by Toni Aleo
Because Claire Anderson just blew away everyone around her with that dance.
Looking around, I see that everyone else thought what I did, because all I see are tens. When Rachael looks back at us, she glares before writing down the numbers. She then clears her throat and everyone quiets down, and she sets Claire with a look. “That was very impressive.”
Placing her hands on her hips, Claire smiles before nodding. “Thank you.”
“Watching you dance, I remember you from the competition circuit. You won everything.”
“Well, when you train with the best, you tend to be the best.”
“Touché, and let me just say that you are the first girl in my dance team history to get all tens from the hockey team.”
Her eyes meet mine again, and she smiles before she says in a very low, sexy voice, “Well, thanks, boys.”
Yup, my mind is mush. I can’t speak, hell, none of us can. She is just so damn hot.
Claire then looks back at Rachael and says, “Thank you for allowing me to try out. I hope I get the opportunity to dance with y’all.”
“I’m sure you will,” Rachael says, and then she calls Skylar’s name. I watch Claire walk back to the brunette, hugging her tightly and smiling so big her face is as bright as the sun. She is so beautiful.
“Jude Sinclair, you better give me a ten,” Skylar then calls at me and I laugh.
“We will see,” I say and she grins before her music starts, but like with everyone else, I can’t watch her, and when she’s done, I have to copy Jayden’s score, which is a nine. Skylar seems to be pleased, which is good, but I just couldn’t watch her.
I can’t do anything when Claire is the room. She’s the only thing I see.
Once Rachael announces that the tryouts are over, I hightail it toward Claire, reaching for her wrist to get her attention. She looks back at me and grins as she pulls a sweatshirt over her head, much to my dismay.
“So I heard you want to dance with somebody,” I say teasingly.
She laughs. “Maybe. You the man for the job?”
I find myself nodding like a fool. “I could be the heat you’re looking for.”
Shaking her head, she looks away. “Didn’t I say you were trouble?”
“You did,” I say and I take a step closer. “But I think you are going to ignore that and take advantage of me.”
Before she can respond, the brunette is beside us and asking, “Claire, who’s your friend?”
Taking a step back, Claire swallows as her cheeks fill with color. “Reese, this is Jude Sinclair. The current trouble in my life.”
Reese smiles as she holds her hand out for me. I take it, flashing the smile my mom says is my moneymaker before I say, “It’s wonderful to meet you.”
“You too,” she says and I know she’s eyeing my arms. Most moms don’t like my tattoos, my mom included, but I love them.
“This is my mo– Holy crap, Reese, I almost called you my mom! My bad!” Claire laughs, but I can see that Reese doesn’t mind at all.
Wrapping her arm around Claire’s shoulders, she says, “It’s fine. I would love nothing more than to be your mom, Claire. You know that.”
“I know, but you’re too young to have a nineteen-year-old hellion.”
“Maybe, but you’re mine nonetheless.”
Claire beams at her before looking over at me. “Reese is my soon-to-be aunt/mom/dance teacher/best friend.”
I smile over at Reese. “That’s some title.”
“It’s one I wear proudly,” she says before placing a kiss to Claire’s head. “Okay, I gotta run before I start crying again.”
Claire laughs. “What is up with all the crying?”
“Leave me be. Jude, nice meeting you. By the way, I love your name, very old-school.”
I grin. “Thank you.”
“Hope to see you again,” she says, her eyes leaving mine to send a direct look to Claire, but all she does is glare before shaking her head.
“Hush, Reese,” she says and Reese laughs.
“You’ll see me soon, with Claire. I’m trying to convince her to date me.”
They both look at me and then Reese says, “Oh Claire, I like him. He reminds me ever so much of someone I love very much.”
Claire is still glaring as she says, “No, he doesn’t, plus, don’t let him fool ya, he only wants to sleep with me.”
“That’s how it started with me and my man,” she teases.
“Ew, don’t talk about my uncle like that.”
She laughs but then sets me with a look. “Don’t hurt her, or I will send my fiancé after you. He is scary.”
“Not sure who we’re talking about, but I have no plans of hurting her,” I say quickly and Reese’s grin is back.
