Tear You Apart

Strings Attached

[[AUTHOR'S NOTE: SEXUAL CONTENT WARNING!! This chapter contains some pretty steamy scenes. Also Judd is 100% a soft dom and no one can convince me otherwise!! I have set this chapter up so if you stop reading after the warning I've placed further down the page, you won't be missing out on any important info for the plot. Thank you everyone who has taken time to read my story and leave me comments and love, you guys make my week <3]]

Sitting in a dingy little diner that smelled like bleach water and burnt toast at six in the morning watching Judd Birch tuck into a stack of chocolate chip pancakes quite literally doused in maple syrup was not how I ever imagined my Saturday going. I couldn't remove the grimace on my face, my teeth aching just watching another human consume that much sugar in one meal.

"What?" His words were muffled by the bite he'd just taken.

"I'm just concerned you're going to give yourself diabetes," Furrowing my brow and glancing from him to his breakfast again.

"Says the girl with enough saturated fat on her plate to give an elephant heart disease," he motioned towards my plate of bacon and eggs with his fork.

"Touché." A small smile crossed my face as I went back to my own food. The meal was far from exceptional and I was pretty sure our waitress was high on pills but the feeling in my chest when I looked into the eyes of the boy seated across from me was exhilarating in the most addictive way.

I found myself wondering what the Hell I was doing here. I should be home asleep, not ogling over a pair of green eyes. Thinking back to the events at the wedding, I cringed. This wasn't supposed to go this far. I didn't want to hurt Judd by allowing him to get any closer and yet there was nowhere else I would rather be than seated in this sticky booth with him. I felt as if I was getting myself deep into something I didn't want, and yet I wanted to jump right off the cliff I was metaphorically standing on. I wanted to see what was waiting for me at the bottom of this rabbit hole and it was simultaneously invigorating and terrifying.

Why the Hell wouldn't I want this?

Judd interrupted my self quarrel and I looked up.

"Hmm?"

"Tell me a secret."

"Why would I do that?" I cocked my head and gave him an amused smile.

"I've shared one with you. An eye for an eye, right?" My eyes couldn't leave his mouth as he licked the remnants of syrup from his fork slowly as he relished the sweet taste. I momentarily remembered just what that tongue felt like and I was stricken with jealousy towards the utensil.

Blushing and looking away, I responded.

"What secret did you tell me?"

"My sweet tooth. Not very manly to enjoy pancakes and hot chocolate with extra marshmallows is it?" He motioned towards the spread in front of him, his features unreadable as I managed a peak in his direction.

"No, I suppose you're right," I giggled before continuing, deciding to humor him. "Alright well, what do you want to know?"

"Whatever you want to tell me," his tone was suddenly low and soft, almost as if to reassure me that it was okay to share with him before lifting the mug of hot chocolate to his lips. My throat got tight suddenly at the mediocre sign of affection and I internally groaned at my own desperation.

"Um, well. I've got my nipples pierced," I blurted out and I watched as he nearly choked on his drink, sputtering on the hot liquid with surprise.

"W-was that too much?" I laughed nervously as he recovered, wiping his mouth with a napkin. Despite my sluggishness due to the night before, adrenaline was coursing through my veins.