Page 40 of The Surrender

“I like to ensure I’m making conscious m—” My words fade, and my smile drops like a rock when I see Jude across the restaurant being shown to a table.

With a woman.

“What the fuck?” I breathe.

“What?” Leo says, craning to look over his shoulder.

“Nothing.”

Jude’s eyes land on me. And then Leo. And the instant rage on him is rampant. Oh shit. But ... he’s got a fucking nerve. Who the hell is that woman? Busty. Curvy. Platinum-blond hair. A blouse that’s got one too many buttons undone. Jude says something to her, looking this way, and then starts walking through the tables towards us.Oh fuck, fuck, fuck.

“Excuse me.” Hopping up, I grab my bag, hoping Jude follows me and doesn’t confront Leo. “I need the ladies’.” I head through the little nook and down a corridor, looking back over my shoulder.

I’m only a bit relieved when I find Jude in pursuit. Rounding a corner, I wait, and the second he appears, I want to weep at how fucking stunning he is in a casual beige suit and open-collar white shirt.

For another woman.

“Who the hell is that woman?”

“What the hell do you care?” he hisses back, leaning down, making a few locks of his hair fall onto his forehead.

“I don’t.”

“Who the hell is that man?”

“What the fucking hell doyoucare?” I pivot and push my way into the ladies’, slamming the cubicle door behind me. “Fucking man,” I mutter.

“Fucking woman,” I hear Jude grunt.

I swing the door open. “Get out.”

His eyes narrow to angry slits. “I dare you to push me over the fucking edge, Amelia,” he says darkly. “I fucking dare you.”

“You lied to me. You don’t deserve anything from me but a slap.”

“Then slap me.”

“I don’t want to slap you!”

He pounces, getting me up against the tiled wall and attacking my lips like a desperate madman, pushing his tongue into my mouth, the aggression of his kiss forcing my head back against the wall.

My body instantly burns for him, my mind scrambles, my thighs clench. Fuck, no! How does this keep happening? Explosions, sparks, ravenous for each other. It’s unstoppable.

But I must stop it.

“No.” I turn my head, breaking my lips from his, and push him back, passing him. “I’m not doing this again.”

“Are you saying it’s over?”

I stop at the door. Squeeze my eyes closed. I need more than chemistry and explosions. I need trust. Respect.Love.He’s here with another fucking woman the day after we broke up.Again.

“It’s over.” I swing the door open and leave, holding back my tears as I make my way to the table.Keep it together!I need to nail this meeting.

Leo cocks his head as I lower to my chair, my shoulders aching from how tense they are. I can feel Jude’s eyes on me. “Are you okay?”

I force a smile. “Great. My hand’s a little sore.”

“I didn’t want to pry.”