Series: Fever Falls Series by Riley Hart
Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 81426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
I was looking in the fridge, trying to decide what to eat before I went to take a shower, when there was a knock at the door.
The only person who typically showed up without being expected was Sawyer, so I closed the fridge, and assuming it was him, pulled the door open. “What do you want—oh. It’s you,” I said when I saw Jude standing there. “I figured you were my brother.”
“Thank God I’m not.” He cocked a brow at me, then held out the pizza in his hands. “Have you already eaten?”
“No, and I’m fucking starving. You’re a lifesaver.” I let Jude inside, and he went straight for the table, setting the pizza on it. “This is a surprise.”
“It is, isn’t it?” His forehead wrinkled as if he was putting more thought into this than what I’d meant for it. But the truth was, Jude rarely came to my place, and he certainly didn’t just show up here the way I sometimes did with him. “You look tired.”
“I am. I had a long day.”
“Do you want me to go?”
“Are you crazy? I’m taking advantage of this shit,” I teased.
“Sit down. I’ll grab beer and plates.”
“There are paper plates on the counter next to the toaster if you want to make it easy.” I had no idea what had gotten into Jude, but I sure as shit wasn’t going to turn down a little spoiling. “I’m going to clean up real quick. I’ll be right back.”
I was dirty and needed to get my ass in the shower, but I was also hungry as hell, so I took my shoes and socks off, then went into the bathroom and washed my hands and arms. When I made it back out, Jude was sitting at the six-person farm-style table, with the pizza box open and a plate with slices in front of him and one for me. He’d grabbed us each one of the IPAs, which sounded really fucking good right about then.
“Thank you for this. I was probably going to eat stale bread if you hadn’t shown up.”
“Or ordered dinner.”
“Yeah, but doesn’t it feel better if I make it sound like you saved the day? I always like it when people do that with me.”
Jude chuckled, that rich, earthy laugh I liked so much.
“How was your day?” I asked.
“Good. I spent a couple of hours with Theo. He wants to go to the party with us, by the way.”
“No shit?” I took a bite of my pizza.
“Yeah, we had a good talk, figured some stuff out. Jesus, he’s a good kid.”
I nodded. I liked Theo a lot too, and I was glad he’d found Jude. Hell, I was glad Jude had him as well. “And you’re still okay with it? Going to the center?”
The question made Jude frown. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
I’d been thinking all sorts of thoughts lately. It was a lot, and maybe he wanted to go back to a time when he didn’t have to come out just because he was dating someone specific. It wasn’t something he would have to do once either. He would have to do it over and over again, for as long as we were together. Fuck, why did shit have to be so complicated? Why the hell couldn’t people just love whoever they wanted without having to explain themselves?
“No reason,” I said. “Just making sure.”
We didn’t talk much as we ate. When we finished, I stood and stretched. “I really need to get my ass in the shower. I probably stink. I might not be the best company tonight, but I’d like you to stay.”
“You’re always good company.”
“True.” I grinned, then pressed a kiss to his lips. “I’ll be back.”
“Does that mean I’m not invited?”
Oh, well, hello there. Someone was in a naughty mood. “You’re always invited. I love Naked-Jude time.”
He chuckled and said to get started while he put the pizza away. I went to my room and turned the shower on before stripping out of my clothes. I was just stepping inside when Jude joined me in the en suite, pulling his shirt over his head as he did so. “I think this suddenly is my favorite day,” I teased, making Jude’s cheeks tinge pink.
“Shut up and get in the shower, Boyfriend. I’m gonna take care of you.”
“Yes, sir. That’s definitely something I can get behind.” I had no idea what had gotten into him, but I liked it. Maybe I’d been overreacting. Maybe Jude and I were fine and he was already working through things.
He joined me a moment later. My eyes scanned his body, his tight six-pack abs. His cock, which was slowly growing, nestled in the short, dark hair at his groin. All that golden skin and those eyes and those lips and… “I’m suddenly not so tired anymore.” I wagged my eyebrows.