When You're With Me

by Wendi Zwaduk

  Jude grasped his shoulders and hovered centimetres from his lips. “Take me in the house.”

  Ramon nodded. “I want to make love to you, sweet girl. I want to feel you surrounding me.” She shifted to stand and he held her fast. “But I refuse to take advantage of you.”

  She backed away a few more inches. Sadness clouded her blue eyes. “You won’t be.”

  He pressed a kiss to her swollen lips. “You’re scared and don’t trust me enough. First, I’m going to show you what it’s like to be home.”

  Chapter Five

  A single table lamp illuminated the enormous room, giving it a cosy, intimate glow. A handful of photos and a couple of concert announcement prints hung on the bland sand-coloured walls, with a garish beer clock adding interest above the bay window. Otherwise, the bedroom was rather barren. He watched her and wondered what she thought. Was she displeased? He’d change anything to make her happy.

  Ramon stopped at the foot of the king-sized bed. He could imagine her living with him and being completely happy. She looked perfect in his home. The farmhouse could be theirs…

  He shook off the feeling of ease. She wasn’t his…yet. She might never be. He tried not to expect what couldn’t be, but the thought lingered. What if she was what he wanted—his missing piece? His gaze followed her. His entire being sought her touch.

  Jude sat down on the edge of the bed. She glanced around the room. Her smile remained thin.

  Ramon crossed the short distance, sat down and pulled her onto his lap. “Tell me what’s on your mind, sweet girl.” He cupped her cheek. Her light perfume continued to drive his senses wild.

  Tell me you love me…

  Whoa! Where’d that come from? He bit back the goofy smile curling his lips.

  She squirmed to get comfortable. His erection pressed against her backside with delicious tension. He had to get himself under control—no need to spook her further. Her lips parted and her eyes closed, sending a fresh wave of desire crashing through his body. If she kept that up, he’d be a goner.

  Strike that—he was already on the ragged edge and in danger of going over.

  Ramon tugged her close and brushed his lips to hers. He could feel her shiver again, this time with delight. Her sensuous moves made his craving surge. He pushed the kiss further, not wanting to break their connection. His tongue brushed past her lips and slid against her teeth, mimicking the rhythm of lovemaking.

  At first, Jude fought him, but gradually opened. He swallowed her moan—proud that he could still produce such a reaction in a woman. They needed to go further—he wanted all of her.

  Not yet.

  As if she’d been shocked, she pulled back. “I thought we were going home. You said you wanted to wait.”

  “This is my home. Where I really live and where Tiny isn’t watching every last thing I do.” Ramon smiled and chuckled. “Do you know how sexy you are?”

  She shook her head. “You confuse me.”

  “I can’t keep my hands to myself, but I promised to be a gentleman.” He brushed a lock of her hair from her eyes. His fingers trailed down the side of her face. She shivered. “You’re all I think about, sweet girl. How I want to kiss away your fears and protect you against the bastard that wants to control our lives. In a short time, you’ve become very important to me.”

  Jude thumped his arm. “You say that to all the girls.”

  Ramon wrapped his arms around her and kissed her temple. “Just the adorable ones. I don’t bring just anyone to meet my gramma.”

  The blush ran from her collar to her hairline. “So, what do we do now?”

  “We’ll find some cheesy movie on the television and get crumbs all over the bed. I promise.”

  She cocked her head. “Yeah?”

  He cupped her jaw again and feathered kisses from her earlobe to her lips. “You can use my chest as a pillow. I won’t even kick you out for snoring.”

  Jude burst out laughing. “Deal.”

  “One condition.”

  “What’s that?”

  Ramon covered his eyes with his hand and peeked through his fingers. “You’ll hold me during the scary parts. I’m a wuss in badass clothing.”

  She bit her bottom lip, but giggles spilled forth. “I doubt that, but I could probably offer you some assistance.”

  Ramon joined in her laughter and touched his forehead to hers. “My sweet girl.”

