“Thank you, Florida!” The last band just finished their performance, full of their new and old music, pyrotechnics out of this world, and the crowd went absolutely wild. Where we were on the rails earlier today for all of the other shows, the same can’t be said for the headliner. We tried to get as close as possible, but with the thousands of other concert goers, it was impossible. That probably had something to do with the need for both of us to re-hydrate and eat more than just the candy we’d been passing back and forth to one another or the snacks we picked up along the way.
I needed sustenance, with protein and it being on the cold side. There was no way pizza or a cheeseburger would do for me. I grabbed a chicken salad wrap. Jude did similar but doubled up on the amount. We ordered more drinks and sat in the shade. By the time we finished up, the crowd surged, making getting as close as we could impossible.
“Jude.” I bend over, trying to get his attention. We’re way in the back, and the only way I could really see was standing on the tips of my toes. Jude noticed, and at first, I balked at the idea. The idea of ruining everyone’s view made me worried I’d piss them off. Then I got tired of standing on my toes, moving back and forth only to realize everyone was so damn tall. Simply stated, they could get fucked. Other people were doing the same, and it pushed me to tap on Jude’s chest. He bent down until my mouth hovered near his ear to ask if the option was still open. I didn’t even get a response before Jude squatted down, I climbed up, settled my thighs on either side of his head, and the man did a dead lift.
Talk about an instant turn-on all over again, and that’s not including the subtle touches of his fingers on my bare skin or the kisses he’d sneak in when I least expected it.
“Yeah, Foxy.” He looks up at me. The overwhelming urge has me planting my lips on his. I should ask to be let down, but Jude takes over the kiss, exactly like he did earlier in the day where things got hot and heavy, and I more than felt what our mouths on one another did to him. I also got to see the bulge beneath his zipper with my own eyes. There was no way he could hide his hard length. My thighs slammed shut, and my core ached with a need so heavy I’d never felt anything like it before.
Jude’s tongue slides along the seam of my lips, and my mouth instantly opens for him. How he’s able to keep us steady while streams of people move around us, I have no idea. His strength is unwavering, and his control is impenetrable. The tips of his fingers squeeze the back of my legs. Ilose myself to our kiss, eyes screwed shut while my hands are cupping his jaw, feeling the roughness along his skin from his days’ worth of stubble.
“Jude!” His name flies out of my mouth when my body is moved in such a way that the only thing I can do is let momentum take its course. I shouldn’t be surprised that he has no problem positioning me until I’m off his shoulders, hands are cupping my ass and hiking me up the length of his body. I wrap my legs around his waist and say, “Well, hi, there.”
“Enjoy the view?” A playful tone and roguish smile greet me.
“Yes, thank you.” I look around, noticing the place is thinning out at a rapid pace. They keep this area open for the overnighters, allowing them a couple of more hours to stock up on food and drinks. As for me, well, I’m going to have to make tracks soon.
“The pleasure was all mine.” Jude squeezes the cheeks of my ass, jostling me up, and I realize what he’s doing. I unwrap my legs so he can place me on my feet. “I guess I should walk you to your car and head to my van, unless I can convince you to stay the night.” His voice goes from happy-go-lucky to a sullen child that had his favorite toy taken away.
“I can’t. No clothes. And, Jude, letting you pay is not happening.” I have the money, especially with working as much as I did the past week. Dad was more than happy to let me take over more shifts. It meant he didn’t have to sling drinks during both day and night. He also stated the regulars preferred my pretty face compared to his ugly mug. Which isa lie. The women still flock to my dad, and yes, I cringe internally over the fact that not only is dad single, so is Zane. My brother is an identical replica of our dad, only younger and with less gray hair. It’s uncanny, really, and their personalities are completely the same as well.
The one plus this week has been the amazing tips. I don’t know if the stars aligned or if maybe they pitied me being there day in and day out. Whatever the case is, I’m going to take it and run. What I really should be thinking about is a career now that I’m in my early thirties, except I’ve tried other jobs. Nothing holds my attention. College has never been on my radar, and everything I’ve learned has been hands-on. Plus, name another job where you can make close to five hundred dollars each night on the weekends and the money doubles when we close the bar down for a private event. There’s also a little thought in the back of my mind, maybe Dad will one day retire, and I can take over the family business.
“Fine, I’ll wear you down. Tomorrow.” Jude isn’t giving up, and I’m really going to need to bolster my holdings of telling him no. A word I’m beginning to think he doesn’t know the meaning behind.
