Resisting my Roommate (Sycamore Falls #3)

Chapter 30

CHAPTER THIRTY

ABBEY

The sun dips lower in the sky, casting a warm, golden light over everything as Jude navigates his truck up a winding road. I have no idea where he’s taking me, but I don’t care. All I do care about is spending time with him.

Today’s been perfect, almost like a real date — ice cream from the little shop on Main Street, a trip to the farmer’s market, and even a brief stop at the bowling alley, where I finally beat Jude, even if I get the feeling he let me win.

I told him he didn’t need to take the day off, that I’d be fine packing or finishing up my goodbyes, but he insisted. While I’m glad to have this time together, each second that passes feels like a countdown to the inevitable.

After a few more minutes of comfortable silence, Jude turns off onto a narrow dirt path and carefully backs his truck into a secluded spot.

“Where are we?” I ask.

“You’ll see.” He jumps out of the truck and rushes to open my door.

I take his hand and let him guide me toward an overlook. The view leaves me speechless.

The town of Sycamore Falls spreads out below us, bathed in the glow from the setting sun. The shimmering lake mirrors the colorful sky, while the majestic mountains stand tall in the distance.

“This is incredible…,” I exhale.

“Just wait until the sun goes down,” Jude whispers, sending shivers down my spine. “It’s even more beautiful.”

“Looking forward to it,” I say with a mixture of excitement and sadness. He leans in to kiss me, and emotion bubbles in my throat at the reminder that this will be my last sunset in Sycamore Falls.

“Come on.” He leads me back to the truck, pulling several blankets and pillows from the back. After carefully arranging them in the bed, he helps me climb up.

“What’s all of this?”

“I thought we could dine alfresco tonight. And there’s no better view than this.”

He pulls a bottle of wine from a basket and uncorks it, pouring some Pinot Noir into a stemless glass before handing it to me.

“A picnic? Wine? This incredible view? Watch out, Jude. I might start thinking there’s a romantic hiding under all that cynicism,” I tease him, trying to lighten the mood.

To my surprise, he meets my gaze with a serious expression. “Maybe there is,” he admits softly, and it takes everything I have not to break into tears. “Maybe…”

He looks at me for a long moment, like he’s trying to figure something out, but then he shakes his head.

“It doesn’t matter.”

I push down the deflated feeling in my heart, and we indulge in fruit, cheese, as well as a few mini sandwiches.

I want to say something — tell him how much this means to me, how much he means to me — but I don’t. I don’t want to ruin what little time we have left. Not when he already made it perfectly clear he can’t give me the answer I want.

Or maybe he won’t give me the answer I want.

Instead, I admire our surroundings as the sun sinks lower and the sky turns into a canvas of pink and orange, pretending this isn’t our last night together. Like tomorrow isn’t going to come too soon, and with it, my flight to New York and the new life I’m supposed to start.

But no matter how much I act as if this is like every other night we spent together, I know it’s not. The unbearable ache in my chest is a constant reminder of that.

“Hey…” Jude cups my cheek, brushing away a stray tear, despite my best efforts not to cry.

I’ve been keeping them at bay all day, but now that the sun has set on my last full day, it’s becoming harder and harder.

“I don’t know if I can do this,” I whisper, my voice cracking.

“It’ll be okay,” Jude replies softly, resting his forehead against mine. “You’re one of the toughest people I know. If you can bounce back after all that shit with Carson, you can survive New York City.”

I want to tell him I wasn’t talking about New York. That I was referring to leaving Sycamore Falls. Leaving him .

But before I can, his lips are on mine, his mouth moving against mine in a kiss so tender I can’t help but sigh. For a guy who thinks love is bullshit, he has a funny way of showing it.

Then again, I know the truth.

He believes in love.

He’s just too scared to admit it.

As he swipes his tongue against mine, he pushes me onto my back, his hands roaming every inch of my frame, as if attempting to imprint it all to memory.

I do the same, eagerly tugging his shirt over his head and running my fingers along his warm skin. Once my own clothes are tossed to the side, I pull Jude back to me, desperate to feel him. To lose myself in him. To experience everything he’s willing to give me, despite knowing how much tomorrow’s going to hurt.

His eyes lock on mine as he guides his erection toward me.

But unlike all the other times we’ve done this, he doesn’t reach for a condom.

Instead, he stares at me, a silent question within.

On a hard swallow, I quickly nod.

“Are you sure?”

I pull him closer, brushing my lips against his, all our best parts lining up. “Let me feel you. Nothing between us.”

“Nothing between us,” he whispers as he eases inside, filling me in a way he never has before.

It feels raw and intense and absolutely perfect.

In this moment, there’s nothing else. No barriers or fears holding us back. Just two lost souls who somehow found each other when we needed it the most.

The night air envelops us as our kiss deepens, the world around us fading away until there is only Jude and me. I cling to him like he might disappear if I let go. Every touch, every caress feels like a silent plea, a desperate attempt to convey all the words left unspoken between us.

I drink in every second, trying to memorize the feel of his lips, the weight of his body on mine, the scent of his skin mingling with the warm evening air. Deep down, I know that no amount of memorization will be enough to sustain me once I leave this place.

There are no hard thrusts. No punishing drives. Instead, he holds my face in his hands, moving in such a way it makes my heart physically ache.

I close my eyes, not wanting to see the affection in his own. Not when he’s made it clear it won’t change things.

“Please,” he begs. “Open your eyes. I need to know you’re with me.”

“I am, Jude,” I tell him, following his command. “I’m with you.”

“And I’m with you.” He links his fingers with mine, pinning my hands on either side of my head, our bodies moving in perfect harmony.

We’ve had sex more times than I can count. But it’s never been like this. Never been this big. This full of emotion. This damn meaningful.

I try to prolong it, not wanting it to be over too soon, but my body has a different idea, that familiar sensation forming low in my stomach, an inferno blazing inside me.

“Wait for me,” Jude rasps against my mouth, his teeth tugging on my bottom lip. “I’m almost there.”

“I’ll always wait for you,” I exhale, wrapping my legs tighter around his waist and moving in time with him. Electricity pulses in my veins, my body being propelled higher and higher with each thrust until I can no longer fight it.

“Always,” he whimpers, his body spasming in time with mine as we ride out what will be one of our final moments of bliss.