Jude's Salvation: This Love Series by Nicole Smith

traveling over his body, his tattoos appear military and not prison. This gives me some relief. His hands are calloused. I run my fingers up his muscular arms, tracing the veins popping out. Resting my chest against his, he watches me explore him. I can’t resist running my fingers through his thick sandy brown hair. I kiss his forehead and trail more kisses down his sculpted cheekbones, his perfect nose to his slightly scruffy chin.
    "What are you thinking my beautiful girl?" he asks as he brushes a loose strand of hair behind my ear. I love the way that simple gesture makes me feel. It’s comforting and makes me feel cherished.
    “ I was just thinking that you are absolute perfection Jude Edward Everett,” I tell him. He wraps me in his arms and holds me tight against him.
    “ You are perfect for me,” he whispers, kissing my forehead. I feel his fingers run through my hair and he inhales. Yes, I secretly shout. I have my perfect man, here in my arms, at least for a few more hours. He flips me over and I laugh as he places my hands behind my head. I watch him as he begins his inspection of me now. He trails his fingers down my neck to my collarbone, across my shoulders and down my arms. He glances up at me then runs two fingers in between my breasts before running them across my ribs where he stops on my tattoo. I watch him read the words I can’t explain. I have no memory of getting the tattoo or what it means. I can’t hide it in a bikini. My sister told me it was something I did with Angie but she told me it was about my mother which I knew was a lie.
    “ When did you get this?” he asks, keeping his eyes on it. I breath in and try to be honest without revealing my insanity.
    “ When I was fifteen,” I answer and he nods as though that seems right to him which surprises me. I can’t believe I would have done something like that. It doesn’t seem like me at all.
    “ You and me against the world,” he reads the black ink out loud and I don’t respond. I feel a lump in my throat and I’m not sure why.
    “ I like it. I like the two black birds too. They remind me of a young girl and her mother that I used to know,” he tells me looking into my eyes. He moves back up towards me and kisses my cheek. I smile, grateful he’s not asking more.
    “ I ordered room service for lunch. You must be hungry,” he inquires with his raised brows.
    “ Yes, I am actually. Must be all that early morning activity wearing me out,” I smirk. He nods, pulling me out of bed and to my feet. I stand naked in front of him, watching as he pulls on a pair of black loose track pants and a snug white tank. He looks so good I struggle to reach back and grab my robe. He grins as he wraps it around me, tying it at my waist.
    “ Not just early morning, there was a lot of activity late last night too, my little wild cat,” he said, kissing my nose then releasing me as he turns to walk to the door.
    “ Um, yes and please tell me you’re not done with me yet,” I whine. He stops before he reaches the handle and turns back to me. His eyes meet mine and I’m suddenly scared he might be. He shakes his head and walks quickly towards me. I struggle to catch my breath, fear racing through me. Why did I ask? He holds my face in his large hands.
    “ Listen to me Eden, I am not letting you go, ever. Distance doesn’t exist in my world, whenever you need me, whenever you want me I will be there,” he said, calming and exciting me at the same time. I guess only time will tell how we make this work. He kisses me so hard my lips bruise but I push him for more. I’m addicted to him, his taste, his smell, his touch, everything.
    After we eat and make love again he walks me back to the hostel later that afternoon. I turn to him once we stop in front of the door. I observe the way he protectively positions himself fully in front of me, like he’s trapping me with his body, guarding me from my hidden enemies. The ones I know are out there but I