Page 15 of The Surrender

“It’s not a request.” I put myself on the other side of the car, my back to the door, and look at him. His slight scowl is endearing. “How did you know where to have Anouska send your fake spa day special-deal email?”

His scowl deepens. “The night you left Amazonico without paying, I offered to settle the bill in exchange for the contact details on the reservation.”

“Crafty. And what if Abbie didn’t take your bait? Or maybe booked it for herself and didn’t invite me?”

“Then I’d have found another way to get you to Arlington Hall.”

“Like a work conference?”

“Maybe.”

“And my wallet that was found in the changing rooms?”

“That was in case the work conference didn’t”—he considers his words for a second—“work out.”

“You stole my wallet?”

“I borrowed it.”

“And how many women have you placed bets on with the married woman you were fucking?”

Jude winces, the conversation finally getting uncomfortable for him. “A few.”

“Two, three? Ten? Twenty?”

“Why do you need specifics?” He throws his hands up, exasperated. “I’m not proud, Amelia. I’m a man who didn’t have the time or energy to invest in a relationship. The arrangement with Katherine worked. I slept with other women. That’s it.”

“It doesn’t seem like the new arrangement is working for Katherine.”

He looks out the corner of his eye at me. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t be a stupid man, Jude. She doesn’t like you seeing me. I’ve taken away her shiny toy.”

He leans over and hauls me to him, positioning me on his lap so I’m straddling him. “I don’t want to spend the fraction of time you’re allowing me talking about Katherine.”

“You thought we’d fall back into whatever this is without it being mentioned?”

“Whatisthis?” he asks, his eyes scanning mine.

“I don’t know.”

“Which is why you want to take it slowly?” he breathes, his words hot on my skin.

“Yes.” My reply is a husky whisper, my body responding to his closeness. He must feel me throbbing on his thigh through the thin material of my leggings. “We have all the time in the world.”

“Until we don’t.” He reaches for the button and raises the screen between us and Humphrey, before manipulating me down to my back on the seat, coming with me. I take in air deep in my lungs as he settles between my spread legs, raising a cheeky brow as he subtly flexes his hips. “Are you going to argue with me?”

“Let me think about it,” I whisper, and he smiles. The sight blows not only my mind, but my ovaries too. “Tell me it’ll be okay,” I demand.

“We’llbe okay.” He pushes my hair back. “We have to be.”

“Or else?”

“There is noor else.” He grinds his hips, making me arch my back. “You’re not going to argue with me, are you?”

I shake my head, and he swoops in and takes my mouth softly but with conviction, doing what Jude does best. Overwhelming me. “I’m sorry for hurting you,” he murmurs around our kiss, not faltering with his pace, pecking his way across my lips. And then he says something like that and every shred of doubt vanishes.

Taking things slowly isn’t going very well at all.Shit.“Wait.” I use my good hand to push into his chest.