  * * * *

  Two hours and one bag of ranch chips later, Ramon flicked the television off. Jude sighed and snuggled closer to him. His gaze roamed along her prone body. She had every right to be asleep—she worked a crazy schedule in order to pay her bills and, with Tiny’s intrusions, worried herself into a frazzle.

  He, on the other hand, was wide awake, although it was nearly two in the morning. He brushed the crumbs off his shirt and yanked the blanket from the end of the bed over their bodies.

  Jude snuggled closer to him as though they did so every night and rested her head on his shoulder. She sighed and went still. His heart did flip-flops—could she love him? He stared at the stark white ceiling trying to digest the events of the past three days.

  She trusts me.

  His heart screamed love and his head vehemently ignored it. This encounter was only supposed to be for her to recuperate after a long week. Then why did he want her to stick around in his life? Why take her to the farm and introduce her to his family?

  Ramon stared at the ceiling. If Tiny kept tabs on her, then what did she have to hide? A niggling feeling in his gut wouldn’t calm. Was he putting Jude in danger by choosing her? Was she in on the drug trade at the club? He doubted she sold the packets, but there was that inside chance she could be lying.

  Her hair tickled his jaw. Deep down in his gut, he knew she wasn’t in on the trade. Her involvement shouldn’t matter, but it did. Damn it. He cared about her. He cared too damn much. She made him laugh, think and burn with a white-hot passion he’d never known he possessed. And they hadn’t even made love yet.

  Ramon wrestled with his feelings and thought about his former lovers and ex-wife. With Nat it had been love, hadn’t it? No, he’d wanted to be with her because she’d had the qualities of a stable mother. Theirs had been more of a tepid friendship than a sizzling love affair. Nat had felt sorry for him. She hadn’t wanted him to be alone so she’d given in for that miserable year.

  What about Carlie? He’d thought he’d loved her…but had he really? Not in the least. They couldn’t stand to be in the same room together unless they were naked.

  But Christ, this thing with Jude… It wasn’t even supposed to happen. Getting involved with someone while undercover…

  He was so fucked.

  Ramon tucked his free arm behind his head then kissed the top of Jude’s head. Her silky hair tickled his cheek once again and her light scent danced in his brain. She draped her jean-clad leg across his. Her breath was light and warm against his skin. His heart leapt. Even in sleep, she had the ability to turn him inside out. And they had yet to make love… Damn, thinking about sex with Jude gave him a boner.

  What made her ‘the one’?

  He wanted to adore and protect Jude. He craved her love in return. How could he show her how desperately he needed her to need him? Jude was the type of woman he could be with forever. She was his ideal vision of the mother of his children.

  Would she agree?

  Because of the early hour and his lack of sleep, irrational thoughts entered his head and wreaked havoc with his common sense. What if she only wanted him as a means to escape the wrath of Tiny? What if she figured out he wasn’t just a bouncer? She wouldn’t use him to escape punishment, would she? What if…?

  He looked at the clock.

  Two-nineteen in the morning.

  Ramon closed his sleepy eyes involuntarily and pushed the silly, irrational thoughts from his mind. He’d deal with those things in the morning. For now, he’d revel in his precious time with his Jude.

  * * * *
<
br />   Jude woke the next morning with a start. She rubbed her eyes. Where the heck was she? Korn poster on the wall. A large black bureau sporting a small, flat-screen television. The tan walls felt more like a day at the beach, rather than a bedroom. Like an embrace.

  Like his embrace…

  “Good morning, sweet girl.”

  She turned her head. Ramon’s voice slid over her soul, smooth and easy. “Hi.” She peeked under the comforter. “We’re still dressed.”

  Ramon propped himself up on his elbow. A wicked grin turned the corners of his mouth. A sprinkling of hair darkened his jaw. “You’re surprised?”

  She kissed his chin. “Pleasantly surprised to find there are still a handful of gentlemen roaming the earth. What time is it?”

  “Ten. I let you sleep. When’s your first class?”

  She swiped a hand over her face. “Five past eleven and I need to change. I won’t be intruding on your gramma, will I?”

