Bound to be Tested: Emergence, Book 3 (17 page)

Chapter Fifteen

Jason knocked on Jude’s front door Thursday morning. He’d waited out front in his car like a man on surveillance until Lori had left. And then he approached. He’d had the entire night to think this situation over. He might be crazy, but he thought he was on to something.

Jude opened the door, his eyes widening. “Jason.” He stepped back and let Jason in.

“I see you haven’t skipped town again yet.” Jason walked around, looking at the place, soaking in the details of this rental home. Nothing looked odd to him.

“It isn’t something I want to do.” Jude’s vague response made Jason smile.

“This game again?”

Jude shook his head. “I’m not playing games. Just stating facts.”

Jason turned around and faced Jude. “Look, I may have lost my mind, but I’ve been thinking about what you said, or didn’t say rather, and I have a theory.”

Jude stepped past him and entered the kitchen area. He filled two mugs with coffee and handed Jason one. He motioned for the table, set his mug down and grabbed a sugar bowl and a spoon. Both items he pushed toward Jason.

Jason stared for a moment, picked up the spoon and scooped the sugar into his coffee with more confidence than he’d entered with. This was precisely how Jason took his coffee. “Good memory, Jude. Quite the attention for detail.” He stirred the sugar and set the spoon aside.

When he lifted his gaze to Jude’s, he found his old friend staring at him intently, his lips pursed. “Go on. Let’s hear this theory.”

“You were in the army. That’s about all I ever knew about what you did for a living. I realized after you left mumbling about me
knowing you
that really I didn’t. I made a list of facts with Carlton’s help and we came up with some incongruent details.”

Jude didn’t move a muscle.

Good, maybe I’m onto something
. “So you were in the army. You worked at the base near here. I don’t know what hours you kept, but you didn’t leave town often if at all. Maybe occasionally for a few weeks.”

Jason took a sip of coffee, gauging Jude’s reaction so far.

“Go on.” Jude sat back, cupping his hands around his mug.

“The list is kind of random. But I did realize you threw that paperweight through my wall in the exact spot I punched it and just had it repaired. If that was a coincidence, I’m running for president.”

Jude didn’t move. He didn’t even blink.

“So I asked myself, who the hell could do such a thing? And I came up with only one choice—the reason we didn’t know much about your army life was because you’re a member of some elite team you can’t discuss.”

Jude sat stone-faced.

Jason cocked his head and continued, “Let’s say you got deployed for some sort of assignment you’d been working on behind the scenes for years, and you believed you wouldn’t survive the mission.” He watched Jude for his reaction and got nothing. That was good. If he’d been completely in line for the looney bin, Jude would be laughing or making a strange face.

This stoic silence spoke volumes.

“But you lived. It shocked even you. And you came home unscathed. You couldn’t get Lori out of your mind, so you decided to come back here and see if she was still your woman.” Jason set his elbows on the table. His face was less than a foot from Jude’s unwavering gaze.

“She loves you, Jude. So much I can’t sleep for worrying about what it would do to her if you hurt her again.”

Jude didn’t move.

Jason took a deep breath and rolled his eyes. “Damn.” He’d hit the nail on the head.

“So something has gone wrong, or there’s another mission. And you aren’t at liberty to share a word. Some top-secret government shit. Which is strange since you’re about to retire.” Jason chuckled now. “This sounds like a low-budget film. I’m going to get an Oscar.”

Jude didn’t laugh. He took another sip of coffee as though they’d been discussing the weather. “Did you see the Giants play the other day?”

Jason blinked.
What the fuck?

Jude sipped more of the brew in his hand. “They played neck and neck the entire game and then made that amazing field goal with only a few seconds left on the clock. Ahead by three points, they got all cocky and shit and started celebrating too early. The Broncos caught the kickoff and ran it all the way down the field into the end zone. That’s messed up.” He shook his head as though seriously disappointed in that game.

Except Jason
knew
Jude. Jude hated the Giants. Never watched them. He was an Atlanta fan. No way was he watching the New York game while Atlanta was playing.

