Page 85 of The Surrender

“That would be silly because you’d have to come back here to get your car so you can come to see me.”

“Why can’t you come to see me here?”

“Because I stayed at your place last night,” he calls.

I flip on the shower, smiling to myself. My place. It sounds good. I drape a towel over the top of the door and step in the stall. “Fine, I’ll drive to the gym.”

Jude appears in the doorway, beautifully bare, his semi-erect cock still twitching. My God, he’s just too beautiful for words, and he knows it.

“I need some help,” I say, coy, opening the door for him while holding up my injured hand.

He smiles—it’s wildly stunning—and saunters over, casual. He’s firming up again, a little more with each step. “Keep your hand out of the spray.” He places it on the pane of glass, eyebrows high, and eases me back against the tiles. The cold has me inhaling sharply. And when he slowly falls to his knees, I brace myself for another Jude Harrison Special.

“Greedy,” I murmur, as he reaches forward and forces my legs apart.

“Then you’d better keep feeding me.” His hot mouth is on me in a second, and my knees instantly give, sending me sliding down the wall on a broken groan, my eyes crossing with pleasure.

Pulling the door closed behind me, a travel cup of coffee in my hand, I aim my fob at my car, thoughtful. New apartment, new car.

New boyfriend.

“What are you thinking?” Jude says, taking my freshly dressed hand gently and walking us down the path to the road.

“Nothing,” I say, hearing another door close. I look back and see a man leaving the door next to mine that leads up to the apartment above. Mid-twenties, I’d say. Smart in a creative’s type of way, his jeans too tight and too short, his duster coat definitely from a vintage store. He spots us, and I sense a wariness I’m not sure I should like. “Hi.” I pull Jude to a stop. “I’m Amelia. I just moved in.”

He looks between me and Jude. “Jasper,” he says, getting his rucksack on his back. “Welcome.” He eyes Jude.

“Boyfriend,” Jude pipes up, moving closer.

I roll my eyes at his blatant claim on me.

“Do you live here too?” Jasper asks, making me laugh out loud.

“No, Jude lives in Oxfordshire.” In a hotel on grounds probably bigger than this district. “He stayed the night.”

“Yes, I heard.” Jasper holds his hand out to Jude, his eyebrows brushing his hairline. “Or at least I heard this morning.”

I die on the spot as Jude chuckles, accepting Jasper’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“Pleasure,” Jasper says.

“For Amelia, yes,” Jude quips.

I shrink, elbowing him in the ribs, making him laugh more. “It was nice to meet you, Jasper.” I pull Jude on, seeing his black Ferrari parked in front of my Jaguar, and I’m soon pressed into the side by his big body. I semi-scowl at the further blatant display of ownership.

“Looks like I might have to invest in some gags if you can’t keep your screams for me under control, baby.” He nuzzles into my face, biting at my cheek. “We don’t want to upset the neighbours.”

“Or I just resist you when we’re at my place.”

He lets out a sharp bark of laughter, and I laugh too. Because that statement was truly laughable. I can’t resist the irresistible. Proven.

“Have a wonderful time at the gym missing me.”

I shove him away and go to my car, dropping into the seat and watching him as he walks backwards to his Ferrari, a stupid, shit-eating grin on his face.

God, he’s maddening.

Adorable.