He glanced up, his mouth falling open. He’d caused this. He’d made this intense, dynamic, pain-in-the-ass man lose it like this. Blue eyes snapped open.
“Hell, General,” Jude whispered as he cupped the side of Snow’s neck.
He stared back for a few moments then whispered, “I know.”
Jude slumped against him, reaching up to tangle his fingers in Snow’s soft hair. He took a few moments to catch his breath and to try and gather his thoughts because his mind was blown. He turned his head, pressing his lips to the light stubble on Snow’s jaw. Snow turned and slid his hand along Jude’s cheek before cupping his chin and kissing him.
This kiss, so different from the ones before, tasted of something new. A sort of sated, happy surprise and maybe a hint of possibility. Jude hadn’t been the only one to feel the powerful connection between them and it seemed he wasn’t the only one wanting more. It was there, in his lips. In his tongue.
Snow pulled back then surprised Jude with a laugh and a full body shiver.
“Oh,” Jude breathed. “You know what I did?”
“Yeah,” Snow answered, still trying to catch his breath. “I was here. It was good.”
Chuckling, Jude snuggled closer. “I never turned the heater on.”
Snow grunted. “Huh. I didn’t even notice.” His chest moved as he laughed. And shivered again. “Noticing now.”
“Sorry about that.” He managed to get control of his legs and he pulled Snow to the bed. “Get under the covers and I’ll get the heat going.” He tied off the condom, threw it into the trash, and hurried over to the plug in the heater. “You hungry?” He turned back to see Snow climbing under the comforter.
“I shouldn’t be after all those carbs, but—”
“You’re remembering what Mana gave us to bring home, too, aren’t you?”
Snow turned onto his side and propped his head in one hand. His gaze ran over Jude’s naked body, appreciation visible in the way his eyes narrowed, the way he licked his lips. “You mean the wonderful food we left in the car? Yeah, I am. I wish I’d never been introduced to your mother’s evil Gruyere carbs.”
“That’s right! We left that in the car. It’s cold, so it should still be good.” He picked up a pair of sweats and frowned at them. “It would make more sense for me to run out and get that now before I warm up too much, huh?”
“Yep.” Snow shot him a wicked grin and made a show of pulling the covers higher. “I’d like to eat some more devil pasta, so go! Oh, and I hope you’ll be up for another round. I’ll have to work that shit off.”
“Oh, I’m up for it.” He picked his jacket up off the floor and shoved his feet into his running shoes. The coat stuck to the sweat that hadn’t dried on his body and he grimaced. He opened the door, knowing that frigid air outside would feel rotten. “This is going to suck.”
“You know you want to eat it, too.”
“I do. But I want that other round and it sounds like I have to romance you with my mother’s food to get it.” He stepped into the stairwell.
“Hey Torres,” Snow called out.
“Yeah?” He was silent so long, Jude stuck his head back through the doorway.
Snow’s expression was so serious, it caused his heart to beat harder.
“You don’t have to do anything to make me want you again,” he finally said.
He stared at Snow for several seconds, taking in the serious expression, then smiled. “Ditto, General. Ditto.”Chapter 21Snow didn’t scoot over when Jude brought the heated food with him to the bed. It was cold in this apartment and he wanted to steal some of Jude’s warmth. The man exuded it like he’d been born on the sun. As soon as he was settled under the covers, Snow threw his thigh over Jude’s. “Only one fork?”
“My mouth has been on most of your delicious body and I have every intention of hitting the rest at some point. Often. So, we can share.” He stuck the fork into the mac and cheese, then held it out.
Before Snow could take it, Jude pulled it back.
“Wait.” He blew on the food.
Snow’s heart stuttered. Then he felt like an idiot for being affected by something so small.
Only, it wasn’t really small. Snow honestly didn’t know how to take this man. Hot, he got. Fantastic in bed, he got. Hell, even that dominant streak, he got—and usually had himself. But there were so many other layers to the man. Tender, possessive, caring layers that made Snow feel things he wasn’t sure how to handle. For the life of him, he couldn’t figure out why Jude was throwing all the…loving, okay, it was definitely loving gestures his way. And he did it like he truly believed Snow deserved it.