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  “Of course you’re Jude Delecroix. What? Do I live under a fucking rock?!?! Apology accepted; however let’s get something straight, Jude Delecroix.” She drags my name out as she says it. “I do not give a flying fuck if you are a sexy as sin rock God who I may or may not have imagined naked once… or twice. God, you’re hot! Ok, I said it, but see here, Mister! That girl is my best friend and if you hurt her… if you so much as make her feel the impulse to smack you again, I will personally unleash my bat shit crazy on you and your world will in fact forever be rocked, because I will break your ass and then throw you in the swamp with the gators. Got it?” She flips her hair and smiles deviously into my eyes.

  I’m speechless, but oddly I like this chick. I smile at her, a real smile that reaches my eyes and makes the laugh lines and my dimple come out. “Got it, Cujo.” Then I look at Lexi, really look at her and speak directly to her. “I promise you I will not hurt you. I will do everything within my power not to hurt you.”

  Lexi audibly swallows and looks away from me.

  “Awesome. By the way, I’m Bradi.” And she winks.

  “Well it’s nice to meet you, Bradi. I’m certain I’ll see you around.”

  With that, Lexi brings her head back to me and gives me a small smile.

  “Oh, you will indeed. Lexi and I will be at the concert tomorrow night. In the front row. Ogling your hotness.”

  Lexi’s cheeks burst into color and she does the lip biting thing that used to drive me crazy. Lustful thoughts about that mouth return, but I beat them down… for now. “Is that a fact? Well how about I get you lovely ladies backstage passes? Lex? The guys will be happy to see you again, and backstage is a better seat than front row. You know, the best place to ‘ogle my hotness’ is from backstage.” I can’t help teasing her.

  “Works for me, Rock Star. Now I need to grab my coffee and get to the office. Just had to check on my girl. By the way, how’s the Mason wedding cake coming along?”

  Lexi’s mouth drops open and a look of horror comes over her face. “Shit! The Mason wedding cake. Oh shit!” She jumps up from the table, knocking the chair backwards, and runs into the kitchen.

  Chapter Eight

  Lexi

  Oh shit. Oh shit. Please don’t let them be burnt. Shit! I was so wrapped up in Jude that I completely forgot about the cakes. But seriously? Did that really just happen? Touching him was just like before. It was electric. I want to jump him. I want to crawl onto his lap and fuse my mouth to his, clashing our teeth together, and suck on his tongue. I need to kiss him until I can’t breathe. Or kiss him until I can breathe again. And I think he wanted me too. I saw it… his eyes told me he wanted me. Is it possible? Does he still want me?

  Miraculously, the cakes are not too burnt. I can shave the bottoms and it will be fine. Thank God! That was four hours’ worth of work I would’ve had to start over.

  Placing the cakes on the rack to cool, I fall back against the counter as I try to catch my breath and slow my racing heart.

  My fists are clenched and I’m digging my nails into my palms trying to get my equilibrium back under control. Because all I really want to do is march back out there, to the middle of my shop, and climb onto him… and let him climb inside of me.

  The urge to run my hands all over his body and explore the new tattoos with my fingers and tongue are so strong that the biting of my nails into my palm is literally the only thing stopping me.

  The kitchen door opens, “Lex? Is everything ok?”

  He’s in my kitchen before I can school my expression. He sees it all. Me holding myself against the counter, worrying my lip, digging my nails into my palms, my breasts rising and falling with my erratic breaths, and my eyes. He can clearly see the longing in my eyes.

  His eyes mirror mine.

  He freezes and we just watch each other. Our eyes are having the conversation we’re too chicken to attempt.

  My pulse gets even more erratic and my panties are so wet they’re uncomfortable.

  He stalks across the kitchen until he’s right in front of me. His body is pressed to mine. His legs to my legs. Our eyes never break contact. His rigid member is pressed intimately against my stomach, my breasts are near his abs and I know he can feel the points of my beaded nipples stabbing him.

