Clutching the back of his neck, I run my hands through his long hair, weaving it through my fingers—something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time. I arch myself up to him, wanting more. He delivers by skimming a calloused hand across my lower body, caressing my rib cage before moving down farther. He pauses for a fraction of a second, just below my naval. His breath is hot and shallow against my breast. I can feel the internal debate coursing through his veins.

I don’t want us to turn back.

Reaching down, I cover his hand with mine, gently push it beneath the waistband of my panties, then slip my hand away.

A groan rumbles deep in his throat, and it’s the sexiest sound I’ve ever heard.

His fingertips brush over the soft hair. My body writhes with want as he sucks my breast hungrily into his mouth. My heart pulses faster. His hand feels so good, so incredibly warm. Comforting and electrifying at the same time. My stomach muscles flutter with a million butterflies in anticipation of his touch.

“Jude…” I breathe.

When he looks up at me, his hair falls into his face in the sexiest of ways. His lips are glistening from kissing me. I’ve daydreamed about being kissed by him again—a kiss that isn’t just a quickie, or an oops. I need a kiss that makes me feel like he wants me. With no hesitation. A kiss that says you’re mine.

I didn’t know I wanted to be anyone’s until we kissed on our wedding day. Maybe the kiss at the end of vows has magical powers. Because that one little oops changed everything.

“Do you want me to touch you?” he asks with his hand still pressed against me, unmoving.

“Hello?” I say, wincing from the pain of grinning. “Are you kidding?”

He doesn’t laugh. “I need to hear you say it, Sparkles.”

Oh. This isn’t one of our teasing moments. This is serious. As it should be. I touch his cheek, and my heart melts when he turns to press a kiss to my palm.

How is it that he can look so rough and sexy, and still be so incredibly sweet?

“Yes,” I whisper, all kidding gone. “I want you to touch me, Lucky.”

“Good,” he whispers, and dips his head down into my hair to kiss the sensitive spot just below my ear.

A warm shiver jets down my spine as his hand slides farther down beneath my panties. Wrapping my arms around him, I pull him closer and move my hands slowly up and down over the hard muscle of his back. The strength and solidity of him is so magnetic and grounding. I crave the safeness he makes me feel.

Actually, I crave everything he makes me feel.

Taking a breath, I part my legs, and he delves between my thighs. The moment his fingers touch my lips I let out a whimper and push myself up into his hand. He rains kisses from my neck to my chest while he works magic on me. His fingers strum the curve of my lower lips. His thumb presses against my clit and rubs it in slow, tantalizing circles. My breath quickens. My thighs squeeze around his hand. We moan simultaneously when he pushes two fingers inside me and fucks me slowly with his hand.

When I reach for his pants, he nudges my hand away.

“No,” he whispers with his mouth against my ear and his fingers buried inside me. “Tonight, I just want to fuckin’ devour you.”

In a blink, he disappears under the blanket and quickly lowers my sweatpants. His mouth joins his hand between my thighs. His tongue laps at my throbbing clit, his lips cover me, so warm and wet.

I turn into a quivering, wet, orgasmic, lovesick mess.

Closing my eyes, I let go of everything, cling to him, and let myself get lost in us.

Chapter 29

Jude

“I can’t believe we’re back here. These homeowners are a pain in the damn ass,” Kyle says as we walk up the driveway of the house next to the high school.

“At least they pay on time. That’s all that matters to me. It’s a two-week job. In and out.”

I was on the fence about coming back here when the homeowner called me about wanting a one-car detached garage built. Not just because they were difficult to deal with, but because I wasn’t sure I wanted to be working so close to Skylar now that we’re legally married and living together. I didn’t trust myself to not constantly be looking over at the parking lot, or the school, hoping to see her and catch her smiling at me.

There’s not much I look forward to, but her smile is definitely a highlight of my day.

Three weeks ago, I accepted the job because I had a break in my schedule while waiting on materials for a different project. At the time I was unaware how much would change between me and Skylar.