Page 162 of Jude

Its feathers ruffled in the evening breeze.

Jude angled away from me, a silent chuckle shaking his chest as he followed my gaze.

‘Damn these eagles. Always showing up for us.’

‘A cousin, you think? One that’s come to make sure we get our shit together?’

His lips quirked.

‘Most likely. If I step out of line again, I expect one might rip out my throat.’

Jude stared down at me with fierce, possessive affection, tightening his grip around my waist.

His smirk faded into an expression of utter devotion.

His thumbs slid to my jawline, tilting my face upward as his gaze locked onto my lips.

This time, the kiss was deeper, an unhurried, beautiful claiming of each other that left us both breathless.

We held each other until the final light vanished from the sanctuary.

His chin rested on the top of my head, his muscled arms holding me with protective intensity.

‘You’re a real piece of work, you know that?’ he murmured into my hair. ‘I never planned for you, woman, never saw you coming. Yet I went through hell for you, and I’d do it again if only for this moment with you. I love you.’

‘Ti amo, mi alma,’ I whispered, tightening my grip on him. ‘Ti amo di più.’

Chapter 34

JUDE

The hellscape of the past few weeks gave way to bliss.

I was hit with a surge of triumph and a rush of love for Sofia, so epic it made my head spin.

My hand clamped around hers, my fingers locking her in an iron grip as I led her out of the chapel.

We walked back to the boarding house, tapering my long strides to keep pace with her smaller ones.

She was coming back home, with me.

Upstairs in her cramped cubicle within the shelter, I loomed by the door, while she shoved her few belongings into a canvas duffel bag.

As she was stuffing one item in, I narrowed my eyes on it.

‘Is that my hoodie, the black one with the really good lining babe?’

She jolted and turned to me, her face a study in guilt.

She bit her lip and nodded.

‘I took it from the house, to remember you by, to have your scent on me. I might have slept in it every night too.’

‘So I had my mark on you all this time,’ I growled, pleased as fuck, lips quirking.

Taking two strides, I wrapped my arms around her, my mouth falling on hers.

I let her go a few moments later with a growl, heated, scorching for her.