Page 84 of The Surrender

“Yes!”

I bury my face in his neck on a yell, my throat instantly raw, my body out of control, shaking against him as he spills himself into me, cursing to high heaven. It goes on forever, our shouts, the pleasure, my world spinning out of control, until he convulses, his fist smashes into the wall, and he crumples to the floor, cushioning my landing.

I lay, spattered all over his sprawled body, panting, replete.

Tingling everywhere.

“I take it I’m forgiven,” he wheezes.

“I take it that means you’re sorry,” I puff back, beat, but somehow finding the energy to lick my way across his chest, up to his salty neck.

“I’m very sorry.” He tilts his head back, lengthening his neck for me, giving me more licking space. “And I forgive you too.”

“What did I do?” I ask, making it to his chin. His cheek. His eyes. His forehead.

“Threatened abstinence. I told you, that’s a hard no for me.”

“And interfering with my career is a hard no for me.”

“Are we establishing boundaries?”

I smile despite myself, sitting on his hips and admiring his sweaty, shiny chest, my palms on a feeling mission.

Jude rests his hands over mine, stilling them, and checks my dressing. “Really, Amelia?” There’s some blood on the edges. Not a lot, but still. It shouldn’t be bleeding.

“I needed to put my bed together.”

“You didn’t, though. You could have laid off on the stubbornness and stayed at my place.”

“I wasn’t talking to you.”

“But you are now?”

“Since you apologised, yes.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

The smile that breaks his face could breakme, and he sits up, tackling my mouth again. “I love your new place.”

“Me too.”

“Can we have sleepovers?”

I laugh into his mouth, holding him in a firm hug as I devour him. “Whatever you want, baby,” I say with an edge of sarcasm, giving him one last peck before lifting from his body. “I have to go to the gym.”

“It’s Saturday. You’re on my time.”

I snort unattractively in amusement. “I’ve been on your time all week.”

He scowls. It’s quite endearing. “You can go to the gym at Arlington Hall. In fact, you should cancel your membership. It’s a waste when you have a gym at your disposal. It’s better too.”

“I’m not cancelling my membership, Jude.”

“Fine. Are you driving?” he asks, falling to his back, his eyes following me into the bathroom.

“I was going to take the Tube.”