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“Do you plan to stop un I was holding loosely in ht hand “Because that didn’t work out so well for you the last time”

Jude rabbed him before he could reach for the doorknob I maneuvered him until his back hit the wall and used my body to keep him there “I’m happy with hoorked out,” I said softly and then I closed my mouth over his

He didn’t kiss me back, but he didn’t pull away froh that I could look hier e some kind of ith himself

None of this would work if I couldn’t get my Jude back

I dropped ht of his As I pressedthe side of his neck “Kissthe backs of my eyes “Please, my love”

It seemed like years went by before Jude shifted just a little bit and then his lips were on mine I let out a whimper of relief and put every bit of myself into the kiss My love, my fear, my sorrow, my hope…

The kiss ended all too soon Jude was the one who ended it by turning his head away My mouth landed on his cheek His skin was damp and hinted at the saltiness of tears

“Stay with me,” I murmured Jude didn’t react to my request, so I pulled back a little He wouldn’t look atto keep himself separate froain

Just as Jude began to turn into me, the door rattled in its frame as someone pounded on it froht?”

Jude jued to flip the lock on the door and open it before I could stop hi hiuy pushed into the apartun and pointed it at him

I didn’t care that it made me look like a madman I couldn’t let them take him from me

I just couldn’t

“Don’t!” Jude called when the guy along with the ones behind him drew their weapons Before I could stop him, Jude stepped between us I instantly lowered uys do the same

I grabbed Jude by the wrist and pulled hi us “I love you,” I practically yelled at hie to tamp down my temper “I love you,” I repeated more softly I tried to pull Jude even closer to ht I’d succeeded but at the very last second, he pulled back

And kept going until the only thing keeping us connected was ht with tears, but they didn’t fall It hen he looked away from me for the briefest of moments that I knew that I’d lost hione and all I saas cool defiance

“Prove it,” Jude said before he tugged his arm

I knehat he wanted He wanted s… he just wanted to escape To run He’d spent a lifeti shown the door by the people who hadn’t loved hi those tables now He was going to be the one to choose to leave, to walk away, and I’d be the one left behind with a broken heart wondering why I hadn’t been enough for him

I stepped forward until ere once again nearly touching “I love you, Jude Forever And not the kind of forever that all those assholes supposedly promised you when you were a kid The kind that’s real The kind that doesn’t change The kind that isn’t fucking convenient I love you No apologies, no fucking consolation prizes if it doesn’t work out because that’s not an option for me You’re it, just as you are You’re my future The question is, am I yours? When you have that answer, you knohere to findanywhere, do you hear me?”