Jude (A Cocky Cage Fighter Novel Book 2) (4 page)

"Excuse me?" Coach replies with a crinkled forehead.

"You actually let her leave the front door of your house looking like
that
?"

"After spending four hundred dollars on that damn dress, I didn't have much choice."

"That's not a dress. That's...that's..." I snap my gaping mouth closed right before the words "the biggest cock tease I've ever seen" spill out. 

"A losing battle," Coach grumbles with a sigh. "Let me get my camera and I'll be right back."

No wonder he wanted me to take Sadie to prom! Any of the other guys at the gym would be trying to bend her over right this second in front of God and everyone. Hell, I'm a virgin and I want to bend her over right now in front of God and everyone.

I have an ironclad grip on that wasteful emotion known as lust. That shit is responsible for the prevailing downfall of most men, and as I know all too well, some women. Or at least I had a grip on it...until two minutes ago when those raging hormones I missed out on in my teenage years roared to life; angry and overcompensating for the delay. Sure, I have needs, but my hand doesn't require fancy dates or any wooing to leave me feeling satisfied whenever I have the urge. The convenience frees up my time for important shit like training.         

When Coach leaves me standing here alone with temptation personified, it turns damn uncomfortable real quick. Sadie even
smells
sexy tonight, all floral and shit with a hint of peaches. How does her father expect me to go twelve hours without trying to get under the thin pieces of fabric barely covering her top or bottom? I'm already plotting nefariously to do exactly that.   

And how is it possible that Sadie's body is this sexy and I've never noticed it before?

Thinking back...it must've been the baggy, tomboy clothes she always wears, because if she had walked into the gym like this...holy fuck. My thoughts are so impure I'm probably breaking at least three laws.

Where's Page?

I look around the yard for my attorney sister-in-law. I need her to give me a rundown on whether or not I'll get thrown in jail just for
thinking
about fucking someone so young. And, yes, much to my horror, I still want to fuck her, even though I now know who she is, which is...damn upsetting.   

"So…you don't like my dress?" the temptress asks hesitantly.

I'd like it better if it was pooling around her ankles. It's a goddamn peek-a-boo tease, from the soft swells overflowing at the top making me wonder what shade of pink her nipples are, to the hip bone being flaunted, knowing exactly what I'll find just three inches to the left, but going crazy wondering how she'd taste. Sweet like peaches and flowers? Oh hell, smack my ass and call me a naughty boy because I'm dying to fall to my knees and beg for a fucking taste.

High school boys are selfish bastards, so I'd almost bet my balls she's never had anyone lick her pussy until she screams and convulses. Of course I've gone down on a few women over the years. As I see it, it's only fair after they suck my cock, and no, despite my name, I'm not a goddamn saint. When a woman gets on her knees a man doesn't
ever
refuse that shit. Just ask Bill Clinton.

I wonder what my chances of getting my head between Sadie's legs are tonight. Sex is a staple for prom, right?

Oh shit, I've gone off the deep end so far. I don't even know whether or not
she's
a virgin. How does one tactfully ask such a thing, and then if the answer is
no
follow it up with “
Wanna fuck”
? If she's a virgin...well then, unfortunately, all bets are off.

I could still eat her out, though, right? Hell yes. I'm gonna get my tongue in that tempting pussy if it's the last thing I do.

While I've been ogling her, she's looking at me expectantly like she's waiting for me to answer a question. What was the question? Oh, right, do I like her dress? Ha!

Barely suppressing my groan, I bark out a laugh instead at the absurd question and force myself to look anywhere but at her, shaking my head. "That's not a dress, that's...that's a goddamn cruel and unusual torture device."

"Oh," she says quietly, sounding disappointed.

"Sadie, no, I didn't mean it as a criticism. I just meant me and every other man, or...boy," I amended since they’re high schoolers. "Probably like it
too
much. Hell, I didn't even recognize you."

"I'd hope not," she says softly. "It took four hours of work to avoid looking like my usual dorky self."

I was about to try and find the words to assure her she's the furthest thing from dorky as she could get when Page interrupts.

"Okay, I want some pictures," my sister-in-law says when she approaches, phone in hand and at the ready. Here's hoping boners are like vampires and don't show up in photos.

"Where's Jax?" I ask, attempting once again to reach down and subtly adjust myself.

"I made him stay in the car with Xavier. He fell asleep on the way here, although it's very possible that he's in a sugar coma."