Jason nodded. “That
is
messed up. Do you suppose they weren’t paying attention?” This word game was making his head spin.

“Fuck no. I’m thinking the Broncos had a ringer they stuck in the game at the last second, and the Giants were caught with their pants down. They probably didn’t know what hit them. Hell, it could have been the next day before they realized they’d lost.”

Jason stared at Jude, his chest heaving. Neither man spoke a single word for long minutes. His coffee grew cold in his hands, and he couldn’t release it for fear he would shake.

What the hell had just happened here?

Jude lowered his voice and added, “I sure hope there were some good people around to console some of the wives of those poor bastards after their loss. I can only imagine them sitting there in the stands with huge smiles on their faces before the utter devastation.”

Fuck
.

Jason swallowed. Is this what it would come to? Something about Jude’s mission got fucked up and he had to go back?

He hedged that last confusing bit. “Thank God they don’t play each other again for a few months, or they might have trouble picking up the pieces for the next game.”

“Yeah, don’t bet on it. Those Denver players will be rubbing this in their faces forever.”

Jason breathed harder. This was fucking serious. Jude was involved in something dire, and the shit was about to hit the fan whether he liked it or not.

Jason stood. He needed to get out of there before Lori got back. If she found him here, she’d think he was checking up on her. And he was. He needed to think.

He set his cup in the sink. “Well, I’ve gotta go.” He left Jude sitting at the table and headed for the door. Before he opened it, he spoke again without turning around. His throat constricted, and he feared he might cry like a baby if he didn’t leave quickly. “I’ve got your back, man. No matter what,” he choked out. As though the place were on fire, he left, shutting the door behind him and practically running for his car.

Jude sat at the table, never more stunned in his life. No, Jason hadn’t gotten every detail correct, but that smartass bastard had figured most of it out. He understood the gist, and Jude was immensely relieved and grateful. It took a tremendous load off his shoulders knowing his best friend wouldn’t stab him on his way out of town if it came to that.

And more importantly, Lori would be cared for.

Jude’s phone rang and he cringed as he glanced at the caller ID.

“Give me good news, Stanton,” he said instead of hello.

“I wish I could.” His commanding officer’s voice wasn’t cheery today. “Still trying to locate the mole. I have a team on it, but he may have entered the States. I need you to be diligent. Don’t do anything stupid. Hang tight until I gather more intel.”

“Are we talking days? Weeks?”

“Days. Sorry, man. That’s all I’ve got.”

Jude shut the phone off and set it on the table. He stared at it like it was a piranha while he wrapped his hands around his coffee cup again. “So much for vacation,” he muttered to the empty room.

This situation was fucked up, and now he had Lori to think about.

Jude wanted to kick himself in the ass. He shouldn’t have been so quick to return to Emergence. It would have been prudent to wait a few months until the dust settled. He’d been anxious.

And now it might cost him. Hell, it might cost others too.

He pondered the idea of sending Lori home now, or at least heading to the base, but decided it was best to wait until he heard from Stanton again. If US soil had been breached, he was better off staying put for the time being, as Stanton said. If his unit could put an end to the threat without causing a stir, Lori would never have to know what happened.

If not, he was ready. Thank God Jason had come around. Lori would lose her mind over this, but he’d have no choice but to drop her off at Jason’s and return to help his unit.

He cringed, knowing she wouldn’t survive the fallout a second time. Not with their relationship intact. This wasn’t in the plans. He’d returned here hoping he was safely going to bide his time for the last several months of his active duty, advising other personnel with the National Guard. After a few weeks of vacation, he’d intended to sail home free. Not this. A return to his unit hadn’t been in the cards.

All he could do now was wait.

Chapter Sixteen

Lori stepped inside and quietly shut the door behind her. She was early. Her last class had been canceled. It was midafternoon. Jude wasn’t expecting her.

She made quick work of removing her clothes and setting them aside. A slight chill climbed up her skin. It wasn’t warm enough in the house for nudity.