  With a soft, tortured groan, his gaze leaves my eyes and moves to my mouth. I lick my lips in anticipation and watch him take a shaky breath. When he breathes, it presses him more deeply against me and it’s as if a switch is flipped. We reach for each other at the same time. Grabbing his neck, I pull his head down, knocking his cap and sunglasses to the floor, as he grabs my waist and lifts me up. Our lips find each other and it’s as if a bomb goes off. His tongue sweeps past my lips, and our tongues war with each other as our teeth clash. There is no gentleness here. It’s as if we want to consume each other. His hands roam my ass, squeezing my cheeks, and my legs lock around his waist, keeping his rigid length exactly where I want it. He throws his arm back and clears the counter behind me and lays me back, before he settles firmly between my thighs.

  I’m in heaven. He grinds against me and I’m so wet, I know he can feel it through his jeans. My hands grab fistfuls of his shirt and I use them and my legs to find his skin. My hands are all over him. In his hair, on his chest. I drag my nails over his back as our tongues and teeth duel. His hands leave my ass and push up my skirt; his fingers rub back and forth over the wetness covering my pussy. It’s clenching and all I want is for him to touch me. My clit is so swollen and ready. It’s throbbing.

  His fingers push roughly through the lace of my panties. He tears the delicate fabric as if it’s tissue paper and enters my moist channel. I groan and thrust against his hand. My hands leave his back and go to his belt buckle. His tongue in my mouth matches the thrusting of his fingers into my pussy. Harder and harder he thrusts, adding another finger as he does so.

  I’m finally able to get his belt buckle and the clasp of his jeans open and I reach in and wrap my hand around his pulsing cock. I start to move up and down, circling it, tightening and loosening my hold as I move.

  Both of us are groaning now and I move my mouth down to the stubble on his chin and nip him with my teeth over and over.

  I’m so close to coming and Jude is thrusting into my warm hand at the same rhythm as he’s fucking my tight pussy with his fingers. I can feel him swelling and tightening, so I know he’s close too.

  I lean back as far as I can to allow him to plunge deeper, knowing any second he’ll hit my sweet spot and I’ll combust, all the while I continue to stroke his cock.

  The hand that isn’t inside of me grabs my shirt and lifts it up, baring my bra to his eyes. He uses his teeth to pull it up so that my breasts are exposed to his hungry gaze and mouth. He bites, licks, and sucks my nipples until it’s almost painful.

  We’re so close. So close.

  We don’t hear the kitchen door swing open, so we continue our frenzied loving on the kitchen counter. At that second, Jude hits my ‘G’ spot and I scream out with my orgasm, my eyes rolling back into my head, as I bite him hard on the shoulder, and cum all over his hand. My release sets him off and he ejaculates all over my hand, groaning my name. His knees start to buckle with his release.

  I lie back on the counter and drop my arms to my sides, trying to catch my breath. He grabs onto the counter to keep from falling down.

  As my head lolls to the side, I look at the doors and see a white faced Erik just staring at both of us with his mouth hanging open.

  Jude follows my gaze and tenses as he turns around.

  I attempt to hastily sit up, but my body is spent, so all I can do is roll clumsily to the side.

  Jude pulls my skirt down and I attempt to right my shirt. He keeps his body in front of me, shielding me from Erik’s livid gaze.

  Erik’s face fills with rage and he advances towards Jude. Jude is against the counter, in front of me, and has no place to go. He stands up straight and meets Erik’s gaze head on, lif
ting his chin as he waits to see what Erik will do.

  I’m mortified. I try to jump down and get in front of Jude, to act as a buffer between him and Erik, but he’s not having any of it. He keeps his hand on my thigh, holding me in place, behind him on the counter. All I can do is look around him at Erik.

  “WHAT. THE. FUCK. JUST. HAPPENED? Never mind what happened, I saw what happened. Everyone in the shop heard what just happened. Are. You. Out. Of. Your. Fucking. Mind. Lex? You just let him use you! On the counter in the shop’s kitchen. This is how you handle the situation?!?!” He bellows at me. His face is almost purple and I can clearly see he’s holding onto restraint by a thread.

  I open my mouth to respond, but he cuts me off and gets right in Jude’s face.