"Oh good," I say on an exhale, relieved I won't have to hear anymore of Jax's shit.

"You look absolutely gorgeous, Sadie," Page tells her, and I adamantly agree. Have I even told her that? "And so do the other girls, which is another reason Jax had to stay in the car. Now, you two, get closer together so I can get some pics."

"Thank you." Sadie replies sweetly. "Could you take some with my phone, too?"

"Sure."

After my face hurts from smiling, the picture takers all finally call it good. Everyone else, three other couples, are already in the limo when we climb in. The damn thing is spacious with bubbly, color changing aquariums and shit. But all the other pairs have claimed their own sections, leaving us on a school bus size bench. And I'm a pretty big dude. And I end up on the right side of Sadie with my thigh against that goddamn Jessica Rabbit slit. Okay, so I just need to look anywhere else but down.

The other three guys and girls are looking at us, or probably at Sadie. The dudes have similar black tuxes as mine, and the girls are in brightly colored dresses, not even half as flashy and revealing as Sadie's. Well, at least I won't have to worry about my wandering eyes staring at any of them. Once the driver shuts the door everyone stays quiet.

"Are you going to introduce us, Sadie?" One of the girls in a purple dress finally asks.

"Oh," Sadie responds. "Everyone, this is Jude Malone-"

Cue the chilly raindrop racing down my spine despite the fact that I'm wearing a suit and it's hot as fuck. Nah, it's probably just sweat again.                       

"No shit, he's
The Matrix
." One of the guys laughs and the others join him. "Everyone in the state, and probably most of the people in the country, know the Malone brothers."

"Yeah, but I'm the better looking, smarter, funnier, and less crazy one," I tell them. "Which is only fair since my brother is a badass maniac." My comment is rewarded with a few smiles and chuckles.

"Yeah, so this is Brayden and her date Graham, Cassie and her date Ross, and Lauren and her date Sean," Sadie says, introducing me to the others.

"How old are you?" one of the guys, Graham I think, asks.

"I'll be twenty-two next week."

"So you can buy us beer or harder shit?" he asks.

"Graham!" Sadie exclaims.  

"If I wanted to get arrested I could. But sorry, man, your buzz just isn't worth getting kicked out of the cage, despite how shitty things have gone lately," I tell him.

After that’s out of the way, individual conversations pick up and someone turns on the radio. Sadie stays silent, stiff as a poker beside me. I'm not entirely sure she's breathing.

"You're awfully quiet. You okay?" I ask bumping her shoulder with mine. Shoulders are safe body parts, right? Unlike...about every other inch of her.

"Yeah. Are you?" she asks, tilting her head toward me with a smile. I'm too entranced by her sparkling emerald eyes to speak. Without her glasses’ obstruction I notice for the first time that they’re actually scattered with tiny flecks of gold.

"Yeah, I'm great," I finally say, relaxing enough to stretch my arm out on top of the seat behind her. I'm more than great, I'm ecstatic. I went from dreading this night to almost busting a nut with anticipation of what may or may not happen. If she shows even the
slightest
hint of interest in getting naked with me, I'm gonna pounce all over that shit. But first, I probably need to make it clear to her that I'm very, very interested.

"I was just thinking that I'm really glad that asshole dumped you," I tell Sadie, letting my fingertips glide gently over the soft, golden locks of hair on her shoulder.

Sadie gives a small shiver, and now I don't know if that's a good thing or not. But then she lets out a breath and relaxes her tense posture, so that she's pressed back against my arm when she says, "Me too."

This is when I notice that the limo's turned quiet again. I worry that everyone's been watching us, but...oh jeez. Apparently the other couples are getting frisky and quickly progressing into various states of making out.

And fuck if I don't want to maul the girl beside me, but I can't just attack her out of the blue. I need to get her to loosen up, and get her talking in order to find out if my cock will be the first one she's ever seen, touched, sucked or fucked...
oh shit
. I don't know which would be worse, her answer of yes or no. Thinking about her with some other dude...hell no. But I've got to stop thinking that shit altogether while I've got my dick under control for the moment.

"So...what's your plan this summer after graduation?" I ask.

She sighs, and smoothing her hand over her blue satin skirt, says, "Not much anymore."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing."

"Sadie's dad made her give up senior week at the beach to come to the prom tonight," the girl in the purple dress says after she breaks lip lock with her alcohol requesting prick date. Brayden maybe.

