Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 139259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 696(@200wpm)___ 557(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 696(@200wpm)___ 557(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
I put my drink down and weave through the crowd. When I’m only a few feet away, our gaze locks.
Her eyes widen when she sees me, but she recovers quickly, arching a brow and putting on the playful facade I’ve come to know recently.
She makes my heart race faster than a game.
“Hex.” I lean in so she can hear me.
She raises an eyebrow, her lips curving into a smirk. “Wilde.” Her tone is playful, but there’s something else there, something softer, something she doesn’t show often, and I feel blessed she’s choosing to show it to me.
I grin, eating up the last remaining space between us. “You celebrating with me tonight?”
“I’m here, aren’t I?” she teases, but her heavy gaze pulls me in. It feels like we’re the only people in the room.
I reach for her hand, brushing my fingers against hers. It’s subtle enough not to draw attention. “You know what I mean, Molly.”
“I do, but how?”
“Come with me.” I tug her away from the main room and into a back alcove hidden from any prying eyes. She hesitates for half a second before stepping into the darkness with me.
“I’ve been thinking about you all night,” I admit.
Molly looks up at me, her eyes searching my face. “You just won the Cup, and you’re thinking about me?”
“Yeah.” I brush a strand of hair behind her ear. “Because none of this feels complete until I’m with you.”
Her breath hitches.
Neither of us moves.
Then, slowly, she leans in, and her lips brush against mine.
Everything fades away. It’s just us.
54
Molly
It’s dimly lit back here. Everything is hazy, causing my eyes to have a hard time adjusting to how dark it is.
It’s almost too dark, but maybe that’s fitting for what this is.
It’s funny that I’m not afraid.
Usually, I would be.
Darkness and isolation terrify me, but not now. Not here. Not with him. Never with him.
The little girl inside me wants to cry out in fear, but the grown Molly, wrapped up in Hudson’s arms as he whispers, he misses me, is okay.
I’m more than okay, actually. I’m excited because despite being tucked away in a shadowy pocket far from prying eyes, I’m here with Hudson. How does he make everything feel so safe yet dangerous at the same time?
After a few more seconds, we separate, and Hudson steps back, leaning casually against the wall. He crosses his arms at his chest, and his black T-shirt clings to him in all the right places.
The sight of him makes my heart race. He’s a shot of coffee to my system. A live wire ready to explode.
“Took you long enough to get here tonight.” His trademark smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth. There it is. That stupid, cocky smirk should annoy me, but somehow, it only makes me want him more.
“I’ve been here the whole time. You just couldn’t find me.” I shrug.
“Damn, Hex. You always have to make things difficult.” Despite his words, I can hear the humor in his voice.
Difficult? Who’s he kidding? He loves the chase. And we both know it.
“Do you know how hard it is to sneak away without Cassidy and Josie interrogating me?” I fire back, loving the playful banter Hudson and I are known for.
Hudson pushes back off the wall, stepping closer. The dim light from the main part of the club illuminates his face. He’s smiling down at me in a way that quickens my pulse. This man does crazy things to me. Makes me feel alive and like anything is possible.
Like I’m the only person in the world for him.
“It’s worth it, though.” His hand brushes against mine, and it sends a shiver up my spine.
Such a small gesture, yet it has the ability to turn me into mush.
How does he do that? It’s just a touch, but it sets my entire body on fire.
I lean into his warmth, wanting desperately to close any distance between us. When I feel the heat of his body against mine, a sigh escapes my mouth. “It is.”
“Then why are we sneaking around?” he asks, his voice low and, if I’m not mistaken, sad.
I wish I had an answer. But I don’t. Other than to say Dane. I’m not sure how Dane would respond, but in truth, I’m not ready to find out. I don’t want to ruin this, whatever this is with Hudson, so if that means keeping us in our bubble a little longer, so be it.
I shrug. “Because if Dane finds out, he’ll kill you.” My answer is matter-of-fact, but it’s the truth. Murder wouldn’t be off the table for Dane.
Sucks.
If Dane is one thing, it’s protective.
Too protective. Sometimes, it feels like I’ll always be the little sister he had to save.
Even now that I’m an adult, he still takes his role as my guardian very seriously. “Also, let’s not kid ourselves. It’s not just Dane.” I roll my eyes despite the fact that he can’t see it since I’m pressed against his chest. “It’s the whole team. They’d never let us live it down.”