  “I should beat the fuck out of you. I don’t know what you’re used to from your groupie whores, but she” he points at me, “is not a whore. She’s not some slut you can fuck against a bar wall.” I see the color drain from Jude’s face, as I scramble off of the counter. “She’s Lexi, the woman you used to love. This is her place of business and everything she’s worked so hard to build. How dare you come in here and treat her this way. Say something! Say something stupid motherfucker, because I’m dying to fuck up that pretty boy face and teach you some manners! SAY SOMETHING!”

  I’ve never seen Erik like this. He’s enraged and it’s almost scary. I try to lay my hand on his arm, but Jude’s body is still in the way. I try to speak again, but this time Jude cuts me off.

  “You think I don’t know that, E? You think I don’t know exactly who she is? She’s nothing like my groupies.” He’s right back in Erik’s face. They’re so close they’re spitting on each other as they rage. “You’re not her damned bodyguard, Erik! You’re not her brother or her boyfriend. You don’t have the right to decide what she can and cannot do, especially with me.” He sighs and backs up a step, but still looks right at Erik, not backing down. “I know who she is. I’m sorry you saw that. But I’m not sorry it happened. I’m sorry it happened here, this way, but I AM NOT SORRY IT HAPPENED. So you back the fuck off, Bro!”

  I’m sitting here, shell-shocked. I don’t know what to say anymore. I’m starting to freak out about what just happened.

  I’m looking from Erik to Jude unable to form a coherent sentence just waiting for the other shoe to drop, or for one of them to start swinging.

  Erik looks intently at Jude, like he’s looking inside his head, and Jude lets him. After a second, his posture drops and he no longer looks like he’s going to kill him. I see the tension flow out of Jude too and, while still watching Erik, he grabs my hand and entwines my fingers with his.

  I see Erik take in the gesture and he shakes his head. He looks back at Jude and says, “Yeah?”

  Jude gives him a small smile and nods his head in agreement. “Yeah.”

  Erik shrugs his shoulders, shakes his head in exasperation, throws up his hands, and then gives me a small smile as he turns back towards the shop. He mutters over his shoulder, “Well, ok then. Make sure it stays that way.”

  I’m so confused. I have no idea what just happened. What I do know is that I was just intimate with Jude and it was fantastic. Our bodies were still perfectly in tune, and now he’s holding my hand and caressing my knuckles.

  The way he’s acting says he cares. So because I’m me and this is Jude and I have no willpower when it comes to this man, I just squeeze back, press a kiss to his back, and go with it.

  Time to take a chance…

  Jude

  WOW. Just wow. That was amazing! I did not intend for that to happen, but no way in hell am I sorry that it did. She’s still so responsive to me… like we never parted. Lexi is the yin to my yang and I’ll be damned if she’s leaving me again. After that. No way, no how. She. Is. Mine.

  I watch Erik walk out the door and feel Lexi squeeze my hand and press a sweet kiss to my back.

  I turn around and face her. She looks content, but unsure. I want to erase the uncertainty. I lean in slowly so as not to spook her and press a gentle kiss to her lips. She seems surprised, but her lips soften and relax as I slowly trace the seam of her lips, asking permission to enter her mouth. She sighs softly and her tongue tentatively brushes against mine.

  I keep holding her hand and tracing circles across the top as I slowly but thoroughly explore her mouth with my lips and tongue, tasting every inch of her mint flavor. After the fervor of what just happened, I want to show her some tenderness. And this brings back so many memories of our time before.

  After quite awhile, I lean back, let out a breath, and kiss her mouth gently one more time.

  She looks at me with deliberation and asks softly, “What was that for?”

  I rub my nose against hers slowly and reply, “Because, I wanted to.”

  She gives a satisfied sigh and rests her head on my chest, right near my heart. It speeds up with her in such close proximity to the organ, that little does she know, she still owns.

  “How were the cakes? They weren’t ruined, were they? I’m sorry for distracting you.”

  She lifts her head, looks at me introspectively, and touches my face. “No they’re ok. Minor damage, but nothing that can’t be fixed.”

  I wonder to myself if we’re still talking about cake.

  I lift her back up, sit her on the edge of the counter, and stand between her legs with her hand still on my face. “I have rehearsal tonight for the concert tomorrow, but would you like to come along and maybe have dinner after?”