“Good. Later, kids.”
And then she’s gone.
When I look back over at Claire, she’s pulling up a pair of sweats. When she meets my gaze, color fills her cheeks again before she looks away. “She’s sorta crazy. I love her, though.”
“I think she’s awesome. Reminds me of my mom.”
She smiles, her top teeth sinking into her bottom lip. Taking a step toward her, I want to do the same, but before I can, she says, “You know that you don’t want to date me.”
I shrug. “That’s up for debate. I thought I only wanted to have sex with you, but for some reason I just can’t get you out of my head. I still taste you, Claire, and I know that has to mean something.”
Her eyes darken with color as her breath hitches, and I know this is the time to go in for the kill. Closing the distance between us, I wrap my arms around her, taking her mouth with mine in a hot assault. Any protest is lost as my lips move against hers. Her body is so soft and feels so damn good against mine. The taste of her is intoxicating, and as our lips move in a way that makes it hard to breathe, I run my fingers up her arms, cupping her sweet face in my hands. As she bites into my bottom lip, I moan against her lips before deepening the kiss. Our tongues move in such a sweet, sexy dance, and everything inside me is on fire.
When I pull away, it’s only to catch my breath, and I refuse to give her any space to breathe or decide this is a bad idea. “Let me take you to dinner.”
Her eyes dance with lust and everything naughty. I’ve never been so turned on in my life. When her lips part to speak, I can’t take it and crash my lips to her again. Pushing her against the wall, I press my body into hers, and I know that I should take it easy, but I can’t. I need her. I can feel her heart beating in her chest, and I know it matches the fast beat of mine. Pulling back once more, I open my eyes, meeting her sweet, blue gaze.
“Say yes,” I demand, moving my thumb along her jaw.
She shakes her head. “Why don’t I just let you take me to bed?”
Oh sweet God, say yes, say yes, you dumb lug. Don’t get lost in those eyes; say yes, and fuck her brains out.
But for some crazy, fucked-up reason, I can’t listen to my dick. I shake my head slowly. “My momma brought me up to wine and dine a lady first.”
Her mouth pulls up at the side as she slowly nods. “Maybe I’m no lady.”
“See, that’s where you’re wrong, Claire. You are a lady. The only lady who has my full attention. I’m not sure what I’m doing, or even who I am right now, but I want to do right by you. And if after dinner, you still want to take me to bed, believe me, I will not stop you.”
Her brows crowd in but then she’s fully smiling at me, and soon my mouth curves into a matching grin. “Why is it every time I see you, you surprise me?”
Leaning my forehead against hers, I move my nose slowly along hers, my lips teasing hers before I whisper, “Because I’m trouble.”
Chapter 9
Claire
Trouble indeed, but it didn’t matter. He’s pushing and pulling me straight to him, and I’m sure he isn’t going to let me go. Not that I want him to. There is something about him that has me completely and utterly drawn to him, no pulling needed. While I
want to sleep with him, I also want to get to know him. Really, I have no clue what I want. I just want Jude. All of him and I’m glad he turned down my offer to go to bed. While I want it, I don’t think I would have gone through with it, but then with the way he’s looking at me, his hooded green eyes flaring with lust, I’m thinking that previous statement was a total lie.
I damn well want him more than my next breath.
Swallowing hard, I suck in a breath as he runs his lips along mine in a very sexy, slow way. He isn’t kissing me, his lips are only grazing mine, teasing me in such a hypnotic manner. I want so much more, but I like this game. I love the teasing. Nipping at his bottom lip, my teeth sink into it and his minty breath comes out in a gust against my mouth. Releasing his lip, I take his mouth with mine, moving my tongue along his as his hands fall from my face to my hips, holding me tight in his large hands. Pulling away, only a breath, I look into his eyes as my mouth pulls up at the side.
“If we keep on, dinner will not happen.”
“I’m reconsidering my earlier proposition.”
I smile fully as I run my nose along his. “You want me?”
He groans softly against my lips as he nods his head, his nose moving along mine. We’re basically one, we’re so close, and I don’t think I ever want him to go anywhere else. The air around us is sizzling, and I find myself fighting for my next breath.