As she rubbed her arms, she paused. Jude sat at the kitchen table. He was leaning back in the chair, his ankles crossed at the end of his straight legs, his hands wrapped around a mug. He didn’t acknowledge her.

Lori approached, padding softly across the floor. “Jude?”

When she reached his side, she peered into the mug to find it almost full. She pried the mug from his grip. It was cold. He’d been there a while.

“Jude?” she repeated. “You okay?” Being submissive was the furthest thing from her mind. Finally, she touched his arm.

He turned his gaze to her. “Hey, baby,” he said as he plastered a smile on his face. “How was work?”

Lori set the mug on the island behind her. “Fine.” She tried to act nonchalant as though undaunted by his strange behavior.

Jude turned his chair to angle it toward her, and she stepped into the
V
of his legs. He held her at the waist and took a nipple into his mouth, circling it with his tongue languidly.

Something wasn’t right with him. There was no doubt of that, but he’d chosen to distract her with sex rather than talk to her.

He switched breasts, and she grabbed his shoulders to steady herself. She pulled away from him so that her breast popped out of his mouth. “Talk to me.” This had to stop. His silence. His secrets. Everything. The man was disturbed. He had shit happening she knew nothing about. She needed answers.

His nightmares, his brooding, the phone calls, the long-suffering bouts at the computer, his lack of sleep…all of it. “Jude.”

He lifted his gaze to hers. It spoke volumes. She stared into his eyes for long moments. He was hurting. There was no doubt. He had issues she would never understand. But he loved her. He looked at her like she hung the moon. She was his lifeline. His eyes alone told her how sorry he was…and how much he wanted her.

She could pester him, but it would do no good. He would never divulge his demons. He couldn’t. But it didn’t change their dynamic. She was his. If she intended to stay, she needed to let the past ghosts go and surrender to him fully. And there was no way she would ever leave Jude Cavanaugh.

“I need you,” he finally said.

She nodded. “I’m yours. Always. Forever.” Another moment passed as his gaze widened as though shocked by her admission.

And then Jude surprised her by standing and lifting her onto the table, kicking the chair out of the way. “Lie back, hands over your head.”

She shivered as her back hit the cool surface of the table and she lifted her arms. Goose bumps rose on her skin.

She watched as Jude yanked his T-shirt over his head and tossed it aside. He then undid his jeans and stepped out of them, taking his underwear with them. He held her gaze as though this entire act was important, breaking it only to bend down and retrieve a condom from the pocket of his pants.

As he rolled it on, she glanced down and found his cock firm and bobbing toward her.

Jude spread her legs with both arms, tucking them in the crooks of his elbows. He leaned in close and licked a path across her sex, flicking his tongue over her pussy. “God, Lori. You taste like heaven,” he whispered. He did it again and then righted himself and plunged into her in one thrust.

She gasped, unaccustomed to this show of domination from him. Sure, he’d fucked her hard and fast on many occasions in the past, but not this week. Not this fast. Not with this intensity.

Jude groaned. He held her open, gripping her thighs as he lifted her legs over his shoulders.

When Lori scooted back, he pulled her forward. She curled her fingers against the table, unable to make purchase with the smooth surface. God, it felt good. She loved long and drawn out, but sometimes a quick fuck hit the spot. And right now, with the world hanging in the balance, she needed him as much as he needed her.

Her pussy tightened around him as her arousal shot sky-high in moments.

She wanted desperately to participate, to grab his arms and lift her torso and move in the same rhythm he used. But with her hands lying useless above her, the fuck was all his. All she could do was take it and enjoy the ride.

Jude thrust into her over and over, making her body jerk back and forth. Her breasts shook with each thrust. They felt heavy.

“Pinch your nipples for me, baby. Play with them. I want to watch.” Each word came out strained as he instructed her.

Lori lowered her arms, glad for the ability to participate in some way even if it was only to fondle herself for him. She squeezed her breasts, needing the contact. Now was not a time for a gentle caress. She grabbed her nipples between the thumb and pointer of each hand and twisted them.