"You had to give up a week vacation for tonight? Just one night?" I ask in confusion.

"Ah, yeah. It's no big deal. My dad's been against the beach trip the whole time. He was just looking to find a reason to keep me home."

"That son of a bitch," I mutter in understanding. He played me and her both to get what he wanted. "He can't do that to you. I'll talk to him."

My comment causes a soft, sweet, tinkling giggle to bubble up out of her. "Thanks, but it won't do any good. The deal is done."

"We'll see."

Our limo finally comes to a stop outside of the front of a ritzy looking hotel with large fancy columns, valets in tuxes, and a multi-tier fountain. Are they trying to encourage teen pregnancy by providing these kids easy access to hotel rooms? And who should I thank for this incredibly brilliant idea?

We all make our way inside, which is just as nice as the exterior with chandeliers and shit. Fancy- schmanzy. More pictures are taken of each couple by a professional photographer, and this time I actually rest my hand on Sadie's hip, tucking her small body against mine.

After a few snaps of the camera, there's no other legitimate reason to keep my hands on her, so I let her go and we set out to track down the rest of the group from the limo. We find them all sitting around one of the big, decorated tables, but there are only six chairs and they're all taken. That's fine with me, since it'll mean a better chance to get Sadie talking and more comfortable around me. Except, after a few minutes, she's still quiet as her eyes flit around the room like she's looking for someone. Probably that douchebag who’d dumped her.

Holy hell! What's with the invisible punch to my gut and the sudden clenching of my fists? Is this...
jealousy
? I was just sitting here wondering if Sadie was wishing she was with him instead of me and
wham
! It's like a damn train slammed into me. I don't know why the fuck I care, but I want to do whatever I can to make her forget him.         

"Find him yet?" I ask, causing her eyes to snap back up to mine.

"Who?"

"The asshole you were supposed to come with."

Her cheeks turn red, making her even more beautiful, and she tries to hide behind the curtain of her silky hair.

I use the back of my hand to push the strands behind her shoulder so I can see her face again. "He's going to regret the fuck out of his decision as soon as he sees you."

Sadie

Oh Lord. I still can't believe I'm here now, at this very moment, with Jude Malone, touching my hair while his words cause my whole body to shiver. I could get lost in his warm, dark eyes, so calming and comforting.

"So where is he?" he asks, glancing around the room.

"Not here yet."

"Do you miss him?"

"No," I answer right away, surprising myself when I realize it's the honest to God truth.

"No?" Jude repeats, sounding skeptical.

"Nope. I'm still pissed at him because I trusted him. I thought he actually cared about me, but...it was all just a bunch of lies and bullshit. Now he keeps saying...things about me to everyone, and there's nothing I can do about it." 

"You can try to relax and have fun. Forget that stupid bastard. Don't let him ruin your night."

Jude is a pretty nice distraction from the pain in the ass Ryder. More than nice. In a tux he looks like he belongs on a billboard, not fighting in a cage. After crushing on him for years I only have this one night with him. The way he looks at me is...different tonight. He barely glances in my direction, but when he does, it almost seems like he wants me based on the tenting I thought I saw going on below his belt. But that's just ludicrous and my own wishful thinking. 

I look over my shoulder at Brayden sitting at the table behind us. She starts using hand signals to try and tell me something. She pushes her breasts together, and then, tongue in cheek mimes sucking a cock. Wow, she's completely nuts.

A little flirting probably won't hurt, though. Jude doesn't have any way to leave and is far too sweet to bail on me now. 

"You look really nice in a suit," I tell him before bravely rubbing my fingertips down the center buttons of his blue vest. I feel and hear his intake of breath. Is that a good sign or a bad one? 

"Ah, thanks."

I re-cross my legs so that the slit in the fabric spreads open, leaving both of my legs bare from my one upper thigh all the way down to my ankle. Jude shifts away, because he doesn't care or...because he's trying not to look? I need to say something to get his attention.  

"Is this anything like your prom?" I ask.

He shakes his head, still not looking at me, but keeping his eyes steadily in front of him on the dance floor. "I wouldn't know," he says. "I didn't go."

"Why didn't you go to your prom?"

"Because I was in California at Jax's third championship title fight that weekend," he says.

"Oh."

Jude missed his senior prom to go support his brother. His older brother who has always had the spotlight, the championship titles, the fame, the fortune, the hordes of women.

