Jude's Salvation: This Love Series by Nicole Smith Page A

don’t know why or who, yet.
    Jude gives me his undivided attention. I feel surrounded by him, completely caged by his body and I have no interest in backing away. If anything I want to move closer but I don’t. His all male scent, fresh from the shower, soap and just him makes my head swoon. I am very conscious of how I react to him now. I am aware of my responses but I have no control over them. He takes my control and leaves me at his mercy.
    "I’ll be back here after dinner to pick you up, text me when you’re ready,” he tells me again, wanting me to know he’ll be here, he isn’t leaving me. I nod and wrap my arms around him, kissing his neck. Every time he walks away from me it feels like the last time I’ll see him. He’s caught on and has taken to reassuring me that he has no intention of vanishing from my life. I have never been so needy but the idea of losing him, losing us makes me shudder.
    “ I’ll see you tonight then,” I whisper. He pulls away, watching me as I open the door to the hostel and run upstairs. I don’t like the feeling of his absence.
    “ Hey, there she is. Did you get any sleep last night, you look a little ragged,” Angie smirks. I smile but can’t fight back. I’m too confused, frightened really. This has moved so fast between Jude and I but it feels right. In the back of my mind, something keeps telling me that I know him somehow. When I rest my cheek against his chest, when I inhale his scent I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve met him before but I know I would have remembered his face and definitely his voice. I also have this strange feeling in my gut that I need him. Not just for pleasure but for protection. He is meant to keep me safe I just don’t know from what.
    “ Eden, are you okay?” Mariana asks, pulling me into her arms. I hug her back, needing my friends. Sophie and Angie join in.
    “ I’m fine really, I think I’m terribly, horribly in love though,” I tell them and they laugh.
    “ Interesting way to describe it,” Sophie muses.
    “ Love is nice but how was the sex, come on. Fill me in on his hard rockin’ body girl,” Angie jumps up and down, waiting for me to tell her something. I stand back and lick my bottom lip, thinking of what I can possibly tell her that isn’t too much.
    “ Well, he’s right out of a fantasy really. Everything I’ve read doesn’t even compare to the night and day I’ve had with him. He’s incredibly hot, built like no other and the boy has skills Angie. I’ve never reached the stars before but with him, over and over again,” I explain, my voice trailing off as I think of his touch. It’s only been a few minutes but I miss him already.
    “ Wow, you have it bad girl, I can see it all over your face,” Angie says, hugging me again.
    “ I’m guessing your going back to him tonight?” Mariana asks. It’s our last night in London before catching the train to Paris tomorrow.
    “ Not until after dinner and drinks tonight,” I tell them as I reach for a change of clothes and head to the shower.
    Sitting with my best friends in the restaurant feels good but my mind keeps drifting to Jude. I want to be with him. I force myself to join in on the conversation and half a bottle of red wine helps. I keep getting the feeling that we are being watched again but I try and shake it off as just my reappearing paranoia.
    “ Paris tomorrow girls and I have a proposition to throw on the table,” Sophie says, surprising us. We all stare at her, nodding for her to continue.
    “ Since we stayed the course and roughed it here in London, I suggest that in Paris we stay at my favorite hotel and eat at my favorite restaurants. I’m sure Mariana has a few boutiques she is dying to see again and I know how Angie and Eden feel about the local Pastier. So, would it be okay if we canceled the hostel and stayed in the Latin Quarter at the Citadines, the suites are nice and the location is perfect?” she asks. All three of us gape at