When You're With Me (10 page)

Ramon closed his sleepy eyes involuntarily and pushed the silly, irrational thoughts from his mind. He’d deal with those things in the morning. For now, he’d revel in his precious time with his Jude.

* * * *

Jude woke the next morning with a start. She rubbed her eyes. Where the heck was she? Korn poster on the wall. A large black bureau sporting a small, flat-screen television. The tan walls felt more like a day at the beach, rather than a bedroom. Like an embrace.

Like
his
embrace…

“Good morning, sweet girl.”

She turned her head. Ramon’s voice slid over her soul, smooth and easy. “Hi.” She peeked under the comforter. “We’re still dressed.”

Ramon propped himself up on his elbow. A wicked grin turned the corners of his mouth. A sprinkling of hair darkened his jaw. “You’re surprised?”

She kissed his chin. “Pleasantly surprised to find there are still a handful of gentlemen roaming the earth. What time is it?”

“Ten. I let you sleep. When’s your first class?”

She swiped a hand over her face. “Five past eleven and I need to change. I won’t be intruding on your gramma, will I?”

“She lives on the first floor. Her knees can’t handle the steps.” He pressed his lips to her forehead. “I’ll be downstairs waiting.”

Jude hurried through a shower and wound her hair into a clip. The faded jeans and T-shirt would have to do. She gathered her makeup and notebook into her messenger bag. Ramon stood at the bottom of the stairs, a grin spread across his face.

“What?”

“You.” He threaded his fingers with hers. “I like the fresh look. Reminds me how young you are.”

“Is that bad?”

“Not in the least.”

Thankful the college was on the close side of town, Ramon pulled to a stop in front of the Vestige Arts and Theatre Building. “How long?”

“Three hours.”

“I’ll be back when you’re done.” He smoothed his hand over her cheek. “We’ll do supper before you have to go in.”

“You got it.” Jude kissed him on the lips and climbed out of the car. She afforded him a wave and strode into class. For one of the first times in her life, the weight of her future wasn’t so heavy. She didn’t need a man to make her existence complete, but having his affection and protection gave her spirit wings.

As she unlocked her art locker, Professor Rosengarten ambled past. He gestured at the closet-sized changing room without a backward glance. “You have experience being nude, so it won’t bother you. Step to it.”

She frowned at his back. What a jerk!

Jude did as told because the class was a requisite, but his remark made her feel dirty and used. As she posed three feet in the air on the selection of rickety furniture in ridiculous positions, she took a deep breath. She wasn’t opposed to being nude. Posing never bothered her, but the professor didn’t need to be quite so blunt.

Jude ignored the questioning glances and snickers from her fellow students—she still had her pride. When school concluded in a couple of months, Jude would be free, unlike her peers. She held her head high, knowing she’d have done it on her own.

Being still gave her time to think about the previous weekend. Running off to the country was a bit out of character, but being in Ramon’s arms—that was heaven. She glanced at the wall of windows. Cars rolled past in an endless cycle.

Ramon…

The thought of him warmed her body and sent a slow burn to the junction between her thighs. Her mind switched from ignoring the professor to her own private fantasy. It didn’t matter if the class knew—she didn’t care what they thought anymore. All she cared about was Ramon. Would he want to make love to her, even though she’d kept him at arm’s length? She wanted to spend lots of alone time with him. What would sex with him be like?

Her mind wandered to a fantasy. She and Ramon were both in the drawing classroom, posing for a non-existent crowd. He wore only faded blue jeans and she was totally nude. Her skin sizzled with the imagined feel of his rough hands.

“So this is how you spend your days?” Ramon lowered himself onto the couch next to her and leaned in for a consuming, primal kiss. “What’s the fun of sitting still when you can be the action instead?” His groin rubbed naughtily against her. The roughness of the zipper teased her smooth mound. God, she wanted his hands everywhere.

“Do you have a better idea?”

His eyes flickered sinfully. “This.” He nibbled her right nipple into a stiff peak. His left arm curled around to the back of her head. His touch was strong and demanding. “And this…” He lowered his lips to hers. “Is this what you want, babe? I want to pleasure you.”

“Ramon!”

He shoved his pants past his narrow hips and guided his cock into her sopping wet pussy.

“God, I want all of you inside me.”

“Not yet.”

Jude furrowed her brows. Not yet? No, she needed him right now.

“Miss Nelson, I’d like you to turn and lean on the back of the chair. Put your best face forward.”

Jude blushed.
Oh
. She hadn’t left drawing class. She nodded and complied with the professor’s command. Had he caught on to her divided attention? Did he think she approved of his smart-ass remark? Not hardly.

“Drat,” she muttered. Only a fantasy…

Jude’s embarrassment evaporated when the professor added a partially nude male model to the mix. The model, who wore jeans, was a fellow art student named Aiden. He was handsome in his own right, with straw-coloured hair, hazel eyes and a crooked smile. A garish fraternity tattoo covered his right pectoral muscle. Good looking, but not what she wanted. He was nothing compared to the rush she got from the simple touch of Ramon’s hand.

“Lie back against the couch so we can recreate an Odalisque.” Jude shifted into position and threw her arm over her head. Good thing she’d remembered to shave.

“Now, Aiden, hold her as if she were the most prized possession you own.”

Aiden bent over her and leaned in like he was about to kiss her. His right hand gripped her breast while he braced his left hand on the back of the couch. He anchored his right knee between her thighs with his left foot firmly on the floor. A sinister light lit his eyes and a wolfish grin curled his lips.

Jude clenched her jaw and averted her gaze.

“I never knew you were so hot,” he whispered. “Stop covering yourself up in those stupid baggy clothes and be the sexy bitch you’re meant to be.”

Jude glared. “I’m not a piece of meat.”