"So, I'm sorry, but I have no idea how these things work," he says, finally facing me again to flash a hesitant or embarrassed grin. The normally courageous fighter looks almost nervous.

"From what I've heard, there's dancing," I say, gesturing to the dark dance floor with colorful strobe lights that's starting to fill up. "Then there's a two hour break where everyone heads up to their rooms to either fuck, get drunk, or both. Last but not least, there's an early morning breakfast to gossip about what you did during the break, before going home and passing out."

"You're kidding," he says seriously, glancing down at my bare leg before quickly looking away again. His reaction is too funny, making him look more like a nervous teenager than a sexy as hell grown man.

"Nope." I laugh.

"Hey, it's your song!" I exclaim when the first notes to Macklemore's
Can't Hold Us
fill the ballroom.

All fighters have intro songs that they play when heading into the arena for a cage match. This one is Jude's, the upbeat lyrics talking about "
tonight is the night'
” and "
we'll fight til’ it's over.
"

The speakers crackle before a man's voice says, "Give it up for Silver Spring's own Jude Malone who's partying with us tonight. Come on,
Matrix
, you've got to show us your dance moves."

I can't believe it, and am so freaking embarrassed when the DJ calls Jude out in front of everyone!    

"You heard him. Let's go!" Grabbing my hand, Jude suddenly pulls me to my feet and heads toward the dance floor. I have no choice but to follow, and I have to admit that thinking about rubbing my ass and other parts on this fine man is well worth the embarrassment of looking like a fool.

"Just a warning, I learned all my moves from
Dirty Dancing
," he jokes as we make our way through the other bodies grinding to the upbeat song, and of course, staring at us in anticipation of what he's going to do.

I laugh out loud when Jude spins me around so that my back is against his hard chest. Placing my arm up on the back of his neck, his fingers trail slowly down the underside of my arm to my side, Johnny Castle style, causing goosebumps to form and a shudder to run through my body.

Now I know why Baby couldn't hold still.

After that signature move, the crowd on the floor with us cheers with approval. I pull my arm away from his neck, and then Jude rests both of his hands on my hips in a more contemporary fashion while we began to move against each together to the beat.

Feeling his big, muscular frame molded against my backside and surrounding me is enough to ignite a furnace in my lower body. By the end of the next song, I'm not the only one heating up below the belt. I forget how to breathe when his hard length presses firmly against my bottom.

"I'd apologize," Jude's deep voice speaks against my ear. "But that won't make it go away."

Even though I'm surprised that he's turned on dancing with me, I don't want the proof of his arousal to go away. Rolling my hips, I press back harder against his lap and smile to myself when I hear a groan rumble out of his chest.

"Don't do that again," he says gruffly.

When I look up at the other people on the dance floor, a lot of eyes are still on me and Jude. My cheeks flame hot like the inferno in my lower belly in embarrassment, so I take a step forward to put some distance between us.

I forget everyone else in the room except the man behind me when Jude's big, warm palm suddenly spreads across my bare stomach, yanking me flush against his bulge again. My eyes close and I gasp in surprised.

"Changed my mind. Don't stop," he says, burying his nose in my hair. "If feels too fucking good."

My own arousal is no longer just a thought but liquid heat. I try squeezing my thighs together to prevent the sensation but that only makes the warm pulse worsen. I glance over at the door, wondering what I can do to get Jude to agree to take me upstairs, remove our clothes, and try this position again. I want him to take me from behind, hard and rough, and more times than I can count. And I'd give anything to pay homage to his incredible, rock hard body with my mouth, running my tongue over every inch, especially the impressive ones against my ass, making me go crazy.

I'm about to turn around and beg Jude to fulfill my erotic fantasy when I spot
him
in the crowd.

I freeze from the icy chill caused by seeing Ryder’s lying face. Telling me he loved me and all the other nonsense to get into my panties a few times, then dumping me for his next conquest. Sabrina's known as a sure thing, screwing every guy she goes out with on the first date. Her parents are always out of town, unlike my constantly hovering father, so the possibilities of Ryder getting regular romps with her are endless. She can have him and his small cock. With as many guys as she’s been with she’ll probably laugh when she sees Ryder’s for the first time tonight.

Over the last two weeks the asshole's been spreading explicit details about fucking me to anyone who will listen. I've even heard one rumor where he said I’d let him record us in the act, which is complete bullshit. He does have a topless photo of me that he took with his phone, and I'm almost certain a few of Ryder's friends have seen it. God, I'm so stupid.