  “She lives on the first floor. Her knees can’t handle the steps.” He pressed his lips to her forehead. “I’ll be downstairs waiting.”

  Jude hurried through a shower and wound her hair into a clip. The faded jeans and T-shirt would have to do. She gathered her makeup and notebook into her messenger bag. Ramon stood at the bottom of the stairs, a grin spread across his face.

  “What?”

  “You.” He threaded his fingers with hers. “I like the fresh look. Reminds me how young you are.”

  “Is that bad?”

  “Not in the least.”

  Thankful the college was on the close side of town, Ramon pulled to a stop in front of the Vestige Arts and Theatre Building. “How long?”

  “Three hours.”

  “I’ll be back when you’re done.” He smoothed his hand over her cheek. “We’ll do supper before you have to go in.”

  “You got it.” Jude kissed him on the lips and climbed out of the car. She afforded him a wave and strode into class. For one of the first times in her life, the weight of her future wasn’t so heavy. She didn’t need a man to make her existence complete, but having his affection and protection gave her spirit wings.

  As she unlocked her art locker, Professor Rosengarten ambled past. He gestured at the closet-sized changing room without a backward glance. “You have experience being nude, so it won’t bother you. Step to it.”

  She frowned at his back. What a jerk!

  Jude did as told because the class was a requisite, but his remark made her feel dirty and used. As she posed three feet in the air on the selection of rickety furniture in ridiculous positions, she took a deep breath. She wasn’t opposed to being nude. Posing never bothered her, but the professor didn’t need to be quite so blunt.

  Jude ignored the questioning glances and snickers from her fellow students—she still had her pride. When school concluded in a couple of months, Jude would be free, unlike her peers. She held her head high, knowing she’d have done it on her own.

  Being still gave her time to think about the previous weekend. Running off to the country was a bit out of character, but being in Ramon’s arms—that was heaven. She glanced at the wall of windows. Cars rolled past in an endless cycle.

  Ramon…

  The thought of him warmed her body and sent a slow burn to the junction between her thighs. Her mind switched from ignoring the professor to her own private fantasy. It didn’t matter if the class knew—she didn’t care what they thought anymore. All she cared about was Ramon. Would he want to make love to her, even though she’d kept him at arm’s length? She wanted to spend lots of alone time with him. What would sex with him be like?

  Her mind wandered to a fantasy. She and Ramon were both in the drawing classroom, posing for a non-existent crowd. He wore only faded blue jeans and she was totally nude. Her skin sizzled with the imagined feel of his rough hands.

  “So this is how you spend your days?” Ramon lowered himself onto the couch next to her and leaned in for a consuming, primal kiss. “What’s the fun of sitting still when you can be the action instead?” His groin rubbed naughtily against her. The roughness of the zipper teased her smooth mound. God, she wanted his hands everywhere.

  “Do you have a better idea?”

  His eyes flickered sinfully. “This.” He nibbled her right nipple into a stiff peak. His left arm curled around to the back of her head. His touch was strong and demanding. “And this…” He lowered his lips to hers. “Is this what you want, babe? I want to pleasure you.”

  “Ramon!”

  He shoved his pants past his narrow hips and guided his cock into her sopping wet pussy.

  “God, I want all of you inside me.”

  “Not yet.”

  Jude furrowed her brows. Not yet? No, she needed him right now.

  “Miss Nelson, I’d like you to turn and lean on the back of the chair. Put your best face forward.”

  Jude blushed. Oh. She hadn’t left drawing class. She nodded and complied with the professor’s command. Had he caught on to her divided attention? Did he think she approved of his smart-ass remark? Not hardly.

  “Drat,” she muttered. Only a fantasy…

  Jude’s embarrassment evaporated when the professor added a partially nude male model to the mix. The model, who wore jeans, was a fellow art student named Aiden. He was handsome in his own right, with straw-coloured hair, hazel eyes and a crooked smile. A garish fraternity tattoo covered his right pectoral muscle. Good looking, but not what she wanted. He was nothing compared to the rush she got from the simple touch of Ramon’s hand.

