“Do you want more?” he asked, and I noticed he was no longer eating. He had leaned back in his seat, watching me from under his long lashes.
A blush crept over my cheeks as I reached for a napkin, dabbed my lips. “No, I’m fine. Everything just tasted so good.” I giggled in spite of myself.
“No need to be embarrassed.” He smiled. “I wanted you to enjoy yourself. Mission accomplished?”
I smiled. “Mission accomplished.”
“Good.” The smile disappeared from his lips and his eyes turned serious. “I asked you to stay a month. Two weeks left. Are you ready?”
“Ready?”
“To get out there? Do you think you can manage on your own?”
I looked him straight in the eyes. “Honestly, I don’t know. But I’ll give it my best shot.”
He nodded lightly. “Don’t go back to what you were before I met you. You deserve better.”
“Never.” My cheeks burned, and I averted my gaze.
“Don’t,” he said softly. “Don’t do that.”
My eyes met his. “Do what?”
“Don’t be ashamed. You did what you had to do.” He tipped his head to the side. “The dress looks great on you.”
I ran a hand along the lacey material of the dusky pink cocktail dress. “I’m so sorry. I forgot to thank you. How rude of me. It’s the most beautiful dress I’ve ever worn.”
“I’m glad. Shall we go?” He waved for a waiter and three came scuttling over to fuss over us.
Jude took my arm and we walked out of the restaurant. Nolan was already waiting outside with the doors of the limousine open. Sitting inside it took my breath away for a second time. But it was Jude’s presence that made me forget who I was, that gave me a chance to be someone I didn’t think I deserved to be.
At home, Jude went to his office to catch up on work and I went straight to bed. But I didn’t sleep, I couldn’t. I thought about him, about the circumstances that had brought us together. Abandoning sleep altogether, I sat on the cushioned windowsill with my eyes closed, the gentle wind from the open window caressing my face and whispering in my ears. When thoughts of what I’d done slipped into my mind, I forced them out before they had the power to chip at my heart. I was so focused on blocking them out I almost didn’t hear the soft knock on the door.
It was Jude. The suit jacket and tie were gone and his hair was slightly ruffled but still sexy as hell.
I pulled my satin night gown around me, and opened my mouth to speak but I had no idea what to say. So I waited, waited for him to tell me what he was doing at my door at 11 p.m. Sweat formed on my forehead.
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I shouldn’t be here. I apologize for waking you. Goodnight, Haley.” He turned to leave.
I shook my head, confused. “Why did you come?”
He turned around slowly and then he walked back to me, came so close his breath fanned my forehead, drying the sweat. For a moment I thought he was going to kiss me. He didn’t. He just stood there, his eyes assessing me. “I just felt the need to come and see you, to see if you’re okay.” He shook his head. “The truth is, I can’t stop thinking about you, even when I’m away from you. I can’t get you out of my mind. From the moment I saw you, I’ve felt drawn to you. I couldn’t leave you. You were so scared. I wanted to protect you.” He inhaled, waited for me to digest the information, to respond.
His revelation messed with my already confused head. “I…I don’t know what to say.”
“Then, don’t say anything.” He moved even closer, pressing his hard body against mine. He held my head between both his hands, warming my cheeks. “You’re broken, Haley. I can’t help but fix you. Let me fix you.” He pressed his lips to mine.
First I froze, and then I melted to his touch, parted my lips, let him in, tasted him. I wanted to pull away, but currents of desire swept through me and weakened me. As if that was all the invitation he had needed, he swept me into his arms, and pushed the door wider. I wrapped my arms around his neck and surrendered completely to his kiss. Drowning had never felt more wonderful.
Even when he lowered me onto the bed, I felt like I was flying. I was present and at the same time I was somewhere else, somewhere where my problems were just a figment of my imagination.
He undressed me gently, kissed every inch of my body. When he finally slid into me, I was lost completely. Our bodies moved in rhythm, as if it weren’t for the first time, as if we’d done this before. As we rose and fell together, I had only one wish. I wanted to stay lost forever. I never wanted to be found.