“I want you so bad I can’t see straight.”
I smile, loving that I’m affecting him the same way he’s affecting me. Fuck it, I can’t take this. I’ve been good too long. It’s time to go back to my naughty side, and if for some crazy reason – because I know darn well Jude doesn’t want anything more from this – he comes to think he does, then we’ll cross that bridge at that point, but now…now I want to ride him like a horse and never look back.
“Let’s go back to my dorm.”
I can see the struggle in his eyes. He wants to be a gentleman and that pleases me. I know he hasn’t ever treated a girl like that. He uses them and lets them go. I’ve heard the rumors and seen the way girls act around him, but with me…I affect him differently. I’ve never felt so powerful in my life, and it’s my job to make guys hard with lust, but with Jude, it’s a whole new ball game. His eyes have yet to leave mine, his hands haven’t left my body since he started touching me, and I just feel so amazing under his gaze. I’ve never wanted to completely please a guy, but I’m shaking to please Jude.
His lips move, but nothing comes out, and I take that as a go. Reaching for his hand, I lace my fingers with his and pull out my phone to see that Reese texted me.
He’s hot. Bring him to the wedding. I’ll tell Phillip to be on his best behavior. I promise.
Ignoring her message, I text Skylar.
Vacate now. Need room.
She replies with a 10-4 good buddy, and I know I’m solid. I know later I’ll have to explain what happened, but now I get to enjoy Jude with no interruptions, and my body shakes in anticipation. Looking over at him, a grin sits on his plump lips, and damn it, I don’t know if I’m gonna make it to the room. Stopping, I wrap my arms around his neck, kissing him deeply as his fingers come up under my sweatshirt, massaging my lower back as we kiss. Everything is on fire and I can’t believe these feelings. It’s deep in my stomach, tightening and scaring the shit out of me, but I don’t care. For the first time in years, I actually feel something for the opposite sex. While before it was only to get off, to make myself feel alive, or to piss someone off, now – while I would love to get off too, and by the look in Jude’s eyes, I know I will – I also want to enjoy him, and I want to please him.
I respect him.
Lacing my fingers with his, he looks deep in my eyes as his mouth curves in one of those devilish grins. “We can go get dinner, Claire, just say the word. I hope you don’t, though.”
“I’m not going to. Come on,” I say before dragging him across the quad. I feel people looking at us but I ignore them. When I glance over at him, his eyes are on me, ignoring everyone too, and it’s so elating. When my building comes into view, I almost squeal in delight before pulling him up the four flights of stairs to my dorm.
Throwing open the door, I go through, reaching for the hem of my sweatshirt before pulling it over my head and tossing it to the side. When I turn, Jude kicks the door shut and locks it before taking me in his arms, his mouth meeting mine in a magnetic kind of way. I get lost in the kiss, my head cloudy with lust as I press my chest against his. When his hands go to my hips and quickly lift me, I automatically wrap my legs around his trim waist before he turns, pressing me hard into the door.
I can feel him. Every single inch and my legs shake at the thought of him inside me. Tearing his mouth from mine, he kisses down my jaw, my throat, and dips his tongue between my breasts before pulling down my sports bra and taking my nipple in his mouth. The sensation warms me everywhere, and when he swirls his tongue around it, I cry out, my nails biting into his shoulders. Holding me up with his body, he runs his hand down my hips and takes ahold of my pants and shorts before pulling them down my thighs as far as they’ll go. Placing his hands on my bare ass, he squeezes it before snaking one of his hands up to my dripping wet center. He then moves his fingers inside me. I cry out, my legs squeezing him as he slowly fucks me with his long, thick fingers.
Remembering that the walls are very thin and Skylar has warned me countless times to make sure music is playing, I say, “Oh God, Jude, give me a second.”
He stops, looking at me questioningly before I search for my phone in the pocket of my bundled up sweatpants. When I finally find it, my hands are shaking, but somehow I link it to my Bluetooth speakers and push play on the first playlist I have. It’s one of my covers’ playlists, which is fine; it’s mostly acoustic music. Total sex music. Or at least I hope it is. Really, who gives a shit? I doubt either of us will actually be listening. Turning it up to where I think we’re safe, I toss my phone to the side and wrap my arms around his neck, bringing him in close. I kiss him slowly before parting and running my tongue along his lips.
