Page 68 of Elf-ish

“Gross.” I gag, while surprisingly aroused.

In a sudden shift, Jude crouched over me, and I’m on my back staring up at him. I choke out, “What are you doing?”

He presses pause on the remote without breaking his focus from me.

“You had a situation last weekend.” He arches one of his perfectly sculpted brows. “And you let an audiobook help you out.”

“A situation?” I choke. “Is that what people call it nowadays?” The urgent desire to get off, to release tension, to imagine what it would feel like to have his hands on me.

He tugs the blanket between us out of the way, then returns to all fours over me, ignoring my sarcasm.

“Now . . . you’re allowing a movie to work you up.” Those icy eyes of his are pure fire. Sparks practically fly out of them. The gleam is mesmerizing.

“When I’m right here.” His voice drops, low and arousing. “Let me be the one to give you what you need.”

“And what do I need?” In my head, I’m stronger than my voice conveys because I’m nearly hyperventilating with him over me. His expensive cologne is intoxicating. The temptation to kiss him is overwhelming.

“You tell me.” His gaze narrows in on the corner of my lip before shifting back to my eyes.

“You probably shouldn’t kiss me,” I warn, licking my lips.

Jude gently cups the front of my throat, and I swallow against the cuff of his palm. The icy touch is gone, and in its place is warmth that spreads around my neck like a comforting scarf.

“You don’t want me to kiss you?” Jude continues to stare at my lips, rolling his own like he’s holding them back from taking what they want.

“I don’t think you should kiss my mouth,” I clarify, swallowing again underneath his palm holding my neck. “Because I’ve been sick.”

While I feel so much better than I did, I unfortunately can’t seem to shut off the practical, medical side of my brain, which is whispering about lingering germs, while the other half is screaming for me to lift my head and take what I want from him.

Jude quickly removes his hand and kneels back. Concern instantly mars his edgy features. “You said you felt better.”

“I do feel better.” I swallow one more time. “Just not my mouth.”

Slowly, he leans forward, eyes locked on mine. “But I can kiss you in other places?”

I hold his gaze another second before slowly shrugging. Like the slowest shrug. More like a shoulder wink.

Jude’s hand is suddenly back on my throat, turning my head to expose the side of my neck. He runs his nose along my flesh, sending goosebumps across my skin. I shiver as the tip of his nose crests the edge of my ear.

“Are you giving me permission to kiss you anywhere I wish?” His voice is almost sinister while wildly seductive at the same time.

“Yes,” I whisper.

His mouth latches onto the side of my throat before the final S hisses from my tongue. He sucks long and deep, moving along my jugular like a vampire seeking his first bite.

I’ve read Twilight too many times.

“Tell me. Did the narrator of your book say I want to kiss you everywhere?” His voice drops to the perfect rugged tenor, and goosebumps break out on my flesh.

He shoves aside the loose collar of my pajama top and sucks on my collarbone. His tongue is a gentle lash and slow lick, and my hips move of their own accord, needing connection or friction or just something more.

“Oh God,” I whimper, my entire body lighting up with anticipation. We probably shouldn’t be doing this. I’ve been sick. He isn’t my boyfriend. But every cell in my body wants to feel his touch, experience his caress.

He works down my chest. “Did your narrator say show me those pretty tits. I want them in my mouth. Swirl my tongue over your tight nipples.” He unbuttons the large buttons on my silky pajama shirt as he talks, and all thoughts fly out of my head, other than he’d make a damn good audiobook actor.

Jude spreads my shirt wide, humming at the lack of a bra beneath the shirt that matches my pants. Then runs his tongue over one breast, circling my tight nipple before sucking deeply at it, acting out exactly what he suggested.

Again, I cry out quietly, arching toward him and spreading my fingers through his hair.