“You are aware I have an older brother, right?” We’ve started moving with Jude keeping my hand in his while we navigate away from the main stage.
“Yeah, Ronnie, I know. What does that have anything to do with it?” he fires back. Jude might not have any biological brothers or sisters, but I do know he has friends, a lot of them, and with them come their wives, along with a baby, a toddler, and one he teases is eight going on eighteen. Jude’sfriend group seems to be growing by the day seeing as how he told me a couple of them are currently pregnant.
“Then you should know I can spar with the best of them, verbally and physically. Zane is a pain in the dick. I’ve had to deal with him for too many years to count, and now that we kind of work together, it still doesn’t end.” I’ve tried to be quick on my feet with comebacks, and I’m never as witty as him. What I can do is hold my own when he tries to negotiate a favor for him, only letting up when it works out better for me and shittier for him. Then there’s the wrestling he’s always tried to convince me was for my own good. Self-defense, my ass. Tell me why I’d walk down the hallway, and he’d put his arm out at the last minute and knife-hand strike me or, you know, stick his foot out and trip me. Those two instances had me running to our dad and made Zane a dish bitch for a month.
“Foxy, I negotiate contracts daily. I’m going to put it to the test.” We make it out of the gates and to the parking lot entirely too fast for my liking.
“You can definitely try. I’m parked over there.” I use our combined hands to point in the right direction. The traffic leading toward the exit is at a standstill, my absolute worst nightmare to deal with, that and parking. I need a clear path for both, or I’ll either sit back to wait or won’t go to an event, especially if finding a place to park is a shit show. The groan I try to keep from uttering doesn’t go undetected by the sharp ears beside me.
“Ronnie, I know you’ll say no, but if the thought of driving home is too much and you’re tired, please, let me pay to upgrade your pass.” I’m so tempted to give in, to allow himthis concession, but I’m not exhausted. If anything at all, my energy is at an all-time high. The adrenaline rush from being around Jude, watching the shows, and soaking it all in has me jittery.
“It’s not that, promise. The traffic to get out of this place is what has my eyes bulging.” Jude looks out at the sea of cars lining each row—nothing but brake lights for miles. Even with the many entrances and exits, it seems everyone is rushing out of the event at the same time. Maybe we should have stayed inside the gates a bit longer, or I can hang out in my car, replay every moment on repeat until things calm down.
“You sure?” he asks.
“Yeah.” I squeeze his hand, looking at him while we continue our path to my car. He pulls me into his side with our combined hands, then untangles our fingers, and goes straight to the back of my neck, massaging my muscles.
“By the time we get to your car, it’ll be cleared up, and the offer still stands, Foxy.” True to his word, he’s going to do his best to convince me to let him drop a boatload of money, and I’m going to resist him every step of the way.
“I know, but the answer is still no.” I unlatch the hook to my bag to dig my keys out. Jude’s hand drifters lower, settling on my lower back, and like it has all day, every time he touches me, a shiver races along my skin.
“Do me a favor, at least?” My palm wraps around the keys after finally finding them in the mess of my bag. Jude still has a pack of candy stashed inside. I should probably ask if he wants them for later tonight, but it’s hard to payattention to anything else when he’s touching and talking to me.
“What’s that?” We’re at the trunk of my car. Jude spins me around, settling his hands on my hips and dipping his head.
“Pack a bag. Gonna see what I can do tomorrow at the will call. I won’t pay, but if they have extra guest passes, well, it’d be nice for you not to have to deal with this. And before you say anything else, I’ll sleep on the couch in my van, alright?” Well, fuck me running. He just threw down, and it’s hard to resist. Then again, who’s to say he’ll actually be able to snag a ticket for me?
“I will, but I’m not kicking you out of your bed. I’ll take the couch, that’s if they even have tickets. And, Jude, you have to swear to me that you won’t buy them. It’s only if they have extras.” I look up into his dark chocolate eyes, intense and captivating. The brown carries a hint of gold, making them all the more inviting.
“I won’t buy the tickets. The sleeping arrangements, we can argue about later.” He licks his lips. My gaze locks on the movement, more than ready to have them on me again. “Truce?” He tips his head to the side, and no sooner do I nod than his mouth meets mine. There’s no more talking. Heat instantly blooms in my chest, my breath catches, and when Jude cradles my jaw with both hands, gentle yet possessive, I press closer, anchoring myself to him as he deepens the kiss, slow and hungry like we weren’t just in a clench within the festival. His tongue sweeps across mine, the heat leaves me trembling, and through it all, Jude holds me steady.
7
