Page 105 of Jude

‘You did this? Ordered in?’ he muttered, a soft, grateful expression breaking through the tired lines of his face. ‘I was just going to crash with my stomach running on empty.’

‘Eat,’ I said, sitting on the opposite end of the velvet sofa as he dropped onto the cushions. ‘You can’t sleep or rest well if you’re hungry.’

‘Woman, thou art blessed,’ he growled as he surged forward and grabbed the platter.

‘How about you?’ he asked.

‘I had dinner while you guys were doing your vocal warm-ups,’ I told him with a smile. ‘I’m good, go for it.’

He inhaled the meal while seated on the couch, making soft grunts of appreciation as I sipped the hotel’s courtesy late-night glass of port and listened to him.

As he ate, Jude shared about the night’s show, explaining how the arena’s acoustics shifted once the humidity rose from the crowd.

As the clock edged past two in the morning, his sentences became shorter.

His eyelids drooped mid-word until his head slumped back into the velvet cushions, fast asleep with his fingers still resting around the empty mug.

I sat in the quiet for a long moment, eyes on the steady rise and fall of his chest.

I leaned forward, sliding the ceramic cup away from his hand, placing it on the table.

With care, I placed my palm on his shoulder.

‘Jude,’ I whispered, shaking him. ‘Wake up, big guy. You need to get into an actual bed.’

He groaned, his eyes flitting open with a dazed, uncomprehending drowsiness.

He allowed me to guide him to his feet, leaning into me as I led him across the dim foyer and into his bedroom.

When he hit the mattress, he reached up, his calloused thumb catching the edge of my jawline and smoothing over my cheek with lingering tenderness.

It sent an electric jolt straight through me.

‘Thank you, Sofia,’ he murmured before his eyes closed. ‘You’re incredible.’

‘Don’t I know it.’

JUDE

Every show on this run left me jacked up on post-gig adrenaline, but the real payoff was knowing Sofia was waiting in the wings.

She was sliding past my guards fast, bypassing every defense I ever had.

One night after our latest gig, I stood by the loading dock, eyes on her as she chatted with our lighting director.

Her melodic laugh cut right through the post-show buzz.

She had this effortless energy that commanded respect from our forty hardened roadies and my bandmates.

I couldn’t keep my eyes off her; heck, she kept stealing my breath.

Bishop and Reign sidled up next to me, their eyes following my gaze.

‘Sofia’s amazing, man,’ Bishop said, bumping my shoulder with his. ‘She gets along with everyone. Even Nari likes her, and you know how little patience Nari has for fools.’

Reign nodded, crossing his arms. ‘Yeah, your wife is top-tier. You scored well, Jude.’

Mason joined the huddle, his brow furrowed as he stared at her.