He started to tell her he hadn’t lied, but he had in fact lied to her, so he kept silent.
She abruptly grabbed him into a tight bear hug. “I know there’s more to this story. I raised stubborn boys on my own. I’m no one’s fool, Jude Torres. I also know you aren’t going to tell me everything. I can see that something is tearing into our Jordan. If there is anything I should know, please tell me.”
He hugged her back. “Mana, I…” Jude started to give her more reassurances to smooth over his lies and omissions, but instead he nodded against her shoulder. “I promise we will.”
She sighed and tightened her arms.
All he could do was hold her. She would never know the entire truth. It wasn’t his truth to tell. If Jordan decided to tell her about the rape, that was another thing. But she’d never know what Jude had done. He wouldn’t want her to live with that knowledge, too.Chapter 22A nightmare woke Snow. He lay still, staring at the ceiling, his heart beating fast. Although a month had passed, the stress of everything that had happened had brought up some old tendencies—mostly in the form of bad dreams.
As usual now, though, he quickly remembered where he was. He was safe and happy, and the reason why was next to him.
He turned and found Jude asleep facing him, moonlight lighting up his beautiful face. His black hair was in disarray, his chiseled jaw shadowed by scruff that grew faster than he could shave it, so he mostly kept it trimmed close. His full lips were pursed in a sleep kiss. Snow stared for the longest time, calming in one way while his body woke to another more pleasurable reason for being awake. His heart ached with the love he felt for this man. Even though Jude also had trouble sleeping, he still leaned close and kissed him, smiling when those brown eyes opened.
“Is it morning?” Jude rasped.
“No. Almost,” Snow whispered, kissing him again, licking along his bottom lip. He scooted closer and pressed his hard dick to Jude’s thigh, loving the rasp of hair there.
Jude smiled against his lips. “Your cock thinks it’s morning.”
Snow rolled him onto his back and came over him, straddling his waist. Jude’s hands came up to rest on his hips. Snow propped his hands on either side of Jude’s head and stared down at him, his chest feeling full and hot. The moonlight streamed bright through the open curtains of their bedroom, giving Snow a clear look at his expression.
He couldn’t help but worry about Jude. The man was too good to have been forced into taking a life, and Snow fucking hated that he’d been brought to that. He’d never forget facing down that gun, but what had come right after was the reason for a lot of his nightmares. He hated that Jude would have to live with it.
His man stared back, silent, waiting to see what Snow wanted. He was always there for Snow no matter what, and he knew with every fiber of his being that he always would be. Jude stroked his thumbs over his hipbones.
“Marry me,” Snow whispered. He pressed his mouth down on Jude’s, opening his lips and sliding his tongue inside his mouth. Their tongues rubbed together as he took the kiss deeper. He kissed down Jude’s neck, nipping and licking. “Marry me,” he said softly against Jude’s collarbone. He kept kissing his way down. He licked his nipple, then opened his lips over it to suck it into his mouth. Jude writhed against him, his nipples always extra sensitive. He moved to the other, giving it the same attention. “Marry me,” he breathed as he got off Jude and kissed down his stomach. He nuzzled the wet tip of Jude’s cock, licking at the drops of pre-cum there, then took it into his mouth. He swirled his tongue around the head, sucking him down deep.
“Yes, yes, yes.” Jude thrust up into his throat, pulled back, then pushed up deep again. He let out a soft, humming moan.
The swell of emotion in Snow’s chest made tears burn the back of his eyes. He made love to Jude’s dick, sucking and licking, taking it as deep as he could, loving the slide of smooth, silky, warm skin. Jude smelled so good here, musky and warm. He pulled off and ran his hand over his wet length, dipping down to lick his sac. He took one ball into his mouth, then the other. He licked underneath, nuzzling Jude’s pubic hair, pulling his scent deep into his lungs. “Marry me,” he said, his voice raspy and low from emotion.
“Any day, any time.” Jude spread his legs wider, reaching down to haul him up his body.
Snow settled on top of him and Jude cradled his body, thrusting his cock alongside Snow’s. Sweat had started to build on his skin, so they slipped beside each other, the glide mind-meltingly hot. He cupped the sides of Snow’s face, staring hard at him. “You mean it? You really want to get married? What happened to my general who doesn’t believe in it?”