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)
“True,” he concedes with a laugh. “But you like sneaking around. Admit it.” His voice dips into a teasing whisper.
Do I?
Or do I just tell myself that’s the best alternative?
I bite my lip, fighting back a laugh. “Maybe I just don’t want to be alone, and you’re the best option.”
“Mason or Wolfe aren’t up to your standards?” He chuckles. I love the sound. It makes me feel warm inside.
No one else comes close to you, Hudson.
Not even close.
His hands tighten around my waist, pulling me flush against his body. I can feel the hard contours of every muscle he has. Everything in the club fades away. It’s just us at this moment.
This.
This is why I can’t stay away.
“Fuck, I want you so bad right now,” Hudson groans.
“Who knew you were into that kind of thing.”
“With you, I’m into anything I can get.”
It shouldn’t be normal for my heart to beat this fast. If someone put a heart monitor on me, they’d probably think I ran a marathon when, in truth, Hudson makes me feel this way.
The touch of his fingers under my jaw, as he tilts my head up to meet his gaze, makes my breath catch.
Once I’m looking at him, he brushes a strand of loose hair from my face. His touch is light, and it lingers until goose bumps break out against my skin.
Just as he leans in to kiss me again, something vibrates between us.
Hudson’s phone.
Mason: Where the fuck did you go?
Mason: Come on, man. We’re supposed to be celebrating.
“Better get back, or he will never stop,” he mutters, stepping back reluctantly. “Mason is such a cockblock.”
I hate how much I miss him already, and he hasn’t even gone.
I nod, trying to mask the pang of frustration in my chest. “Go. Before they send a search party.”
“He would.” He shakes his head, his gaze lingering on me. He’s not ready to leave me. Good that it’s not just me. I’m not ready for him to leave either.
“This isn’t over.” He leans forward, brushing his lips over mine. I open for him, sweeping my tongue against his. I melt into his body, savoring the feeling, knowing it will end soon. When he finally does pull back, a groan escapes my mouth.
I want to say no, don’t leave me, but I don’t. As much as I want to be with him, I’m not ready to give up my control to him. My walls need to stay up. I can’t let him in, even if I want to. Even if I need to.
The movement of his body pulls me out of my thoughts. “I have to go.” His voice is soft and resigned. He doesn’t want to go. It should make me feel better to know I’m not the only one who hates this and is confused, but it doesn’t.
I nod. “Have fun with Mason.”
“I won’t,” he responds. I expect a laugh, but when none comes, I see he’s not joking. He won’t. I narrow my eyes. He’s serious that he won’t have fun without me. His answer shocks me, but at the same time, it does make sense. What I’m starting to realize is that Hudson is not who I thought he was.
I wait a few beats before stepping out of the alcove, forcing my expression into something neutral as I make my way back to the VIP section. No one seems to have noticed I was gone, and I slip into my seat, plastering on a smile like nothing happened.
The night stretches on, but I can’t stop noticing how easy it is for everyone else. Josie is curled up in Dane’s lap, laughing at something Mason said, her arm draped over his shoulders like it belongs there. Cassidy leans into Aiden, her fingers casually tracing patterns on his knee as they talk.
It looks effortless. Comfortable.
And it makes me wonder—what would it be like if Hudson and I didn’t have to sneak off to shadowy corners or keep our touches fleeting and hidden? If we could just be together like everyone else.
Would it feel easier? Harder? I don’t know. All I know is that this—stolen moments and fleeting touches—is exhausting. It’s draining me more than I expected.
As if on cue, Hudson passes by me again, heading toward the bar.
His hand skims mine for the briefest second, the touch so subtle I’m almost certain I’ve made it up. But when he looks back at me, I know I didn’t.
My breath catches in my lungs.
How does he do this to me?
Why does he take my breath away?
I exhale, sinking deeper into my seat, my gaze following him even as he disappears into the crowd.
For now, this is what we have. Stolen moments. Fleeting touches.
It’s not perfect. It’s barely enough.
But it’s enough to keep me here. At least for now.
55
Hudson
Thank fuck.
It’s finally time to leave, and not a moment too soon.