Page 77 of Jude

Resting her head against his broad chest, she took several deep breaths. The capture by the soldiers, the imprisonment, the threat of a mind wipe, almost losing Jude, and now this sick, twisted vaccine. Holy dragons, it was too much.

Jude didn’t hurry her as she worked through the panic. He let her lean on him. She wrapped her arms around his chest and pulled him to her. She drank in his scent, and felt the rub of his shirt against her tender cheek and the way his fingers held her tightly. They were finally alone. She could stop pretending she was a super woman. She’d been so terrified in the interrogation center. She’d been certain she would die. Or worse still, Jude had been killed, and she’d lost him.

Octavia’s breath hitched, and a shudder ran through her. Jude had rescued her. He’d arrived when she’d needed him the most and saved her. She would never forget that. Some of the panic and fear left her. She became aware of Jude’s hard chest muscles underneath her cheek and the steady thrum of his heart.

She twisted her head and kissed the fabric of his shirt. “Thanks.”

“For what?” His voice was deep and low.

“For everything. For being here. For looking out for me.”

“Always and forever.” Jude’s hands stroked down her back before he lifted her chin and ran a thumb along her scars.

On instinct, she tensed, but then relaxed. It was Jude. Her scars didn’t bother him, and the fact she’d lost her hair hadn’t fazed him either. He was amazing.

He kissed her lips. It was a soft, gentle touch, demanding nothing but stirring a heat inside her. “How’s your cheek doing? The bruising has already lessened.”

“It feels better.” Octavia didn’t care about the fracture. She wanted more of Jude. She grabbed his shirt and yanked him closer before sliding her tongue into his mouth.

Jude growled in response. He slid his hands down her back and cupped her backside.

She felt how hard he was. She wanted him, more than anything. A few little injuries would not stop her.

Jude took a deep breath and pulled back from their kiss. “This is not resting.”

“I have a new lease on life.” Octavia kissed his lips again.

Jude grinned as he pulled her shirt up, sliding his hands across the bare skin of her back, always avoiding her laser burn.

His touch brought her skin to life as he caressed her, wiping away the fear and pain she’d felt for so long.

Jude made short work of the shirt’s buttons before easing it off her shoulders. “How’s the laser burn?” He placed lingering kisses on her collarbone before kneeling and unzipping her pants.

“It’s healed.” Octavia’s core heated as he slid her pants down her legs and pulled off her boots. She wore no underwear. She stood in front of him, naked, as he kneeled before her.

Desire filled Jude’s eyes as his hands slid up her calves, along her thighs, and around to her ass.

“I should shower,” she said huskily.

“Do that later.” Jude eased her back on the bed and kicked off his own boots. “Lie on your front so you don’t aggravate your injury.”

Licking her lips, Octavia turned slowly onto her front, resting her undamaged cheek on the bed. Her pulse raced as she heard the zipper on Jude’s pants come down and his clothing drop to the floor.

Desire made her shake as she felt his weight descend onto the bed.

His hands ran up the muscles of her calves in a slow, firm motion. He massaged her tired flesh, his fingers heating her skin. He worked the aches and the kinks out before sliding his hands up her thighs, edging her legs open as he did so.

Octavia couldn’t help but moan as Jude continued to work on her muscles.

“Does it feel good?”

“It feels incredible,” said Octavia. It had been such a long time since anyone had touched her in this way. She was so used to being roughly handled, or not being touched at all. She realized how long it had been since she’d felt desired and desirable. Her injuries had kept her hidden from everyone for fear of the disgust and rejection she’d experience. She’d hidden from finding love or seeking physical contact. Only now did Octavia realize what she’d been missing out on.

Jude’s fingers slid higher up her thighs. She bit her bottom lip to stop another groan sliding from her lips.

He gently pushed her legs wider apart. His fingers skimmed her wetness, and a growl escaped him.

Octavia couldn’t help but grind against the bed, desire flooding through her as Jude’s hard fingers inched closer to her core.