“Is this how you entertain men at the Silver Steel? Never saw you there, but I’m looking now”—he bobbed his brows—”for something special.”

“No.”

As if he couldn’t hear the argument, Professor Rosengarten prattled on about the light on the planes of their bodies and how the models aroused each other. “Notice the electricity. Make sure you capture that in your work to make the audience feel the intimacy.” He patted the couch above Jude’s head. “Make the viewer feel as though he or she is part of the relationship.”

Jude rolled her eyes. Maybe Aiden was horny—she wasn’t excited in the least. She squeezed her eyes shut to prevent Aiden from getting the wrong idea. Her ideas settled on the thirty-six-year-old bouncer who owned her heart.

Jude wondered what Ramon was thinking or if he even missed her. Probably didn’t care. She glanced out of the bank of windows by the door to the hallway. A set of chocolate brown eyes sparkled through the glass.
Ramon.

Her breath caught in her throat.
He came
.

Ramon nodded. His smile brightened, showing off his white teeth.

Jude licked her dry lips. The man hadn’t touched her, yet she felt closer to him than the man crouched over her. Maybe Ramon
was
the one for her.

* * * *

Ramon strolled past the rush of students leaving the classroom. A dark-haired girl with wire-rimmed glasses grabbed his sleeve. He turned.

She flipped long mahogany hair over her shoulder. “Class is over, but I could give you some private instruction. Interested?”

Shocked by her boldness, Ramon shoved his hands into his jacket pockets. “Thanks, but I’m meeting someone.”

The girl shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

He frowned and watched her disappear into the chaos of the hallway. Interesting.

“I see Tara spoke to you.”

The smile tugged the corners of his mouth. “Jude.” He ducked into the classroom.

Jude sat cross-legged on one of the benches. “She tells every man she’d like to ‘tutor’ them.” Her chin rested on her curled fists. “I didn’t think you’d show. Promises are easy to break when something better comes along.”

“And miss out on spending time with you? There’s no one better.” He plopped down next to her. “Besides, I wanted to see what you do with your time.”

“Other than dancing?”

He stroked her jaw. “Is modelling another one of your jobs?” Her eyes widened. Ramon backpedalled. “I mean… I don’t know what I mean, but I didn’t—”

Jude covered his mouth with her hand. “We take turns. It was my day to model.”

He licked her fingers. She retreated. Ramon grasped her palm and kissed her knuckles. “You glow.”

She cocked her head. Creases formed between her brows. “What?”

Ramon wrapped his arms around her. Her head tipped and their gazes met. “Sweet girl, I’d rather see you nude in private, but when you’re posing you look natural. You are honest and happy when you’re in your element.”

Jude licked her bottom lip. She slid her arms around his shoulders, toying with the hair at the back of his neck. The combined actions turned his insides out. She inched close to him, her mouth a breath away from his. “I’m creating art. That’s beautiful to me. I’m not a fan of the professor, but I’ve learned to deal.”

Ramon crushed his mouth against hers, plundering her sweetness. Jude moaned. Her pussy rubbed against his leg. His heart beat a manic tattoo in his chest. When they parted, he gasped. “Beautiful suits you.” He smoothed his hands over her back and butt, memorising her curves. “I like the look. Screw me for being biased.”

Pink rushed into her cheeks. “How are you prejudiced, other than being slightly warped in your sense of beauty?”

“I like you…a lot.”

Jude bobbed her head to move a lock of hair from her eyes. “Even with my unconventional job and less-than-stellar looks?”

Ramon pressed kisses to her cheeks, making his way to her ear. Her breath on his neck sent shivers along his spine. “I like you because you’re Jude. The job has nothing to do with my feelings. And don’t say you’re not gorgeous. I will take you over my knee until your ass shines from my paddling.”

She jerked out of his arms. Her hands covered the smile blossoming on her lips. “Really? Spanking?”

“Whatever works.” He nodded at the benches. “Will you show me your work?”

Jude surged into his arms and rubbed her cheek on his chest. “Soon. I didn’t get anything done today.”

Ramon kissed the top of her head and stroked her back. “Then come home with me?”

Jude leant back a bit. “We live in the same building. You dropped me off.” She cocked a brow. “Aren’t you already going to take me home? Or are we taking another road trip?”

He cupped her chin. “Smart aleck. You knew what I meant.”

She stuck her hands in his back pockets. “I’m keeping you on your toes.”

Ramon held her close, leading her to his car. “You know how to take a sentimental moment and knock it on its ear.”

“Then take me somewhere…anywhere with you.”

“Yes.” Ramon squeezed her thigh.

Ramon led her to his new ride. Jude stopped short and pointed at the rusty excuse for a car. “Let me guess. More car trouble? This thing doesn’t look like it can make it five miles, let alone get us across town.”

“She moves well for being a beater car.” He opened the passenger door. “I didn’t like the colour of the other car. I wanted to drive the Kia this time.”

“You’re a confusing man sometimes. Nobody goes through cars like you.” She plopped down in the seat and gripped her bag tight.

“I’m fickle.” Ramon grinned before he rounded the hood. He drove them across town, even though he’d rather have gone anywhere but the fleabag hotel. He had to keep up appearances.

He pulled into a parking space and killed the engine. “Ready to go inside or are you having second thoughts?”

“And lose the chance to see you naked for a change?” She opened her car door and slammed it shut. “No way, but slow down.” Her footsteps slapped the concrete behind him. When he stopped to open the door, she wrapped her arms around his waist from behind. He tugged her into the open elevator car and turned around in her embrace.

“Okay, I’m a little…excited.” She buried her face against his shoulder.

The bell for their floor pinged and the elevator opened. Ramon escorted her down the hallway and opened the door to his apartment. Instead of behaving like the confident woman he’d spent the weekend with, Jude ducked her head and crept past him.