  “Lie back against the couch so we can recreate an Odalisque.” Jude shifted into position and threw her arm over her head. Good thing she’d remembered to shave.

  “Now, Aiden, hold her as if she were the most prized possession you own.”

  Aiden bent over her and leaned in like he was about to kiss her. His right hand gripped her breast while he braced his left hand on the back of the couch. He anchored his right knee between her thighs with his left foot firmly on the floor. A sinister light lit his eyes and a wolfish grin curled his lips.

  Jude clenched her jaw and averted her gaze.

  “I never knew you were so hot,” he whispered. “Stop covering yourself up in those stupid baggy clothes and be the sexy bitch you’re meant to be.”

  Jude glared. “I’m not a piece of meat.”

  “Is this how you entertain men at the Silver Steel? Never saw you there, but I’m looking now”—he bobbed his brows—”for something special.”

  “No.”

  As if he couldn’t hear the argument, Professor Rosengarten prattled on about the light on the planes of their bodies and how the models aroused each other. “Notice the electricity. Make sure you capture that in your work to make the audience feel the intimacy.” He patted the couch above Jude’s head. “Make the viewer feel as though he or she is part of the relationship.”

  Jude rolled her eyes. Maybe Aiden was horny—she wasn’t excited in the least. She squeezed her eyes shut to prevent Aiden from getting the wrong idea. Her ideas settled on the thirty-six-year-old bouncer who owned her heart.

  Jude wondered what Ramon was thinking or if he even missed her. Probably didn’t care. She glanced out of the bank of windows by the door to the hallway. A set of chocolate brown eyes sparkled through the glass. Ramon.

  Her breath caught in her throat. He came.

  Ramon nodded. His smile brightened, showing off his white teeth.

  Jude licked her dry lips. The man hadn’t touched her, yet she felt closer to him than the man crouched over her. Maybe Ramon was the one for her.

  * * * *

  Ramon strolled past the rush of students leaving the classroom. A dark-haired girl with wire-rimmed glasses grabbed his sleeve. He turned.

  She flipped long mahogany hair over her shoulder. “Class is over, but I could give you some private instruction. Interested?”

  Shocked by her boldness, Ramon shoved his hands into his jacket pockets. “Thanks, but I
’m meeting someone.”

  The girl shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

  He frowned and watched her disappear into the chaos of the hallway. Interesting.

  “I see Tara spoke to you.”

  The smile tugged the corners of his mouth. “Jude.” He ducked into the classroom.

  Jude sat cross-legged on one of the benches. “She tells every man she’d like to ‘tutor’ them.” Her chin rested on her curled fists. “I didn’t think you’d show. Promises are easy to break when something better comes along.”

  “And miss out on spending time with you? There’s no one better.” He plopped down next to her. “Besides, I wanted to see what you do with your time.”

  “Other than dancing?”

  He stroked her jaw. “Is modelling another one of your jobs?” Her eyes widened. Ramon backpedalled. “I mean… I don’t know what I mean, but I didn’t—”

  Jude covered his mouth with her hand. “We take turns. It was my day to model.”

  He licked her fingers. She retreated. Ramon grasped her palm and kissed her knuckles. “You glow.”

  She cocked her head. Creases formed between her brows. “What?”

  Ramon wrapped his arms around her. Her head tipped and their gazes met. “Sweet girl, I’d rather see you nude in private, but when you’re posing you look natural. You are honest and happy when you’re in your element.”

  Jude licked her bottom lip. She slid her arms around his shoulders, toying with the hair at the back of his neck. The combined actions turned his insides out. She inched close to him, her mouth a breath away from his. “I’m creating art. That’s beautiful to me. I’m not a fan of the professor, but I’ve learned to deal.”

  Ramon crushed his mouth against hers, plundering her sweetness. Jude moaned. Her pussy rubbed against his leg. His heart beat a manic tattoo in his chest. When they parted, he gasped. “Beautiful suits you.” He smoothed his hands over her back and butt, memorising her curves. “I like the look. Screw me for being biased.”