4
" Soup’s here,” Judd finally said after we watched each other for a few minutes.
As I sipped the broth, Judd pretended to ignore me. I knew he wasn’t really watching television. His face was too perfectly stoic like he was working hard to make himself seem cold.
“Do you want the rest?” I asked.
Judd frowned at me. “If I wanted soup, I’d have ordered myself some. I’m not a dog begging for scraps.”
Scowling at his ridiculous anger, I shrugged. “I don’t want to waste the rest. Can we put it in the mini fridge and I’ll eat it in the morning?”
Judd’s frown eased. “Fuck it. I’ll eat it.”
“No, it’s mine,” I said, standing up. “I offered and you got grumpy. Now, you can’t have it.”
“I’ll just eat it after you go to sleep.”
“I respect your honesty,” I said, setting the bowl into the little fridge next to the expensive treats. “It’s a rare quality in a thief.”
Judd grinned. "
― Bijou Hunter , Damaged and the Knight (Damaged, #2)
5
" The chick last night marked you,” he said, gesturing to my throat. “Might be a stalker. You’ll want to prepare to wake up with your balls removed.”
“Raven might cut off my balls, but not because she’s a stalker. More like she’s just in a bad mood or gassy.”
Tawny looked at me then shook her head. “Oh, Vaughn. You’re fucked.”
“Actually, I was and quite well. In fact, I think she bruised my hip bones.”
Laughing, Tawny cuddled against Judd. “When’s the wedding?”
Once Judd started laughing, I flipped them off and looked at my menu. “We’re fuck buddies. Nothing more.”
Judd nodded. “Makes sense. A man of your stupidity couldn’t handle a relationship. Best to keep your life simple.”
“She’s hot. That’s all I care about.”
“She is hot,” Tawny said, smiling easier now. “She could probably land a rich guy with those looks.”
“Did you just call me poor?”
“I only mean she could get someone better than a manwhore with commitment issues.”
“Fuck you,” I said and Judd looked ready to hit me. “I could commit if I wanted to. If I wasn’t expecting to die soon, I’d commit all over the fucking place.”
“You don’t even have a pet.”
“Who would take care of my pet when I died?”
“If it was a cat, we’d take it in.”
Judd frowned. “No more cats.”
“One more wouldn’t hurt. In fact, if we have a bunch of cats, people will stop asking when we’re having a kid.”
Judd’s frown disappeared. “Another cat wouldn’t be the end of the world.”
“Judd’s the one who can’t commit,” I muttered.
“He’s married and we have two cats. We’re plenty committed. You’re the one getting hickeys from a girl who likely will marry someone else in a few months.”
“Why a few months?”
“I don’t know. I just feel like she’ll be married in a few months. A rich guy.”
“Are you psychic now?”
“Yes, I’m going to open a shop and tell people their fortunes.”
Smiling, Judd kissed her forehead. “A businesswoman. That’s sexy.”
“Don’t even think about ditching me again so you two can fuck. You can hump each other later.”
“Oh, we will,” Tawny said, waving over the waitress. "
― Bijou Hunter , Damaged and the Outlaw (Damaged, #4)
6
" Shrugging, I glanced at Judd who was watching someone in the corner. When I looked back at Cooper, he was studying the hair in my eyes.
“You look tired,” he said, reaching out to brush away the hair.
Cooper’s hand never reached my face before Judd grabbed his wrist and yanked it away.
In that instant, everything shifted. The men stepped closer, eyeballing each other as the heat of their anger became palatable.
I thought to step between them and calm things before violence broke out. Then, I remembered when I tried to break up a fight between my uncle’s dogs. If Farah hadn’t pulled me out of the way, I’d have been mauled. That day, I learned if predators wanted to fight, you let them while staying as far back as possible.
“I’ll let this go because it’s your woman,” Cooper muttered, dark eyes still angry. “If you pull this shit again and it’s not your woman, you and I will have a problem.”
Once Cooper walked away, Judd finally relaxed.
I just stared at him as he led me to a booth because a group of old timers were at his table. Sitting next to him, I caressed his face, soothing him. He finally gave me a little grin.
Suddenly, Vaughn appeared and took the spot across from us. “Why do you look so pissed off?”
“He almost went feral on Cooper for trying to touch me.”
Vaughn gave us a lazy grin. “So losing his balls makes a man stupid, eh? Good to know. Just another reason to keep mine attached.”
Judd exhaled hard. “You wouldn’t want anyone touching your woman. One day, you’ll know that despite your love affair with your balls.”
“A man should love his balls,” Vaughn said, still grinning. “What if I touch her?” he asked, his hand moving slowly towards my face.
“I’ll stab you in the fucking eye.”
Grinning, Vaughn put down his hand. “You’re pretty damn sexy when you go drama queen, O’Keefe.”
“He is, isn’t he?” I said, sliding closer to Judd. “I wish we were naked right now.”
Both men frowned at me, but I only smiled and Judd adjusted in the booth as his jeans grew too tight. “Stop,” he warned.
“I’m not afraid of you.”
“I could make a liar of you.”
“You won’t though because you wish you were inside me.”
Judd exhaled hard like a pissed bull and adjusted in the booth again.
I just laughed and rested my head against his shoulder. “I so own you.”
Vaughn nodded. “He’s a keeper. I remember how poetic he was when I asked him if he could imagine himself as an old man. He turned to me and grunted. Real profound grunt too. Oh, and once I asked if he ever imagined himself as a father. I kid you not, he burped. The man is fucking Shakespeare. "
― Bijou Hunter , Damaged and the Knight (Damaged, #2)
