The sound of the street below becomes amplified down the line. “Come to me, Amelia,” he says, his voice strong. Commanding. It’s the kind of tone I should scoff at. The kind of demand I should rebuff with a plain fuck off. “Don’t make me come up there.”

I take a breath, feeling every muscle engaging. Tightening. To keep me here, or to take me to him? Jude hangs up first, leaving that threat hanging.

Stop.

Don’t go.

But that’s the power of Jude Harrison.

Irresistible.