  I can’t seem to stop touching her. I don’t want to. Her touch soothes the beast in my soul that has run rampant since she left me eight years ago.

  Smiling that beautiful smile that was always reserved for me she says, “Let me check with Erik and make sure he’s ok with closing. As long as no one calls in tonight, I should be able to. Are you sure you want me there?”

  I turn my head and lay a kiss in the center of her palm. “Yes. I want you there.”

  “Ok then.”

  Chapter Nine

  Lexi

  He wants me at his concert rehearsal. And he’s being so sweet. So romantic. So like MY Jude. Please God, please don’t let me trust him again with my heart and have him shatter it… Again. I won’t survive it. But to be honest, I’m not sure anyone can survive Jude Delecroix twice in one lifetime anyway.

  Jude picks up his hat and aviators and puts them back on, before walking backwards toward the kitchen door. He’s looking at me the entire time, saying he’ll call me later to make sure I’m coming. If I don’t call to tell him otherwise, he’ll pick me up at five.

  Right as he reaches the door, he walks back into the room, pushes his aviators up, and picks up my cell phone from the island. Pulling me towards him, he rubs his nose against mine. As I’m staring into his eyes, he snaps a photo of the two of us to put with the contact information he’s just entered. He saves it, kisses me one more time, and walks out the door. Whistling.

  What just happened?

  He’s acting so much like the old Jude, my Jude; it’s hard to remind myself that the past eight years have even taken place. It’s hard to remember he’s a womanizing rock star.

  I take a moment to regroup and look at the photo he just snapped, before washing my hands and cleaning our mess. Then I walk into the shop. Erik gives me a smile as he pulls me against his side. “Well… that was certainly… interesting. So love, tell me, what’s up? Or rather I know what was up. You have a gorgeous glow and I’m certain that everyone within a ten mile radius is aware that you just got lucky. Very, very lucky.” He wiggles his eyebrows at me and smirks. “Please tell me you disinfected the counter.”

  I blush bright crimson and playfully shove him. “Geez, Erik, shut up!”

  He lets out a deep belly laugh and kisses my head again. “You know I’m teasing you. And while I am worried about you because I love you, I know you’re a big girl and that shit” he points to the kitchen, “was bound to happen with the two of you sooner or later. I�
��m just surprised it was the night after you punched him in the face and split his lip. By the way, that was fucking awesome!”

  “Yeah well, I didn’t wake up expecting that this morning!”

  “I know you didn’t, love. I know. But you really do have a glow about you. Even though it pains me to admit it, so did he. And that was pretty ballsy to get in my face like that when I was ready to beat him to a pulp. I’m impressed! Standing up to me when he knows I can break him was pretty effective. He still cares about you, you know.” He’s tracing soothing circles on my shoulder as he talks into my hair.

  “I think I know. I can hope. I was so scared one of you was going to start swinging. I would have hated that. In all the years you were friends, even after… you know… you two never came to blows. It would have devastated me if it’d happened because of me.”

  “Lex, just promise me something. I know I’m not your bodyguard, your brother, or boyfriend, but promise me you’ll be careful. Please? I meant what I said last night. I can’t handle watching you if you lose Jude again. You can’t handle losing Jude again. Be happy. Figure it out, but please promise me you’ll be careful.”

  I sigh because I know he’s right, but I also know it’s too late. I’m already so completely enraptured with Jude that if he leaves me, I’m going to break. And this time… this time I won’t recover.

  Erik is watching me the entire time and can read me like a book. He knows exactly what just went through my head. “Ok then. Just be careful.” He sighs too. “So, what did you come out here to talk to me about?”

  I look at him from under my lashes as my cheeks darken and I bite my lip. It’s a nervous habit and one I wish I could break. “Jude asked me to go to rehearsal with him tonight and then out to dinner. I told him I’d have to make sure you were ok with closing, we were fully staffed, and that I’d let him know.”

  “You want to go?”

  “Yeah, I do. I haven’t seen him rehearse since, well, before. And dinner would be nice. But only if it’s ok with you. I’m not going to just abandon you because he’s back in town for a few days.”