“Pinch them, baby.”

She obeyed, tipping her head back as the sensation rushed from her chest to her pussy.

“Harder.” God, he was in a zone.

Lori squeezed until the sharp pain made her moan and mingled with the intense pleasure inside her pussy. She loved the pleasure/pain. He knew that. It heightened her arousal every time.

“Again, baby.”

She pinched the aching buds again, this time lifting her chest off the table. She was so close. She needed contact with her clit to push her over the edge. No hands were available for that. The way Jude held her legs made it impossible. The way she lay across the table made his cock stroke her G-spot, but her pussy didn’t make enough contact with the base of his dick.

“Let it go, baby. Come with me. Use your tits to get off. Don’t think about your clit right now.” He knew her so well.

Lori closed her eyes and kept playing roughly with her breasts, pinching and twisting her nipples as hard as she could endure.

“Gorgeous, baby. Can you feel my cock against your G-spot?”

She nodded as best she could.

“Use that. You know you can. Concentrate.” His thrusts increased and she lifted her ass just enough to add pressure to her G-spot.
God, that feels good.

Lori licked her lips as she grew closer.

“Now, baby. Now,” he called out.

He took her over the edge with him, using his words. Lori held her nipples tight and rode the waves of her orgasm as Jude pulsed deep inside her. It was a different sort of release than she was used to. Coming from her G-spot, it was deeper, more fulfilling. Rare.

Jude slowly lowered her legs until they hung over the table. He reached for her hands and pulled her into a sitting position, tugging her against his chest.

He held her tight, kissing her head everywhere. Her offended nipples smashed into his chest. He acted possessive, like a dying man on his last breath, and she prayed that wasn’t the case, trying to ignore the fear niggling inside her.

His next words shattered her resolve. “I love you, Lori. So much it hurts.”

She swallowed. He hadn’t said that in forever. She loved the sound of it but hated the tone and the urgency she sensed. She lifted her gaze to his, her chin on his chest. “I love you too, Jude. More than I can express.”

He smiled and brushed her hair from her face. They stared at each other for a long time. Finally he broke the silence. “I want to do a scene with you. At Emergence. Will you do that for me? Tomorrow night?”

She nodded but furrowed her brow. His demeanor screamed at her to take stock of this situation. She wanted to trust him, but the reality was she thought if she left the room, she would return to find him gone. Poof. As though he’d been an apparition and she couldn’t hold on to it.

Desperation filled her. “Anything.” She’d agree to whatever he wanted if it meant another tomorrow.

“I’ll arrange it with Jason.”

She nodded. The last time she’d known Jude to speak with Jason, it hadn’t gone well. And now he was going to call his old friend up and reserve a spot for a scene?

Nope. This was not good. Lori held him tighter. She wanted to yell and scream at him to stop this charade and snap out of whatever the hell was making him act so strange. She wanted whatever it was to disappear, and she knew deep down it would not.

He wasn’t hers. For some reason, completely out of his control, he wasn’t hers. He could share nice words and pet her hair back and fuck her until he collapsed. But he wasn’t hers. She knew that in her soul.

She knew he would do the scene tomorrow night. She could relax with the knowledge she would have him one more day, but that was all she would get. It seemed climatic, as though she were caught in a nightmare she wasn’t the director of. Some other puppet master held the strings, and he had plans she would never understand.

Jude began to sway with her in his arms. He kissed her everywhere his lips could reach. “I love you,” he repeated. “Know that always in your heart.”

Lori swallowed back tears that threatened to fall. She had to be strong. Make the most of their last day together. To do otherwise would not help matters. She wouldn’t get more information out of him.

What she knew deep inside was nothing that might happen after tomorrow had anything to do with her. Jude loved her. He’d loved her the last time he left also.

Whatever he’d been involved in that ripped him from her arms two years ago had come back to bite his ass. He would leave again. And this time, she knew he wouldn’t return.