“Yes.”
“You weren’t worried I’d approach Stevens prematurely or do anything detrimental, were you?”
“Nope. Again… Just thought I should be there for you.”
“Thank you,” he sincerely said. And he kissed her.
Kate told him, “I’m also not going to congratulate you. I understand that’s a double-edged sword.”
“Again…thank you.”
He directed her toward the bank of elevators.
Inside the car, she commented, “I figured you’d be tense.”
Sliding her a knowing look, he said, “And you thought you’d help solve that problem?”
With a quirked brow, she inquired, “You doubt my ability to do so?”
Jude chuckled, slicing through the tension. As she’d hoped.
“I most definitely do not,” he contended.
“Good.”
They reached his floor and stepped out. Jude gave a gentle tug on her hand and led her to his door.
While he worked the locks, she inched closer to him, her free hand slipping under the hem of his suit jacket. She gripped the material of his shirt at his waist and yanked.
“We’ll never make it to the bedroom if you keep that up,” Jude warned her.
“I don’t need the bedroom. Not even a bed.” Her arm snaked around him and she unfastened his belt just as the last lock sprang free. “The floor’s fine. Against the door. I don’t care.”
Glancing down at her, he mused, “You’re that hot for me, Kate?”
“Hotter.”
“Goddamn, that’s sexy.”
“You’re sexy. Doesn’t matter where you take me, Jude. Just as long as you take me.”
They barely crossed the threshold, Jude barely kicked the door shut behind him, and his hands were on her. Gripping her hips. Shuffling her backward, until she bumped up against the foyer table.
With the sweep of his hand, Jude sent all manner of knickknacks soaring across the vast entryway.
“Jude,” she gasped. “I hope none of those were keepsakes. Or expensive—”
“Quiet, Kate.”
His mouth sealed with hers and his tongue plunged and tangled and teased.
Kate tore at his clothing. Literally tore at it. She had no idea what the hell she was doing. Just heard material rip and drop to the floor. Her hand cupped Jude’s nape, holding him close to her, keeping him kissing her.
His hands gripped her ass. He lifted her up and deposited her on the table. He shoved her skirt up to her hips. They continued undressing each other…all the while, his kiss consumed her, made her succumb completely to him.
Then he was inside her, pumping aggressively. Driving deep. Pounding relentlessly…
Kate broke their kiss and cried out. She clung to Jude as he fucked her. She wound her legs around his waist and let him take control. His hips bucked and hers met every wild thrust.