some shenanigans allowed."

We kiss, and I taste the sauce on his tongue.

This is the first time I've been this close to Jud without clothes on. His skin feels warm, and I let my hands roam and explore his back, slowly ambling down to his perfectly round and squishable butt.

"We should eat," I say, pulling away with reluctance. His erection against mine is making it too hard to make the right decisions, and I know we need food.

His stomach rumbles.

"Okay, food first. Then dessert," he says.

"What's for dessert?"

"You."

21

Judson

How am I supposed to think straight while Sky eats his pasta like he's making love to it?

I stare at my own plate and consider how much more I can have.

Breathe, Jud. Just breathe.

That's my mantra. Ever since I had the ridiculous idea to strip down for Sky, I've been saying it in my head nonstop.

This is one of those moments when I have to actively remember that what my brain thinks it sees when I look down isnotthe reality. My body dysmorphia can be crippling, especially when I'm intimate with someone, but I don't want it to be a thing between Sky and me.

He deserves more than my fucked-up fat-brain.

"Hey." Sky reaches over the table; his hand is on my chin and his thumb making a circular motion. "Where did you go?"

"Nowhere." I stand up and turn him away from the table so I can straddle his legs. "Have you finished dinner yet? Can we have dessert already?"

I take his mouth and suck his tongue until he's moaning and giving it all back, biting my lip and kissing everywhere he can reach on my face, chin, neck.

I move my neck, and he takes the hint, kissing behind my ear, which is an area where I'm really sensitive. The slight tickling gives way to a wave of pleasure that runs down my back and straight to my balls.

"Fuuuck, Sky."

He runs his hands over my chest, tracing my tattoos. When his thumb skates over my nipple, my breath catches, and I have to bite my lip to stop myself from moaning.

"You are so beautiful, Jud. So…unexpected. Being with you is like walking down a road you know so well, but no matter how many times you cross it, you always find something new."