"What's wrong?" Jude asks against my ear, making me realize I've stopped dancing.

After I shake my head, he spins me around to face him. His beautiful, dark eyes assess me, seeing more than I'd like him to.

"Find him?" he asks in understanding, clenching his sexy, chiseled jaw.

"Yep."

"Where?" he asks, looking over in the direction I've been glancing in.

"Um, blonde hair in a white tux with red vest and tie, standing beside the girl in a red dress." 

"Oh, you are so much hotter than that skanky cum-dumpster he’s with. And that scrawny, pussy-ass dweeb probably can’t open a fucking pickle jar on his own. Do you want me to kick his ass?" he asks, making me laugh at his compliment and offer.

"Nah, he's not worth it."

"Then do you want to keep dancing or take a break?" 

"Break," I say, even though I don't want him to stop touching me.

"Let's go find something to drink," he suggests. My heart falters for a few beats when Jude absently reaches for my hand and intertwines my fingers with his before leading me out to the hallway where refreshments are being served. I've only had two sips of my Diet Coke when he finishes his entire bottle of water.

"Thirsty?" I ask.

"Yeah. It's hot as fuck in here with all this shit on."

"You could take some of it off," I reply. He arches a dark eyebrow suggestively before shrugging out of his black jacket and throwing it over his arm while he rolls up the sleeves on his white dress shirt. "Better?" I ask, thinking he looks even hotter.

"For now," he says with a smirk.   

Is he implying that he'd like to take off more clothes later? Oh, I beg the prom gods above for just one chance to see Jude Malone naked.

"I'll be right back," he says, nodding to the restroom down the hallway.

"Okay. I'll be...here."

Once he disappears I take a few deep breaths now that I can relax a little. The man is so intimidating he has me constantly on edge.

Apparently I let my guard down too far because I don't notice Ryder's approach until he speaks. "Ah, Sadie. Did you decide to come alone after all? That's just sad," the asshole says from behind me.

I straighten my spine before I turn around to face him. Why did I ever find that sneer attractive? "What do you want, Ryder? Other than to be a dick like usual, I mean."

"Oh, was it so good you're still thinking about my dick?" he asks, his hazel eyes raking up and down the length of my dress.  “I told the whole baseball team that I couldn’t get your mouth off of it. They didn’t believe me, so I showed them the proof.”

I turn to flee since I don't want the reminder of being stupid enough to ever touch him, and have no interest in letting him embarrass me any further. Instead of escaping, I run right into a hard chest.

"Whoa, you okay?" Jude asks, steadying me with his hands that are grasping my upper arms.

"Yeah, sorry."

"Don’t worry, sweetheart. I've got you," he replies with a dimpled smile, shocking me with the sincere weight of his words.

"Wow!" Ryder exclaims and then snickers from behind me. "How'd your dad convince
him
to be your pity date tonight?" 

Oh God
. Is that why Jude offered? Because of my dad? No, it couldn't be since my dad had refused to let me come with him, even adamantly so at first.

"Yeah, it is a pity date," Jude responds for me, stealing my breath away. If I don't get air in my lungs soon I'm going to pass out. "It's a pity Sadie has to put up with me constantly trying to get her out of this goddamn cock tease of a dress."

Wait, what did he just say? He wants to see me out of my dress? 

"Good luck with that," Ryder scoffs. "It'll take forever to actually convince her to give it up, and then when you finally do, it won't be worth all the effort. She'll just lie on her back and wait for you to finish."

His words hurt and embarrass me, but then Jude slides his hand down my arm and intertwines my fingers with his before giving me a support squeeze. I suddenly feel more confident with his larger than life presence, so I turn around and face down the asshole.

"I have a feeling it'll be a little more enjoyable
and
fulfilling with him since his cock is more than three inches long. Oh, and I bet
his
rodeo lasts longer than eight seconds," I respond, which makes Jude chuckle. 

"I'm not...it's more than..." Ryder stutters, his face turning red.

"All right, then why don't you pull it out right now for a comparison?" I goad him.    

"Fuck you, bitch," he spits and starts walking away. Or at least he
tries
to walk away, but Jude's hand shoots out and grabs him around the throat.

"Apologize now." Jude gets in Ryder's face, towering over him by several inches, but speaking calmly and quietly. "And if I
ever
hear about you making another disparaging remark about her, I'll beat some goddamn manners into you."