Just Friends

Chapter 18

I awoke in the same position in which I fell asleep with Judd's arm draped over me. I turned over under it and was met with his sexy morning face smiling lazily back at me. My heart thumped against the inside of my ribs like it was trying to get to him.

"Hey."

His eyes were still half closed as he said it.

"Hey." I couldn't help the megawatt smile that spread across my face.

Who was I kidding? I knew my answer to his offer from last night. It bounced around inside me like a pinball until it flew through my mouth without my consent.

"I want to come home with you next week."

Judd's eyes opened fully and his sleepiness was immediately replaced with his excitement.

"Really?"

I gulped my dry morning throat, accepting my own vulnerability. "Yeah, I want to meet your family and spend Thanksgiving with them." I smiled genuinely at the thought and Judd pulled me closer for a crushing hug until I leaned up on an elbow and sassed, "I mean I know for sure the food is going to be on-fucking- point if your family cooks anything like you do, and Thanksgiving food is my all time favorite meal of the year. It's a no brainer really."

Judd laughed and shoved my messy bed head back into my pillow. "Oh I see, you're just using me for the food."

"I will neither confirm nor deny these allegations," I giggled and looked at the clock on my nightstand. It was just before noon. "Want to grab brunch with me?"

"Definitely. Let me get dressed and I'll be ready to go."

I sat up as he pulled the covers back and threw his lanky legs over the other side. My eyes locked in on the bulging muscles of his back as they twisted with his movements to get out of bed. He grabbed up his jeans from the floor and turned around to face me before stepping into them and caught me staring. I was fully taking in his cut arms, chest, and abs. My eyes drifted down to his morning wood stretching his tight boxer briefs and I swear I had to wipe drool from the corner of my mouth.

Judd cleared his throat and my eyes darted up his body to meet his own. He was smirking cockily. "See something you like?"

I teased him with a quick lick of my lips and nodded in response. "Fuck yes, and I want a taste."

Judd growled, dropped his jeans back on the floor, and crawled across the bed to me. He was just within inches of me when I jerked back feigning confusion. "What are you doing? I was imagining the waffles I plan to order at brunch."

Judd smacked me upside the head with a pillow from behind me.

I laughed hard and patted down my fluffed up hair. "You're so easy to mess with."

He shook his head with a sexy smile. "You're such a fucking tease."

I popped up off the bed and blew him a kiss on my way to the bathroom to freshen up. "I know, and you love it."

He smiled after me. "No doubt, I definitely do."

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The week sped by and before I knew it, it was high time that I pack. Realization of my decision was setting in as I got home from work and my nerves were buzzing in response.

I knew I wanted this, it was just unfamiliar territory. The unknown brought my anxiety to the brink. I just wanted his family to like me, not that I really had anything to lose if they didn't, but I oddly desired the approval of other people's families.