“I usually don’t do it with music,” he says roughly against my lips, his fingers still playing with my naked ass.
“I don’t want the RA called on me.”
“See, no one can say anything at my house. I’m the captain,” he says, giving me a grin. “Next time we’ll go there.”
Next time. Why am I hoping there is a next time when we haven’t even gotten to the main event? Before anything else can be said, Jude carries me to the bed, laying me softly on it before pulling his shirt up and over his head. I sit up, pushing my pants, shorts, and panties down and off before reaching up to run my hand along his chest, down his abs, to the button of his jeans. When I glance up, his eyes are hooded, full of lust as he watches me. I want to admire all the tattoos along his chest and arms, but I am too far gone to care. I want him. Need him. Now.
I smile and he smiles back before reaching under my arms to help remove my bra and covering my body with his. He’s so much bigger than me. Stronger and more defined. And God, he feels amazing against my naked skin. I’m used to being close to naked in front of guys, but being fully naked, all my imperfections out for Jude to see… I should be nervous, but I’m not. Looking into his eyes, I see nothing but pure admiration for me and it’s so unreal. Never have I had this.
Sitting up, Jude drinks me in, his hands exploring my body. When he pauses, I cringe because I know he found it.
“That’s hot,” he says, running his finger along my brown mole that is under my boob.
“Sure it is,” I say, smacking his hand away.
He smiles, bringing my hand up and biting my fingertip. I take in a deep breath as he says, “It is.”
Before I can answer or tell him he’s crazy, he’s kissing down my throat, my breasts, my stomach, and when his mouth settles between my legs, I almost come off the bed. Biting down on my lip, I scream internally as he assaults my pussy like he owns it, and at that mom
ent, he does. My whole body is blistering hot; sweat drips down my temple into my hair, and I try not to scream, but I’m not doing a very good job of it. When my body seizes, he doesn’t let up. He ruthlessly licks my clit until I’m crying out so loud, I’m sure that people across campus hear me.
“Fuck, you’re so loud. It’s making me so fucking hard,” he says, standing and chucking his pants off and to the side. When his huge, hard dick springs out toward me, I can see why all the girls on campus love Jude Sinclair.
“Holy huge penis, batman.”
He laughs and my face turns red. I can’t believe I just said that, but my filter is clouded with lust. Reaching out, I take his huge dick and cover it with my mouth, stopping his laughter. Taking a step toward me, he pushes his dick farther in my mouth. I suck him in and out of my mouth quickly. All of a sudden, though, my hair falls along my shoulders from where he undid my clip as I lick and tease him like he did me. I’m a little rusty since I haven’t given head in a really long time, but the noises he’s making are promising and fuel me to go faster as his fingers tangle in my hair. I can feel him about to come and I’m excited for it, but before he can, he pulls himself from my mouth and shakes his head.
“I want to be in you.”
“Condom though, right?” I ask with my brows brought in.
He nods as he reaches for his jeans, pulling his wallet out. “Of course, baby.”
Why did I just swoon? Lying back on the bed, I watch as he sheathes himself before covering my body with his. Cupping me behind my knees, he brings my legs back before directing himself toward my wet center. Before he can go in though, I say, “I haven’t been with anyone in three years.”
I’m not 100% sure why I said that, but something possessive burns in his eyes and he nods slowly. “I’ll take it easy, but I’m not gonna lie, Claire. I’ve been around, but that stops after this.”
Then he enters me and lights go off behind my eyes. He’s too big or I’m too small, and I want to say stop from the burning sensation between my legs, but then he pulls out slowly, going back in again, and it starts to feel good with each thrust. Soon he’s causing another orgasm within me and I’m thrashing beneath him. Pressing down on my legs, he drops his mouth to mine, kissing the stuffing out of me as he thrusts into me so gently but at the same time hard. It’s insane and feels oh so great.
