Page 74 of Jude

‘Marvel?’

‘Are you kidding?’ Sofia settled back into the deep cushions of the oversized sofa, pulling her knees to her chest. ‘Tony Stark is hilarious, and Captain America fights for the underdog. Plus, things explode. It’s perfect.’

‘Works for me.’

As the movie started and the action-packed opening sequences filled the room, I leaned back into the embrace of the couch.

I kept my eyes on the screen, but my mind locked on the woman sitting next to me.

My view of her was shifting.

I brought her into my home, thinking of her as a fragile, red-flagged soul I had to guard; a displaced, traumatized woman who needed a hiding place.

Seeing her laugh with such unguarded joy, witnessing her command my kitchen with grace, and now, as she cheered for superheroes, I realized I had underestimated her.

Sofia wasn’t just a timid victim to be protected.

She was resilient, with a quiet strength and allure that crept past every single one of my walls.

She was also breathtakingly sensual; heck, she was damn sexy, and every time I looked at her, it stole the air from my lungs.

My mind betrayed me, tracking straight back to making love to her.

To the smooth glide of her skin under my palms, the heat of her breath washing over my neck, and the undone moans that shattered my control.

A sudden, fierce wave of desire hit my gut, and my cock went rock hard.

I wanted nothing more than to reach across the cushions, pull her into my lap, and lose myself in her fire again.

However, I clenched my jaw, gripping the armrest to find some control.

I’d put my foot down and told her it wouldn’t happen again.

I promised her I would keep my hands to myself, and I refused to break her trust or make our situationship any more complicated than it already was.

I forced my gaze back to the screen.

All the while, I fought the fever in my blood and the urge to touch the one woman I couldn’t seem to stop thinking about.

Chapter 16

JUDE

My mind went into a tailspin as I fought my growing craving for Sofia.

I tried to force an emotional distance between us to honor our contract without crossing the line.

However, my self-control ripped apart at the seams.

She was too alluring, too full of life to keep my hands off her.

Before her, the dead quiet of my home suited me fine.

Now that the empty spaces were filled with her voice, her music, and her feasts in the kitchen, I found I was addicted to the new vibe.

When Sofia was away at work, the cavernous rooms felt hollow, and the silence gnawed at me; I yearned to have her near me.

If I were working from home while she was at The Sanctuary, I would make excuses to drive there.